US1241813A - Construction of and method of sinking piles. - Google Patents

Description

E. BTGNELL.

CONSTRUCTION 0F AND METHOD 0F SINKTNG PILES. APPLICATION F|LED`1AN.3|. |916.

1,241,813.- A Iz'lte'utod Out. '3,1917'.

BIGNELL, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO CONCRETE PID11iIGi COM- vPAN'Y, 0F SEWARD, NEBRASKA, A CORPORATION OF NEBRASKA.

CONSTRUCTION F AND METHOD OF SINKING PILES.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

Continuation of application No. 773,882, led June 16, 1913. Thisap'pli-cation tiled January 31, 1916.

Serial No. 75,318.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD yBIGNELI., a

l citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in theV county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and yuseful Improvements in Construction of and Methods of Sinking Piles; and

I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myy invention relates to the-construction of and method of sinking piling, sheet piling, caissons, or any structure which is adapted to be entirely or partially sunk in the earth'to serve as a foundation for a superstructure, 'or obstruction, such as a dike, breakwater or the like, and which will be hereinafter referred to merely as piling,

' although I do not wish to be understood as limiting the use of the methodA to the specific structure ordinarily understood by that term, the present application being acontinuation of my application filed June 16, 1913, Serial No. 773,882.

More particularly the invention relates to the construction of and method of sinking piles which have previously been formed or molded from a plastic material, such as cement or concrete, and are carried to the work and lowered to position partially by their own weight and partially by artificial displacement on the earth in advance thereof.

I have discovered that in placing piles of this construction the greatest resistance is due to adhesion of the earth against the -sides of the piles, the earth through which the pile is usually driven being in al semifluid state so that pressure due to its own weight is exerted laterally against the sides of the pile, and holds same against original placement, or against displacement or removal afterit has been seated.

I have also discovered that a head of water forced through the lower end of the pile will displace earth in advance of the pile, so that the latter can sink to place by its own weight, but that water discharged only at the bottom of the pile is diffused into the surrounding earth so that while an opening is made in advance of the pile into which the' latter may sink, the semi-fluid earth is immediately forced back against the sides of the piling, and the objectionable adhesion again retards the travel.

I have further -discovered that by providing the p'ile with nozzles, which are fed from an interior source and directed upwardly at the sides of the pile, at such close intervals that jets of water discharged from they nozzle will exert a siphonic jet action tendin been 'isplacedin advance of the piling, force lsame upwardly around and along the sides of the pilin so that a film is formed to lift the loose earth afterl it has thereabout that Pw1ll hold back the earth and maintain a uniform liqueication throughout the depth of the piling and will prevent ,the

objectionable adhesion heretofore mentioned and prevent channeling, the jets and film also serving as an elevator for carrying the displaced material to the surface and forming a pocket inv advance of and about the piling which will allow the latter to sink quickly as long as the water jets are active.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred form of piling and mechanical structure for carrying out my invention, and will refer thereto for clear-- ness of description. In the drawin s F1gure I, 1s a corner elevatlon o a pllmg Iadapted for use in accordance with my invention.

Fig. II, is a cross-section of same, illustratingI the side jets.

Fig. III, is a vertical section of the upper portion of the piling, showing connections for yvater supply pipes.

Fig. IV, is a longitudinal section of the from the upper end to form a tip 4.

Mounted on the tipji, preferably by means within the lower nose 2 and projects slightly I of a screw threadedcollar 5, is a connection 6 having an intake collar 7, provided.

- with a ange to which the ange 9 of a tip f y10 is attached, preferably by the bolts 11,

the tip 10 being in turn connected with a y"hose 12 which mayextend to a source of wa-` ter Supply-y @The lower endof the pipe 3 carries a re- `duction cap 13, and attached to said cap is va-ijiowzzle 14 which projects through the end j. 'ofthe piling and has an opening 15 for provducing a strong jet in advance of the piling when the latter is beingsunlr, andan annular, lateral opening 16 for directing a` head of water laterally and upwardly around the; bottom ofthe pile, to hold the loosened earth back and direct it upwardly,

tothe Siphon jets.

Extending through the pipe 3 is a smaller pipe 17, thelower end of which is threadedinto the reduction cap 13, and the upper end extended through a stuiiing box 18, onv the top of connection 6, and connected with asupply 'pipe 19,-A which, in-turn,.is fed through a hose 20 that also extends to a source of water supply, the hose` 12 and 20 being provided with suitable controlling mechanism or valves (not shown).

Opening from the outer pipe .3, and extending through the body of the piling, are' jet members 21, having upturned ends 22A lying close along the outer faces of the pilving, so that when water is forced therethrough it will be directed upwardly in a plurality of jets, which are arranged at such close intervals relative to the excavating jet and to' each other that material displaced by the excavating jet is stepped upwardly along the sides ofthe pile tothe surface of the vearth through which the pile is being` sunk. The members 21 are preferably larger toward the bottom of the piles than near the top', as greater force is required at the bottom to lift the greater head of fluid and earth, although the invention need not be limited to the use of jet members ofl gradu- The water, being discharged through-the` small pipe in a strong jet, displaces the earth about the nose of the piling, so that the latter may sink to place of its own weight and water passing through the large pipe imn pacts against the dead end cap'13, lending the force of the hydraulic head to the sinking process, and, at the same time, being forced laterally through. the jet members 21 to be discharged upwardly along the sides 'of the piling. "lhe upturned jets displace material along the sides of the piling and' force saidl material upwardly toward the surface, the displacement adjacent the mouth of the jet forming a'vacuum, vinto which the earth displaced in advance of the piling is .drawn'by siphonic action and forcedupwardly by the action of the side nozzles.

By placing the jets at properdistances apart, the displaced material is stepped upwardly fromone jet member to the other, until it reaches the surface, the upward travel ofthe water, with the material in sc l lution or suspension, forminga protective film or sheet about the piling which serves to keep back the semi-fluid earth and prevent the disadvantageous adhesion.

lt is apparent from the foregoing that my method utilizes two natural forces in the sinking of the piling; first, the weight of the pile itself, which will naturally cause the pile'to descend when the earth is displaced therebeneath; and, secondfthe hydraulic head through the small pipe against the noz: zle 16, and through thelarge pipe against the reduction cap and the variousjet members. These forces are assisted by the protective film that not only keeps back the earth but also serves to carry the displaced earth in solution or suspension to the surface.

l claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. The method of sinking a structure consisting of excavating in advance of the struc ture and conducting displaced material up- Having thus described my invention, what ice wardly to the surface of the earth into which the structure is sunk by'stepped jets of water directed upwardly along the surface of the structure.

2. The method of sinking a structure consisting of excavating in advance of the structure by means of water under substantial pressure, and conducting displaced material upwardly to the surface of the earth into which the structure is sunk by stepped jets of water directed upwardly along the surface ofthe structure.

3. The method of sinking a structure consisting of excavating in advance of the structure and conducting displaced material upwardly tothe surface of the earth into which the structure is sunk by stepped jets of water directed upwardly along the surface of the structure at sufficiently close intervals to maintain constant acceleration of the water and material from the nose of the 'pile to the surface ofthe earth.

t. 'The method of sinking a structure which consists in excavating in advance 'of the structure by jetting and in then rapidly conof the structure displaced material upwardly to the surface1 ducting by relaying the displaced material by a 4series of jets of Water circumferentially disposed about and upwardly directed s under high pressure along the surface of the of the earth into which the structure sunk by step jets oi' water circumferentially disposed and directed upwardly underI high pressure along the surface of the structure and at sutiiciently close intervals to maintain a constant acceleration or movement of the water and material from the lower end of the structure to the surface of the earth.

6. The method of sinking an elongated structure consisting of directing Water in advance of the structure under sufficient pressure to loosen the material, directing a jet of water under sulicient pressure upwardly along the side of the structure to elevate the loosened material a certain distance and directing another jet of water under suiii cient pressure upwardly ata point where the loosened material carried bysaid first jet will be delivered to it and carried upwardly farther.

7. The method of sinking an elongated.

structure consisting of directing water in advance of the structure under suiicient pressure to displace material, directing jets of water upwardly at points about the structure and along the sides thereof to elevate the displaced material.l and directing other jets of water upwardly at points about the of sinking a structure construeture to which the displaced material is elevated by lower jets to further elevate the material, whereby the material is eventually delivered to 4the surface of the earth into which the structure is sunk. l

8. The method of sinking a structure oonsisting of'directing Water under high pressure in advance of the structure to exeavate therefor and directing jets of water under relatively low pressure upwardly along the outer surface of the structure at sutiiciently close intervals to ldispose of the material .from the lower end of the structure to the surface of the earth into which the structure is sunk.

The method of sinking a structure consisting et discharging a jet of Waterin advance thereof to excavate therefor, discharging jets of water of gradually reduced volumcupwardly along the sides of the structure at sutliciently close intervals to main# tain a' constant acceleration or movement 0f the water and material from the nose of the structure to the surface of the earth.

10. A structure comprisingan elongated body member` means for directing Water under sufiieient pressure in advance of the vbody member to loosen the material, and

means for directingjets of water under suffcient pressure upwardly at, intervals along the sides of the structure to relay the loosened material upwardly, said jets being so spaced and directed that the loosened material carried by one jet will be delivered to thc jet above it.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

.EDlVARD BIGNELL.

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