Patent Publication Number: US-10323377-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for emplacing steel columns

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/424,708, filed 21 Nov. 2016 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/429,704, filed 2 Dec. 2016. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to construction equipment and methods. 
     More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and equipment for emplacing columns in a surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the field of construction, emplacing columns for a structure, such parking shade structures, requires a great deal of labor. The columns must be properly positioned, a hole must be dug to receive the column, the column inserted into the hole and the hole backfilled. While backfilling, the column must remain properly positioned, and the backfill must be strong enough to support the column and structure of which it is a part. The time and effort needed to emplace columns is substantial, resulting in high costs for this kind of construction. 
     It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and method for quickly and easily emplacing columns. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention, provided is a sonic drilling apparatus with adapter for emplacing columns. Included is a sonic drilling apparatus having a fitting. An adapter is coupled to the fitting. The adapter includes a base having a socket extending upwardly therefrom and coupled to the fitting, and a coupling mechanism extending downwardly from the base. A tubular polygonal column is removably attached to the adapter by the coupling mechanism. 
     Also provided is a method of emplacing a tubular column including providing a sonic drilling apparatus having a fitting, and an adapter including a base having a socket extending upwardly therefrom, and a coupling mechanism extending downwardly from the base. Attaching the adapter to a tubular polygonal column with the coupling mechanism. Coupling the socket to the fitting, and driving the tubular polygonal column vertically into a supporting substrate to a depth desired and sufficient to provide stability to the tubular polygonal column employed for the construction of a structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Specific objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial simplified schematic of a sonic drilling apparatus and column according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an adapter for attaching a column to a sonic drilling apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an adapter attached to a column for attachment to a sonic drilling apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial simplified schematic of a column coupled to a sonic drilling apparatus by another embodiment of an adapter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an adapter for attaching a column to a sonic drilling apparatus according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional side view of an adapter attached to a column for attachment to a sonic drilling apparatus according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a sonic drilling apparatus generally designated  10 . Sonic drilling apparatus  10  will not be described in detail, as it is well known in the art, and includes an orbiting mass oscillator  12 , or like mechanism for causing vibrational waves, having a threaded fitting  14  to which drill casings have been conventionally attached. An adapter  15 , according to the present invention, is provided for use in attaching a tubular polygonal column  16  to sonic drill apparatus  10 . While substantially any polygonal column can be employed, square or rectangular tubular columns are preferred. In particular, a tubular column made from the joining of two C-shaped elements is preferred. The tubular column preferably employed is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,394,689, issued Jul. 19, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference. 
     Sonic drilling apparatus  10  is utilized to drive column  16  into a supporting substrate  18  such as earth. In operation, column  16  can be driven through typical soil, concrete, asphalt and other substrates  18 . By using resonant sonic drilling methods an oscillator is adapted to transmit sinusoidal pressure waves through column  16  to create a cutting action at the lower edge. The pressure waves are typically created by two counter-rotating, offset balance roller weights each having an eccentric axis located in the orbiting mass oscillator  12 . Frequencies close to the natural frequency of column  16  are generated, thereby causing the column to vibrate elastically along its longitudinal axis. In the resonant condition, the column stores and releases energy, thereby generating large forces between the lower edge and the substrate. It will be understood that sonic drilling apparatus  10  can be carried by a drill vehicle, mounted on a tripod or other structure, and the like. These structures carrying sonic drilling apparatus  10  allow for transportation of apparatus  10  as well as accurate placement of column  16 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , adapter  15  is illustrated. Adapter  15  includes a base  20  having a threaded socket  22 , couplable to threaded fitting  14 , extending upwardly from one side and a coupling mechanism  25  extending downwardly from the opposing side along an axis A. It will be understood that while a threaded fitting is preferred, other fittings for allowing coupling of adapter  15  can be employed, such as quick connect fasteners, bayonet style couplings, mating flanges bolted together, and the like. Coupling mechanism  25  includes a plate  27  extending from an edge  28  of base  20  parallel to axis A, and a plate  30  extending from an edge  32  of base  20  parallel to axis A. Plate  27  and plate  30  are parallel and spaced apart with respect to one another, and sized to be received within the top end of column  16 . 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 3 , when received within column  16 , plate  27  and plate  30  lie against opposing sides thereof and are fixed in position by fasteners  35  extending concurrently through apertures  37  in the sides of column  16  and apertures  38  formed in plates  27  and  30 . Brackets  40  are positioned on the outer surface of the sides of column  16  to reinforce the sides of column  16  and act as washers to prevent damage to column  16 . 
     In operation, a column  16  is coupled to adapter  15 . Adapter  15  is then coupled to orbiting mass oscillator  12  by attachment to threaded fitting  14 . Column  16  is then positioned over the location in which it is to be emplaced, and using the sonic drilling apparatus, driven vertically into the substrate to a depth desired and sufficient to provide stability to column  16 . Column  16  is not rotated, but simply driven vertically downward. Column  16  is then employed as a column for the construction of a structure such as a parking structure, shade structure, building and the like. By employing sonic drill technology to emplace columns, holes need not be dug, and filler need not be replaced after positioning the column. The column is simply inserted through the substrate, which closely engages the column preventing removal thereof without the additional use of the sonic drill apparatus. Column  16  is driven into the substrate when the correct frequency is achieved for the material of the column to resonate. 
     To achieve an emplaced column, column  16  is at least 128 thousandths of an inch thick and preferably in the range of 128 to 150 thousandths of an inch thick. The material of column is steel being a high strength steel in the range of 85-100 KSI. The thickness and hardness scales are required to prevent welds forming column  16  from tearing loose, and to prevent the forces generated by sonic drilling apparatus  10  from damaging column  16 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , illustrated is sonic drilling apparatus  10  which includes orbiting mass oscillator  12  having a threaded fitting  14 , to which drill casings have been conventionally attached, and another embodiment of an adapter  115 . As with adapter  15 , adapter  115  is provided for use in attaching tubular polygonal column  16  to sonic drill apparatus  10 . As discussed previously, while substantially any polygonal column can be employed, square or rectangular tubular columns having opposed planar surfaces are preferred. Sonic drilling apparatus  10  with adapter  115  is utilized in the same manner as with adapter  15  described previously. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , adapter  115  is illustrated. Adapter  15  includes a base  120  having a threaded socket  122 , couplable to threaded fitting  14 , extending from one side and carrying an expansion mechanism such as a hydraulic cylinder  125 . While a hydraulic cylinder is preferred, other expansion mechanisms such as pneumatic cylinders, mechanical wedges and the like, can be employed. Hydraulic cylinder  125  is employed to drive at least one and preferably two opposing plates  128  and  129  between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In operation, adapter  115 , with plates  128  and  129  in the disengaged position, is inserted into the top end of column  16  with plates  128  and  129  positioned adjacent inner surfaces of opposing sidewalls of column  16 . Hydraulic cylinder  125  is then actuated to move plates  128  and  129  outwardly to the engaged position. In the engaged position, plates  128  and  129  are pressed against the inner surfaces of column  16 , securely holding adapter  115  to column  16 . In this manner, column  16  is securely retained by adapter  115  which is then couple to sonic drilling apparatus  10 , allowing the vibrations to pass into column  16 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 6 , plates  128  and  129  can be replaced by or augmented with opposing plates  130  and  132  positioned outside column  16 . If desired, when replacing plates  128  and  129  with plates  130  and  132 , the sides of column  16  can be supported by stationary plates such as plates  27  and  30  of adapter  15  positioned inside column  16 . In both cases, whether replacing or augmenting plates  128  and  129 , and whether or not inside plate are used, the expansion mechanism is employed to drive opposing plates  130  and  132  between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In operation, adapter  115 , with plates  130  and  132  in the disengaged position, is inserted onto the top end of column  16  with plates  130  and  132  positioned adjacent outer surfaces of opposing sidewalls of column  16 . Hydraulic cylinder  125  is then actuated to move plates  130  and  132  inwardly to the engaged position. In the engaged position, plates  130  and  132  are pressed against the outer surfaces of column  16 , securely holding adapter  115  to column  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when received within column  16 , plates  128  and  129  lie against opposing sides thereof and are fixed in position by the pressure generated by the expanded hydraulic cylinder. In this manner, column  16  can be quickly released from engagement by adapter  115  and can be quickly engaged by adapter  115 . With adapter  115  engaged with column  16 , adapter  115  is then coupled to orbiting mass oscillator  12  by attachment to threaded fitting  14 . Column  16  can then be positioned over the location in which it is to be emplaced, and using the sonic drilling apparatus, driven into the substrate to a depth desired and sufficient to provide stability to column  16 . Column  16  is then employed as a column for the construction of a structure such as a parking structure, shade structure, building and the like. By employing sonic drill technology to emplace columns, holes need not be prepared, and filler need not be replaced after positioning the column. The column is simply inserted through the substrate, which closely engages the column preventing removal without the additional use of the sonic drill apparatus. Column  16  is driven into the substrate when the correct frequency is achieved for the material of the column to resonate. 
     Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.