GB2496468A

GB2496468A - Pile driving guide for use when making an array of piles

Info

Publication number: GB2496468A
Application number: GB1211975.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Howel Gunter; Tomas Goodbourn
Original assignee: IHC Sea Steel Ltd
Current assignee: IHC Sea Steel Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-09
Filing date: 2012-07-05
Publication date: 2013-05-15
Also published as: GB201119340D0; GB201211975D0; WO2013068717A1

Abstract

Apparatus 10, for use when driving piles in an array, comprises a body 12 and a plurality of pile guides 20. Each pile guide 20 comprises a base frame 22, having a planar surface 24, and a pile guide member 26 mounted on the base frame via a support arrangement 30. Each pile guide is movable between an operative position in which the surfaces are substantially co-planar, and an inoperative position in which the surfaces are not co-planar. Each support 30 may allow linear movement of its pile guide, there may be a pivot axis (32, figure 2) about which the pile guides rotate, and the support may have a rail (50, figure 2) to allow sliding. A second invention is characterized in that each support arrangement is configured to allow rotational movement and translational movement of its pile guide member.

Description

TITLE: PILE DR1VING

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to pile driving, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to underwater pile driving, e.g. for stabbing piles directly into the seabed.

BACKGROUND ART

It is Imown to provide a guide for aligning a pile with the surface of a substrate into which the pile is to be driven and to provide stability for a piling hammer, see, for example, IHC Sea Steel Limited's range of pile guides as described in WO 99/11872 (Fast Frame Pile Guide), WO 01/92645 (Finned Frame/Follower pile guide) and WO 03/074795 (Orientation Control Pile Guide). Where a plurality of piles are to be driven into a substrate such that they are accurately positioned relative to one another, i.e. in a predetermined array, it is usual to provide a template' or frame having a corresponding plurality of guides that are spaced according to the required relative positions of the piles on the substrate. Depending on the required dimensions, such a frame can be substantial in both size and weight, which in turn requires a large crane and associated vessel.

Difficulties have been encountered in controlling the deployment of templates with multiple pile guides at sea due to hydrodynamic forces generated by wave-induced movement at the water surface. In many cases, the more water that can become "trapped" above the object during deployment, the greater the hydrodynamic forces might be. For this reason, objects with large flat surfaces (e.g. the base frame of a pile guide) are often deployed at an angle to encourage water to run off them rather than become trapped, thereby minimising potential hydrodynamic forces at work. Even so, certain large objects may only be deployed in relatively calm seas to ensure that hydrodynamic forces acting on the objects do not exceed safe, threshold levels.

In WO 2010/043845, the present applicant proposed a template to which a pile guide can be releasably attached at first and second spaced locations, allowing two piles to be positioned relative to one another on the substrate (e.g. the seabed) without the need for a separate pile guide for each pile that is to be driven into the substrate. This not only enables the use of a smaller template than used hithertobefore for a given pile array, but also a smaller crane and vessel to deploy the template and pile guide.

Another BIG Sea Steel Limited pile guide, as described in W02009/024739, was specifically devised to allow for pile driving into an inclined substrate, such as the inclined side of a seabed canyon. The pile guide comprises a pile guide member which is pivotally mounted on a base frame to enable the pile guide member to pivot around an axis of rotation relative to the base frame. With such an arrangement, the orientation of the pile guide member may be adjusted to guide piles in a vertical orientation when the base frame rests on an inclined substrate with the axis of rotation horizontal (i.e. aligned transversely to the incline direction). However, such pile guides are not ideally suited for driving a pile into an uneven or undulating underwater substrate with localised variations in level. This is because such an underwater substrate will have a tendency to support the pile guide at different angles to the horizontal in different locations, which would result in piles being driven into the substrate in different, non-vertical orientations.

Yet another IHC Sea Steel Limited pile guide, as described in PCT/GB2O1 1/050004, was devised to allow for pile driving into an uneven or undulating underwater substrate with localised variations in level. The pile guide comprises a pile guide member mounted on a base frame via a plurality of support members of variable length, with length adjustment of each of the plurality of support members determining the orientation of the pile guide member relative to the base frame. However, with such an arrangement, the variable-length support members must be strengthened or protected to withstand lateral loads experienced by the pile guide during use.

The present invention has been developed to provide apparatus for driving piles into a substrate in a predetermined array, which is readily deployed and which may be used on an inclined or even undulating substrate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for driving piles into a substrate in a predetermined array, comprising: a body; and a plurality of pile guides coupled to the body, each pile guide comprising a base frame having a planar substrate-engaging surface and a pile guide member mounted on the base frame via a support arrangement, with each pile guide member being configured to guide a pile in a predetermined direction therethrough as it is driven into a substrate; eharacterised in that at least one pile guide is moveable relative to the body between an operative position in which the planar substrate-engaging surfaces of the pile guides are substantially coplanar and an inoperative position in which the planar substrate-engaging surfaces of the pile guides are no longer eo-planar.

The present applicant has found that the potential difficulties of deploying templates with a plurality of pile guides at sea may be alleviated by coupling the pile guides together in such a way that they are moveable between "operative" and "inoperative' positions. When in the inoperative position, the substrate-engaging surfaces of the base frames of the pile guides may be mutually inclined and may not contribute significantly to the overall "footprint" of the apparatus. As a result, the plurality of pile guides should not unduly increase hydrodynarnic forces acting on the apparatus during deployment at sea.

The at least one pile guide may be configured to rotate relative to the body around a pivot axis when moving between the operative and inoperative positions. The at least one pile guide may be configured to rotate through an angle of up to 900 around the pivot axis when moving between the operative and inoperative positions. For example, the angle may be at least 30°, possibly at least 45° or even at least 60°. In one embodiment, each pile guide may be configured to rotate relative to the body around a respective pivot axis when moving between the operative and inoperative positions, with each pile guide being configured to rotate through an angle of up to 90° around its pivot axis when moving between the operative and inoperative positions.

In one arrangement, the apparatus may comprise at least three pile guides, and may for example have four pile guides. The body may have a rectangular profile or footprint, and may even be square. Each pile guide may be associated with a respective side of the body. If there are only three pile guides, one side of the body may not be associated with a pile guide.

In one embodiment, the support arrangement of at least one pile guide may be configured to allow translational (e.g. linear) movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame. In this way, it is possible to adjust the spacing between at least some of the pile guide members when in the operative position (and hence between piles ultimately driven therethrough). Thus, the apparatus may be used to drive piles in a range of predetermined arrays, with different spacings between driven piles. The support arrangement may comprise a rail and a component slidably mounted on the rail. In one arrangement, movement of the component relative to the rail may be controlled by a releasable clamp configured to maintain a desired position therealong when engaged. Alternatively, movement of the component relative to the rail may be controlled by a drive system such as a worm drive.

Alternatively, or additionally, the support arrangement of at least one pile guide (possibly even the at least one pile guide) may comprise first and second parts which are pivotally coupled together to provide pivotal movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame about a first axis of rotation. The support arrangement may even further comprise third and fourth parts which are pivotally coupled together to provide pivotal movement of the pile guide member relative to the base frame about a second axis of rotation, enabling the predetermine direction in which a pile is guided through its pile guide member to be varied relative to the planar substrate-engaging surface of its base frame with two degrees of rotational freedom. With such an arrangement, the orientation of the predetermined direction in which a pile is guided through its pile guide member may be altered to accommodate an uneven or inclined substrate which causes the apparatus to rest in a non-horizontal plane. In this way, it may be possible to align piles vertically during pile driving when the apparatus is resting on an inclined substrate.

The support arrangement may include a drive mechanism (e.g. a hydraulic ram) configured to displace the pile guide member relative to its base frame along the first axis of rotation, and possibly also along the second axis of rotation. Such displacements may be used to adjust the spacing between pile guides in the apparatus, so that piles may be driven with set spacings therebetween, even when the apparatus is resting on an inclined (non-horizontal) substrate.

The first and second axes of rotation may extend in a common plane, which may be spaced from its planar substrate-engaging surface of its base frame and which may lie parallel thereto. The first and second axes of rotation may lie perpendicular to one another. One of the first and second parts and one of the third and fourth parts may be rigidly coupled together, for example by a continuous member extending around the pile guide member of the at least one pile guide. The continuous member may be annular. One of the first and second parts may be disposed on an outer periphery of the continuous member, and one of the third and fourth parts may be disposed on an inner periphery of the continuous member. The first and second parts andlor the third and fourth parts may comprise a spindle and a corresponding socket in which the spindle is rotatably mounted.

The support member may be configured to support opposing sides of the pile guide member along at least one of the first and second axes of rotation. Thus, the first and second parts may be one of a pair of such components, spaced apart along the first axis of rotation, and arranged on opposite sides of the pile guide member.

The first part may comprise a post-like support, rigidly attached to its base frame and extending away from its planar substrate engaging surface. If the first and second parts are one of a pair of such components, and each first part comprises a post-like support, the first axis of rotation will extend between the post-like supports.

The pile guide member of the at least one pile guide may depend from its support arrangement. In other words, the support arrangement may engage its pile guide member such that the centre of mass of the pile guide member is below the support arrangement. In fact, the support arrangement may engage an upper portion of the pile guide member, immediately below a flared opening configured to fimnel a pile into the pile guide member, In this way, the pile guide member may be biased into adopting a vertical orientation, even when the apparatus is resting on an inclined (non-horizontal) substrate.

The at least one pile guide may further comprise at least one mechanism for controlling pivotal movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame about at least one of the first and second axes of rotation. The or each mechanism may be mounted on its base frame and may be coupled to its pile guide member. For example, the or each mechanism may be coupled to a lower portion of its pile guide member, below its support arrangement. The or each mechanism may act as a releasable locking device for use in preventing pivotal movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame (e.g. to maintain an existing orientation therebetween). When the locking device is released, the pile guide member of the at least one pile guide may move into a particular orientation relative to its base frame. Once the particular orientation has been adopted, the locking device may be (re)applied to maintain it.

The or each mechanism may comprise a variable length strut. The variable length strut may be pivotally coupled at one end to the base frame of the at least one pile guide, and may be pivotally coupled at its other end to its pile guide member. The variable length strut may be configured to vary its length passively (i.e. in response to a force applied to it by the pile guide member) or actively (i.e. by applying a force to move the pile guide member). In one arrangement, a plurality of mechanisms for controlling pivotal movement of the pile guide member relative to its base frame is provided. For example, there may be at least two, preferably three such mechanisms. With such an arrangement, the plurality of mechanisms may be configured to operate in sympathy with one another when the pile guide member pivots relative to its base frame. The plurality of mechanisms may be circumferentially spaced evenly around the pile guide member. For example, if there are three mechanisms, the mechanisms may be angularly spaced by 1200 to give equal circumferential spacing.

At least one pile guide member may comprise a simple hollow cylinder, or may be as disclosed in: WOO1/92645 for use with piles with stabilising fins; WOO3/074795 for use with piles with orientation control tabs; or WO2007/066078 for use with piles with profiles which interact with corresponding profiles in the at least one pile guide member to resist bursting pressures in the latter. The entire contents of W00l192645, WOO3/074795 and W02007/066078 are incorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for driving piles into a substrate in a predetermined array, comprising: a body; and a plurality of pile guides coupled to the body, each pile guide comprising a base frame having a planar substrate-engaging surface and a pile guide member mounted on the base frame via a support arrangement, with each pile guide member being configured to guide a pile in a predetennined direction therethrough as it is driven into a substrate, wherein each support arrangement is configured to allow rotational movement and translational movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame, The support arrangement of this aspect of the invention may have any of the features of the support arrangement of the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the present invention in an operative position; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing detail of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in an inoperative position; FigureS shows a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a reverse perspective view showing detail of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 6; and Figures 8a, b and c show additional detail of apparatus similar to that of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Apparatus 10 embodying the present invention comprises a body 12 and a plurality of pile guides 20 coupled to the body 12. Each pile guide 20 comprises a base frame 22, having a planar substrate-engaging surface 24 (mud mats not shown for sake of clarity), and a pile guide member 26 mounted on the base frame 22 via a support arrangement 30. Each pile guide member 26 is configured to guide a pile (not shown) in a predetermined direction therethrough as it is drive into an underlying substrate. Each pile guide 20 is movable relative to the body 12 between an operative position as shown in Figures 1 and 3 (in which the planar substrate-engaging surfaces 24 of the pile guides 20 are substantially co-planar) and an inoperative position as shown in Figures 4 and S (in which the planar substrate-engaging surtces 24 of the pile guides 20 are no longer co-planar).

The body 12 has a square profile and has one pile guide 20 on each lateral side. Each pile guide 20 is configured to rotate relative to the body 12 around a respective pivot axis 32 when moving between the operative and inoperative positions. Each pile guide 20 has a hydraulic ram 34 to drive its rotational movement around the respective pivot axis 32. Each pile guide 20 is configured to rotate through 90° about its pivot axis 32 when moving between the operative and inoperative positions.

Each support arrangement 30 comprises a pair of spaced apart rails 50 and a frame-like component 52 slidably mounted on the rails 50. Movement of the frame-like component 52 along the rails 50 is controlled by releasable clamp (not shown). Sliding the frame-like components 52 along their rails 50 makes it possible to move the pile guide members 26 either towards or away from the body 12. hi this way, it is possible to change the spacings between the pile guide members 26 and hence any piles subsequently guided therethrough.

The apparatus 10 is thus suitable for driving piles into a substrate in range of different predetermined arrays.

Each support arrangement 30 additionally comprises first and second parts 60,62 which are pivotally coupled together to provide pivotal movement of its pile guide member 26 relative to its base frame 22 about a first axis of rotation (AA). Each support arrangement 30 also comprises third and fourth parts 64,66 which are pivotally coupled together to provide pivotal movement of its pile guide member 26 relative to its base frame 22 about a second axis of rotation (BB). In this way, each pile guide member 26 is able to move relative to its base frame 22 with two degrees of rotational freedom, in the manner of a gimbal.

Each support arrangement 30 additionally includes a substantially annular sleeve 70 (e.g. octagonal sleeve) disposed inside the frame-like component 52. The first part 60 is mounted on the frame-like component 52 and the second part 62 is mounted on a radially outer periphery of the substantially annular sleeve 70, facing the first part 60. (A similar configuration is repeated on a diametrically opposite side of the substantially annular sleeve to help balance pivotal movement about the first axis of rotation AA). The third part 64 is mounted on a radially inner periphery of the substantially annular sleeve 70 and faces the fourth part mounted on the pile guide member 26. (A similar configuration is repeated on a diametrically opposite side of the substantially annular sleeve 70 to help balance pivotal movement about the second axis of rotation BB). The second part 62 and third part 64 are angularly offset by 90° so that the two axes of rotation AA and BB are perpendicular. The first and second parts 60, 62 and the third and fourth parts 64,66 are each configured as a spindle and a corresponding socket in which the spindle is rotationally mounted. The support arrangement 30 thus defines a set of two gimbals, enabling the predetermined direction in which a pile is guided through its pile guide member to be vertical regardless of the orientation of the substrate supporting the apparatus.

Each pile guide 26 includes a plurality of variable length struts 80 in the form of hydraulic rams for controlling pivotal movement of its pile guide member 26 relative to its base frame 22. Each variable length strut 80 is pivotally mounted at one end to its base frame 22, and pivotally mounted at its other end to its pile guide member 26. Due to the fact that each pile guide member 26 has a centre of mass below its first and second pivot axes AA and BB, the pile guide members 26 will adopt a vertical orientation under gravity when hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic rams 80 is released, even if the apparatus lOis resting on an inclined sub strate.

When the apparatus 10 rests on an inclined substrate, and the pile guide members 26 adopt a vertical orientation, the relative positions of the pile guide members 26 may need to be adjusted to ensure that piles driven therethrough have the correct spacing. Thus, each support arrangement 30 is additionally provided with a drive mechanism 90 e.g hydraulic ram configured to displace its pile guide member 26 relative to its base frame 22 along each of the first axis of rotation AA and the second axis of rotation BR The resulting displacements (x) are shown schematically in Figures 8a-c, as is the drive mechanism 90. Figures 8a-c additionally show mudmats 95 for supporting the pile guides 26 on a substrate when in the operative position. Two hydraulic rams 34' replace the single hydraulic ram 34 shown in Figures 1-7 for rotating the pile guide 26 around its pivot axis 32.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. Apparatus for use when driving piles into a substrate in a predetermined array, comprising: a body; and a plurality of pile guides coupled to the body, each pile guide comprising a base frame having a planar substrate-engaging surface and a pile guide member mounted on the base frame via a support arrangement, with each pile guide member being configured to guide a pile in a predetermined direction therethrough as it is driven into a substrate; characterised in that at least one pile guide is moveable relative to the body between an operative position in which the planar substrate-engaging surfaces of the pile guides are substantially coplanar and an inoperative position in which the planar substrate-engaging surfaces of the pile guides are no longer co-planar.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the at least one pile guide is configured to rotate relative to the body around a pivot axis when moving between the operative and inoperative positions.</claim-text> <claim-text>3, Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the at least one pile guide is configured to rotate through an angle of up to 9Q0 around the pivot axis when moving between the operative and inoperative positions.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which each pile guide is eonfigured to rotate relative to the body around a respective pivot axis when moving between the operative and inoperative positions, with each pile guide being configured to rotate through an angle of up to 90° around its pivot axis when moving between the operative and inoperative positions.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the apparatus comprises at least three pile guides.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support arrangement of at least one pile guide is configured to allow translational (e.g. linear) movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the support arrangement comprises a rail and a component slidably mounted on the rail.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which movement of the component relative to the rail may be controlled by a releasable clamp configured to maintain a desired position therealong when engaged.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which movement of the component relative to the rail may be controlled by a drive system such as a worm drive.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support arrangement of at least one pile guide comprises first and second parts which are pivotally coupled together to provide pivotal movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame about a first axis of rotation.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the support arrangement further comprises third and fourth parts which are pivotally coupled together to provide pivotal movement of the pile guide member relative to the base frame about a second axis of rotation, enabling the predetermine direction in which a pile is guided through its pile guide member to be varied relative to the planar substrate-engaging surface of its base frame with two degrees of rotational freedom.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which the support arrangement includes a drive mechanism (e.g. a hydraulic ram) configured to displace the pile guide member relative to its base frame along the first axis of rotation, and possibly also along the second axis of rotation.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the pile guide member of the at least one pile guide may depend from its support arrangement such that the centre of mass of the pile guide member is below the support arrangement.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13, in which the at least one pile guide further comprises at least one mechanism for controlling pivotal movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame about at least one of the first and second axes of rotation.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. Apparatus according to claim 14, in which the at least one mechanism is mounted on its base frame and is coupled to its pile guide member.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. Apparatus according to claim 15, in which the at least one mechanism comprises a variable length strut which is pivotally coupled at one end to the base frame of the at least one pile guide, and pivotally coupled at its other end to its pile guide member.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, comprising a plurality of mechanisms for controlling pivotal movement of the pile guide member relative to its base frame, the plurality of mechanisms being configured to operate in sympathy with one another when the pile guide member pivots relative to its base frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. Apparatus for use when driving piles into a substrate in a predctennined array, comprising: a body; and a plurality of pile guides coupled to the body, each pile guide comprising a base frame having a planar substrate-engaging surface and a pile guide member mounted on the base frame via a support arrangement, with each pile guide member being configured to guide a pile in a predetermined direction therethrough as it is driven into a substrate, wherein each support arrangement is configured to allow rotational movement and translational movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. Apparatus according to claim 18, in which in which the support arrangement of at least one pile guide is configured to allow translational (e.g. linear) movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. Apparatus according to claim 18, in which the support arrangement comprises a rail and a component slidably mounted on the rail.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. Apparatus according to claim 20, in which movement of the component relative to the rail may be controlled by a releasable clamp configured to maintain a desired position therealong when engaged.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. Apparatus according to claim 20, in which movement of the component relative to the rail may be controlled by a drive system such as a worm drive.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 22, in which the support arrangement of at least one pile guide comprises first and second parts which are pivotally coupled together to provide pivotal movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame about a first axis of rotation.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. Apparatus according to claim 23, in which the support arrangement ifirther comprises third and fourth parts which are pivotally coupled together to provide pivotal movement of the pile guide member relative to the base frame about a second axis of rotation, enabling the predetermine direction in which a pile is guided through its pile guide member to be varied relative to the planar substrate-engaging surface of its base frame with two degrees of rotational freedom.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. Apparatus according to claim 23 or claim 24, in which the support arrangement includes a drive mechanism (e.g. a hydraulic ram) configured to displace the pile guide member relative to its base frame along the first axis of rotation, and possibly also along the second axis of rotation.</claim-text> <claim-text>26. Apparatus according to any one of claims 23 to 25, in which the pile guide member of the at least one pile guide may depend from its support arrangement such that the centre of mass of the pile guide member is below the support arrangement.</claim-text> <claim-text>27. Apparatus according to any one of claims 23 to 26, in which the at least one pile guide further comprises at least one mechanism for controlling pivotal movement of its pile guide member relative to its base frame about at least one of the first and second axes of rotation.</claim-text> <claim-text>28. Apparatus according to claim 27, in which the at least one mechanism is mounted on its base frame and is coupled to its pile guide member.</claim-text> <claim-text>29. Apparatus according to claim 28, in which the at least one mechanism comprises a variable length strut which is pivotally coupled at one end to the base frame of the at least one pile guide, and pivotally coupled at its other end to its pile guide member.</claim-text> <claim-text>30. Apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 29, comprising a plurality of mechanisms for controlling pivotal movement of the pile guide member relative to its base frame, the plurality of mechanisms being configured to operate in sympathy with one another when the pile guide member pivots relative to its base frame.</claim-text>