Method for forming pile pipes and foundation piles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pile pipe (10) for forming foundation piles in the ground, having an annular body (12), in which a partition plate (20) is arranged in an internal region (13) of the tubular body (12), which divides the internal region (13) into a lower part (14) and an upper part (15) and separates them from each other, in which at least one passage opening (22) with a closing device (24) is arranged in the partition plate (20), which can open and close the passage opening (22), and in which at least one supply opening (32) for supplying a hardening medium is arranged, in which at least one pipe (26) extends from the at least one supply opening (32) along the lower part (14) of the tubular body (12), and which at least one pipe (26) extends through the pipe wall (16) of the tubular body (12) and opens into an outlet opening (28) which can open and close the passage opening.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pile pipe for forming a foundation pile in the ground, having a tubular body according to the preamble of claim 1 .

[0002] The present invention further relates to a method for forming a foundation pile in a borehole in the ground according to the preamble of claim 13, wherein a pile pipe is inserted into the borehole and a hardening medium is introduced into the annular space between the wall of the borehole and the outer circumferential surface of the pile pipe. [Background technology]

[0003] EP 2930275 A1 describes a method and configuration for fabricating foundation piles for underwater structures. In this method, a borehole with a support tube is first created in the ground. The resulting borehole is then filled with a liquid, particularly water. A pile tube, typically a simple steel tube with a tubular body, is inserted into the resulting tubular borehole. The outer support tube is then withdrawn, and the annular space between the inserted pile tube, which stands at the bottom of the borehole, and the surrounding wall of the borehole is filled with a hardening medium. Surrounding water may remain inside the pile tube. The load-bearing capacity of the resulting foundation pile is determined by the relationship between the surrounding soil and the outer shell of the inserted pile tube, with the hardened medium remaining in the surrounding annular space. The interior, filled only with water, can be used to introduce measuring or testing equipment as needed.

[0004]

[0003] This known method can present a problem in that if the bottom of the borehole into which the pile pipe is to be erected is uneven, when the hardenable medium is introduced into the annular space, the flowable hardenable medium will have a greater tendency to enter the interior of the pile pipe from below and at least partially fill the interior. This can require a significant amount of additional hardenable medium. Furthermore, uncontrolled migration of hardenable material or medium from the annular space into the interior of the pile pipe can create voids in the surrounding annular space, which can result in a loss of the load-bearing capacity of the foundation pile. Finally, an at least partially filled interior can also result in the inability to accept certain equipment.

[0005] A device for manipulating and inserting a pile tube into a borehole is known from WO 2021 / 180515. The device is configured to be attached to a crane sling. The annular rim of the pile tube can be gripped by a gripping element through a friction fit. The device is generally configured so that the pile tube can be pivoted from a horizontal storage position to a vertical insertion position.

[0006] A configuration and method for producing an underwater foundation with an underwater drilling rig can be found in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0296875. The underwater drilling rig can be placed on the bottom of a body of water. A foundation hole is created by a tubular element, which also serves to moor the drilling equipment underwater. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 2930275 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2021 / 180515 [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0296875 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The object of the present invention is to identify a pile pipe and a method that allows for the creation of foundation piles in boreholes in the ground in a particularly efficient and reliable manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This object is achieved on the one hand by a pile pipe having the features of claim 1 and on the other hand by a method having the features of claim 13. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0010] The pile pipe according to the present invention is characterized in that a partition plate is arranged in the internal region of the tubular body, which divides the internal region into a lower section and an upper section and isolates them from each other, and that at least one through opening having a closing device is arranged in the partition plate, which can be opened and closed by the closing device.

[0011] For the production of foundation piles in the ground, the basic idea of ​​the present invention is to construct the pile pipe in a particular manner, in which the interior of the tubular body is divided into a lower section and an upper section by a partition plate, and these two sections of the interior area of ​​the tubular body are isolated from each other, i.e. they can be separated from each other in a compacted or substantially compacted manner.

[0012] A further aspect of the invention is that at least one through-opening is arranged on the partition plate with a closing device, in particular a valve, which can open and close the through-opening. By using the closing device, two different states can be established in the pile pipe: a closed state, in which the two internal sections are tightly closed off from each other, and an open state, in which the two internal sections are open to each other and connected by a pipeline.

[0013] When at least one through opening is opened in an unsealed state, the pile pipe can be easily inserted into a borehole filled with liquid, just like a conventional pile pipe, and the liquid present in the borehole can easily flow into the inside of the pile pipe, resulting in a pressure balance inside and outside the pile pipe and a uniform filling level in the borehole into which the pipe is inserted.

[0014] When the at least one through-opening is closed by the closing device and a sealed state is achieved, the lower section below the partition plate within the tubular body is sealed off from the upper section above it, i.e., separated in a compacted or substantially compacted manner, particularly when the pile pipe is installed at the bottom of a borehole. If the annular space between the borehole wall and the outer surface of the pile pipe is then filled with a hardenable medium, particularly a cement suspension or mortar, in a known manner, the arrangement according to the invention prevents increased penetration of the hardenable medium from below into the interior of the pile pipe, even if the bottom of the borehole is uneven. This is because the penetration of the hardenable medium into the lower section of the pile pipe causes a pressure increase in the sealed lower section. This pressure increase effectively prevents further or excessive penetration of the hardenable medium. The hardenable material or medium, preferably introduced around the periphery of the lower region of the pile pipe, will tend to fill the annular external space, particularly since it has a higher density than the surrounding water, and this external space, which is open at its top, allows water to move upward from within the annular space.

[0015] The pile pipe constructed according to the present invention thus makes it possible to construct foundation piles in the ground, particularly underwater in the bottom of a water body, in a particularly efficient manner, since the unwanted infiltration of hardening medium into the interior of the pile pipe is reliably prevented. This reduces the consumption of hardening medium, i.e., expensive cement suspension or mortar, and also makes it possible to fill the annular space between the foundation pile and the wall of the borehole with hardening medium in a controlled and reliable manner. This ensures that the foundation pile constructed in this way has the desired load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, the interior can be kept almost free of hardening medium and can be used in various ways.

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is that at least one through-opening in the partition plate is opened to lower the pile pipe into a borehole in the ground filled with a liquid, and at least one through-opening is closed to introduce a hardening medium into the annular space between the outer periphery of the pile pipe and the wall of the borehole. This particularly allows the pile pipe to be used for underwater foundations, although its use on land in a borehole filled with a liquid, especially a supporting liquid, is also suitable and advantageous. When the partition plate is open, the pile pipe can be easily lowered into a water body and / or into a borehole filled with a liquid, like an open pipe. After the pile pipe is installed at the bottom of the borehole, the lower section is hermetically sealed by closing the at least one through-opening. In this way, when the annular space between the outer periphery of the pile pipe and the wall of the borehole is filled, especially via at least one supply line entering the lower region of the annular space, the hardening medium can hardly or not penetrate into the blocked lower region.

[0017] In principle, it is also possible to leave the through-holes open for a certain period of time during the introduction of the hardening medium, thereby intentionally allowing a certain amount of hardening medium to flow into the lower section of the pile pipe. Once the desired filling level is achieved in the lower section, at least one through-hole can be closed to prevent further inflow of the hardening medium into the lower section. In this way, the outside and inside of at least one lower edge region of the pile pipe can be intentionally embedded in the hardening medium, resulting in a defined pile base on the pile pipe after hardening, thereby ensuring a bottom-to-bottom closure of the pile pipe. Furthermore, this method can further increase the load-bearing capacity of the foundation pile.

[0018] Generally, one or more supply lines for introducing the hardening medium can be provided on the outside of the pile pipe or in the annular space itself. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is that at least one supply opening through which the hardening medium is introduced is arranged in the partition plate. In this way, the supply of the hardening medium can be carried out at least partially inside the inside of the pile pipe. This allows one or more supply lines to be arranged inside the pile pipe while being protected.

[0019] Continuing with the present invention, it is particularly advantageous if at least one conduit extends from the at least one inlet opening along the lower section of the tubular body and at least one conduit extends through the wall of the tubular body and leads to the outlet opening. In this case, the at least one conduit for introducing the hardenable medium can run partly or entirely inside the pile pipe, in particular inside the upper and / or lower section.

[0020] The passage of the partition takes place via a supply opening, which may itself have a separate closing device if necessary. In particular, at least one conduit for introducing the medium is threaded through the wall of the lower section of the tubular body and leads to the annular space filled with conduits on the outside of the tubular body. In this case, it is also possible to configure multiple outlet openings along the circumference of the tubular body, especially in the lower end region.

[0021] In a variant of this embodiment, a further improvement is achieved in that at least two conduits extend along the lower section of the tubular body and can be connected in series for the cleaning operation. In this case, the at least two conduits can be initially connected in parallel to introduce the hardenable medium, thereby allowing the annular chamber to be filled particularly quickly using both conduits. Once the hardenable medium is introduced, the entire two conduits or at least a portion of the conduits can be connected in series via a switchable connection device, i.e., the two conduits can be connected to each other by a conduit. This allows the cleaning liquid to be introduced through one conduit, which first flows downward through this conduit and then drains upward again through the connected second conduit. In this way, the hardenable medium can be flushed out of the conduits, preventing them from clogging. This allows the conduits to be reused as needed. The number of supply openings can be consistent with or adjusted to the conduits.

[0022] Continuing with the present invention, it is advantageous to arrange a check valve near at least one of the supply openings. In particular, the check valve can be arranged so that its sealing effect in the downward direction is not impaired by the supply opening in the partition. This means that the check valve is arranged so that supply from the top downwards is possible but not from the bottom upwards. The check valve may be adjustable, in which case the check function can be disabled and, in some cases, liquid can pass through the supply opening from the bottom upwards.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the check valve may be switchable in such a way that it has a complete shut-off effect, in which case the check valve may form a controllable closure device with an additional check function as security.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is realized that the partition plate has a connecting element to which a supply device for supplying the hardenable medium to the supply opening can be connected. The partition plate as a rule comprises a plate, preferably made of metal, which is attached, in particular welded, to a predetermined position along the inner wall of the tubular body.

[0025] To simplify construction of the pile pipe, the entire pipe need not be located inside the pile pipe. Rather, at least a portion of the pile pipe can be dosed with the hardening medium by a separate supply device that can be inserted into the pile pipe. For supply, this separate supply device can be connected to a designated connection element on the partition plate. This allows for clear positioning and connection of the supply device to the supply opening and at least one pipe along the lower section of the pile pipe.

[0026] After filling the annular space, the feeder can be released or uncoupled from the partition plate again and used for another pile tube to form another foundation pile.

[0027] In this case, a particularly advantageous variant is that the closing device is configured to be actuated by the connected supply device. If the supply device is connected to the partition, the connection operation can close at least one through-opening for introducing the hardenable medium. This can be achieved, for example, by the configuration of a mechanical lever and / or flap. In this way, it is possible to reliably block off the lower area when the hardenable medium is introduced via the supply device.

[0028] By using an actuating device for the supply device, it is in principle also possible to selectively open and close the at least one through-opening by appropriately actuating the closing device, so that a selective and defined inflow of the hardenable medium into the lower section can also be achieved. The actuating device may in particular comprise a motor or an actuating cylinder.

[0029] For a reliable and secure method process, it is preferred, continuing according to an aspect of the invention, that the closing device is configured to close the at least one through-opening during the supply of the hardenable medium.

[0030] A further embodiment of the invention is that the partition plate is fixedly or removably attached to the tubular body. A fixed arrangement of the partition plate, for example by welding, is simple and cheap to manufacture. In this case, the partition plate is permanently connected to the pile pipe and therefore remains in the foundation pile as a lost element.

[0031] According to an alternative embodiment, the partition plate can be removable, particularly in its outer region, and in particular sealingly connected to the tubular body. After the medium has been introduced and hardened to form the foundation pile, the partition plate can then be removed again from the tubular body and retrieved from the foundation pile. The partition plate can then be used repeatedly on other pile tubes to form further foundation piles.

[0032] The removable retention of the partition plate can preferably be achieved by a suitable tensioning or clamping device, or by a screw or bayonet connection. Furthermore, mounting elements, such as annular mounting flanges, can be arranged on the inner wall of the tubular body, against which the removable partition plate can be placed and to which it can be removably fixed. In principle, any suitable mounting option can be used that is suitable for removably and sealingly attaching the plate to the inner tubular wall.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by arranging an input hopper at the supply opening, a particularly efficient input of the hardenable medium can be achieved, in particular via a pipeline to the supply opening of the partition plate. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a plurality of supply openings, some of which or all of which can be provided with an input hopper. The input hopper allows for an efficient and quick pipeline connection. A hopper that facilitates the introduction of the discharge device and the supply opening, and thus their connection, may be referred to as an input hopper.

[0034] For fixed or removably mounting the partition plate, it may be advantageous if at least one radially inwardly projecting retaining element, in particular an annular shoulder, is arranged on the inner surface of the tubular body, to which the partition plate can be fixedly or removably mounted.

[0035] In order to prevent the penetration of the hardening medium from the annular space into the interior region of the pile pipe, the present invention provides for the arrangement of an annular sealing element at the lower edge of the tubular body of the pile pipe. The sealing element can in particular be an annular rubber element, which compensates for irregularities at the bottom of the borehole and thereby seals the joint between the lower edge of the pile pipe and the bottom of the borehole. The sealing element can be solid in cross section or designed with a cavity to enhance the compensation effect. In general, actively operable sealing elements can also be provided, such as annular tubes that can be inflated with compressed air. When compressed air is introduced, this element can adapt particularly well to the irregularities at the bottom of the borehole, so that the joint between the edge of the pile pipe and the bottom of the borehole can be sealed in a particularly reliable manner. The configuration of the sealing element can in principle also be used independently of the configuration of the partition plate on the pile pipe and can be considered a separate invention.

[0036] The method according to the invention is characterized in that the pile pipe according to the invention is used in the manner described above. The advantages described above when forming foundation piles can therefore be achieved with this method. In principle, this method can also be used on land. It is particularly advantageous to use this method to form foundation piles underwater, in particular on the bottom of a body of water or on the seabed.

[0037] According to the invention, a preferred embodiment variant is that at least one through-opening is open when lowering the pile pipe into the borehole in the liquid-filled ground, and at least one through-opening is closed for introducing a hardening medium into the annular space between the outer periphery of the pile pipe and the wall of the borehole, which makes it possible to manufacture foundation piles in a particularly reliable and cost-effective manner.

[0038] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments which are illustrated diagrammatically in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a pile pipe equipped with a partition plate. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the lower part of the pile pipe in the borehole. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic detailed cross-sectional view of a feeder on a partition plate of a pile pipe. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an operating device for operating a pile pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] According to Figure 1, a pile pipe 10 is provided having a tubular body 12. A partition plate 20 is arranged in the interior region 13 of the tubular body 12, which is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 12 and divides the interior region 13 into a lower section 14 and an upper section 15, isolating them from each other. An annular sealing element 19 can be arranged at the lower edge of the tubular body 12 to ensure the highest possible sealing when the pile pipe 10 is installed at the bottom of the borehole.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the partition plate 20 has two through openings 22, shown diagrammatically, which can be selectively opened and closed by a closing device 24, also shown diagrammatically. As will be described in more detail below in connection with Figure 3, in the central region of the partition plate 20 is arranged a feeder 30, which has two feed openings 32, also shown diagrammatically, each with an input hopper 34.

[0042] The feed opening 32 of the input hopper 34 serves to input a hardening medium, in particular a mortar or cement suspension, which can be passed under the partition plate 20 through a conduit 26 to the lower end region of the tubular body 12. The conduit 26 here extends through the wall 16 of the body 12 and leads in each case to an outlet opening 28 at the outer periphery 17 of the body 12. Thus, as will be explained in more detail below in connection with FIG. 2, the hardening medium can be guided through the interior region 13 of the pile pipe 10 to the lower end region and can exit the pile pipe 10 via the outlet opening 28.

[0043] 2 shows, not to scale, a schematic representation of the lower end region of a pile pipe 10 according to the invention, which is inserted into a borehole 4 in the ground 1. Only the lower region of the borehole 4 is shown, which in this case may have a depth of several meters, typically between 5 and 30 meters. The borehole 4 is filled with a supporting liquid, in particular water or another supporting liquid, so that the borehole 4 does not collapse even if it is deeper. Support pipes can also be provided in at least some regions.

[0044] Once the through-opening 22 of the partition plate 20 has been opened by the closing device 24, the pile pipe 10 equipped with the partition plate 20 can be inserted without any hindrance into the borehole 4 filled with such a liquid. When the end position of the pile pipe 10 is reached, in particular when the pile pipe 10 is placed at the borehole bottom 5 of the borehole 4, the through-opening 22 can be closed again by the closing device 24. A hardenable medium can then be introduced into the borehole 4 through the pipe 26, in which case the hardenable medium is supplied in the lower region by means of the pipe 26 inside the pile pipe 10, passes through the pipe wall 16 in the lower end region, and can flow out through the outlet opening 28 into the annular space 6. The annular space 6 is formed between the outer periphery 17 of the tubular body 12 and the substantially cylindrical wall 8 of the borehole 4. In this way, the hardenable medium, which is denser than the liquid in the borehole 4, can fill the annular space 6 from the bottom upwards. In the process, the hardenable medium displaces the liquid from the annular space 6 upwards.

[0045] The provided partition plate 20 blocks off the lower section 14 of the interior region 13 of the pile pipe 10 from above when the through opening 22 is closed. This means that the liquid in the lower section 14 of the pile pipe 10 cannot be displaced upwards and therefore little or no hardening medium can penetrate into the interior region 13 of the pile pipe 10. In this way, it is possible to reliably keep the interior region 13 free, which allows saving of hardening medium or suspension.

[0046] 3 shows in more detail the feeder 30 of the pile pipe 10 according to FIG. 1. The feeder 30 may have a pot-shaped holder 31 which is attached to the central region of the partition plate 20. A feed opening 32 for the downwardly leading conduit 26 is formed in the pot-shaped holder 31. In its upper region, the feed opening 32 has an input hopper 34 for introducing the hardenable medium. Furthermore, the feed opening 32 may be configured with a check valve 36, which is only shown diagrammatically and which, in the example shown, prevents an unwanted backflow of the hardenable medium from the conduit 26.

[0047] According to the invention, for the injection of the hardenable medium, an operating device 50 can be used as shown in Figure 4. The operating device 50 has a body 52 with a cover plate 54, on which a top element 58 is arranged for placing the operating device 50 on or positioning it on the pile pipe 10.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the handling device 50 can be removably attached to the inner surface of the pile pipe 10 by at least one clamping or gripping element 57 using a gripping device 56, which may alternatively or additionally be configured as a friction-fit tensioning device. The plurality of gripping elements 57 are preferably arranged circumferentially on the generally tubular or barrel-shaped body 52.

[0049] On the ground surface or on a ship, the pile pipe 10 can be pre-grabbed from the pile pipe storage by means of the handling device 50. The pile pipe 10 can be in any position when grasped, for example, horizontally or vertically. The handling device 50 can be connected to a lifting device, in particular a crane, by means of a holding element 55 in the upper end region of the body 52. ​​The pile pipe 10 can thus be inserted from its storage position into the hole 4 in the ground 1 by means of the handling device 50.

[0050] Furthermore, the handling device 50 comprises a feeder device 60, shown only diagrammatically, which in the exemplary embodiment shown comprises an outlet conduit 64 extending from an inlet device 62 at the upper end of the body 52 to an outlet device 66 below. The outlet device 66 is configured to engage with the pile pipe 10 via the input hopper 34 of the feeder 30 to supply the hardenable medium, as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, a corresponding coupling unit can be provided on the handling device 50, which cooperates with the coupling element 23 to ensure accurate positioning and positional stability of the pile pipe 10 on the feeder 30.

[0051] The hardenable medium, power, and / or data may be supplied through a removable connection device 70 by a supply line 80, sometimes referred to as an umbilical, where the hardenable medium is transported to an inlet device 62 at the upper end region of the body 52. ​​A single supply line may be provided, or separate multiple lines may be provided.

[0052] Once the annular space 6 is filled with the hardenable medium, the connecting pipe 80 and / or the lifting device can be detached from the holding element 55, in which case the handling device 50 can remain on the pile pipe 10 as a superimposed additional load, at least until the hardenable medium has hardened and formed a foundation element in the ground 1. The handling device 50 can then be detached again from the pile pipe 10 and retrieved.

Claims

1. A pile pipe for forming a foundation pile in the ground, a tubular body; a partition plate disposed within the interior region of the tubular body, the partition plate dividing the interior region into a lower section and an upper section and isolating them from each other; The partition plate has at least one through-opening having a closing device, and the through-opening can be opened and closed by the closing device; At least one supply opening is arranged in the partition plate, through which the hardenable medium is introduced; In pile pipes, at least one conduit extends from the at least one dispensing opening along the lower section of the tubular body; the at least one conduit extends through a wall of the tubular body and opens into an outlet opening; Pile pipe.

2. The pile pipe according to claim 1, the at least one through-opening in the partition plate is opened by the closing device to lower the pile pipe into a borehole in the ground filled with liquid; the at least one through-opening is closed by the closing device to introduce a hardening medium into the annular space between the outer periphery of the pile pipe and the wall of the borehole; Pile pipe.

3. The pile pipe according to claim 1, A pile pipe in which a plurality of pipelines are arranged and there are supply openings in a number that matches or is adjusted to match the pipelines.

4. The pile pipe according to claim 3, At least two conduits extend from each dispensing opening along the lower section of the tubular body; A pile pipe wherein said at least two pipelines can be connected in series for cleaning operations.

5. The pile pipe according to claim 1, A pile pipe in which a check valve is arranged in the area of ​​said at least one supply opening.

6. The pile pipe according to claim 1, The partition plate has a coupling element to which a supply device can be coupled for supplying a hardenable medium to the supply opening.

7. The pile pipe according to claim 6, The closure device is configured to be actuated by the feeding device in a coupled state.

8. The pile pipe according to claim 6, The closure device is configured to close the at least one through opening during supply of a hardenable medium.

9. The pile pipe according to claim 1, The partition plate is fixedly or removably attached to the tubular body.

10. The pile pipe according to claim 1, A pile pipe having a feed hopper disposed at the feed opening.

11. The pile pipe according to claim 1, A pile pipe, on the inner surface of the tubular body of which at least one radially inwardly projecting retaining element, in particular an annular shoulder, is arranged.

12. The pile pipe according to claim 1, The pile pipe has an annular sealing element disposed at the lower edge of the tubular body.

13. 1. A method for forming a foundation pile in a borehole in earth, comprising inserting a pile pipe into the borehole and introducing a hardening medium into an annular space between a wall of the borehole and an outer periphery of the pile pipe, A method in which the pile pipe of claim 1 is inserted.

14. 14. The method of claim 13, the at least one through-opening is opened when the pile pipe is lowered into the borehole in the ground filled with liquid; The method, wherein the at least one through opening is closed for introducing the hardenable medium into the annular space between the outer periphery of the pile pipe and the wall of the borehole.

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