Mcdermott International, Inc.

Verlon C Daigle

Wayne R Smith

A pile lowering and coupling assembly having a plurality of latching arms pivotally secured to a follower pile that latch onto an annular catch secured to the skirt pile. A bias applied to the latching arms maintains the engagement of the follower and skirt piles by continuously urging the latching against the annular catch. Once coupled, both piles are lowered to the sea bed after which the skirt pile may be driven by applying a hammer to the free end of the follower pile which usually extends above the water surface. Once driven, the skirt pile and the follower pile are separated by removing the bias applied to the latching arms thus enabling the follower pile and the lowering and coupling assembly to be retrieved from the sea depths.

Releasable lowering and coupling assembly for pile driving

An aligner and method of alignment of two tubular piles for joinder. The aligner extends from one end of one tubular pile for insertion in the other tubular pile. One or more shim members are disposed between and in engagement with the outer surface of the aligner extended portion and the inner surface of the other tubular pile when the extended portion is inserted therein for maintaining the two piles in alignment for joinder.

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Gray, LA, United States of America

Verlon C Daigle