U.S. patent application number 11/849191 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for barrier wall made of sheet-pile components.
This patent application is currently assigned to PILEPRO LLC. Invention is credited to Richard HEINDL, Rob WENDT.
Application Number | 20080145153 11/849191 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38989619 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080145153 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WENDT; Rob ; et al. |
June 19, 2008 |
Barrier Wall Made of Sheet-Pile Components
Abstract
Free standing above-ground barrier wall 10 that includes a
plurality of sheet-pile planks 16, and optionally one or more
support elements 12 that are interconnected together using one or
more interlocking connectors 22, 24. The sheet-pile plank 16 has a
lower edge located proximate a top surface of the ground 14 upon
which the free standing above-ground barrier wall 10 is erected in
an upstanding, installed configuration. The sheet-pile plank 16 and
the support element 12 each constitute sheet-pile components and in
the upstanding, installed configuration, a lower portion of the
sheet-pile plank 16 is ground engaged and a substantial entirety of
the weight of the sheet-pile plank is supported at its engagement
with the ground. The engagement may be merely abutting with the
plank 16 resting atop the ground, or the lower edge of the plank 16
may be buried into the ground to a certain degree.
Inventors: |
WENDT; Rob; (Rapid City,
SD) ; HEINDL; Richard; (Munich, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOUSTON OFFICE OF;NOVAK DRUCE AND QUIGG LLP
1000 LOUISIANA STREET, FIFTY-THIRD FLOOR
HOUSTON
TX
77002
US
|
Assignee: |
PILEPRO LLC
Rapid City
SD
|
Family ID: |
38989619 |
Appl. No.: |
11/849191 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/274 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B 3/106 20130101;
E02B 3/108 20130101; E04H 17/16 20130101; E02D 5/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/274 |
International
Class: |
E02D 5/02 20060101
E02D005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 1, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 041 049.1 |
Claims
1. A free standing above-ground barrier wall, said wall comprising:
a plurality of sheet-pile components interconnected with each other
by interlocks that establish the barrier wall, said sheet-pile
components being interconnected and positioned relative one another
so that the barrier wall is erected in an upstanding, installed
configuration while a majority of the sheet-pile components
exclusively engage a top surface of the ground upon which said free
standing above-ground barrier wall is erected at a lower edge
thereof and thereby establish the upstanding, installed
configuration of said wall.
2. The barrier wall as recited in claim 1, said wall comprising: at
least one sheet-pile plank interconnected with at least one support
element by an interlocking connector and said at least one
sheet-pile plank having a lower edge located proximate a top
surface of the ground upon which said free standing above-ground
barrier wall is erected in an upstanding, installed
configuration.
3. The barrier wall as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least
one sheet-pile plank and said at least one support element each
constitute said sheet-pile components and in the upstanding,
installed configuration, a lower portion of said at least one
sheet-pile plank is ground engaged and a substantial entirety of
the weight of the at least one sheet-pile plank is supported at the
engagement between the at least one sheet-pile plank and the
ground.
4. The barrier wall as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least
one sheet-pile plank and said at least one support element are each
upstanding in said installed configuration and a lower portion of
at least one of said sheet-pile components is buried underground
and the buried lower portion constitutes less than about fifteen
percent of an average height of said sheet-pile component.
5. The barrier wall as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least
one sheet-pile plank and said at least one support element are each
upstanding in said installed configuration and a lower portion of
at least one of said sheet-pile components is buried underground
and the buried lower portion constitutes less than about twenty
percent of an average height of said sheet-pile component.
6. The barrier wall as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least
one sheet-pile plank constitutes a plurality of sheet-pile planks
interconnected in series with a plurality of support elements by a
plurality of interlocking connectors.
7. The barrier wall as recited in claim 6, wherein a lower portion
of at least some of said plurality of support elements is buried
sufficiently deep in the ground to maintain said free standing
above-ground barrier wall in the upstanding, installed
configuration.
8. The barrier wall as recited in claim 6, wherein at least some of
said plurality of interlocking connectors are each independent
elongate elements that are lengthwise upstandingly oriented in the
installed configuration and couple a sheet-pile plank to an
adjacent support element.
9. The barrier wall as recited in claim 6, wherein two of said
sheet-pile components are adjacently interconnected with respective
lengthwise axes thereof oriented at one of 30 degrees, 45 degrees
and 90 degrees relative one another.
10. The barrier wall as recited in claim 1, wherein said barrier
wall comprises two adjacently positioned sidewalls, each of which
has a lengthwise axis that is oriented substantially parallel to
the other and each of said sidewalls comprises as sheet-pile
components a plurality of sheet-pile planks interconnected with at
least one support element and each sheet-pile plank has a lower
edge located proximate the top surface of the ground upon which the
barrier wall is erected.
11. The barrier wall as recited in claim 10, wherein said two
adjacently positioned sidewalls are spaced apart, one from the
other, with a fillable space therebetween.
12. The barrier wall as recited in claim 11, wherein said fillable
space between said two adjacently positioned sidewalls is filled
with a filler material.
13. The barrier wall as recited in claim 12, wherein said filler
material is one of soil, concrete and plastic foam.
14. The barrier wall as recited in claim 11, wherein said two
adjacently positioned sidewalls are interconnected by an I-beam
that constitutes a support element of the barrier wall and said two
sidewalls are spaced apart, one from the other, at a distance
approximately equal to a length of the I-beam's web extending
therebetween.
15. The barrier wall as recited in claim 1, wherein t lest one of
the sheet-pile components is one of an upstanding I-beam and an
upstanding tubular pipe.
16. The barrier wall as recited in claim 3, wherein a lower portion
of at least one of said sheet-pile components is anchored proximate
ground level against lateral movement in the installed
configuration.
17. The barrier wall as recited in claim 16, wherein the lower
portion of said at least one sheet-pile component is anchored in
concrete in the installed configuration.
18. The barrier wall as recited in claim 16, wherein the lower
portion of said at least one sheet-pile component is anchored in a
receptacle that is recessed into the ground.
19. The barrier wall as recited in claim 1, wherein an end of said
barrier wall is secured to a building at an interlocking connector
located on the building.
20. The barrier wall as recited in claim 1, wherein some of the
sheet-pile components are cold-rolled.
21. The barrier wall as recited in claim 20, wherein some of the
sheet-pile components are interconnected by ball-and-socket joints.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The invention concerns a barrier of elongate sheet-pile
components including pile planks and connection and support
elements that are interconnected with each other to form a barrier
wall when locked together.
[0002] Rapidly erectable barriers for military purposes, to delimit
plots of land and to provide protection from storms such as
hurricanes and related storm surges are generally known. Such
barriers are most often erected by hand using bags filled with sand
or dirt because they can be erected rapidly and deliberately
on-site at the area of interest (threatened by storm or requiring
delineation). Such barriers can be quickly erected, but generally
necessitate high labor costs and the static nature of such
barriers, especially when they are used, for example, against
hurricanes, is limited at the same time.
SUMMARY
[0003] Given this background, it is a goal of the present
disclosure to provide a barrier that can be erected quickly, on the
one hand, but is characterized by much higher stability in
comparison with ordinary barriers, on the other.
[0004] According to the invention, for erection of such barriers,
the use of sheet-pile components, like pile planks, connection
elements for sheet-pile components, so-called profiles, and also
support elements, like double T-supports (I-supports) or tube
piles, are used. The mentioned sheet-pile components are ordinarily
used to erect sheet piles, in which the sheet-pile components are
driven into the ground with appropriate equipment, such as rams or
vibrators. According to the present invention, such sheet-pile
components are now to be joined to each other and arranged relative
to one another so that they stand essentially free in the barrier
erected from them; i.e., support themselves without falling down,
in which case the sheet-pile components are supported essentially
vertically with their bottom ends or edges on the surface of the
ground.
[0005] The erection of substantially above ground barriers from
sheet-pile components also has the particular advantage that the
relatively short (height-wise) sheet-pile components that can be
used are generally not otherwise suitable for traditional uses that
require the piles to be deeply rammed or otherwise driven into the
ground.
[0006] The barriers according to the invention can be used, for
example, to delimit plots of land. They are also particularly
suited for military purposes, for example, to erect street
barriers, to secure military and public facilities or also for
border security. In addition, such barriers can be erected very
rapidly, for example, when there is a hazard of storm surges and
hurricanes, with comparatively low cost and characteristically
higher resistance to the occurring storms in comparison with
ordinary sandbag barriers. It is also possible to secure large
construction sites from unauthorized access with barriers
configured according to the invention.
[0007] Additional advantageous modifications and advantages of the
invention are apparent from the accompanying description, drawing
and claims.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment or version of the inventive
barrier, it is additionally disclosed to form the barrier from
several support elements and pile planks arranged between them.
Corresponding double T-supports (I-Beam shaped) or tube piles are
suitable as support elements for this purpose and which prevent the
falling down of the barrier formed from the support elements and
pile planks due to their high weight alone.
[0009] Connection elements or connection profiles are used to
connect the support elements to the pile planks, which are mounted,
on the one hand, on the top cross-leg of the T-profile of a double
T-support and are provided with a lock profile for suspending and
locking the pile plank, on the other. Such connection elements are
offered by the applicant in different versions, for example, for
connection of Peiner supports to so-called Larssen pile planks,
Hoesch pile planks, Unions planks and also flat profiles.
[0010] It is also proposed in a preferred variant of the barrier
according to the invention to connect two pile planks and/or
support elements arranged right next to each other with connection
elements. The connection elements are then formed so that the pile
planks and/or support elements run at a stipulated trend relative
to each other, when viewed in cross section. Right angles, angle
trends of 30.degree. of the pile planks or support elements
relative to each other can be achieved with such connection
elements. It is also possible to connect three or optionally even
four sheet pile components with each other with such connection
elements. Such connection elements or connection profiles are also
offered by the applicant for different pile plank types.
[0011] A particular advantage for the durability of the barrier
according to the invention is if the barrier is formed from two
sheet-pile components arranged next to each other in two rows, the
rows being connected to each other in sections by additional
sheet-pile components serving as cross struts. For example, it is
proposed to arrange several double T-supports next to each other. A
pile plank is then suspended on the two long edges of each "T" of
the double T-support, for example, by using a connection profile.
Additional pile planks are suspended on the longitudinal edge of
these pile planks so that a sheet-pile section is produced, which
is finally suspended again in corresponding fashion on a double
T-support arranged adjacent to it. Two sheet-pile sections running
parallel to each other formed from pile planks are produced by
this, which are supported relative to each other via the double
T-support so that falling down of the barrier is effectively
prevented.
[0012] It is also of particular advantage in this variant, if the
intermediate space between the two rows of sheet-pile components is
at least partially filled with a filling material. Soil is
preferably suited as filling material, which is filled into the
intermediate spaces by means of appropriate equipment, for example,
an excavator. If the barrier is to be removed, only the individual
sheet-pile components need be removed and the filler material left
behind. If, on the other hand, the barrier is to remain erected
longer, it is also possible to introduce concrete to the
intermediate spaces as filler. In this case it is also possible to
excavate the ground between the sheet-pile components to a
stipulated depth and fill up both the excavated area and the
intermediate area with concrete so that the barrier is secured in
the ground. A plastic foam, for example, a polyurethane (PU) foam
with which the intermediate spaces are at least partially filled is
also suitable as filler material.
[0013] It is also an aspect of the invention to secure the barrier
against shifting in the ground. For this purpose at least some of
the sheet-pile components are anchored in the ground.
[0014] For anchoring in a modification of this variant, it is
proposed that the sheet-pile components be partially rammed into
the ground. In this case the ratio of height/length rammed into the
ground and height/length protruding from the ground of the
sheet-pile components anchored in the ground is preferably 1:4 to
1:6. The barrier is secured from displacement and optionally also
falling down by the sheet-pile components rammed into the ground.
Normal pile planks are rammed to 2/3 of their length into the
ground in order to secure them from falling down.
[0015] If the barrier is either to be erected again at the same
location or for a longer period, it is also proposed that at least
some of the sheet-pile components anchored in the ground be
secured, for example, by concreting.
[0016] Support elements, for example, double T-supports and/or tube
piles are preferably used as sheet-pile components anchored in the
ground since the barrier is supported, in particular, because of
their cross-sectional shapes by these sheet-pile components.
However, generally it is also possible to anchor pile planks in the
ground in order to suspend additional sheet-pile components on the
pile planks anchored in the ground. For example, this is
particularly suitable, if, in order to secure river banks or in
harbors, corresponding sheet pile structures secure the bank area
and additional barriers are supposed to secure sections lying
behind the bank edge, for example, during hurricanes. In this case
it is then very simply possible to suspend the individual
sheet-pile components in the pile planks anchored in the bank area
at a break in the bank and thus quickly erect corresponding
protective barriers without high expense.
[0017] It is also proposed to sink receptacles in the ground, for
example, receiving shafts or receiving tube piles, in which the
sheet pile components are introduced for anchoring. This design of
the barrier is advantageous, for example, when the barriers are to
be quickly erected but also quickly disassembled again. This
variant is particularly suitable for protection of cities from
flooding, in which the sheet pile components for anchoring are only
introduced to the receptacles and the additional sheet-pile
components must then be suspended to erect the barrier.
[0018] It is also proposed to connect the sheet pile components
directly to buildings, on which appropriate connection profiles are
provided, into which the sheet-pile components can be
suspended.
[0019] Cold-rolled pile planks are preferably used to erect the
barriers, since these have limited weight, on the one hand, in
comparison with hot-rolled pile planks and, on the other hand, have
sufficient stability in order to be used in the manner just
outlined according to the invention. The cold-rolled pile planks
are preferably provided with so-called ball-and-socket joints.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention is further explained below by means of three
practical examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a first variant of a barrier
according to the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the barrier depicted in FIG.
1;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along section A-A of the
barrier depicted in FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a top view of second variant of a barrier
according to the invention formed from two sheet-pile sections;
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view along section B-B of the
barrier depicted in FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a top view of a third variant of a barrier
according to the invention with tube piles anchored in the ground
and pile planks introduced to receptacles; and
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view along section C-C of the
barrier depicted in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] A top view of a first practical example of a barrier 10
according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The barrier 10
consists of several Peiner supports 12 arranged next to each other
in a row with a length of about three meters. The Peiner supports
12 rest with one of their ends on the ground 14 without being
driven or rammed into the ground 14.
[0029] Two Z-pile planks 16, which are raised upward in a
longitudinal direction vertically from ground 14, are arranged
between two Peiner supports 12 arranged next to each other. The two
Z-pile planks 16 arranged between the two Peiner supports 12 are
connected to each other on their facing longitudinal edges by lock
profiles 18 and 20. The lock profiles 18 and 20 of the two Z-pile
planks 16 facing away from each other are suspended in the
connection profiles 22 and 24, which in turn are pushed onto the
longitudinal edges of the Peiner supports 12 that widen wedge-like
and are secured to them.
[0030] Additional Z-pile planks 16 are correspondingly connected by
connection elements 22 and 24 to the other adjacent Peiner supports
12 so that barrier 10 is formed.
[0031] It should be noted that the barrier 10 stands essentially
freely, since the individual sheet pile components of barrier 10,
namely in the Peiner supports 12, the Z-pile planks 16 as well as
the connection elements 22 and 24 are not driven into the ground
14. The barrier 10 instead stands because of the intrinsic weight
of the different sheet pile components of barrier 10 and their
trend relative to each other.
[0032] In order to additionally secure barrier 10 against
displacement or possibly also falling down, it is further proposed
to drive some of the sheet pile components, for example, some of
the Peiner supports 12 to a certain extent additionally into ground
14 and anchor them in the ground.
[0033] A modified variant of the barrier 10 depicted in FIG. 1 is
shown in FIG. 2 in which one of the Peiner supports 12 is rammed
into the ground for a stipulated length "X" in order to secure
barrier 10 from displacement and falling down. In order to secure
it, it is sufficient if the ratio of the length x of the Peiner
support 12 rammed into the ground to the length y of the Peiner
support 12 protruding from the ground lies in a range from 1:4 to
1:6, as shown, in particular, in FIG. 3, in which a section along
section A-A of the modified practical example depicted in FIG. 2 is
shown.
[0034] A second practical example of a barrier 30 is shown in FIG.
4. Here again, barrier 30 is formed from Peiner supports 32 that
are arranged at a spacing from each other and positioned on the
ground 14. Z-pile planks 34, which are connected both to each other
and the Peiner supports 32 via connection elements 34 and 36, are
also arranged between the Peiner supports 12.
[0035] In the second practical example, however, a second row of
Z-pile planks 16 is provided, which are likewise coupled to the
Peiner supports 12, but in this case to the rear T-sections of the
Peiner supports 12. In this way two rows 40 and 42 are obtained
from the Z-pile planks 34 connected to each other, an intermediate
space 44 being obtained between the rows 40 and 42 and the Peiner
supports 32.
[0036] As also shown in FIG. 5, in which a sectional view along
section B-B of the barrier 30 depicted in FIG. 4 is shown, the
intermediate spaces 44 between the two rows 40 and 42 and the
Peiner supports 32 are each filled with earth 46 in order to give
barrier 30 additional stability.
[0037] This type of barrier 30 is suitable, for example, for
military purposes, in order to erect street barriers or to protect
military or public facilities. Here again the barrier 30 can be
erected very quickly and also disassembled again, if necessary.
[0038] If the barrier 30 is to remain erected over a longer period,
it is also possible instead of filling the intermediate spaces with
earth 46, to fill the intermediate spaces with concrete. In this
case it is also particularly advantageous, if the individual
sheet-pile components are provided on the inside with a
corresponding coating in order to facilitate loosening of the
sheet-pile components from the hardened concrete at a later
time.
[0039] A third practical example of a barrier 50 is shown in FIGS.
6 and 7. In this case the barrier 50, however, is designed so that
it can be erected quickly and also disassembled again, if
necessary. Such a barrier is suitable, for example, for protection
of city areas and villages during floods.
[0040] The barrier 50 according to the invention in this case
consists of several tube piles 52 driven into the ground, in FIG. 6
shown on the ends of barrier 50, which are not removed. Welded-on
profiles 54 are welded onto the sections of tube piles 52
protruding from ground 14, which serve for connection of so-called
Union profiles 56 (also called flat profiles). These are flat pile
planks, which are designed on the ends with identical locks 58. The
Union profiles 56 are suspended one in the other with their locks
58 and thus form the actual barrier 50, in which the Union profiles
56 are not driven into the ground 14 either.
[0041] In order to support the Union profiles 56 suspended one in
the other in the middle sections as well, additional Union profiles
60 are provided, which relative to the longitudinal direction of
barrier 50 run at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the
longitudinal direction of barrier 50. The Union profiles 60 are
coupled to the additional Union profiles 56 by connection element
62, connection element 60 permitting coupling of three Union
profiles 56 and 60.
[0042] In order to secure barrier 50 in the depicted arrangement,
the Union profiles 60 running at an angle of 90 degrees to the
longitudinal direction of barrier 50 are made longer than the other
Union profiles 56. In order to secure barrier 50 these longer Union
profiles 60 are introduced to shaft 64 sunk in ground 14, in which
the Union profiles 60 are accommodated with limited play. The
connection profile 62, on the other hand, are supported on the
ground 14 like the other Union profiles 56, which are coupled by
the connection profile 62 to the Union profiles 60 assigned to
them.
[0043] If the depicted barrier 50 is to be erected, for example,
during a hazard of flood, only the coverings need be removed from
the shafts 64, the Union profile 60 introduced and the additional
Union profiles 56 then suspended in the welded-on profiles 54 and
connection profile 62. The individual locks 58 of the engaged sheet
pile components are then sealed with an appropriate sealing
material, for example, the product "Wadit.RTM." marketed by the
applicant, in order to prevent penetration of water. In addition,
it is also possible to provide corresponding sealing element, for
example in the form of elastic sealing lips or sealing elements in
the area of the barrier 50, especially at the locations at which
the Union profiles 56 sit on ground 14.
[0044] Alternatively, the present invention may be described as a
substantially free standing, above-ground barrier wall 10 that
includes several (a plurality of) sheet-pile planks 16, and
optionally one or more support elements 12 that are connected
together using interlocking connectors 22, 24. The sheet-pile plank
16 has a lower edge located proximate a top surface of the ground
14 upon which the free standing above-ground barrier wall 10 is
erected in an upstanding, installed configuration as illustrated in
the several figures. The barrier gets its free-standing capability
at least in part from the fact that the wall is not generally
linearly configured and has sufficiently two dimensional
characteristics at the ground engaging base to keep the wall in an
upstanding configuration, even without outside support.
[0045] In the optional configuration constituted by sheet-pile
plank(s) 16 and support element(s) 12, each constitutes a
sheet-pile component and in the upstanding, installed
configuration, a lower portion of the sheet-pile plank 16 is ground
engaged and a substantial entirety of the weight of the sheet-pile
plank is supported at its engagement with the ground. The
engagement may be merely abutting with the plank 16 resting atop
the ground, or the lower edge of the plank 16 may be buried into
the ground to a certain degree.
[0046] The sheet-pile plank 16 and the support element 12 are each
upstanding in the installed configuration and a lower portion of at
least one of the sheet-pile components is buried underground as
depicted in FIG. 2. In one advantageous embodiment, the buried
lower portion constitutes less than about fifteen percent of an
average height of the sheet-pile component. In another advantageous
embodiment, the buried lower portion constitutes less than about
twenty percent of an average height of the sheet-pile component.
When standing or turbulent water is required to be contained, such
as when the barrier wall is used to repel a storm surge, the
greater depth of about twenty percent is preferred. In the example
of FIG. 2, it is the support element 12 that is shown to be buried
in the ground 14 to a greater extent.
[0047] Referring again to FIG. 2, the utilization of the
interlocking connectors 22, 24 is depicted and demonstrates that
each is an independent elongate element that is lengthwise
upstandingly oriented in the installed configuration and couple a
sheet-pile plank 16 to an adjacent support element 12.
[0048] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the barrier wall to include two
adjacently positioned sidewalls 40, 42, each of which has a
lengthwise axis (horizontally oriented in FIG. 4) that is oriented
substantially parallel to the other and each of the sidewalls 40,
42 comprises a plurality of sheet-pile planks interconnected with
at least one support element and each sheet-pile plank has a lower
edge located proximate the top surface of the ground upon which the
barrier wall is erected. The two adjacently positioned sidewalls
40, 42 are spaced apart, one from the other, with a fillable space
44 therebetween. Suitable filler material includes soil, concrete
and plastic foam. As shown in FIG. 4, the two adjacently positioned
sidewalls 40, 42 are interconnected by an I-beam 32 that
constitutes a support element of the barrier wall and the two
sidewalls are spaced apart, one from the other, at a distance
approximately equal to a length of the I-beam's web extending
therebetween.
[0049] The practical examples depicted in the figures represent
only some of the possibilities of erecting a barrier according to
the invention. For example, it is possible to form closed barrier
50, for example, by sheet-pile sections arranged intersecting or
rectangular from pile plants that are coupled to each other based
on their intrinsic weight and the arrangement is free-standing
without ramming the individual sheet-pile components into the
ground as is otherwise common. It is also possible to additionally
secure the engaged sheet-pile components, for example, by welded
connections in order to prevent unintended loosening of the
sheet-pile components from each other.
* * * * *