When some hammers get enough mileage on them to warrant retirement and under certain driving conditions, the contractor may have trouble keeping the ram keys tight. Usually under these circumstances, the contractor will weld the keys to the ram and worry about the consequences later. The drawing above shows a better way of keeping the … Continue reading Vulcan Onshore Tip #6: Keeping Ram Keys Tight
Under certain atmospheric conditions, a film of ice will form on the inside wall of the steam chest. This film prevents the valve from seating properly and also reduces friction between the valve and steam chest wall. In some driving conditions, this lack of friction will allow the valve to "bounce" or "flutter," needless to … Continue reading Vulcan Onshore Tip #3: Valve Flutter
A quick way to check the correct position of the slide bar is shown in the drawing and picture above. Place a straightedge across the machined boss area of the Ram as shown in the picture. The lower edge of the straightedge should be even with the "break" of the round stock of the slide … Continue reading Vulcan Onshore Tip #2: Checking Slide Bar
More details on the repair, maintenance and operation of Vulcan hammers can be found in the Vulcanhammer.info Guide to Pile Driving Equipment. Tip Number Title (click on title for tip you want to see) Corresponds to Onshore Tip 001 Head Gasket/Single Acting Hammer 1 002 Ram Keys Too Tight 8 003 Tightening the Packing Gland … Continue reading Vulcan Offshore Tips: Introduction and Index
Many Vulcan hammer users have expressed interest in a method other than the pipe plug retainers to keep the slide bar gripper wedges in place on Vulcan's largest hammers. Above such a method is shown; the pipe plugs being removed and the bolt and nut arrangement installed as shown above. For users of metric parts, … Continue reading Vulcan Offshore Tip #25: Slide Bar Gripper Modification
When replacing the packing, the pieces closes to the piston rod will be the ARAMID FIBER (yellow in color) with the remainder being the woven FIBERGLASS. Many Pile Hammer mechanics have a tendency to tighten the Packing Gland too tight. A little steam or air leaking through the Packing is not objectionable. The oil mixed … Continue reading Vulcan Offshore Tip #24: Replacing the Packing
Below are the lubrication specifications for the Vulcan offshore pile hammers. Above is a hammer diagram showing the locations of lubricant applications. APPLICATION POINT Lube Type Oil Viscosity Flash Point (Min.) Other Requirements SUS, 212° F cSt, 100°C Deg. F Deg. C Cylinder and Base Jaws. Trip Faces. Slide Bar. Slide Bar Dovetail. Columns/Ram Grease … Continue reading Vulcan Offshore Tip #23: Lubrication
Below are listed the center axial centers of gravity for Vulcan Offshore Hammers. HAMMER SIZE CENTER OF GRAVITY Inches 020 73.0 030 84.0 340 93.0 530 99.0 360 94.0 540 108.0 3100 118.0 560 109.0 5100 131.0 5150 124.0 4250 129.0 6300 140.0 Note: Tip dated 1 August 1980. Some Vulcan sales people also carried … Continue reading Vulcan Offshore Tip #22: Hammer Center of Gravity
In addition to the cushion block size, another important input to the wave equation analysis is the size of the pipe cap (or anvil) block. Below are the basic dimensions for the pipe caps along with the depth of the steps. HAMMER SIZE A BDIA. C D E F° GR. 010 8 32 40 10 … Continue reading Vulcan Offshore Tip #21: Pipe Cap Dimensions
Frequently in the course of designing a foundation, the dimensions of the cushion block are necessary for purposes of computing its stiffness for the wave equation analysis. Below are the cushion pot dimensions for our air/steam hammers: Hammer A B C D E F 2, 30C 10 1/4 7 1 1/2 - - - 1, … Continue reading Vulcan Offshore Tip #20: Cushion Pot Dimensions
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