US2649694A - Method and device for driving tubular bodies into the ground by means of fluid jets - Google Patents

Description

PICKMAN METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRIVING TUBULAR BODIES Aug. 25, 1953 INTO THE GROUND BY MEANS OF FLUID JETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1949 Aug. 25, 1953 2,649,694

E.HCKMAN METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRIVING TUBULAR BODIES .INTO THE GROUND BY MEANS OF FLUID JETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1949 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRIVING TUBU- LAR. BODIES INTO THE GROUND BY MEANS OF FLUID JETS Edgard Pickman, Schaerbeek-Brussels, Belgium, assignor to Compagnie Internationale des Pieux Arms Frankignoul, Socit Anonyme, Liege,

Belgium Application July 22, 1949, Serial No. 106,306 I In France July 27, 1948 11 Claims.

7 It is known to sink tubular bodies, such as concreting tubes for building up concrete foun- In the known method, the injecting anddischarging nozzles are. carried by a member that is lowered inside the tubeand takes up practically the whole of the free cross area thereof, so that the fluid jet device has to be withdrawn before concreting can be initiated, which is prejudicious from" the standpoint of the continuity of the process, while excluding the possibility of preventing water and underground silt from entering the tube proper. The said method, moreover, does notmake it possible to use the weight of the tube as a load for the injecting device in order to supply the latter with the desirable reaction. Moreover, the injecting nozzles were directed axially downward, with a resulting noncontrollable' lateral 'underwashing beyond the area of the sinking wellproper, which may be very prejudicious. This invention has 'for'its object a method and a device for fluid jet driving a body into the ground, wherein theabove drawbacks are eliminated. i

The method of the invention is characterized essentially by the combination of the steps comprising: placing the tubular body over a jet chamber; tightly sealing the said tubular body from the said chamber; injecting into the said chamber a liquid, together-with air if desired,

. through ducts provided outside of the said body; and to discharge the slurry formed in the said chamber through ducts likewise provided outside the tubular body. Advantageously, a downwardly directed impulse is applied to the whole of the tubular body and the jet chamber during the sinking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for carrying the method into effect, such device comprising essentially an emulsioning or jet chamber open at the bottom, which is provided at the foot of the tubular'body to be sunk and is sealed from the free cross area thereof, while the ducts for injecting the liquid, together with air or a gas if desired, and those for discharging the mixture of liquid and the material from the scoured gro und,,are arranged around the said tubular body and extend upwardly therealong. .Conveniently, the injection ducts open to the jet chamber in a direction transverse to 2 the axis thereof, preferably in a direction substantially tangential to the side wall thereof.

The invention also provides a mechanical connection between the tubular body and the wall of the chamber, so that the said wall carries the weight of the said body during the sinking, which renders the lattermore convenient and expeditious.

The side wall of the emulsion chamber, the diameter of which is preferably greater than that of the tubular body, may be independent from the latter or rendered integral therewith, while the upper wall of the said chamber may be independent of the tubular body or be constituted by the face of a member sealing the free cross area of the lower end of the tube.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification of various embodiments given by way of exampie, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 to 4 are vertical sections showing four steps used in forming a concrete pile in the ground by means of the device of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line V-V of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 to 8 are vertical sections showing three steps used in forming a pile by means of another device in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 9 is a section on line IXIX of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a part sectional elevation of a further embodiment of the invention.

. invention.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view in vertical crosssection of a still further modification of the device of the invention. v

Fig. 19 is a section on line X[XXIX of Fig. 18.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a concreting tube intended to be driven into the soil is indicated by l and is closed at the bottom by a sealing plug 2, e. g. of concrete which is advantageously fitted tightly in the tube by means of a ring 3 of plastic or elastic material. The plug may be formed in any suitable way,

either I by a separate body applied into the cured to a yoke At the beginning of the sinking the yoke 4 is placed, with the use of interposed members 5, upon a jet driving tube 6, the length of which substantially equals that of the tube l. Thus, a chamber 7, which will be named jet or emulsion chamber, is formed under the plug 2 in the tube 5. In the annular space -8 included between the two tubes there are arranged pipes .9 the upper ends of which are connected to a source of liquid under pressure, e. g. water, while their lower ends terminate in nozzles or mouths It opening into the chamber i, preferably in a substantially horizontal direction and which is tangential to the wall of the tube 6, or in a more or less radial direction VJhen the above assembly is placed on the ground and water injected under pressure in the chamber 1, the water will disintegrate the surface of the ground that has penetrated into the tube 6, in forming a slurry that will discharge upwards through the annular space 8 that opens to the outside above the tube 5, e. g. through apertures a provided between the interposed members 5.

The underwashing of the ground by the jets of water under pressure produces progressively under the tube a cylindrical sheath of lesser resistance, into which the tube descends under the effect of its own weight alone or in combined action with either weighting the tube or exerting a downward pull upon the yoke 4. In any case, such weighting or traction will enable to speed up the sinking.

The sinking is thus continued up to the desired depth, with no detrimental vibrations taking place as in the case of ramming a pile. Moreover, the jet chamber according to the invention limits the emulsioning of the earth to the clear area of the tube 6, thus eliminating the drawbacks of the known fluid jet driving systems, namely underwashing of the ground and undesirably aifecting the coeflicient of lateral friction.

After the requisite depth has been reached, the interposed members 5 are removed and the tube lowered until the yoke 4 bears upon the tube 6, while the injection of water and, if desired the downward traction, may be continued during that period. The device now assumes the position shown in Fig. 2. The tube is still tightly sealed by the plug 2, so that neither earth nor water or silt have been able to enter it. The plug is then driven out by applying impacts, by means of the monkey ll (Fig. 3) upon a quantity of concrete poured on top of the plug '2, so as to secure the sealing of the tube I after the plug has been driven out. The concreting of the pile may then be finished in the usual way, e. g. by ramming concrete in the ground as the tubes 1 and 6 are simultaneously raised, for instance by means of cables attached to brackets 12 provided on the tube 6. The pile may have a reinforcement 13,

- which is positioned after the foot of the pile has been formed, e. g. by inserting it into the tube l or into the space included between the tubes l and B. In the latter case the water pipes 9 must be removably mounted, so that they can be withdrawn when the driving is finished. Fig. 4 shows a finished pile.

Figs. 6 to 9 show a modification wherein the jet chamber is integral with the concreting tube. The latter, which is indicated by [4, is lengthened by a sleeve I5, e. g. welded to the outside of the lower end of the tube I4. The latter is again tightly closed at its lower end by 4 a plug I6, e. g. of concrete, and has a seal packing. The sleeve is provided with openings H for water injection, to which are connected pipes :s arranged outside the tube i4 and in communication with a source of water under pressure, either individually or through the medium of a header l9. It desired, the mouths ll of the pipes I8 may be cut obliquely in the thickness of the sleeve [5, so as to provide for a more or less tangential injection. The formed slurry is discharged through openings 20 communicating with ducts 2| arranged at the outside of the tube '14 and extending up to soil level, where they "open at a certain distance beneath the header IS.

The jet driving is carried out in the manner already described hereinbefore. Further, the plug 16 is driven out by ramming on top of the concrete poured into the tube l4, which tube is further withdrawn as the concreting of the pile proceeds. The concrete will also fill in the cavities formed by the ducts 2|, so as to form a pile of star-like cross area having so many branches as there are ducts. Such a pile therefore has a large lateral surface compared with its volume, which ensures a strong frictional adhesion between the pile and the ground.

The downward traction and the raising of the tube may be eifected by means of cables attached to brackets 22 integral with the tube.

Instead of sealing the concreting tube from the jet chamber by a plug obturating the tube, such sealing may be achieved by using an independent jet chamber intended to be left in the ground and having its upper end closed by a top wall whereupon the concreting tube is bearing. Such a device is shown in Figs. 10 to 12.

In the latter instance the jet chamber 23 has the general shape of a cylindrical box having a top wall 24 on which the tube 25 bears, the centering of the latter being ensured by means of a projection 26 provided on the top wall 24. The jet pipes 21 and the discharge pipes 28, both provided any suitable number, are arranged outside the box 23. Since the box 23 is intended to be left in the ground, the said pipes should be connected thereto in a removable manner, so that they can be recovered. To this end the box is provided with sockets having their upper portions-which are intended to have pipes engaged thereinparallel to the axis of the tube 25, and the assembling may be efiected e. g. by screwing by a bayonet joint or simply by a frictional fit, means being used, if desired, to provide for the tightness of the assembly.

In the example shown in Figs. 10 to 12, the jet pipes 21 engage in bent sockets 29 secured to the box 23 and provided, if desired, with nozzles 30 arranged approximately tangentially to the wall of the box, while the discharge pipes 28 are engaged in sockets 31 provided on lateral extensions 32 of the box, in free communication with the jet chamber comprising the latter. The pipes 21, 28 may be held in position against the tube 25 by iron fittings 33.

The sinking is efiected in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 9. Instead of applying to the tube a pull in the downward direction, the tube may be weighted e. .g. by introducing thereinto a quanti'ty of concrete to be used in building up the pile. More particularly, the tube 2 5 may be constituted by a sheath intended to be left in the groun'd'and completely filled with concrete, which will be vibrated e. g. during the finishing of the pile.

After the required depth has been reached, concrete is introduced into the box 23, e. g. is "injected through one of the pipes 21, 2B. The latter pipes are then withdrawn, mortar being injected, if desired, through said pipes in order to fill out the gap in the ground resulting. from their withdrawal; The pile is then concreted, e. g. i' the manner above described. Ramming of a fir:

batch of concrete may contingently result in driving out the top wall 24 of the box, which would only be beneficialto the compression of the foot Alternately, and if the tube 25 is a sheath intended to be left in the ground, its concrete contents may be vibrated with a view of finishing the pile; such method being advantageous e. g. for driving piles into a river. Obviously, the concreting tube need not necessarily be made inone piece, but may be constituted of lengths assembled to each other as the sinking proceeds. If the tubes are to be recovered, such assembling will be by screwing. In the case of a sheath to be left in the ground, the tube may be formed of metal sheet members assembled by welding as the sinking proceeds. The latter embodiment is shown in (Figs.-13 to 15 which illustrate diagrammatically three stages of forming a pile in a river bed.

Fig. 13 shows the driving of the first member ainto the river 34, after it has been placed upon the box 23 and filled with concrete. The second member 252) is about to be welded to the former and will also be filled with concrete. The pipes 21, 28 may, if so required, also be formed in such a manner that they can be assembled as the sinking proceeds. When the bottom of the river is reached the jet system is started and the sinking is continued up to the required depth. The pile is finished as above described, with recovery of the'pipes 21, 28 and, e. g. vibrating, the concrete in the sheath intended to be left in the ground.

Figs. 16-17show another embodiment of a jet chamber intended to be left in the ground. The chamber comprises a box having an open bot- .tom, while its top wall 36 has providedon it a projection 31 for centering the tube 38. Outside the latter tube the top wall 36 is. provided with apertures 39, opposite some of which open the sockets of the nozzles 40 secured to the box and to which the water supply pipes 4! are removably connected. A thin sheath 42, extending e. g. all over the height of the pile, is secured to the box, e. g. by welding. The slurry wells up through'the openings 39 and the annular space included between the tube 38 and the sheath 42. Any closure may be provided to secure the tightness of the tube, e. g. a gasket 43 upon which the tube 38 is pressed. After the sinking has been effected and concrete injected into the box 35 the tube 38 is raised and the sheath 42 filled with concrete, which is advantageously vibrated.

I Figs. 18-19 show an embodiment similar to that of Figs. 16-17, but in which the jet box is not left in the ground. The concreting tube 44 terminates in an enlarged portion 45 forming the jet box and bearing upon an inner flange 46 of a sheath 41 made from metal sheet and intended to be left in the ground, which encircles the portion 45. Openings are provided in the shoulder 49 and enable the passage of the jet pipes 50 and of the slurry discharged through the space included between the tube 44 and the sheath 41. The tube 44 is sealed by a plug 5| adapted to be driven out.

In all the above described examples use may be made, in combination with the injection of water, of a blast of air or other gas directed into the emulsion chamber, especially with view of more 6 efliciently emulsiohing the slurry mixture andto facilitate discharge thereof by the drain pipes. The blast may be effected through all or some of the water injection pipes or through pipes specially provided to this end.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown, in which there may be made various structural changes without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as far as the number and the relative arrangement of the injection and discharge pipes and the way of securing the tight seal of the concreting tube are concerned.

What I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming an opening in semisolid material, comprising in combination, a first tube having a pair of opposite open end portions, one of said open end portions being of a larger diameter than the remainder of said tube and being connected to said tube by an annular flange forming part of said tube and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said tube, said annular flange being formed with a plurality of spaced openings; a second tube of a larger diameter than said first tube being located about said first tube so as to form an annular passageway between said first and second tubes, said second tube having at one end thereof an inwardly extending annular flange upon which said one open end portion of said first tube rests; conduit means extending through said annular passage and said openings in said annular flange of said first tube so as to communicate with the interior of said open end portion of said first tube to lead fluid to said open end portion of said first tube; and sealing means removably connected to the interior of said first tube adjacent said annular flange thereof to seal the area enclosed by said one open end portion of said first tube from the space en-' closed by the remainder of said first tube, said annular passageway between said first and second tubes serving to conduct material washed away by said fluid in said one open end portion of said tube away from said one open end portion of said tube.

2. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, in combination, an elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted to be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall means associated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground, said wall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube a chamber having an open bottom; conduit means located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof and communicating with said chamber for leading fluid thereto to loosen the ground under said open bottom of said chamber and to form within said chamber a mixture of the fiuid and loosened ground; duct means also located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof and communicating with said chamber to carry away therefrom the mixture of fluid and loosened ground; and removable cover means located at said bottom end of said tube for temporarily covering said bottom end of said tube to seal the interior thereof from said chamber so as to prevent the mixture of fluid and loosened ground from entering said tube, whereby building material may be introduced through said elongated tube into the formed tubular hole after said cover means is removed and simultaneously with the removal of said elongated tube from the hole formed in the ground.

3. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, in combination, an elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted to be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall means associated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground, said wall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube a chamber having an openbottom; conduit means: located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof and communicating with said chamber for leading fluid thereto to loosen the ground under said open bottom of'said chamber and to form within said chamber a mix ture of the fluidand loosenedgrcund; duct means also located adjacent said tube onthe outside thereof and communicating with said chamber to carryaway therefrom the mixture of fluid and loosened ground, said duct means comprising a plurality of tubular members extending along the length of said elongated tube and each being removably connected adjacent one of the ends thereof to said chamber; and removable cover means located at said bottom end of said tube for-temporarily covering said bottom end of said tube to seal the interior thereof from saidchamber so. as to prevent the mixture of fluid and loosened. ground from entering said tube, whereby building material may be introduced throughsaid. elongated tube into the formed tubular hole after. said cover means is removed and simultaneouslywith the removal of said elongated tube from the hole formed in the ground.

4. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, in combination, an elongated. tube having an open bottom end and adaptedto be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall means associated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground; said wall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube a chamber having an open bottom, and said wall means being formed with a plurality of spaced openings passing therethrough; conduit means located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof and communicating with said chamber through said openings in said wall means for leading" fluidto said: chamber to loosen the ground under said open bottom: of said chamber and toform Within said-chamber a mixture ofthe fluid and loosened ground; duct means also located adjacent said tube onthe outside thereof extending in the 1ongitudinal direction thereof and communicating with saidchamber to carry away therefrom the mixture of fluid and loosened ground; and removable cover means located at said bottom end of said: tube for temporarily covering said bottom end of said tube to seal the interior thereof from. said chamber so as to prevent the mixture of fluid and loosened ground from entering said tube, whereby building material may be introduced through said elongated tube into the formed tubular hole after said cover means is removed? and simultaneously with the removal of said elongated tube from the hole formed in the ground.

5. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, in combination, an elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted to be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall means associated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground, said wall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube a chamber having an open bottom; conduit means located adjacent saidtube on the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof,

and communicating with-said chamber for lead-- ing fluid thereto to loosen: theground under-said. open bottom-of said chamber and to: form within said chamber a mixture of fluid and loosened. ground; duct means. also. located adjacent. said tube on the outside thereof, extending in the-longitudinal direction thereof and communicating with said chamber to carry therefrom themixture offluid and loosened ground; and removable cover means located over said bottom end of said tube for temporarily covering the same to: seal the interior of said tube from said chamber so as to prevent the mixture of. fluid and. loosened ground from entering said. tube, said removable cover means being in the form of a: plateintegral with said. wall means and: extending. across; said chamber opposite said open. bottom. thereof SO that building material may be introduced through said elongated tube onto said removable cover means simultaneously with the removal 01' said elongated tube from the hole formed inthe. round;

6. An apparatus. as defined in claim: 5' and wherein an annular shoulder is fixedly located on said plate and. within said open bottom end of said tube to align the latterwith said chamber.

7'. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole: in the ground, comprising, in combination, an; elonr gated tube having an open bottom end and adapted to be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall meansassociated with said tube for movement therewith. into. the ground, said wall means forming beyond; said open bottom end of said elongated;tubeacham'r ber having an open bottom; conduit means located adjacentv said tube on the outside thereof; extending in the longitudinal direction; thereof; and communicating withsaid chamber for lead:- ing fluid thereto to loosen the ground under said open bottom of said chamber and to form; within said chamber a mixture of. fluid and loosened ground; duct means also located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof; extending. in the longitudinal. direction thereof and communicate ing with saidv chamber to. carry therefrom: the mixture of. fiuid and loosened ground; and: removable cover means located over said. bottom end of said. tube for temporarily covering the same to seal the interior of said tube from said chamber so as to prevent the mixture; of: fluid and loosened ground from entering said. tube, said removable cover means being in the; form of. a concrete plate frictionally mountedin the open bottom end of said elongated tube so that building material may be introduced through said elongated tube to forcibly remove said concrete plate therefrom and deposit the, latterin, the bottom of the hole formed in. the. ground. while said elongated: tube may be removed from the hole simultaneously- With. the movement. of. build;- ing material through said; elongated tube.

8. Apparatus for forming a tubularhole; inthe ground, comprising, in, combination, an: elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted to be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall means: associated. with. said tube for: movement therewith into the. ground, said wall means forming beyond said open, bottom end of said elongatedtube a chamber'having an open bottom; conduit meansv located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof and communicating with said chamber for leading fluid thereto to loosen the ground under said openbottom of said chamberand to form within said" chamber a mixture of the fluid and loosened ground; duct means also located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof and communicating with said chamber to carry away therefrom the mixture of fluid and loosened ground, said duct means being formed at least in part by the outer surface of said elongated tube; and removable cover means located at said bottom end of said tube for temporarily covering said bottom end of said tube to seal the interior thereof from said chamher so as to prevent the mixture of fluid and loosened ground from entering said tube, whereby building material may be introduced through said elongated tube into the formed tubular hole after said cover means is removed and simultaneously with the removal of said elongated tube from the hole formed in the ground.

9. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground, comprising, in combination, an elongated tube having an open bottom end and adapted to be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; wall means associated with said tube for movement therewith into the ground, said wall means forming beyond said open bottom end of said elongated tube a chamber having an open bottom; conduit means located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof and communicating with said chamber for leading fluid thereto to loosen the ground under said open bottom of said chamber and to form within said chamber a mixture of the fluid and loosened ground; duct means also located adjacent said tube on the outside thereof, extendin in the longitudinal direction thereof and communieating with said chamber to carry away therefrom the mixture of fluid and loosened ground, said duct means being in the form of a tubular extension of said wall means located about said conduit means and said elongated tube; and removable cover means located at said bottom end of said tube for temporarily covering said bottom end of said tube to seal the interior thereof from said chamber so as to prevent the mixture of fluid and loosened ground from entering said tube, whereby building material may be introduced through said elongated tube into the formed tubular hole after said cover means is removed and simultaneously with the removal of said elongated tube from the hole formed in the ground.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 and wherein said removable cover means is in the form of a concrete plate frictionally mounted in the bottom end of said elongated tube so as to be forcibly removed therefrom by building material inserted into the hole in the ground through said elonated tube.

11. Apparatus for forming a tubular hole in the ground comprising, in combination, an elongated first tube having an open bottom end and adapted to be sunk into the ground with said open bottom end first; a cylinder of a substantially shorter length than said first tube having an open end distant from said bottom end of said first tube and an end wall located over said bottom end of said first tube to seal the latter from the space within said cylinder, said end wall of said cylinder being larger than the transverse, cross sectional area of said first tube and being formed with a plurality of spaced openings located beyond said first tube; a second tube of a larger cross sectional area than said first tube located about the latter and said cylinder to form an annular passageway between said first and second tubes, said annular passageway communicating with the interior of said cylinder through said openings in said end wall thereof; and conduit means extending through said annular passageway and said openings in said end wall of said cylinder to lead fluid to the interior of the latter, said annular passageway serving to guide material washed away by fluid supplied to said cylinder through said conduit means.

EDGARD PICKMAN.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 947,237 Hindes Jan. 25, 1910 1,024,821 Bignell Apr. 30, 1912 1,173,355 Jones Feb. 29, 1916 1,366,460 Howell Jan. 25, 1921 1,729,422 Pleasner Sept. 24, 1929 2,019,719 Miller Nov. 5, 1935 2,239,872 Beplat Apr. 29, 1941 2,412,185 Weber Dec, 3, 1946

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