GB2292408A

GB2292408A - Improvements in and relating to sheet piles and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2292408A
Application number: GB9521601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Nigel Jackaman
Original assignee: JACKAMAN NIGEL VICTOR CHARLES
Current assignee: JACKAMAN NIGEL VICTOR CHARLES
Priority date: 1995-02-02
Filing date: 1995-10-20
Publication date: 1996-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-10-20
Also published as: GB9521601D0; GB2292408B; GB9502025D0

Abstract

A member for penetrating ground is described. The member comprises a longitudinally stiff sheet (2); and a medial longitudinal tubular part (1); wherein a second member can be passed through the tubular part (1) for transmitting a pile-driving force. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHEET PILES AND THE LIKE This invention relates to sheet piles and like ground-penetrating members, such as revetments and trench linings, and provides a sheet pile which can relatively easily be driven into the ground.

Prior art sheet piles typically comprised steel members that were manually driven into the ground. These piles suffered from the disadvantage that they were unduly weighty and difficult to utilise.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sheet pile, or like ground-penetrating member, comprising a longitudinally stiff sheet with a medial longitudinal tubular part through which can be passed a member for transmitting piledriving force.

In this way, a sheet pile according to the present invention provides for a device that may be driven into the ground with surprising ease, thereby alleviating a serious deficiency of the prior art.

Such a sheet pile can be provided at the foot of its tubular part with a solid toe or shoe to which the driving force can be applied directly, and thus efficiently, without the loss of energy absorbed in the inertia of a pile, and possible damage to it when driven by blows at its head.

As mentioned above, it is preferred that the longitudinal part is provided substantially in the middle of the stiff sheet. However, it will be immediately apparent to the skilled man in the art that, whilst a medial position is the position of maximum efficiency, other positions could be adopted if preferred. Indeed, it should be remembered that the term "medial" is not to be construed limitatively, rather the term "medial" should be understood to include variations about the medial position within its scope.

Similarly, it will be apparent that although a single tubular part is preferred, a plurality of tubes could be provided, each of which is driven by suitable means. However, such an arrangement is unlikely to be popular as it would necessitate the adaption of the standard driving machines utilisable with the present invention.

In a preferred construction, a sheet pile according to the invention consists of a steel tube along two opposite sides of which are fixed, like broad flanges, a pair of transversely corrugated, ridged, ribbed or otherwise stiffened steel sheets which together make up the required width of the pile. Preferably, the mode of affixation is welding, but other modes of affixation will again be readily apparent to the man skilled in the art.

Alternatively, a pair of steel sheets may each have one longitudinal border transversely curved or bent, to half-tubular shape, the two borders being overlapped and welded together to form a tubular part, of circular or other cross-section, along the middle of a sheet pile formed by two sheets.

In a preferred first aspect of the invention, the stiff sheet or sheets have their free longitudinal borders flanged for overlapping engagement with similar adjacent piles when driven.

A preferred second aspect of the present invention provides an alternative arrangement of the stiff sheet's free transverse borders. These free borders may be interlocked with borders of neighbouring sheets to provide a secure engagement with neighbouring sheet piles. Sealing means, such as rubber strips, may be provided within these interlocking borders thereby to provide a substantially watertight seal between adjacent piles. It will be understood, of course, that a "secure engagement" is not limited to an inflexible permanent coupling. Indeed, it is preferred that the engagement between adjacent sheet piles is both flexible and releasable.

To provide the foot of a pile with a toe or shoe, the respective end of the tube, or tubular part, may be clenched to form a closed chisel or pointed end which is then filled, such as by concrete or a suitably hard and shock-resistant plastic material, to provide an anvil for pile driving.

Preferably, the lower edge of the sheet of the pile is cut back at an angle from each side of the toe or shoe to form a taper for leading the sheet into the ground as the pile is driven.

A convenient method of driving the pile is by the use of a pneumatic drill motor, or other vibratory or reciprocating motor or engine, eg a tamping engine, the tool of which is replaced by a steel rod which is inserted down the tube of the pile to bear, as a thrust transmitting member, on the toe or shoe anvil. By the use of such a vibratory motor or engine, from a driving stage of suitable height, the tubular sheet pile can be driven into soft ground with surprising ease.

A sheet pile in accordance with the invention may be a false pile or lengthening piece to be used in extension of a driven pile and in such case the tube is open at the foot and the lower edge of the sheet is square.

The head of the tube or tubular part of the pile may extend above the upper edge of the sheet and be provided with holes for a cross-pin, for use in withdrawing a driven pile.

The lower end of the tube of a false pile or extension unit may be formed for spigotand-socket engagement with the upped end of the tube of a driven pile.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lower end of a pile according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a typical cross section of the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a typical cross section of a second embodiment of the invention, and Figure 4 is a broken face elevation.

As shown by the drawings, the pile consists of a steel tube 1 along opposite sides of which are welded a pair of steel sheets 2 which are transversely corrugated, for stiffness, and have their free longitudinal borders 3 flanged, in a first embodiment, for overlapping engagement with similar adjacent piles when driven.

The second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 3, shows an alternative arrangement of the stiff sheet's transverse borders 3'. These borders 3' may be interlocked with borders of neighbouring sheets to provide a secure engagement with neighbouring sheet piles. Indeed, sealing means, such as rubber strips, may be provided within these interlocking borders thereby to provide a substantially watertight seal between adjacent piles. Such an arrangement would be particularly advantageous when the sheet piles according to the present invention are used to reinforce river banks, or to provide liquid storage tanks, for example. This embodiment is also advantageous as it easily enables the invention to be fitted round corners and other shapes whilst retaining its interlocking advantages.

The foot of the tube 1 is clenched to a chisel shape 4 and filled, with concrete or plastic, to form a driving anvil 5.

The head of the tube 1 projects above the sheets 2 and has holes 6 for insertion of a cross-pin for drawing the pile.

The lower edges of the sheets 2 are cut back at an angle at 7 to provide a leading taper to facilitate driving.

Whilst the present invention has been described above in relation to a steel device, it will be apparent that other materials may be adopted instead. Indeed, in one highly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device is made from a plastic material. The advantage that this material embodies is that it is much lighter than steel and consequently the pile driving equipment would be lighter and cost less.

Such a sheet pile would be extremely portable and would readily lend itself to a variety of further applications such as temporary (or indeed permanent) fencing and liquid storage (particularly with the interlocking embodiment described above), for example.

It will, of course, be understood that the present invention has been described above by way of example only and that modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, a number of sheet piles according to the present invention may be permanently joined together and sold in that arrangement, for use in ground that provides little resistance to the driving motion.

Claims

CrAIMS

1. A ground penetrating member, the member comprising: a longitudinally stiff sheet; and a medial longitudinal tubular part; wherein a second member can be passed through the tubular part for transmitting a pile-driving force.

2. A member according to claim 1 wherein a solid toe or shoe is provided at the foot of the tubular part.

3. A member according to claim 2 wherein the lower edge of the sheet of the member is in tapered form.

4. A member according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the member comprises a steel tube having welded to two opposite sides of a pair of transversely corrugated, ridged, ribbed or otherwise stiffened steel sheets which together make up the required width of the member.

5. A member according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the member comprises a pair of steel sheets each of which having one longitudinal border transversely curved or bent, to half-tubular shape, the two borders being overlapped and welded together to form a tubular part along the middle of the member formed by the two sheets.

6. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the head of the tubular part extends above the upper edge of the sheet and is provided with holes for a cross-pin.

7. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular part can be fitted to an extension unit.

8. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein free longitudinal borders of said stiff sheet are flanged for overlapping engagement with similar adjacent piles.

9. A member according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein free longitudinal borders of said stiff sheet are provided with interlocking means for engagement with adjacent piles.

10. A member according to Claim 9, further comprising sealing means provided within said interlocking borders thereby to provide a substantially watertight seal between adjacent piles.

11. A member according to Claim 10 wherein said sealing means comprises rubber strips.

12. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the member is made from plastics material.

13. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the member is a sheet pile.

14. A member substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. A sheet pile substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.