Piling With Extendable Anchor Legs

Abstract

A tubular piling of rigid construction, but including frangible side wall portions. The piling is provided with lower outwardly and downwardly inclined cam surfaces therein and includes a follower slidable downwardly in the piling equipped with depending elongated ground spikes hingedly supported at their upper ends from the follower for outward swinging of the lower ends of the spikes about horizontal axes disposed generally normal to radii of the piling passing through the upper ends of the ground spikes. Upon lowering of the follower in the tubular piling the lower ends of the ground spikes are engageable with the aforementioned cam surfaces to cam the lower ends of the ground spikes outwardly through the side wall portions of the piling and into the surrounding ground area.

Description

The piling of the instant invention has been primarily designed to provide a means whereby piling members may be suitably anchored to the ground into which they are driven. The piling is preferably constructed of metal and of tubular configuration to provide the greatest strength possible with a minimum of weight and structure is provided whereby ground anchoring spikes may be driven outwardly through lower wall portions of the tubular piling after the piling has been driven into the ground in order to anchor the piling in the ground against shifting relative thereto in an axial direction.

The piling is further constructed in a manner whereby any desired number of sets of ground anchors spaced longitudinally of the piling may be projected through the walls of the piling after the piling has been driven into the desired position.

To main object of this invention is to provide a piling of the type which may be anchored to the ground after having been driven into the latter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a piling construction for anchoring in the ground and which may be provided with one or more ground anchoring constructions after the piling has been driven into place.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a piling in accordance with the immediately preceding object and constructed in a manner whereby the positioning of the location of the ground anchoring structure along the piling may be predetermined in order to enable the ground anchor structure to be engaged with particular stratum through which the piling extends.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a piling construction including one or more ground anchor assemblies spaced longitudinally therealong and with the piling and interiorly anchored ground anchor structures constructed in a manner whereby the interior of the piling may be filled with cementitious or other suitable materials after the piling has been driven into ground and the ground anchors provided therefor have been expanded into position.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a piling construction in accord-ance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the midportion of a piling constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating one ground anchor assembly disposed therein in readiness to have the ground anchoring spike portions thereof projected through the walls of the piling;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the ground anchor in operative position;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 but illustrating a pair of extended ground anchor assemblies operatively associated with the piling and with the pair of ground anchors maintained in spaced relation along the length of the piling by means of a spacing sleeve disposed therebetween.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a piling assembly. The piling assembly 10 includes a tubular piling member 12 of cylindrical configuration and which is hollow. The lower end (not shown) of the piling member 12 may be provided with a pointed head for assisting in penetration of the piling member 12 in the ground and the upper end of the piling member 12 may be provided with any suitable trap (not shown) adapting the piling member 12 to be driven into the ground by means of a pile driver or similar equipment.

Secured within the pile member 12 is a stop ring 14. The stop ring 14 may be secured within the piling member 12 in any desired location therealong.

A ground anchor assembly is referred to in general by the reference numeral 16 and includes a disc-shaped head 18 freely slidable within the piling member 12. The head 18 has a central aperture or bore 20 formed therethrough and the lower outer periphery of the head 18 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial slots 22 in which the upper ends of a plurality of upstanding ground spikes 24 are pivotally secured by means of pivot fasteners 26.

The lower end of the ground spikes 24 are beveled as at 28 and secured to the upper beveled surface 30 extending about the outer periphery of a cam ring 32. The lower ends of the ground spikes 24 are secured to the ring 32 by tack welding 34 and it will be noted that the surfaces 28 and 30 of the spikes 24 and the ring 32 coact to form cam surfaces whereby downward pressure on the head 18 will cause the lower ends of the ground spikes 24 to be cammed outward so as to cut through the opposing side wall portions of the piling member 12 after breaking the spot welds 34. In their movement through the opposing side wall portions of the pile member 12 the ground spikes 24 rupture an outwardly displace the portions 35 of the piling member 12 illustrated in FIG. 2 and it will be noted that downward pressure may be applied to the head 18 by means of a weight 37 dropped by a lift line 40 connected to a suitable pile driving apparatus (not shown).

From FIG. 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the configuration of the head 18 and the cam ring 32 coacts with the size and shape of the ground spikes 24 so that the latter attain the downwardly and outwardly inclined position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 as the inner sides of the upper ends of the ground spikes 24 contact the beveled surface 30 and the under side 38 of the head 18 abuts the upper surface 40 of the cam ring 32. The cam ring 32 has a bore 42 formed therethrough which is registrable with the bore 42 and accordingly, after the weight 37 has been removed, the interior of the piling member 12 may be filled with any suitable cementitious or other materials with such materials poured into the piling member 12 at the upper end thereof passing by the head 18 and the cam ring 32 through the bores 20 and 42 formed therein.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 5 of the drawings, it may be seen that after the first ground anchor assembly 16 has been installed, a spacing ring 50 may be dropped down through piling member 12 for rest upon the upper surface 48 of the head 18. Thereafter, a second cam ring 32 may be dropped down the piling member 12 for rest upon the spacing sleeve 46 after which a second ground anchor assembly 16 may be lowered on top of the second inserted upper cam ring 32 and actuated in the same manner as the first inserted ground anchor assembly 16. Then, the entire interior of the piling member 12 may be filled with cementitious material 52.

By expanding one or more of the ground anchor assemblies 16 through the side walls of the piling member 12, the latter will be solidly anchored in the surrounding stratum and the level of the ground anchor assemblies 16 may be determined according to the level of the stratum in which the ground anchors 16 are to be engaged. Of course, spacing sleeves of different lengths may be utilized in lieu of the spacing sleeve 50.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A piling construction including an elongated upstanding tubular piling member adapted to be driven into the ground, a follower disposed and slidable in said piling member, said follower including an upper head and a plurality of depending elongated ground spikes pivotally supported at their upper ends from said head for swinging about horizontal axes disposed generally normal to the radii of the center axis of said piling member extending through said spikes, and cam means in said piling member supported therein against downward movement relative to said piling member, said cam means and the lower ends of said ground spikes including opposing cam surfaces operative to cam said lower ends outwardly through the opposing wall surfaces of said piling member upon downward movement of said head relative to said cam means, a spacing ring disposed in said tubular piling member above said head and abutted against the latter, a second follower disposed and slidable in said piling member above said spacing ring, said second follower also including depending pivotally supported ground spikes, a cam ring releasably carried by the lower ends of the ground spikes of said second follower, the cam ring of said second follower being abutingly engageable with the upper end of said spacing ring, the lower ends of the ground spikes of said second follower abutting against the upper cam surfaces of said cam ring.

2. A piling construction including an elongated upstanding tubular piling member adapted to be driven into the ground, a follower disposed and slidable in said piling member, said follower including an upper head and a plurality of depending elongated ground spikes pivotally supported at their upper ends from said head for swinging about horizontal axes disposed generally normal to the radii of the center axis of said piling member extending through said spikes, and cam means in said piling member supported therein against downward movement relative to said piling member, said cam means and the lower ends of said ground spikes including opposing cam surfaces operative to cam said lower ends outwardly through the opposing wall surfaces of said piling member upon downward movement of said head relative to said cam means, a spacing sleeve disposed and slidable in said piling member above said upper head, second cam means disposed in said piling member above said spacing sleeve and abutted against the upper end of said spacing sleeve, and a second follower disposed and slidable in said piling member above said second cam means, said second follower also including an upper head and a plurality of depending elongated ground spikes pivotally supported at their upper ends for swinging about horizontal axes disposed generally normal to radii of the center axis of said piling member passing through the second mentioned ground spikes, said second cam means and the lower ends of said second ground spikes including opposing cam surfaces operable to cam the lower ends of said second ground spikes outwardly through the opposing wall surfaces of said piling member upon downward movement of the second mentioned head relative to said second mentioned cam means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said piling member includes inwardly projecting lower abutment means in the lower end portion thereof, the first mentioned cam means comprising a cam ring to peripherally spaced portions of which the lower ends of the first mentioned ground spikes are releasably secured, said cam ring being abutingly engaged against said lower abutment means to prevent further downward movement of said cam ring in said piling member.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cam ring includes upwardly facing and downwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces comprising one of the first mentioned opposing cam surfaces and the lower ends of the first mentioned ground spikes include upwardly and inwardly inclined lower end cam surfaces comprising the other of said first mentioned opposing cam surfaces.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the lower ends of said first mentioned ground spikes are tack welded to said cam ring.

6. A piling construction including an elongated cylindrical upstanding tubular piling member adapted to be driven into the ground, a lower end portion of said piling member including means defining an annular shoulder projecting inwardly from the inner wall surfaces of said piling member, a follower disposed and slidable in said piling member, said follower including an upper head and a plurality of depending elongated ground spikes pivotally supported at their upper ends from said follower for swinging about horizontal axes disposed generally normal to radii of the center axis of said piling member passing through said ground spikes, the lower ends of said ground spikes being beveled inwardly and upwardly, and a cam ring to peripherally spaced portions of which the lower end of said ground spikes are tack welded, said cam ring including outer peripheral upwardly facing and downwardly and outwardly inclined cam surfaces against which the lower ends of said ground spikes are abutted, said cam ring being abutingly engageable with said shoulder to limit downward movement of said cam ring in said piling member and said cam surfaces being operative to cam the lower ends of said ground spikes outwardly through the opposing wall surfaces of said piling member upon downward movement of said head relative to said cam ring, a spacing ring disposed in said tubular piling member above said head and abutted against the latter, a second follower disposed and slidable in said piling member above said spacing ring, said second follower also including depending pivotally supported ground spikes tack welded to a cam ring against peripherally spaced portions of which the lower ends of the ground spikes of said second follower are abutted, the cam ring of said second follower being abutingly engageable with the upper end of said spacing ring.