A FOUNDATION PILE

Abstract

The invention is directed to a foundation pile (1) comprising a tubular housing (2) having an upper end (3) and an open lower end (4) and wherein at the upper end or near or at the open lower end (4) vibration means are present and wherein at the open lower end means (6) to discharge a fluid into the interior space (20) of the tubular housing and means (7) to discharge a fluid from the lower end (4) of the tubular housing (2) in a direction which has a downward directional component. The means (6) to discharge a fluid into the interior space (20) of the tubular housing have can fluidise the soil present in this interior space.

Claims

1. A foundation pile suited to move downwards into a soil and comprising a tubular housing having an upper end and an open lower end and wherein at the upper end or near or at the open lower end vibration means are present and wherein at the open lower end means to discharge a fluid into the interior space of the tubular housing and means to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing in a direction which has a downward directional component.

2. A foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the means to discharge a fluid into the interior space of the tubular housing have the capacity to provide enough fluid to fluidise the soil present in this interior space when, in use, the foundation pile moves downwards into the soil.

3. A foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the vibration means are present at the upper end of the foundation pile and wherein the vibration means comprise a clamping mechanism for fixedly clamping to the upper end of the foundation pile and a vibrator block configured to provide a vibration.

4. A foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the vibration means are present at the open lower end of the foundation pile and wherein the vibration means are a series of individual vibration devices positioned at the interior wall of the tubular housing near the lower end of the tubular housing.

5. A foundation pile according to claim 4, wherein the individual vibration device comprises of a motor connected to a rotating eccentric mass which in use results in a vibration of the foundation pile.

6. A foundation pile according to claim 5, wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.

7. A foundation pile according to claim 5, wherein the axis of rotation of the eccentric mass of the individual vibration device is directed in a radial direction with respect to the tubular housing.

8. A foundation pile according to claim 5, wherein the individual vibration device are positioned in a ring along the interior wall of the tubular housing and wherein the rotating eccentric masses of the individual vibration devices are rotatably interconnected such to synchronise their motion.

9. A foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the means to discharge a fluid into the interior space of the tubular housing are more than one outlet openings through which the fluid is discharged a direction having a tangential directional component.

10. A foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the means to discharge a fluid into the interior space of the tubular housing are more than one outlet openings to discharge a fluid positioned in a ring along the interior wall of the tubular housing and wherein the direction of the fluid has an upward and an inward directional component.

11. A foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the means to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing in a direction which has a downward directional component are more than one outlet openings as present in a ring shaped element having a downwardly pointed end.

12. A foundation pile according to claim 11, wherein the ring shaped element has a pointed inner surface and wherein the pointed inner surface is provided with outlet openings to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing in a direction which has a downward directional component and a component in the direction of the axis of the tubular housing.

13. A foundation pile according to claim 12, wherein at the downwardly pointed end of the ring shaped element outlet openings are present which direct the fluid in a downward direction.

14. A foundation pile according to claim 12, wherein the ring shaped element is provided with outlet openings at an outer surface of the ring shaped element to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing in a direction which has a radial outward directional component.

15. A foundation pile according to claim 11, wherein the ring shaped element further comprises a ring of vibration means positioned above the means to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing and a ring of outlet openings to discharge a fluidising fluid into the interior of the tubular housing positioned above the ring of vibration means and as present in an upwardly pointed end part having an upwardly pointed inner surface.

16. A foundation pile according to claim 15, wherein the ring shaped element is detachably connected to the interior wall of the tubular housing.

17. A foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the tubular housing is a metal tubular housing having a diameter of at least 1 meter and wherein the upper end of the tubular housing is connected to a monopile transition piece of a wind turbine.

18. A foundation pile according to claim 1, wherein the tubular housing is a metal tubular housing having a diameter of at least 1 meter and wherein the upper end of the tubular housing is connected to a monopile comprising a wind turbine.

19. Process to install a foundation pile comprising a tubular housing having an upper end and an open lower end into a mass of soil by making use of the gravitational forces resulting from the mass of the foundation pile and any optionally connected part to said foundation pile in the downward axial direction and wherein the soil resistance, which prevents the foundation pile from penetrating the soil, is reduced by (a) vibrating the tubular housing using a vibration means located at the upper end of the foundation pile or near or at the open lower end of the tubular housing, (b) fluidising the soil as present in the interior of the tubular housing using water as a fluidising medium and (c) discharging downward projected jets of water from the lower end of the tubular housing.

20. Process according to claim 19, wherein the frequency of the vibration means is between 10 and 200 Hz.

21. Process according to claim 19, wherein the direction of the vibrating tubular housing is axial and/or torsional.

22. Process according to claim 19, wherein the vibration is achieved by using a number of individual vibration devices comprising of a hydraulic motor connected to a rotating eccentric mass as positioned in a ring along the interior wall of the tubular housing which in use results in a vibration of the tubular housing and wherein the rotating eccentric masses of the individual vibration devices are rotatably interconnected such to synchronise their motion.

23. Process according to claim 22, wherein the hydraulic motor is powered by a flow of water and wherein the used water is used for fluidising the soil as present in the interior of the tubular housing.

24. Process according to claim 19 as performed using a foundation pile, the foundation pile comprising a tubular housing having an upper end and an open lower end and wherein at the upper end or near or at the open lower end vibration means are present and wherein at the open lower end means to discharge a fluid into the interior space of the tubular housing and means to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing in a direction which has a downward directional component.

25. Process according to claim 19 as performed using a foundation pile, the foundation pile comprising a tubular housing and a ring shaped element, and wherein once the foundation pile reached its desired penetration depth the ring shaped element is pulled upwards within the tubular housing.

26. A vibration device comprising of multiple rotating eccentric masses which are rotatably interconnected such to synchronise their motion and are placed in a ring shaped housing.

27. A vibration device according to claim 26, wherein the rotating eccentric masses are connected to one or more hydraulic motors.

28. A vibration device according to claim 26, wherein the axis of rotation of the eccentric masses are directed in a radial direction with respect to the ring shaped housing.

29. A vibration device according to claim 26, wherein the eccentric masses are positioned in a ring shaped housing with a frusto conical shaped surface at its upper end and a frusto shaped surface at its lower end and wherein outlet openings for a fluid are present in the upper and lower frusto conical shaped surfaces having at least an inwardly radial outflow directional component for a fluid.

30. A detachable fluidisation device for use in a tubular foundation pile comprising of a central element connected to radially extending and in length variable actuators, the actuators connected at their radial end with a pressing element provided with a clamp suited to press the clamp to the lower end of the tubular foundation pile, wherein the pressing elements are provided means to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing in a direction which has a downward and upward directional component and wherein the device is further provided with means to discharge a fluid into the interior space of the tubular housing of the tubular foundation pile.

31. A detachable fluidisation device according to claim 30, wherein the pressing element is further provided with vibration means and wherein the vibration means are rotating eccentric masses and wherein the axis of rotation of the eccentric masses are directed in a radial direction with respect to the tubular foundation pile and wherein the axis of rotation are connected by axles to the central element such that the movement of the eccentric masses move in the same phase and frequency.

32. Use of a vibration device according to claim 26 in a method to install a foundation pile.

33. Use of a vibration device according to claim 26 in a method to decommission an installed foundation pile.

34. Process to decommission a foundation pile as installed in a mass of soil wherein the foundation pile comprises a tubular housing having an upper end and an open lower end by (i) lowering a detachable fluidisation device from a higher elevation in the installed foundation pile to the surface of the soil, (ii) fluidising the soil as present in the interior of the tubular housing and below the surface of the soil by discharging water as a fluidising medium via the detachable fluidisation device as it enters the soil as present in the interior of the tubular housing and moves downwards, (iii) fixing the detachable fluidisation device to the open lower end of the tubular housing, (iv) vibrating the tubular housing using a vibration means located at the upper end of the foundation pile or comprised in the detachable fluidisation device and lifting the foundation pile from the mass of soil.

35. Process according to claim 34, wherein fluidising the soil as present in the interior of the tubular housing is continued while performing steps (iii) and/or (iv).

36. Process according to claim 34, wherein water is discharged from the detachable fluidisation device in a downward direction while performing steps (ii), (iii) and/or (iv).

37. Process according to claim 34 using a detachable fluidisation device.

Description

[0044] The invention shall be described by the following non-limiting FIGS. 1-11.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a foundation pile (1) comprising a tubular housing (2) having an upper end (3) and an open lower end (4).

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the open lower end (4) of the foundation pile of FIG. 1 in more detail. At this lower end (4) vibration means (5), means (6) to discharge a fluid into the interior space (20) of the tubular housing and means (7) to discharge a fluid from the lower end (4) of the tubular housing (2) in a direction which has a downward directional component. The individual vibrating devices (8) forming the vibration means (5) are present in a ring (12). The means (6) to discharge a fluid into the interior space (20) of the tubular housing are present in a ring (13) of an array outlet openings (29). The means (7) to discharge a fluid from the lower end (4) of the tubular housing (2) are outlet openings (16) as present in a ring shaped element (17). The outlet openings (16) are present in a pointed inner surface (22) which has the shape of a frusto conical shaped surface (27). Fluid discharged from openings (16) flow in a direction which has a downward directional component and a component in the direction of the axis (24) of the tubular housing (2).

[0047] In FIG. 2 the ring (12) and ring (13) are part of the ring shaped element (17). Such a ring shaped element (17) may be detachably connected to the interior wall (9) of the tubular housing (2). Also shown are an array of outlet openings (23) located at the exterior of the ring shaped element. Further several conduits (28) are present running along the interior wall (9) to separately supply water to the vibration means (5), means (6) and means (7). In this way the different means can be supplied with water having a capacity and pressure optimised for the different means.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows the ring shaped element (17) of FIG. 2 as a separate element. An array of outlet openings (29) are shown which are arranged in a ring (13) as the means (6) to discharge a fluid into the interior space (20) of the tubular housing (2). The outlet openings (29) are positioned in a frusto-conical shaped surface (25) such that any fluid being discharged from said openings have an upward and an inward directional component. Further an array of outlet openings (14) are shown at the upper end of the frusto-conical shaped surface (25) such that any fluid being discharged from said openings has an upward direction along the interior wall (9) of the tubular housing (2). FIG. 3 also shows an array of outlet openings (23) located at the exterior of the ring shaped element. Via these openings (23) a jet of fluid can be discharged sideways thereby further lowering the soil resistance. When the ring shaped element (17) has such external openings (23) it is preferred that the ring shaped element extends somewhat below the lower end of the tubular housing (2) such that these openings have a clear outflow space as shown in FIG. 2.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the ring shaped element (17) of FIG. 3. The gear wheel of eccentric mass (10a) of one device (8) is connected the gear wheel of eccentric mass (10b) of its neighbouring device (8). In this way the multiple rotating eccentric masses as present in the ring shaped element (17) are rotatably interconnected such to synchronise their motion.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows the interior of a vibrating device (8). A bucket wheel (19) as the hydraulic motor (18) is seen. A flow of water will impact a wheel (19) of the hydraulic motor (18) tangentially resulting in a rotation. This rotation is transferred by means of a gearing wheel to a rotating eccentric mass (10a) which in turn transfers its rotation by means of a gearing wheel to a second eccentric mass (10b). use results in a vibration of the tubular housing (2). The eccentric masses (10a, 10b) rotate around their respective axis of rotation (11a, 11b). Because the vibration device is fixed to the tubular wall (2) of the foundation pile (1) a vibration of the foundation pile and especially the lower part and end of the foundation pile will result.

[0051] The configuration as shown in FIG. 5 is placed in a housing (26) as shown in FIG. 6. This housing will also comprise the outflow openings (14) and (29) of the means (6) to discharge a fluid into the interior space (20) of the tubular housing (2) at an upper frusto conical surface (25) and openings (16) (not visible) of the means (7) to discharge a fluid from the lower end (4) of the tubular housing (2) at a lower frusto conical surface (27). When such a device (8) is placed in a ring the axis of rotation (11a, 11b) of the eccentric masses (10a, 10b) are directed in a radial direction with respect to the ring shaped element (17).

[0052] FIG. 7 shows how ring shaped element (17) is connected to the lower end (4) of the tubular housing (2). Ring shaped element (17) extend somewhat below the lower end (4) to enable a jet of fluid (arrow indicating flow direction) to be discharged via outlet openings (23) sideways, i.e. in a radially outward direction. At the downwardly lower pointed end (21) of the ring shaped element (17) outlet openings (30) are present which direct the fluid in a downward direction as indicated by an arrow. In this Figure also the positions and flow directions of all the other openings (16,29,14) are shown and indicated by arrows. Also pointed end (21) is shown as a non-moving pointed end or arrangement. The only moving parts are the wheels (19) and eccentric masses (10a, 10b) of the individual vibrating devices (8).

[0053] FIG. 8 shows a ring shaped element (39) which is detachably connected to the interior wall of the tubular housing. Ring shaped element (39) is provided with openings to discharge a fluid into the interior space (20) of the tubular housing as shown in FIG. 3 and openings to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing in a direction which has a downward directional component as shown in FIG. 3. Hydraulic operated cross bars (40) are seen which press the ring shaped element (39) to the inner wall of the tubular housing from a central element (41). This central element (41) is connected to the upper end of the foundation pile with an umbilical (42) through which hydraulic fluid, water and/or air can be transported to the ring shaped element (39) via the cross-bars. The central element itself is also provided with openings (41a) to discharge water in a downward direction. The cross-bars are provided with outlet openings for a fluid in a downward and upward direction. FIG. 8 shows the eccentric masses (45) to vibrate the pile in axial and/or torsional direction. All the eccentric masses in the four pressing elements (43)) that hold the eccentric masses are connected via axles (47) that are connected in the central element (41). This enables that all the eccentric masses to rotate in the same phase and frequency, generating an uniform vibration.

[0054] FIG. 9 shows the foundation pile of FIG. 8 as seen from below. Also a smaller diameter upper opening (48) of the foundation pile is shown.

[0055] FIG. 10 shows the detachable ring formed element of FIG. 8 without showing the foundation pile. As can be seen the ring shaped element (39) is comprised of four pressing elements (43) each connected to the central element (41) via the one or more hydraulic bars (40). Each pressing element (43) is provided with a hydraulic clamp (46) to fix to the lower end of the pile. The hydraulic bars (40) force the pressing elements (43) to the inner wall of the foundation pile. Connecting elements (44) are present in between these four pressing elements. Both pressing elements (43) and connecting elements (44) are provided with downward and inwardly directed openings for discharge of a fluid as shown. The pressing elements are further provided with one or more vibration devices (45) in a cut out view. The vibration devices (45) may be as shown in FIG. 5.

[0056] FIGS. 9 and 10 further show a supply conduit (49) for fluid having openings at its upper and lower end to discharge a fluid in a vertical direction. In a preferred embodiment also openings at one side of the supply conduit (49) are present to discharge the fluid in a horizontal and tangential direction as indicated by arrows (50) for one such opening on the supply conduit (49) for fluid. The connecting elements (44) of the ring shaped element (39) may also be provided with openings to discharge a fluid in a horizontal and tangential direction as indicated by arrows (52). Such a tangential discharge of fluid results in a vortex (51) having a direction indicated by arrow (51) in FIG. 9. The fluid is discharged in a substantial horizontal direction and will spirally flow in such a vortex in an upward direction. Excess water is discharged from the foundation pipe at a more elevated level. In an even more preferred embodiment the openings at the side of conduit (49) are designed such that more than 70% of the fluid being discharged from the openings on the supply conduit are discharged from the openings at one side and wherein the remaining fluid may be discharged from the optional openings at the upper and lower end of the supply conduit (49).

[0057] FIG. 11 shows how the detachable ring (39) is collapsed to a more slimmer shape and removed through the smaller diameter opening at the upper end of the foundation pile. As can be seen only the pressing elements (43) are removed while the connecting parts (44) of the ring remain attached to the lower end of the foundation pile. In this way the more complex vibration means may be recovered after installing the foundation pile.

[0058] The invention is thus also directed to a detachable vibration device for use in a tubular foundation pile comprising of a central element connected to radially extending and in length variable actuators, the actuators connected at their radial end with a pressing element provided with a clamp suited to press the clamp to the lower end of the tubular foundation pile, wherein the pressing elements are provided with vibration means and with means to discharge a fluid from the lower end of the tubular housing in a direction which has a downward and upward directional component and wherein the vibration device is further provided with means to discharge a fluid into the interior space of the tubular housing of the tubular foundation pile.

[0059] Preferably the vibration means are rotating eccentric masses and wherein the axis of rotation of the eccentric masses are directed in a radial direction with respect to the tubular foundation pile and wherein the axis of rotation are connected by axles to the central element such that the movement of the eccentric masses move in the same phase and frequency.