Vertical cable systems

Systems with vertical run cables come in two main forms: box tap and plug-in types. In these systems, an electric motor pulls a cable attached to the weight, raising it by a slide. When it reaches its upper point, the motor clutch is disconnected and the weight falls, impacting the pile. Box cables are very common in the southern United States and spud cables are common in the northern United States, Canada, and Europe.

Hydraulic hammer

A hydraulic hammer is a modern type of pile hammer that uses diesel instead of a hydraulic system to drive steel pipes, precast concrete and wooden piles. Hydraulic breakers are more environmentally friendly than older, less efficient breakers, creating less noise and pollutants. In many cases, the dominant noise is caused by the impact of the hammer on the pile, or impacts between components of the hammer, so the resulting noise level can be similar to that of diesel hammers.[11]​.

Driving by hydraulic actuator

Hydraulic actuator driving equipment installs piles using hydraulic pistons to drive the piles into the ground. This system is preferred when vibration is a concern. There are accessories that can be adapted to conventional pile driving equipment to drive 2 pairs of bulkhead piles simultaneously. Other types of hydraulically actuated driving equipment are placed on existing bulkhead piles and attached to previously driven piles. This system allows greater pressure and extraction force to be used as more reaction force is developed.[11] Reaction-based machines operate at only 69 dB of vibration at a distance of 7 m, allowing the installation and extraction of piles in the vicinity of sensitive areas where traditional methods can threaten the stability of existing structures.

These types of equipment and methods were used on portions of the internal drainage system in the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina, as well as on projects where noise, vibration, and access are a concern.

Pile driver/vibratory extractor

Vibratory pile drivers for piles contain a system of counter-rotating eccentric weights, driven by hydraulic motors, and designed so that horizontal vibrations are cancelled, while vertical vibrations are transmitted to the pile. The pile driving machine is placed on the pile with an excavator or crane, and is fixed to the pile using a clamp and/or bolts. Vibratory pile drivers can drive or drive a pile. Quarrying is commonly used to recover steel "H" piles used in shoring temporary foundations. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the driver by a diesel engine-driven pump mounted on a trailer or van and connected to the driver's head by hoses. When the pile driver is attached to a dragline (dragline excavator), it is driven by the excavator's diesel engine. Vibratory pile drivers are often chosen to mitigate noise, such as when construction is near residences or office buildings, or when there is not enough vertical clearance to allow the use of a conventional pile driver (for example, when installing additional piles in a bridge column or buttress footing). Piles are available with different vibration rates, ranging from 1200 vibrations per minute to 2400 VPM. The vibration rate chosen is influenced by soil conditions and other factors, such as power requirements and equipment cost.

Piloting platform

A piling rig is used in foundation projects that require drilling in sandy soils, clay, silty clay, and similar environments. These rigs can be equipped with a short screw (for dry soil), a rotary bucket (for wet soil), or a core drill (for rock), along with other options. Expressways, bridges, industrial and civil buildings, diaphragm walls, water conservation projects and slope protection are all projects that may require piling equipment.

diesel hammer

A modern diesel pile hammer consists of a large two-stroke diesel engine. The weight is the piston and the apparatus that connects to the top of the pile is the cylinder. Pile driving is started by raising the weight; Typically, a crane cable that supports the ram draws air into the cylinder. Diesel fuel is injected into the cylinder. The weight is dropped using a quick release mechanism. The weight of the piston compresses the air/fuel mixture, heating it to the ignition point of the diesel fuel. The mixture ignites, transferring the energy of the falling weight to the pile head and raising the weight. The rising weight draws in fresh air and the cycle continues until the fuel runs out or the operator stops it.[11]​.

From an army manual on pile driving hammers:.

"*Initial start-up of the hammer requires that the piston (ram) be raised to a point where firing will automatically release the piston and allow it to fall. As the piston falls, it activates the fuel pump, which discharges a measured amount of fuel into the ball pan of the impact block. The falling piston blocks the exhaust ports and begins compression of the fuel trapped in the cylinder. The compressed air exerts a preload force to hold the impact block firmly against the cap of drag and the pile. At the bottom of the compression stroke, the piston hits the impact block, atomizing the fuel and initiating the driving motion of the pile. At the instant after the piston hits, the atomized fuel ignites and the resulting explosion exerts a greater force on the already moving pile, pushing it toward the ground. The exhaust ports open and release the exhaust gases into the atmosphere. Once the piston stops its upward movement, it falls back down by gravity to start another cycle."

Vertical cable systems

Systems with vertical run cables come in two main forms: box tap and plug-in types. In these systems, an electric motor pulls a cable attached to the weight, raising it by a slide. When it reaches its upper point, the motor clutch is disconnected and the weight falls, impacting the pile. Box cables are very common in the southern United States and spud cables are common in the northern United States, Canada, and Europe.

Hydraulic hammer

A hydraulic hammer is a modern type of pile hammer that uses diesel instead of a hydraulic system to drive steel pipes, precast concrete and wooden piles. Hydraulic breakers are more environmentally friendly than older, less efficient breakers, creating less noise and pollutants. In many cases, the dominant noise is caused by the impact of the hammer on the pile, or impacts between components of the hammer, so the resulting noise level can be similar to that of diesel hammers.[11]​.

Driving by hydraulic actuator

Hydraulic actuator driving equipment installs piles using hydraulic pistons to drive the piles into the ground. This system is preferred when vibration is a concern. There are accessories that can be adapted to conventional pile driving equipment to drive 2 pairs of bulkhead piles simultaneously. Other types of hydraulically actuated driving equipment are placed on existing bulkhead piles and attached to previously driven piles. This system allows greater pressure and extraction force to be used as more reaction force is developed.[11] Reaction-based machines operate at only 69 dB of vibration at a distance of 7 m, allowing the installation and extraction of piles in the vicinity of sensitive areas where traditional methods can threaten the stability of existing structures.

These types of equipment and methods were used on portions of the internal drainage system in the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina, as well as on projects where noise, vibration, and access are a concern.

Pile driver/vibratory extractor

Vibratory pile drivers for piles contain a system of counter-rotating eccentric weights, driven by hydraulic motors, and designed so that horizontal vibrations are cancelled, while vertical vibrations are transmitted to the pile. The pile driving machine is placed on the pile with an excavator or crane, and is fixed to the pile using a clamp and/or bolts. Vibratory pile drivers can drive or drive a pile. Quarrying is commonly used to recover steel "H" piles used in shoring temporary foundations. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the driver by a diesel engine-driven pump mounted on a trailer or van and connected to the driver's head by hoses. When the pile driver is attached to a dragline (dragline excavator), it is driven by the excavator's diesel engine. Vibratory pile drivers are often chosen to mitigate noise, such as when construction is near residences or office buildings, or when there is not enough vertical clearance to allow the use of a conventional pile driver (for example, when installing additional piles in a bridge column or buttress footing). Piles are available with different vibration rates, ranging from 1200 vibrations per minute to 2400 VPM. The vibration rate chosen is influenced by soil conditions and other factors, such as power requirements and equipment cost.

Piloting platform

A piling rig is used in foundation projects that require drilling in sandy soils, clay, silty clay, and similar environments. These rigs can be equipped with a short screw (for dry soil), a rotary bucket (for wet soil), or a core drill (for rock), along with other options. Expressways, bridges, industrial and civil buildings, diaphragm walls, water conservation projects and slope protection are all projects that may require piling equipment.