U.S. patent application number 13/463177 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-03 for apparatus and methods for pile placement.
Invention is credited to Dave DEFRANG.
Application Number | 20130004243 13/463177 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47390846 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130004243 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DEFRANG; Dave |
January 3, 2013 |
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PILE PLACEMENT
Abstract
Assemblies for improving the installation of pilings into the
ground are disclosed. The assemblies may include a modified pipe
pile and a removable point inserted into the end of the pile.
Methods of using the assemblies in the installation of pipe piling
into the ground are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
DEFRANG; Dave; (Covington,
WA) |
Family ID: |
47390846 |
Appl. No.: |
13/463177 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61483576 |
May 6, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/233 ;
405/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 31/002 20130101;
E02D 7/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/233 ;
405/232 |
International
Class: |
E02D 7/22 20060101
E02D007/22 |
Claims
1. A helical pile assembly comprising a cylindrical pipe having a
first end and a second end; a helical screw blade located proximate
to the second end of the pipe; and a digging point comprising a
closed-bottomed pipe insert and a blade, wherein the pipe insert
has an outer diameter smaller than the internal diameter of said
pipe at its second end.
2. The helical pile assembly of claim 1, wherein the blade of the
digging point comprises flanges extending outward from the sides of
the pipe insert.
3. The helical pile assembly of claim 2, wherein the second end of
the pipe comprises slots configured to receive the flanges of the
digging point blade.
4. The helical pile assembly of claim 3, wherein the slots engage
said flanges when the pipe rotates into the ground, and disengage
said flanges when the pipe is rotated out of the ground.
5. A method for installing helical pipe into the ground comprising:
assembling the helical pile assembly according to claim 1; placing
the tip of the digging point of the helical pile into the ground;
rotating the helical pile assembly to move the pipe and digging
point down until the desired depth is reached; reversing the
rotational direction to disengage the pipe away from the digging
point and creating an opening in the ground; pouring grout into
said opening through the pipe; and rotating the pipe until the
desired depth is reached, wherein said grout is displaced and moves
outward to surround the exterior of the helical pile assembly.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] This disclosure relates to methods of installing piles into
the ground and for improving the strength and stability of the
installed piles.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Helical pipes or piles are typically hollow pipes with
helical, spiral, or screw-like flanges on the exterior of the pipe.
The piles are installed into the ground with the assistance of a
rotational motor drive transmits rotational force or torque into
the pipe or pile. The motor turns the reversible drive in the
direction that advantageously uses the helical flanges to help move
the pipe into the ground. Once a first section of pipe is placed
into the ground, a second section of helical pile may be attached
to the top end of the first section, and the process is repeated
until a column of multiple joined helical pile sections is
installed into the ground at the desired depth.
[0003] During the installation process, the earth surrounding the
pile will be disturbed and will experience some displacement that
loosens the area immediately around the pipe column. The stability
and bearing strength of the piles, therefore, may be improved with
the inclusion of grout, cement or other cement-like products that
cure in place between the pipe exterior and the earth, particularly
at or near the bottom of the pipe column. In typical installations,
however, each section of pipe is hollow so that dirt, rocks and
earth move into the hollow pipe column itself as the piles are
installed further into the ground. Less energy from the rotational
drive motor is needed to turn and install hollow piles into the
ground because the pipe column in such cases does not address
compacted, displaced earth as the piles move downward. As a result,
grout and similar products cannot be conveyed to the bottom of the
column through the hollow interior of the pipes.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] The disclosure relates to apparatus and methods of
installing piles with adhesive material around the exterior of the
piles. Piles have upper, or top, ends and lower, or bottom ends,
when the piles are in substantially vertical position. Pile
segments may be connected together by means known in the art, which
include without limitation the use of fasteners, threaded couplers,
or coupling mechanisms, to increase the overall length of the pile
assembly. The interior of the pipes are hollow, and the pipes are
open at both the upper and lower ends.
[0005] In a first aspect, the disclosure includes an assembly
having a cylindrical pipe or pile with a first and second end
having one or more helical, spiral, or screw-like flanges or blades
fixed onto the exterior of the pile. The blades or flanges may be
placed proximate to second, or lower, end of the pile. When the
pile is attached to a rotational drive motor, the flanges assist in
the installation of the pile into the ground when the motor turns
in a positive direction. The assembly includes a device that plugs
or substantially closes the bottom of the first pipe in the column
to prevent dirt and earth from accumulating within the piles. The
device includes an insert portion and a digging portion. The cross
section of the device is circular, and the outer diameter is
configured to be less than the inner diameter of the hollow helical
pile.
[0006] In another aspect, the disclosure includes a method of
installing helical pile assemblies that includes forming the pile
assembly, placing the tip of the plug device in the ground,
installing the piles to a desired depth, and delivering grout
through the piles to the bottom of the pile column.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates the bottom end portion of a helical pile
and a plug.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates the end of a pile column with the plug in
place.
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates the separation of the end of a helical
pile from the plug.
[0010] FIG. 4 shows the pile assembly in the ground.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows the separation of the end of a helical pile
from the plug in the ground.
[0012] FIG. 6 shows grout delivered into a cavity.
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates the installed pile assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] As described herein, the disclosure includes a helical pile
assembly comprising a pipe or pile and a device or plug. The pipe
or pile is a hollow cylinder with a first, upper, or top end and a
second, lower, or bottom end. The pipe includes a helical, spiral,
or other screw-like flange or blade fastened to or attached to the
exterior of the pipe through fasteners, welded joints, adhesive
joints, or other means known in the art. The helical flange may be
located proximate to the lower end of the pipe. In many
embodiments, the helical pile assembly further comprises additional
segments of pipe that are joined or connected lengthwise to the
first, and bottommost, helical pile. These additional pipe segments
may also comprise helical flanges or blades. The helical pile
assembly also includes a device or plug that may be removably
inserted into the bottom end of the first helical pile of the
assembly. The plug, or digging point, includes a pipe insert with a
top and bottom and a blade. The outer diameter of the pipe insert
is less than that the inner diameter of the helical pile to ensure
that the insert may be easily released upon rotational withdrawal
of the pile. In some cases, the bottom of the pipe insert is
closed, while in other cases, the top of the pipe insert is closed.
In yet other cases, both the top and bottom of the pipe insert is
closed.
[0015] In many embodiments, the flange of the digging point extends
outward from the external sides of the pipe insert. In such
instances, the lower end of the helical pile may be configured with
one or more notches, slots, grooves or other cutaway portions that
permits the flanges to engage the pile when the pipe insert is
placed into the helical pile. In many cases, the shape of the
notch, groove or cutaway allows the helical pile to engage the
digging point when the pile moves in a positive, or downward,
direction, and to disengage the digging point when the pile is
turned in a negative, or upward, direction. The notches are
configured with sufficient room to allow the pipe to disengage from
the plug easily when retracted.
[0016] In many embodiments, the assemblies of the disclosure are
practiced with metal and metal alloy pipes or piles that are
installed into the ground or earth. In other cases, the assemblies
of the disclosure may be practiced with plastic or composite pipes
installed into the ground, earth or other materials. Those of skill
in the art will recognize that the disclosed assemblies may be
useful in applications for installing and anchoring pipe or piles
in different materials. Moreover, methods of installation may occur
at an angle relative to the surface of the ground, i.e., at an
angle less than 90 degrees.
[0017] As described herein, a method of the disclosure comprises
the assembly of a helical pile and a plug or digging point, placing
the tip of the digging point into the ground or earth, and turning
the helical pile with a reversible drive in a positive downward
direction while engaging the digging point until a desired depth is
reached. The method further includes reversing the drive to rotate
the helical pile in a negative upward direction to disengage the
helical pile from the digging point. As the helical pile moves away
from the digging point, a cavity or opening is formed between the
bottom of the helical pipe and the top of the digging point pipe
insert. The disclosure includes placing grout, cement, or
cement-like materials into the formed opening. In many cases, the
materials are poured into the cavity through the pipes or piles. In
other cases, the materials may be pumped into the cavity through a
line or hose placed inside of the pipe or piles. The method
includes reversing the drive to rotate the pile again in a positive
downward direction until the desired depth is reached while the
grout moves outward to surround the exterior of the pile
assembly.
[0018] In other embodiments of the invention, the grout is
deposited into the pipe interior before the pipe is separated from
the digging point. After the grout is poured or pumped into the
helical pile interior, the drive is reversed and the helical pile
rotated in a negative upward direction. The grout inside of the
pile will spread outward from the pile column. The drive direction
is reversed again and the helical pile turned to move in a positive
downward direction until the target depth is reached while the
grout moves outward to surround the exterior of the pile
assembly.
[0019] Having now generally provided the disclosure, the same will
be more readily understood through reference to the following
examples which are provided by way of illustration, and are not
intended to be limiting of the disclosure, unless specified.
Example 1
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, helical pile assembly 100 includes
helical pile 200 and digging point 300. Helical pile 200 includes
pipe 210 and helical flange 220. Digging point 300 includes pipe
insert 310 that is open at the top end but closed at the bottom
end, and blade 320. Blade 320 has flanges that extend upwards and
away from the exterior of pipe insert 310.
[0021] The outer diameter of pipe insert 310 is less than the inner
diameter of pipe 210 so that digging point 300 fits easily into the
helical pile 200 as shown in FIG. 2. Notch 230 in pipe 210 allows
pipe 210 to fit pipe insert 310 into the pipe over blade 320. When
helical pile 200 is retracted from digging point 300, the weight of
digging point 300 and the configuration of notch 230 allow easy
separation as shown in FIG. 3.
Example 2
[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, helical pile assembly is installed into
ground 500 at a desired depth. The drive motor is reversed and
helical pipe 200 is retracted upward away from pipe insert 310,
leaving opening 600 as shown in FIG. 5. Grout 400 is poured through
helical pipe 200 to fill opening 600 in FIG. 6. Helical pile 200 is
rotated positively downward again until the desired depth is
re-attained, while grout 400 moves outward and around helical pile
assembly 100 as seen in FIG. 7. Grout 400 cures in place and
provides additional stability and bearing strength to helical pile
200.
Example 3
[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, helical pile assembly is installed into
ground 500 at a desired depth. Grout 400 is poured through helical
pipe 200 to fill the hollow interior of the pipe. The drive motor
is reversed and helical pipe 200 is retracted upward away from pipe
insert 310, while grout 400 spreads outward as shown in FIG. 6.
Helical pile 200 is turned in a downward direction again until the
target depth is achieved, while grout 400 moves outward and around
helical pile assembly 100 as seen in FIG. 7.
REFERENCES
[0024] All references cited herein, including patents, patent
applications, and publications, are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entireties, whether previously specifically
incorporated or not.
[0025] The citation of documents herein is not to be construed as
reflecting an admission that any is relevant prior art. Moreover,
their citation is not an indication of a search for relevant
disclosures. All statements regarding the date(s) or contents of
the documents is based on available information and is not an
admission as to their accuracy or correctness.
[0026] Having now fully described the inventive subject matter, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same can
be performed within a wide range of equivalent parameters,
concentrations, and conditions without departing from the spirit
and scope of the disclosure and without undue experimentation.
[0027] While this disclosure has been described in connection with
specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is
capable of further modifications. This application is intended to
cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure
following, in general, the principles of the disclosure and
including such departures from the present disclosure as come
within known or customary practice within the art to which the
disclosure pertains and as may be applied to the essential features
hereinbefore set forth.
* * * * *