You can call any major designer of stockpile reclaim systems. Try Metso, Krupp, Takraf, Bechtel, Fluor, ..... However, consulting is not free.

A little more detail is needed:

1. Material

2. Geometry of chute throat

3. Surrounding clearances to insert and extract - there are efficient ways to apply the force and less efficient ways. How much time do you wish the operator to spend to setup and apply?

4. No 5 lb sledge will work under a major pile with primary crush

You could not move it through one rock unless, maybe, you were John Henry.

5. The bars can be solid steel forgings, hot roll stock, or heavy wall pipe at 100-125 mm diameter, with a pointed insertion end tapered at about 30 degrees, with about a 60 degree included angle. It has a rounded tip with about 25 mm spherical radius. The bar geometry is dependent on the load it must penetrate and support force for the pile with the appropriate safety factor.

6. There are impulse hammers that can do the insert or hydraulics. These concepts require handling equipment which also should be mounted on monorails due to the weight

7. The chute walls must also be designed to support the loads from the spile bars insertion, extraction, and feeder removal of material with bars in place.

Just a thought ■

Resistance to motion on extraction is provided by the friction of the overhead burden. It must be a function of pitch & penetration. Friction is supposed to be independent of area so the lump sizes are not so important.

Reststance to motion on penetration is the same. When you hit a rock that you can't get past it means the rock is stationary & so the bar has done its job.

Then there is the bin geometry etc to work out as mentioned before.

Just another thought.

Being a little guy I'd prefer a smaller hammer & more bars. ■