Caisson hammers: Components, Working, and Applications - Hydraulic Power Systems

A caisson is a box-like structure that is used as a foundation or as a water-tight structure that allows construction employees to work underwater without needing SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) equipment.

There are four major types of caissons used in construction projects: Box, Open, Monolithic, and Pneumatic.

A box caisson is a structure that is open at the top and closed on all four sides, as well as the bottom. These are usually floated over a prepared underwater foundation, then filled with cement to sink the caisson and create a foundation structure that can be used in the construction of dams or for bridge piers.

An open caisson has four walls but is open at both the top and the bottom. The bottom is fitted with a cutting edge that allows the caisson to sink into soft material, such as sand or the muddy bottom of a river. As it is driven into the ground, additional box caissons are placed on top, making a connected tube that allows workers on the surface to pump our water, silt, and mud until the caisson hits the bedrock. The “well” created is then filled with concrete to complete the pier.

Monolithic caissons are similar to box caissons but are much larger in size. They are generally used for quay walls where impact resistance from large cargo ships is necessary, basically acting as a large bumper.

Pneumatic caissons have four walls and a closed top but open bottom. They create a space between the cutting edge and the bulkhead, providing an area that can be pressurized to keep water and mud out, providing a space for workers to enter from the surface by way of an airlock. This allows construction crew members to work inside the caisson, excavating the mud and soil below through a muck tube.

Since these structures are generally not completely solid like a normal pile that might be driven into the soil for a foundation base, they can’t be embedded with a traditional pile-driving impact hammer. They require a specialized type of hammer to sink them into position and drive them further down to facilitate whatever purpose they are being used for.

This is accomplished through a caisson hammer that actually uses vibration instead of brute force to sink the caisson into sand or mud. The vibration from the hammer actually helps to move the surface material the caisson is being driven into out of the way, allowing the caisson to easily sink in until the proper depth is reached. When the vibrations are turned off, the mud and/or sand settles back into place, fully securing the caisson where it needs to be.

Because they use vibration instead of force, caisson hammers can be used in almost any kind of ground condition, including underwater projects where foundations are needed for bridges, piers, breakwaters, or similar projects. 

Once in place, they become permanently lodged to the sea or river bottom, providing the support needed to complete the rest of the project. And because the vibration can be controlled to target only the areas immediately surrounding the caisson while it is being sunk, the process is much more environmentally friendly to the surrounding sea life.

If your company does not currently have a caisson hammer, but you have been awarded a project that requires one, you may want to consider caisson hammer rentals in Missouri.

Hydraulic Augers Rentals Missouri Kansas City - Hydraulic Power Systems

Hydraulic Power Systems is one of the best Hydraulic Auger companies in Missouri Kansas City. HPSI rents and sells hydraulic augers in Kansas City and throughout the United States. 

HPSI offers only the highest quality and most valuable augers, which is why they have a 100% customer satisfaction rate. As a result, you can rely on HPSI to meet your needs. For more information, call 816-221-47!

 Read more:- Vibratory hammer dampeners - Hydraulic Power Systems

Vibratory hammer dampeners - Hydraulic Power Systems

Hydraulic Power Systems offers vibratory hammer dampeners for the purpose of absorbing the vibration from a vibratory hammer. The vibrations damage the crane and make things uncomfortable for the crane operator. A vibratory hammer dampener maximizes the safety of the crane work being done and decreases the extraction time.

To get the best construction equipment from Hydraulic Power Systems, call today at 816-221-4774 or visit the website now.

Read More:-

Things you must know when buying or renting Pile Driving Equipment

Everything you need to know about Pile Driving Equipment

Hydraulic Pile Driver for your project in Missouri! Hydraulic Power Systems

Excavator-Mounted Vibratory Hammer Rentals Kansas City

Pile Driving Equipment Company Missouri - Hydraulic Power Systems

Things you must know when buying or renting Pile Driving Equipment

When it comes to a need for having pile driving equipment on your Jobsite, the first question you need to consider is whether you should purchase the equipment or rent it.

There are several factors to consider that can help you make the decision:

- Frequency How often throughout any given year will you be using the equipment? If you’re going to be using it frequently and on several different jobs, it may be most cost-effective to buy.

If you only need a pile drive for a one-off job or you may only need to drive (or excavate) piles a couple of times in a year’s span, the best option may be to rent.

- Costs There are other costs to equipment other than the purchase or rental price. For example, you’ll need to store and maintain the equipment.

If you do not have an excavator or crane to operate the pile driver, you’ll need to purchase or rent that as well. And if that’s the case, you’ll probably need to hire a skilled rigger and equipment operator when the pile driver is in use.

- Piles Another consideration is the type of soils you’ll be driving piles into and if you’ll be driving straight steel, timber, or precast concrete piles or pipe versus sinking a caisson or driving steel sheets.

For driving piles into rock or you may need a diesel-powered impact driver. For sandy conditions or when sinking things other than straight piles, a vibratory hammer might be a better choice. Vibratory hammers are also a better choice in most cases if you’ll be working near other building foundations because the vibration pattern can be targeted to not disturb areas outside of your pile driving zone.

If you’re not sure what kind of soils you’ll be working with on various job sites, it might be a better option to rent, so you won’t need to purchase a variety of pile driver types.

- Connectors There are different kinds of connectors available for the various vehicles that can operate pile drivers, especially if you’ll be using a vibratory hammer with your excavator.

You’ll need to make sure that the connectors and the equipment all match and can work efficiently together.

- Vibratory Dampeners Vibrations from pile driving equipment can put a lot of wear and tear on the vehicle supporting it, as well as the operator within the vehicle.

Buying or renting, you want to make sure that the equipment you’re using comes with dampeners that provide exceptional protection for your equipment and people, while still doing a stellar job at driving your piles.

One other thing to think about in the buying or renting decision-making process is what will happen if your pile driver needs repair. Obviously, pile drivers are built to take a beating and will provide years of quality service when purchased new, assuming the equipment is well cared for and maintained.

But if something does happen that takes your pile driver out of service, do you have a qualified technician who can quickly fix the problem for you, or will you be dead in the water until a service professional is available?

If you need help in making the decision, or if you’re ready to move forward now, contact HPSI for all your pile driving equipment rental or sales needs in Kansas City.

We have a full portfolio of equipment for sale or rent and can provide our expert knowledge of pile driving equipment and hydraulic power systems to make sure you have exactly what you need.

We also offer custom lead systems to make your pile driving as efficient and precise as possible.

Hydraulic Powers Systems Inc. has been an American tradition since 1980. We’re headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri but our products are well-known all across the globe. If we don’t currently have what you need, we can custom design equipment based on your specifications.

Find out why we’re unrivaled when it comes to customer service.

Give us a call at 816-221-4774, or complete our General Inquiry and Support Request Form and one of our associates will contact you shortly to provide you with the best pile driving equipment sales or rentals in the business at very competitive pricing.

Everything you need to know about Pile Driving Equipment

Hydraulic Power Systems is a leading company, based in Kansas City, Missouri, that makes and provides the finest customized Pile Driving Equipment.

Your search for Hydraulic Augers, Vibro Hammer for sheet pile driving, Pile hammer equipment, Diesel pile hammer, Excavator Mounted Hammers and Hydraulic pile driver for your project ends here because we provide the finest equipment at competitive prices.

To get the best equipment for your project call today at 816-221-4774 or visit our website

Hydraulic Pile Driver for your project in Missouri! Hydraulic Power Systems

Are you looking for Hydraulic Pile Drivers for your projects that are high-quality and reliable? Do you want heavy construction equipment at competitive prices? 

Hydraulic Power Systems is the premier choice for construction equipment. We provide customized hydraulic pile driving systems and accessories. 

Tell us what you need and we’ll provide you quality equipment. Call today at 816-221-4774 or visit our website to get the best construction equipment from Hydraulic Power Systems.

Excavator-Mounted Vibratory Hammer Rentals Kansas City

Vibratory hammers are so compact and lightweight—compared to their high-impact pile driving counterparts—they can easily be attached to your excavator. 

This provides you with the capability of driving piles, sheeting, and caissons in what might be otherwise hard-to-reach areas. Vibratory hammers are also quieter and safer to use near other existing foundations since the oscillation of the vibration going from the hammer through the pile and into the ground can be better contained to a specified area.

Vibratory hammers are also less expensive to purchase or rent, and they don’t require the need for a crane or extensive rigging, which is also better for your bottom line. 

They can be driven by electricity or hydraulics, and can easily plug the right unit into the hydraulic system of your excavator when using that as the pile-driving vehicle.

Other advantages of an excavator-mounted vibratory hammer include:

-Hydraulic Clamp -The clamp attached to the hydraulic mount on your excavator allows your equipment operator to easily hold a pile in place while being driven. 

This reduces the need for additional equipment that might normally be needed to bring the piles to the spots where they will be driven and hold them in place because the excavator can simply pick them up and drive each into their predesignated spots.

-Gear Box - The gearbox on most vibratory hammers allows the clamp to rotate 360 degrees. This might not be a big deal if you are simply driving piles or pipes, but when trying to place sheeting piles or caissons, positioning is very important. 

The rotation gearbox provides you with the ability to leave the excavator in place while rotating the pile, so piles that are being placed near existing structures or into the water from a shoreline location can easily be manipulated.

- Vibration Suppression - Vibratory hammers operated by sending high-frequency vibrations from the apparatus through the pile and into the ground. 

Since the vibrations can go in both upward and downward, vibration suppressors help to keep the vibration from traveling back up into the arm of the excavator while channeling them back down through the pile. 

This provides a very fast and effective way to drive materials into the soil.

If you do not already have a vibratory hammer but need to drive piles for a specific foundation project, you may want to consider working with a heavy machinery rental company that can supply you with a number of different options. Renting is a great option if you:

- Only need the equipment for a short amount of time.

- Don’t want to tackle the expense of purchasing a unit.

- Don’t want to have the extra expenses associated with storing and maintaining the equipment.

- Potentially need a variety of different types of vibratory hammers.

- Want expert advice on what types of hoses and mounts you need to work with your existing excavator.

- Also need to rent an excavator and or machine operator. 

Conclusion

Vibratory hammers are a great way to drive different kinds of piles, pipes, sheeting, and caissons into a variety of soil conditions. You may want to consider renting a vibratory hammer that is compatible with your excavator if you want expert advice on what kind of hoses and mounts you’ll need for your vehicle, and you don’t want the added expense of purchasing, storing, and maintaining the vibratory hammer yourself.