US3277968A

US3277968A - Screw piles

Info

Publication number: US3277968A
Application number: US291410A
Authority: US
Inventors: Grimaud Gustave
Original assignee: Marc Wood SA
Current assignee: Marc Wood SA
Priority date: 1963-06-28
Filing date: 1963-06-28
Publication date: 1966-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-11

Description

G. GRIMAUD Oct. 11, 1966 SCREW PILES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1963 INVENTOR G. GRIMAUD Oct. 11, 1966 SCREW PILES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 28, 1963 INVENTOR @a5 zw f/f @3H/Mia@ BY @05M w l v ATT N EYS Oct. 11, 1966 G. GRIMAUD 3,277,958

SCREW PILES Filed June 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 /Qyjzg @.d AQ/8 V//i l j f2 aZZ @as r//f @fw/wmp G. GRIMAUD oct. 11, 1966V SCREW PILES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 28, 1963 VVQVV INVENTOR @05719/42- Gla/M40@ i M figa/M fr ORNEYS Oct. 11, 1966 G. GRIMAUD 3,277,966

SCREW PILES Filed June 2a, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 n INVENTOR 634/5 r/y//' @fw/#Ma United States Patent O 3,277,968 SCREW PILES Gustave Grimaud, Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendee), France,

assigner to Marc Wood Societe Anonyme pour la Promotion des Echanges Techniques Internationaux, Paris,

France, a company of France Filed .lune 28, 1963, Ser. No. 291,410 8 Claims. (Cl. 173-163) This invention relates to screw piles, and more particularly it concerns improvements in screw piles of the type formed of concrete, either precast or cast in situ, and which are adapted to be driven into the earth by the application of a driving torque to provide a stable footing or foundation for building structures of various forms.

The use of foundation piling in the form of elongated posts or columns driven into the earth is almost universally employed by the building industry to support a structure on earth or above water or in other situations where solid foundation material is not available. The conventional technique used in the placing of such piling historically has involved some form of impact force applied to the upper end of the piling to drive the piling into the soil. The difiiculties associated with such techniques are manifold. For example, the time required to drive the piling into the ground by using an impact tool is not only great when conditions are ideal, but is increased substantially due to breakage of the piling or other damage which causes considerable interruption in the driving procedure. Of perhaps more significance, however, is the danger to surrounding structures due to vibrations developed as a result of the extreme shock developed with impact technique. This factor is particularly a problem in crowded areas, such as in cities, where new buildings are often Constructed immediately adjacent to existing structures. Often, the problem is so great that extreme measures must be taken to protect the adjacent building structures from damage due to the pile driving operation.

In some areas, the problems associated with the impact technique in pile driving have been overcome by the use of screw piles. Such piles are provided with external threads arranged to draw the pile into the earth upon rotation thereof by torque applied at ground level. While this approach lhas many advantages over the impact techniques of the type referred to above, screw piles as well as the methods and equipment heretofore available have not been employed without difficulty. One of the principal problems experienced with screw piles has been as a result of unsatisfactory threads by which the pile is drawn into the ground. Specifically, inadequate facility has been afforded in screw piles heretofore available for compressing the earth at the vicinity of the bottom tip of the pile together with an eflicient thread by which the piling may be drawn into the earth without requiring extremely powerful drive means. Also, difficulty has been experienced particularly where concrete piling is used due to the lack of proper reinforcement to withstand the torque required to rotate the threaded piling.

In accordance with the present invention, a pile is provided having an elongated prismatic body portion and a tapered lower point with external threads of constant pitch so that as the point enters the ground it compresses the earth to provide a bore. In addition, the constantly pitched threads assume that each yturn of the threads follows in precisely the same path as the preceding turn. In this way, maximum thread efficiency is obtainable. The piling of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with concrete, either precast with the threaded portions molded therein, or cast in situ. In this latter application, a shoe having threads as above described is first driven into the ground to compress the earth and form a 3,277,968 Patented Oct. 1l, 1966 bore. The shoe is then removed by reverse rotation. teel reinforcement and concrete are thereafter placed in the bore so formed. Where precast concrete piles in accordance with the present invention are used, the piles are reinforced by the plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing rods or prestressed cables positioned in cage-like fashion about the cross-section of the piling. To provide adequate reinforcement against stresses due to the rotational torque applied during installation, additional rods are applied in helical fashion about the longitudinally extending reinforcement rods. In addition, placement ofthe pilings in accordance with the present invention may be facilitated by use of an improved water jet method and as well, by a unique apparatus having wrench flats compleinenting `the shape of the pile driving portion and adapted to accommodate any length of piling desired without requiring an extremely high supporting tower or derrick.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved screw pile and method for its placement by which the problems heretofore encountered with the use of screw piles are effectively and substantially overcome.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a screw pile having a highly effective and unique thread arrangement adapted to be formed at least on the lower end thereof.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a screw type concrete piling having an improved thread sec` tion of the type referred to in combination with a body portion of elongated prismatic configuration to facilitate placement of the piling by an apparatus which may remain relatively stationary as the pile placing procedure progresses.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a concrete piling of the type referred to with a novel arrangement of steel reinforcement so that not only is the pile capable of sustaining vertical loads, but also the pile is not susceptible to damage under the high torque stresses imposed thereon during placement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of placing concrete piles.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide concrete piles of the type referred to which may be furnished in sections of different congurations and assembled in the field with a minimum of effort.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel driving apparatus for piles of the type referred to.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts and in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary elevation in partial cross section showing one form of pile in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the jetting fluid coupling device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation illustrating in detail the improved screw threads used with the pile illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation illustrating a form of bit useable with the pile of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevation illustrating another form of bit useable with the pile of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an elevation showing the steel reinforcement for the concrete pile of this invention applied with the bit shown in FIG. 6

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevation showing a multi-stage piling formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate schematically successive stages of forming a cast in situ concrete piling in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a front ele-vation illustrating the improved driving table of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-section taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a precast concrete piling in accordance with this invention is shown to include a threaded lower portion generally designated at and an elongated prismatic body portion 11 which in the form shown is of continuous -octagonal cross-section. The octagonal crosssection of the body portion 11 provides a plurality of wrench fiats 12 to facilitate driving of the pile in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. In the specific form illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a central passage in the form of a pipe 13 extends from an enlarged counter bore 14 at the upper end of the body portion 11 to a nozzle 15 extending in this instance from the central portion of a steel bit 16 fixed to the lower end of the threaded portion 10. The nozzle 15 is provided with jet orifices 17 for the emission of jetting fluid introduced to the pipe 13 during the placement of the pile in non-plastic soils where considerable resistance to driving is incurred. Also, where consolidation of loose soil such as sand and gravel is desired at the base of the pile, the nozzle 15 may be employed to inject a cement or grouting into the soil, the consolidting grouting cement being indicated in FIG. 1 at 18.

To facilitate the introduction of fluid to the pipe 13 either during driving of the pile for jetting purposes or after the pile is placed for consolidation of loose soil near the base of the pile, 'an expansible connector 19 is adapted to be fitted to the walls of the counter bore 14. A pipe 20 extends upwardly from the connector 19 to a swivel joint 22, in turn connected to a branched conduit 23 which may be either in the form of a flexible hose or in some instances a rigid pipe. One branch 24 of the conduit 23 having a valve 25 is connected to the outlet 26 of a pump Z7 having an inlet 28 for the introduction of water for jetting purposes or grouting for soil consolidation as above indicated. Another branch 29 having a valve 30 is connected to a source of compressed air such as an air compressor 31. Hence, either water, air, grouting or a mixture of these fluids can be introduced to the pipe 13 and ejected or emitted through the orifices 17 in the nozzle 15 as desired. The use of compressed air, regardless of the uid fed to the inlet 28 of the pump 27, facilitates the development of high jetting pressures for effective operation.

The structure of the coupling device is more completely illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. As shown, the coupling device 19 includes an expansible, tubular mandrel 32 of resilient material such as rubber abutting at opposite ends upper and lower washers 33 and 34, respectively. The lower washer 34 is supported by a lianged bushing 35 secured to the lower end of the pipe 20 such as by welding or the like. The upper Washer 33 is engaged by a sleeve 36 positioned about the pipe 20 and arranged to be moved axially with respect to the pipe 20 by a wing nut 37 engaging threads 38 provided on the pipe 20. Thus, when the sleeve 36 is moved downwardly against the Washer 33 and resilient mandrel 32 by manipulating the wing nut 37, the mandrel is compressed between the upper and lower washers 33 and 34 respectively to expand it radially into firm and sealing contact with the walls of the counter bore 14. Conversely, by unthreading the wing nut 37 the mandrel will return to its original shape and move out of engagement with the counter bore walls to facilitate removal of the coupling from the pile.

A more complete understanding of the threaded portion 10 may be had by reference to FIG. 4 of the drawings. As shown, the threaded portion 10 of the piling is provided with an upper cylindrical portion 39 having a thread tip diameter D1 and a thread root diameter d1, the latter preferably being at least as large as the largest diameter of the prismatic body portion 11 of the piling. A lower cylindrical portion 40 is provided having a thread tip diameter D2 and a thread root diameter d2. The upper and

lower sections

39 and 40 are joined by a tapered threaded portion 41 whereas the portion extending from the lower cylindrical portion 40 to the tip is constituted by a tapered bit 42. In the form illustrated, two

thread flights

43 and 44 are superimposed on the section 10 and the actual distance between each flight turn designated by the letter a. Hence, the pitch of the

threads

43 and 44 is twice that of the distance designated a, or 2a. From experience, it has been found that an extremely effective pitch for the threads is a pitch equal to 1.8 times the diameter of piling used, or 1.8 times the root diameter d1. it will be noted that the pitch remains the same throughout the thread section 10 but due to the generally tapered configuration thereof, the thread slope as indicated by lines r1, s2, s3, s4 and S5 increases with respect to horizontal as the thread flights extend from top to bottom of the section 10. Also, it will be noted that the root portions of the threads are generally rounded to prevent the accumulation of material on the threads as the piling is driven into the ground.

Th-e bit 42 may be formed either of concrete or of cast steel and preferably is fixed to the reinforcing rods in the piling prior to the molding of the threaded portion 10 and prismatic body portion 11. In this manner, the bit is firmly attached to the remainder of the piling. Moreover, the bit 42 may be equipped with a jetting fluid nozzle 15 as shown in FIG. 5, or may be formed without such a nozzle, as shown in FIG. 6.

The novel reinforcement for the precast concrete pile in accordance with this invention is shown in FIG. 7 taken in conjunction with FIG. 2. As shown, a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing bars or cables 45 extend from anchors 46 in the form shown embedded in a bit 42 and terminate at their upper ends 4at a steel plate 48. The -rods or cables `45 are preferably welded or otherwise suitably anchored to the plate 48, and it is preferred that the rods be strained in tension prior to placement of the concrete thereabout to effect a prestressed construction. In some situations, however, ordinary reinforcing rods may be employed.

To reinforce the pile against the torque loads applied thereto during driving, helically arranged reinforcing rods 50 are placed about the longitudinally extending rods or cables 45. It will be noted that the pitch of the helical rods 50 is opposite to that of the

threads

43 and 44 so that as driving torque is applied from a point above the threaded portion 10, the torque forces applied during driving result in tensile loading of the helical rods 50. In order to prevent the tendency of the rods 50 to collapse upon tensile loading under the torque applied to the pile during driving, particularly where a hollow core pile is employed, the pitch of the helical rods 50 should be small as possible in keeping within practical limits. While the pitch will vary with the size of the piling, it is preferred that the slope of the helical rods be maintained on the order of 45 from the vertical or more. In this manner, excessive compression will not be developed in the central portion of the pile.

A more complete understanding of the function served by the terminal plate 48 will be had by reference to FIG. 8 of the drawings. In some applications, particularly where extremely long piles are employed, the thrust developed by the threaded portion 10 at the lower end of the piling alone is insufficient to draw the pile into the earth. Therefore it may be desirable in these situations to employ additional threaded sections along the length of the prismatic body portion of the piling. To this end, the steel plates 48 function to permit multiple stages of piling to be joined together simply by welding in the field. Hence, in FIG. 8 an intermediate threaded portion 52 similar in configuration to the upper cylindrical section 39 of the portion 10 is interposed between a pair of prismatic body portions 11 by welding the plates 48 on opposite ends of the intermediate portion to the respective plates on the body portions 11. Hence, a strong, integral multistage pile is afforded.

A preferred apparatus by which the pla-cement technique in accordance with this invention is carried out is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The apparatus includes a frame generally designated by the reference numeral 60. The frame is provided with an upper U-shaped section 62 and a lower U-shaped section 64. Each of the

sections

62 and 64 has four projecting arms 65 mounting rolle-rs 66 at their outer end for vertical movement along guides in a derrick or tower (not shown). Between the upper and lower sections 62 and 6-4 is a driving table generally designated by the reference numeral `68. The table includes pairs of upper and lower retaining collar halves 70 and '72 respectively connec-ted to each other by bushes 73 and by hinge members 74 to a vertical column or post 76. The post 76 in turn is secured to the rear beam member or base of the

U-shaped frame sections

62 and 64 by welded brackets 78. Thus it will be seen that the collar halves may be hinged between open and closed positions. To retain them in a closed position clevis lock means 79 is provided to connect the sides thereof opposite from the hinge members 74.

Positioned between the collar halves 70 and 72 is a rotatable wrench in the form of gear halves 80 and 82 retained in place between the collars by annular projections 83 slidably engage-able with the inner surface of the collar halves. The central portion of the gear halves is formed having wrench flats 816 shaped to complement the flats 12 on the pile body portion 11. Hence, it will be understood that rotation of the gear halves 80 and 82 as confined by the latched collar halves as an integral turntable or wrench will be effective to transmit torque to the pile formed in accordance with the present invention and shown, for example, in FlGS. 1 and 2.

To develop driving torque, the apparatus is equipped, in the form shown, with a power mechanism including a hydraulic pump 88 for delivering hydraulic iiuid through lines 90 under the control of a valve 91 to a pair of hydraulic motors 92 and 94 which, in turn, drive pinion gears 96 and 98 respectively positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the table `618. The pinion gears mesh with the gear halves -80 and 82 to impart rotation thereto. While only two pinion gears are shown, three or m-ore could be used. It is important that the gea-rs be symmetrically disposed so that the radial thrust developed by the gears is balanced.

The operation of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 as well as the method of placing the piles in accordance with this invention may now be understood. In practice, .the apparatus is raised to a suitable height on a derrick to support the length of the piling in a vertical position. When the turntable 68 is at the desired height, the lock 79 is released and the collar halves 70 and 72 spread apart to enable .the body portion 12 of the piling to be received against the wrench flats 86. Power is delivered to the table by way of the hydraulic pump 88 and motors 92 and 94 to impart rotation to the piling and to the threaded section at the bottom thereof. As the rotation continues, the piling will be drawn into the ground rapidly by an amount substantially equal to the length of pitch in the

thread iiights

42 and 43 for each rotation of the piling. Since the pitch of the thread iiights is the same throughout their length, each turn of the threads will follow in the same path established by the preceding thread turn. In this manner, there will be no binding or other loss of efficiency as the piling is threaded into the ground. Although operation of the apparatus of this invention is described with reference to placement of screw piles, it will be appreciated that it may also be used to drive other screw pile devices such as for example, threaded tubes or removable bore forming devices used to provide a vertical chamber for concrete in the formation of in situ concrete piles.

A method of placing cast in situ piles in accordance with the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 9 through 12. As shown in F-IG. 9, the method involves first driving a tube 100 having a threaded portion 102 of a. configuration substantially the same as the threaded portion 10 shown in IFIIG. 4, for example. Here, however, a shoe 104 is removably supported at the lower end of the tube 100. After the desired depth has been achieved, the shoe is retrieved or withdrawn from the tube 100. Thereafter, an internal tube 106 as shown in FIGS. 10 through 12, together with reinforcing members 110 are inserted within the tube 100. The inner tube 106 is provided with a removable footplate 112 which may be removed merely by applying pressure thereto by the reinforcing rods 110 while the tube 1018- is being held stationary. After the plate 112 is removed as shown in FIG. 11, concrete or grouting 114 is fed to the inner tube and discharged into the shaped bore into the ground. The inner tube 106 is vibrated during this step to consolidate the concrete into the reverse helix formed into the ground and also to prevent the concrete from sticking to the sides of the tube. As the concrete is being fed in this manner, a reverse rota- -tion is imparted to both the inner tube 106 and the outer tube 100 to thread both tubes upwardly and out of the ground. The pile left in place is, therefore, provided with a cont-inuous helix on the outside therof which increases considerably 4the bearing capacity of the pile. Moreover, the amount of reinforcement required in a cast in situ pile does not require the amount of reinforcement required in precast piling piles because the concrete is not subjected to torsional load.

' Thus, it will be seen that by this invention there is provided an extremely effective screw pile together with an improved and unique apparatus and technique for placement of the pile. As demonstrated above, numerous speciiic embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof and accordingly it is to be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of preferred forms only, not limiting, and that the true scope of the present invention is to be determined by reference to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for driving screw pile devices having an elongated prismatic body portion, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be carried by a support, said frame having an unobstructed opening on one side thereof, a driving table including at least two laterally separable parts, means for supporting said driving table on said frame, said support means including hinge means connected to ea-ch of said laterally separable parts and positioned thereon oppositely to said frame opening, latch means for securing said parts together at a point opposite from said hinge means, rotatable wrench means carried by said driving table and adapted to engage the pile device body portion along the length thereof, and means for rotating said wrench means and thereby transmitting driving torque to the pile device.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 in which said wrench means includes a pair of rotatable gear halves and wherein said rotating means includes driven pinion gears in mesh with said gear halves.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2 including a plurality of said pinion gears symmetrically disposed about and simultaneously in mesh with said gear halves.

4. Apparatus for driving a screw pile device having an elongated prismatic body portion, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be carried by a support, said frame including a pair of vertically spaced, U-shaped sections to provide an unobstructed opening on one side of said frame, a driving table including at least two laterally separable parts, means for supporting said driving table on said frame between said U-shaped sections, said support means including hinge means connected to each of said laterally separable parts and positioned thereon oppositely to said frame opening, latch means for securing said parts together at a point opposite from said hinge means, rotatable wrench means carried by said driving table and adapted to engage the pile device body portion along the length thereof, and means for rotating said wrench means and thereby transmitting driving torque to the pile device.

5. Apparatus for driving a screw pile device having an elongated prismatic body portion, sa-id apparatus comprising a frame including a pair of vertically spaced, generally horizontally disposed U-shaped sections to provide an unobstructed opening on one side of said frame, eac'h of said sections including a plurality of radially projecting arms for supporting said frame during operation, means interconnecting said U-shaped sections including a vertical post connected to the side of said U-shaped members opposite from said unobstructed opening, a driving table including at least two laterally separable parts, means for supporting said driving table on said frame, said support means including hinge means journalled on said post and connected to each of said laterally separable parts, latch means for securing said parts together at a point opposite from said hinge means, rotatable Wrench means carried by said driving table and adapted to engage the pile device body portion along the length thereof, and means for rotating said wrench means and thereby transmitting driving torque to the pile device.

6. Apparatus for driving screw pile devices having an elongated prismatic body portion, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be carried by a support, said frame including means defining an unobstructed opening on one,

side thereof, a driving table including at least two laterally separable parts, means for supporting said driving table on said frame, said support means including hinge means connec-ted to each of said laterally separable parts and positoned thereon oppositely to said frame opening, latch means for securing said parts together at a point opposite from said hinge means, rotatable Wrench means carried by said driving table and adapted to engage the pile device body portion alongthe length thereof, and hydraulic means for rotating said wrench means, said hydraulic means including a pump carried by said frame, a hydraulic motor on each of said laterally separable parts, means drivingly connecting said hydraulic mot-ors to said wrench means, and conduit means for supplying hydraulic fluid from said pump to said hydraulic motors, said conduit means including a cont-rol valve for regulating the operation of said hydraulic motors.

7. Apparatus for driving screw pile devices having an elongated prismatic body portion, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be carried by a support, said frame having an unobstructed opening on one side thereof, a driving table including at least two laterally separable parts, each of said laterally separable parts having a portion of a gear integrally provided thereon, means for supporting said driving table on said frame, said support means including hinge means connected to each of said laterally separable parts and positioned thereon oppositely to said frame opening, latch means for securing said parts together at a point opposite from said hinge means, rotatable wrench means carried by said driving table and adapted to engage the pile device body portion along the length thereof, and gear means in mesh with said gear portions of said laterally separable parts for rotating said wrench means and thereby transmitting driving torque to the pile device.

`8. The apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein said gear means is comprised of a plurality of gears symmetrically disposed about said driving table, said plurality of gears engaging said gear portions simultaneously.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,070,862 8/1913 Vernon-In-kpen 61-56 1,479,165 1/1924 Zilen 173-164 1,628,363 5/1927 Harris et al 173-164 1,799,918 4/1931 Marsden 173-145 1,848,339 3/1932 Geiger 61-56 1,920,617 8/1933 Young et al 294-90 1,979,547 11/1934 Hood (y1-53.64 2,334,312 11/ 1943 Caldwell 173-164 2,684,166 7/1954 Jarnett 294-88 2,920,455 1/ 1960 Ryser et al 61-53.64 2,956,782 10/1960 Mistrot 173-147 2,963,274 12/1960 Failing 173-147 3,092,181 6/1963 Alexander 173-163 3,144,085 8/1964 Hasha 173-164 FOREIGN PATENTS 552,576 4/ 1943 Great Britain.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner.

JACOB SHAPI-RO, JAC'OB'L. NACKENO'FF, B'ROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Examiners.

L. P. KESSLER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR DRIVING SCREW PILE DEVICES HAVING AN ELONGATED PRISMATIC BODY PORTION, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED BY A SUPPORT, SAID FRAME HAVING AN UNOBSTRUCTED OPENING ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, A DRIVING TABLE INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO LATERALLY SEPARABLE PARTS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID DRIVING TABLE ON SAID FRAME, SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING HINGE MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID LATERALLY SEPARABLE PARTS AND POSITIONED THEREON OPPOSITELY TO SAID FRAME OPENING, LATCH MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PARTS TOGETHER AT A POINT OPPOSITE FROM SAID HINGE MEANS, ROTATABLE WRENCH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID DRIVING TABLE AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE PILE DEVICE BODY PORTION ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID WRENCH MEANS AND THEREBY TRANSMITTING DRIVING TORQUE TO THE PILE DEVICE.