AU2010230083A1 - A method of installing a pile - Google Patents

Description

1 Title A method of installing a pile. Field of Invention 5 This invention relates to a method of installing a pile, for example as part of the foundations of a building or other structure. Background Piles are commonly used as part of the foundations of a building or other structure. 10 Sometimes these are referred to as anchors or piers and they may be screwed into the ground for connection to other building parts, for example to floor beams, etc. It is an object of a preferred form of the present invention to provide a useful and novel method of installing such piles, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. 15 The term "comprising" and derivatives thereof, for example "comprised, if and when used in this specification in relation to a feature or combination of features should be interpreted to allow for the option of additional unspecified features. The term should thus be interpreted as non-exclusive. 20 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing a pile comprising the steps of: a) causing the pile to enter the ground; b) subsequently arranging a casing in the ground around an upper part of the 25 pile; c) removing earthen material (eg soil, stones or sand) from within the casing by way of high pressure fluid; and d) arranging a fill of cementitious material in the casing. 30 Preferably the cementitious material is concrete. Preferably metallic reinforcing is placed within the casing to provide reinforcing for the cementitious material. 35 Preferably metallic hold down connectors are set into the cementitious material to facilitate subsequent connection of the pile to a building or other structure.

2 Optionally the casing is removed from the ground when the cementitious material has set. Optionally the pile is forced into the ground in screw fashion, by way of vibration or by 5 way of impact. Optionally the pile has a lower blade and is screwed into the ground at step a) by way of such blade. 10 Preferably the blade is helical. Optionally when the casing is arranged at step b) a portion of the casing remains above ground level. 15 Optionally when earthen material is removed at step c) such removal stops short of the maximum depth of the casing. Optionally when the cementitious material is arranged at step d) it is caused to fill to a level higher than ground level. 20 Optionally the pile is substantially vertical. Optionally the pile is angled with respect to vertical. 25 Optionally the casing has a blade and is screwed into the ground with the use of such blade. Optionally the casing has teeth at a lower edge thereof. 30 Optionally there are a number of piles installed in similar fashion as a group within the casing. Optionally at least some of the piles in the group are at an angle with respect to the vertical. 35 3 Description of the Drawings Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 5 Figure 1 illustrates a first step in the installation of a pile according to some embodiments of the invention; and Figures 2-6 illustrate subsequent steps in the installation process. 10 Detailed Description Referring to the first image in figure 1, a screw pile 1a having a lower helical blade 2a is screwed into the ground 3a. The remaining figures show similar piles 1b, 1c and 1d, each having a helical blade 2b, 2c and 2d, similarly screwed into the ground 3b, 3c and 3d respectively. The pile lb of the second image differs from the first 15 mentioned pile la in that it has a larger blade 2b. As shown in the third and fourth images, the embodiments there involve two piles 1c or three piles 1d arranged in a generally tapered configuration such that the piles are close to one another at their upper end and more distant from one another at their lower end. 20 Figure 2 illustrates a second step in the installation process with each of the four images corresponding to those shown in similar positions in figure 1. In each instance a cylindrical casing 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d with open upper and lower ends is forced into the ground around the piles or groups of piles respectively. In the case of the pile la the casing 4a has been installed with the aid of vibration techniques. In 25 the case of the pile lb the casing 4b has a helical blade 5 and has been screwed into the ground. In the case of the piles 1c the casing 4c has castellated teeth 6 and has also been screwed into place. In the case of the piles 1d the casing 4d has been hammered into place. However for each pile or group of piles the corresponding casing is installed after the piles have been placed into the ground. This facilitates 30 the use of casings of smaller size than may apply if one inserted the piles after the casings, ie in which event workers may need to allow a good deal of clearance to safely work in the piles. For example if working with a pile having a large helical blade and installing the casing before working the pile into the ground, the casing would need to be large enough to accommodate the size of the large blade. That 35 however is not such an issue if one works the pile into the ground before the casing. With reference to figure 3, the next step in the installation process involves removing 4 at least most of the body of ground captured by each casing to leave generally open spaces 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d therein. As indicated in the third image, this may be achieved by high pressure water jetting and suction removal 8 of earthen material and water within each casing. Water jetting can be particularly useful in that it can be 5 employed to leave the external surfaces of piles within the casing free from dirt and better able to bond with concrete. The casings may be particularly useful in keeping earthen materials prone to collapse from falling in around the upper ends of the pile or groups of piles. The casings may also be advantageous in situations where one is working down into areas below the water table. Preferably each casing is set into 10 the ground to a depth greater than the depth of earthen material actually cleared from within the casing. This may assist in preventing water from the surrounding ground intruding into the open spaces, when created. As shown in figure 4, after removal of earthen material from within the casings 15 reinforcing, for example a steel cage 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, is set in place within the casing around each pile or group of piles respectively. Referring to figure 5, steel 'hold down' connectors 1Oa, 1Ob, 1Oc and 1Od are then set in place at the upper end of each pile or group of piles so that such connectors can 20 be subsequently cast in and used for securing floor or other structures after the pile installation procedure has been completed. The connectors may for example be in the form of plates, threaded bars or a reed bar, and may be straight or angled, etc, to suit the building objectives of each situation. 25 As shown in figure 6, a fill of cementitious material, eg wet concrete 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d is placed into each casing around each pile or group of piles to bond with the piles and cast in the connectors respectively. Figure 6 shows that the uppermost part of each casing is above ground level and the concrete 11 is levelled off with respect to the top edges of such casing. When the concrete has cured the casings 30 can be removed to leave the upper end of each pile or each group of piles set in a concrete cap. The cap in each case provides a useful interface between the pile or piles and the structure which is anchored thereby. In other embodiments of the invention alternative groupings of piles may be adopted 35 to those shown in the last two images of each page of the drawings. In this regard piles can be clustered in the desired number, and/or at angles with respect to the ground or with respect to one another, to suit the building project at hand.

5 The casings are in each case preferably made of steel or an alternative metallic material. However in other embodiments of the invention the casings may be formed from different materials, for example concrete, etc. 5 While some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims. 10 15 20 25 30 35

Claims (23)

1. A method of installing a pile comprising the steps of: a) causing the pile to enter the ground; 5 b) subsequently arranging a casing in the ground around an upper part of the pile; c) removing earthen material from within the casing by way of high pressure fluid; and d) arranging a fill of cementitious material in the casing. 10

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cementitious material is concrete.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein metallic reinforcing is placed within the casing to provide reinforcing for the cementitious material. 15

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein metallic hold down connectors are set into the cementitious material to facilitate subsequent connection of the pile to a building structure. 20

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing is removed from the ground when the cementitious material has set.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pile is forced into the ground in screw fashion. 25

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pile is forced into the ground by way of vibration.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pile is forced into the 30 ground by way of impact.

9. A method according to and one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pile has a lower blade and is screwed into the ground at step a) by way of such blade. 35

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the blade is helical.

11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein when the casing 7 is arranged at step b) a portion of the casing remains above ground level.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein when earthen material is removed at step c) such removal stops short of the maximum depth of 5 the casing.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein when the cementitious material is arranged at step d) it is caused to fill to a level higher than ground level. 10

14. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pile is substantially vertical.

15. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the pile is angled with 15 respect to vertical.

16. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing has a blade and is screwed into the ground with the use of such blade. 20

17. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing has teeth at a lower edge thereof.

18. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, employed to install a number of piles in similar fashion as a group within the casing. 25

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein at least some of the piles in the group are at an angle with respect to the vertical.

20. A method of installing a pile according to any one of the preceding claims, 30 substantially as herein described with reference to any sequenced set of images in the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of installing a pile substantially as herein described with reference to any sequenced set of images in the accompanying drawings. 35

22. A pile when installed according to a method according to any one of the preceding claims. 8

23. A building having a pile installed by way of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 21. 5 The Fletcher Construction Company Ltd trading as Piletech By Its Attorney 10 A.J. Pietras & Co 15 20 25 30 35