Profiler for installation of foundation screw anchors
A profiler for use in the installation of a screw anchor for connecting to foundations and the like. The profiler provides a readout of torque being applied by a hydraulic motor which rotates the drill head and screw anchor. The profiler further provides a range sensor which indicates the distance traveled by the drill head and, hence, the distance traveled by the screw anchor into the ground formation. An orientation sensor for the screw anchor may conveniently also be used in the operation of the profiler.
This invention relates to a profiler and, more particularly to a profiler used to provide real-time information concerning the installation of foundation screw anchors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONScrew type foundation piles, piers and anchors are conventionally used in construction projects to remedy failing foundations in existing structures as well as to provide foundation support for new construction. There are advantages to screw type foundation piles over more traditional type foundation support methods such as caissons and pile driven supports.
In the installation of screw type foundation piles, it is advantageous to obtain a real time display of torque being applied to the screw type foundation and, in addition, to obtain such torque indication and the depth profile of the screw anchor being installed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a profiler for installation of foundation supports such as screw anchors and screw piers, said profiler comprising a first sensor to measure inlet pressure to a hydraulic motor used to rotate said screw anchor, a second sensor to measure outlet pressure from said hydraulic motor, said first and second sensors being utilized to determine torque being applied to said screw anchor by said hydraulic motor, a third sensor to measure the distance traveled by said screw anchor in an earth formation and means for comparing said distance traveled by said screw anchor with said torque applied to said screw anchor over said distance.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing a screw anchor comprising applying a torque to said screw anchor by a motor connected to a drill head, allowing said screw anchor to move into a ground formation under the influence of said torque, determining the value of said torque applied to said screw anchor while said screw anchor moves into said ground formation and comparing the torque applied to said screw anchor with the distance traveled by said screw anchor in said ground formation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSSpecific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, a profiler used for the installation of a foundation support is generally illustrated at 100 in
The profiler 100, seen in enlarged form in
The profiler 100 further includes a sensor attachment 123 (
A tilt sensor 132 (
A controller (
In operation, the screw anchor 112 intended to be installed into the ground formation 122 will be connected to a drill head 134 through a shear pin release assembly 125 which is connected to drill head 134 which is rotated by hydraulic motor 104 (
It is known that the screw anchor 112 will provide sufficient support for a certain foundation 140 (
As the torque applied by the hydraulic motor 104 increases, the screw anchor 112 will move deeper into the ground formation 122. The distance or range 121 will indicate the real time decrease of distance between the drill head 134 and the ground formation 122. A graphical interface 150 (
When the drill head 134 reaches a position near the surface of the ground and the desired torque value for torque being applied to the screw anchor 112 has not yet been reached, the drill head 134 and shear pin coupling 125 will be disconnected from the screw anchor 112 may be connected to the top of the first screw anchor 112. The operator 103 will then manipulate the boom 102 upwardly to a position wherein the second screw anchor 112 may be rotated downwardly into the earth formation 122, while viewing the real time information from the orientation sensor 132 which ensures the operator is correctly positioning the screw anchor 122 for installation. The range sensor 121 will be reset to its initial setting corresponding to the new initial drilling position. Following the initiation of the operation of the hydraulic motor 104, the installation operation of the screw anchor 112 will proceed in a manner similar to that described.
When the desired value for the torque applied to the hydraulic motor 104 is reached, the operation of the hydraulic motor 104 will be terminated. The attachment of the foundation 140 to the screw anchor 112 will proceed as is known.
Reference is now made to
The upper graph “A” illustrates the torque being applied to the screw anchor 112 by the hydraulic motor 104 in real time and as sensed by the torque sensors 130, 131 already described. The center graph “B” indicates the distance measured by the range sensor 121 during the installation of the screw anchor 112. The lower graph “C” indicates the net depth reached by the screw anchor 112 during installation. It will be seen that the torque increases as the measured distance between the drill head 134 and the surface 122 of the ground decreases; that is, as the screw anchor 112 screw sinks deeper into the ground formation. The torque is shown to cease at a certain distance measured “D”. At this point, a second screw anchor 112 is connected to the first screw anchor 112 already drilled into the ground formation 122. The drill head 134 is raised to accommodate the second screw anchor 112 and the torque again commences at “E” and continues to increase until the second screw anchor 112 is sunken fully into the ground formation 122. At this point, the operator 103 determines that the first and second screw anchors 112 must be removed in favor of a different screw anchor 112. Thus, the torque is reversed at “F” and becomes negative. The distance between the drill head 134 and ground surface 122 increases as the second screw anchor 112 is removed from the earth and, subsequently, the first screw anchor 112 is removed. At this point “G”, the net depth will be zero on the ordinate of the lower graph “C”. The new screw anchor 112 is then positioned in place and the operator 103 recommences to drill the new screw anchor 112 into the ground formation 122 at “H” as described earlier. When the set point (SP) is eventually reached for the desired value, as illustrated in the graph “A”, the drilling is completed. The net depth of the screw anchor 112 will be seen in the lower graph of
Many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, while the orientation of the screw anchor 112 is usually vertical and, indeed, is vertical during the drilling operation described, the screw anchor 112 may be installed at any angle that is useful to accomplish the installation. For vertical ground interfaces, the installation of the screw anchor 112 may be horizontal and screwed into the ground formation 122 until the desired value for torque is reached.
Although the motor 104 being utilized conveniently is a hydraulic motor, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention would likewise apply to alternative drive systems such as electric and pneumatic motors.
Many further modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the particular examples provided herein are illustrative of the invention only and should not be taken as limiting its scope as defined in accordance with the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. Profiler for installation of foundation supports such as screw anchors and screw piers, said profiler comprising a first sensor to measure inlet pressure to a hydraulic motor used to rotate said screw anchor, a second sensor to measure outlet pressure from said hydraulic motor, said first and second sensors being utilized to determine torque being applied to said screw anchor by said hydraulic motor, a third sensor to measure the distance traveled by said screw anchor in an earth formation and means for comparing said distance traveled by said screw anchor with said torque applied to said screw anchor over said distance.
2. Profiler as in claim 1 and further comprising an orientation sensor for determining the orientation of said foundation support.
3. Profiler as in claim 1 as in claim 1 wherein said first and second sensors are hydraulic pressure transducers.
4. Profiler as in claim 2 wherein said orientation sensor is an axis sensor.
5. Profiler as in claim 4 wherein said axis sensor is a one axis sensor.
6. Profiler as in claim 4 wherein said axis sensor is a two axis sensor.
7. Profiler as in claim 1 wherein said distance sensor is an acoustic ranging sensor.
8. Profiler as in claim 1 wherein said distance sensor is an optical range sensor.
9. Profiler as in claim 1 wherein said pressure differential correlated with said hydraulic motor determines said torque.
10. Method of installing a screw anchor comprising applying a torque to said screw anchor by a motor connected to a drill head, allowing said screw anchor to move into a ground formation under the influence of said torque, determining the value of said torque applied to said screw anchor while said screw anchor moves into said ground formation and comparing the torque applied to said screw anchor with the distance traveled by said screw anchor in said ground formation.
11. Method as in claim 10 wherein said motor is a hydraulic motor.
12. Method as in claim 11 wherein said motor is an electrical or pneumatic motor.
13. Method as in claim 11 wherein said torque from said hydraulic motor is determined by pressure sensors.
14. Method as in claim 10 and further comprising monitoring the orientation of said support with an orientation sensor during said application of said torque.
15. Method as in claim 10 wherein said comparison is done in real time.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 6, 2003
Publication Date: May 12, 2005
Inventor: Tom Larovere (Santa Barbara, CA)
Application Number: 10/704,380