Pile Joint Locking Mechanism With Guidance Pipe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pile joint technologies face issues with insufficient tightness and reliability, leading to instability and weakness in connecting concrete piles, particularly under heavy loads, due to inadequate locking mechanisms and installation uncertainties.
Innovation Solution
A pile joint coupling system featuring a lock housing and lock spindle with transverse holes, a guidance pipe, and a locking ring, where the locking pin has a recess for increased tolerance and retention, ensuring secure alignment and stability without relying on friction, and preventing concrete penetration through a one-piece construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional locking pins are used without guidance structures, then the installation process is simpler, but the alignment precision and locking reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A guidance pipe is introduced as an intermediary component between the locking pin and the transverse holes. The guidance pipe pre-aligns the locking pin with the holes, ensuring precise positioning while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. This mediator component resolves the contradiction by providing alignment functionality without requiring complex integrated guidance mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the locking pin relies on friction for retention, then the structure can be simpler, but the reliability and holding capacity under heavy loads deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The friction-based retention mechanism is replaced with a mechanical interlocking system. The locking pin features a head portion that engages with a recess in the lock housing, creating a positive mechanical lock that does not depend on friction. This substitution significantly improves reliability under heavy loads while adding only minimal structural complexity through the head portion and recess design.
3Reliability
If protective plugs are used to prevent concrete penetration, then the locking mechanism can be simpler, but the tightness and stability of the joint deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function against concrete penetration is merged into the lock housing structure itself. The lock housing is designed as a one-piece construction with integrated features that prevent concrete ingress, eliminating the need for separate protective plugs. This merging improves joint tightness while avoiding the complexity of additional components and their assembly.
4Ease of operation
If the locking pin is struck through without tolerance features, then the installation process is faster, but the installation reliability and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance pipe performs a preliminary alignment action before the locking pin is struck through. By pre-positioning and aligning the locking pin with the transverse holes, the guidance pipe ensures that the pin passes through smoothly and accurately, making the striking operation easier and more reliable. This preliminary action reduces installation time by preventing misalignment and repeated attempts.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5
Figure 6
AI summary
The invention relates to a pile joint, which comprises a first concrete pile (1), a second concrete pile (2), and a coupling system (4) therebetween for connecting and locking the concrete piles relative to each other. The coupling system (4) includes a lock housing (41) and a lock spindle (42) connectible to each other and provided with transverse holes in such a way that the lock housing's transverse holes and the lock spindle's transverse hole (421) settle substantially in line with each other for receiving a locking pin (5) when the lock housing and the lock spindle are connected to each other. In addition, the lock housing is provided with a locking ring for retaining the locking pin in a position locking the lock housing and the lock spindle to each other. For ensuring the pipe joint's installation and durability there is in alignment with a first transverse hole of the lock housing (41) a guidance pipe (413) and in alignment with a second transverse hole of the lock housing, opposite to its first hole, a locking seat closed at one end and intended for the locking ring. The locking ring is adapted to be movable in a groove included in the locking seat and the locking pin (5) is provided with a recess in the lengthwise direction of the locking pin to receive the locking ring.