Hydraulic Pile Hammer Glossary

Hydraulic Pile
Hammer Glossary

The BRUCE Hydraulic Vibro Hammer Standard Glossary of Terminology has specially been prepared with the object of unifying the various technical terms and expressions targeted for majority members of construction conductors on sites who are being involved with BRUCE Pile Hammer and Vibratory Hammer to be operated at the various different Vibro Hammer operation taking place through the world. We wish and aim with our continue efforts that this will be standard in the pile driving industries.
Pile cushions are placed between the pile top and the pile cap on concrete piles.
Pile cushions are not used on steel piles or timber piles.
Pile cushions consist of plywood. Pile cushions are generally replaced for each pile or as directed by the Engineer.
Pile cushions are located between the top of the pile and the bottom of the pile cap
It is frequently called as Helmet by others in the same industry.
It is also called as a different name as Pile Sleeve or others say Pile Skirt by the length of piles depending on situation on shore or offshore work.
The Pile Cap from BRUCE is defined as a steel cap with relatively short in length and placed on the lowest part
of Hammer body is shaped to cap the pile to any different shapes that typically carries out on-shore foundation work.
This is the section of the pile driving system which rests between the hammer and the pile.
For concrete piles, it contains the striker plate or drive cap, a hammer cushion, and the pile cushion.
For steel piles, it will contain the striker plate or drive cap and hammer cushion only; no pile cushion is used on steel piles.
Bruce provides adequate size and high quality Pile Cap to suit most of size required and suitable as well as cushions.
BRUCE defined it as between an average 10~12 blows per inch (10~12 blows per 25mm)
with the Hammer operating at any stroke and when the Hammer penetrates less than 2mm on an average per every 10 blows at any stroke where that occurred
the BRUCE Hammer should be stopped its pile driving work instantly according to warranty policy..
It is a self contained mechanism, having within itself the means of raising the pile hammer between blows.
It rests on the head of the pile and is independent of any winch except for raising it into position.
Swinging Leads – These leads are attached to the crane at the top by the main cable.
They have a gate at the bottom which holds the leads around the pile and will sometimes have spikes on the bottom which are stuck into the ground or template to assist in aligning the hammer.
This type of lead is best suited for piles with little or no batter.
The advantages of this type of lead include allowing the crane to be used for other activities, they can be swung into areas with difficult access, and they are relatively easy to set up. A template must be used in conjunction with swinging leads.
Semi-fixed Leads – This type of lead has a pivot or sliding connection to the crane at either the top or bottom of the leads. Normally the connection is at the top of the leads.
Semi-fixed leads can accommodate a greater batter than swinging leads, however, they limit what the crane can do and are more difficult to set up. This type of lead also requires the use of a template.
Fixed Leader – This type of leader has connections at both the top or mid-point and the bottom of the leads.
The connection at the top is normally a pivot or rotational type connection, at the bottom there is normally a brace which extends from the crane to the leads.
This connection normally has a method for adjusting the in or out from the crane and left or right.
This allows any type of batter to be used.
This system severely limits what the crane can do and in general requires the most set-up time.
No template is required for fixed leads.
Bruce provides most kind of Leads or Leader suitable to the piling industries upon request
It is also called as Lead by BRUCE in a short terms.
The Leader consisting of a pair of steel frame is fabricated with steel structure to mount the Hammer on it and it used in conjunction with Cranes, Pile Drivers or mechanical Excavators.
The Leaders to mount BRUCE Hammer can be utilized as a Fixed Type and U-Type that are the leading Leader type allowing it access to a difficult area and relatively easy to set up for whole operation.
This computerized Impact Energy Monitoring System provided by BRUCE is called IEA as a short terminology that starts with entering the basic information over ongoing project schedule to display a critical Hammer energy data through a two different operation mode which are Individual Blows and Variable-Sized Groups of Blows on the screen.
IEA from BRUCE is a highly intelligence Impact Energy Monitoring system that can evaluate all the detailed Impact Energy Data not only at job site and also at the office at a real time base transmitted through signals from Hammer.
IEA being compatible with BRUCE Hammer is widely used as Impact Energy Monitor System that is essential to calculate its Impact Energy efficiency.
A temporary steel cap, shaped to suit the pile, placed on the top of a pile being driven with a drop hammer or single acting hammer, to distribute the blow over the cross section and to prevent the head being damaged during pile driving.
Hanging leader consists of a pair of channels similar to the leader of a pile frame suspended from the jib of crane and positioned with the aid of adjustable strut.
Hanging leaders are used in conjunction with cranes.