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 includes a first actuator and a second actuator. Each of the actuators has a central chamber, a pair of spaced-apart peripheral chambers, a pair of pistons interposed between the central chamber and the peripheral chambers, respectively, and a pair of piston rods coupled to and extending outwards from respectively ones of the pistons. The piston rods of the first actuator are shaped to form protrusions in the pile when the first actuator is actuated to move its piston rods outwards. The apparatus includes a pair of support members operatively connected to the piston rods of the second actuator. The support members are shaped to abut and support the inner surface of the pile when the second actuator is actuated to move its piston rods outwards.
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This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation-in-part of United States application Ser. No. 13/939,940 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jul. 11, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and priority to which is claimed. U.S. application Ser. No. 13/939,940 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/654,430 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 18, 2012, the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThere 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 ARTUnited 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 protrusions 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 INVENTIONThere 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 includes a protrusion-forming member selectively extendable outwards towards the inner surface of the pile to create an outwardly-extending protrusion in the pile. The apparatus includes a support member shaped to selectively extend outwards to abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile when the protrusion is being formed.
There is also provided a method of securing a hollow pile to the ground using the above set out apparatus. The pile has a bottom portion and a wall with an inner surface extending upwards from the bottom. The method includes driving the pile into the ground. The method includes lowering the apparatus into a portion of the pile driven into the ground. The method includes moving the support member outwards by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus. The method includes moving the protrusion-forming member outwards and against the wall of the pile by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus and thereby forming an outwardly-extending protrusion in the pile. The method includes filling the bottom of the pile with a flowable filler material.
There is further provided an apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground. The pile has a wall with an inner surface. The apparatus includes a first set of actuators having piston rods with ends shaped to form outwardly-extending protrusions in the pile when the first set of actuators is actuated to extend its piston rods outwards. The apparatus includes a second set of actuators coupled to and interposed between respective ones of the first set of actuators. The apparatus includes a plurality of support members operatively connected to piston rods of the second set of actuators. The support members are shaped to abut and support the inner surface of the pile when the second set of actuators is actuated to extend its piston rods outwards.
The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawings and first to
In other embodiments the bottom end may be open. In this case, the pile 22 may be pile driven into the ground, with interior 32 of 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 interior 32 of the pile thereby.
The wall extends from end 26 to end 28. The wall 30 has an inner surface 34 in communication with the interior 32 of the pile 22 and an outer surface 36 facing outwards away from the pile. The pile 22 has a longitudinal axis 38 that extends through ends 26 and 28. The pile is shown in
The system 18 includes a lifting and lowering assembly, in this example in the form of a winch mechanism 40 and a winch mount 42. The winch mechanism is supported by the winch mount, which in this example is an angled, frame structure positionable above open top end 26 of the pile 22. The winch mechanism 40 selectively lowers and raises a cable 44 that extends into the interior 32 of the pile 22. Winch mechanisms per se, including their parts, support structures and various functionings, are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore mechanism 40 and mount 42 will not be described in further detail.
The system 18 includes an apparatus 20 for securing pile 22 in the ground 24. The apparatus is operatively connected to cable 44 and is positionable within the interior 32 of the pile via the winch mechanism 40, as seen in
As best seen in
As best seen in
Referring to
Referring back to
As seen in
Referring back to
As seen in
The housing 46 includes an inner chamber 58 positioned between the inner wall 54 of the housing and passageway 57. Interior 53 of the housing 46 may be said to include chambers 56 and 58. As seen in
As best seen in
Referring to
Each protrusion-forming member has a proximal end in communication with chamber 56 and a distal end which is radially spaced-apart from the proximal end, as seen by proximal end 80 and distal end 82 for protrusion-forming member 72. The protrusion-forming members are thus in fluid communication with the outer chamber 56. The distal ends 82 of the protrusion-forming members 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 protrusion-forming members 72 are outwardly tapered with outer pointed portions 83 and base portions 85 which 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 protrusion-forming member 72 includes a piston member, in this example an elongate shaft 84 that extends from its proximal end 80 towards its distal end 82. The elongate shafts slidably and sealably extend through apertures 76 of outer wall 52.
Each protrusion-forming member 72 includes a stopping member 86 that is arcuate-shaped and circumferentially extending in this example. Each stopping member is connected to and is interposed between a respective base portion 85 of the distal end 82 of the respective protrusion-forming member 72 and shaft 84. The stopping members extend radially outwards relative to the base portions 85 of the distal ends 82 of the protrusion-forming members 72 in this example.
The protrusion-forming members 72 and 74 are moveable outwards from the housing 46 towards the inner surface 34 of the wall 30 of the pile 22. They move outwards and selectively deform portions 88 of the wall 30 of the pile 22 upon pressurized hydraulic fluid from reservoir 64, seen in
The apparatus 20 includes a plurality of support members, as shown by support members 92 and 94 in
As seen in
Each support member has at least one aperture, and in this example has a pair of circumferentially spaced-apart apertures 108 and 110, as seen in
The apparatus 20 includes a plurality of piston members, in this example actuator rods, with in this example a pair of actuator rods 112 and 114 per support member 92 as seen in
The proximal ends 116 of the actuator rods 114 are in fluid communication with the inner chamber 58. Each actuator rod sealably and slidably extends through a respective one of the circumferentially and axially spaced-apart apertures 120 of the outer wall 52, seen in
The support members 92 and 94 have a retracted position, seen in
Pressurized hydraulic fluid from reservoir 64, seen in
As seen in
In this manner, protrusions 90 may be selectively formed in the pile 22, as seen in
The pile with the protrusions so formed may be better secured to the ground 24 compared to a pile having no such protrusion. The invention as herein described may be particularly useful for situations where the pile 22 relies on pure shaft resistance and little to no toe resistance. However, the apparatus and system as herein described may also be 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 provided a method for securing the pile 22 in the ground 24. 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 apparatus 20 into the portion 125 of the pile driven into the ground 24, as seen in
Referring to
The method next includes moving the support members 92 and 94 radially outwards by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid from reservoir 62 seen in
The protrusion-forming members and support members are then hydraulically retracted radially inwards such that the support members remain spaced-apart from and free of the inner surface 34 of wall 30 of the pile 22 as seen in
The apparatus 20 may then be selectively raised upwards, as shown by arrow 128 in
Referring to
The structure of the housing 46, with its walls and chambers, is by way of example only. Many variations in this structure are possible to house protrusion-forming members 72 and support members 92 that are selectively moveable outwards. Also, the reservoirs 62 and 64 may be part of apparatus 20, on the top 48 thereof for example, in other embodiments.
Protrusion-forming members 72 have been shown in fluid communication with chamber 56 and rods 112 and 114 of support members in fluid communication with chamber 58. In other embodiments, the protrusion-forming members may be in fluid communication with chamber 58 and the rods may be in fluid communication with chamber 56.
Apparatus 20.2 includes a first set 130 of actuators, in this example four actuators 134, 136, 138 and 140, best seen in
The longitudinal axes of adjacent actuators 134, 136, 138 and 140 of the first set 130 of actuators are angularly spaced-apart by an angle α. This is shown in
As seen in
As seen in
Each of the first set 130 of actuators 134, 136, 138, and 140 is hollow and cylindrical in this example, and as shown for actuator 138 in
The first set 130 of actuators 138 have a plurality of outer ports 169 and 49.2 located adjacent to the top 158 and ends 152 and 154 thereof and in communication with the peripheral chambers. The actuators include a pair of central ports 51.2 and 172 interposed between the outer ports and located adjacent to the top and bottom thereof. The central ports are in communication with the central chamber 168. Ports 49.2, 51.2, 169, and 172 extend from the exteriors 155 of the first set 130 of actuators 138 to their interiors 162.
Each actuator includes a pair of reciprocable pistons 174 and 176 in this example interposed between the central chamber and the peripheral chambers 164 and 166, respectively. A pair of piston rods 84.2 and 178 couple to and extend longitudinally outwards from pistons 174 and 176, respectively, in a longitudinal direction relative to the longitudinal axes of the actuators, as seen by axis 151 for actuator 140 in
The apparatus 20.2 includes a plurality of protrusion-forming members 72.2 and 74.2 fitted to respective ends 82.2 of the piston rods of the actuators 134, 136, 138 and 140 in this example. The distal ends of the piston rods and protrusion-forming members of respective ones of the actuators 134, 136, 138 and 140 are arranged in a spiral formation in this example as seen with reference to
The protrusion-forming members are shaped to form outwardly-extending protrusions in the pile 22.2 when the first set 130 of actuators 134, 136, 138 and 140 are actuated to move their piston rods outwards, as shown by the dotted lines in
Each of the second set 142 of actuators 144, 146, 148, 150 and 165 is hollow and cylindrical in this example, as shown for actuator 148 in
Each of the second set 142 of actuators 148 has a plurality of outer ports 200 and 202 located adjacent to the top 188 and ends 182 and 184 thereof and in communication with the peripheral chambers. The actuators include a pair of central ports 204 and 206 interposed between the outer ports and located adjacent to the top and bottom thereof. The central ports are in communication with the central chamber 198. The ports 200, 202, 204 and 206 extend from the exteriors 205 of the second set 142 of actuators 148 to their interiors 192.
Each actuator 148 includes a pair of reciprocable pistons 208 and 210 in this example interposed between the central chamber and the peripheral chambers 194 and 196, respectively. A pair of piston rods 112.2 and 114.2 couple to and extend longitudinally outwards from pistons 208 and 210, respectively, in a longitudinal direction relative to the longitudinal axes of the actuators, as seen by axis 161 for actuator 150 in
As seen in
Referring to
Adjacent pairs of support members from adjacent members of the second set 142 of actuators 144, 146, 148, 150 and 165 are spaced-apart from each other relative to the longitudinal axis 38.2 of the pile, as seen by second gap G2 in
As seen in
As seen in
Referring to
The peripheral chambers 164.3 and 166.3 of the first set 130.3 of actuators 134.3, and 136.3 are hydraulically connected to each other. The peripheral chambers 194 and 196 of the second set 142.3 of the actuators 144.3 and 146.3 are hydraulically connected to each other. Conduits, in this example hoses 224 and 226, are connected to a further hydraulic pressure, in this example, the selective removal of hydraulic fluid therethrough causing the support members (not shown for clarity) to extend outwards.
After an initial set of protrusions 90.4 have been formed in the pile 30.4 with apparatus 20.4, the apparatus may be rotated to form further protrusions. Thereafter, the apparatus may be incrementally raised and a flowable filler material in the form of sand 235 in this example may fill portions of the pile below the apparatus via conduit 63.4, in this example may fill a bottom half portion 235 of the pile seen in
There is provided an apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusion-forming members. The protrusion-forming members are moveable for selectively deforming portions of the wall of the pile and creating outwardly-extending protrusions in the pile upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of support members. The support members are shaped to selectively abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile prior to and when the protrusions are being formed.
Examples of apparatuses for securing a hollow pile in the ground, and a system and method therefor, have been described. The following clauses are offered as further description.
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- 1) An apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground, the apparatus including a plurality of spaced-apart protrusion-forming members for selectively deforming portions of the wall of the pile and creating outwardly-extending protrusions in the pile upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the apparatus, the apparatus including a plurality of support members extending outwardly from the apparatus and shaped to selectively abut and support the wall of the pile when the protrusions are being formed.
- 2) The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the pile has a wall with an inner surface, and the support members selectively abut the inner surface of the wall.
- 3) The apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the apparatus is positionable within the pile.
- 4) The apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a plurality of apertures, the protrusion-forming members slidably extending through the apertures of the housing and being moveable outwards from the housing for selectively deforming portions of the wall of the pile and creating outwardly-extending protrusions in the pile upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the interior of the housing.
- 5) The apparatus of clause 4, wherein the support members extend outwardly from the housing.
- 6) The apparatus of clause 4 or 5, wherein the pile is tubular, the apertures of the housing are circumferentially spaced-apart, the protrusion-forming members radially extend outwards and are circumferentially spaced-apart, and the support members are circumferentially spaced-apart.
- 7) The apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the support members have outer surfaces that are arcuate-shaped.
- 8) The apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the support members are proximal to each other so as to substantially support those portions of the wall of the pile circumferentially extending around the protrusion-forming members.
- 9) The apparatus of any one of clauses 4 to 6 wherein the housing is cylindrical
- 10) The apparatus of any one of clauses 4 to 6 wherein the support members are located radially outwards from the housing and selectively abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile.
- 11) The apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a plurality of piston members each of which connects to a respective one of the support members, and wherein the apparatus includes an annular outer wall, an annular inner wall that is operatively connected to and is radially-inwardly spaced-apart from the outer wall, an outer chamber interposed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and an inner chamber positioned within the inner wall, the protrusion-forming members being in fluid communication with a first one of the inner chamber and the outer chamber and the piston members being in fluid communication with a second one of the inner chamber and the outer chamber.
- 12) The apparatus of clause 11 wherein the inner wall has a plurality of spaced-apart apertures through which the piston members slidably extend and wherein pressurized hydraulic fluid applied to the inner chamber causes the support members to move radially outwards for abutting the inner surface of the wall of the pile.
- 13) The apparatus of any preceding clause wherein the support members are moveable from a retracted position in which the support members are radially inwardly spaced-apart from the inner surface of the wall of the pile to an extended position in which the support members abut the inner surface of the wall of the pile.
- 14) The apparatus of clause 13 wherein respective adjacent ones of the support members may abut each other in the retracted position.
- 15) The apparatus of any one of clauses 4 to 6, 9 and 10, further including a plurality of radially inwardly extending piston members, each rod connecting to a respective one of the support members, the support members slidably connecting to the housing via the piston members.
- 16) The apparatus of any preceding clause wherein each of the protrusion-forming members has an arcuate-shaped stopping member shaped to abut the support members upon the protrusions being formed and shaped to inhibit radially outwards movement of the protrusion-forming members thereafter.
- 17) The apparatus of any preceding clause wherein each of the support members has at least one aperture, wherein distal ends of the protrusion-forming members extend through said apertures of the support members, and wherein the stopping members are larger than the apertures of the support members and abut portions of the support members adjacent to the apertures of the support members upon the protrusions being formed.
- 18) The apparatus of any one of clauses 4 to 6, 9, 10 and 15, wherein pressurized hydraulic fluid applied to the interior of the housing causes the support members to move outwardly and abut the inner surface of the wall of the pile and causes the protrusion-forming members to selectively move outwards and radially past the support members to form protrusions in the pile.
- 19) The apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a passageway extending therethrough, the passageway being shaped to receive pile fill material therethrough for filling the pile with said material upon raising the apparatus to a different longitudinal section along the pile.
- 20) The apparatus of any preceding clause wherein the supports members are circular segments in cross-section.
- 21) An apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground, the apparatus comprising a protrusion-forming member selectively moveable outwards towards the inner surface of the pile to create an outwardly-extending protrusion in the pile upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the apparatus, and the apparatus comprising a support member extending outwardly from the protrusion-forming member and being shaped to selectively abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile prior to and when the protrusion is being formed.
- 22) The apparatus of any one of clauses 1 to 3 including a means for selectively creating an outwardly-extending protrusion in the pile and a means for selectively abutting and supporting the wall of the pile prior to and when the protrusion is being formed.
- 23) An apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground, the apparatus comprising: a means for selectively creating an outwardly-extending protrusion in the pile; and a means for selectively abutting and supporting the wall of the pile prior to and when the protrusion is being formed.
- 24) A method of securing a hollow pile to the ground using an protrusion forming apparatus having both a plurality of spaced-apart protrusion-forming members and a plurality of spaced-apart support members, the method comprising: driving the pile into the ground; lowering the apparatus into a portion of the pile driven into the ground; moving the support members outwards to abut the wall of the pile by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus; and moving the protrusion-forming members outwards and against the wall of the pile by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus and thereby forming outwardly-extending protrusions in the pile.
- 25) The method of clause 24, wherein, before forming the protrusions, further including the step of: filling the pile with water.
- 26) The method of any one of clauses 24 and 25, the apparatus having a pair of chambers, the support members hydraulically connecting to a first one of the chambers and the protrusion-forming members hydraulically connecting to a second one of the chambers, and wherein the method further includes the steps of: supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first one of the chambers for moving the support members radially outwards; and supplying a further pressurized hydraulic fluid to the second one of the chambers for moving the protrusion-forming members radially outwards.
- 27) The method of any one of clauses 24 to 26, the protrusion-forming members being radially extending and circumferentially spaced-apart and the support members being circumferentially spaced-apart, and wherein the method further includes: selectively retracting the protrusion-forming members and the support members radially inwards; rotating the apparatus; and then further moving the support members outwards by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus; and further moving the protrusion-forming members outwards and against the wall of the pile by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus and thereby forming further protrusions in the pile.
- 28) The method of any one of clauses 24 to 26, the protrusion-forming members being radially extending and circumferentially spaced-apart and the support members being circumferentially spaced-apart, and wherein the method further includes: selectively retracting the protrusion-forming members and the support members radially inwards; moving the apparatus axially; and then further moving the support members outwards by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus; and further moving the protrusion-forming members outwards and against the wall of the pile by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus and thereby forming further protrusions in the pile.
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.
Claims
1. An apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground, the pile having a wall with an inner surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a protrusion-forming member selectively extendable outwards towards the inner surface of the pile to create an outwardly-extending protrusion in the pile; and
- a support member shaped to selectively move outwards to abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support member is shaped to selectively move outwards to abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile when the protrusion is being formed.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support member is shaped to selectively move outwards to abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile prior to the protrusion being formed.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including an actuator configured to selectively move the protrusion-forming member outwards to create the protrusion in the pile upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the actuator.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including an actuator configured to selectively move the support member outwards to abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile when pressurized hydraulic fluid is applied to the actuator.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member extends about the inner surface of at least part of the pile.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support member includes a brace that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to outwards movement of the support member.
8. An apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground, the pile having a wall with an inner surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a first actuator and a second actuator, each of said actuators having a central chamber, a pair of spaced-apart peripheral chambers, a pair of pistons interposed between the central chamber and the peripheral chambers, respectively, and a pair of piston rods coupled to and extending outwards from respectively ones of the pistons, the piston rods of the first actuator being shaped to form protrusions in the pile when said first actuator is actuated to move its piston rods outwards; and
- a pair of support members operatively connected to the piston rods of the second actuator, the support members being shaped to abut and support the inner surface of the pile when said second actuator is actuated to move its piston rods outwards.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the central chambers of the actuators are hydraulically connected to each other and wherein the peripheral chambers of the actuators are hydraulically connected to each other.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the peripheral chambers of the first actuator are hydraulically connected to each other and wherein the peripheral chambers of the second actuator are hydraulically connected to each other.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support members are arcuate-shaped.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pistons are telescopic.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, the pile having a longitudinal axis, wherein the actuators have longitudinal axes which substantially intersect with and extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pile.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the actuators are coupled together via portions of the actuators adjacent to the central chambers of the actuators.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further including a third actuator substantially similar to the second actuator, the first actuator stacking on top of the second actuator, the third actuator stacking on top of the first actuator, the first actuator having protrusion-forming members connected to respective ones of its piston rods, the protrusion-forming members being shaped to selectively extend between the support members of the first actuator and the third actuator.
16. An apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground, the pile having a wall with an inner surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a first set of actuators having piston rods with ends shaped to form outwardly-extending protrusions in the pile when said first set of actuators is actuated to extend its piston rods outwards;
- a second set of actuators coupled to and interposed between respective ones of the first set of actuators; and
- a plurality of support members operatively connected to piston rods of the second set of actuators, the support members being shaped to abut and support the inner surface of the pile when said second set of actuators is actuated to move its piston rods outwards.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the piston rods of the first set of actuators have distal ends arranged in a spiral formation.
18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, the pile having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the support members are spaced-apart from each relative to the longitudinal axis to enable at least one of the respective ones of the ends of the piston rods of the first set of actuators to selectively extend therebetween.
19. A method of securing a hollow pile to the ground using the apparatus of claim 1, the pile having a bottom portion and a wall with an inner surface extending upwards from the bottom, the method comprising:
- driving the pile into the ground;
- lowering the apparatus into a portion of the pile driven into the ground;
- moving the support member outwards by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus;
- moving the protrusion-forming member outwards and against the wall of the pile by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the apparatus and thereby forming an outwardly-extending protrusion in the pile;
- incrementally raising the apparatus;
- filling a bottom portion of the pile with a flowable filler material as the apparatus is raised; and
- filling a top portion of the pile with concrete as the apparatus is further raised.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19 including, after the moving step:
- rotating the apparatus and then supplying hydraulic fluid to move the support member outwards and the protrusion-forming member outwards to form a further protrusion.
21. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the flowable filler material is one from the group consisting of sand, mud and control density fill.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 23, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2014
Applicant: P3 Infrastructure Consulting Inc. (Vancouver)
Inventor: Michael Gregory Chin (Vancouver)
Application Number: 14/260,031
International Classification: E02D 5/54 (20060101);