Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for preventing dock piling and/or structure piling uplift caused by frost heaving or shifting.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a device for preventing dock piling and/or structure piling uplift caused by frost heaving or shifting.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,002 relates to a permanent pier piling for use in docks and the like in a body of water whereby an antifreeze solution within the piling circulates to distribute latent ground heat from the lower portion of the piling to the upper portion of the piling to maintain a fluid interface between the piling and the ice during the winter season.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,083 relating to an ice guard for protecting a vertically extending piling positioned in a body of water from damage due to changes in water and ice levels. The ice guard is concentrically positioned around a piling and extends above the surface of the body of water. The ice guard is held in place by the surrounding ice. The ice guard includes at least one longitudinally extending sleeve which is made of a buoyant material and a means for restricting vertical movement of at least a portion of the sleeve. Various longitudinally extending ribs can radiate from the sleeve to enhance adhesion of the sleeve to the ice.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,148 relates to a covering applied on the outer surface of a pile including a steel pipe or the like to surround a predetermined length thereof so as to reduce frost heaving force or negative friction acting on the pile in a frigid area. The covering is closely adhered by an adhesion layer to the pile.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,681 relates to a frost damage proofed pile for installment in a frigid district where the pile is subjected to a freezing and frost heaving force, such as permanently or seasonally frozen soil terrain. A tubular sheath member is fitted over the pile surface and has a length longer than the thickness of an active or seasonally frozen soil layer of the terrain in which the pile is installed. At least a portion of the length of the pile is formed as an extensible section, and at least the lower end of the sheath member is secured to the pile at or below a position corresponding to the bottom region of the active or seasonally frozen soil layer. A fluid material is filled in a space defined between the pile and the sheath member. The frost heaving force caused to exist upon freezing of the active or seasonally frozen soil layer as well as negative friction caused to exist in summer are inhibited from affecting the pile due to sliding of the sheath member relative to the pile.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,683 relates to a sleeve adapted to float in water to surround a piling to protect the same from being lifted by ice. It includes an outer corrugated casing which can be easily gripped by ice forming therearound. Within the casing is a layer of waterproof cementitious material followed by a layer of closed cell foam plastic. The innermost surface of the sleeve, which faces the piling, is a smooth even layer of polyethylene film. Should ice form in the annular space between the piling and the sleeve, the sleeve can easily slide up or down across the outer surface of the ice without moving the piling.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,459 relates to a method and apparatus for installing a benchmark in an arctic region to provide a reference point even after prolonged periods of exposure. To install the benchmark, a hole is formed through the active layer and into the underlying layer. An alignment jig mounts a marker element in a casing and both are positioned into the hole. A leveling clamp on the casing is used to plump and adjust the marker element to a known elevation. The marker element extends to the bottom of the hole while the casing terminates at a depth which is above the bottom of the hole but below the bottom of the active layer. A settable material which will freeze at ambient conditions, is poured into the hole to a point just above the lower end of the casing and is allowed to set. The annulus within the casing around the marker element is filled with fluidic material which will not freeze under ambient conditions. Since the marker element does not directly contact any part of the active layer, the marker element is effectively isolated from contact therewith so that the thawing and refreezing of the active layer do not disturb the position or elevation of the benchmark.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,526 relates to an arctic offshore platform placed in shallow waters with low to moderate ice environments. The arctic offshore platform has one or more support legs. Each support leg includes a base resting on the ocean floor, a central support column extending upward through the base to a portion above the ocean surface and a sloped-sided member seated atop the base and extending upward around the central support column to a position above the ocean surface. The base and central support column are installed and secured to the ocean floor as a unit. The sloped sided member is secured atop the base. The sloped sided member causes the ice sheets which may impact the support leg to fail in flexure, thus reducing the overall ice loadings in the support leg relative to the loading which would exist were the sloped-sided member absent.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention relates to a system and method for preventing dock pilings from uplifting due to frozen water and tidal changes and land structure pilings in ground. It is an object of the present invention for the product to slide over the pilings and float partially above the water line. It is an object of the present invention for the device to float approximately 25% above the water line. The present invention comprises a power cord which is wrapped around a piling and plugged into a power source. It is an object of the present invention for the power source to be a 110 volt shore power. It is an object of the present invention for the power source to be located at the dock. The power cord supplies power to a heat trace cable which is enclosed in an air-tight sealed hose. The heat from the trace cable prevents the piling from freezing to the ice beyond the exterior of the heated hose. It is an object of the present invention for the water between the hose and the piling not to freeze. It is an object of the present invention for the internal ice to remain independent from the exterior ice. It is an object of the present invention to keep the piling independent from the strength of the vertical ice.  
         [0010]     It is an object of the present invention for the heated hose to keep the piling independent from the force of the rising tide. This prevents upward lift.  
         [0011]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid hose. It is an object of the present invention for the heated hose to be attached to a plastic tube. It is an object of the present invention for the plastic tube to be about 4 feet long. It is an object of the present invention for the plastic tube or pipe to be about 10″-15″ in diameter.  
         [0012]     The present invention relates to a method of protecting a piling against uplifting comprising: installing a heat trace cable inside a hose. The hose is then sealed air tight. The air tight seal allows for buoyancy of the device. Both sealed ends of the heated hose will remain above the water line or ground line. One end of the hose is capped closed, while the other end is sealed with the power cord that is plugged into the shore power. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermostat adapter.  
         [0013]     It is an object of the present invention for the device to be the flexible type. It is an object of the present invention for the device to protect any size piling or joined pilings. It is an object of the present invention for the device to be installed on pilings attached to docks or on land structures. It is an object of the present invention for the heat hose to be wrapped around the piling or joined pilings. It is an object of the present invention for the flexible heated hose to be wrapped around the piling without disturbing any hardware.  
         [0014]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for preventing pilings from shifting or lifting in the frozen ground. The present invention relates to a device which prevents land pilings from uplifting due to frost heaving or shifting comprising a power cord which is wrapped around a piling and plugged into a power source. It is an object of the present invention for the device to be located 25% above the ground. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the device of the present invention wrapped around a dock piling.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top view showing the device of the present invention wrapped around a dock piling.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a plastic tube or plastic pipe used in the device of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows the device of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a side view showing multiple devices of the present invention used on a dock.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a side view showing multiple devices of the present invention used for land pilings.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows the device  10  slid over the piling  20  and floating approximately 25% above the water line, and 75% below the water line. The power cord  30  is plugged into a 110 volt shore power on the dock  40 . The power cord  30  supplies power to a heat trace cable which is enclosed in an air-tight sealed hose. The heat from the heat trace cable prevents the piling from freezing to the ice beyond the exterior of the heated hose.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the device  100  which has a heated hose  110 . Using the device of the present invention the water  120  between the hose  110  and the piling  130  does not freeze. Ice may begin to form at the water&#39;s surface, from the piling  130  toward the interior of the heated hose  110 , but the internal ice  120  remains independent from the exterior ice  140 . The device of the present invention keeps the piling independent from the massive strength of the vertical ice movement. While the tide may rise and fall when ice is attached to the piling  130 , the heated hose  110  keeps the piling  130  independent from the force of the rising tide. This prevents any upward lift.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of a rigid type, wherein the heated hose is attached to a plastic tube or plastic pipe  200  which is approximately 4 feet long and 10″-15″ in width.  FIG. 4  shows the tube  200  having the power cord  210  inside of it. In a preferred embodiment, the tube stays 25% above the water line and 75% below the water line.  
         [0024]     First the heat trace cable is installed inside the hose. The hose is then sealed, one end capped  220 , and the other end will have the power cord  210  that will be plugged into the shore power. The air-tight seal allows for the buoyancy of the product. Both sealed ends of the heated hose will remain above the water line. The heated hose is then wrapped around the tube. The unit is then ready for installation. In a preferred embodiment, thermostat adapter plugs are available.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a floating dock or boardwalk  300 , showing multiple devices  310 .  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment wherein the device  310  are flexible. With the flexible type, the user has the advantage of protecting any size piling or joined pilings  320 . The flexible type allows installation on pilings attached to docks. With the flexible type, the heated hose  330  can simply be wrapped around the piling  320 , or joined pilings. Many pilings at boat slips have hardware mounted to them. In this case, the flexible heated hose can be wrapped around the piling without disturbing the hardware.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a bottom support beam or structure  400  having multiple devices  425  attached to pilings  410 . The device  425  preferably is approximately 75% below the ground  420  and 25% above the ground in the crawlspace  430 . Plug  440  is attached to a device for providing power to the device  425 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 4