Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
INTERCONNECTABLE HOLLOW STEEL PIPE FOR CONSTRUCTING FORCE
DRIVEN PILES AND THE METHOD OF FORMING THE PILE
TECHNICAL FIELD
(0001) The present invention relates to an interconnectable hollow steel pipe
for the
construction of force driven piles and wherein the interconnectable pipe has a
connector immovably secured at one of opposed free ends of the pipe for
interconnection with like pipes and wherein a pile so formed has an
unobstructed outer
surface throughout its length. The invention also relates to the method of
forming piles
with two or more of the interconnectable pipes.
BACKGROUND ART
(0002) Reference is made to my earlier US Patent 8,506,206 which describes a
composite pile formed of interconnected rigid hollow tubes. In an earlier of
my patents,
namely US Patent 7,708,317 there is described a pipe connector to interconnect
opposed hollow ends of two hollow pipe sections. These connectors are secured
to the
pipes when a pile is being formed on the construction site and during various
types of
weather conditions and usually by at least some skilled labor, such as
welders. All sorts
of connectors are also known which are securable to opposed ends of pile
sections to
splice them together and many of them are in the form of collars. Because
these
connectors usually consist of different parts, such parts can become damages
on the
work site or become lost causing all sorts of problems including time lost and
increased
costs. Further, piles constructed with obstructions projecting from the outer
surface of
the pile cylinders cause underground problems due to bad installations or
obstructions
with rocks resulting in underground kinking of the pile or underground
breakages. Most
pile structures are also not adaptable to foundation brackets used to connect
and drive
piles into the ground by an hydraulic ram connectable to the bracket as any
protrusion
in the outer surface of the pipes or connectors is an obstruction to its close
passage
through guide rings or tubes secured to the bracket to guide the pile tubes
along a
straight axis as the pile is being formed and driven into the ground.
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(0003) By welding the joints of pile sections on site various problems occur
due to
several factors, such as the skill of the welder person, the existing climate
condition,
faulty weld joints, faulty weld equipment, and expensive labour seeing the
welder
preson needs to be present on site during the entire construction and
installation of the
piles, noting that is skill is only required when a joint has to be welded or
the top pipe of
the pile as to be cut and welded to the foundation bracket. Because the
welding of
these pipe joints is very time consuming, up to 45 minutes for each joint, the
entire crew
and machinery becomes idle during the welding process. This lost of time adds
to the
cost of the installation and sometimes when facing deadlines, penalties are
imposed on
the installation company if the delivery is late. Still further, because both
ends of some
connectors require engagement in a respective one of opposed ends to two pipe
sections, adapters are required to be installed not to damage the connector
when driven
into the open end of a lower one of the two pipe prior to positioning the open
end of the
upper pipe in the connector. This can result in defective connections causing
the pile to
kink which can result in breakage at the joint. Thus, the assembly and
installation of
connectors and the use of a welder person at the construction site is
problematic, slow
and expensive and does not assure repeated quality of the interconnections of
the pipe
sections of the pile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
(0004) It is a feature of the present invention to provide an interconnectable
hollow
steel pipe for the construction of force driven piles and which substantially
overcomes
the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
(0005) It is another feature of the present invention to provide an
interconnectable
hollow steel pipe and wherein the pipe connector is preformed and permanently
and
perfectly secured to an end of the pipe and wherein there are no obstructions,
formed
by weld material of the connection, to the outer surface of the pipes and a
pile formed
by force connecting these pipes end-to-end at a construction site.
(0006) A further feature of the present invention is to provide an
interconnectable
hollow steel pipe and wherein the assembly thereof to form piles is simplified
and
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results in less time for the formation of piles and does not require a
permanent welder
person on site during the assembly of the piles.
(0007) Another feature of the present invention is to provide a hollow pipe
connector
which does not require assembly on site and wherein the connection thereof is
not
affected by bad climatic conditions or weld defects made on site.
(0008) A still further feature of the invention is to provide a hollow pipe
interconnection
which also permits rotational displacement of the pile by the application of a
torque
force as it is forced downwardly into the ground.
(0009) A still further feature of the present invention is to provide a
simplified method
of forming a hollow steel pile as it is force driven into the ground for
stabilizing a
foundation wall of a building structure.
(0010) According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present
invention
provides an interconnectable hollow metal pipe for the construction of force
driven piles.
The hollow metal pipe is an elongated hollow pipe of predetermined length
having a
pipe connector with a fitment section for connection in one of opposed hollow
transverse ends of the hollow metal pipe. The other opposed hollow transverse
end is a
hollow transverse end. The pipe connector has a protruding pipe connecting
section
dimensioned for tight sliding fit in the other hollow transverse end of
another of the
hollow metal pipe. The pipe connector has securement means forming at least
two
spaced-apart weld cavities with an outer surface of the hollow metal pipe to
have
formed therein a weld not exceeding the outer surface of the pipe to provide
an
unobstructed pile outer surface comprised of two or more of the hollow metal
pipes
interconnected end-to-end by the pipe connectors.
(0011) According to another broad aspect of the invention the securement means
is
comprised by a flat transverse metal connector disc secured to the pipe
connector
intermediate the inner fitment section and the protruding pipe connection
section. The
connector disc has an outer circumferential edge shaped for flush fit with the
outer
surface of the hollow metal pipe. The at least two spaced-apart weld cavities
are
formed in the outer circumferential edge and wherein the weld interconnects
the disc
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cavity and the disc with a transverse end wall of the hollow metal pipe below
the outer
surface of the hollow metal pipe.
(0012) According to a still further broad aspect of the invention the
securement means
is comprised by the one of the opposed hollow transverse ends having two or
more
spaced-apart connector connecting slots of predetermined length extending
longitudinally and parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the hollow metal
pipe. The
protruding pipe connecting section has two or more securing formations
dimensioned
and disposed for close fit in a respective one of the two or more connector
connecting
slots. An arresting formation is formed with each of the securing formations
and each
of the securing formations is dimensioned to form the weld cavity in the slots
with
respect to the outer surface of said hollow metal pipe.
(0013) According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is
provided a
method of forming a hollow metal pile which is force driven into the ground
for stabilizing
a foundation wall of a building structure. The method comprises the steps of:
(i) providing two or more interconnectable hollow metal pipes as defined
herein
above;
(ii) securing a ground penetrating head to the protruding pipe connecting
section of
the pipe connector of a first of two or more interconnectable hollow metal
pipes;
(iii) positioning thefirst of the two or more interconnectable hollow metal
pipes at a
precise location with respect to an existing foundation wall or foundation
wall to be
constructed;
(iv) applying a downward drive force to the first of the metal pipes to drive
it into the
ground;
(v) positioning the protruding pipe connection of a further of the two or
more of the
hollow metal pipes into the free open end of the first of the metal pipes, and
(vi) applying a further downward drive force to the further of the hollow
metal pipes to
frictionally and forceably engage the protruding pipe connection of the
further of the two
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or more of the hollow metal pipes in the free open end of the first hollow
metal pipe and
continue to drive the first and further of the hollow steel pipes into the
ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(0014) A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
(0015) Figure 1 is a fragmented perspective view of the interconnectable
hollow steel
pipe of the present invention to form force driven piles and illustrating an
example of the
securement means to secure the pipe connector to an hollow end of the pipe;
(0016) Figures 2A and 2B are plan views of the connector plates which are
interconnected together is sliding fit with one another as illustrated in
Figure 2C;
(0017) Figure 2C is an enlarged view of the shape of the disc connecting
notch;
(0018) Figures 2D to 2F are perspective views of the assembled pipe connector
illustrating how the assembly is made and fitted in a hollow end of a pipe;
(0019) Figure 3A is a plan view of the connector disc;
(0020) Figure 3B is a further plan view of the connector disc showing the
connector
plates secured therein with the disc extending transversely to the connector
plates;
(0021) Figure 4A is a perspective view showing the manner of interconnecting
two
hollow metal pipes end-to-end;
(0022) Figure 4B is a perspective view showing a torque transmitting and pipe
interconnecting disc secured to the hollow end of the pipe opposite the pipe
connector
end for transmitting torque to the pile being formed;
(0023) Figure 5 is a fragmented perspective view similar to Figure 1
illustrating and
another example of the securement means and wherein the connector is
differently
formed and secured in an hollow end of the pipe;
(0024) Figure 6 is a fragmented explosive view showing the plates
interconnection to
one another and to the hollow end of the pipe;
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(0025) Figure 7 is a fragmented view showing the weld cavity formed in the
connector
connecting slots formed in the free end connecting section of the pipe;
(0026) Figures 8A and 8B are plan views of the connector plates illustrating
the shape
of the securing formations formed in the attachment section of the plates to
form the
weld cavities;
(0027) Figure 9 is a fragmented side view showing the connector of Figure 8 in
position in the hollow end of the pipe with the securement formation lying in
the
connecting slot and forming a weld cavity;
(0028) Figure 10 is an exploded view showing the weld cavity illustrated in
Figure 9;
(0029) Figure 11 is another exploded fragmented view showing a weld formed in
the
weld cavity and its relationship to the outer surface of the pipe;
(0030) Figures 12A to 12C are cross-section views illustrating
interconnectable hollow
steel pipe of different cross-sectional shape in which plate connectors are
secured;
(0031) Figure 13 is a schematic illustration of a building structure to which
a
foundation brackets are secured to assemble piles comprised of
interconnectable
hollow metal pipes constructed in accordance with the present invention and
force
driven into the ground by a foundation load transmitting piston assembly;
(0032) Figure 14 is a perspective view showing how two interconnectable hollow
steel
pipes are interconnected and guided through guide members of the foundation
bracket
to be force driven into the ground along an axial path,
(0033) Figure 15 is a perspective view of a prior art foundation bracket;
(0034) Figure 16 an exploded view showing a pile assembly constructed with
interconnectable hollow metal pipes of the present invention and various
adaptors
securable thereto including a torque transmitting disc securable in one of the
free hollow
end of the pipe to receive the connector therein of an upper pipe and impart a
rotational
torque to the pile as it is force driven into the ground by an impact force or
a linear
foundation load force.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(0035) Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, there
is shown
generally at 10 the interconnectable hollow metal pipe of the present
invention for the
construction of force driven piles, as will be described later. The
interconnectable pipe
is an elongated hollow steel pipe 15 of predetermined length and having
opposed
hollow ends 12 and 12'. A pipe connector 11 is permanently secured by welding
to one
of its hollow ends, herein hollow end 12. The other hollow end 12' is a free
hollow end
to receive the connector 11 of another interconnectable pipe 10 as will be
described
later. The pipe connector 11 is welded at a pipe construction plant prior to
being
shipped to an installation site. A jig may be provided to insure perfect
assembly and the
perfection of connecting welds being formed.
(0036) With further reference to Figures 2 to 4, the pipe connector 11 is
formed with a
protruding pipe interconnecting section 13 which is dimensioned for tight
sliding fit in the
hollow end 12' of another like pipe 10. It also has a pipe inner fitment
section 14 for
close fit retention of the pipe connector 11 in the hollow end 12 whereby to
position the
pipe connector 11 in alignment with the central longitudinal axis 16 of the
steel pipe 15.
A flat transverse steel connector disc 17, constituting a securement means is
secured
transversely of the pipe connecting section 13 and has two or more, herein
four,
spaced-apart weld cavities 18 formed in an outer circumferential edge 19
thereof, as
better seen from Figure 3A. The disc is dimensioned wherein the outer
circumferential
edge 19 of the disc 17 lies flush with the pipe outer surface 15' when the
pipe inner
fitment section 14 is positioned in the hollow end 12 of the pipe 15. As shown
in Figure
1 welds 20 are formed in the weld cavities 18 to interconnect the disc 17 and
the pipe
connector 11 to the pipe 15.
(0037) With reference to Figures 2A to 2E. it can be seen that the pipe
connector 11 is
formed by two identical metal plates 21 and 22 interconnected to one another
in
transverse alignment by means of a central interconnecting slot 21' and 22'
formed in a
respective one of the steel plates 21 and 22 from the end edge 24 of the inner
fitment
section 14 to form the assembly shown in Figure 2D. The steel plates 21 and 22
are of
substantially rectangular outline and each has a disc attachment notch 23,
respectively,
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formed in opposed longitudinal edges 21" and 22", respectively, and disposed
in
transverse alignment with one another. The pipe inner fitment section 14 of
the plates
21 and 22 have opposed parallel side edges 14' for close friction fit in the
hollow end 12
of the pipe 15. Angular notches 14" are formed at the base of these side edges
14 with
the end edge 24 for ease of insertion of the inner fitment section 14 in the
hollow pipe
end 12. The longitudinal edges 21" and 22" of the interconnecting section 13
of the
plates 21 and 22 have a slight inward taper of about 2 degrees and their outer
end
section 13' which merges into a more abrupt slope of about 7 degrees and
termination
in a still more inwardly inclined end notch 25 to facilitate positioning the
pipe connecting
section 13 in the hollow end 12' of another interconnectable pipe 10.
(0038) As shown in Figures 3A to 4B, the connector disc 17 has an x-shaped
attaching through bore 30 formed centrally therein. This attaching through
bore 30 is
dimensioned to permit insertion of the connector plates 21 and 22 when
attached to one
another as shown in Figure 2D. Phantom lines 31 shows the interconnected
plates
disposed in the transverse arms 32 of the attaching through bore 30. The far
end or top
end 33 of each of the transverse arms 32 are shaped to define a plate
insertion
passage 34 and a plate connecting formation constituting a curved cam surface
35.
The plate insertion passage 34 permits passage of the inner fitment section 14
of the
connector plates 21 and 22 with the curved cam surface leading edge 36 aligned
with
the notch 23 of the plates 21 and 22. As shown in Figure 2C, the notch 23 has
a deep
section 23' and a cam engaging raised section 23". The disc 17 is inserted and
slid
over the inner fitment section 14 of the assembled plates 21 and 22 until it
loosely falls
into the deep section23' of the notch 23. The disc is then pushed to align
over the cam
engaging section 23", which is a clamping surface, and firmly against the side
wall 23"
of the notch 23. The disc is ten forced rotated in the direction of arrow 17',
along an arc
of 15 degrees, wherein the clamping surface of the cam engaging section 23" is
forced
to lock in friction fit with the disc 17 extending perfectly transverse to the
interconnected
plates 21 and 22 and the longitudinal axis 16 of the pipe 15. Figure 3B shows
the
position of the plates 21 and 22 in their engaged position with the disc 1.
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(0039) As shown in Figure A, the notches forming weld receiving cavities 18,
are
elongated notches and disposed in an area of the circumferential edge 19
intermediate
the transverse arms 32 of the x-shaped through bore opening 30 in stronger
areas of
the connector disc 30 where there is more material for added strength with the
welds
connections with the end wall 12" of the hollow ends 12 and 12'. The weld
receiving
cavities 18 have a depth which is substantially equal to the thickness or end
wall 12" of
the steel pipe 15 whereby the weld 20 forms a connection between the bottom
wall 18'
and opposed side walls 18" of the notches 18 with the end wall 12" of the pipe
hollow
end 12. The weld cavities 18 permit sufficient weld material for form a solid
interconnection of the pipe connector 11 with the pipe hollow end 12 with the
weld
20recessed from the outer surface 15' of the pipe whereby no obstructions
protrude
over the outer surface 15' to permit the formation of piles having a
continuous smooth
outer surface formed by a plurality of interconnected steel pipe 10. It is
pointed out that
the entire assembly of the pipe connector 11 and its securement to the hollow
pipe 15 is
made in an indoor shop facility to assure high quality workmanship and to
obtain all of
the advantages mentioned herein of not having to make assemblies and welding
on a
work site.
(0040) With reference now to Figures 5 to 11 there is shown another example of
the
preferred embodiment of the interconnectable hollow steel pipe, herein steel
pipe 10'.
As herein shown, the elongated hollow steel pipe 15 has a differently formed
pipe
connector securement means, for securement in the pipe end 12. The securement
means is herein constituted by two or more spaced-apart connector connecting
slots 41,
herein four slots of predetermined length formed and extending longitudinally
and
parallel to the central longitudinal axis 16 of the hollow pipe 15. The
protruding pipe
connecting section 42 is formed by two interconnected steel plates 43 and 44
having
securing ridge formations 43' and 44' formed therewith and disposed for close
sliding fit
in a respective one of the four connecting slots 41 to form weld cavities 46
with the
outer surface 15' of the pipe 15 for securing the pipe connector 40 to the
open end 12 of
the pipe 15 with the welds 45 being recessed from the outer surface 15' of the
pipe 15,
as better seen from Figure 11.
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(0041) As with the embodiment of Figure 1, the pipe connector 40 is formed of
two
steel plates 43 and 44, see Figure 6, which are interconnected in sliding fit
with one
another by a transverse central slot 43" and 44" formed in the plates,
respectively,
whereby the plates are retained at right angle with one another. The securing
ridge
formations 43' and 44' form a pipe inner fitment section 47 which is
dimensioned for
close fit retention in the open end 12 of the pipe 15 with the ridge
formations 44' and
43' being disposed in a bottom section of the slots 41. As shown in Figures 9
to 11, the
ridge formations 43' and 44' formed on each side edge of the plates 43 and 44
have a
straight ridge upper surface 44" whereby to extend parallel to the outer
surface 15' of
the hollow pipe 15 to form a weld cavity 45' of constant depth along the slots
41. An
arresting formation in the form of an abutment stump 46 is formed integral at
an inner
end of the ridge section 44' and has a rear vertical abutment edge 45 for
abutment with
the end wall 41' of the connector connecting slot 41. The pipe connecting
section 42 is
also formed with a tapered end projection section 48 disposed forwardly of the
abutment stump for ease of insertion of the pipe connecting section 42 of the
pipe
connector 40 in the hollow transverse end section12 of the pipe 15 as shown in
Figure
5.
(0042) Figures 6 and 7 illustrates another shape of the securing ridge
formations 43'
and 44' wherein the ridge 44' is formed from a straight rear edge 49 of the
plates 43 and
44 and slopes inwardly to a recessed section 50 to form a weld cavity 51 as
illustrated
in Figure 7. The top sections of the rear edge 49 forms an abutment wall 41'
of the slots
41. The protruding pipe connecting section 42 formed by the interconnected
plates 43
and 44 is of like constructions to the interconnected plates 21 and 22 of the
embodiment
of Figure 1.
(0043) Although the hollow steel pipe 15 illustrated in the embodiments of
Figures 1
and 5 are of circular cross-section, it is pointed out that as shown in Figure
12A to 12C
they can be of different cross-sections. Also, the pipe connector 11 and 40
may be
formed by differently shaped plates, Figure 12B illustrating a fist plate 55
having a
curved shape and an inner straight plate 56 connected thereto and adapted to
fit in
three slots formed longitudinally of the hollow pipe end or adapted the
interconnect with
a connector disc in a similar manner as described above. Figure 12A is an end
view
showing the pipe connector 40 of Figure 5 secured in the hollow end 12 of the
pipe 15.
Figure 12C shows the pipe connector 40 of Figure 5 connected in the hollow end
of a
square pipe 15". Accordingly, these figures illustrate certain modifications
of the
preferred embodiments described above and other such modifications are
intended to
be covered provided that they fall within the scope of the appended claims.
(0044) Figure 16 is an exploded view of a force driven pile 60 constructed in
accordance with the present invention and showing various accessories thereof.
As
shown, various type of boring heads 61 can be connected to a free open end of
a first
pile to be driven into the ground or to the pipe connector 11 or 40 of an
interconnectable
pipe constructed in accordance with the present invention. Different types of
boring
heads 61 are herein illustrated but all have a coupling steel sleeve 62 having
the same
diameter as the pile pipes 15 with the top end thereof having a connector disc
63
formed with weld cavities in its peripheral edge, as described with reference
to the disc
17 not to form an obstruction with the outer surface15' of the pipes 15. The
disc 63 has
an X-shaped, or cross-shaped, through bore for receiving the assembled plates
of the
connector 11, 40 therein to form a connection. The leading head of the sleeves
62 may
have a pointed formation 64, a flat plate 65 or a carbide bit 66 fitted
thereto. The
coupling sleeve 62 may also be formed as a helical screw 67 with vanes 68 to
bore into
the ground as the pile is applied a torque rotation. In order for the pile
tube sections to
apply a torque rotation, the free end 12' of the pipes 15 is fitted with the
connector disc
63 which is also provided with an x-shaped slot 69 for connection to the pipe
connector
11, 40 of the embodiments of the connectors described herein. Once the pile is
installed in the ground, a cap 70 or a footing support plate 71 is secured to
the top end
of the pile
(0045) With reference to Figures 13 to 15, it is pointed out that the
interconnectable
hollow steel pipe as described herein was conceived primarily for stabilizing
building
foundations and for its use with pile connecting brackets secured to
foundation walls
and as described in my earlier US Patent 8,506,206.
The pile may also be installed into the ground in areas where a foundation
footing is to
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be formed and wherein the pile is caped with a support plate 70 as shown in
Figure 16
whereby to support the footing which is formed on the ground to support the
foundation
wall. Figure 13 is a simplified illustration of a building structure 70 having
a foundation
76 supported on a footing 78 formed on the ground 78. As shown, a pile
connecting
bracket 79 is secured to the foundation wall 76 by bolts 80or other immovable
connection means. The bracket 79 has guide flanges or guide rings 81 through
which
the pipes 15 are inserted for guiding the pipes 15 on a straight axis as they
form the
pile 90 and driven into the ground 78.
(0046) As shown in Figures 13 and 14, a hydraulic ram assembly 82, well known
in
the art, is provided to drive the interconnected pile tubes 15 into the
ground. The
hydraulic ram assembly 82 has two pistons 83 having their piston rod ends 84
secure to
an upper end of the bracket 79. A friction pipe connector, not shown by
described in my
US Patent 8,506,206, clasps the outer surface of the hollow pipe tube during
the piston
drawing action to pull the upper hollow pipe 85 downwards in the direction of
arrow 86
transferring the load of the foundation 76 into the pipe 85 pushing the pile
assembly 90
into the ground. This action also permits the pipe connecting section 13 to be
driven in
tight friction fit into the open end 12' of the lower pipe, and this
connection being made
above the guide flange 81' of the bracket 79. Because the connection of the
pipe
connectors 11, 40 of the present invention do not have any parts exceeding the
outer
surface of the pipes, the pipes are displaced smoothly through the guide rings
81
without obstruction causing no damage to the bracket or the pipes. Once the
pile 90 as
reached a solid underground footing, the uppermost pipe is clamped onto the
bracket
79 with attachments as described in my above referenced patent and any
exceeding
pile section is cut-off with a grinder power tool. With this pile construction
and
installation there is no welding required on site and no skilled labor
required to form and
install the piles. It is also pointed out that the pile can be forced into the
ground by
impacts provided by an impact power tool fitted on booms of small vehicles
such as a
backhoe or other suitable vehicle that can manoeuvre in tight spaces.
(0047) The method of forming a hollow steel pile to be force driven into the
ground for
stabilizing a foundation wall of a building structure can be summarized as
follows.
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Firstly, an appropriate ground penetrating head 61 is attached to a protruding
pipe
connecting section of said pipe connector of one of a lower one of the
interconnectable
hollow steel pipes and positioned at a precise location with respect to an
existing
foundation wall or a foundation wall to be constructed. A downward drive force
is
applied to the top end of the steel hollow pipe to drive it into the ground.
The protruding
pipe connection section of a pipe connector 11, 40 of a further pipe is
inserted into the
free open end 12' of the lower steel pipe. A further downward drive force is
applied to
the further hollow steel pipe to frictionally and forceably engage the
protruding pipe
connection of the pipe connector in the free open end of the lower hollow
steel pipe and
continue to drive the hollow steel pipes into the ground until a solid
underground bed is
attained.
(0048) As previously described, the present invention provides a simple
solution to the
many problems encountered on job sites when installing pipe sections to form
foundation support piles. Very often the work site is very restricted such as
when
forming an excavated trench adjacent an existing foundation wall when only
small
digging equipment has access to and there is limited room to place the
excavated soil.
In such environment there is limited working space and the area can become
very
messy, particularly in cold and rainy weather, and such can result in a poor
assembly of
parts and a poor installation which may be costly to a contractor if there is
a need to
later correct installation defects. The fewer parts necessary to form and
install the pile
the better is the quality of the installation and the faster is the work
performed. Because
the opipes are manipulated and installed by the hands people, the less is the
detailed
work the better is the quality of the work. With the present invention there
are no loose
parts and no skilled welder required during the assembly and installation of
the piles
resulting in quality pile installations at reduced cost and in shorter
installation time.
(0049) It is within the ambit of the present invention to provide any obvious
modifications of the preferred embodiments described herein provided such
modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.
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