Office Action 3: Notice of Allowance (2024-10-15)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims:

The listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application.

1\. (Canceled)

2\. (Canceled)

3\. (Canceled)

4\. (Canceled)

5\. (Canceled)

6\. (Canceled)

7\. (Canceled)

8\. (Canceled)

9\. (Previously presented) A method for using the tool for an offshore wind power foundation pile, wherein the offshore wind power foundation comprises a foundation module (100) and a pile sinking module (200), wherein the foundation module (100) comprises a steel pipe pile (110) and a pile shoe (130), and the pile sinking module (200) comprises a pile core (220) and a pile cap (210);
wherein a cutting shoe portion (120) is arranged at a bottom of the steel pipe pile (110), and an outer diameter of the pile shoe (130) is larger than an outer diameter of the cutting shoe portion (120); wherein the pile cap (210) is detachably connected to a top of the steel pipe pile (110); wherein the pile core (220) is located within the steel pipe pile (110), the pile core (220) is detachably connected to the pile shoe (130), and a length of the pile core (220) is larger than or equal to a length of the steel pipe pile (110);
wherein the pile cap (210) is further provided with a pile core limiting portion (214) and a pile core accommodating groove (213) within the pile cap (210) extending in an axial direction; wherein the pile core limiting portion (214) comprises a pile core limiting block (2141) and a limiting hole (2142), and the limiting hole (2142) communicates with the pile core accommodating groove (213) and an inner cavity of the steel pipe pile (110); wherein the pile core limiting block (2141) is configured to open and close the limiting hole (2142), and the pile core limiting block (2141) is configured to be arranged in three positions: upon the pile core limiting block (2141) being located in a first position, the limiting hole (2142) is fully opened, and the pile core (220) is available to freely pass through the pile core accommodating groove (213) and the inner cavity of the steel pipe pile (110); upon the pile core limiting block (2141) being located in a second position, the limiting hole (2142) is semi-closed, the pile core (220) is clamped in the limiting hole (2142), and part of the pile core (220) is located in the pile core accommodating groove (213); and upon the pile core limiting block (2141) being located in a third position, the limiting hole (2142) is fully closed, and the pile core (220) is located below the pile core limiting block (2141);
wherein the method comprises:

1) connecting the pile core (220) to the pile shoe (130), and arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the first position, so that part of the pile core (220) is located in the pile core accommodating groove (213); arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the second position, so that the pile core (220) is fixed to the pile cap (210);

2) hoisting the tool to a position of the pile shoe (130) making contact with a top surface of a seabed; arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the first position,
lifting the pile cap (210) till the top of the pile core (220) moves to a position below the pile core limiting block (2141), and arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the third position;

3) hammering the top of the pile cap (210), so that the foundation module (100) sinks to a preset position;

4) arranging the pile core limiting block (2141) in the first position, disconnecting the pile core (220) from the pile shoe (130), and hammering the top of the pile cap (210), so that the steel pipe pile (110) sinks, and the cutting shoes (121) of the bottom cutting shoe portion (120) are expanded outwards in a radial direction of the pile shoe (130); and

5) uplifting the pile cap (210) and the pile core (220), and pouring concrete (300) into the steel pipe pile (110), so that a gap between the steel pipe pile (110) and the pile shoe (130) is closed.
10\. (Previously presented) The method according to claim 9, wherein the pile shoe (130) comprises a truncated cone section (132), and a diameter of the truncated cone section (132) is gradually increased from top to bottom.
11\. (Previously presented) The method according to claim 10, wherein the pile shoe (130) further comprises a connecting section (131) connected to the pile core (220), and the connecting section (131) is located on the truncated cone section (132); and the pile core (220) is provided with a claw portion (223) configured to grasp or loosen the connecting section (131).
12\. (Previously presented) The method according to claim 10, wherein the pile shoe (130) comprises a pile tip section (133) located at a bottom end of the truncated cone section (132).

13\. (Previously presented) The method according to claim 9, wherein the pile cap (210) further comprises a driving portion (211) located at a top end and a lining portion (212) located at a bottom end and configured to be sleeved in the steel pipe pile (110), wherein the driving portion (211) is coaxial with the lining portion (212), and an outer diameter of the lining portion (212) is equal to an inner diameter of the steel pipe pile (110).

14\. (Previously presented) The method according to claim 9, wherein the cutting shoe portion (120) comprises a plurality of cutting shoes (121) circumferentially arranged at intervals.

15\. (Previously presented) The method according to claim 9, further comprising:controlling a positional change of the pile core limiting block (2141) by a first servo linear motion control portion (2144); and
controlling a disconnection or connection between the pile core (220) and the pile shoe (130) by a second servo linear motion control portion (2231).

16\. (Previously presented) The method according to claim 11, wherein the pile core (220) comprises a first pile core section (221) and a second pile core section (222) which are connected to each other, and an end of the second pile core section (222) away from the first pile core section (221) is provided with the claw portion (223).

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:  The claimed method steps with the claimed foundation pile structure were not found in the prior art.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
35 U.S.C. § 103 Rejections In the Office Action, claims 1-5, 7 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Warrington et al (U.S. Patent No. 3,329,216) in view of Maclay (U.S. Patent No. 228,467) and Kanjanavanit (U.S. Patent No. 3,832,859).
In this Response, claims 1-5, 7-8 have been cancelled. No new matter is introduced.
Claims 9-16 are allowable.
Having addressed all issues set forth in the office action, early grant of this application on the merits is earnestly solicited.
If there are any questions about any of the foregoing, please contact Applicant's undersigned representative.
Respectfully submitted, /Xiaofei Xue/


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