Structure-to-pile interface device

Abstract

A structure-to-pile interface device for securing the foot of a structure to a ground pile. The device 10 has a base plate 12 with several apertures 14 for connecting to a pile, a structure-foot adapter 16 or top plate that is vertically raised by a support element 22 that is connected to the bottom plate 12. The adapter 16 has holes for securely connecting to a structure such as a telecoms tower. The support element comprises strengthening members that couple the base plate to the adapter plate and preferably extend radially outwards. The base plate of the device may be connected to multiple piles or have a non-circular body with radially extending land portions 36 that include the pile connection means.

Description

The present invention relates to a structure-to-pile interface device which is suitable for interfacing between the foot or leg of a structure such as a telecoms tower and a ground pile. Telecoms towers are tall, comparatively lightweight structures which are used to elevate telecoms masts for transmission of signals without interference from natural or urban topography. Since they are tall structures, they need firm anchoring, and the foundations of such structures are traditionally formed by providing ground piles. Often, this will be in the form of large concrete foundations sunk into the ground which the tower can then be fixed to. Similar arrangements are used for other types of structures, such as electricity pylons. Given the need to reduce the carbon footprint on the planet, removing large volumes of concrete is particularly beneficial. Further, in difficult terrain, it may not be possible to install large foundations. This is particularly relevant where structures are to be installed at high elevation, very rocky terrain, or near cliff edges, since the heavy machinery needed to perform the relevant excavation cannot access such areas. There is therefore a desire to produce a more portable means of installing structures in such locations without sacrificing the structural integrity of connection of the structure to the ground. It is an object of the present invention to reduce or substantially obviate the aforementioned problems. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a structure-to-pile interface device for interfacing between a ground pile and one foot of a structure to be supported, the structure-to-pile interface device comprising: a base plate having a plurality of pile connector apertures therein for permitting engagement to one or more ground piles; a structure-foot adapter spaced apart from the base plate in an in-use vertical direction, the structure-foot adapter having a plurality of structure-foot connector apertures for permitting engagement to a foot of a structure to be supported; and a support element interconnecting the base plate and the structure-foot adapter, the support element comprising a plurality of strengthening members coupled to the base plate and the structure-foot adapter. The provision of a lightweight adapter which can be positioned between a structure and a comparatively small ground pile greatly widens the locations in which large structures can be safely installed, whilst also reducing the difficulty and cost of installation compared with the installation of large concrete blocks. Optionally, the support element may comprise a hollow central support member between the base plate and the structure-foot adapter. The hollow central region allows for fixings, typically bolts to be introduced or fastened from underneath the structure-foot adapter, allowing the structure-foot adapter to have a greater footprint and thus provide an improved load distribution. Preferably, the hollow central support member may include an aperture to permit access into a void region thereof. It is preferred that access to the fixings be provided even once the structure-to-pile interface device has been installed on a ground pile, so that the fixings can be tightened in situ. Each of the plurality of structure-foot connector apertures may be positioned radially inwardly of the hollow central support member. The positioning of the apertures allows for selection of the distribution of the load correctly across structure-foot adapter whilst maintaining the ability to access the fixings to secure a structure in place. Each of the plurality of structure-foot connector apertures may be positioned radially outwardly of the support member. Having overhanging apertures exposes them for easy fastening, which may improve the speed of installation of the device. Optionally, the plurality of strengthening members may each extend radially or in parallel to a radius of the structure-to-pile interface device. The strengthening members provide buttressing capability to the central support member, spreading the load across the base plate. A width or diameter of the base plate may exceed a width or diameter of the structurefoot adapter. A more even load distribution is achieved by using a wide base plate, enabling larger and heavier structures to be more easily installed at difficult locations. Preferably, the base plate may have a non-circular body comprising a plurality of radially-extending land portions. In particular, each of the plurality of radially-extending land portions may include one of the plurality of pile connector apertures. Optionally, the base plate comprises reduced web portions between the plurality of radially-extending land portions. It is desirable that the device have as small a weight as possible to allow for ease of transport to sites which may be difficult to access with heavy machinery. The use of radially extending land portions between reduced web portions allows for an optimised balance between strength in the reinforced land portions whilst eliminating weight from non-structural regions of the device. Preferably, each of the plurality of radially-extending land portions may have a pair of strengthening members extending thereon. Since the land portions provide the region of the device where there is a pile interface, this is the region of the device which most requires reinforcement. The structure-foot adapter may be positioned at a slope angle with respect to the base plate. The legs of a pylon or tower will typically be oriented at a small incline angle so as to have a wide base compared with a top portion of the tower. The use of a structure-pile interface device allows for this angle to be accommodated within an adapter, rather than at the base of the structure itself. This may in turn simplify the construction of structures as well. Optionally, a width of the base plate may be less than 1500 mm, preferably less than 2500 mm, and more preferably less than 5000 mm. The base plate is dimensioned to be used for a single structure foot, and this is a typical maximum dimension for use therewith. It is not designed to support the entire base of a structure. At least three structure-foot connector apertures may be provided. A triangular arrangement of apertures is the minimum viable number of connection points capable of anchoring the device to a ground pile safely. In a primary embodiment, the structure-foot adapter may comprise a plate-like body. In one alternative embodiment, the structure-foot adapter may comprise an angle section. The structure-foot adapter is preferably dimensioned according to the structure to be installed. For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective representation of a first embodiment of a structure-to-pile interface device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2A shows a side view of the structure-to-pile interface device of Figure 1; Figure 2B shows a rear view of the structure-to-pile interface device of Figure 1; Figure 2C shows a front view of the structure-to-pile interface device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a plan view of three structure-to-pile interface devices of Figure 1 arranged to support a three-legged structure, each structure-to-pile interface device being engaged with a different type of ground pile; Figure 4A shows a side view of a second embodiment of a structure-to-pile interface device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; and Figure 4B shows a front view of the structure-to-pile interface device of Figure 4A. Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a structure-to-pile interface device, referenced globally at 10, and which is designed to provide an interface between a ground pile and a structure, such as a telecommunications tower, to better distribute forces on the ground pile. The structure-to-pile interface device 10 comprises a base plate 12 having a plurality of pile connector apertures 14 therein for permitting engagement to one or more ground piles. There is then a structure-foot adapter 16, here formed as a top plate 18, spaced apart from the base plate 12 in an in-use vertical direction, the structure-foot adapter 16 having a plurality of structure-foot connector apertures 20 for permitting engagement to a foot of a structure to be supported. A support element 22 is positioned between the base plate 12 and the structure-foot adapter 16 so as to interconnect the base plate 12 and the structure-foot adapter 16, the support element 22 comprising a plurality of strengthening members 24 coupled to the base plate 12 and the structure-foot adapter 16. The support element 22 comprises a hollow central support member 26, here formed as a tubular member aligned in the in-use vertical direction, which is positioned between the base plate 12 and the structure-foot adapter 16. The hollow central support member 26 includes an aperture 28 to permit access into a void region thereof. Said aperture 28 is preferably dimensioned to receive a user’s hand therein so that fasteners can be tightened manually even when the base plate 12 is connected to a ground pile. In the depicted embodiment there is a plurality of apertures 28, spaced around the hollow central support member 26. A similar aperture 30 may be provided in the structure-foot adapter 16 if required. On the structure-foot adapter 16, here shown as a plate-like body 32, the plurality of structure-foot connector apertures 20 are positioned radially inwardly of the hollow central support member 26. This allows a user to reach in through the aperture 28 to access the void region, for the purpose of tightening bolts or fasteners which extend through the structure-foot adapter 16. The placing of the void region allows this access, and in turn, permits a greater diameter of the hollow central support member 26. Equally, the connector apertures 20 could be positioned radially outwards of the central support member 26 to give direct access to the bolts of fasteners. A plurality of strengthening members 24 each extend radially or in parallel to a radius of the structure-to-pile interface device 10, extending outwardly from the support element 22, and each aperture 28 is positioned between pairs of strengthening members 24. To best reinforce the hollow central support member 26, the plurality of strengthening members 24 preferably each extend radially or in parallel to a radius of the structure-to-pile interface device 10. In the embodiment shown, the strengthening members 24 are spaced apart in pairs, either side of a radius thereof, with the pile connector apertures 14 being positioned on said radii. Each pile connector aperture 14 may have a reinforced region 34 for improving the strength of the structure-to-pile interface device 10 at the point of connection. For stability, a width or diameter of the base plate 12 exceeds a width or diameter of the structure-foot adapter 16. To reduce a total weight of the structure-to-pile interface device 10, the base plate 12 preferably has a non-circular body comprising a plurality of radially-extending land portions 36, with each of the plurality of radially-extending land portions 36 includes one of the plurality of pile connector apertures 14. The base plate 12 comprises reduced web portions 38 between the plurality of radially-extending land portions 36, and each of the plurality of radially-extending land portions 36 has a pair of strengthening members 24 extending thereon. A width of the base plate 12 is preferably less than 5000 mm, more preferably less than 2500 mm, and even more preferably less than 1500 mm in order to make it moveable by one or two users, even in difficult terrain. In order to support the structure most effectively, the structure-foot adapter 16 can be positioned at a slope angle with respect to the base plate 12. This is most clearly visible in Figure 2A. The slope angle is most preferably between 5° and 15° relative to the horizontal plane of the base plate 12. Figures 2A to 2C also show how the hollow central support member 26 optionally extends below a lower plane of the base plate 12, and this may assist with locating the structure-to-pile interface device 10 on a ground pile or on the ground. Figure 3 shows an indicative arrangement in which three structure-to-pile interface devices 10 are arranged uniformly about a circle at 120° intervals, for supporting a three-legged structure such as a telecoms tower. Three different illustrative ground pile arrangements are shown; in practice, it is likely that the same type of pile would be use, and the different arrangements are shown merely as examples. The three ground piles shown are a cylindrical concrete pile 40a, a cuboidal concrete pile 40b, and a set of micro-piles 40c, each engagable with pile connector apertures 14 to anchor the structure-to-pile interface device 10 in position. An alternative embodiment of a structure-to-pile interface devices 110 is shown in Figure 4. The base plate 112 and support element 122 are identical; however, the structurefoot adapter 116 includes an angle section 142 extending upwardly from a top plate 132 thereof, and which is suitable for engaging with a corresponding structure foot or leg having a corresponding angle section. Said angle section 142 may include the structurefoot connector apertures 120 therein, here indicated as being on an in-use vertical or substantially vertical surface of the angle section 142. It is therefore possible to provide a portable device which can be used to interface between a ground pile or pile and the foot of a structure to be installed, such as a telecommunications tower or electrical pylon. The words ‘comprises / comprising’ and the words ‘having / including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A structure-to-pile interface device for interfacing between a ground pile and one foot of a structure to be supported, the structure-to-pile interface device comprising:a base plate having a plurality of pile connector apertures therein for permitting engagement to one or more ground piles;a structure-foot adapter spaced apart from the base plate in an in-use vertical direction, the structure-foot adapter having a plurality of structurefoot connector apertures for permitting engagement to a foot of a structure to be supported; anda support element interconnecting the base plate and the structure-foot adapter, the support element comprising a plurality of strengthening members coupled to the base plate and the structure-foot adapter.

2. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support element comprises a hollow central support member between the base plate and the structure-foot adapter.

3. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hollow central support member includes an aperture to permit access into a void region thereof.

4. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of structure-foot connector apertures is positioned radially inwardly of the hollow central support member.

5. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of structure-foot connector apertures is positioned radially outwardly of the support member.

6. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of strengthening members each extend radially or in parallel to a radius of the structure-to-pile interface device.

7. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a width or diameter of the base plate exceeds a width or diameter of the structure-foot adapter.

8. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate has a non-circular body comprising a plurality of radially-extending land portions.

9. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of radially-extending land portions includes one of the plurality of pile connector apertures.

10. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the base plate comprises reduced web portions between the plurality of radially-extending land portions.

11. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein each of the plurality of radially-extending land portions has a pair of strengthening members extending thereon.

12. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure-foot adapter is positioned at a slope angle with respect to the base plate.

13. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least three structure-foot connector apertures are provided.

14. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure-foot adapter comprises a plate-like body.

15. A structure-to-pile interface device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the structure-foot adapter comprises an angle section.

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