Pile with positive stop

A pile comprising:

• a first end;
• a cylindrical second end;
• a cylindrical, elongate body extending from the first end toward the cylindrical second end and defining an internal cavity with a longitudinal axis, the elongate body having a primary outer diameter and a primary inner diameter along at least 50% of a length of the elongate body,
• an internal seating shoulder disposed on an inner surface of the pile, the internal seating shoulder including a cylindrical wall portion;
• and
• a transition region disposed between the elongate body and the cylindrical second end, an outer diameter of the pile increasing from the primary outer diameter to a secondary outer diameter within the transition region, the pile having the primary outer diameter on a side of the transition region proximate the first end, and the pile having the secondary outer diameter on a side of the transition region proximate the cylindrical second end, the secondary outer diameter being greater than the primary outer diameter,
• wherein the cylindrical second end has a secondary inner diameter and the cylindrical wall portion has a tertiary inner diameter, the tertiary inner diameter is positioned between the primary inner diameter and the secondary inner diameter,
• wherein the tertiary inner diameter is smaller than the primary inner diameter and the secondary inner diameter,
• wherein the cylindrical wall portion is parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the transition region is configured such that an outer surface of the pile comprises a smooth, continuous S-curve within the transition region,
• wherein an inner diameter of the pile decreases when transitioning from the elongate body to the transition region from the primary inner diameter to the tertiary inner diameter and increases within the transition region from the tertiary inner diameter to the secondary inner diameter, and
• wherein the internal seating shoulder is configured to receive the first end of a second pile.

A pile system for supporting structures on top of a ground surface, the pile system being configured to extend into the ground to support the structures, the pile system comprising at least two piles being configured to couple to each other, the at least two piles each comprising:

• a first end;
• a second end;
• a cylindrical, elongate body extending from the first end toward the second end and defining an internal cavity with a longitudinal axis, the elongate body having a primary outer diameter and a primary inner diameter, the first end having a first end outer diameter and a first end inner diameter that is equal to the primary outer diameter and the primary inner diameter, respectively;
• and
• a transition region disposed between the elongate body and the second end, an outer diameter of the pile increasing from the primary outer diameter to a secondary outer diameter in the transition region, the pile having the primary outer diameter on a side of the transition region proximate the first end, and the pile having the secondary outer diameter on a side of the transition region proximate the second end, the secondary outer diameter being greater than the primary outer diameter,
• wherein the transition region comprises an internal seating shoulder, the internal seating shoulder including a cylindrical wall portion, the cylindrical wall portion including a cylindrical wall surface;
• wherein the transition region is configured such that an outer surface of the pile comprises a smooth, continuous S-curve within the transition region,
• wherein the outer surface of the transition region includes a convex curve and a concave curve that connect the second end and the elongate body,
• wherein the convex curve and the concave curve have substantially the same radius of curvature,
• wherein the second end includes an inner surface, the inner surface having a secondary inner diameter and the cylindrical wall surface having a tertiary inner diameter, the tertiary inner diameter being smaller than and positioned between the primary inner diameter and the secondary inner diameter,
• wherein the inner surface of the second end and the cylindrical wall surface of the cylindrical wall portion are parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein an inner diameter of the pile decreases when transitioning from the elongate body to the transition region from the primary inner diameter to the tertiary inner diameter and increases within the transition region from the tertiary inner diameter to the secondary inner diameter, and
• wherein the second end of a first pile of the at least two piles is configured to receive the first end of a second pile of the at least two piles.