Apparatus and system for securing a hollow pile in the ground

There is provided an apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground. The pile has a wall with an inner surface. The apparatus is positionable within the pile. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a plurality of apertures. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions slidably extending through the apertures of the housing. The protrusions are moveable outwards from the housing for selectively deforming portions of the wall of the pile and creating anchor knobs in the pile upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the interior of the housing. The apparatus includes a plurality of support members extending outwardly from the housing. The support members are shaped to selectively abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile when the anchor knobs are being formed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

There is provided an apparatus and system for a hollow pile. In particular, there is provided an apparatus and system for securing a hollow pile in the ground.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

United Kingdom Patent No. 1,034,128 to Serota provides a method of securing a pile in the ground. The method includes the step of inserting a tubular casing into the ground and thereafter expanding the casing by means of an expanding mechanism. The expanding mechanism may comprise a plurality of rams radially disposed therearound which are adapted to expand for deforming the casing material.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,438 to Pogonowski discloses a plurality of pistons and cylinders suspended from a swage block. The pistons and cylinders are actuatable radially from the longitudinal axis of a tubular member for making a new pile with anchor knobs for increased load carrying capacity and pull-out resistance.

In the above systems, the pile walls may deform inwards at regions of the pile where the rams/pistons are not pushing outward. This in turn may compromise the integrity of the pile. This inward deformation may also reduce the integrity of the outer pile wall-to-soil contact area and interface, thereby reducing the shaft resistive friction force of the pile.

FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,703 to Pogonowski provides a cylindrical housing that holds a multiplicity of barrels. The barrels are in a horizontal plane and fire radially outwards. Rows of bumps in the pile are thereby formed.

The above system may require the outer diameter of the cylindrical housing to be substantially equal to the inner diameter of the pile in order to avoid the above mentioned inward deformations of the pile. Such a system thus may be relatively restrictive in its applications. It may also suffer from the above integrity issues should it be used in piles that are, for example, ¼ inch or larger in diameter compared to the diameter of the cylindrical housing. This is because even a very small amount of inward movement of the pile wall may significantly reduce the integrity of the outer pipe wall-to-soil contact area and interface.

There is accordingly a need for an apparatus for securing a pile in the ground in a manner that maintains the integrity of the pile and its pile wall-to-soil contact surface, while also having the versatility to accommodate variations in the size and types of piles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is provided a system and apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground disclosed herein that overcomes the above disadvantages.

There is accordingly provided an apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground. The pile has a wall with an inner surface. The apparatus is positionable within the pile. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a plurality of apertures. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions slidably extending through the apertures of the housing. The protrusions are moveable outwards from the housing for selectively deforming portions of the wall of the pile and creating anchor knobs in the pile upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the interior of the housing. The apparatus includes a plurality of support members extending outwardly from the housing. The support members are shaped to selectively abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile when the anchor knobs are being formed.

There is also provided an apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground. The pile has a wall with an inner surface. The apparatus includes a housing having an aperture and an interior. The housing is positionable within the pile. The apparatus includes a protrusion slidably connected to the housing through the aperture. The protrusion has a proximal end in communication with the interior of the housing and a distal end which is spaced-apart from the proximal end. The protrusion moves outwards towards the inner surface of the pile to create an anchor knob in the pile via its distal end upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the interior of the housing. The apparatus includes a support member extending outwardly from the housing. The support member is shaped to selectively abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile when the anchor knob is being formed.

There is further provided a method of securing a hollow pile to the ground using an anchor-knob forming apparatus. The pile has a wall with an inner surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart support members. The method includes the step of driving the pile into the ground. The method includes the step of lowering the apparatus into a portion of the pile driven into the ground. The method includes the step of moving the support members outwards by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus. The method includes the step of moving the protrusions outwards and against the wall of the pile by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus and thereby forming anchor knobs in the pile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and first toFIG. 1, there is shown a system18for securing a hollow pile, in this example tubular pile22, in the ground24. There is also typically groundwater within the ground, as shown by the groundwater table23inFIG. 1. In other embodiments, the pile may be rectangular, square or other shapes in cross-section. The pile has an open top end26, a bottom end28spaced-apart from the top end, a side wall30that is annular in this example, and an interior32. In this example, the bottom end28is closed, but in other embodiments the bottom end may be open. In this case, the pile22may be pile driven into the ground, with interior32of the pile then being cleaned out. The packed-in ground at the bottom end of the pile would function to at least partially seal the interior32of the pile thereby.

The wall extends from end26to end28. The wall30has an inner surface34in communication with the interior32of the pile22and an outer surface36facing outwards away from the pile. The pile22has a longitudinal axis38that extends through ends26and28. The pile is shown inFIG. 1already driven into the ground24via a pile driver (not shown). The driving of piles into the ground per se is well known to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be described in more detail.

The system18includes a lifting and lower assembly, in this example in the form of a winch mechanism40and a winch mount42. The winch mechanism is supported by the winch mount, which in this example is an angled, frame structure positionable above open top end26of the pile22. The winch mechanism40selectively lowers and raises a cable44that extends into the interior32of the pile22. Winch mechanisms per se, including their parts, support structures and various functionings, are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore mechanism40will not be described in further detail.

The system18includes an apparatus20for securing pile22in the ground24. The apparatus is operatively connected to cable44and is positionable within the interior32of the pile22via the winch mechanism40, as seen inFIG. 1.

As best seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus20includes a housing46that is substantially cylindrical in this example with a hollow interior. As seen inFIG. 2, the housing includes a closed top48and a closed bottom50spaced-apart from the top. The top and bottom of the housing46are circular in this example. Cable44seen inFIG. 1is connectable to top48of the housing in this example. As seen inFIG. 2, top48of the housing has a pair of radially spaced-apart apertures49and51extending therethrough.

As best seen inFIG. 3, the housing46includes an outer wall52that is annular in this example, and an inner wall54that is also annular in this example. The outer and inner walls extend between and are connected together via the top48and bottom50of the housing, as shown inFIG. 2. The inner wall54of the housing46is thus operatively connected to and is radially-inwardly spaced-apart from the outer wall52.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus20includes a plurality of axially spaced-apart, circumferentially arranged sets31,33,35,37,39and41of circumferentially spaced-apart sleeves, as shown by sleeve43seenFIG. 3. The sleeves extend between and connect the outer wall52and inner wall54together. The sets31,33,35,37,39and41of sleeves are axially spaced-apart. In this example, there are six sets and each set37of sleeves comprises four circumferentially spaced-apart sleeves43as seen inFIG. 3.

As seen inFIG. 2, the apparatus20includes a plurality of axially spaced-apart, circumferentially arranged sets71and73of circumferentially spaced-apart braces, as shown by brace75. The braces extend between and connect the outer wall52and inner wall54together. In this example, there are two sets71and73which are axially spaced-apart. As seen inFIG. 3, each set73of braces75in this example comprises four circumferentially spaced-apart braces interposed between the sleeves43. Other numbers of sleeves and braces are possible in other embodiments.

The housing46includes a central passageway57that extends from top48to bottom50of the housing. The passageway is tubular in this example and is positioned to be coaxially with the pile22and is aligned with the longitudinal axis38of the pile. Referring back toFIG. 1, the system18includes a truck66in this example and a pile fill material mixer, in this example a concrete mixer61having a pile fill material, in this example concrete therein. In other embodiments, the fill material can be sand, or control density fill, for example. The mixer is mounted on the truck in this example. A conduit63selectively connects to the mixer61and extends through the passageway57, as seen inFIG. 2, with the distal end69of the conduit aligning adjacent to the bottom50of the housing46in this example. The passageway57is shaped to receive the wet concrete therethrough for filing the pile with the concrete at those portions below the apparatus20upon raising the housing to a different longitudinal section along the pile22.

As seen inFIG. 2, the housing46includes in this example an outer chamber56interposed between the inner wall54and the outer wall52of the housing. The outer chamber is also interposed between outer, annular portion45of the top48and outer, annular portion47of the bottom50of the housing. The sleeves43extend through the outer chamber56. As seen inFIG. 2, chamber56is in fluid communication with aperture49.

The housing46includes an inner chamber58positioned between the inner wall54of the housing and passageway57. As seen inFIG. 2, the inner chamber is also interposed between annular, inner portion65of the top48and annular, inner portion67of the bottom50of the housing. Portions45and47of the top and bottom of the housing are radially spaced-apart from portions65and67of the top and bottom of the housing. The outer chamber56and the inner chamber58are both annular in this example. Aperture51of top48is in fluid communication with chamber58.

As best seen inFIG. 1, the system18includes a first pressurized hydraulic fluid source, in this example a reservoir62from which hydraulic fluid is pumped under a first pressure. The system includes a second pressurized hydraulic fluid source, in this example a reservoir64from which hydraulic fluid is pumped under a second pressure. The reservoirs are mounted on the truck66in this example. A pair of conduits68and70are hydraulically connected to reservoirs62and64, respectively. As seen inFIG. 2, conduit68connects to top48of housing46via aperture51. Reservoir62is thus in fluid communication with inner chamber58. Conduit70connects to the top of the housing in this example via aperture49and thus reservoir64is in fluid communication with outer chamber56.

Referring toFIG. 3, the apparatus20includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions, as shown by protrusions72and74. The protrusions radially extend outwards in this example and are circumferentially spaced-apart. There are three axially spaced-apart, circumferentially-arranged sets77,79and81of protrusions in this example, as seen inFIG. 2. Each set in this example comprises eight circumferentially spaced-apart protrusions in this example, as seen by protrusions72and74for set79inFIG. 3. The protrusions72and74slidably extend through corresponding axially spaced-apart and circumferentially spaced-apart apertures of the housing46in this example, as shown by apertures76and78inFIG. 3for protrusions72and74.

Each protrusion has a proximal end in communication with chamber56and a distal end which is radially spaced-apart from the proximal end, as seen by proximal end80and distal end82for protrusion72. The protrusions are thus in fluid communication with the outer chamber56. The distal ends82of the protrusions are conical in this example, though this is not strictly required. For example, the distal ends may have pyramid-like shapes or be dome-shaped in other embodiments. The distal ends of the protrusions72are outwardly tapered with outer pointed portions83and base portions85which are spaced-apart from and larger than the pointed portions. In this example, the base portions extend radially outwards relative to the pointed portions. Each protrusion72includes a piston member, in this example an elongate shaft84that extends from its proximal end80towards its distal end82. The elongate shafts slidably and sealably extend through apertures76of outer wall52.

Each protrusion72includes a stopping member86that is arcuate-shaped and circumferentially extending in this example. Each stopping member is connected to and is interposed between a respective base portion85of the distal end82of the respective protrusion72and shaft84. The stopping members extend radially outwards relative to the base portions85of the distal ends82of the protrusions72in this example.

The protrusions72and74are moveable outwards from the housing46towards the inner surface34of the wall30of the pile22. They move outwards and selectively deform portions88of the wall30of the pile22upon pressurized hydraulic fluid from reservoir64, seen inFIG. 1, being applied to the outer chamber56of the housing46. The protrusions via their distal ends82create anchor knobs90in the pile thereby as seen inFIG. 5.

The apparatus20includes a plurality of support members, as shown by support members92and94inFIG. 3. In this example there are three axially spaced-apart, circumferentially arranged sets95,97and99of support members, as seen inFIG. 2. The sets77,79and81of the protrusions72and74correspond to the sets95,97and99of the support members, respectively. In this example, each set of support members comprises four circumferentially spaced-apart support members, as shown by support members92and94for set97seen inFIG. 3. Each support member is arcuate-shaped in this example. The support members are located radially outwards from the housing46.

As seen inFIG. 4, each support member92has a top96, a bottom98opposite the top, and a pair of spaced-apart sides100and102that extend between the top and bottom thereof. The tops96and bottoms98are arcuate-shaped in this example as seen inFIG. 3and extend parallel to axis38. Each support member has a convexly-shaped, or arcuate-shaped, outer surface104facing the inner surface34of the pile22and a concavely-shaped inner surface106in this example facing the outer wall52. The surfaces104and106are generally rectangular in this example and extend between the sides100and102and top96and bottom98of the support member92.

Each support member has at least one aperture, and in this example has a pair of circumferentially spaced-apart apertures108and110, as seen inFIG. 4, that extend from surface104to surface106. The apertures are positioned between the top and bottom of each support member92in this example. Aperture108is positioned adjacent to side100and aperture110is positioned adjacent to side102in this example. As seen inFIG. 3, the distal ends82of the protrusions72and74extend through the apertures108and110of the support members. The stopping members86are larger than the apertures108and110of the support members92.

The apparatus20includes a plurality of piston members, in this example actuator rods, in this example a pair of actuator rods112and114per support member92as seen inFIG. 4. The actuator rods are interposed between sides100and102in this example and are interposed between apertures108and110in this example. Actuator rod112is positioned adjacent to top96of the support member92and actuator rod114is positioned adjacent to bottom98of the support member in this example. Each actuator rod has a proximal end116and a distal end118, seen inFIG. 3, which is spaced-apart from its proximal end. The distal ends of the actuator rods connect to the inner surfaces of the support members, as seen inFIG. 3by distal end118of actuator rod114connecting to surface106of the support member92.

The proximal ends116of the actuator rods114are in fluid communication with the inner chamber58. Each actuator rod sealably and slidably extends through one of circumferentially and axially spaced-apart apertures120of the outer wall52, seen inFIG. 3, through one of sleeves43, seen inFIG. 3, and through one of circumferentially and axially spaced-apart apertures122of the inner wall54. Apertures120and122are circumferentially spaced-apart from apertures76and78of outer wall52. The support members92thus extend outwardly from the housing46and the support members92and94slidably connect to the housing46via the actuator rods112and114.

The support members92and94have a retracted position, seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, in which the support members are radially inwardly spaced-apart from the inner surface34of the wall30of the pile22. Adjacent ones of the support members abut each other in the retracted position at their sides100and102as seen inFIG. 3. Pressurized hydraulic fluid from reservoir62seen inFIG. 1, which is applied to the inner chamber58seen inFIG. 2, causes the support members to move radially outwards to an extended portion, seen inFIGS. 5 and 6, for abutting the inner surface34of the wall30of the pile22. The support members are proximal to each other so as to substantially support those portions105of the inner surface of the wall of the pile which extend circumferentially around the protrusions when the anchor knobs90are being formed.

Pressurized hydraulic fluid from reservoir64, seen inFIG. 1, is next applied to cause the protrusions72and74to move outwards with their distal ends82moving radially past the support members92to form anchor knobs90in the pile as seen inFIGS. 5 and 6. In this example, the distal ends82move radially through apertures108and110of the support members92and94. In other embodiments, the protrusions may be moved between adjacent ones of the support members such as, for example, between their sides100and102and/or between tops96and bottoms98of adjacent ones of the support members.

As seen inFIG. 6, the stopping members86abut portions124of the inner surface106of the support members92adjacent to the apertures108of the support members upon the anchor knobs90being formed. The stopping members are shaped to abut the support members upon the anchor knobs being formed and are shaped to inhibit radially outwards movement of the protrusions thereafter. The stopping members86thus inhibit piercing of the pile wall, as could otherwise occur as seen by pierced anchor knob101inFIG. 9.

Should the knobs be pierced, this can reduce the skin friction between the outer surface36of the pile and the surrounding soil because groundwater can seep into the pile, causing soil migration and disrupting this soil-to-pile contact.

In this manner, knobs90may be selectively formed in the pile22, as seen inFIG. 1. The protrusions and support members may then be selectively retracted, moving inwards towards the housing46. The apparatus20may then be selectively raised by winch mechanism40via cable44to form knobs along other sections axially spaced-apart along the length of the pile, as seen inFIGS. 7 and 8. Alternatively, the apparatus20may be axially rotated, by for example rotating cable44, with the apparatus20then being in position to form further knobs that are circumferentially spaced-apart from the knobs90.

The pile with the knobs so formed may be better secured to the ground compared to a pile having no such anchor knobs. The invention as herein described may be particularly useful for situations where the pile22relies on pure shaft resistance and little to no toe resistance but is useful for any tubular pile. Toe resistance may refer to the resistance of the pile arising from the bottom end of the pile standing on hard soil.

According to another aspect, there is a method for securing the pile22in the ground24. The method includes first driving the pile into the ground according to a convention manner, using a pile driver, for example. The method includes lowering the apparatus20into the portion125of the pile driven into the ground24, as seen inFIG. 1. The method next includes filing the pile with water126seen inFIG. 1in this example so that the water within the pile is above the groundwater table23seen in FIG.1. Adding water to the pile in this manner may ensure that the water pressure within the pile is equal to and greater than that of the surrounding groundwater. The water so positioned within the pile thus inhibits soil from entering into the pile should the anchor knobs pierce through the pile, and thus inhibits soil migration associated with ground water and promotes the integrity of the skin friction and the shaft resistance of the pile.

Referring toFIG. 1, the method includes lowering the apparatus20into a desired place within the interior32of the pile22by actuating cable44of winch mechanism40in this example.

The method next includes moving the support members92and94radially outwards by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid from reservoir62seen inFIG. 1to chamber58of the apparatus20as seen with reference toFIGS. 3 and 6. The method next includes moving the protrusions72and74radially outwards and against the wall30of the pile22by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid from reservoir64seen inFIG. 1to chamber56of the apparatus20as seen with reference toFIGS. 3 and 6and forming anchor knobs90in the pile thereby.

The protrusions and support members are then hydraulically retracted radially inwards such that the support members remain spaced-apart from and free of the inner surface34of wall30of the pile22as seen inFIG. 2.

The apparatus20may then be selectively raised upwards, as shown by arrow128inFIG. 1, and/or rotated as shown by arrow129inFIG. 2, while wet concrete simultaneously is poured through passageway57. The concrete may increase the internal shear capacity of the inner pile wall to pile fill material. It may also act to inhibit the effects of puncturing of the pile, as seen inFIG. 9, by quickly filling in such gaps with concrete and reducing the effects or extent of an soil migration. The concrete may also be compacted down, thereby forcing the material out of the pierced portions of the anchor knobs to this end. Voids in the concrete may also be reduced and the shear strength of the pile thus increased thereby. Further knobs may next be formed in the manner described above and the process repeated until a desired pile resistance is achieved.

Referring toFIG. 2, passageway57enables those portions of pile22below the apparatus20to be immediately filled with concrete. The apparatus forms anchor knobs and may then be moved up to another section of the pile22. Concrete may flow through conduit63to fill up those portions of the pile below the apparatus as the apparatus is raised in this manner. The concrete so quickly applied results in a system that mitigates the risk of soil entering the pile if, for example, the anchor knobs pierced through the pile.

The structure of the housing46, with its walls and chambers, is by way of example only. Many variations in this structure are possible to house protrusions72and support members92that are selectively moveable outwards. Also, the reservoirs62and64may be part of apparatus20, on the top48thereof for example, in other embodiments.

Protrusions72have been shown in fluid communication with chamber56and rods112and114of support members in fluid communication with chamber58. In other embodiments, the protrusions may be in fluid communication with chamber58and the rods may be in fluid communication with chamber56.

FIG. 10shows an example of one of a plurality of support members92.1according to a second aspect for a system18.1and apparatus20.1for securing pile in the ground Like parts have like numbers and functions as the support members92and apparatus20shown inFIGS. 1 to 9with the addition of “.1”. Support members92.1and apparatus20.1are substantially the same in parts and functions as support members92and apparatus20shown inFIGS. 1 to 9with the exception that, instead of being arcuate-shaped in cross-section, each support member has an inner surface106.1that is straight. In this case, each support member is a circular segment in cross-section. Sides100.1and102.1are substantially edge-thin in this example. Actuators rods114.1abut and extend perpendicular from surfaces106.1of the support members92.1. In all other manners, the rest of the apparatus20.1(not shown) may be substantially the same in parts and functions as apparatus20shown inFIGS. 1 to 9.

It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to at least the following claims.