GB2115467A - Jointing apparatus for joining together two piles in end-to-end relationship - Google Patents

Abstract

A jointing apparatus for joining together two concrete piles in end-to- end relationship comprises a male jointing part 11 and a female jointing part 12 each consisting of a rectangular structure formed by plates 13, 20 which are provided with holes 15, 22 which open to an end of the respective structure, each structure also having transverse base plates 17, 18, 23, 24 with the plates 17, 18 being provided with a pin 19 and the plates 23, 24 with a hole 25 in which the pin 19 is received when the jointing part 11 which is fixed to the end of one pile is placed on the jointing part 12 which is fixed to the end of another pile, the jointing parts 11 and 12 being held together when in position by interconnecting members 16 which engage in vertically aligned holes 15, 22 and are then welded to the plates 13, 20 of the jointing parts 11, 12. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Jointing apparatus for joining together two piles in end to end relationship This invention relates to a jointing apparatus for use in connecting together in end-to-end relationship two concrete piles used in the construction of foundations for structures such as buildings.

The foundations used in the construction of high-rise buildings usually include pre-cast concrete piles which are driven into the ground so that all loads and forces are transferred to a better sub-soil layer far beneath the ground surface. The length of the piling is determined by the depth of the sub-soil layer to be penetrated by the piles to achieve sufficient friction and end bearing to be able to withstand the loading applied to the foundations which is pre-calculated.

The length of an individual pile, which may be of square, hexagonal, octagonal or round crosssection, is usually not greater than 20 meters and if the soil conditions are such that piles greater than 20 meters in length are required then it is necessary to connect two or more piles together during the piling stage.

A jointing apparatus for connecting two piles together must be able to resist all forces applied in all directions and must be as strong as the pile itself. Such a jointing apparatus must be able to transfer forces and stresses to the pile during driving of the piles into the ground so that there will be no discontinuation of the driving force or loss of energy at the joint.

According to the present invention there is provided a jointing apparatus for connecting together two concrete piles in end-to-end relationship, comprising a male jointing part which can be fixed to an end of one pile and a female jointing part which can be fixed to an end of another pile, each jointing part comprising a rectangular structure whose side walls are each provided with a hole which is open to one end of the structure, and a transverse base plate secured to the side walls, and interconnecting members which in use can be engaged with said holes in said jointing parts when they are vertically aligned and be secured to said side walls.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the male and female parts and a wedge member of a jointing apparatus according to the present invention separated from one another, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the male and female parts interconnected by wedge members, Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 indicated in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a side elevation of a male part and the wedge members, Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 indicated on Figure 4, Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 indicated on Figure 4, Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 indicated on Figure 4, Figure 8 is a side elevation of a first pile provided with a female part of the jointing apparatus being driven into the ground by a pile driver, and Figure 9 is a side elevation similar to that of Figure 8 showing a second pile connected to the first pile and ready to be driven into the ground by the pile driver.

The jointing apparatus is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a male jointing part 11 and a female jointing part 12.

The male jointing part 11 consists of a rectangular box-like structure formed by four steel plates 1 3 which are joined together at the corners by means of electrical welding 14. Each plate 1 3 is provided with two holes 1 5 each of which extend to the bottom edge of its respective plate 13 and are suitably shaped to receive half of a wedge member 1 6 which, as described later, is used for interconnecting the male and female parts 11 and 1 2. Located within the box-like structure formed by the plates 1 3 are steel base plates 1 7 and 1 8 which are welded together around the periphery of the plate 18.Secured to the centre of the base plates 1 7 and 1 8 is a pin 19 which is received in a hole in the plate 1 8. The pin 1 9 is welded to the plates 1 7 and 1 8. The plate 1 7 is joined to the plates 1 3 by electrical welding.

The female jointing part 12 consists of a rectangular box-like structure formed by four steel plates 20 which are joined together at the corners by means of electrical welding 21. Each plate 20 is provided with two holes 22 each of which extend to the upper edge of its respective plate 20 and are suitably shaped to receive half of a wedge member 1 6. Located within the box-like structure formed by the plates 20 are steel base plates 23 and 24 which are welded together around the periphery of the plate 24. The plates 23, 24 are provided at their centre with a hole 25 which is formed by a short length of tube or pipe welded to the plates 23, 24 with the lower end of the tube or pipe closed. The plate 23 is joined to the plates 20 by electric welding.

Each wedge member 1 6 is formed by a steel plate having each end portion wedge shaped as shown in the drawings and dimensioned such that it can be received in a pair of vertically aligned holes 1 5 and 22 when the male and female jointing parts 11 and 12 are brought together one on top of the other. The ends and side edges of the wedge member 1 6 are bevelled so that when positioned in the holes 1 5 and 22 there is formed a space 26 which is filled with weld material.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the male and female jointing parts 11 and 12 are each provided with an anchoring structure 27 for anchoring the part to the concrete pile. The anchoring structure 27 is electrically welded to the respective base plate 1 7, 23 and to the respective plates 13 and 20 and to the plates 13 and 20 at the corners and middle of the structure of the male and female jointing parts.

Secured to the inner sides of the plates 13 and 20 by electric welding are shroud-plates 28 formed by steel plates. The number of plates 28 is the same as the number of holes 1 5 and 22 and each plate 28 extends across a respective hole 15,22.

The female jointing part 12 is secured in the concrete of the first pile 29 at the upper end thereof and as shown in Figure 8 the first pile 29 is driven into the ground by a pile driver 30 provided on the boom 31 of a crane 32. The male jointing part 11 is secured in the concrete of a second pile 33 at the lower end thereof. The first pile 29 is driven into the ground until the head of the pile 29 is approximately 1 metre above ground level. The second pile 33 is then lowered onto the first pile 29 so that the male jointing part 11 seats on the female jointing part 1 2 with the pin 1 9 engaged in the hole 25 and the plates 18 and 24 in contact with each other. The wedge members 1 6 are then engaged in the respective holes 1 5, 20 and welded to the plates 13, 20. Thereafter the pile driving is continued.

It will be appreciated that the structures formed by the plates 13, 20 can be square, hexagonal or octagonal in transverse cross-section.

Claims (9)

1. A jointing apparatus for connecting together two concrete piles in end-to-end relationship, comprising a male jointing part which can be fixed to an end of one pile and a female jointing part which can be fixed to an end of another pile, each jointing part comprising a rectangular structure whose side walls are each provided with a hole which is open to one end of the structure, and a transverse base plate secured to the side walls, and interconnecting members which in use can be engaged with said holes in said jointing parts when they are vertically aligned and be secured to said side walls.

2. A jointing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each interconnecting member comprises a plate which is substantially H-shaped in plan view.

3. A jointing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the side edges of the interconnecting members are bevelled so that when engaged in said holes spaces are formed for receiving welding material which secures the interconnecting members in position.

4. A jointing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the transverse base plate of the male jointing part is provided with a protruding pin and the base plate of the female jointing part is provided with a hole for receiving said pin.

5. A jointing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the side walls are provided on their inner side with plates, each plate extending across a said hole.

6. A jointing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each jointing part is provided with means for anchoring said part to a pile.

7. A jointing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said rectangular structure is square, hexagonal or octagonal.

8. A jointing apparatus for connecting together two concrete piles in end-to-end relationship, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. Two concrete piles when joined together in end-to-end relationship by a jointing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.