US2412185A

US2412185A - Method of encasing driven piling

Info

Publication number: US2412185A
Application number: US597995A
Authority: US
Inventors: Weber Carl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-06-07
Filing date: 1945-06-07
Publication date: 1946-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1963-12-03

Description

Dec. 3, 1946.

c. WEBER METHOD OF ENCASING DRIVEN FILING Filed June 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR OAIFL WEBER BY WV ATTORN EY Dec. 3, 1946. Q WEBER METHOD OF ENCASING DRIVEN FILING Filed June '7, 1945 2 Sheets-She et 2 INVENTOR CARI. WEBER ATTO R N EY Patented Dec. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF ENCASING DRIVEN PILING Carl Weber, New York, N. Y.

Application June 7, 1945, Serial No. 597,995

6 Claims.

This invention comprehends a method of encasing with concrete wooden piles located under wharves, clocks, piers, bridges, trestles and similar maritime structures as protection against the ruinous attacks of teredoes, limnoria, and other marine borers and to prevent decay from dry-rot, fungus growths, termites and other wood destroying influences, and which also provides effective protection against damage to the piling from abrasion caused by ice and floating debris while eliminating or greatly reducing the fire hazard to which such maritime structures are frequently exposed.

Concrete encasements are also employed for the reconditioning of wooden piling that has become weakened or deteriorated bybore worms or other destructive elements or for restoring piling that has been ruptured by impact or injured by fire or overloading and the same is also'used for increasing the load carrying capacity of existing piling should it be necessaryto increase the load carryingcapacity thereof. Concrete encasements are also employed for the protection of steel piling to prevent deterioration by rust of sections that are exposed to alternate dry and wet conditions and to preserve piling placed in corrosive ground or contaminated Water.

Concrete encasemen'ts are frequently applied to the exposed tops of wooden piling or to the upper portion of piling located within the tidal range, between extreme low and high water mark where thedestructive effects of bore-worms, crustacean and fungus growth and deterioration by abrasive action are most prevalent. For the reason, however, that many species of marine borers enter the piling at or slightly below the 'mudline, it is the more usual practice to extend the concrete casing a few .feet below ground level especially if large and important structures requiring permanent safe protection areto be provided.

. It has been the practice to form concrete encasements about wooden pilin either before or after'the piling is driven-in place. The former method has beenemployed so as to prevent premature contact of .fresh concrete with sea or brackish water and because it has been found practically impossibleto'form'a comparatively thin shell of concrete around driven piling under water and below the low water line withoutexposin the fresh concrete mixture to infiltration or admixture with sea water which weakens the concrete and greatly reduces its protective quality. Afurther obstacleto the formation of concrete encasement about driven piling is that the reinforcement in the form of wire meshor the like located within the narrow forms frequently prevents so lidification of the concrete by obstructing the downward flow of the concrete mixture thus leav ing large unfilled hollow spaces therein. Such hollow spaces form honey-combed sections that cannot be detected until the forms are removed and which must be repaired which is cost1y,'very casements about piling before the same is inserted a in place. In carryingout this method a suitable wire mesh i fastened around the piling and a concrete shell of the required thickness formed over the wire mesh by means of a pneumatic cement or mortar'gun. While a more perfect encasement maybe produced by this method, the Waste of the mixture resulting from the use of the' pneumatic gun, the inconvenienceand costinvolved in this method are so great that the same is only employed for exceptional conditions and requirements. Th 'use of the pneumatic gun in this method necessitates a rich "mixture of sand "and cement, thereby eliminating a more effective and economical cement mixture with coarse aggrogates. The use of the pneumatic gun also requires that the piling be disposed in a horizontal position for the application ofthe concrete; encasement thereto which necessitates extensive space for the work and for storage and curing of the encasedpiling. Furthermore piles so encased are heavy and cumbersome and necessitate the use of heavy equipment for handling and transporting the same. The handling and driving of such encased piling into place frequently result in damaging the encasement although-the same has been allowed to become cured and hardened which is not always possible where cramped working space and limited time prevent proper aging thereof. This method also entails the en'casing 'of a longer portion of the piling than is usually necessary since the correct length of penetration of the piling cannot always be predetermined.

Inorder to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages in and objections to the use of the aforesaid methods, the present'invention comprehends. an improved method of encasing with concrete wooden piling .or the like at anytime after the same has been driven in place to the required depth. This method embodies the enclosing of the portion of the piling about which the encasement is to be formed with an air-tight and watertight sectional casing which is spaced from the piling to provide an annular cavity for receiving the concrete mixture for producing the encasement of the desired thickness.

The method contemplates the assembly of the sections of the casing about the pilingabove the waterline and the step by step lowering thereof into position as each section is assembled and connected to its adjacent upper section respectively. The method also includes the steps of subjecting the casing to air pressure to expel the water accumulating therein and thereafter forcing the concrete mixture in plastic condition into the casing at the bottom thereof with suflicient fluid pressure to cause it to rise within and to and protection of the concrete within the casing until the concrete has sufliciently hardened so as to safely permit the removal of the temporary casing forms. V

With'the foregoing and other objects in view reference is. now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred forms of the casing for carrying out the method embodying the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a'verticalsectionalview of a casing employed in carrying out the method embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with parts broken away and the pile shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line. 3-3 of-Fig. l.

f Fig. 4 is a typical horizontal sectional view through a portion of the intermediate sections illustrating one of the clamping devices in position on thevertical flanges.

Fig.5 is'a view inv elevation of said clamping device, I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a pre-cast concrete bottom section employed in carrying out the method when the piling is to be encased below the mud-line.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on line L-l of view 6.

The casing employed in carrying out the method consists of a bottom section A, a top section B and a plurality of intermediate sections C and D which are of tubular-formation and adapted'to be disposed in surrounding spaced relation with a driven or standing pile E and se cured together in end to end relation so as to provide an annular cavity 9 between the pile and the casing for receiving a concrete mixture which is forced into the bottom thereof to thereby produce a concrete encasement surrounding the pile throughout the desired length thereof. I r

The bottom section A consists of oppositely disposed mating members In and l l of semi-circular formation in cross-section which are formed with peripheral flanges l2 and I3 at the upper and lower ends respectively and with longitudinally extending radially projecting flanges 14' at the opposite vertical edges thereof, the said flanges l4 being formed with openings therethrough adapted to receive bolts for securlngthe said 4 mating members together in annular formation. A valve l of any commercial construction is secured in an opening in the member ID for ejecting by air pressure the water which accumulates in the casing during the assembly thereof. The said valve is adapted to permit of the passage of water from the casing and the same is of a type which automatically closes when the air pressure is released to prevent the re-entry of water into the casing through the valve. The member I0 is also formed with an opening in which'is thread- Y edly engaged the lower end of a pipeline l6 ex- (ill plate .cavity 9.

tending upwardly therefrom and connected with a concrete injector or pump (not shown) for forcing the concrete mixture through said pipeline intothe casing.

The bottom section A also includes an annular ll consisting of abutting semi-circular members which are secured against the underside of the mating members It) and II by bolts l8 extending through the peripheral flanges l3 thereof. The inner periphery of the plate I1 is spaced from the pile when the, bottom section A is disposed in surrounding relation therewith and in order to form a water-tight jointbetween the plate and the pile a plurality of arcuate flaps l9 fashioned from canvas impregnated with rubber are arranged within the section A with the outer edges of the flaps secured to the inner edge portion of the plate l'land with the inner edge portions of said flaps bent upwardly and impinged against the pile. g g

The top or uppermost section B similarly consists of oppositely disposed matingmembers 20 and 2| of semi-circular formationin cross-section which are formed with

peripheral flanges

22 and 23 at. the upper and lower ends thereof respectively and with longitudinally extending radially projecting flanges 24 at the opposite vertical edges of said members, the'said flanges 24 being formed with openings therethrough adapted to receive bolts for securing said semi-cylindrical members together in annular relation. The said section also includes an annular plate 26 consisting of abutting semi-circular members which aresecured upon the-upper surface thereof by bolts 21 extending through the peripheral flanges 22 and superimposed upon said annular plate are abutting semi-annular members 28 secured thereto by said bolts 21. The said members 28 are rabbeted about their inner periphery to provide an annular recess 30 with said annular plate 26 in which is clamped the outer edge of an elastic annular collar 3| having its inner portion curved upwardly and secured about the pile so as to close the space between the inner periphery'of the annular plate and the pile; The semicircular member 20.is provided with a cock valve- 32 for discharging the impurities that may be forced to the top of the concrete mixture in. the The said member 20 is also provided with a pipe 33 secured in an opening therein and connected to an air pressure pipe 34 in'which is zontalfianges of the lower bars 4! of the adjacent upper section, the upper horizontal flanges'of the bars 410 of the uppermost section -C being bolted to the horizontal flanges of the top section B.

The

members

38 and 39 are releasably secured together in assembled annular formation by means of clamping devices 44 which are spaced longitudinally along the angle bars 42 and which consist of a lever 45 pivoted intermediate its length to a bracket 46'having an enlarged outer positely disposed mating members 49 and 50 of.

semi-circular formation in cross-section which are fashioned from sheet steel and have

angle bars

52 and 53 secured thereto at the upper and lower ends thereof and longitudinally extending angle bars 54 secured thereto along the opposite I vertical edges thereof. Any desired number of said intermediate sections may be employed in the casing in accordance with the length of the pile to be encased. The sections are arranged with the horizontal flanges of the upper bars 52 u secured to the horizontal flanges of the lower angle bars 53 of the adjacent lower section by bolts 55. The horizontal flanges of the upper angle bars 52 of the uppermost section D is socured by the bolts 55 to the horizontal flanges of the lower angle bars 4| of the lowermost intermediate section C. The members 49 and 50 are similarly releasably coupled together in assembled annular formation by means of the clamping devices 44 engaging at longitudinally spaced intervals over the adjacent vertical angle bars 54 as described in connection with the intermediate sections C. Chains 56 are connected to the outer ends of adjacent levers 45 whereby the levers may be swung on their pivotal connections with I the brackets 46 by an upward pull on the chains so as to release the clamping devices 44 from engagement with the vertical angle bars of the intermediate sections C and D to thereby disconnect the oppositely disposed

members

38 and 39 of the intermediate sections C and the oppositely disposed members 49 and 50 of the intermediate sections D.

In practicing the method the pile which isdisposed in standing position is first cleaned if necessary. The members I0 and H of the bottom section A are assembled in surrounding relation with the pile which members are supported by means of ropes or chains above the level of the water While the same are being secured together. The members 49 and 50 of an intermediate section D are then secured in assembled relation about the pile and fastened to the bottom section A which is then lowered and additional intermediate sections D and. C are assembled in sur rounding relation with the pile and secured in end to end relation with adjacent sections. When the required number of said intermediate sections are arranged in position depending upon the length of the pile to be encased the top section .A is. secured in position upon the uppermost .intermediate section C .thus completing the casing. The steel reinforcement, indicated :by the reference character 58 such as wire mesh, .expanded metal, steel bars or the like is inserted into the casing and secured in position therein as'the sectionsare assembled.

The pipeline 16 is connected with th lower section A durin the assembly :thereof and when the casing is completely assembled and is in the desired position longitudinal of the pile the pipeline I6 is connected with a concrete injector or pump (not shown) for forcing the concrete into the casing. When the top section B is in position the piping 33 together with the

valves

35 and 3;! and gauge 36 are connected thereto and to the pipeline 3d leading to a-source of air pressure (not shown).

As the sections of the casing are lowered into position the same become filled with water which is discharged after the casing is completed by means of air pressure forced into the casing through the pipeline 34 'so as to expel the water through the valve 15. The concrete mixture is then forced into the bottom of the casing through the pipeline it which is continued until the cavity 9 surrounding the pile is filled'while the exhaust valve 31 may be manipulated to maintain pressure upon the top of the concrete as the same rises in the casing to thereby 'compress and compact the concrete about the piling. Any impurities that may be floating on top of the concrete in the casing are discharged by manipulating th valve 32.

The sections A, B, C and D of the casingzare secured together o as to render the casing liquid and air-tight and for this purpose gaskets are interposed between the mating horizontal and vertical flanges thereof. This construction prevents the entrance of water into the casing which would dilute and weaken the concrete and also renders it possible to maintain the desired pressure within the casing during the forcing of the concrete mixture therein. The valve 35 is closed during the filling of the casing with the concrete material while the cock valve 32 and the exhaust valve 31 are regulated by hand to discharge impure or watery material floating on top of the concrete mixture or to maintain any desired pressure upon the top thereof. The concrete mixture being subjected to pressurefrom below forcing the same upward within the casing to the top thereof compresses and compacts the concrete therein and causes the same to extend into and fill all crevicesin the piling. The encasement thus formed about the piling is extremely dens and hard'and is tightly bonded to the piling. When the concrete is sufliciently hardened the casing sections are removed for further use.

When it is necessary to provide a concrete encasement extending about the piling into solid ground below the mud level, a concrete premolded section F illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings is provided which takes th place of the bottom section A of the casing previously described. The pare-molded section F is formed of oppositely disposed mating members BI and 52 of semi-circular formation in cross-section. The said mating members are formed with longitudinally extending rabbeted vertical edges 53 at the opposite sides thereof which provide vertically extending recesses at the juncture of the members when arranged in mating relation which recesses are filled by quick hardening cement and in which are embedded the projecting ends of, the --reinforcement 64 for securing the .said members together in assembled relation about the piling.

'The section F is similarly provided with a valve for ejecting water from the casing and secured to th lower reduced end thereof are arcuate flaps l9 having their upper ends disposed in surrounding relation with the piling for closing the bottom of the casing.

The section F is secured to the adjacent upper section D by bolts 65 extending through the horizontal flange of the angle bars 53 thereof I and through angle bar 61 secured in surrounding relation with the upper end of said section F. A pipeline similar to the pipeline l6 extends into th "casing through the section F thereof and through which the concrete mixture is forced into the casing.

When the pre-formed section F is employed, the same becomes an integral part of the concrete encasement and remains in position in surrounding relation with the portion of the piling located below the mud-line.

The concrete mixture employed in the formation of the encasement is composed of any desired proportions of cement, sand and agglomerate which are mixed into a plastic consistency so "as to provide a dense and hard concrete when solidified. r I

What is claimed is: 1. A method for producing concrete encasements about driven piling subjected to the action of sea-water and the like consisting in completely enclosing a longitudinal portion of the piling with a liquid tight metallic casing compressed at its ends against the piling and disposed between its ends in surrounding spaced relation to the piling, forcing plastic concrete mixture into said casing at the bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between the piling and the casing, maintaining pressure upon the top of the concrete mixture as the same rises within the casing and removing the metallic casing when the concrete hardens.

2. A method for producing concrete encasements about piling driven into water-covered ground and projecting upwardly through the said casing at the bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between the piling and the casing, maintaining pressure upon the top er the concrete mixture as the same rises within the casing, releasing the semi-circular casing by upward pull on the clamping devices when the concrete hardens and removing the'ca'sing sections. 5 '3. A method for producing concrete encase ments about piling driven into water-covered ground and projecting upwardly through the waterjconsisting in' assembling the sections of a water-tight casing about the piling in spaced relation thereto to completely enclose a longitudinal portion thereof above and below the water-line, lowering said sections into position as the same are assembled and fastened to the adjacent section, forcing air into said casing to eject 'water therefrom, forcing plastic concrete mixture into said casing at the bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between the piling and the, casing, and'removing the casing when the concrete hardens.

4. A method for producing concrete encasements about piling driven into Water-covered ground and projecting upwardly through the water consisting in enclosing a longitudinal portion of the piling below the mud-line with a sectional concrete casin portion disposed in spaced relation with the piling, enclosing an upper longitudinal portion of the piling with a metallic casing portion disposed in surrounding spaced relation with the piling, fastening said concrete and metallic casing portions together, forcing plastic concrete mixture into said casing at the bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between the piling and the casing, maintaining pressure upon the top of the concrete mixture as the same rises within the casing and removing the metallic portion of the casing when the concrete hardens. t

5. A method for producing concrete encasements about driven piling subjected to the action of sea water and the like consisting in completely enclosing a longitudinal portion of the piling with a liquid tight metallic casing disposed in surrounding spaced relation to the piling, forcing plastic concrete mixture into said casing at the bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between the piling and the casing, and'removing the metallic casing when the concrete hardens.

6. A method for producing concrete encasements about piling driven into water-covered ground and projecting upwardly through the water consisting in assembling a sectional metallic casing about the piling in spaced relation thereto above the water-line, securing said sections'together by releasable clamps, lowering said sections into position as the same are assembled and fastened to adjacent sections, forcing air into said casing to eject water therefrom, forcing plastic concrete mixture into said casing at the bottom thereof and upwardly therein to fill the space between the piling and the casing, and releasing the clamps and removing the casing when the concrete hardens. CARL WEBER.