HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GRIPPING AND INSERTING A PILE TUBE INTO A BOREHOLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a handling device for gripping and inserting a pile tube into a borehole in the ground to form a foundation pile, comprising a base frame, a gripping device for gripping and holding the pile tube, and a holding element for releasably connecting the base frame to a hoist, in particular a suspension rope. According to the invention, it is provided that at least one inlet device for supplying a curable medium is arranged on the base frame in an upper region and at least one outlet device for the curable medium to the pile tube is arranged in a lower region.

Claims

1. A handling device for gripping and inserting a pile tube into a borehole in the ground for forming a foundation pile, comprising a base frame, a gripping device for gripping and holding the pile tube, and a holding element for releasably connecting the base frame to a hoist, in particular a suspension rope, wherein in an upper region at least one inlet device for supplying a curable medium and, in a lower region, at least one outlet device for the curable medium to the pile tube are arranged on the base frame.

2. The handling device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping device comprises a plurality of gripping elements for holding the pile tube in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner.

3. The handling device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping device is configured for form-fit and/or non-form-fit holding of the pile tube on its inner side.

4. The handling device according claim 1, wherein the gripping device comprises at least one adjusting cylinder by means of which at least one gripping element is adjustable between a holding position for holding the pile tube and a release position, in which the at least one gripping element is released from the pile tube.

5. The handling device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet device comprises a connection device for connecting a supply line.

6. The handling device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet device comprises at least one outlet for connection to a feed opening on a pile tube.

7. The handling device according to claim 1, wherein an attachment element for attaching the handling device to the pile tube is arranged in the borehole.

8. The handling device according to claim 7, wherein at least one adjusting device is arranged, by means of which the attachment element with the pile tube is displaceable and adjustable relative to a surrounding wall of the borehole or a support tube.

9. The handling device according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting device comprises at least one adjusting cylinder, in particular a hydraulic cylinder.

10. The handling device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element comprises an eyelet or a hook.

11. The handling device according to claim 1, wherein two conveying lines extend between the inlet device and the outlet device, which are switchable by means of a valve device in such a way that they can be connected in parallel to form a double feed line or can be connected in series for a flushing operation.

12. A method of gripping and inserting a pile tube into a borehole in the ground, wherein a handling device according to claim 1 is used.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a curable medium is supplied to the pile tube via the handling device while the pile tube is held by the handling device.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the handling device is arranged with an attachment element on the pile tube, and the base frame with the gripping device and the pile tube held thereby is displaced and adjusted relative to a support tube or the borehole by means of at least one adjusting device.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the handling device on the pile tube is released from the hoist and/or a supply line after insertion into the borehole and can remain as a superimposed load on the pile tube.

Description

[0031] The invention is further explained below with reference to preferred examples of embodiments, which are shown schematically in the drawings. The drawings show in:

[0032] FIG. 1 a schematic sectional view of a pile tube with a bulkhead plate;

[0033] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a lower part of a pile tube in a bore;

[0034] FIG. 3 a schematic detail cross-sectional view to a feed device on the bulkhead plate of a pile tube; and

[0035] FIG. 4 a perspective view of a handling device for handling a pile tube.

[0036] According to FIG. 1, a pile tube 10 is provided with a tubular base body 12. In an inner region 13 of the tubular base body 12, a bulkhead plate 20 directed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tubular base body 12 is arranged, which divides the inner region 13 into a lower section 14 and an upper section 15 and separates them from each other. An annular sealing element 19 may be arranged at a lower edge of the tubular base body 12, by means of which the pile tube 10 can be placed on a borehole bottom in a manner as sealing as possible.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the bulkhead plate 20 comprises two schematically indicated through-openings 22, which can be selectively opened or closed by means of a likewise schematically indicated closing device 24. A feed device 30 with two schematically indicated feed openings 32, each with an insertion funnel 34, is arranged in a central region of the bulkhead plate 20, as will be described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 3.

[0038] The feed openings 32 with the insertion funnels 34 serve to feed a curable medium, in particular mortar or cement slurry, whereby the curable medium can be conducted below the bulkhead plate 20 via lines 26 up to a lower end region of the tubular base body 12. The conduits 26 thereby extend through a tubular wall 16 of the base body 12 and each terminate at the outer circumference 17 of the base body 12 in an outlet opening 28. Thus, curable medium can be conducted via an inner region 13 of the pile tube 10 up to a lower end region and can exit via the outlet openings 28 to the outside of the pile tube 10, as explained in more detail below in connection with FIG. 2.

[0039] In FIG. 2, a lower end region of a pile tube 10 according to the invention is shown which is inserted into a borehole 4 in the ground 1. Only the lower portion of the borehole 4 is shown, and the borehole 4 may have a depth of several meters, typically between 5 m to 30 m. The borehole 4 is filled with a fluid, in particular water or other supporting fluid, for support, so that the borehole 4 does not collapse even at greater borehole depths. A support tube may also be provided at least in some areas.

[0040] The pile tube 10 with a bulkhead plate 20 can be easily inserted into a borehole 4 filled with fluid in this way, if the through openings 22 on the bulkhead plate 20 are opened by the closing devices 24. After the pile tube 10 has reached a final position, in particular when the pile tube 10 is placed on a bottom hole 5 of the borehole 4, the through openings 22 can be closed again by the closing devices 24. Curing medium can now be introduced into the borehole 4 via the conduits 26, the curing medium being supplied within the pile tube 10 in the lower region by the conduits 26 and passing through the tube wall 16 at the lower end region and being able to exit into an annular space 6 via the outlet opening 28. The annular space 6 is formed between an outer periphery 17 of the tubular base body 12 and a substantially cylindrical wall 8 of the borehole 4. The curable medium can thereby fill the annular space 6 from bottom to top due to a higher density compared to the liquid in the borehole 4. Liquid is displaced upwards from the annular space 6 by the curable medium.

[0041] Due to the provided bulkhead plate 20, a lower section 14 of the inner area 13 of the pile tube 10 is sealed upwardly when the passage openings 22 are closed. Thus, the liquid in the lower section 14 of the pile tube 10 cannot be displaced upwards, so that no or hardly any curable medium can penetrate into the inner area 13 of the pile tube 10. In this way, the inner area 13 can be reliably kept free and curable medium or slurry can be saved.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, the feed device 30 of the pile tube 10 according to FIG. 1 is shown in more detail. The feed device 30 may comprise a pot-shaped receptacle 31, which is mounted in a central region of the bulkhead plate 20. In the pot-shaped receptacle 31, the feed openings 32 for the conduits 26 leading away downwardly are formed. For introducing the curable medium, the feed openings 32 comprise introduction funnels 34 at their upper region. The feed openings 32 can furthermore be formed with check valves 36, shown only schematically, which prevent an undesired backflow of the curable medium from the lines 26 in the example shown.

[0043] According to the invention, a handling device 50 as shown in FIG. 4 can be used to supply the curable medium. The handling device 50 comprises a base body 52 with a cover plate 54, on which an attachment element 58 is arranged for placing or arranging the handling device 50 on or on a pile tube 10.

[0044] Via a gripping device 56, which can alternatively or additionally also be configured as a non-form-fit clamping device, the handling device 50 can be detachably attached to an inner side of the pile tube 10 with at least one clamping or gripping element 57 in the illustrated embodiment. Preferably, a plurality of gripping elements 57 are arranged along the circumference of the approximately tubular or barrel-shaped base body 52.

[0045] The handling device 50 can be used to grip a pile tube 10 from a pile tube storage while it is still on a ground surface or a watercraft. The handling device 50 can be connected to a hoist, in particular a crane, via a holding element 55 at the upper end region of the base body 52. Thus, a pile tube 10 can be inserted from a storage position into a borehole 4 in the ground 1 via the handling device 50.

[0046] In addition, the handling device 50 is provided with a feed device 60, indicated only schematically, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises conveying lines 64 extending from an inlet device 62 at the upper end of the base body 52 up to a lower outlet device 66. The outlet device 66 is configured to engage over the inlet funnels 34 of the feed device 30 on a pile tube 10, as shown in FIG. 3, for the supply of a curable medium. Furthermore, a corresponding coupling unit may be provided on the handling device 50 to ensure accurate positioning and positional retention in cooperation with the coupling element 23 on the feed device 30 of the pile tube 10.

[0047] A supply line 80, which may also be referred to as an umbilical, may be used to supply curable medium, energy and/or data via a releasable connection device 70, whereby the curable medium is transferred to the inlet device 62 at the upper end region of the base body 52.

[0048] After the annular space 6 has been filled by the curable medium, the connecting line 80 and/or the hoist may be detached from the holding element 55, leaving the handling device 50 attached to the pile tube 10 as an additional superimposed load, at least until the curable medium for forming the foundation element in the ground 1 has cured. Thereafter, the handling device 50 may be released from the pile tube 10 again and retrieved.