DRIVE POINT FOR A PILE

Abstract

A drive point for a substantially tubular driven pile, wherein the drive point can be fitted onto a pile end of the driven pile, wherein at least one first support limb with a first support surface configured to abut an end face of the pile end of the driven pile is arranged at an inside wall of the drive point, wherein at least one support device with a ground surface is arranged at an outer surface of the drive point, and wherein the ground surface of the at least one support device supports the drive point when on a ground into which the drive point is to be driven in a driving-in direction.

Claims

1. A drive point capable of being fitted onto a pile end of a substantially tubular driven pile, the drive point comprising: at least one first support limb with a first support surface configured to abut an end face of the pile end of the driven pile, the at least one first support limb being arranged at an inside wall of the drive point, and at least one support device with a ground surface, the at least one support device being arranged at an outer surface of the drive point, and the ground surface of the at least one support device supporting the drive point when on a ground into which the drive point is to be driven in a driving-in direction, and a circumferential collar arranged along the outer surface of the drive point, the circumferential collar projecting radially outwards from the outer surface of the drive point.

2. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive point is of a substantially symmetrical external shape, wherein an axis of rotation extends substantially in the driving-in direction.

3. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ground surface of the at least one support device is arranged substantially in parallel to the first support surface of the at least one first support limb.

4. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one support device comprises a plurality of support devices.

5. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one support device is a support rib which projects from the outer surface of the drive point.

6. The drive point as set forth in claim 5, wherein the support rib is one of three support ribs arranged so as to be evenly distributed in a circumferential direction at the outer surface of the drive point.

7. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the drive point is at least sectionwise shaped conically.

8. The drive point as set forth in claim 7, wherein an opening angle of the outer surface of the drive point which is at least sectionwise shaped conically is between 80° and 100°.

9. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one centering device projecting from the first support surface of the at least one first support limb, the at least one centering device being arranged at the first support surface of the at least one first support limb and being configured for centering the pile end of the driven pile on the drive point and/or for positionally stable fixing of a position of the pile end of the driven pile.

10. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one radially inwardly projecting pile-supporting device arranged at the inside wall of the drive point, the at least one radially inwardly projecting pile-supporting device being configured for centering the driven pile on the drive point and/or for positionally stable fixing of a position of the driven pile.

11. The drive point as set forth in claim 10, wherein the at least one radially inwardly projecting pile-supporting device comprises a plurality of radially inwardly projecting pile-supporting ribs.

12. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein, starting from a plane of the first support surface of the at least one first support limb, the drive point has a cavity which extends at least partially in the driving-in direction and into which concrete is capable of being introduced through a pile core of the driven pile when the drive point is fitted onto the pile end of the driven pile, and wherein at least one concrete outlet passage connects the cavity to an upper edge of the drive point.

13. The drive point as set forth in claim 12, wherein the at least one concrete outlet passage defines a bulge in the outer surface of the drive point.

14. The drive point as set forth in claim 12, wherein the at least one concrete outlet passage comprises a plurality of concrete outlet passages.

15. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive point is in one piece.

16. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive point comprises cast iron.

17. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the end face of the pile end of the driven pile is at a circumferential edge of the driven pile and the at least one first support limb is configured to extend from the circumferential edge of the driven pile such that the at least one first support limb is offset from a central axis of the driven pile.

18. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the driven pile is a first driven pile and the drive point is also capable of being fitted onto a pile end of a second driven pile which is substantially tubular, the drive point further comprising: at least one second support limb with a second support surface, the at least one second support limb being arranged at the inside wall of the drive point and being configured to abut an end face of the pile end of the second driven pile, wherein a spacing of the second support surface of the at least one second support limb from an edge of the drive point in the driving-in direction is greater than a spacing of the first support surface of the at least one first support limb from the edge of the drive point in the driving-in direction.

19. (canceled)

20. The drive point as set forth in claim 1, wherein the circumferential collar is arranged along an upper edge of the drive point.

21. An arrangement comprising the drive point according to claim 1 and a cylindrical elongated sleeve, wherein the drive point is arranged inside the cylindrical elongated sleeve, and wherein a circumferential support collar projecting radially inwards is arranged on a sleeve end of the cylindrical elongated sleeve and is configured to abut the circumferential collar of the drive point.

22. The drive point as set forth in claim 4, wherein the plurality of support devices includes three support devices.

23. The drive point as set forth in claim 8, wherein the opening angle of the outer surface of the drive point which is at least sectionwise shaped conically is 90°.

24. The drive point as set forth in claim 14, wherein the plurality of concrete outlet passages includes three concrete outlet passages.

25. The drive point as set forth in claim 16, wherein the drive point consists of cast iron.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further details and advantages of the present invention are described by means of the specific description hereinafter. In the drawings:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a proposed drive point in a perspective top view,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the drive point of FIG. 1 in a bottom view,

[0035] FIG. 3a shows the drive point of FIG. 1 in a top view,

[0036] FIG. 3b shows a cross section taken along section plane B-B through the drive point of FIG. 3a,

[0037] FIG. 4a shows the drive point of FIG. 1 in a top view,

[0038] FIG. 4b shows a cross section taken along section plane C-C through the drive point of FIG. 4a,

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through a proposed drive point along the driving-in direction with a driven pile fitted thereon,

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through an arrangement comprising a proposed drive point and a cylindrical elongated sleeve,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of FIG. 6 in a different operating condition,

[0042] FIG. 8a shows a front view of a cylindrical elongated sleeve, and

[0043] FIG. 8b shows a cross section taken along section plane A-A through the cylindrical elongated sleeve of FIG. 8a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a proposed drive point 1 in a perspective top view. In this example, the drive point 1 is of a one-part structure and comprises ductile cast iron. The external shape of the drive point 1 is substantially rotationally symmetrical in relation to the axis of rotation R (see FIG. 4b). The outer surface 16 of the drive point 1 is at least sectionwise shaped conically, wherein an opening angle of said sectionwise conically shaped outer surface 16 is about 90°.

[0045] In this example, three support devices 14 with a ground surface 15 are arranged at the outer surface 16 of the drive point 1, wherein the ground surfaces 15 of the support devices 14 support the drive point 1 when placed on a ground 24 into which the drive point 1 is to be driven in a driving-in direction E (see FIG. 5). The support devices 14 are in the form of support ribs which project radially outwards from the outer surface 16. The support devices 14 have beveled edges 22. As the support devices 14 are in the form of relatively slim ribs and have beveled edges 22, they do not cause much resistance during the driving in of the driven pile 2 into the ground 24. Therefore, the support devices 14 provide the advantage that the drive point 1 can be stably placed on the ground 24 without hindering the driving in of the driven pile 2 into the ground 24.

[0046] Starting from the plane of the first support surfaces 7 provided in the drive point 1 is a cavity 9 extending in the driving-in direction E. In this example, three concrete outlet passages 10 are provided between the cavity 9 and the upper edge 11 of the drive point 1. That makes it possible for concrete mortar which is introduced through the pile core 3 of the driven pile 2 and which penetrates into the cavity 9 by way of the end face 8 to pass in production of a pile foundation by way of the concrete outlet passages 10 to the outside wall of the driven pile 2, thus permitting the production of a shaft pressure grouting (see FIG. 5).

[0047] In this example, the concrete outlet passages 10 are formed as recesses in the inside wall 5 and they form bulges in the outer surface 16 of the drive point 1.

[0048] Projecting from the inside wall 5 of the drive point 1 in opposite relationship to the driving-in direction E are a plurality of first support limbs 6 which each have a first support surface 7. The first support surfaces 7 of the first support limbs 6 are disposed in this case in one plane and in total form a defined abutment for the end face 8 of a pile end 4 of a fitted-on driven pile 2 (see FIG. 5). That defined abutment provides that the driven pile 2 can be fitted on to the drive point 1 in the driving-in direction E to such an extent until the end face 8 of the driven pile 2 bears against the first support surfaces 7 of the first support limbs 6. The maximum depth of insertion engagement of the driven pile 2 in the driving-in direction E is afforded by the spacing T from the upper edge 11 of the drive point 1 to the plane of the first support surfaces 7 (see FIG. 4b).

[0049] Each concrete outlet passage 10 is arranged between two respective first support limbs 6. In this case, the concrete outlet passages 10 are arranged substantially at equal spacings relative to each other along the inside wall 5 of the drive point 1 in a circumferential direction.

[0050] A plurality of pile-supporting devices 13 in the form of pile-supporting ribs are arranged at the inside wall 5 for centering the driven pile 2 and/or for positionally stable fixing thereof.

[0051] In this example, centering devices 18 projecting from the first support surface 7 are arranged at the first support surfaces 7 configured for centering the pile end 4 of the driven pile 2 and/or for positionally stable fixing thereof (see FIG. 5).

[0052] Besides first support limbs 6 for a first driven pile 2, this embodiment additionally has second support limbs 6′ for a second driven pile of a different outside diameter relative to the driven pile 2. Each second support limb 6′ has a second support surface 7′, wherein the total of the second support surfaces 7′ forms a defined abutment for the end face of the second driven pile. In the driving-in direction E, the spacing T′ of the second support surfaces 7′ from the edge 11 of the drive point 1 is greater than the spacing T of the first support surfaces 7 from the edge 11 of the drive point 1 (see FIG. 4b). It will be appreciated that it will also be possible for both support surfaces 7, 7′ to be in the same plane. In that case, it would only be necessary for the width of a support surface 7, 7′ in the radial direction to be selected to be of such a size that it is suitable for the entire band width of the outside diameters D.sub.P of the driven piles 2 to be employed.

[0053] Centering devices 18′ projecting from the second support surfaces 7′ are arranged at the second support surfaces 7′ and are configured for centering the pile end of a driven pile and/or for positionally stable fixing thereof. Further, radially inwardly projecting pile-supporting devices 13′ in the form of pile-supporting ribs are arranged at the first support limbs 6 for centering the driven pile and/or for positionally stable fixing thereof.

[0054] In this example, a circumferential collar 17 is arranged along the outer surface 16 of the drive point 1, said circumferential collar 17 projecting from said outer surface 16 of the drive point 1 along the upper edge 11 of the drive point 1.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows the drive point 1 of FIG. 1 in a bottom view. As can be seen, in this example three support devices 14 in the form of support ribs are arranged so as to be evenly distributed in a circumferential direction at the outer surface 16 of the driven pile 1. The ground surfaces 15 of the support devices 14 extend linearly and are arranged at angles of 120° to each other. Three concrete outlet passages 10 form bulges in the outer surface 16 of the drive point 1. The three concrete outlet passages 10 are arranged at angles of 120° to each other, and they are offset from the support devices 14 in a circumferential direction.

[0056] FIG. 3a shows the drive point 1 of FIG. 1 in a top view, and FIG. 3b shows a cross section taken along section plane B-B through the drive point 1 of FIG. 3a. The drive point 1 comprises three first support limbs 6, each having a first support surface 7 configured to abut an end face of a pile end of a pile with an outside diameter D.sub.P (see FIG. 5). The drive point 1 further comprises three second support limbs 6′, each having a second support surface 7′ configured to abut an end face of a pile end of a pile with an outside diameter smaller than D.sub.P. The ground surfaces 15 of the support devices 14 define a support plane which is arranged substantially in parallel to the first support surfaces 7 and the second support surfaces 7′.

[0057] In this example, each of the three first support limbs 6 and each of the three second support limbs 6′ is in the form of a segment of a circular ring in a cross section relative to the driving-in direction E, wherein the segments corresponding to the first support limbs 6 have a larger radius than the segments corresponding to the second support limbs 6′. In this case, the circular arc of each segment of the circular ring extends over a respective angular range of about 90° and the three circular arcs are arranged so as to be distributed uniformly along a notional circle.

[0058] FIG. 4a shows the drive point 1 of FIG. 1 in a top view, and FIG. 4b shows a cross section taken along section plane C-C through the drive point 1 of FIG. 4a. The three first support surfaces 7 of the first support limbs 6 are arranged with a spacing T from the edge 11 of the drive point 1 in the driving-in direction E. The three second support surfaces 7′ of the second support limbs 6′ are arranged with a spacing T′ from the edge 11 of the drive point 1 in the driving-in direction E, wherein the spacing T′ of the second support surfaces 7′ is greater than the spacing T of the first support surfaces 7.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through a proposed drive point 1 along the driving-in direction E with a driven pile 2 fitted thereon. The drive point 1 stands stably by itself on a ground 24, supported by the ground surfaces 15 of the support devices 14 projecting radially outwards from the outer surface 16 of the drive point 1.

[0060] At an upper edge 11, the drive point 1 is of an outside diameter D greater than an outside diameter D.sub.P of a fitted-on driven pile 2. In the driving-in direction E, the outside diameter D of the drive point 1 decreases in a frustoconical configuration in the direction of its end, thereby making it easier to drive in a pile foundation with the fitted drive point 1.

[0061] The abutment for the end face 8 of the driven pile 2, which is arranged at the spacing T from the upper edge 11 of the drive point 1 in the driving-in direction E, is formed by a total of three first support surfaces 7 (see FIGS. 4a and 4b). In the mounted position, the drive end 4 of the driven pile 2 rests centered on the support surfaces 7 between the pile-supporting devices 13 which project radially inwardly from the inside wall 5 and the centering devices 18 which project from the first support surfaces 7 in a direction opposite to the driving-in direction E.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through an arrangement comprising a proposed drive point 1 and a cylindrical elongated sleeve 19, and FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of FIG. 6 in a different operating condition. The drive point 1 is arranged inside the cylindrical elongated sleeve 19. A circumferential support collar 20 projecting radially inwards is arranged on a sleeve end 21 of the cylindrical elongated sleeve 19 and is configured to abut the circumferential collar 17 of the drive point 1. FIG. 7 shows the operating condition when the driven pile (not shown) is driven into a ground 24 in the driving-in direction E. As can be seen, the support collar 20 of the cylindrical elongated sleeve 19 abuts the circumferential collar 17 of the drive point 1.

[0063] FIG. 8a shows a front view of a cylindrical elongated sleeve 19, and FIG. 8b shows a cross section taken along section plane A-A through the cylindrical elongated sleeve 19 of FIG. 8a. In this example, the inner sleeve wall 23 is inclined in the direction towards the sleeve end 21 of the cylindrical elongated sleeve 19.