GB2515251A

GB2515251A - Improved collet connector for concrete piles

Info

Publication number: GB2515251A
Application number: GB1304092.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Bernard Paul Spencer; Terence John Seamark; Philip Geoffrey Wright; Zhao Jun Zhe
Original assignee: SELECT ENGINEERING ASIA Ltd
Current assignee: SELECT ENGINEERING ASIA Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-07
Filing date: 2013-03-07
Publication date: 2014-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-07
Also published as: GB2515251B; GB201304092D0

Abstract

A pile connector 100 has a first attachment portion 110A comprising a body 300 having a passageway 310 and a collet 400 having a passageway 410 to receive a reinforcing bar 220 of the pile 200. The insert is at least partially inserted in the passageway of the body and the collet is at least partially inserted into a passageway of the insert. The collet and insert are configured such that axial movement of the collet relative the insert along the passageway of the insert causes the passageway of the collet to contract to thereby grip the reinforcing bar of the pile when located in the passageway of the collet.

Description

IMPROVED COLLET CONNECTOR FOR CONCRETE PILES

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to apparatus and a method for interconnecting a reinforcing rod of a cementitious pile to form a pile joint

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Foundations relying on driven piles comprise a plurality of plies that are driven into the ground in an end-to-end arrangement. These piles are connected by a pile cap, wherein the pile cap comprises a large concrete block into which the head of the pile arrangement is embedded. Such an arrangement enables the pile cap to support a greater load than it would otherwise be able to bear. The piles typically comprise a concrete body through which a reinforcing bar (commonly referred to as a re-bar) extends. Adjacent piles are typically connected by interconnecting the reinforcing bar of adjacent piles, which ties the piles and pile cap together. In use, the plies may support both tensile and compressive loads.

GB 2371826 discloses a collet connector, which is used to interconnect the reinforcing bars of individual piles. A first end end of the connector comprises a collet inserted into a tapered interior within a body. The collet comprises a tapered exterior which is mated to the tapered interior of the body. In this way as the reinforcing bar applies a tensile force to the collet, the collet is urged into the taper of the body and an interior passageway though the centre of the collet is caused to contract which enables it to grip a reinforcing bar within the passageway. The body is in general rolled to provide the taper.

At a second end of the connector, the body is also rolled such that it provides a construction for receiving a reinforcing bar of an adjacent pile, which is secured in position by welding or crimping to the body.

Accordingly, the material of the body must be suitable for rolling. A disadvantage of such a requirement is that at the first end the body can become locally deformed by the collet when subject to high tensile load. This causes indentations on the interior of the body and reduces the efficacy of the connection. Alternatively, the body can be formed from a two part construction which is screwed together. With such an arrangement the screw threads are inconvenient and can become damaged when subject to load. Furthermore they can become misaligned during assembly. Yet further they are time consuming to manufacture.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector which overcomes one of the above or other problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a pile connector, the pile connector having a first attachment portion comprising: a body having a passageway; a collet having a passageway to receive a reinforcing bar of the pile; characterised in that an insert is at least partially inserted in the passageway of the body and the collet is at least partially inserted into a passageway of the insert, wherein the collet and insert are configured such that axial movement of the collet relative the insert along the passageway of the insert causes the passageway of the collet to contract to thereby grip a reinforcing bar of the pile when the reinforcing bar is located in the passageway of the collet.

Accordingly, the first objective is solved since the body can be made from a relatively soft material such that it can be rolled or swaged, whereas the insert can be made from a relatively hard material such that it does not deform when subject to force applied by the collet from the reinforcing bar.

Preferably, the pile connector is to connect a pile comprising a cementitious body through which one or more reinforcing bars extend. Preferably, the reinforcing bars are metallic and comprise an uneven exterior surface such that it can be firmly gripped.

Preferably, the collet and insert are configured such that the reinforcing bar is gripped when moved in a direction opposite to that of insertion into the passageway of the collet.

Advantageously, since the pile connector grips the reinforcing bar in one direction only, the bar can be inserted into the pile connector and retained by gripping.

Preferably, the collet comprise a tapered outer surface which is located within a tapered inner surface of the passageway of the insert, wherein the tapers are configured to effect the passageway of the collet to contract when the collet moves relative the insert.

In particular, the tapering is preferably configured such that the reinforcing bar is inserted into a narrow first end of the collet and pushed towards a wide second end of the collet and the narrow first end of the collet is located proximate a narrow first end of the insert and the wide second end of the collet is located proximate a wide second end of the insert.

More particularly, the taper of the collet is configured such that the cross-section of the collet increases along the passageway of the insert in a direction away from the end of the first attachment, and the taper of insert is configured such that the cross-section of passageway of the insert increases in an opposed direction.

Preferably, the collet is frustoconical in shape, and preferably comprises one or more axially extending cut-outs to enable contraction of the passageway of the collet. Preferably, the interior surface of the insert is complimentary in shape to the collet.

Preferably, the interior surface of the collet comprises a plurality of ridges to improve gripping. Preferably, the ridges are angled to oppose pullout of the reinforcing bar.

Preferably, the insert and body are complimentary in shape such that the insert is slideable along the axis of the passageway of the body. Preferably, the exterior surface of the insert is parallel sided. More preferably, the exterior surface of the insert is substantially cylindrical.

Advantageously, during assembly the insert can be conveniently slid into an open end of the first attachment portion of the pile connector.

Preferably, a biasing member is arranged to bias the collet into the insert such that the tapered surfaces engage with each other. Preferably, the biasing member acts between the second end of the collet and the body. More preferably, the biasing member is positioned within the passageway of the body and acts between an end of the collet and a fixing point of the body, wherein the fixing point comprises a lip or a contraction in the interior of the body.

Preferably, washers are positioned at the end of the biasing member which act to secure the biasing member in the passageway of the body.

Preferably, the first attachment portion is located at a first end of the body, which receives the reinforcement bar.

Preferably, the insert and collet are retained in the body by retaining means, which is operable to apply a force to the insert sufficient to resist a pull-out force applied by the reinforcing bar.

Advantageously, once the insert has been positioned in the body it is conveniently retained in position between the biasing member and the retaining means.

Preferably, the retaining means comprise an annular groove which extends around the interior of the passageway of the body, wherein a clip is locatable within the groove such that the clip abuts a first end of the insert. Preferably, the clip is one or more circlips.

Advantageously, the retaining means is convenient to use. Moreover, the insert can be conveniently removed from the body by removing the circlip.

Preferably, the retaining means further comprises a restraining means to prevent rotation and / or axial displacement of the insert relative the body. Preferably, the restraining means comprises a threaded aperture through a side wall of the body for receiving a screw, such that the screw when received can be tightened to engage with the insert. Preferably the restraining means is configured to prevent axial movement of the insert in the body in the opposite direction to the axial movement restrained by the restraining means.

Preferably, a second end of the pile connector comprises a second attachment portion which is configured to grip a second reinforcing bar.

Optionally, a second attachment portion is the same as the first attachment portion.

Alternatively, the second attachment portion comprises a deformable member for attachment by crimping around a second reinforcing bar.

Alternatively, the second attachment portion comprises a threaded member for attachment to a threaded portion of a second reinforcing bar.

Alternatively, the second attachment portion comprises a welded connection to a second reinforcing bar.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a plurality of piles connected together by a pile connector according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts for a pile connector which when assembled comprises the pile connector according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of connecting piles comprising: connecting a reinforcing bar of a pile to a first attachment portion of a pile connector, wherein the reinforcing bar is at least partially inserted into a passageway of a collet, the collet being at least partially positioned within a passageway of an insert, the insert being at least partly positioned in a passageway of a body, wherein the collet and insert are configured such that axial movement of the collet relative the insert along the passageway of the insert causes the passageway of the collet to contract to thereby grip a reinforcing bar of the pile when the reinforcing bar is located in the passageway of the collet.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling a pile connector, the method comprising: at least partially inserting a collet inside a passageway of an insert; inserting the insert and collet into an open end of a passageway of a body, wherein the collet and insert are configured such that axial movement of the collet relative the insert along the passageway of the insert causes the passageway of the collet to contract to thereby grip a reinforcing bar of the pile when the reinforcing bar is located in the passageway of the collet.

Preferably, the collet and insert are inserted into the end of the body which, in use, the reinforcing bar is inserted to be gripped.

Preferably, the method includes a step of retaining the insert in the body by retaining means.

All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of a pile connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment a connector 100 to connect piles 200 (not shown) that comprise a cementitious body 210, through which metal reinforcement bars extend 220. The connector 100 comprises a body 300 having a passageway 310, a collet 400 having a passageway 410 in which the reinforcing bar 220 is inserted. The connector 100 further comprises an insert 500, which is inserted in the passageway 310 of the body, and which comprises a passageway 510 in which the collet 400 is inserted. The collet and insert are configured such that axial movement of the collet, along a central axis 110 relative the insert, causes the passageway of the collet to contract to thereby grip a reinforcing bar 220. Such relative movement is caused by friction between the interior surface of the passageway 410 of the collet 400 and the reinforcement bar 220 as the reinforcement bar experiences a tensile force, as will be discussed in more detail below.

Initially considering the body 300, the body 300 comprises a tubular member having a first end 320A and a second end 320B, which correspond to a first and second end of the connector 100. In this embodiment the body is shown as having a hollow circular cross-section, hence an interior surface 330 is parallel sided and defines the passageway 310. It will be appreciated that other shapes of cross section may be used, such as hollow square cross-section. It will also be appreciated that the shape of the passageway 310 of the interior of the body does not need to match the shape of the exterior of the body.

At the first end 320A of the body 300 there is a first attachment portion 11 OA. A second attachment portion 11OB is positioned at the second end of the body 320B, which will be discussed in more detail in the following, however the first attachment portion is considered initially.

The body 300 is formed of a metal such as steel, which is in general rolled to achieve the correct shape. Although it will be appreciated that the body may be formed by other means, such as casting.

The collet 400 comprises a tapered outer surface 420, which tapers outwardly from a first end 422 to a second end 424, such that the cross-sectional area of the collet along a plane perpendicular to the central axis 110 increases from the first end 422 to the second end 424.

An interior surface 430 of the collet 400 is parallel sided and forms the passageway 410 such that the reinforcing bar 220 can be slid in and out of the passageway. According to one embodiment the interior surface 430 of the passageway 410 comprises a plurality of ridges 432 (not shown). The ridges 432 may be angled to oppose pull-out of the reinforcing bar 220 from the connector. Alternatively they may be in the form of a screw thread.

In this embodiment the passageway 410 is cylindrical, and the tapered outer surface 420 gives the collet a frustoconical shape. Although it will be appreciated that the shape of the collet 400 may take other forms.

The collet 400 further comprises one or more axially extending cut-outs 440 (not shown). The cut-outs 440 enable the passageway 410 of the collet to contract and expand as a force is applied to the collet 400 through the tapered outer surface 420 as will be discussed in more detail below.

It will be appreciated that the collet may be formed as one piece, or as a plurality of separable jaws 442 that are held together by retaining means 444, which in this example is an 0' ring.

The collet 400 is located within the body 300 such that the first end 422 of the collet is positioned in proximity to the first end 320A of the body 300 and the taper increase the further away from the first end 320A.

The insert 500 comprises a parallel sided outer surface 520 which is complimentary in shape to the parallel sided interior surface 330 of the body 300. In this way the insert 500 is slideable in within the body 300.

An interior surface 530 of the insert 500 defines the passageway 510 which is tapered such that it is complimentary in shape to the tapering of the collet 400. In more detail, the taper is arranged such that the passage way 510 tapers from a first end 532 to a second end 534, such that the cross-sectional area of the insert along a plane perpendicular to the central axis decreases from the first end 532 to the second end 534. Accordingly, the interior of the passageway 510 is frustoconical in shape, however as discussed above it will be appreciated that this is one example shape that may be used.

The collet 400 is positioned within the insert 500 such that the narrow first end 422 of the collet is positioned proximate the narrow first end 532 of the insert 500, and the wide second end 424 of the collet is positioned proximate the wide second end 534 of the insert 500.

It will be appreciated that as the collet 400 is moved relative the insert 500 along the central axis 110 in a direction which urges the tapers together, a force is applied by the taper of the insert through the taper of the collet 400, which causes a radial contraction of the passageway of the collet 400. Such a contraction is achieved by forming the collet to be compliant by means of the cut-outs 440, however it will be appreciated that this effect may alternatively or additionally be achieved by making the collet from a relatively compliant material. In this way the connector is able to convert an axially applied force into a force normal to the axis.

A biasing member 600 in the form of a spring is arranged to bias the collet into the insert. In this way the tapers remain in contact with each other as a reinforcing bar 220 is inserted in to the collet 400. In more detail, the biasing member 600 acts between the wide second end 424 of the collet and an anchoring point 340 of the body 300. In this example the anchoring point 340 comprises a contraction in the interior of the body, which may be formed as part of the second attachment potion, as discussed in more detail below.

To ensure the biasing member 600 is correctly aligned within the body 300 and in relation to the collet 400, washers 350A,B may be positioned at either end of the biasing member 600, hence between the biasing member 600 and the collet 400 and between the biasing member 600 and the anchoring point 340.

As best seen in the figure, the wide second end 424 of the collet extends beyond the narrow end of the insert 500 such that the biasing member 600 is in engagement with the wide second end 424 as opposed to the insert 500.

The insert 500 is retained within the passageway 310 of the body 300 by the force applied from the biasing member 600, which acts through the collet 400, and a retaining means 700. In more detail, the retaining means 700 comprises an annual groove 702 which extends around the interior of the passageway 310 of the body 300, and a clip 704 which is located within the annular groove 702 such that the clip 704 abuts the wide first end 424 of the insert. The clip 704 and annular groove 702 are configured such that the restraining means 700 is able to retain the insert 500 within the body 300, such that it can resist pullout due to tensile from the reinforcing bar 220.

The retaining means 700 additionally may comprise a restraining means 710 to prevent rotation and / or axial displacement of the insert 500 relative the body 300. The restraining means 710 comprises a threaded aperture 712 through a side wall of the body 300 for receiving a grub screw 714, such that the grub screw can be tightened to engage with the insert 500. The grub screw 714 may also be arranged to engage with an annular groove 716 of the insert 500.

The restraining means 710 has several advantages, as will now be described. When the first reinforcement bar is inserted into the first end 320A of the body, the restraining means 710 acts to prevent the insert 500, and hence the collet 400 moving in the same direction as the reinforcement bar relative the body 300. Such a movement is undesirable as it can result in the insert 500 and collet 400 moving within the passageway 310 of the body 300 such that the biasing member 600 is compressed without the reinforcement bar entering the passageway 410 of the insert. A further advantage is that during assembly of the connector 100, a bolt (not shown) is fitted to a threaded portion (not shown) of the passageway 510 of the insert 500. The bolt allows the connector 100 and associated components to be pulled in the axial 100 direction in to a pile mould prior to pouring concrete for forming the pile.

Folllowing curing of the concrete the bolt needs to be removed from the connector 100. The restraining means 710 facilitates this by acting to prevent rotation of the insert 500 relative the body 300, such that the bolt can be unscrewed from the insert.

In the exemplary embodiment of figure 1, the second end 33DB of the body comprises a second attachment portion 1 lOB in the form of a threaded connection. In more detail the body comprises contraction 360 which may be formed by rolling of the body or other suitable means. At an interior surface 362 of the contraction, the passageway of the body is threaded such that it can be connected to a thread of a second reinforcement bar (not shown), which is inserted into the second end.

In an alternative embodiment the second attachment portion comprises a collet attachment the same as the first attachment portion which is configured to grip a second reinforcing bar in a direction which is opposite to that which the first reinforcement bar is gripped in.

In an alternative embodiment the second attachment portion comprises a deformable member for attachment by crimping and optionally welding around a second reinforcing bar.

In the example embodiment the body 300, collet 400, insert 500 and other associated components are made from steel. The insert 500 and collet 400 are made from the same or similar material, such that they have a similar or identical hardness, which in a preferred embodiment is a HRC (Rockwell Hardness scale) 58 63 deep 0.5 -1mm. In this way the collet 500 causes minimal deformation of the insert 500 when subject to load.

In the example embodiment the body 300 of the connector 100 is about 6 -22 cm in length, and has a diameter of 2 -8 cm. The connector 100 and associated components are sized to fit reinforcement bars that are 0.8-3.2 cm in diameter.

From the above description it will be appreciated that the first attachment portion is conveniently assembled by firstly inserting the biasing member 600 into the passageway 310 of the body 300. Thereafter, the collet 400 is positioned within the insert 500 and inserted into the passageway 310, such that the biasing member is in engagement with the second end 424 of the collet 400. Subsequently, the insert 500 is retained in the passageway 310 of the body 300 by the clip 704 and annular groove 702 of the retaining means 700.

In use a first reinforcing bar is inserted into the passageway 310 of the body 300 such that it extends through the passageway 310 of the collet 400. From the above description it will be appreciated that pull-out of the first reinforcing bar 220 is resisted by contraction of the passageway 310 of the collet 400 as a result of the engagment of the tapered surfaces of the collet 400 and insert 500.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pile connector (100), the pile connector having a first attachment portion (11OA) comprising: a body (300) having a passageway (310); a collet (400) having a passageway (410) to receive a reinforcing bar (220) of the pile (200); characterised in that an insert (500) is at least partially inserted in the passageway of the body and the collet is at least partially inserted into a passageway of the insert (510), wherein the collet and insert are configured such that axial movement of the collet relative the insert along the passageway of the insert causes the passageway of the collet to contract to thereby grip the reinforcing bar of the pile when located in the passageway of the collet.
2. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (300) is made from a relatively soft material and the insert (500) is made from a relatively hard material such that the insert does not deform when subject to force applied by the collet (400) from the reinforcing bar (220).
3. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 1 or2, wherein the collet (400) and insert o 20 (500) are configured such that the reinforcing bar (220) is gripped when moved in a direction opposite to that of insertion into the passageway of the collet (410).
4. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interior surface (530) of the insert (500) is complementary in shape to the collet (400).
5. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the collet (400) comprises a tapered outer surface (420) which is located within a tapered inner surface (530) of the passageway of the insert (510), wherein the tapers are configured to effect the passageway of the collet (410) to contract when the collet moves relative the insert (500).
6. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tapering (420,530) is configured such that the reinforcing bar (220) is inserted into a narrow first end of the collet (422) and pushed towards a wide second end of the collet (424) and the narrow first end of the collet is located proximate a narrow first end of the insert (532) and the wide second end of the collet is located proximate a wide second end of the insert (534).
7. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claims 5 or 6, wherein the tapered outer surface of the collet (420) is configured such that a cross-section of the collet increases along the passageway of the insert (510) in a direction away from an end of the first attachment portion (11OA), and the tapered inner surface of the insert (530) is configured such that a cross-section of the passageway of the insert increases in an opposed direction.
8. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the collet (400) is frustoconical in shape.
9. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the collet (400) comprises one or more axially extending cut-outs (440), wherein each cut-out is arranged to enable the passageway of the collet (410) to contract.
10. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interior surface of the collet (430) comprises a plurality of ridges.
11. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ridges are angled to oppose pull-out of the reinforcing bar (220).
12. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the insert (500) and body (300) are complementary in shape such that the insert is slidably arranged along the CD axis of the passageway of the body (310). o 20

(0
13. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exterior surface of the o insert (500) is parallel sided.
14. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exterior surface of the insert (500) is substantially cylindrical.
15. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 6 and any of claims 7 to 14, wherein a biasing member (600) is arranged to bias the collet (400) into the insert (500) such that the tapered surfaces (420,530) engage with each other.
16. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the biasing member (600) is arranged to act between the second end of the collet (424) and the body (300).
17. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the biasing member (600) is positioned within the passageway of the body (310) and is configured to act between the second end of the collet (424) and a fixing point of the body (340), wherein the fixing point comprises a lip or a contraction in the interior of the body (300).
18. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any of claims 15 to 17, wherein washers (350A,350B) are positioned at ends of the biasing member (600) such that the washers are arranged to secure the biasing member in the passageway of the body (310).
19. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first attachment portion (1 1OA) is located at a first end of the body (300) arranged to receive the reinforcement bar (220).
20. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the insert (500) and collet (400) are retained in the body (300) by retaining means (700) arranged to apply a force to the insert sufficient to resist a pull-out force applied by the reinforcing bar (220).
21. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 20, wherein the retaining means (700) comprise an annular groove (702) which extends around the interior of the passageway of the body (310), wherein a clip (704) is locatable within the groove such that the clip abuts a first end of the insert (532).
22. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 21, wherein the clip (704) is one or moreCD o 20
23. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the retaining o means (700) further comprises a restraining means (710) arranged to prevent rotation and/or axial displacement of the insert (500) relative the body (300).
24. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 23, wherein the restraining means (700) comprises a threaded aperture (712) through a side wall of the body (300) for receiving a screw (714), such that the screw when received can be tightened to engage with the insert (500).
25. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claims 23 or 24, wherein the restraining means (700) is configured to prevent axial movement of the insert (500) in the body (300) in the opposite direction to the axial movement restrained by the restraining means.
26. The pile connector (100) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a second end of the pile connector comprises a second attachment portion (11OB) which is configured to grip a second reinforcing bar.
27. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claim 26, wherein the second attachment portion (11 OB) is the same as the first attachment portion (11 CA).
28. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claims 26 or 27, wherein the second attachment portion (11OB) comprises a deformable member for attachment by crimping around a second reinforcing bar.
29. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claims 26 or 27, wherein the second attachment portion (11 OB) comprises a threaded member for attachment to a threaded portion of a second reinforcing bar.
30. The pile connector (100) as claimed in claims 26 or 27, wherein the second attachment portion (11 OB) comprises a welded connection to a second reinforcing bar (220).
31. A kit of parts for a pile connector (100) which when assembled comprises the connector according to any of claims Ito 30.
32. A method of connecting piles, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a reinforcing bar (220) of a pile (200) to a first attachment portion "F" (11 OA) of a pile connector (100); CD wherein the reinforcing bar is at least partially inserted into a passageway of a collet 0 20 (410), the collet (400) being at least partially positioned within a passageway of an insert (510), (0 the insert (500) being at least partly positioned in a passageway of a body (310); o wherein the collet and insert are configured such that axial movement of the collet relative the insert along the passageway of the insert causes the passageway of the collet to contract to thereby grip a reinforcing bar of the pile when located in the passageway of the collet.