Patent Application
20230250606
N/A
Various embodiments relate generally to piling installation systems, methods, devices and computer programs and, more specifically, relate to piling drivers using pressurized water jets.
This section is intended to provide a background or context. The description may include concepts that may be pursued, but have not necessarily been previously conceived or pursued. Unless indicated otherwise, what is described in this section is not deemed prior art to the description and claims and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Pilings are used in various situations such as docks and housing. Typically, the pilings are inserted into an existing hole or driven into the ground. The devices used to create the holes or drive the piling into the ground are expensive and complicated to operate. These prior instillation methods were designed to work with wooden posts and may include a hose or tube down the length of the piling.
A high-pressure pump 720 is connected by hose 730 to piling hose 742 via a connection 740. The piling hose 742 extends down the length of the piling 710. Multiple piling straps 744 are used to secure the piling hose 742 to the side of the piling 710. Again, additional work must be used to place the straps 744 and then to remove them once the piling 710 is installed.
The piling hose 742 ends in a high pressure nozzle 746. Water forced from the pump 720 through the piling hose 742 exits the nozzle 746 as water jet 752. If the nozzle 746 is placed too high the water jet 752 can become too diffused and additional pressure must be used. If the nozzle 746 is placed too low, it can contact objects in the water and become clogged or damaged. Additionally, as the water jet 752 is located along the side of the piling 710 it can be difficult to properly lineup the piling in the hole created.
Alternatively, multiple installers may be used, each holding 2 to 3 separate water jetting tubes and fighting the piling into the ground. This creates an uneven hole in the ground and increase the chance of harm to the workers.
New pilings include composite/polymer marine pilings which are hollow. Unlike wood pilings, hollow polymer pilings are less rigid and therefore more difficult and time-intensive to set and keep straight when using traditional water jet systems to drive the pilings into the ground.
What is needed is an easy to use system to install hollow pilings.
The below summary is merely representative and non-limiting.
The above problems are overcome, and other advantages may be realized, by the use of the embodiments.
In a first aspect, an embodiment provides a hydro cap head. The hydro cap head includes a securing structure configured to attach the hydro cap head to a piling having an internal cavity. A spout opening is configured to receive pressurized water and a spout extent is configured to direct the pressurized water through the hydro cap head and into the internal cavity of the piling. The hydro cap head also includes a hoist structure configured to support a combined weight of the hydro cap head and the piling.
In another aspect, an embodiment provides a piling installation system. The piling installation system includes a hydro cap head, a water pump and a water hose. The hydro cap head includes a securing structure configured to attach the hydro cap head to a piling having an internal cavity. A spout opening is configured to receive pressurized water and a spout extent is configured to direct the pressurized water through the hydro cap head and into the internal cavity of the piling. The hydro cap head also includes a hoist structure configured to support a combined weight of the hydro cap head and the piling.
Aspects of the described embodiments are more evident in the following description, when read in conjunction with the attached Figures.
Various embodiments provide a hydro cap tool used in driving composite/polymer marine pilings, such as for boat docks and homes, into the ground using a water jet. The tool goes over the top of polymer pilings, seals them off, and forces high pressure water down the middle of the pilings to drive them into the ground. This makes the pilings more rigid while driving them into the ground and reduces the pump pressure used. Further advantages include reducing manpower and speeding up the process which also reduces the cost of installation.
The crane attachment section 110 features a hoist 112 connected to the cage top 114. The hoist 112 has an eyelet 116 which can be used to secure the hydro cap head 100 to a crane (as shown in
The spout head section 120 includes a spout opening 122 which can be attached to a pressurized water source. The spout opening 122 allows water to be forced down into the spout extent 124 and into a hollow piling. A rubber seal 126 seals the bottom of the spout head section 120.
The hydro cap head 100 can therefore be used for water jetting hollow pilings into various types of soil. By pumping pressurized water pressure through the piling, the piling is made more rigid during installation and the water leaving the bottom of the piling can be used to force soil away in order to create a hole for the piling. This process allows precise accuracy and is less labor intensive than the standard manual jet pipes.
The cage top 114 is connected to the cage frame 128 and provide support for the weight of the hydro cap head 100 and the weight of a connected piling to be lifted. As shown, a plurality of fins make up the cage frame 128. In an alternative embodiment, a solid wall can be used which adequately supports combined weight and provides access to the spout (e.g., walls may be present on two sides, etc.).
The piling cover section 130 provides a lower frame 136 which includes one or more side opening 132, each with a side hole 134. The piling cover section 130 is configured to be seated on top of a piling and seal the internal cavity of the piling. This piling cover section 130 serves as a securing structure to attach the hydro cap head 100 to a piling.
The holes 134 may be used to attach lag screws that are screwed into the composite piling, such as at a 45 degree angle as shown. The lag screws allow the piling to be secured the hydro cap head 100. This allows the hydro cap head 100 and piling to be lifted and placed at precise angle.
The rubber seal 126 surrounds the spout extent 124 are creates a water tight seal. The rubber seal 126 also creates a seal around the top of the piling (as shown in
As discussed above, the piling 400 may be secured by screws or other fasteners through the side hole 134 of side opening 132. The side hole 134 maybe be positioned so that if screws are used the resulting holes in the piling 400 are covered by caps or other structures once the piling 400 has been installed.
In alternative embodiments, the lower frame 136 may include other fastening features, such as gripping structures.
Additionally, the lower frame 136 may also include seals around the inner circumference of the lower frame 136 which seal against the outer surface 410. This seal may be in addition to the seal against the top of piling 400 or as an option when working with piling 400 without smoothed tops. Furthermore, the hydro cap head 100 may be configured in different sizes for different sized pilings (e.g., 8, 10, 12, and 16 inch).
A pump attachment 620 is connected to the spout opening 122 which secures a hose 630 from pump 640. Pump 640 may be used to force water through the hose 630 in to the spout opening 122 which directs the flow down through the spout extent 124 and into the piling internal opening 420 as internal water jet 650. The internal water jet 650 helps provide rigidity to the piling 400 and when it exits the piling 400 as external water flow 652 the water can serve to remove material beneath the piling so as to create a hole for the piling.
When using the hydro cap, the sand displacement under the piling stays completely removed which allows the piling to move precisely to the desired position.
The hydro cap piling driver system 600 forces a single stream of water through the center of the polymer piling which gives it a consistent flow of water, external water flow 652, which discharges evenly around the bottom of the piling 400. With the even discharge flow around the bottom removing soil materials, the piling can be installed quickly and evenly into the ground.
The hydro cap reduces the manpower used for installation which in turn increases overall profits. The hydro cap does the installation work faster and more efficiently than the standard hand held jet pipes. The hydro cap is also safer because it allows a crane to control the piling rather than requiring people to control it thereby reducing risk of injury and inaccuracies with the project.
An example embodiment includes a hydro cap head for installing pilings. The hydro cap head has a securing structure which attaches the hydro cap head to a piling with an internal cavity. A spout opening receives pressurized water and a spout extent directs the pressurized water through the hydro cap head and into the internal cavity of the piling. A hoist structure can support the combined weight of the hydro cap head and the piling.
In a further embodiment, the securing structure includes a circular collar configured to surround the piling when attached. The circular collar may include two or more side openings, each side opening defining a side hole. The side holes may be angled at 45° from an outer surface of the piling.
In another embodiment, the securing structure includes a seal to seal the internal cavity of the piling.
In a further embodiment, the hoist structure defines an eyelet opening.
The foregoing description has been directed to particular embodiments. However, other variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments, with the attainment of some or all of their advantages. Modifications to the above-described systems and methods may be made without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed as limited by the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, various features of the described embodiments may be used without the corresponding use of other features. Thus, this description should be read as merely illustrative of various principles, and not in limitation of the invention.
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