Sheet pile chain

Sheet pile wall chains, also called toggle chains or sheet pile chains, are the connecting element between a sheet pile wall and the clamp of the pile driver .

The sheet pile chains are used when lifting and laying down the sheet pile walls. Variable combinations of attachment parts, chain thicknesses and lengths are required for the different requirements of pile driving equipment and sheet pile wall manufacturers. Just as the pile drivers, clamps and sheet piling are adapted to the different purposes and soil conditions, these variations are also required by the chain manufacturers. As a rule, a sheet pile wall chain consists of a toggle, special welded links, a chain , a suspension link and a load bearing plate.

The chain is attached to the pile driver by means of the suspension link; the chain can be used to achieve the desired total chain length. The special welded link connects the chain with the toggle and since this is loaded from the side during use, the requirements are particularly high. Before it is pushed through the sheet pile wall, the toggle is placed lengthways, i.e. in the direction of the chain, through the eye of the sheet pile wall and then turned by 90 degrees. This rotation jams the toggle and the chain can be loaded. As an alternative, sheet pile wall chains can also be equipped with toggles on both sides.

Different lengths of toggle are required for the different eye diameters on the sheet pile walls. For new sheet piling with 40 mm eyelets, toggles approx. 85 mm in length are usually used. When the eyelets are knocked out, toggles with approx. 95 mm are used. Since the lengths of the sheet pile walls and their weight are constantly increasing, the larger versions have eyelets with approx. 60 mm. For these versions, knobs with approx. 120 mm must be used.

The sheet pile wall chains are mostly used with a chain diameter of 10 mm (1600 kg load capacity) and 13 mm chain diameter (3150 kg load capacity). The surface is either natural black, polished or painted. Sheet pile wall chains must be equipped with a captive load capacity sticker, as well as stamped with the manufacturer's mark, traceability code and the quality class of the chain.