WO1996004429A1

WO1996004429A1 - Ground anchoring system

Info

Publication number: WO1996004429A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/009441
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Alsop
Original assignee: Marine Environmental Solutions, L.L.C.
Priority date: 1994-08-01
Filing date: 1995-07-26
Publication date: 1996-02-15
Also published as: AU3149295A

Abstract

A ground anchoring system has a tube anchor (10) with a plurality of ears (12). The ears are biased toward an open position. A lock ring (16) is used to restrain the ears (12) in a closed position while the anchor is being driven into the ground. A drive tool (20) has its driving point (24) placed through the tube anchor (10) such that the driving point (24) extends beyond the tube anchor (10). In this way, the driving point (24) enters the ground ahead of the tube anchor (10). The driving tool (20) pushes the lock ring (16) down off the ears (12). When the tube anchor (10) has been driven to an appropriate depth, the driving tool (20) is withdrawn, thereby allowing the ears (12) to splay open and engage the surrounding soil. A method of anchoring an object using such a system also is disclosed.

Description

- 1 -

GROUND ANCHORING SYSTEM

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a ground anchoring system, and more particularly, to a ground anchoring system having a tube anchor with a plurality of ears that are splayed open beneath the ground to anchor an object.

2. Description of the Related Art Several types of ground anchoring systems are known, including some that are usable underwater to anchor mats of synthetic fronds to a river or seabed. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,738,063 to the same inventor as the present invention discloses an anchoring system having a plate that is driven into the ground by a driving tool. A flap attached to the plate is biased such that when the driving tool is removed, the flap springs into engagement with, and digs into, the soil surrounding the hole. Subsequently, the buoyancy of the object being anchored causes lifting forces that pull on a strap attached to the plate, thereby pivoting the edge of the plate opposite the flap into the soil surrounding the hole. In this way, the plate is stabilized within the hole to provide an anchor for an attached object. Another ground anchoring system is disclosed in

U.S. Patent No. 5,255,480 also to the present inventor. In this system, a plate is folded into a U-shaped configu¬ ration against a resilient bias. When the plate has been driven an appropriate depth by a driving tool, the plate springs open into engagement with the soil surrounding the hole, thereby providing an anchor for the object attached to the other end of an anchor line.

One of the drawbacks of the aforementioned systems is that the anchor elements of the systems, i.e., the plates, are driven into the ground first. As a result, the plates may be damaged if rock or other hard material is encountered. The damage to the plate may hinder further driving of the anchor system or may result in the plate not being able to function properly as an anchor. Alternatively, the plates must be made suffi- ciently robust to withstand being driven into rock, etc. without damage, thereby limiting the types of materials suitable for the plates. Thus, it is desirable to have a ground anchoring system wherein the anchor is not the leading member of the system as it is being driven into the ground and wherein the risk of damage to the anchor as it is being driven into the ground is reduced or eliminated.

Summary of the Present Invention The present invention uses a tube anchor having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an anchor base and a number of ears. The ears are biased toward an open or splayed position. A lock ring is placed around the outer periphery of the anchor base and slid up around the ears to restrain them in a closed, substantially tubular position. Means are provided for attaching an object to be anchored to the tube anchor. Finally, the present invention provides means for driving the tube anchor into the ground. The driving means can include a drive tool, or spigot, attached to a pneumatic hammer. A drive tool core portion is dimensioned to fit within the tube anchor and protrude out the lower end. Thus, the drive tool core portion is driven into the ground ahead of the tube anchor. An outer case is integral with the drive tool core portion and defines a tubular portion that surrounds part of the length of the drive tool core portion. A tube anchor receiving portion is formed between the drive tool core portion and the tubular portion. The tubular portion has a lower annular edge for sliding the lock ring down from the ears to the anchor base. The tube anchor receiving portion is tapered such that it is wider near the lower annular edge.

In an alternative embodiment, two of the ears, preferably spaced 180° apart, are released into an open position before the drive tool is removed from the tube anchor. In this embodiment, the tubular portion has longitudinal slots extending upwardly from the lower annular edge. These two ears splay at least partially open through these longitudinal slots. The present invention also includes a method of anchoring an object to the ground. This method calls for biasing the ears of the tube anchor toward an open position and then restraining the ears in a closed position. The tube anchor is then placed on a driving tool having a driving point that extends beyond the tube anchor. The driving tool and tube anchor are then driven into the ground. Finally, the driving tool is withdrawn such that the plurality of ears spring outward to their open position and engage the surrounding soil. In one embodiment, the restraining step makes use of a lock ring to restrain the ears. The lock ring is then slid from the ears down to the anchor base by the lower edge of the outer case of the drive tool in order to allow the ears to splay open.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective^ schematic view of a tube anchor of the present invention in its open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, schematic view of the tube anchor of FIG. 1 being held in its closed position by a lock ring;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, schematic view of a drive tool of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective, schematic view of the ground anchoring system of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a sectional, schematic view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective, schematic view of an alternative embodiment ground anchoring system.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a tube anchor 10. Tube anchor 10 preferably is made of a high polymer and catalyst with low-grade carbon fiber as reinforcement. Alternatively, tube anchor 10 is made of thermoset polyester with a glass filling that chemically bonds to the polyester. A third alternative is to make tube anchor 10 of metal. Tube anchor 10 preferably has an annular cross-section. However, the cross-section of tube anchor 10 can have any suitable shape so long as it includes an interior opening for receiving the driving point of a drive tool. Tube anchor 10 is cast in a mold or otherwise fabricated to form a plurality of ears 12. In the preferred embodiment, tube anchor 10 has twelve ears 12. Tube anchor 10 preferably has a length of about 7 inches, with ears 12 preferably having a length of about 5 inches. The portion of tube anchor 10 below ears 12 forms an anchor base 14 which preferably has a diameter of about 2 inches. In the splayed open position, ears 12 form an angle, preferably about 150°, with the outer periphery of anchor base 14. If tube anchor 10 is made of metal, it is heat treated to obtain low-order resilience in ears 12. Ears 12 are biased toward the splayed open position of FIG. 1.

A lock ring 16 is dimensioned to fit around the outer periphery of anchor base 14. Lock ring 16 is used to hold ears 12 in the closed position shown in FIG. 2 prior to tube anchor 10 being driven into the ground. Lock ring 16 can be made of the same material that forms tube anchor 10, or any other suitable material. When downward force is applied to lock ring 16, as by impact with a drive tool, lock ring 16 slides down ears 12 to anchor base 14.

Means are provided for attaching tube anchor 10 to the object to be anchored (not shown) . For example, if the object to be anchored is a mat of synthetic material for preventing underwater erosion, an anchor tie line 18 is attached on one end to anchor base 14 and on the other end to an anchor strap (not shown) . The anchor strap is suitably attached to the mat.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a drive tool 20. Drive tool 20 (also known as a spigot) includes a drive tool core portion 22. Drive tool core portion 22 includes a driving point 24 for digging into the ground. Drive tool 20 also includes an outer case 28 surrounding and integral with drive tool core portion 22, as shown in FIG. 5. Outer case 28 includes a tubular portion 30 dimensioned to receive the upper end of tube anchor 10. Tubular portion 30 extends down a portion of the length of drive tool core portion 22. Drive tool core portion 22 and tubular portion 30 define a tube anchor receiving portion 32. The top of tube anchor receiving portion 32 is defined by an upper annular edge 33. Tubular portion 30 includes a lower annular edge 34. Lower annular edge 34 is used to slide lock ring 16 down ears 12 and anchor base 14 as is more fully described below. Tube anchor receiving portion 32 is tapered such that it is wider near lower annular edge 34 than near upper annular edge 33. This taper preferably is the result of tubular portion 30 being thinner at its lower end 35. This tapering helps to ensure that tube anchor 10 will not bind against and be pulled out of the hole with drive tool 20 when it is withdrawn.

Extending upwardly from drive tool core portion 22 is a hexagonal connector 36. Hexagonal connector 36 is attached in a conventional manner to a pneumatic hammer (not shown) for driving the ground anchoring system into the ground.

In operation, lock ring 16 is placed over anchor base 14 and then manually slid up tube anchor 10 to surround ears 12 and hold them in the closed position of FIG. 2. Drive tool core portion 22 is then placed inside of tube anchor 10. Hexagonal connector 36 is attached to the pneumatic hammer. Initially, anchor base 14 is placed on the surface of the ground. As the pneumatic hammer drives drive tool 20 into the ground, drive tool 20 is driven down around tube anchor 10 until lower annular edge 34 contacts lock ring 16. As drive tool 20 is driven farther, lower annular edge 34 slides lock ring 16 down the length of ears 12 and onto anchor base 14 until upper annular edge 33 contacts the top edge of ears 12 (i.e., the top edge of tube anchor 10). Subsequent driving of drive tool 20 into the ground drives tube anchor 10 along with it.

As shown in FIG. 4, driving point 24 of drive tool core portion 22 extends beyond tube anchor 10. Thus, driving point 24 enters the ground first. Therefore, any rock or hard material that is encountered will be hit first by driving point 24 rather than tube anchor 10. Driving point 24 can be made by hardened steel or other suitable, robust material.

When tube anchor 10 has been driven to the appropriate depth, drive tool 20 is removed by lifting it out of tube anchor 10 and out of the ground. After drive tool 20 is lifted to where ears 12 are no longer within receiving portion 32 of drive tool 20, ears 12 are no longer restrained by tubular portion 30. In addition, lock ring 16 has been pushed down around anchor base 14 by edge 34 as drive tool 20 was driven into the ground. Therefore, ears 12 splay open towards the position shown in FIG. 1, allowing them to dig into the soil surrounding the hole and thereby restrain tube anchor 10 against withdrawal from the hole. In applications where the system is used underwater, the buoyancy of the object being anchored by tube anchor 10 via anchor tie lines 18 causes lifting forces on tube anchor 10. These lifting forces tend to push splayed ears 12 farther into the surrounding soil.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is used to prevent tube anchor 10 from binding against or sticking to drive tool 20 and thereby being withdrawn with drive tool 20 when it is being removed. In this alternative embodiment, outer case 28, and more specifically, tubular portion 30, is modified to have at least one, and preferably two, slots 38 as shown in FIG. 6. The ground anchoring system of this alternative embodiment is placed in the soil in the same manner as the previous embodiment. However, when lock ring 16 is pushed down onto anchor base 14, ears 12 are free to splay open beyond tubular portion 30 wherever a slot 38 is located. Thus, when drive tool 20 is being removed, one or more ears 12 already are gripping the soil. This reduces or eliminates the chance that tube anchor 10 will be pulled out when drive tool 20 is withdrawn.

Whereas the present invention has been de¬ scribed with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and .modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A ground anchoring system, comprising: an anchor having a longitudinal bore there¬ through and having an anchor base with an outer periphery and a plurality of ears; means for attaching said anchor to an object to be anchored; and means releasably connected to said anchor for driving said anchor into the ground.

2. The ground anchoring system of claim 1 wherein said anchor has an annular cross-section.

3. The ground anchoring system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of ears is biased radially outward and further comprising means dimensioned to fit around said outer periphery of said anchor base and around said plurality of ears for restraining said plurality of ears against radially outward movement.

4. The ground anchoring system of claim 3, wherein at least one of said plurality of ears forms an angle of about 150° with said outer periphery of said anchor base when said ear is splayed open.

5. The ground anchoring system of claim 1, wherein said attaching means comprises at least one anchor tie line, one end of which is attached to said anchor.

6. The ground anchoring system of claim 3, wherein said driving means comprises a drive tool having a drive tool core portion dimensioned to fit within said anchor, an outer case extending upwardly from said drive tool core portion, said outer case having a tubular portion surrounding part of the length of said drive tool core portion and defining a tube anchor receiving portion between said drive tool core portion and said tubular portion, said tubular portion having a lower annular edge for sliding said restraining means, and wherein said outer case is integral with said drive tool core portion. 7. The ground anchoring system of claim 6 wherein said tube anchor receiving portion is wider near said lower annular edge.

8. The ground anchoring system of claim 6 wherein said driving means further comprises a pneumatic hammer.

9. The ground anchoring system of claim 6 wherein said tubular portion defines at least one longitu¬ dinal slot extending upwardly from said lower annular edge, said slot being adapted to permit at least one ear to protrude therethrough.

10. The ground anchoring system of claim 6 wherein said tubular portion defines a plurality of longitudinal slots extending upwardly from said lower annular edge, said longitudinal slots being spaced about said tubular portion, each slot being adapted to permit at least one ear to protrude therethrough.

11. The ground anchoring system of claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises a lock ring.

12. A method of anchoring an object to the ground, comprising the steps of: biasing toward an open position a plurality of ears of an anchor; restraining the plurality of ears in a closed position; placing the anchor on a driving tool having a driving point, such that the driving point extends beyond the anchor; driving the driving tool and the anchor into the ground; withdrawing the driving tool; and permitting the plurality of ears to return to the open position and engage the surrounding soil.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said biasing step comprises biasing toward an open position a plurality of ears of an anchor having an annular cross- section.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said restraining step comprises restraining the plurality of ears with a lock ring.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of sliding the lock ring off of the plurality of ears.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 29 January 1996 (29.01.96); original claim 11 amended; new claim 16 added; remaining claims unchanged (3 pages)]

What is claimed is:

6. The ground anchoring system of claim 3, wherein said driving means comprises a drive tool having a drive tool core portion dimensioned to fit within said anchor, an outer case extending upwardly from said drive tool core portion, said outer case having a tubular portion surrounding part of the length of said drive tool core portion and defining a tube anchor receiving portion between said drive tool core portion and said tubular portion, said tubular portion having a lower annular edge for sliding said restraining means, and wherein said outer case is integral with said drive tool core portion.

AMENDED SHEF^' ^•1'. -L :

7. The ground anchoring system of claim 6 wherein said tube anchor receiving portion is wider near said lower annular edge.

11. The ground anchoring system of claim 3 wherein said restraining means comprises a lock ring that is slideable over said plurality of ears.

16. The ground anchoring system of claim 1 wherein said anchor base and said plurality of ears comprise a single piece of material.

A_I.'_LNDED SHEET ARTICLE 19) STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

Claim 11 has been amended to depend from claim 3 to provide antecedent basis for "restraining means. " Claim 11 also was amended to clarify that the lock ring is slideable over the plurality of ears. Support for this amendment can be found at, e.g., page 2, lines 18-21 and page 4, line 36 to page 5, line 3 of the written description.

New claim 16 was added to recite that the anchor base and the plurality of ears comprise a single piece of material. Support for new claim 16 can be found, e.g.. in Applicant's FIG. 1.