Bio-inspired deep foundation pile and anchorage system
AssigneeArrowhead Center, Inc.
InventorsSeyedali Aleali, Paola Bandini, Craig M. Newtson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expanding anchor and/or pile system wherein an outer shell of the pile/anchor is split lengthwise into at least two pieces and can be placed or driven into a hole in the earth in a retracted state and can subsequently be expanded such that the two or more pieces are forced outwardly—away from one another, thus causing them to exert a lateral force against the sides of the hole and thereby resulting in greater axial load carrying capacity in tension or compression of the anchor/pile.
Claims24
An earth anchor/pile system comprising:
- a multiple-part shell formed from a plurality of elongated members;
- at least two tensioning members, each of said at least two tensioning members coupled to a respective one part of said multiple-part shell, said at least two tensioning members configured to extend above a top slab;
- said plurality of elongated members configured to move away from one another to provide an expanded configuration of said earth anchor/pile system;
- said plurality of elongated members configured to move toward one another to provide a contracted configuration of said earth anchor/pile system;
- and
- said earth anchor/pile system securable in said expanded configuration.
An earth anchor/pile system comprising:
- a multiple-part shell formed from a plurality of elongated members;
- said plurality of elongated members configured to move away from one another to provide an expanded configuration of said earth anchor/pile system;
- said plurality of elongated members configured to move toward one another to provide a contracted configuration of said earth anchor/pile system;
- a core disposed within at least a lower portion of said multi-part shell;
- a filler material disposed within at least an upper portion of said multi-part shell;
- a top slab disposed above said multi-part shell;
- a plurality of tension members extending above said top slab and connected to one or more of said plurality of elongated members;
- and
- said earth anchor/pile system securable in said expanded configuration.
An earth anchor/pile system comprising:
- a multiple-part shell formed from a plurality of elongated members;
- said plurality of elongated members configured to move away from one another to provide an expanded configuration of said earth anchor/pile system;
- said plurality of elongated members configured to move toward one another to provide a contracted configuration of said earth anchor/pile system;
- a core disposed within at least a lower portion of said multi-part shell;
- a filler material disposed within at least an upper portion of said multi-part shell;
- a top slab disposed above said multi-part shell, wherein forcing said top slab closer to a bottom end portion of said plurality of elongated members causes said plurality of elongated members to move away from one another, thus expanding said earth anchor/pile system;
- and
- said earth anchor/pile system securable in said expanded configuration.
An earth anchor/pile system comprising:
- a multiple-part shell formed from a plurality of elongated members;
- said plurality of elongated members configured to move away from one another to provide an expanded configuration of said earth anchor/pile system;
- said plurality of elongated members comprising one or more openings through which one or more elongated holding members project;
- said plurality of elongated members configured to move toward one another to provide a contracted configuration of said earth anchor/pile system;
- and
- said earth anchor/pile system securable in said expanded configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.