Removable Helical Tool for Hard-Soil Pile Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for building foundations in hard or sandy soils require expensive helical piles that remain in the ground and are often damaged or require auger cast piles with inefficient concrete filling, leading to increased costs and soil disruption.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a helical tool that is driven into the ground to a desired torque, allowing a pile driver to be coupled for driving concrete or wood pilings through its bore, without grouting, thus eliminating the need for helical piles to remain in the ground and minimizing soil disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If helical piles are used to drive into hard or sandy soils, then the ability to install foundations in difficult soils is improved, but the cost significantly increases and the piles remain in the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the helical tool from the final foundation structure, using it only as a temporary installation aid. The tool is removed after pilings are driven, leaving only the permanent piling structure. This eliminates the need for expensive helical piles to remain in the ground while still enabling installation in hard soils.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporary helical tool as an intermediary device that facilitates piling installation in hard soils but is not part of the final structure. This mediator enables the primary function (driving pilings) without becoming a permanent, costly component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If helical tools are used in hard soils, then installation capability is improved, but soil disruption and contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the helical tool from the final installation, using it only temporarily during installation. This extraction minimizes long-term soil disruption compared to leaving helical piles in place, as the tool is removed after serving its installation purpose.
3Device complexity
If conventional pile driving is attempted in hard soils, then cost is reduced, but the piles cannot be driven in or are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a helical tool as a temporary intermediary that enables piling installation in hard soils where conventional direct driving fails. The tool provides the necessary torque and stability during installation without requiring the expensive approach of leaving helical piles in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by driving the helical tool into the hard soil first, creating a stable platform before attempting to drive the permanent pilings. This preliminary step enables subsequent piling installation that would otherwise fail in hard soils.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient pile driving in hard soils with reduced costs, minimal noise and vibration, and no soil contamination, while ensuring each piling chain is tested for exact pressure and torque, adapting to varying soil compositions.
Implementation Method 1
a helical tool or pile having a plurality of helices or flights can typically be used instead of a concrete piling to drive into the harder soils
Implementation Method 2
A helical tool can be driven to a depth that enables the helical tool to provide the necessary static weight to support a pile driver
Data Source
AI summary
A helical tool is driven into a soil mass to a first desired depth with an upper portion of the helical tool remaining accessible. A pile driver can be coupled to the upper portion of the helical tool. Piles can be driven through a bore of the helical tool further into the soil mass to a second desired depth. The helical tool can then be removed from the soil mass. A helical tool is driven to a desired first depth that enables the helical tool to provide the necessary static weight for the pile driver to drive the piles through the bore of the helical tool without needing heaving cranes or drilling rigs. A second desired depth for a completed piling chain can be the depth at which the necessary skin friction and torque is achieved so that the piling chain can be a foundation support for a building structure.