NO20210316A1

NO20210316A1 -

Info

Publication number: NO20210316A1
Application number: NO20210316A
Authority: NO
Priority date: 2021-03-11
Filing date: 2021-03-11
Publication date: 2022-06-20
Also published as: NO346346B1

Description

Pile for Providing Construction Foundation Support

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to deep foundations for transferring building loads to soil or bedrock at deep levels in the ground. In particular, the invention pertains to a pile for providing construction foundation support, which pile has a hollow pile shaft.

BACKGROUND

A pile, or piling, is a vertical structural element of a deep foundation, which is driven or drilled into the ground at the building site.

A deep foundation is generally preferable over a shallow foundation, especially for taller buildings, such as skyscrapers. Obviously, very large design loads need support that is both highly secure and stable. Such support cannot be provided by a poor soil at shallow depth. Depending on the type and quality of the ground, different types of deep foundations may be useful. For example, piles of timber, steel, reinforced concrete or prestressed concrete may be driven into the ground. Other types of deep foundations may involve excavation and/or drilling.

When installing piles into the ground an amount of soil masses equal to the volume of the pile must either be displaced or removed. In the former case, there is a wide range of potential undesired effects, including but not limited to; horizontal displacements and heave of constructions, buildings and utilities, disturbance of sensitive soils, stability of ground, pore water pressure increase, buckling of installed piles and disturbance of temporary constructions. In the latter case, expensive drilling may be required. All of these consequences are problematic, especially if deep piling is needed. For example, in the Scandinavian countries, where the ground typically contains thick layers of clay soil, piles of up to 100 meters’ length may be needed.

One way to mitigate this problem is to use hollow piles that can receive soil in their hollow interior. Namely, thereby much less soil must be displaced when the pile is driven down into the ground.

KR-20150052694-A shows a reinforcing plate with a reinforcing bottom and a hollow pile for direct driving using the same. The reinforcing plate with the reinforcing bottom comprises a base plate and the reinforcing bottom has a flat surface at the front end, which is vertically joined to the base plate. The reinforcing bottom thus hinders soil from entering into the pile via its front end. In one embodiment, however, openings are provided between a number of trapezoid boards of the reinforcing bottom. Consequently, some soil may enter into the pile.

KR-20100124166-A discloses a shoe for a driven steel pipe pile, which shoe improves the stability when driving the steel pipe pile into the ground. Blades of the shoe push out underground obstacles in the moving path of the driven steel pipe pile. The shoe comprises two shoe frames, which are crossed and connected to one another at right angles. Each shoe frame comprises an inclined part, which is declined to improve the driving efficiency of the steel pipe pile being driven into the ground. A fixing part of the shoe is attached to the bottom of the steel pipe pile. According to embodiments of the disclosure, spacings are provided in the shoe to allow soil to enter into the pile when it is driven down into the ground.

At least to some extent, the above designs may overcome the problem of displacing soil when driving down piles. However, in order to provide a highly reliable building support, it is important that the pile does not risk sliding against any boulders or rocks encountered in the ground, which boulders or rocks may cause the pile to bend, and eventually break.

SUMMARY

One object of the present invention is therefore to offer an improved pile solution, which does not require drilling or excavating and also avoids the risk sliding against subterranean boulders or rock surfaces.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a pile for providing construction foundation support. The pile has a hollow pile shaft, and a tip end thereof contains at least one opening towards an interior of the hollow pile shaft. The at least one opening is adapted to allow soil materials to enter into the interior of the hollow pile shaft when the pile is driven into the ground. The tip end further contains a rock shoe with a rock dowel configured to penetrate and attach to a subterranean rock surface.

This pile is advantageous because it combines an ability to accept soil materials via the tip end with an ability of the tip to attach to solid surfaces. The rock dowel also centers the load on the pile. This, in turn, improves the pile’s penetration capability, such that it for example more easily passes subterranean boulders and rocks without being damaged.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rock shoe contains a pair of crossed support plates, which extend in parallel with a central axis of the pile. Four different openings to the hollow pile shaft are formed between the pair of crossed support plates. Thus, a large total opening area to the interior of the pile is combined with a robust basis for the rock dowel provided by the pair of crossed support plates.

According to another embodiment of the invention, each of the crossed support plates has first and second inclined edges extending between a respective base portion and a respective end portion of the support plate. Each of the respective base portions is attached to the hollow pile shaft. The inclined edges render the tip end efficient for being driven into the ground.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the hollow pile shaft contains four recesses. A respective one of the base portions of the crossed support plates is fitted into each of these recesses. As a result, the crossed support plates can be connected to the hollow pile shaft in a highly sturdy manner, preferably by welding.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, the rock shoe contains an attachment member carrying the rock dowel. The attachment member, in turn, is affixed to the pair of crossed support plates.

Preferably, each of the support plates includes a respective indentation that is centered between the first and second inclined edges. Either the rock dowel itself, or the attachment member is affixed into the indentations. This, provides a very stable support for the rock dowel.

It is further advantageous if each of the support plates contains a respective slot, which is configured to receive the slot of the other one of the support plates so as the support plates can be merged in a right-angle relationship to one another. Namely, this renders the tip design highly resistant to the mechanical stressed experienced when the pile is driven into the ground and when it finally attaches to a subterranean rock surface.

Further advantages, beneficial features and applications of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now to be explained more closely by means of preferred embodiments, which are disclosed as examples, and with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the tip end of a pile according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the tip end of a pile according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates how a set of openings is formed in the tip end of a pile according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a set of recesses in the tip end of the pile, which recesses according to one embodiment of the invention are configured to receive a pair of crossed support plates for the rock dowel or an attachment member carrying the rock dowel;

Figures 5a-5c illustrate the design of the support plates according to one embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6 shows a side view of the pile according to one embodiment of the invention illustrating how soil materials may enter into an interior of the pile via openings in the tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the tip end of a pile 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The pile 100 is intended to be used for providing construction foundation support after having been driven into the ground, preferably until reaching a subterranean rock surface or similar solid entity.

The pile 100 has a hollow pile shaft 140. A tip end of the pile 100 is open. Specifically, according to the invention, the tip end contains at least one opening that is adapted to allow soil materials to enter into the interior of the hollow pile shaft 140 when the pile 100 is driven into the ground.

Figure 3 exemplifies a set of four such openings V1, V2, V3 and V4 respectively in the tip end of the pile 100. The openings V1, V2, V3 and V4 are here formed between a pair of crossed support plates 131 and 132 respectively, which are attached in the tip end of the pile 100.

The pair of crossed support plates 131 and 132 both extend in parallel with a central axis A of the pile 100. This means that respective main surfaces of each of the support plates 131 and 132 are parallel with the central axis A.

Referring again to Figure 1, we see that the tip end also includes a rock shoe 110 with a rock dowel 111 that is configured to penetrate and attach to a subterranean rock surface. Thus, the pile 100 is able to provide a solid construction foundation support against a subterranean rock surface. The rock dowel 111 preferably consists of, or contains, hardened/tempered steel. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, where the rock dowel 111 is affixed directly to the pair of crossed support plates 131 and 132, the rock dowel 111 is preferably made of structural steel that may be hardened.

Figure 4 shows a set of recesses 151, 152, 153 and 154 respectively in the tip end of the pile 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. The recesses 151, 152, 153 and 154 are configured to receive the pair of crossed support plates 131 and 132. Since, preferably, the support plates 131 are 132 arranged in a right-angle relationship to one another, the recesses 151, 152, 153 and 154 are preferably distributed at 90 degrees intervals from one another around the perimeter of the hollow pile shaft 140. An attachment member 112 is mounted in the support plates 131 and 132, and the attachment member 112, in turn, carries a rock dowel 111, i.e. the element for penetrating and attaching to the subterranean rock surface.

Figures 5a, 5b and 5c illustrate further details of the design of the support plates 131 and 132 according to one embodiment of the invention. Each of the support plates 131 and 132 contains first and second inclined edges 41a and 41b respective 42a and 42b.

In a first support plate 131, the first inclined edge 41a extends between a base portion 41af and an end portion 41at, and the second inclined edge 41b extends between a base portion 41bf and an end portion 41bt. Analogously, in a second support plate 132, the first inclined edge 42a extends between a base portion 42af and an end portion 42at, and the second inclined edge 42b extends between a base portion 42bf and an end portion 42bt. Each of the base portions 41af, 41bf, 42af and 42bf respectively is attached to the hollow pile shaft 140. For example, the base portions 41af, 41bf, 42af and 42bf may be fitted into a respective one of the four recesses 151, 152, 153 and 154 shown in Figure 4. Preferably, for stiffness and strength reasons, all contact surfaces between the crossed support plates 131 and 132 and the hollow pile shaft 140 are welded.

Referring now to Figure 2. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the rock shoe 110 may contain an attachment member 112 carrying the rock dowel 111.

Depending on whether the rock dowel 111 is carried by an attachment member 112, each support plate in the pair of crossed support plates 131 and 132 may contain a respective indentation 41i and 42i as shown in Figures 5a and 5b, which indentations 41i and 42i are either configured to affix the rock dowel 111 itself, or the attachment member 112 carrying the rock dowel 111. In any case, a first indentation 41i is centered between the first and second inclined edges 41a and 41b in the first support plate 131, and second indentation 42i is centered between the first and second inclined edges 42a and 42b in the second support plate 132. Again, analogous to the above, for stiffness and strength reasons, all contact surfaces between the support plates 131 and 132 and the attachment member 112 are welded.

Additionally, to secure the support plates 131 and 132 steadily to one another, each of the support plates 131 and 132 preferably contains a slot 41m and 42m respectively, which is configured to receive the slot of the other one of the support plates 131 and 132, so as to merge the support plates 131 and 132 in a right-angle relationship to one another. Also here, for stiffness and strength reasons, all contact surfaces between the support plates 131 and 132 are preferably welded together.

Figure 5c shows the tip of the pile 100 seen towards the tip along the axis A, i.e. straight into the hollow pile shaft 140, before the rock shoe 110 has been affixed to the crossed support plates 131 and 132.

Figure 6 shows a side view of the pile 100 illustrating how soil materials may enter into the hollow pile shaft 140 thereof via two V1 and V2 of the above-mentioned four openings.

As is apparent inter alia from Figures 5c and 6, the combined area of the openings V1, V2, V3 and V4 constitute a substantial part of the total inner area of the hollow pile shaft 140. Consequently, when being driven down into the ground, the pile 100 will experience comparatively small resistance from the soil materials. This renders the proposed invention a highly efficient means of providing construction foundation support, especially at locations where deep piling is required.

Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

The term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components. The term does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more additional elements, features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof. The indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. In the claims, the 10 word “or” is not to be interpreted as an exclusive or (sometimes referred to as “XOR”). On the contrary, expressions such as “A or B” covers all the cases “A and not B”, “B and not A” and “A and B”, unless otherwise indicated. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

It is also to be noted that features from the various embodiments described herein may freely be combined, unless it is explicitly stated that such a combination would be unsuitable.

The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments in the figures, but may be varied freely within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A pile (100) for providing construction foundation support, the pile (100) comprising a hollow pile shaft (140) a tip end of which comprises at least one opening (V1, V2, V3, V4) towards an interior of the hollow pile shaft (140), which at least one opening (V1, V2, V3, V4) is adapted to allow soil materials to enter into the interior of the hollow pile shaft (140) when the pile (100) is driven into the ground,

characterized in that the tip end comprises a rock shoe (110) with a rock dowel (111) configured to penetrate and attach to a subterranean rock surface.

2. The pile according to claim 1, wherein the rock shoe (110) comprises:

a pair of crossed support plates (131, 132) extending in parallel with a central axis (A) of the pile (100), the at least one opening (V1, V2, V3, V4) being formed between the pair of crossed support plates (131, 132).

3. The pile according to claim 2, wherein each of the crossed support plates (131, 132) comprises first and second inclined edges (41a, 41b; 42a, 42b) extending between a respective base portion (41af, 41bf; 42af, 42bf) and a respective end portion (41at, 41bt; 42at, 42bt) of the support plate (131, 132), wherein each of the respective base portion (41af, 41bf; 42af, 42bf) is attached to the hollow pile shaft (140).

4. The pile according to claim 3, wherein the hollow pile shaft (140) comprises four recesses (151, 152, 153, 154) each of which into a respective one of the base portions (41af, 41bf; 42af, 42bf) of the crossed support plates (131, 132) is fitted.

5. The pile according to claim 4, wherein the rock dowel (111) is affixed to the pair of crossed support plates (131, 132).

6. The pile according to claim 5, wherein each of the support plates (131, 132) comprises a respective indentation (41i, 42i) being centered between the first and second inclined edges (41a, 41b; 42a, 42b) into which indentations (41i, 42i) the rock dowel (111) is affixed.

7. The pile according to any one of the claims 3 or 4, wherein the rock shoe (110) comprises an attachment member (112) carrying the rock dowel (111).

8. The pile according to claim 7, wherein the attachment member (112) is affixed to the pair of crossed support plates (131, 132).

9. The pile according to claim 8, wherein each of the support plates (131, 132) comprises a respective indentation (41i, 42i) being centered between the first and second inclined edges (41a, 41b; 42a, 42b) into which indentations (41i, 42i) the attachment member (112) is affixed.

10. The pile according to any one of the claims 2 to 9, wherein each of the support plates (131, 132) comprises a respective slot (41m; 42m) configured to receive the slot of the other one of the support plates (131, 132) so as to merge the support plates (131, 132) in a right-angle relationship to one another.