US 5,951,207 A · Installation of a foundation pile in a subsurface soil

Abstract

A method is provided for installing a tubular member in a porous solid medium beneath the surface of a liquid body. The method is initiated by placing the member in a substantially upright position within the liquid body with an open end of the member positioned upon the solid medium and the opposite end of the member extending above the surface of the liquid body. A downward driving force is applied to the member in the direction of the solid medium, advancing the member into the solid medium. As the member is driven downward into the solid medium, a plug of the solid medium forms in the open interior of the member. The length of the plug corresponds to the depth that the member penetrates the solid medium. At the same time, liquids freely migrate into the open interior of the member from the liquid body or the solid medium respectively, via the open end of the member. A sufficient volume of migratory liquids, however, is withdrawn from the interior of the member to lower the level of migratory liquids in the interior substantially below the surface of the liquid body. As the level of migratory liquids in the interior drops below the surface of the liquid body, additional migratory liquids pass upwardly into the interior from the solid medium. The upward flow of migratory liquids within the plug causes a reduction in the effective stress in the plug, correspondingly causing a reduction in resistance from the plug to driving the member into the solid medium and facilitating installation of the member in the solid medium.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for installing an open-ended member in a solid medium beneath the surface of a liquid body comprising:

providing said member having a first end, a second end, and an interior chamber, wherein said first end is open and said interior chamber is in fluid communication with said first end;
positioning said member on said solid medium;
passing a migratory liquid through said first end into said interior chamber;
withdrawing a sufficient volume of said migratory liquid from a portion of said interior chamber to position the level of said migratory liquid in said interior chamber below said surface of said liquid body while maintaining said portion of said interior chamber substantially at atmospheric pressure;
and
driving said member into said solid medium.

3 more elements

A method for installing an open-ended member in a solid medium beneath the surface of a liquid body comprising:

providing said member having a first end, a second end, and an interior chamber, wherein said first end is open and said interior chamber is in fluid communication with said first end;
positioning said first end on said solid medium;
passing a migratory liquid through said first end into said interior chamber;
passing a portion of said solid medium through said first end to form a plug of said solid medium in said interior chamber;
withdrawing a sufficient volume of said migratory liquid from a portion of said interior chamber to position the level of said migratory liquid in said interior chamber below said surface of said liquid body and above the level of said plug while maintaining said portion of said interior chamber substantially at atmospheric pressure;
passing an additional volume of said migratory liquid through said first end and said plug into said interior chamber while withdrawing said sufficient volume of said migratory liquid from said first portion of said interior chamber;
and
driving said first end into said solid medium.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Installation of a foundation pile in a subsurface soil

Life of this patent

Installation of a foundation pile in a subsurface soil

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23