Abstract:
A tubular piling driving apparatus and a method of securing a tubular piling into the bottom of a body of water using the apparatus. The apparatus is pressurized fluid-actuated, preferably pneumatic, and is positionable substantially within an upper end of a tubular piling to be secured into the bottom. The weight of the entire apparatus acts upon the upper end of the piling through a collar fitted onto the upper piling end. One or more additional weights are supported at the upper end of the axially movable shaft of the apparatus which increase both downward static and inertia forces transmitted through the collar to effect piling installation as the shaft repeatedly raises and drops the weights against the upper end of the tubular piling through the collar.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/112,490 filed Jul. 9, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,826. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Scope of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to pilings and boat lifts supported on pilings and docks and more particularly to a tubular piling driving apparatus and method of piling installation using the apparatus. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Pilings for supporting a dock and for providing a tie-off for boats are typically made of long wooden poles for economy. These long wooden poles or pilings may be treated in various ways to enhance the useful lifetime thereof. However, all such wooden pilings are subject to the deteriorating effects, especially salt water and brackish water which accelerate deterioration and result in heavy growth below the waterline. 
     Steel and concrete have been used as substitutes for the less expensive wooden piling structure, but also have significant rapid deterioration characteristics, again, especially in salt and brackish waters. Additionally, wooden pilings are also subject to upper exposed end deterioration from wildlife and weather conditions which accelerate deterioration. 
     All stationary boat support and boat lift apparatus require attachment and support from a piling or dock attached to the pilings. Typically, boat support apparatus include a boat cradle of some sort which may be cantilevered or supported at each end by cable, chain or rod structure associated with a motor and drive train structure for vertically positioning the boat cradle with a boat supported thereby. If such boat lift apparatus are simply attached to the exterior of a piling or dock, rapid deterioration from sun and weather conditions, again salty conditions being the worst, will reduce the useful life of these apparatus and/or certainly result in cosmetic deterioration. 
     The present invention discloses utilization of an inert type material such as polyvinyl chloride (pvc) plastic as the primary piling structure filled in part with concrete for reinforcement. The method of embedding the lower end portion of the hollow tubular piling into the bottom of the water is provided, along with a compact and fully concealed motor and drive train structure. The present invention further discloses a method of driving tubular pilings with a small compact self-contained pneumatic driving apparatus that can be placed in position for driving a tubular piling by one man without the need for large pole driving barges and associated equipment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a tubular piling driving apparatus and method of securing a tubular piling into the bottom of a body of water. The apparatus is pressurized fluid-actuated, preferably pneumatic, and is positionable substantially within an upper end of a tubular piling to be secured into the bottom. The weight of the entire apparatus acts upon the upper end of the piling through a collar. One or more additional weights are supported at the upper end of the axially movable shaft of the apparatus which increase both downward static and inertia forces transmitted through the collar to effect piling installation as the shaft repeatedly raises and drops the weights against the upper end of the tubular piling via the collar. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a tubular piling installation arrangement and method of securing the pilings into the bottom of a body of water. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a method of embedding the tubular piling structure into the bottom of a body of water using the piling driving apparatus. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a substantially inert piling structure which is unaffected by weathering conditions and the deteriorating effect of both fresh and salt water environments. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a combination boat lift apparatus and tubular piling structure which houses the motor and drive train components within the upper portion of the enclosed hollow tubular piling structure. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation schematic view depicting the beginning of the process of securing a tubular piling member into the bottom of a body of water according to the teachings of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation simplified schematic section view of the tubular piling and associated equipment for embedding the piling into the bottom of a body of water. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation schematic view of the process of filling the lower portion of the tubular piling with concrete after the lower end thereof has been evacuated of soil and debris from the bottom of the water utilizing the equipment shown in FIG. 2, now removed. 
     FIG. 4 is a simplified side elevation section view of one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation section view of a portion of another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of an upper portion of still another embodiment of the invention attached to a dock structure. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged section view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of an upright tubular piling filled with concrete and demonstrating one means for attachment to a dock. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation schematic view of the preferred output drive shaft arrangement which supports and vertically positions a boat lift cradle. 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation section view of the preferred embodiment of the piling structure of the invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an enlargement of the upper portion of FIG. 2 more clearly showing the tubular piling driving apparatus schematically. 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded side elevation view of the tubular piling driving apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. 
     FIG. 12 is an assembled view of the tubular piling driving apparatus of FIG.  11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 to  3 , the steps of the method of deploying a tubular piling according to the invention into the bottom of a body of water are there shown. In FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  is shown being moved into an upright orientation through the use of a floating barge B. Existing pilings shown typically at C are used to stabilize the barge B, along with outriggers shown typically at D. The barge B includes a hydraulically tiltable sleeve A into which an outer tubular member  12  formed of pvc plastic pipe or tubing is positioned. The lower end portion  12   a  of the outer tubular member  12  will come to rest against the bottom of the body of water with the apparatus in an upright orientation as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     After the apparatus  10  is in an upright orientation against the bottom E, an optional water jet stream is directed into inlet  30   a,  through conduit  30  and coupling  28  for downward discharge through a jet pipe  16 . The jet pipe  16  is supported through a water jet alignment guide plate  26  at the upper end  16   b  of the jet pipe  16 . Care must be taken not to blow around and out of the pvc pipe  12 . 
     Although the water jet arrangement above described is sufficient to dislodge the bottom material from below and within the outer tubular member  12  so as to implant or submerge the lower end portion  12   a  into the bottom E as shown in FIG. 3, referring additionally to FIGS. 10 to  12 , a separate impact or piling driving apparatus shown generally at numeral  24  is also provided. This apparatus  24  includes a collar  14  and a disc shaped apertured plate  14   a  thereof sized to engage and rest atop the upper end of the outer tubular conduit  12 . A heavy weight  18  or multiple weights  18 ′ in FIGS. 11 and 12, is supported atop a level block  20  which is connected to an upright shaft  22  of the apparatus  24  which includes an air impact cylinder. Elongated rods  15  hold the multiple weights  18 ′ together and against block  20 . By pressurizing the apparatus  24  at the inlet fitting  37 , pressurized fluid is repeatedly delivered via a manifold  36  through the interconnection between  37   a  and  37   b  to the lower end of the apparatus through conduit  38  causing the weight  18  or  18 ′ to rise to the full extent of shaft  22 . Pressurized fluid is then alternately switched to conduit  23  which, along with the gravitational fall of weight  18  or  18 ′, helps to drive the rod  22  down, thereby adding to the downward impact against the upper end  14   b  of collar  14 . By this arrangement, air impulses through inlet tube  23 , combined with the heavy weight  18 , will quickly drive the lower end portion  12   a  of the outer tubular member  12  into the water bottom E a distant sufficient for proper supportive stabilization thereby. Although the above-described water jet arrangement may assist in this effort, the apparatus  24  is self-sufficient for this purpose. 
     In FIG. 3, after substantially all of the bottom material has been evacuated from within the lower portion  12   a  of the tubular conduit  12  using a commercially available pump and the air impact cylinder  24  and water jet equipment having been removed, a concrete disc  26  complete with an o-ring  32  and evacuation tube  16 , are pushed down the pvc pipe  12 , which displaces the water up the evacuation tube  16  to discharge tube  35 , leaving a dry hollow pipe  12 . A quantity of uncured concrete or other heavy curable material shown at  34  is poured into the upper open end portion  12   b  in the direction of arrow F. The weight of this uncured concrete  34  is such that the concrete disc  26  will be forced downwardly in the direction of arrow G in sliding sealed fashion within the inner wall surface of the outer tubular member  12 . Any water W still present within the lower portion  12   a  is also evacuated upwardly within the evacuation tube  16  for discharge in the direction of arrow H from a flexible discharge hose  35 . By this arrangement, virtually all of the water W is evacuated and replaced with curable concrete  34  which adds strength and integrity to the entire submerged portion of the outer tubular member  12  once the concrete  34  is properly cured. The concrete disc  26  and evacuation tube  16  are permanently left at the bottom of the concrete near the lower end of outer tubular member  12 . If it is desired to later remove this piling, a lifting force will be developed by pressurizing the evacuation tube  16 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, one embodiment of a combination boat lift apparatus and tubular piling structure is there shown generally at numeral  62 . This combination  62  includes a boat lift  68  comprised of an elongated horizontally extending support cradle  69  for securely supporting the hull J of a boat and end plates  70 . The intended movement of the boat cradle  68  is vertically in either direction in the direction of arrow K with respect to the water line WL as desired. 
     Each of the pilings  64  and  66  are embedded into the bottom of the water (not shown in FIG. 4) as previously described and support each respective end plate  70  of the boat cradle  68 . For simplicity, the tubular piling  64  will be described, piling  66  being identical thereto. Tubular piling  64  includes an elongated pvc plastic tubular member  80  which defines the exposed above water portion of the piling  64  and the larger diameter tubular member  12  connected to tubular member  80  by a reducer  76  as better described with respect to FIG. 5 herebelow. A drive motor  100  is mounted adjacent the upper end of tubular member  80  below which a conventional gear train arrangement  102  is supported on fixed transverse plate  94 . An ACME-type screw drive member  92  downwardly extends from the drive train  102  and is supported at its lower end by a fixed support plate  96  and associated support bearing. The rotatable drive shaft  92  moves a moveable plate  98  which preferably provides an electrical insulator between drive shaft  92  and tension cable  72 , by threaded engagement up and down in the direction of arrow L in response to motor  100  activation. An upper removable sealing cap  104  renders the entire upper hollow portion of tubular member  80  weather resistant. 
     A chain, cable or rod  72  rigidly connected at its upper end to the moveable plate  98  downwardly extends to support the end plate  70  of the boat cradle  68 . An elongated longitudinally extending slot  90  is formed into the tubular member  80  which extends from  90   a  to  90   b.  This slot  90  provides the necessary sliding clearance of the end plate  70  to chain  72  to effect upward and downward movement in the direction of arrow K. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a lower portion of a modified piling  64 ′ includes the larger diameter outer tubular (preferably 10″) pvc plastic conduit  12  which has been embedded into the bottom E as previously described. A pvc bell-shaped reducer  76  provides stabilizing and concentric aligning attachment between the tubular member  80  and the outer tubular member  12 . The reducer  76  is adhered to the upper end of the outer tubular member  12  only along circumferential surface  78 . The lower end of tubular member  80  is rested atop the upper surface  34   a  of the cured concrete  34  as previously described. An annular alignment collar  74  insures tight and supportive concentric alignment of the lower end of tubular conduit  80 . 
     In this piling apparatus  64 ′ an additional reinforcing structure is also provided which defines an inner tubular member  84 , the tubular member  80  becoming an intermediate tubular member at its lower portion  80   a.  The inner tubular member  84  is formed of two concentrically aligned closely mating pvc tubular members  84   a  and  84   b.  The tubular member  84   a  is slit lengthwise and spread apart to effect a close and secure wrapped alignment around tubular member  84   b,  the lower portion thereof filled with curable concrete at  88 . The cylindrical void between the inner tubular member  84  and the intermediate tubular portion  80   a  is also filled with a curable concrete  86  for stabilization and added reinforcement against flexure forces produced by the weight of the boat atop the cradle  68 . 
     Again, a longitudinal slot  90  is formed into the tubular member  80  as previously described which is aligned and registered and generally coextensive with a separate longitudinal slot  82  formed through the wall of the tubular member  84  so as to provide clearance access and ease of vertical movement in the direction of arrow K of the cradle  68  and its end blade  70 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the invention is generally shown at numeral  110  providing an outer tubular piling  80 ′ formed of pvc plastic conduit as previously described. A boat cradle shown generally at numeral  106  in the form of a cantilevered boat lift is operably connected as herebelow described so as to move up and down in the vertical direction of arrow M. 
     A drive motor  100 , gear train arrangement  102  and ACME screw drive shaft  92  are provided as previously described and mounted in the upper portion of the tubular member  80 ′. The drive shaft  92  is threadedly engaged through moveable support  98  which moves vertically in the direction of arrow M in response to rotational driving input of the drive shaft  92 . A lower support plate  96  fixed within the tubular member  80 ′ stabilizes and supports the lower end of drive shaft  92 . 
     The boat lift  106  extends into the hollow interior of the tubular member  80 ′ through upright longitudinally extending slot  118 . Collar  90  slidably fitting around tubular member  80 ′ helps to stabilize the boat lift  106  from undesired rotation about the vertical axis of the drive shaft  92 . Additionally, saddle  108  extending part way around tubular member  80 ′ further stabilizes the boat lift  106  from rotational and any side-to-side or swinging movement either at rest or when being vertically repositioned. The lower end portion of tubular member  80 ′ is similar to that described in FIG.  3 . One example of an interconnecting means between the piling  110  and a dock structure is also shown in the form of a collar  112  tightly secured around tubular member  80 ′ which is interconnected to upright joists  114  supporting the dock planking  116 . 
     Referring to FIG. 7, one embodiment of a connecting means between a portion of a concrete-filled piling  42  to a dock arrangement  54  is there shown. The tubular member  42  is filled with cured concrete  44 . A pvc sleeve  48  is either cast embedded with the uncured concrete  44  or positioned into a suitable hole drilled for its receipt after the concrete  44  is cured. An elongated bolt  46  with its head  58  against one end of the pvc sleeve  48  extends outwardly through the opposite side of the tubular member  42  as shown for clamping threaded engagement into dock stringers  50  and  52  and secured there by nut  56 . A protective cap  60  is held in place over the head  58  for environmental protection. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8, the preferred embodiment of the drive shaft and moveable plate arrangement is there shown and is held in position within the hollow upper portion of a tubular piling member  80  or  80 ′ (not shown for clarity) as previously described. The upper plate  94  fixed within the tubular member (not shown) supports a hex drive end  126  of the ACME screw drive shaft  92 . This hex drive  126  operably engages into the drive train arrangement  102  of FIGS. 4 and 7 (not shown) previously described. The lower unthreaded end  92   a  of the drive shaft  92  is supported within a mating aperture  120  or, preferably a bearing (not shown) of the lower fixed support plate  96 ′. As the drive shaft  92  rotates in either direction, vertical movement of the moveable plate  122  in the direction of arrow N is effected. A guide bar  124  which extends between the motor mount plate  94  and the lower support plate  96 ′ prevents rotation of the moveable plate  122 . 
     A magnet  132  is embedded within the end of the moveable plate  122  in vertical alignment with magnetic switches  128  and  130 . Thus, when the moveable plate  122  is moved to its upper or lower position limits, the corresponding REED switch  128  or  130 , respectively, interrupt power to the drive motor stopping further movement of the moveable plate  122 . 
     Referring lastly to FIG. 9, the preferred embodiment of the piling apparatus is shown generally at numeral  140 . This embodiment  140  includes a drive motor, gear reduction arrangement  102  and a threaded rotational output shaft  92  downwardly extending as previously described which, when operated by motor  100 , serve to move the boat lift  158  in the direction of arrow R. However, in this embodiment  140 , an inner tubular member  144 , also made of pvc plastic conduit, is secured within the outer tubular member  142  in a non-concentric fashion. The inner tubular member  144  extends from the motor support plate  94  at its upper end downwardly and is cast and secured into concrete  150  at its lower end before the concrete is cured. The inner tubular member  144  is secured in an offset or non-concentric position with longitudinally extending slots  146  and  148  are aligned and coextending against one another along each of the inner and outer tubular members  144  and  142 , respectively. Again, this upright slot  146 / 148  provides clearance and smooth vertical movement for an outer blade  156  of the boat cradle  158 , each outer blade  156  being supported by cable  72 . 
     The eccentrically shaped cavity between the inner and outer tubular members  144  and  146  is also filled with cured concrete  154  for added strength and stability over the entire length of the inner tubular member  144 . A sleeve may be temporarily sealingly secured around the central portion of the outer piling  142  to prevent uncured concrete from leaking out of the slots  146 / 148 . 
     While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.