Pile driver

A machine of great utility in the piling of hydraulic locks, extensively used already in Leonardo's day. It consists in a vertical frame with a hoist for lifting weights. The head of the hoist is equipped with a gripping device made of two flexed cross-bows, which are released when the pile reaches the maximum height, thus transmitting to it all the power available. This action could be repeated several times over, until the pile was driven into the ground at the required depth.