PILE ASSEMBLY, GRIPPING MEMBER FOR A VIBRATORY HAMMER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR DRIVING A PILE ASSEMBLY INTO THE GROUND

Abstract

A pile assembly to be vibratorily driven into soil for a foundation includes a pile shaft, a pile tip, a mounting member and a pile sleeve. The pile tip is mountable to a bottom end of the pile shaft and has at least one pair of radial tip fins, the tip fins being arranged along a length of the pile tip. The mounting member being provided on a top end of the pile shaft and/or the pile sleeve. The pile sleeve being adapted to be arranged coaxially with the pile shaft, where the pile shaft extends through the pile sleeve, such that the pile sleeve and pile shaft are axially movable with respect to each other. The pile sleeve is adapted to be coupled with the pile shaft in an installed state of the pile assembly, where the pile assembly has been driven into the soil to a predetermined depth.

Claims

1. A pile assembly to be vibratorily driven into soil for a foundation, the pile assembly comprising: a pile shaft, a pile tip mountable to a bottom end of the pile shaft, the pile tip having at least one pair of radial tip fins, the tip fins being arranged along a length of the pile tip, a mounting member provided on a top end of the pile shaft and/or the pile sleeve, a pile sleeve adapted to be arranged coaxially with the pile shaft, wherein the pile shaft extends through the pile sleeve, such that the pile sleeve and pile shaft are axially movable with respect to each other, the pile sleeve being adapted to be coupled with the pile shaft in an installed state of the pile assembly, wherein the pile assembly has been driven into the soil to a predetermined depth, wherein the sleeve has at least a pair of radial sleeve fins, the sleeve fins being predominantly extending along a length of the sleeve, wherein at least the pile shaft, the pile tip and the pile sleeve are independently exchangeable.

2. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve fin at the trailing edge thereof branches off into two edges, both edges extending in opposite, at least partially, circumferential directions so as to define a Y-shaped cross-section.

3. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve fins have a slanting leading edge extending under an angle ? with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

4. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve fins have a slanting trailing edge extending under an angle ? with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

5. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve fins are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the sleeve.

6. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve fins extend in diametrically opposite radial directions.

7. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pile sleeve has multiple pairs, preferably two pairs, of radial sleeve fins, wherein the fins of each of the pairs extend in diametrically opposite radial directions.

8. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tip fins have a slanting leading edge.

9. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tip fins are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the tip.

10. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tip fins extend in diametrically opposite radial directions.

11. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pile tip has multiple pairs, preferably two pairs, of radial tip fins wherein the fins of each of the pairs extend in diametrically opposite radial directions.

12. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises at least one guiding element for centring the pile shaft within the sleeve.

13. The pile assembly according to claim 12, wherein the guiding element comprises a ring mounted to an inner side of the sleeve.

14. The pile assembly according to claim 12, wherein the guiding element is provided with a friction preventive measure.

15. The pile assembly according to claim 12, wherein the guiding element comprises two axially spaced rings.

16. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pile shaft is provided with a dedicated connection element adapted to be engaged by a vibratory device used for driving the pile assembly.

17. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pile sleeve is provided with a dedicated connection element adapted to be engaged by a vibratory device used for driving the pile assembly.

18. The pile assembly according to claim 16, wherein the pile sleeve is provided with a dedicated connection element adapted to be engaged by a vibratory device used for driving the pile assembly, and wherein in a driving state, wherein the pile shaft and the pile sleeve are both driven into soil by means of a vibratory device, the connection element of the pile shaft and the connection element of the sleeve form a mutual connection element engageable by the vibratory device.

19. The pile assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the pile shaft and pile sleeve are axially movable with respect to each other in a pre-installation state wherein the pile shaft is arranged coaxially in the pile sleeve and positioned such that the tip member engages the ground surface, the pile shaft and pile sleeve are axially movable with respect to each other in in a first driving state wherein the pile shaft is being driven into the soil by means of a vibratory device and the pile shaft is arranged coaxially in the pile sleeve, the pile shaft and the pile sleeve are coupled in a second driving state, wherein the pile shaft and the pile sleeve are driven together into soil by means of a vibratory device, and the pile shaft is fixed to the pile sleeve, such that they form a unit, in an installed state wherein the pile assembly has been driven into the soil to a predetermined depth.

20. A gripping member for a vibratory hammer assembly for driving a pile assembly, wherein the pile assembly is to be vibratorily driven into soil for a foundation, the pile assembly comprising: a pile shaft, a pile tip mountable to a bottom end of the pile shaft, the pile tip having at least one pair of radial tip fins, the tip fins being arranged along a length of the pile tip, a mounting member provided on a top end of the pile shaft and/or the pile sleeve, a pile sleeve adapted to be arranged coaxially with the pile shaft, wherein the pile shaft extends through the pile sleeve, such that the pile sleeve and pile shaft are axially movable with respect to each other, the pile sleeve being adapted to be coupled with the pile shaft in an installed state of the pile assembly, wherein the pile assembly has been driven into the soil to a predetermined depth, wherein the sleeve has at least a pair of radial sleeve fins, the sleeve fins being predominantly extending along a length of the sleeve, wherein at least the pile shaft, the pile tip and the pile sleeve are independently exchangeable, and wherein the gripping member comprises a main body having dedicated pile shaft grippers and dedicated pile sleeve grippers.

21. The gripping member according to claim 20, wherein the pile shaft grippers and/or the pile sleeve grippers are hooks that are pivotably arranged in or on said main body.

22. A method for driving a pile assembly, wherein the pile assembly is to be vibratorily driven into soil for a foundation, the pile assembly comprising: a pile shaft, a pile tip mountable to a bottom end of the pile shaft, the pile tip having at least one pair of radial tip fins, the tip fins being arranged along a length of the pile tip, a mounting member provided on a top end of the pile shaft and/or the pile sleeve, a pile sleeve adapted to be arranged coaxially with the pile shaft, wherein the pile shaft extends through the pile sleeve, such that the pile sleeve and pile shaft are axially movable with respect to each other, the pile sleeve being adapted to be coupled with the pile shaft in an installed state of the pile assembly, wherein the pile assembly has been driven into the soil to a predetermined depth, wherein the sleeve has at least a pair of radial sleeve fins, the sleeve fins being predominantly extending along a length of the sleeve, wherein at least the pile shaft, the pile tip and the pile sleeve are independently exchangeable, wherein the method comprises the steps of: arranging the pile shaft coaxially in the pile sleeve, positioning the pile shaft such that the tip member engages the ground surface, gripping the pile shaft with one or more grippers of a vibratory hammer assembly to drive the pile shaft into the soil in a first stroke, gripping the sleeve with one or more grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly to drive the sleeve and the shaft together into the soil in a second stroke, and fixing the pile shaft to the pile sleeve such that they form a unit.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the method comprises the steps of: gripping the pile shaft with grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly to drive the pile shaft into the soil until the top end of the pile shaft is near to or aligned with a top end of the sleeve, and gripping the sleeve with the vibratory hammer assembly in addition to the gripping of the pile shaft, so as to drive the pile shaft and the sleeve into the soil as a unit.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein gripping of the pile shaft is done using dedicated pile shaft grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly and/or wherein gripping of the pile sleeve is done using dedicated pile sleeve grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly.

25. The method according to claim 22, the method comprising the steps of: providing a range for at least one of the pile shaft, pile tip and pile sleeve, determining soil conditions at an installation site for the pile assembly, selecting from at least one of the provided ranges the respective pile shaft, pile tip and/or pile sleeve that match the soil conditions, and constructing the pile assembly with the selected pile shaft, pile tip and/or pile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIGS. 1A-1B schematically show a frontal view and side view, respectively, of a pile assembly according to the invention in an installed state in the soil,

[0067] FIG. 2A-2B schematically show a frontal view and side view of a pile sleeve for the pile assembly of FIGS. 1A-1B,

[0068] FIG. 2C schematically shows the pile shaft for the pile assembly of FIG. 1,

[0069] FIG. 3 schematically shows in perspective the pile assembly of FIGS. 1A-1B in a first driving state,

[0070] FIG. 4 schematically shows in perspective the pile assembly of FIGS. 1A-1B in a second driving state,

[0071] FIG. 5 schematically shows in perspective the pile assembly of FIGS. 1A-1B in an advanced second driving state,

[0072] FIG. 6A-6B schematically show side-by-side the pile assembly of FIGS. 1A-1B in the installed state in perspective and in a frontal view another pile assembly according to the invention in the installed state;

[0073] FIG. 7A-7B schematically show in perspective the pile sleeve of FIGS. 1A-1B,

[0074] FIG. 8 schematically shows in perspective a pile tip for a pile assembly according to the invention,

[0075] FIG. 9A schematically shows a detail of the pile assembly of FIGS. 3-5,

[0076] FIG. 9B schematically shows in perspective the guiding mechanism of FIG. 9A,

[0077] FIG. 9C schematically shows in perspective a friction preventive measure for a pile assembly according to the invention,

[0078] FIG. 10 schematically shows in perspective a gripping member for a vibratory hammer assembly in the first driving state,

[0079] FIG. 11 schematically shows in perspective a gripping member for a vibratory hammer assembly in the second driving state,

[0080] FIG. 12A schematically shows in perspective a main body for the gripping member of FIG. 11

[0081] FIG. 12B schematically shows in perspective a hook for the gripping member of FIG. 11, and

[0082] FIG. 13 schematically shows in perspective a structure mounted on a pile assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] In FIGS. 1A-1B is shown a frontal view and side view, respectively, of a pile assembly 1 according to the invention. The assembly 1 in FIGS. 1A-1B is in an installed state in the soil. That is the assembly is installed in the soil in a position below ground level 2. To achieve this position, the pile assembly 1 has been driven into the soil to a predetermined depth.

[0084] The pile assembly 1 comprises a pile shaft 10, a pile tip 30 and a pile sleeve 20. As at least the pile shaft, the pile tip and the pile sleeve are independently exchangeable, the shaft 10, tip 30 and sleeve 20 shown in FIGS. 1A-1B and FIGS. 2A-2C may have been selected so as to optimise the pile assembly 1 for use in the installation site of FIGS. 1A-1B.

[0085] The pile tip 30 in FIGS. 1A-1B comprises a tip shaft 32. This tip shaft 32 is mounted to a bottom end 11 of the pile shaft 10 by means of fastening means 33. The pile tip 30 has at least one pair of radial tip fins 31, 33 the tip fins 31,33 being arranged along a length LT1, LT2 of the pile tip 30.

[0086] The pile assembly 1 further comprises a mounting member 40 provided on a top end 3 of the pile assembly 1. This mounting member 40 may be used for installing a structure on the pile assembly 1. The mounting member 40 may form an integral part of the pile sleeve 20 (as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B).

[0087] The pile sleeve 20 shown in FIGS. 1A-1B is arranged coaxially with the pile shaft 10, wherein the pile shaft 10 extends through the pile sleeve 20. In the installed state as shown the pile sleeve 20 is coupled to the pile shaft 10 by means of a top plate 50 and fastening means 51. Thus, the pile sleeve 20 and pile shaft 10 are fixed to one another and may be used to support, hold and/or restrain a structure installed thereupon as a unit. It should be appreciated that the pile sleeve 20 and pile shaft 10 may equally be coupled in different ways for which a structure installed thereupon can be supported, held or restrained as a unit.

[0088] The pile sleeve 20 has a pair of radial sleeve fins 21, with each of the sleeve fins 21 extending outwardly from the sleeve 20 in diametrically opposite radial directions.

[0089] The sleeve fins 21 have a slanting leading edge 22. The leading edge 22 extends under an angle ? with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the sleeve 20. This angle may for example be in the range of 30????80?.

[0090] The sleeve fins 21 have a slanting trailing edge 23 extending under an angle ? with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 20.

[0091] It can be seen in the side view of FIG. 1B that the sleeve fins 21 predominantly extend along a length LS of the sleeve 20. The sleeve fins 21at the trailing edge 23 thereof branch off into two edges 25, 26. The edges 25,26 extend in oppositeat least partiallycircumferential directions so as to define a Y-shaped cross-section (see the side view of FIG. 1). The pile sleeve 20 and the edges 25, 26 can also be seen in FIGS. 7A-7B, in respectively a predominantly frontal view and a perspective side view.

[0092] The assembly 1 comprises guiding elements 60, 65. These guiding elements can be used for centring the pile shaft 10 within the sleeve 20. In FIGS. 1A-1B there are two guiding elements 60, 65 which are axially spaced. That is, the guiding element 60 is provided near the top end 3 of the pile sleeve 20, and the guiding element 65 is provided near the bottom end 4 of the sleeve 20.

[0093] In FIG. 3 is schematically shown in perspective the pile assembly 1 in a first driving state. In this state, the pile shaft 10 and pile sleeve 20 are axially movable with respect to each other and the pile shaft 10 is being driven into the soil 6 by means of a vibratory device. The pile shaft 10 is arranged coaxially in the pile sleeve 20. In FIG. 3 the pile shaft has been gripped by a gripping member 100 of a vibratory hammer assemblye.g. by means of grippers on or in the gripping member 100and the pile shaft 10 has been positioned so as to engage the ground surface 2 with the pile tip 30. Vibrations induced by the vibratory hammer assembly are transferred from the gripping member 100 to the pile shaft 10, as a result of which the pile shaft 10 and the pile tip 30 will provide pressure onto the soil so as to displace the soil and to be lowered underground.

[0094] The state shown in FIG. 3 prior to any driving of the vibratory hammer assembly may be called a pre-installation state.

[0095] In a first stroke the pile shaft is driven into the soil. The result of this stroke can be seen in FIG. 4, where the pile shaft 10, and the pile tip 30 mounted thereto, have been driven into the ground. Yet, the pile sleeve 20 is still positioned above ground.

[0096] In FIG. 4 in a second driving state, the pile shaft 10 and the pile sleeve 20 are to be driven together into soil 6 in a second stroke by means of the vibratory hammer assembly. To effect this second stroke the gripping member 100 grips the sleeve 20 with one or more grippers. This can be done in the current embodiment, as the pile shaft has been driven into the ground until the top end of the pile shaft 10 is near to or aligned with the top end of the sleeve 20.

[0097] As the pile shaft 10 and sleeve 20 are driven together, theyat least temporarilyform a unit due to the mutual gripping of the shaft 10 and sleeve 20 by the gripping member 100. That is, the sleeve 20 and shaft 10 are coupled due to the mutual gripping. The sleeve 20 has been gripped by gripping member 100 in addition to retaining the grip on to pile shaft 10. The result of the second stroke can be seen in FIG. 5, where the pile shaft 10 and pile sleeve 20 are both positioned underground after having been driven into the soil as a unit.

[0098] Gripping of the pile shaft 20 can be done using dedicated pile shaft grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly and/or gripping of the pile sleeve can be done using dedicated pile sleeve grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly. Such dedicated grippers can be seen in FIGS. 10-11.

[0099] In FIGS. 6A-6B the installed state of the pile assemblies 1 and 101 is shown. Here, the pile shaft 10 has been fixed to the pile sleeve 20 by a top plate 50 such that they form a unit. The difference between the pile assemblies 1 and 101 being that assembly 101 has a pile tip 130 with tip fins 131 that are smaller than the tip fins 31 of assembly 1. The tip fins 131 may e.g. more suited to soil layers of a stronger structure and/or for a structure for which smaller moments and/or loads are to be borne. Whereas the tip fins 31 may be more suited to soil layers of a weaker structure and/or for a structure for which larger moments and/or loads are to be borne. This underlines the independent exchangeability of the pile tips 30, 130. A similar principle may apply to the pile sleeve 20 with its sleeve fins 21 and/or the pile shaft 10.

[0100] To construct, or assemble, a pile assembly such as pile assemblies 1 or 101 a range may be provided for at least one of the pile shaft, pile tip and pile sleeve. Then, for certain soil conditions at an installation site for the pile assembly and/or design requirements for the pile assembly in those soil conditions the appropriate pile shaft, pile tip and/or pile sleeve may be selected. That is, these components can be selected such that the pile assembly is appropriate for use in the installation site and for carrying the loads of the structure to be mounted thereupon.

[0101] In FIG. 8 is schematically shown in perspective a pile tip 230 for a pile assembly according to the invention. The pile tip 230 comprises a tip shaft 234 which is adapted to be mounted to a pile shaft. The tip shaft 234 being mounted on a ring 235.

[0102] The pile tip 230 is shown to have radial tip fins 231, 232, 233 for which the fins 232 and 321 can be seen to be formed as a diametrically opposed pair of fins. The fin 233 may also be one of a pair of fins, e.g. a diametrically opposed pair. Then, the fins of pile tip 230 are uniformly distributed along the circumference thereof.

[0103] The fins at a top end 235, 236 of the pile 230 extend along the tip shaft 234. At a lower end 237 of the pile tip 230 the fins 231, 232, 233 form a pointed end.

[0104] In FIG. 9A is schematically shown a detail of the pile assembly 1 of FIGS. 3-5. The pile shaft 10 of the assembly 1 is coaxially arranged in the pile sleeve 20 and has a pile tip 30 mounted thereto. The detail of FIG. 9A shows that the pile shaft 10 is arranged coaxially in a guiding mechanism 150. This guiding mechanism is shown in perspective in FIG. 9B.

[0105] FIG. 9B schematically shows in perspective the guiding mechanism 150 of FIG. 9A. The guiding mechanism 150 is embodied as a ring 151 having ribs 152, which ring is mounted on an inner side of the pile sleeve 20. The ring may be provided with a friction preventive measure. An example of such a measure is shown in FIG. 9C. There a ring 180 of low friction material, e.g. of Teflon, is shown which can be mounted in the ring 150. This ring 180 is also used in the assembly of FIG. 9A. There it can be seen that the lower end 181 of ring 180 protrudes out of the guiding mechanism 150.

[0106] In FIG. 10 is schematically shown in perspective a gripping member 200 for a vibratory hammer assembly in the first driving state. That is, the gripping member has gripped the pile shaft 310. It can be seen that pile shaft 310 is provided with a dedicated connection element 330 adapted to be engaged by the vibratory hammer assembly used for driving the pile assembly, i.e. in this case by means of the gripping member 200.

[0107] The gripping member 200 is embodied as comprising a main body 220 having dedicated pile shaft grippers 250 and dedicated pile sleeve grippers 270. In FIG. 10 these pile shaft grippers 250 and the pile sleeve grippers 270 are hooks that are pivotably arranged in or on said main body 220. The pile shaft grippers 250 of FIG. 10 pivot so as to hook their lower end 251 over protruding edge of the dedicated connection element 330. An example of an embodiment of the hooks 250, 270 can be seen in more detail in FIG. 12B. Provisions 255, 275 for arranging the hooks in the main body 220 can be seen in FIG. 12A.

[0108] In FIG. 11 is schematically shown in perspective the gripping member 200 for a vibratory hammer assembly in the first driving state. That is, the pile shaft 310 and the pile sleeve 320 are both driven into soil by means of the vibratory hammer assembly. In FIG. 11 the pile sleeve 320 is provided with a dedicated connection element 350 adapted to be engaged by the gripping member 200 of the vibratory hammer assembly used for driving the pile assembly. The pile sleeve grippers 270 have now pivoted with respect to their position of FIG. 10 so as to hook their lower end 271 over a protruding edge of the dedicated connection element 350 of the pile sleeve 320. In the state shown in FIG. 11 the connection element 330 of the pile shaft and the connection element 350 of the sleeve 320 form a mutual connection element engageable by the vibratory hammer assembly. Then, the pile sleeve 320 and pile shaft 310 can be driven into the soil as a unit.

[0109] In FIG. 13 is schematically shown in perspective a structure 400 mounted on a pile assembly 500 according to the invention. A pile shaft (not shown) arranged in the pile sleeve 520 is coupled therewith via fastening 550. A mounting member 450 of the structure 400 is fixed to a mounting member 525 of the pile assembly 500 by means of fasteners 600.

Clauses

[0110] 1. Pile assembly to be vibratorily driven into soil for a foundation, the pile assembly comprising: [0111] a pile shaft, [0112] a pile tip mountable to a bottom end of the pile shaft, the pile tip having at least one pair of radial tip fins, the tip fins being arranged along a length of the pile tip, [0113] a mounting member provided on a top end of the pile shaft and/or the pile sleeve, [0114] a pile sleeve adapted to be arranged coaxially with the pile shaft, wherein the pile shaft extends through the pile sleeve, such that the pile sleeve and pile shaft are axially movable with respect to each other, the pile sleeve being adapted to be coupled with the pile shaft in an installed state of the pile assembly, wherein the pile assembly has been driven into the soil to a predetermined depth, wherein the sleeve has at least a pair of radial sleeve fins, the sleeve fins being predominantly extending along a length of the sleeve, [0115] wherein at least the pile shaft, the pile tip and the pile sleeve are independently exchangeable.

[0116] 2. Pile assembly according to clause 1, wherein the sleeve fin at the trailing edge thereof branches off into two edges, both edges extending in oppositeat least partiallycircumferential directions so as to define a Y-shaped cross-section.

[0117] 3. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sleeve fins have a slanting leading edge extending under an angle ? with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

[0118] 4. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sleeve fins have a slanting trailing edge extending under an angle ? with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

[0119] 5. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sleeve fins are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the sleeve.

[0120] 6. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sleeve fins extend in diametrically opposite radial directions.

[0121] 7. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the pile sleeve has multiple pairs, preferably two pairs, of radial sleeve fins, wherein the fins of each of the pairs extend in diametrically opposite radial directions.

[0122] 8. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the tip fins have a slanting leading edge.

[0123] 9. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the tip fins are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the tip.

[0124] 10. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the tip fins extend in diametrically opposite radial directions.

[0125] 11. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the pile tip has multiple pairs, preferably two pairs, of radial tip fins wherein the fins of each of the pairs extend in diametrically opposite radial directions.

[0126] 12. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the assembly comprises at least one guiding element for centring the pile shaft within the sleeve.

[0127] 13. Pile assembly according to clause 12, wherein the guiding element comprises a ring mounted to an inner side of the sleeve.

[0128] 14. Pile assembly according to clause 12 or 13, wherein the guiding element is provided with a friction preventive measure.

[0129] 15. Pile assembly according to any of the clauses 12-14, wherein the guiding element comprises two axially spaced rings.

[0130] 16. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the pile shaft is provided with a dedicated connection element adapted to be engaged by a vibratory device used for driving the pile assembly.

[0131] 17. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the pile sleeve is provided with a dedicated connection element adapted to be engaged by a vibratory device used for driving the pile assembly.

[0132] 18. Pile assembly according to clause 16 and 17, wherein in a driving state, wherein the pile shaft and the pile sleeve are both driven into soil by means of a vibratory device, the connection element of the pile shaft and the connection element of the sleeve form a mutual connection element engageable by the vibratory device.

[0133] 19. Pile assembly according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein: [0134] the pile shaft and pile sleeve are axially movable with respect to each other in a pre-installation state wherein the pile shaft is arranged coaxially in the pile sleeve and positioned such that the tip member engages the ground surface, [0135] the pile shaft and pile sleeve are axially movable with respect to each other in in a first driving state wherein the pile shaft is being driven into the soil by means of a vibratory device and the pile shaft is arranged coaxially in the pile sleeve, [0136] the pile shaft and the pile sleeve are coupled in a second driving state, wherein the pile shaft and the pile sleeve are driven together into soil by means of a vibratory device, [0137] the pile shaft is fixed to the pile sleeve, such that they form a unit, in an installed state wherein the pile assembly has been driven into the soil to a predetermined depth.

[0138] 20. Gripping member for a vibratory hammer assembly for driving a pile assembly according to any of the clauses 1-19, the gripping member comprising a main body having dedicated pile shaft grippers and dedicated pile sleeve grippers.

[0139] 21. Gripping member according to clause 20, wherein the pile shaft grippers and/or the pile sleeve grippers are hooks that are pivotably arranged in or on said main body.

[0140] 22. Method for driving a pile assembly according to any of clauses 1-19 into the ground, wherein the method comprises the steps of: [0141] arranging the pile shaft coaxially in the pile sleeve, [0142] positioning the pile shaft such that the tip member engages the ground surface, [0143] gripping the pile shaft with one or more grippers of a vibratory hammer assembly to drive the pile shaft into the soil in a first stroke, [0144] gripping the sleeve with one or more grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly to drive the sleeve and the shaft together into the soil in a second stroke, [0145] fixing the pile shaft to the pile sleeve such that they form a unit.

[0146] 23. Method according to clause 22, wherein the method comprises the steps of: [0147] gripping the pile shaft with grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly to drive the pile shaft into the soil until the top end of the pile shaft is near to or aligned with a top end of the sleeve, [0148] gripping the sleeve with the vibratory hammer assembly in addition to the gripping of the pile shaft, so as to drive the pile shaft and the sleeve into the soil as a unit.

[0149] 24. Method according to clause 22 or 23, wherein gripping of the pile shaft is done using dedicated pile shaft grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly and/or wherein gripping of the pile sleeve is done using dedicated pile sleeve grippers of the vibratory hammer assembly.

[0150] 25. Method according to any of the clauses 22-24, the method comprising the steps of: [0151] providing a range for at least one of the pile shaft, pile tip and pile sleeve, [0152] determining soil conditions at an installation site for the pile assembly, [0153] selecting from at least one of the provided ranges the respective pile shaft, pile tip and/or pile sleeve that match the soil conditions, [0154] constructing the pile assembly with the selected pile shaft, pile tip and/or pile.