DGH Series Hammers

Note: a field service manual for these hammers is available in the vulcanhammer.info Guide, link above.

Although the California series hammers were successful and a definite expansion of Vulcan’s product line, they suffered from two major weaknesses:

• They had a sliding valve that was very difficult to manufacture.
• They were only suited for driving piles, not for the demolition and compaction work that hammers of their size (especially the “G” hammers) were commonly used for.

Vulcan had prepared to replace the “G” in 1941, but the intervention of World War II put a stop to the project. It wasn’t until 1955 that Vulcan introduced the DGH-100 hammer (shown at right.) The DGH series of hammers made several advances:

• They employed the rotary, Corliss valve, which had been used successfully with the Warrington-Vulcan and Super-Vulcan air/steam hammers. This simplified manufacture and service of the unit, although the valve chest configuration Vulcan adopted sometimes took a great deal of work to obtain proper alignment and operation.
• They included a base that allowed the use of demolition and compaction tools.
• They retained the “G” hammer’s clean, square profile, which made it simple to attach them to excavators.

The naming of the hammer is explained, to some extent, here.

The Universal Backhoe Adapter enabled the DGH-100 to be used with a wide variety of backhoes and excavators without having to develop a custom adapter for each make and model. One of the remarkable things about the DGH-100 is that it was never completely eliminated by hydraulic breakers, which are generally able to use the excavator’s own hydraulic power and eliminate the need for an additional compressor. This is a testament to the simplicity, durability and performance of the product. DGH hammers can be operated at angles down to horizontal, a capability unique for Vulcan products.

Vulcan also developed a DGH-900 hammer, with a larger ram, but this was no where near as successful as the DGH-100. Vulcan continued to produce and market these hammers until the company was divested in 1996.  IHC/Vulcan Foundation Equipment discontinued them in 2005, but the current Vulcan Foundation Equipment provides parts and service for DGH-100 and DGH-900 hammers.

The Universal Backhoe Adapter at the Special Products Division, where it was manufactured. The hammer is laying on the pallet, and the adapter is upright, bolted to the hammer. Into the slots are welded bushings for the pins which affixed the assembly to the backhoe or excavator. The bushings were custom fitted into the slots for the proper position.

An early advertisement for the DGH hammers.

Bustin’ rocks: the Vulcan DGH-100 hammer on a backhoe adapter during Vulcan’s plant expansion in 1979. Left to right watching the hammer: (in hardhat) Gene Daniels, Vulcan’s Construction Manager for the project; Kurt Winters, Onshore Sales Manager, and W. Calvin Bridges, Executive Vice President.

Vulcan was eager to market the DGH hammers as broadly as possible. Below are two joint venture products with the Pettibone Speed Swing.

European horizons for the DGH-100: an advertisement by Vulcan’s Belgian partner Nilens, who was licensed to manufacture and sell the hammer.

Another Vulcan joint venture, this one with Gardner-Denver and the DGH-100 in the Trac-Hammer.

DGH-900 driving sheet piles.

A DGH-100 hammer mounted on a backhoe.

DGH-900 in action, driving sheet piling. Unfortunately it never achieved the popularity of the MKT “B” hammers or the MKT #7 with which it was designed to compete.