Vulcan IC-30/30D/33D Diesel Hammers

With Nilens gone and the LPG hammer unsuccessful, in 1978 Vulcan found itself without any kind of internal combustion hammer. It passed up the opportunity to purchase the Link-Belt diesel hammer line and attempted to develop its own. The effort that resulted was the IC-30/30D/33D hammer line.

The IC-30/30D driving H-piles for the Veterans Bridge in Chattanooga, TN, in 1983. The sticker on the upper cylinder is for Mississippi Valley Equipment, Vulcan’s largest onshore dealer at the time. This was one of the hammer’s success stories.

The one successful “spin-off” from the diesel program: the universal adapter base (above) and filler system developed for the diesel hammers. They also proved to fit other diesel hammers and were in the company’s product line until it was merged in 1996.

The one successful “spin-off” from the diesel program: the universal adapter base and filler (above, in this case a pipe cap) developed for the diesel hammers. They also proved to fit other diesel hammers and were in the company’s product line until it was merged in 1996.

The first IC-30 in the assembly area at Vulcan’s Chattanooga facility.

General arrangement for the IC-30, which became the 30D.

Vulcan’s starting point was the Nilens N-33 hammer, which was equivalent to a Delmag D-12. In the course of development, however, Vulcan attempted to make “improvements” on the Nilens designs. Most of these, unfortunately–the use of a single-piece casting for both cylinders, ram and anvil and others–represented an attempt to adapt the diesel hammer to Vulcan’s customary manufacturing methods. It was mostly these which proved the downfall of the line.

The first hammer, the IC-30, was completed in 1980. After some testing the hammer was released for the market, and the name was soon changed to the 30D or 33D to get away from the “IC” (too much like “ICE” or International Construction Equipment for Vulcan dealers’ tastes.) It achieved some successes, but its weaknesses made it expensive for Vulcan to keep it in the field. Compounding the technical problems was the strong U.S. dollar at the time, which made the German made Delmag relatively cheap.

All of these contributed to the eventual decision to recall the hammer. By the mid-1980’s Vulcan was once again out of the diesel market. By that time the vibratory hammers were achieving success and Vulcan’s product line was broadened in another way.

The one spin-off that survived the hammer–and indeed Vulcan Iron Works itself–was the universal/filler cap system.  This is currently supported by Vulcan Foundation Equipment.  Information (and the field service manual) for this hammer is found in the Vulcanhammer.info Guide to Pile Driving Equipment.