EP4339377A1 - Pipe pile and method for forming a foundation pile - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pile tube (10) for forming a foundation pile in the ground, having a tubular base body (12), a bulkhead plate (20) being arranged in an inner region (13) of the tubular base body (12), which covers the inner region (13). divided into a lower section (14) and an upper section (15), and wherein at least one through opening (22) with a closure device (24) is arranged on the bulkhead plate (20), with which the through opening (22) can be closed and opened can.

Description

The invention relates to a pile tube for forming a foundation pile in the ground with a tubular base body according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention further relates to a method for forming a foundation pile in a hole in the ground, in which a pile tube is inserted into the hole and a hardenable medium is introduced into an annular space between a wall of the hole and an outer circumference of the pile tube, according to the preamble of claim 14 .

From the EP 2 930 275 A1 disclose a method and an arrangement for producing a foundation pile for a structure in water. In this process, a borehole with a support pipe is first created in the ground. The resulting hole is filled with a liquid, especially water. A pile pipe is inserted into the cased borehole created in this way, for which a simple steel pipe with a tubular base body is used. The external support pipe is then pulled out and the annular space between the inserted pile pipe standing on the bottom of the borehole and the surrounding bore wall is filled with a hardenable medium. The surrounding water can remain within the pile tube. The load-bearing capacity of the foundation pile created in this way is determined by the outer surface of the pile tube used in relation to the surrounding soil with the hardened medium in the surrounding annular space. If necessary, the interior space, which is only filled with water, can be used to install measuring or testing equipment.

With this known method, the problem can arise that when the borehole base on which the pile pipe is placed is uneven, when the borehole is introduced curable medium in the annular space reinforces the flowable curable medium from below into the interior of the pile tube and fills at least part of the interior. This can lead to a significant increase in the need for curable medium. In addition, an uncontrolled transfer of the hardenable mass or medium from the annular space into the interior of the pile tube can lead to defects in the surrounding annular space and thus to an impairment of the load-bearing capacity of the foundation pile. Finally, the at least partially filled interior is not available to accommodate certain facilities.

From the WO 2021/180515 A1 a device for handling and inserting a pile pipe into a bore is known. The device is designed to be attached to a suspension cable of a crane. Using gripping elements, an annular edge of the pile tube can be gripped in a non-positive manner. Overall, the device is designed such that the pile tube can be pivoted from a horizontal storage position into a vertical insertion position.

From the US 2010/0296875 A1 an arrangement and a method for producing an underwater foundation with an underwater drilling rig are shown. The underwater drilling rig can be placed on a body of water. A foundation hole is created using tubular elements. The tubular elements can also be used to anchor the drilling device under water.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a pile tube and a method with which a foundation pile can be created particularly efficiently and reliably in a hole in the ground.

The invention is achieved on the one hand by a pile pipe with the features of claim 1 and on the other hand by a method with the features of claim 14. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

The pile tube according to the invention is characterized in that a bulkhead plate is arranged in an interior region of the tubular base body, which divides the interior region into a lower section and an upper section and seals them off from each other, and that at least one through opening on the bulkhead plate is arranged with a closure device with which the through opening can be closed and opened.

A basic idea of the invention is to design the pile tube in a special way to produce a foundation pile in the ground, with the interior of the tubular base body being divided into a lower section and an upper section by means of a bulkhead plate and these two sections of the interior of the tubular base body being sealed off from one another , i.e. can be separated from one another in a pressure-tight or essentially pressure-tight manner.

A further aspect of the invention is that at least one through opening with a closure device, in particular a valve, is arranged on the bulkhead plate, with which the through opening can be closed and opened. By means of the closure device, two different states can be set on the pile tube, namely a closed state, in which the two sections of the interior are sealed off from one another, and an open state, in which the two sections of the interior are open to one another and connected by lines.

If the at least one through opening is open in the non-sealed state, the pile pipe can be easily inserted into a bore filled with liquid like a conventional pile pipe. Liquid present in the bore can easily flow into the interior of the pile tube, so that there is pressure equalization and the same filling level inside and outside the pile tube in the bore used.

If the at least one through opening is closed by the closure device to achieve the sealed off state, in particular when the pile tube is placed on the bottom of a borehole, the lower section in the interior of the tubular base body, which lies below the bulkhead plate, is sealed off from the upper section above it, i.e separated pressure-tight or essentially pressure-tight. If an annular space between the bore wall and the outside of the pile tube is now filled in a known manner with a hardenable medium, in particular a cement suspension or mortar, the arrangement according to the invention results in increased penetration of the hardenable medium Medium is prevented from entering the interior of the pile pipe from below, even if the borehole base is uneven. This is because when the hardenable medium enters the lower section of the pile tube, this causes an increase in pressure in the sealed off lower section. This increase in pressure effectively counteracts further or excessive entry of curable medium. The hardenable mass or the medium, which is preferably introduced into a lower region of the pile tube on the outer circumference, will tend to fill the annular outer space, which, due to its upwardly open top, displaces water, particularly due to a higher density than surrounding water upwards from the annular space.

The pile tube designed according to the invention enables a particularly efficient creation of a foundation pile in the ground, especially under water in a body of water, since undesirable penetration of the hardenable medium into the interior of the pile tube is reliably counteracted. This reduces the consumption of hardenable medium, such as expensive cement suspension or mortar, and also enables reliable and controlled filling of the annular space between the foundation pile and the bore wall with the hardenable medium. This ensures the desired load-bearing capacity of the foundation pile created in this way. The interior can also be kept largely free of hardenable medium and can continue to be used in a variety of ways.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is that in order to lower the pile tube into a hole in the ground which is filled with a liquid, the at least one through opening in the bulkhead plate is opened, and to introduce a hardenable medium into an annular space between the outer circumference of the pile tube and a wall of the bore which has at least one through opening closed. This makes it possible in particular to use the pile pipe in an underwater foundation, with use on land also being useful and advantageous in boreholes filled with liquid, in particular a supporting liquid. When the bulkhead plate is open, the pile pipe can be placed in a simple manner like an open pipe into a body of water and/or in particular into a hole filled with liquid. By closing the at least one through opening after placing the pile tube on the bottom of the borehole, the lower section tightly sealed off. Thus, when filling the annular space between the outer circumference of the pile tube and a wall of the bore, in particular via at least one feed line into the lower region of the annular space, no or hardly hardenable medium can penetrate into the sealed off lower region.

In principle, it is also possible to keep the through opening open for a certain time when introducing the curable medium, so that a certain amount of curable medium can flow into the lower section of the pile tube. If a desired degree of filling of the lower section is reached, the at least one through opening can be closed, so that a further inflow of curable medium into the lower section is prevented. In this way, at least a lower edge region of the pile tube can be specifically embedded in the hardenable medium on its outside and inside, so that after hardening a defined pile base is formed on the pile tube and this reliably closes off the pile tube at the bottom. This can also further increase the load-bearing capacity of the foundation pile.

In general, one or more supply lines can be provided on the outside of the pile pipe or in the annular space itself to introduce the curable medium. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is that at least one feed opening for feeding a curable medium is arranged on the bulkhead plate. The curable medium can thus be supplied at least partially within the interior of the pile tube. This enables a protected arrangement of one or more supply lines within the pile pipe.

According to a further development of the invention, it is particularly advantageous that at least one line extends from the at least one feed opening along the lower section of the tubular base body and that the at least one line extends through the tube wall of the tubular base body and opens into an outlet opening. In this way, the at least one line for supplying the curable medium can run partially or entirely within the pile tube and in particular within the upper section and/or the lower section.

The passage through the bulkhead plate occurs via a feed opening, which may itself have a separate closure device. In particular, in the lower section of the tubular base body, the at least one line for supplying the medium is passed through the pipe wall, so that the line opens on the outside of the tubular base body into the annular space to be filled. A plurality of outlet openings can also be formed along the circumference of the tubular base body, in particular at a lower end region.

A further improvement is achieved in an embodiment variant of the invention in that at least two lines extend along the lower section of the tubular base body and in that the at least two lines can be connected in series for a flushing operation. The at least two lines can initially be connected in parallel to supply the curable medium, so that the annular space can be filled particularly quickly by using both lines. After introducing the curable medium, the two lines as a whole or at least sections of the lines can be connected in series via a switchable connecting device, i.e. connected to one another in terms of lines. This makes it possible for a rinsing liquid to be introduced via a line, which initially flows downwards through the line and is then discharged upwards again via the connected second line. In this way, the lines can be flushed free of the curable medium and therefore do not become clogged. This offers the opportunity to use the lines again if necessary. There can be a number of feed openings corresponding or adapted to the lines.

According to a further development of the invention, it may be expedient for a check valve to be arranged in the area of the at least one feed opening. The check valve can in particular be designed in such a way that the downward sealing effect is not impaired by the feed opening in the bulkhead plate. This means that the check valve is arranged in such a way that supply can take place from top to bottom, but not from bottom to top. The check valve can also be adjustable so that in certain cases the check function can be canceled in order to direct liquid through the feed opening from bottom to top in certain cases.

Alternatively or additionally, the check valve can also be switched so that it is blocking overall. The check valve can thus form a controllable closure device with an additional check function as safety.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the bulkhead plate has a coupling element to which a feed device for feeding a curable medium to the feed opening can be coupled. The bulkhead plate basically has a preferably metallic plate which is fastened, in particular welded, to a designated position along the inner wall of the tubular base body.

To simplify the structure of the pile tube, a line does not have to be formed entirely within the interior of the pile tube. Rather, the curable medium can be supplied at least over a partial area of the pile tube by means of a separate feed device that can be inserted into the pile tube. For feeding, this separate feeding device can be coupled to a coupling element provided for this purpose on the bulkhead plate. This enables a defined positioning and connection of the feed device with the feed opening and the at least one line along the lower section on the pile pipe.

After filling the annular space, the feed device can be detached or uncoupled from the bulkhead plate again and used to form another foundation pile on another pile pipe.

A particularly advantageous embodiment variant consists in that the closure device is designed to be actuated by the feed device in the coupled state. If a feed device is coupled in the bulkhead plate in order to introduce curable medium, the coupling process can cause the at least one through opening to be closed. This can be done, for example, via a mechanical lever and/or flap arrangement. This makes it possible to ensure that the lower area is reliably sealed off when the curable medium is fed via the feed device.

By means of an adjusting device on the feed device, it is in principle also possible to open and close the at least one through opening in a targeted manner by appropriately controlling the closure device, so that a targeted and defined inflow of a curable medium into the lower section can also be achieved. The actuating device can in particular comprise a motor or actuating cylinder.

For a reliable and safe process sequence, according to a further development of the invention, it is preferred that the closure device is designed to close the at least one through opening when curable medium is supplied.

A further embodiment of the invention is that the bulkhead plate is attached to the tubular base body in a fixed or detachable manner. A fixed arrangement of the bulkhead plate, for example by welding, is simple and cost-effective in terms of manufacturing technology. The bulkhead plate is firmly connected to the pile tube and remains as a lost element in the foundation pile.

According to an alternative, the bulkhead plate can be connected to the tubular base body in a detachable and in particular sealing manner, in particular at its outer area. After the medium has been introduced and hardened to form the foundation pile, it is therefore possible to detach the bulkhead plate from the tubular base body and recover it from the foundation pile. The bulkhead plate can thus be used repeatedly on different pile tubes to form additional foundation piles.

A releasable holding of the bulkhead plate can preferably take place via an appropriate clamping or clamping device or a screw or bayonet connection. A fastening element, such as an annular fastening flange, can also be arranged on the inner wall of the tubular base body, on which the releasable bulkhead plate can be placed and releasably fastened. In principle, all suitable fastening options can be used which are suitable for releasably and sealingly attaching a plate to a tubular inner wall.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a particularly efficient supply of the curable medium, in particular via a line to the supply opening on the bulkhead plate, can be achieved in that an inlet funnel is arranged at the supply opening. Several feed openings can also be provided, at which some or all of the inlet funnels are arranged. An efficient and quick line connection can be established via the inlet funnels. The funnels can also be referred to as inlet funnels, which make it easier to insert and thus connect the outlet device and the feed opening.

For fixed or detachable attachment of the bulkhead plate, it can be particularly advantageous that at least one holding element, in particular an annular shoulder, projecting radially inwards is arranged on an inside of the tubular base body. The bulkhead plate can be attached to the ring shoulder in a fixed or detachable manner.

To counteract the penetration of hardenable medium from the annular space into the interior of the pile tube, it is provided according to the invention that an annular sealing element is arranged on a lower edge of the tubular base body of a pile tube. The sealing element can in particular be an annular rubber element, which can compensate for unevenness in the bottom of a borehole and thus seal a joint between the lower edge of the pile tube and the bottom of the borehole. In cross section, the sealing element can be solid or designed with a cavity for an improved compensating effect. In general, an actively operable sealing element can also be provided, such as an annular, hose-like sealing element that can be inflated with compressed air. When compressed air is introduced, this can adapt particularly well to unevenness at the bottom of the borehole and thus seal the joint between the edge of the pile pipe and the base of the borehole particularly reliably. The arrangement of the sealing element can also basically be used independently of the arrangement of a bulkhead plate on a pile pipe and can be viewed as an independent invention.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that a pile pipe according to the invention is used, as described above. The process can be used to achieve the advantages described above when creating a Foundation pile can be achieved. The process can in principle be used on land. It is particularly advantageous that the method is used to form a foundation pile underwater, in particular on a body of water or seabed.

According to the invention, a preferred embodiment variant consists in that when the pile tube is lowered into the hole in the ground, which is filled with liquid, the at least one through opening is opened and in order to introduce the curable medium into the annular space between the outer circumference of the pile tube and the wall the hole at least one through opening is closed. This allows the foundation pile to be manufactured particularly reliably and cost-effectively.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Pfahlrohrs mit einer Schottplatte;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines unteren Teiles eines Pfahlrohres in einer Bohrung;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Detail-Querschnittsansicht zu einer Zuführeinrichtung an der Schottplatte eines Pfahlrohres; und

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Handhabungsvorrichtung zum Handhaben eines Pfahlrohres.

The invention is further explained below using preferred exemplary embodiments, which are shown schematically in the drawings. Shown in the drawings:

Fig. 1

a schematic sectional view of a pile tube with a bulkhead plate;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a lower part of a pile tube in a borehole;

Fig. 3

a schematic detailed cross-sectional view of a feed device on the bulkhead plate of a pile pipe; and

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a handling device for handling a pile pipe.

According to Fig. 1 a pile tube 10 with a tubular base body 12 is provided. In an interior region 13 of the tubular base body 12 there is a bulkhead plate 20 directed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tubular base body 12, which divides the interior region 13 into a lower section 14 and an upper section 15 and separates them from each other. An annular sealing element 19 can be arranged on a lower edge of the tubular base body 12, with which the pile tube 10 can be placed on a borehole base in as sealing as possible.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the bulkhead plate 20 has two schematically indicated through openings 22, which can be opened or closed in a targeted manner by means of a closure device 24, which is also schematically indicated. In a central region of the bulkhead plate 20, a feed device 30 with two schematically indicated feed openings 32, each with an insertion funnel 34, is arranged, as will be described in more detail below in connection with Fig. 3 is described.

The feed openings 32 with the insertion funnels 34 serve to supply a hardenable medium, in particular mortar or cement suspension, whereby the hardenable medium can be guided below the bulkhead 20 via lines 26 to a lower end region of the tubular base body 12. The lines 26 extend through a tube wall 16 of the base body 12 and each open into an outlet opening 28 on the outer circumference 17 of the base body 12. Curable medium can thus be passed over an inner area 13 of the pile tube 10 to a lower end area and via the outlet openings 28 exit outside the pile tube 10, as described in more detail below in connection with Fig. 2 is explained.

In Fig. 2 A lower end region of a pile tube 10 according to the invention is shown schematically and not to scale, which is inserted into a hole 4 in the ground 1. Only the lower area of the hole 4 is shown, whereby the hole 4 can have a depth of several meters, typically between 5m and 30m. The bore 4 is filled with a liquid, in particular water or another supporting liquid, for support, so that the bore 4 does not collapse even at greater bore depths. A support tube can also be provided at least in some areas.

The pile tube 10 with a bulkhead plate 20 can be easily inserted into a bore 4 filled with liquid in this way if the through openings 22 on the bulkhead plate 20 are opened by the closure devices 24. After reaching an end position of the pile tube 10, in particular when the pile tube 10 is placed on a borehole bottom 5 of the bore 4, the through openings 22 can be closed again with the closure devices 24. Hardenable medium can now be introduced into the bore 4 via the lines 26, wherein the curable medium is supplied within the pile pipe 10 in the lower region with the lines 26 and passes through the pipe wall 16 at the lower end region and can exit into an annular space 6 via the outlet opening 28. The annular space 6 is formed between an outer circumference 17 of the tubular base body 12 and a substantially cylindrical wall 8 of the bore 4. The curable medium can fill the annular space 6 from bottom to top due to its higher density compared to the liquid in the bore 4. Liquid is displaced upwards from the annular space 6 by the curable medium.

The intended bulkhead plate 20 seals a lower section 14 of the interior area 13 of the pile tube 10 at the top with the through openings 22 closed. Thus, the liquid in the lower section 14 of the pile tube 10 cannot be displaced upwards, so that no or hardly hardenable medium can penetrate into the inner region 13 of the pile tube 10. As a result, the interior area 13 can be reliably kept clear and curable medium or suspension can be saved.

According to Fig. 3 is the feed device 30 of the pile pipe 10 Fig. 1 shown in more detail. The feed device 30 can have a cup-shaped receptacle 31, which is attached in a central region of the bulkhead plate 20. The feed openings 32 for the downwardly leading lines 26 are formed in the cup-shaped receptacle 31. To introduce the curable medium, the feed openings 32 have introduction funnels 34 at their upper area. The feed openings 32 can also be designed with check valves 36, shown only schematically, which prevent undesirable backflow of the curable medium from the lines 26 in the example shown.

According to the invention, a handling device 50 according to the invention can be used to supply the curable medium Fig. 4 be used. The handling device 50 has a base body 52 with a cover plate 54, on which an attachment element 58 for placing or arranging the handling device 50 on or on a pile tube 10 is arranged.

The handling device 50 in the illustrated embodiment can be releasably attached to an inside of the pile tube 10 with at least one clamping or gripping element 57 via a gripping device 56, which can alternatively or additionally also be designed as a non-positive clamping device. Preferably, several gripping elements 57 are arranged along the circumference of the approximately tubular or barrel-shaped base body 52.

With the handling device 50, a pile pipe 10 can already be grabbed from a pile pipe storage on a ground surface or a watercraft. The pile tube 10 can have any position when gripped, for example horizontally or vertically. The handling device 50 can be connected to a lifting device, in particular a crane, via a holding element 55 at the upper end region of the base body 52. A pile tube 10 can thus be inserted from a storage position into a bore 4 in the ground 1 via the handling device 50.

In addition, the handling device 50 is provided with a feed device 60, which is only indicated schematically, which in the exemplary embodiment shown has delivery lines 64 which extend from an inlet device 62 at the upper end of the base body 52 to a lower outlet device 66. The outlet device 66 is designed to be connected to a pile pipe 10 via the insertion funnel 34 of the feed device 30 Fig. 3 to engage in the supply of a curable medium. Furthermore, a corresponding coupling unit can be provided on the handling device 50 in order to ensure precise positioning and position securing in cooperation with the coupling element 23 on the feed device 30 of the pile tube 10.

Via a supply line 80, which can also be referred to as an umbilical, curable medium, energy and/or data can be supplied via a detachable connecting device 70, the curable medium being transferred to the inlet device 62 at the upper end region of the base body 52. A single supply line or separate lines can be provided.

After the annular space 6 has been filled with the curable medium, the connecting line 80 and/or the hoist can be detached from the holding element 55, whereby the handling device 50 can remain on the pile pipe 10 as an additional load, at least until the curable medium is used to form the foundation element in soil 1 has hardened. The handling device 50 can then be detached from the pile pipe 10 and retrieved.

Claims (15)

Pile tube for forming a foundation pile in the ground (1), with a tubular base body (12),
characterized, - that a bulkhead plate (20) is arranged in an interior region (13) of the tubular base body (12), which divides the interior region (13) into a lower section (14) and an upper section (15) and seals them off from each other, and - That at least one through opening (22) with a closure device (24) is arranged on the bulkhead plate (20), with which the through opening (22) can be closed and opened. Pile pipe according to claim 1, characterized, that in order to lower the pile tube (10) into a hole (4) in the ground (1), which is filled with a liquid, the at least one through opening (22) in the bulkhead plate (20) is opened, and for introducing a curable medium into an annular space (6) between the outer circumference (17) of the pile tube (10) and a wall (8) of the bore (4) which has at least one through opening (22) closed. Pile pipe according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
in that at least one feed opening (32) for feeding a curable medium is arranged on the bulkhead plate (20). Bulkhead plate according to one of claims 1 to 3, marked thereby, that at least one line (26) extends from the at least one feed opening (32) along the lower section (14) of the tubular base body (12) and that the at least one line (26) extends through the tube wall (16) of the tubular base body (12) and opens into an outlet opening (28). Pile pipe according to claim 4, characterized, that at least two lines (26) extend along the lower section (14) of the tubular base body (12) and that the at least two lines (26) can be connected in series for a flushing operation. Pile pipe according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
that a check valve (36) is arranged in the area of the at least one feed opening (32). Pile pipe according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
in that the bulkhead plate (20) has a coupling element (23) to which a feed device (60) for feeding a curable medium to the feed opening (32) can be coupled. Pile pipe according to claim 7,
characterized,
that the closure device (24) is designed to be actuated by the feed device (60) in the coupled state. Pile pipe according to claim 7 or 8,
characterized,
in that the closure device (24) is designed to close the at least one through opening (22) when curable medium is supplied. Pile pipe according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized,
that the bulkhead plate (20) is firmly or releasably attached to the tubular base body (12). Pile pipe according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized,
that an inlet funnel (34) is arranged at the feed opening (32). Pile pipe according to one of claims 1 to 11,
characterized,
that at least one holding element projecting radially inwards, in particular an annular shoulder, is arranged on an inside of the tubular base body (12). Pile pipe according to one of claims 1 to 12,
characterized,
that an annular sealing element (19) is arranged on a lower edge of the tubular base body (12). Method for forming a foundation pile in a hole (4) in the ground (2), in which a pile tube (10) is inserted into the hole (4) and a hardenable medium is poured into an annular space (6) between a wall (8) of the hole ( 4) and an outer circumference (17) of the pile tube (10),
characterized,
that a pile pipe (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13 is used. Method according to claim 14, characterized, that when the pile tube (10) is lowered into the hole (4) in the ground (1), which is filled with liquid, the at least one through opening (22) is opened, and in that to introduce the curable medium into the annular space (6) between the outer circumference (17) of the pile tube (10) and the wall (8) of the bore (4), the at least one through opening (22) is closed.

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