Pile driving guide

Abstract

A pile guide is provided comprising a base frame and a pile guide member for guiding the pile as it is driven into a substrate when the base frame is resting thereon. The pile guide member comprises plural guide parts each moveable between a operative position and an inoperative position, each guide part being pivotally mounted on the base frame. At least one guide part is operably coupled or couplable with an associated counterweight for opening of the guide member to its inoperative position under gravity, such that, at least in an inoperative position, at least part of the counterweight and the associated guide part are movable with respect to each other. In another aspect, at least one of the guide parts and/or at least one of the counterweights is detachably connected with the base frame and/or with each other. Methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A pile guide comprising: a base frame and a pile guide member configured to guide a pile as the pile is driven into a substrate when the base frame is resting thereon, the pile guide member comprising plural guide parts each moveable between an operative position and an inoperative position, each guide part being pivotally mounted on the base frame on a guide part pivot axis, wherein one of the plural guide parts is operably coupled to a counterweight, said counterweight being configured to open said one of the plural guide parts to the inoperative position under gravity, wherein, at least in the inoperative position, said one of the plural guide parts and at least part of the counterweight are movable with respect to each other, such that said one of the plural guide parts and the counterweight form a deformable assembly for adjusting the positions of said one of the plural guide parts and the counterweight relative to each other.

2. The pile guide according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the counterweight is pivotally connected with said one of the plural guide parts, being pivotal with respect to said one of the plural guide parts.

3. The pile guide according to claim 1, wherein said one of the plural guide parts and at least part of the counterweight are pivotal with respect to the base frame about a common pivot axis.

4. The pile guide according to claim 1, wherein the pile guide is configured such that in the operative position, a center of gravity of said one of the plural guide parts is arranged on a first lateral side of the guide part pivot axis of said one of the plural guide parts and a center of gravity of the counterweight is arranged on a second lateral side of the guide part pivot axis of said one of the plural guide parts opposite the first lateral side to move said one of the plural guide parts to the inoperative position under gravity, and in the inoperative position, the center of gravity of said one of the plural guide parts is arranged on the second lateral side of the guide part pivot axis for further opening of said one of the plural guide parts to a second inoperative position under gravity.

5. The pile guide according to claim 1, wherein the pile guide member comprises spacer members configured to slidably engage at least one of the pile and corresponding profile members of the pile to be guided by the pile guide as the pile is driven into the substrate, and wherein one or more of the spacer members are mounted at least one of detachably and adjustably to at least one guide part of the plural guide parts.

6. The pile guide according to claim 1, comprising a lock configured to lock the guide parts in the operative position.

7. The pile guide according to claim 1, comprising a mechanism configured to restore said one of the plural guide parts to the operative position from the inoperative position.

8. The pile guide according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight comprises a weighted arm that has an adjustable length.

9. The pile guide according to claim 8, wherein, in the operative position of said one of the plural guide parts, the weighted arm extends at an angle of approximately 20-60 degrees to a horizontal about a pivot axis of said one of the plural guide parts.

10. The pile guide according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a position of the guide part pivot axis, an orientation of the guide part pivot axis of said one of the plural guide parts, a position of the counterweight, and an orientation of the counterweight is adjustable with respect to the base frame.

11. The pile guide according to claim 1 wherein the counterweight comprises a weighted arm, and wherein at least part of the weighted arm is supported from said one of the plural guide parts by a deformable member.

12. The pile guide according to claim 1, wherein said one of the plural guide parts and the counterweight form the deformable assembly for adjusting the positions of said one of the plural guide parts and the counterweight relative to each other during movement of said one of the plural guide parts from the operative position to the inoperative position.

13. A pile guide, comprising: a base frame, a pile guide member configured to guide a pile as the pile is driven into a substrate when the base frame is resting thereon, the pile guide member comprising plural guide parts each moveable between an operative position and an inoperative position, each guide part being pivotally mounted on the base frame, and a counterweight, wherein at least one guide part of said plural guide parts is operably coupled with the counterweight to move the at least one guide part to the inoperative position under gravity, and at least one of: the at least one guide part is detachably connected with the base frame, the counterweight is detachably connected with the base frame, and the at least one guide part is detachably connected with the counterweight.

14. The pile guide according to claim 13, wherein the counterweight comprises a weighted arm that has an adjustable length.

15. The pile guide according to claim 14, wherein, in the operative position of the at least one guide part, the weighted arm extends at an angle of approximately 20-60 degrees to a horizontal about a pivot axis of the at least one guide part.

16. The pile guide according to claim 14 wherein at least part of the weighted arm is supported from the at least one guide part by a deformable member.

17. The pile guide according to claim 13, wherein the at least one guide part is pivotal with respect to the base frame over a pivoting angle from the operative position to the inoperative position over 45 degrees.

18. The pile guide according to claim 13, wherein at least one of a position and orientation of a pivot axis of the at least one guide part and counterweight is adjustable with respect to the base frame.

19. The pile guide of claim 13 wherein at least one of the at least one guide part and/or the counterweight is detachably connected with at least one of a pivot assembly connecting the at least one guide part or counterweight to the base frame and with each other.

20. A pile guide comprising: a base frame and a pile guide member configured to guide a pile as the pile is driven into a substrate when the base frame is resting thereon, the pile guide member comprising plural guide parts each moveable between an operative position and an inoperative position, each guide part being pivotally mounted on the base frame, wherein at least one guide part of the plural guide parts is operably coupled with an associated counterweight to move the at least one guide part to the inoperative position under gravity, wherein at least one of the at least one of the guide parts and/or associated counterweight is coupled with an actuator configured to adjust a position of the at least one guide part or associated counterweight with respect to the base frame, wherein the actuator is pivotally mounted to an intermediate arm that is adjustably mounted to the at least one guide part and/or associated counterweight.

21. The pile guide according to claim 20, wherein the intermediate arm is at least one of length adjustable, mounted to the at least one guide part, and mounted to the counterweight at an adjustable angle.

22. A method of modifying a pile guide, comprising: providing a pile guide having a base frame and a pile guide member configured to guide a pile as the pile is driven into a substrate when the base frame is resting thereon, the pile guide member comprising plural guide parts each moveable between an operative position and an inoperative position, each guide part being pivotally mounted on the base frame, and a coupling to couple at least one guide part of the plural guide parts with an associated counterweight configured to open the at least one guide part to the inoperative position under gravity, wherein the coupling, at least in the inoperative position, allows at least part of the counterweight and the at least one guide part to move with respect to each other, and using the coupling to exchange one of the at least one guide part and the at least part of the counterweight.

23. A method for driving a pile into a substrate, comprising: providing a pile guide having a base frame and a pile guide member configured to guide the pile as the pile is driven into the substrate when the base frame is resting thereon, the pile guide member comprising plural guide parts each moveable between an operative position and an inoperative position, each guide part being pivotally mounted on the base frame, wherein at least one guide part of the plural guide parts is operably coupled with an associated counterweight configured to open the at least one guide part to the inoperative position under gravity, such that, at least in the inoperative position, at least part of the counterweight and the at least one guide part are movable with respect to each other, wherein the at least one guide part of the pile guide has a center of gravity arranged, in the operative position, on a first lateral side of a pivot axis of the at least one guide part; opening the at least one guide part to the inoperative position under gravity, wherein opening moves the center of gravity of the at least one guide part to a second lateral side of the pivot axis opposite the first lateral side; and opening of the pile guide member to a further inoperative position under gravity while moving at least part of the at least one guide part with respect to the associated counterweight.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein driving the pile into the substrate comprises driving the pile into the substrate under water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of an improved pile guide in operative position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the pile guide of FIG. 1 in a first inoperative position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the pile guide of FIG. 1 in second inoperative position, being fully opened;

(5) FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the pile guide of FIG. 1 in operative position;

(6) FIG. 5 shows detail V of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the central portion of detail V of FIG. 4 from another viewing angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(8) It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms upward, downward, below, above, and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral.

(9) FIGS. 1-4 show a pile guide 1, for supporting a pile as it is driven into a substrate. The pile guide 1 comprises a base frame 3 and a pile guide member 5 for guiding the pile (not shown) as it is driven into a substrate (not shown) when the base frame is resting thereon. The pile guide member 5 extends along a central axis C and comprises two guide parts 7, comprising a generally concave main body portion 7A and a support frame 7B, each guide part 7 being pivotally mounted on the base frame 3 for rotation about a respective pivot axis A and movable between a operative position (FIG. 1) and an inoperative position (FIG. 2), see below. The pivot axes A extend generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the central axis C (FIG. 4). Typically, the pile guide 1 is used for driving piles under water in a seabed, river bed or the like, and the base frame 3 may also be referred to as a mud mat.

(10) Best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, each guide part 7 is coupled with an associated counterweight 9. Here, each counterweight 9 comprises a weight 11 supported on rigid arms 13 that are pivotally mounted on the base frame 3 for rotation about the respective pivot axis A and, at least in the operative position of the guide member 5 (FIG. 1), supported from the associated guide part 7 by a pair of chains 15 (schematically indicated). Here, the chains 15 are support members and are detachably mounted to the counterweight and the guide part with openable D-shackles 17 (FIG. 5). However, different attachments and/or support members may be provided and the arms 13 of the counterweight may be configured to be extendible. Also, the counterweight may be formed differently and have several parts that are movable with respect to each other. On the interior side of the guide parts 7 optional removable spacer members 19 are provided for guiding and possibly rotating accordingly shaped piles, e.g. according to WO 03/074795 referred to above (FIG. 4pile not shown).

(11) Each guide part 7, herein arm 13, of its associated counterweight 9 is pivotable not only with respect to the base frame 3 but also with respect to each other, here being independently pivotable about the respective common pivot axis A, although each may be pivotal about different axes. As apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4, by adjusting the effective length of the chains 15, the angle of extension .alpha. of the counterweight's arms 13 relative to the base frame 3 in the operational position of the guide member 5, may be suitably adjusted, e.g. for adjusting the center of gravity and/or the travel of the counterweight 9.

(12) FIGS. 1-3 indicate possible use of the pile guide 1, showing different positions of the guide member parts 7 relative to the base frame 3. In the operative position (FIG. 1) the guide parts 7, herein the main body portions 7A, together define a hollow cylinder for guiding a pile therethrough along a longitudinal axis extending substantially vertically. The guide parts 7 are held in the operative position by a suitable locking mechanism such as a latch (not indicated). The guide parts 7, and thus their respective centers of gravity CoG7, are arranged generally on a laterally inward side of the respective pivot axes A with respect to the guide member 5 (see the vertical dashed line through the pivot axis A in FIG. 1). However, each counterweight 9 is configured such that the collective center of gravity CoG79 of the assembly of a guide part 7 and the associated counterweight 9 is arranged on an outside of the pivoting axis A with respect to the pile guide member 5 (FIG. 1). Thus, once the locking mechanism is released, each part 7 will rotate outward under gravity to a first inoperative position, opening the guide member 5, and by which the counterweight 9 may come to rest on the base frame 3 (FIG. 2). It is noted that the pivot axis A is eccentric with respect to the guide part 7, so that the guide parts 7 as a whole can be pivoted away from the pile (not shown). In FIG. 2 of the shown embodiment the closest separation of the opposite guide parts 7 is even about equal to the separation of the pivot axes A. Importantly, by such rotation the center of gravity CoG7 of the guide part 7 itself is shifted from the laterally inward side of the pivot axis A to the opposite, laterally outward side. This provides a moment driving further rotation under gravity of the guide part 7 by its own weight about the pivot axis A, further opening the guide member 5. Finally, another inoperative position shown in FIG. 3 may be achieved wherein the guide parts 7 are arranged substantially horizontally on the base frame 3, having pivoted with respect to the counterweights 9 as facilitated by relative rotational movement of the guide parts 7 with respect to their associated counterweights 9 and by deformation (slackening) of the support chains 15. In such position the pile guide 1 may be easily transported, stored and/or serviced. E.g., best seen by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, spacer members 19 and the support members 15 thus become readily accessible for maintenance and/or exchange.

(13) Summarising, operation and use of the pile guide may comprise the following steps: a) arranging the pile guide 1 on a substrate, e.g. underwater, on the seabed; b) arranging the guide member 5 in the operative position, preferably before step a, but possibly during and/or after step a, and preferably including latching the guide parts 7 in the operative position; c) arranging the pile to be driven in the pile guide 1 such that it is at least partially supported by the pile guide member 5; d) driving the pile into the substrate to a point of self-stability in the substrate; e) opening the guide member 5 to an inoperative position, comprising: f) unlocking optional latches, e.g. for keeping guide parts 7 in the operative position; g) allowing the counterweights 9 to pull back the guide parts 7 against the action of gravity on them and far enough to counteract the guide part's 7 center of gravity CoG7, e.g. about 30 degrees away from vertical/60 degrees to horizontal; h) allowing the guide parts 7 to fall further open under gravity while deforming at least part of the counterweight 9, e.g. while the counterweight 9 lays redundant on the base frame/mud mat 3, e.g. further opening the guide parts 7 to approximately 45 degrees with respect to vertical and horizontal; and i) allowing pile driving apparel e.g. a pile padeye and/or a driving hammer to pass through the opened guide member 5 to final penetration of the pile.

(14) The guide members may be opened still further than about 45-60 degrees from vertical/45-30 degrees from horizontal, but generally they are only opened fully for transport, disassembly, and/or spacer adjustment, in particular whilst onshore. For subsequent use, e.g. with another pile, the guide parts are pivoted back into the operative position and the counterweights are also restored accordingly, e.g. in an operation simply reversing the opening action.

(15) For adjusting relative orientations of the base frame 3 and the guide member 5, e.g. in case of use on an inclined substrate surface, adjustable pivot mounts 21 are provided. With these mounts 21, hinge or pivot portions may be raised or lowered relative to the base frame 3, and one or both sides of one or both pivot axes A may be adjusted to reposition and/or tilt the respective pivot axis A relative to the base frame 3 in known manner, and thereby to adjust the central axis C of the guide member 5.

(16) The guide member parts 7 and/or the counterweights 9 may be brought and/or restored into their operative position from an inoperative position by a suitable hoisting and/or lifting arrangement (e.g. by connecting a fork lift and/or a crane to optional mountings 23). In the shown pile guide, the guide parts 7 and the counterweights 9 may be independently restored, by disconnecting the guide part 7 and associated counterweights 9 (e.g. detaching an end of the chains 15), restoring and locking the guide parts 7 to the operative position and subsequently lifting the counterweights 9 and reconnecting them to the respective associated guide parts 7 with the support. Thus, lighter tools may be used than when an integral assembly of a guide part 7 plus counterweight 9 must be lifted.

(17) However, the shown pile guide 1 comprises an optional mechanism for restoring guide member parts 7 and counterweights 9 to their operative position from an inoperative position, see in particular FIGS. 4-6. The mechanism comprises an actuator 25 for adjusting the position of the guide part 7 with respect to the base frame, in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 25. Although the actuator may be directly attached to a main body portion 7A of the guide part 7 that forms part of the cylindrical sleeve, in the shown embodiment the actuator 25 is mounted to an intermediate arm 27 pivotal about a pivot axis A25. The intermediate arm 27, in turn, is attached via a mounting 29 to a hinge portion 31 of the guide part 7, herein the support frame 7B, such that the arm 27 is fixable to the mounting 29 in different configurations. Here, best seen in FIG. 6, the mounting 29 comprises three sets of through holes 33, 35, 37 which may be connected pairwise to corresponding holes in the arm 27 with fasteners 39 (the pair of through holes 33 and 35, as shown in FIGS. 4-6 or, respectively, the pair of through holes 33 and 37). Thus, the positions of engagement of the arm 27 and therewith of the actuator 25 to the the guide part 7, herein the support frame 7B, about the pivot axis A can be varied. Due to the adjustable mounting, the point of engagement of the actuator to the guide part 7 and/or counterweight 9 can be varied to account for limitations in path, travel and/or force of the actuator 25. E.g., this allows to account for the stroke of the actuator 25 during rotation of the guide part 7 between the operative position and the first inoperative position shown in FIG. 2 and the second inoperative position shown in FIG. 3, and/or for raising and/or tilting of the pivot axis A with respect to the base frame 3. Thus, an actuator 25 with relatively short stroke may suffice. It is noted that more and/or different arrangements and/or different attachment techniques may be used for suitably mounting an actuator.

(18) Best seen in FIGS. 4-6, in particular FIG. 5, in the shown embodiment each guide part 7 and counterweight 9 is, as an option, detachably mounted to the pivot assembly and therewith to the base frame and to each other via respective bolted mountings 41, 43. This allows removal and/or exchange of a guide part 7 and/or a counterweight 9, e.g. for storage, transport and/or maintenance. This also facilitates modification of the pile guide 1, e.g. for use with different guide parts to guide piles of a different type or size.

(19) In view of the harsh conditions of pile driving, in particular offshore subsea pile driving, pile guides have traditionally been developed with continuously increased robustness and simplicity, reducing the number of parts and/or providing parts as unitary objects and/or substantially permanently fixed together objects (e.g. welded or riveted) wherever possible. It has now been found that such robustness may, in fact, not be needed and that, by increasing complexity of the pile guide against the traditional trend, by making parts movable and/or detachable with respect to each other, the pile guide's overall weight may be significantly reduced and its operational flexibility vastly increased.

(20) The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiments which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims. For instance it is possible to configure the pile guide such that in normal operation the guide parts are used between the operative position of FIG. 1 and an inoperative position generally as shown in FIG. 2, and that a more fully open position e.g. generally as shown in FIG. 3 is only used for transport and/or maintenance, e.g. by use of suitable stops and/or by adjustment of the mounting arrangement 27, 29, 31 of the actuator 25.

(21) Further more guide parts may be used, the guide member and/or guide part frame may differ, the base frame may be smaller, larger and/or differently formed. Also, plural pile guides may be combined, possibly detachably, to a multi-pile guide template.

(22) Connections for hoisting arrangements and/or for connecting with an Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) e.g. for power requirements may be provided

(23) Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise.