Patent ID: 7314335

Claim:
A method of installing a piling system comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of hollow pile sections, a helical anchor secured to a first pile section, and a drive member extending through the pile sections and operationally connected to the helical anchor at its lower end and to a source of rotational force at its upper end; thrusting the helical anchor into the soil; imparting rotation force on the drive member and the anchor, thereby driving the anchor and the first pile section into the soil; connecting one or more pile sections to the first pile section, while the anchor is being driven deeper into the soil until a pre-determined depth has been reached; imparting rotational force to said pile sections independently from rotation of the drive member, thereby facilitating soil penetration and compaction as the pile sections advance into the soil; and severing a connection between the drive member and the anchor and removing the drive member from the pile sections.