Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) Hammer

As the Nilens concern inched (or more accurately millimetred) its way to receivership, Vulcan embarked upon a project using one of their hammers that, had it succeeded, would have made an interesting addition to Vulcan's lineup: the Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) hammer. As was the case with noise pollution, the 1970's were also the years … Continue reading Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) Hammer

Nilens

One of Vulcan's more interesting--if not necessarily most profitable--business partnerships was with the Nilens concern in Belgium. This page outlines the company and its product line. Note: We have extensive technical information available on the Nilens product line, especially the diesel hammers. Click here if you would like to contact us about this. The Company … Continue reading Nilens

Beginnings of Diesel Hammers, and the Vulcan IC-65

Until World War II driven piles in the U.S. were installed by one of two means: drop hammers or steam hammers. By that time some of Vulcan's competitors (Union, Industrial Brownhoist) were falling by the wayside, and the steam hammer market was becoming a two-sided match between Vulcan and MKT, with the Raymond hammers still … Continue reading Beginnings of Diesel Hammers, and the Vulcan IC-65

Russian Diesel Hammers

L.V. Erofeev, VNIIstroidormashV.A. Nifontov, VNIIstroidormashD.C. Warrington, Vulcan Iron Works Inc. Notes This article first appeared in the First May Issue 1993 of Pile Buck. It is reproduced here with a few changes. . Additional information (including some detailed theory on diesel hammer operation) can be found in the article Diesel Hammers, which was written by … Continue reading Russian Diesel Hammers

Vulcan Iron Works Inc.: The Products

Note about photo at top: a Vulcan 020 driving piles for the original Dodge Island bridge, Miami, FL, 1962. Don't forget to year your hard hat when on the job! Vulcan's greatest tangible legacy is its products, particularly its line of air/steam hammers. Many of these are still in service today, providing reliable service all … Continue reading Vulcan Iron Works Inc.: The Products

General Arrangements and Assemblies

One of the typical information items Vulcan would send out would be the "general arrangement" (or assembly, to use the Raymond terminology) of a hammer, or a sub-assembly such as a capblock follower. These were also included in the offshore field service manuals. Sometimes they would feature the specifications of the hammer. They are useful … Continue reading General Arrangements and Assemblies

About Those Manhole Covers…

Vulcan received inquiries from all over the world about its products.  One call Vulcan received until the end was about manhole covers.  Although Vulcan's response was always the same (it didn't make manhole covers) the fact was that at one time Vulcan did make these humble but ubiquitous products. On both ends of the twentieth … Continue reading About Those Manhole Covers…

Decelflo Pile Hammer Muffer, and the Thruflo Muffler

One thing most people notice first about pile driving jobs is that they generate an elevated level of noise. Until the 1960's, most people simply put up with this and many other aspects of industrialisation and development. In the early 1970's, Vulcan and other pile driving equipment manufacturers were confronted with new regulations--both at the … Continue reading Decelflo Pile Hammer Muffer, and the Thruflo Muffler

Vulcan Hammer Noise Study

Note: This study was commissioned by Vulcan and conducted in early December 1972 by United Acoustical Consultants of Glastonbury, CT, and dated 23rd June 1973. The report was submitted by the President of UAC, Mr. Stannard M. Potter. It has been released publicly by Vulcan at various times since its completion. This is the text … Continue reading Vulcan Hammer Noise Study

Vulcan and Hammer Leaders

Leaders is the generic term for the guide which allows the pile hammer to be positioned on top of the pile and then started to drive the pile to its desired head elevation. Although not a prominent part of Vulcan product line, the company did produce leaders of many kinds. This page is also intended … Continue reading Vulcan and Hammer Leaders