Pile driver system for and method of installing foundation elements in a subsea ground formation

摘要

A pile driver system for installing or removing foundation elements, such as piles, anchors, and conductors, in a subsea ground formation, includes a closed housing defining a cavity, an impact weight accommodated inside the housing, a hydraulic circuit for reciprocating the impact weight, which circuit comprises one or more valves, a cylinder, and a piston accommodated in the cylinder and connected to the impact weight, a pump for withdrawing water from the surroundings of the pile driver and providing pressurized water to the hydraulic circuit, and at least one outlet for returning water to the surroundings. The exhaust of the hydraulic circuit communicates with the cavity and the outlet is located in the wall of the housing.

主权项

1. A driver system for installing or removing foundation elements in a subsea ground formation, comprising
a closed housing defining a cavity, an impact weight accommodated inside the housing, a hydraulic circuit configured to reciprocate the impact weight, which circuit comprises one or more valves, a cylinder, a piston accommodated in the cylinder and connected to the impact weight, and an exhaust, the exhaust fluidly coupled to a passage that extends between the hydraulic circuit and the cavity, a pump configured to withdraw water from the surroundings of the pile driver and providing pressurized water to the hydraulic circuit, and at least one outlet configured to return water to the surroundings wherein the exhaust of the hydraulic circuit passes water through the passage from the hydraulic circuit to the cavity and in that the at least one outlet is located in a wall of the housing.