Soil-displacement drill, method for converting a soil-displacement drill and method for forming a foundation pile

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a soil-displacement drill for soil-displacing drilling in a surface in order to form a foundation pile, comprising a drill pipe, a drill head at an end of the drill pipe with several flap leaves which are pivotable between a closed position for closing off the end of the drill pipe and an open position for making this end freely accessible, and one or several closing elements to keep these flap leaves in their closed position and prevent pivoting of the flap leaves which are configured to fail during drilling into the surface in such a way that these closing elements do not impede pivoting of the flap leaves. Additionally, disclosed herein is an assembly of a drill head and one or several closing elements for such a soil-displacement drill, a method for soil-displacing drilling, and a method for converting a soil-displacement drill to form such a soil-displacement drill.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising: a drill head; and one or several closing elements, wherein the drill head comprises a plurality of flap leaves which are arranged so as to be able to pivot between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the one or several closing elements are attachable to the outside of at least two of the plurality of flap leaves in order to keep the at least two flap leaves in the closed position and to prevent the at least two flap leaves from pivoting and are configured to fail during drilling of the soil-displacement drill into a surface in such a manner that the one or several closing elements do not impede pivoting of the at least two flap leaves, wherein each closing element comprises one or several weakened sections in order to cause the closing element to fail more quickly during drilling, and wherein each closing element comprises one or several recesses to form the one or several weakened sections.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises only one closing element, wherein the one closing element is configured to keep all of the plurality of flap leaves in the closed position, and wherein the one closing element is at least partly annular.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each flap leaf in the plurality of flap leaves comprises a drill tip part, wherein the drill tip parts together form the drill tip in the closed position of the plurality of flap leaves.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each closing element comprises one or several engagement elements in order for the surface to engage thereon while drilling the soil-displacement drill into the surface in order to accelerate the failing of each closing element.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein each closing element comprises an annular base body and in that the one or several said engagement elements are raised with respect to the base body and delimit the one or several recesses.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the soil-displacement drill further comprises a drill tip that is attachable to, or forms part of, the plurality of flap leaves, wherein the drill tip comprises a cylindrical base body, over which the annular part of each closing element is arrangeable in order to attach each closing element to the plurality of flap leaves.

7. A soil-displacement drill comprising: a drill pipe; and an assembly comprising a drill head and one or several closing elements, wherein the drill head comprises a plurality of flap leaves which are arranged so as to be able to pivot between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the one or several closing elements are attachable to the outside of at least two of the plurality of flap leaves in order to keep the at least two flap leaves in the closed position and to prevent the at least two flap leaves from pivoting and are configured to fail during drilling of the soil-displacement drill into a surface in such a manner that the one or several closing elements do not impede pivoting of the at least two flap leaves, and one or several projections which are provided at the end of the drill pipe or on an annular wall section of the drill head, wherein each of the plurality of flap leaves comprises at least one corresponding recess, so that the flap leaves are arranged on the one or several projections in a secured manner in the closed position, and wherein the drill head of the assembly is attached to one end of the drill pipe and the plurality of flap leaves of the drill head are arranged for closing off the end of the drill pipe in the closed position and for at least partly making the end of the drill pipe freely accessible in the open position.

8. The soil-displacement drill of claim 7, wherein each of the one or several closing elements comprises one or several recesses that form one or several weakened sections.

9. The soil-displacement drill of claim 7, wherein each of the one or several closing elements comprises one or several engagement elements in order for the surface to engage thereon while drilling the soil-displacement drill into the surface in order to accelerate the failing of each closing element.

10. The soil-displacement drill of claim 9, wherein each of the one or several closing elements comprises an annular base body, and wherein the one or several engagement elements are raised with respect to the annular base body.

11. The soil-displacement drill of claim 10, further comprising a drill tip that is attachable to, or forms part of, the plurality of flap leaves, away from the end of the drill pipe, wherein the drill tip comprises a cylindrical base body, over which the annular part of each closing element is arrangeable in order to attach the closing element to the plurality of flap leaves.

12. The soil-displacement drill of claim 7, wherein every two mutually adjoining flap leaves are secured on the same projection in the closed position at the location where they adjoin.

13. A method for forming a foundation pile, the method comprising: using a soil-displacement drill comprising a drill pipe and a drill head that is attached to one end of the drill pipe, wherein the drill pipe comprises a plurality of flap leaves that are arranged so as to be pivotable between a closed position for closing off the one end of the drill pipe and an open position for at least partly making the one end of the drill pipe freely accessible, wherein the soil-displacement drill is further provided with one or several closing elements that are attachable to an outside of at least two of the plurality of flap leaves in order to keep the at least two flap leaves in the closed position and to prevent the at least two flap leaves from pivoting, wherein the one or several closing elements are configured to fail during drilling of the soil-displacement drill into a surface in such a way that the one or several closing elements do not impede pivoting of the plurality of flap leaves, and wherein each of the one or several closing elements comprises one or several recesses that form one or several weakened sections.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the one or several closing elements comprises one or several engagement elements in order for the surface to engage thereon while drilling the soil-displacement drill into the surface in order to accelerate the failing of the one or several closing elements.

15. A soil-displacement drill comprising: a drill pipe; and an assembly comprising a drill head and one or several closing elements, wherein the drill head comprises a plurality of flap leaves which are arranged so as to be able to pivot between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the one or several closing elements are attachable to the outside of at least two of the plurality of flap leaves in order to keep the at least two flap leaves in the closed position and to prevent the at least two flap leaves from pivoting and are configured to fail during drilling of the soil-displacement drill into a surface in such a manner that the one or several closing elements do not impede pivoting of the at least two flap leaves, wherein the drill head of the assembly is attached to one end of the drill pipe and the plurality of flap leaves of the drill head are arranged for closing off the end of the drill pipe in the closed position and for at least partly making the end of the drill pipe freely accessible in the open position, and wherein each of the one or several closing elements comprises one or several recesses that form one or several weakened sections.

16. A soil-displacement drill comprising: a drill pipe; an assembly comprising a drill head and one or several closing elements, wherein the drill head comprises a plurality of flap leaves which are arranged so as to be able to pivot between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the one or several closing elements are attachable to the outside of at least two of the plurality of flap leaves in order to keep the at least two flap leaves in the closed position and to prevent the at least two flap leaves from pivoting and are configured to fail during drilling of the soil-displacement drill into a surface in such a manner that the one or several closing elements do not impede pivoting of the at least two flap leaves; and a drill tip that is attachable to, or forms part of, the plurality of flap leaves, away from the end of the drill pipe, wherein the drill head of the assembly is attached to one end of the drill pipe and the plurality of flap leaves of the drill head are arranged for closing off the end of the drill pipe in the closed position and for at least partly making the end of the drill pipe freely accessible in the open position, wherein each of the one or several closing elements comprises one or several engagement elements in order for the surface to engage thereon while drilling the soil-displacement drill into the surface in order to accelerate the failing of each closing element, wherein each of the one or several closing elements comprises an annular base body, and wherein the one or several engagement elements are raised with respect to the annular base body, wherein the drill tip comprises a cylindrical base body, over which the annular part of each closing element is arrangeable in order to attach the closing element to the plurality of flap leaves.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be explained in more detail by means of the following description of a preferred soil-displacement drill. The sole aim of this description is to give purely illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and particulars of embodiments of the disclosure, and can therefore by no means be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.

(2) In this description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

(3) FIG. 1 shows the bottom part of a soil-displacement drill according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure with a part of its drill pipe, its drill head and its closing element in perspective, with the drill head in a closed position;

(4) FIG. 2 shows the part of the soil-displacement drill from FIG. 1 in a front view with the drill head in a closed position;

(5) FIG. 3 shows the bottom part of an alternative soil-displacement drill according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure with a part of its drill pipe, its drill head and its closing element in perspective, with the drill head in a closed position;

(6) FIG. 4 shows the part of the soil-displacement drill from FIG. 3 in a front view, with the drill head in a closed position;

(7) FIG. 5 shows the closing element from FIGS. 3 and 4 separately in perspective;

(8) FIG. 6 shows a bottom part of the soil-displacement drill from FIG. 3 in perspective, with the closing element worn away and the drill head in an open position;

(9) FIG. 7 shows the part of the soil-displacement drill from FIG. 6 in a front view, with the closing element worn away and the drill head in an open position;

(10) FIG. 8 shows a part of the soil-displacement drill from FIG. 3 at the location of the drill head in more detail in perspective, with the drill head in a closed position;

(11) FIG. 9 shows a part of the soil-displacement drill from FIG. 3 at the location of the drill head in more detail in perspective, with the closing element worn away and the drill head in an open position;

(12) FIGS. 10a and 10b diagrammatically show in several steps how a foundation pile can be formed in a surface by means of a soil-displacement drill according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) The illustrated soil-displacement drills (1) comprise a drill pipe (3), a drill head (4) attached thereto and a closing element (6).

(14) In the illustrated embodiments, the drill pipe (3) is substantially cylindrical and is provided with a displacer (11) at the bottom which is formed as a widening of the drill pipe (3). In the illustrated embodiments, at the location of this displacer (11), the drill pipe (3) is provided with a spiral (12) on its outside. Alternatively or additionally, the drill pipe (3) may be provided with one or several external spirals along its entire length. In alternative embodiments, the drill pipe (3) may also be provided without said displacer (11) and/or without spirals.

(15) A cylindrical space (16) extends through the entire drill pipe (3). In specific embodiments, this cylindrical space (16) may be provided with one or several internal spirals.

(16) This drill pipe (3) may, for example, be made of metal.

(17) In the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drill pipe (3) is cut off straight at the bottom end of the drill pipe (3) where the drill head (4) is attached, and has an end face which is virtually perpendicular to the direction of drilling. In the embodiment in FIGS. 3-9, cams (22) project with respect to this end face.

(18) The illustrated drill heads (4) in each case comprise two flap leaves (5). In alternative embodiments, a drill head (4) may also be provided with several flap leaves (5).

(19) The flap leaves (5) are arranged so as to be able to pivot between a closed position, for closing off the bottom end of the drill pipe (3), as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 8, and an open position, for at least partly making this end of the drill pipe (3) freely accessible, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9. To this end, each flap leaf (5) is hingedly attached to the drill pipe (3) by means of a hinge (9).

(20) In the embodiment in FIGS. 1-2, this hinge (9) extends substantially inside a space in the pipe wall (15) of the drill pipe (3) in the closed position of the flap leaf (5). To this end, this pipe wall (15) is made sufficiently wide at the location of the displacer (11) in order to provide these spaces for the hidden hinges (9) which end at the said end of the drill pipe (3).

(21) In the embodiment in FIGS. 3-9, this hinge (9) extends substantially inside a space (24) in the flap leaf (5) in the closed position of the flap leaf (5). To this end, an attachment body (25) is provided at the bottom of the displacer (11) for each flap leaf (5) and is arranged within the width of the pipe wall (15) of the displacer (11) and is bevelled in order to be able to extend substantially inside the space (24) in the flap leaf (5) in the closed position. A hinge pin (26) is arranged through this attachment body (25) and in the flap leaf (5) in order to attach this flap leaf (5) to this attachment body (25) so as to be able to pivot about this hinge pin (26).

(22) In the second embodiment, the flap leaves (5) are also provided with recesses (23) which correspond to the aforementioned cams (22) in such a way that the flap leaves (5), in their closed position, are secured with respect to these cams (22), this at the location where the flap leaves (5) adjoin each other.

(23) The drill head (4) tapers away from the drill pipe (3). In this case, the illustrated flap leaves (5) are of a shell-shaped design and together, in their closed position, form a substantially bit-shaped drill head (4). In this case, these flap leaves (5) preferably extend completely next to each other, without overlapping one another.

(24) In their open position, these flap leaves (5) extend substantially inside the smallest surrounding cylinder of the drill pipe (3).

(25) In the illustrated embodiment, each flap leaf (5) is provided with a drill tip part (8) away from the drill pipe (3). In the closed position of the flap leaves (5), the drill tip parts (8) of both flap leaves (5) together form a drill tip (7). This drill tip (7) comprises a cylindrical base body (20) over which the closing element (6) is arrangeable in a clamping manner, and a conical tip (21).

(26) In the first embodiment, the closing element (6) is of annular design and made from plastic. To this end, this closing element (6) may be rigid or elastic.

(27) In the second embodiment, the closing element (6) comprises an annular base body (17) and four engagement elements (19) which are raised with respect to this base body (17). To this end, this closing element (6) is substantially cylindrical and comprises four virtually triangular incisions (18) which delimit the said engagement elements (19). By means of the annular base body (17), this closing element (6) is clamped around the cylindrical base body (20) of the drill tip (7), as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8. In this case, the engagement elements (19) project downwards, so that the surface (10) engages with these engagement elements (19) when drilling in a surface (10) in order to break and/or crack the annular base body (17) at the location of the incisions (18). To this end, this closing element (6) is preferably made of plastic by means of injection-moulding.

(28) A drill head (4), such as for example an illustrated drill head (4), and a closing element (6), such as for example an illustrated closing element (6), may together also form a said assembly according to the present disclosure by means of which an existing soil-displacement drill can be modified to form a soil-displacement drill (1) according to the present disclosure.

(29) To this end, the existing drill head of this existing soil-displacement drill may be removed and replaced by this new drill head (4). The closing element (6) may be provided on the outside of the flap leaves (5) of this new drill head (4) in order to keep these flap leaves (5) in their closed position.

(30) FIGS. 10a and 10b show how drilling in a surface (10) can take place by means of a soil-displacement drill (1) according to the present disclosure in order to form a foundation pile (2). The drill pipe (3) and the drill head (4), with the flap leaves (5) in their open position, are first lifted up (step A) to a height at which the flap leaves (5) can be closed easily and the closing element (6) can be fitted (step B). Thanks to the closing element (6), the flap leaves (5) in this soil-displacement drill (1) according to the present disclosure are easily held together when using it to drill in the surface (10) (step C). The drill (1) is lowered and drilled into the surface (10) (step D). When the drill head (4) is in the surface (10), the flap leaves (5) automatically remain closed during drilling to a deeper level. If the closing element (6) fails completely, the flap leaves (5) thus remain closed when drilling continues. The surface (10) is displaced laterally until the drill pipe (3) is situated in the surface (10) virtually completely (step E). Then, reinforcement (13) is introduced into the drill pipe (3) (step F) and the drill pipe (3) is filled with filling material (14) (step G), such as for example concrete. The closing element (6) is configured in such a way that this closing element (6), even if it does not fail completely, does not impede the flap leaves (5) from opening again when the soil-displacement drill (1) is drilled out of the soil again. Opening these flap leaves (5) may be effected in a simple manner on account of the filling material (14) and the reinforcement (13) when the soil-displacement drill (1) is lifted up. The drill pipe (3) is pulled out of the surface (10) (step H), with the reinforcement (13) and the filling material (14) remaining behind in the surface (10) to form the foundation pile (2) (step I).