Vulcan 508, 510 and 512: Specifications and Information

Like the 505 and 506, the Vulcan 512 (and the 508 and 510 that followed) was introduced to meet the demand for hammers which were lighter for the rated striking energy they delivered, and thus compete with the diesel hammers.  Also like the 506, the 512 was first introduced in 1984, with the smaller models following.  Specifications for all three of these hammers are below.

General arrangements for these hammers are here.

One of the 512’s earliest successes was its use on the replacement of Lock and Dam 26 near Alton, IL, in 1986.  Here it’s driving piling surrounded by the cofferdam.

Working in the dry, a Vulcan 512 drives the foundaton H-piles for the Lock and Dam 26 replacement near Alton, Illinois, in April 1986. The contractor was S.J. Groves. Cellular cofferdams are probably the most massive “temporary” structure used in construction. Although they are massive and look very rigid (especially in the view on the right,) they are in reality giant steel bags filled with pervious fill.

Working in the dry, a Vulcan 512 drives the foundation H-piles for the Lock and Dam 26 replacement near Alton, Illinois, in April 1986. The contractor was S.J. Groves.

Using Raymond technology, Vulcan planned to expand the concept of these, the largest “Warrington-Vulcan” hammers produced, to 515, 517 and 525 sizes, but this was never done.

A shot of a Vulcan 512 taken by Portland, OR photographer James Duncan Davidson in 2007, showing the hammer driving small diameter pipe piles.

A close-up of the cylinder and steam chest of a Vulcan 512 pile hammer taken by Portland, OR photographer James Duncan Davidson in 2007.