Screw Pile Substructure Using Torque to Reduce Soil Disturbance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for installing foundation piles are costly, slow, and disruptive, especially in contaminated soils, and often require brute force, leading to soil disturbance and structural issues.
Innovation Solution
A screw pile substructure support system featuring a tubular pile with a helical flight and conical pile tip that uses torque and crowd pressure to penetrate the soil, minimizing soil disturbance and allowing for faster, more efficient installation with higher load capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional driving methods are used to install foundation piles, then piles can be installed into hard ground, but soil disturbance and heaving occur causing problems for standing structures
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of driving the pile downward with impact force, the invention reverses the approach by using a screw thread configuration that rotates and threads the pile into the ground, converting linear installation motion into rotational motion and eliminating impact-induced soil heaving
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the conventional impact-driven mechanical system with a screw-threaded rotational system, substituting brute force with torque-based installation that progressively threads the pile into the ground without causing soil disturbance
2Strength
If conventional driving methods are used to install foundation piles, then piles can be installed into soft ground, but settling of surrounding soil occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The screw thread configuration inverts the installation mechanism from downward impact to rotational threading, allowing the pile to be screwed into soft ground without causing surrounding soil to settle or collapse
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the impact-driven mechanical system with a screw-threaded rotational system that progressively engages with soft soil through rotation, preventing the soil collapse and settling that occurs with conventional driving methods
3Object-affected harmful factors
If pre-drilling with auger is used to install foundation piles, then piles can be installed without soil disturbance, but the process is costly and slow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the auger threading function with the pile structure itself, combining the installation tool and the final structural element into a single integrated component that both threads into and becomes the foundation pile
Solution Approach 2:
The screw thread configuration enables the pile to install itself through rotational motion without requiring separate pre-drilling operations, making the installation process self-service and eliminating the need for separate augering and pile insertion steps
4Productivity
If brute force is used to install foundation piles, then piles can be installed quickly, but soil disturbance and structural problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the installation approach from impact-driven brute force to screw-threaded rotational installation, achieving rapid installation through efficient threading action rather than forceful driving
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the impact-based mechanical driving system with a torque-based screw-threaded system that achieves rapid installation through rotational engagement, eliminating the soil disturbance caused by brute force while maintaining high installation speed
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
The screw pile system enables faster installation with reduced soil disturbance, higher load tolerance, and cost savings by using torque and crowd pressure to drive piles into various soil conditions without significant disruption, achieving load capacities exceeding conventional piles.
Implementation Method 1
uses torque and crowd pressure to penetrate the soil
Implementation Method 2
The helical flight engages with the soil to create friction-based resistance that allows the pile to be driven in with reduced disturbance
Data Source
AI summary
A screw pile substructure support system is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a screw pile substructure support system including a tubular pile having a centerline, wherein the tubular pile includes a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section attached by a weld, a pile tip including a first pile tip end attached to the tubular pile, an end plate having a substantially flat surface disposed perpendicular to the centerline of the tubular pile, a tapered portion disposed between the first pile tip end and the end plate, and a helical flight attached to an exterior surface of the tapered portion, wherein the helical flight extends along the exterior surface for a distance of at least one quarter of a circumference of the tapered portion, wherein the end plate is fixedly attached to the pile tip.