Method of emptying pipes driven into earth in nontrench laying and

Abstract

A method of emptying pipes driven into earth in nontrench laying is disclosed, wherein spoil is dug and picked up in the process of movement of a working element by vibratory shock loads, a spoil cushion is simultaneously formed in the pipe for the purpose of taking up reaction loads set up by the movement of the working element, the direction of the vibratory shock loads is reversed after a spoil load is picked up, and the spoil cushion is removed upon completion of the pipe emptying cycles. A device for carrying this method into effect comprises a working element which has a means for retaining the spoil load during withdrawal thereof and is constructed as a barrel, the blind end of which is rigidly connected with a reversible pneumatic hammer, and a chamfer being provided on the open end of the barrel, on the outer surface thereof nearest to the pipe bottom. The angle of the chamfer to the pipe bottom is chosen so as to enable the barrel to form, during the movement thereof, the spoil cushion for the purpose of taking up reaction loads set up by the barrel movement.