Segmented Displacement Blade for Foundation Pile Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing assembly for forming a foundation element with propeller blades encounters significant resistance during the final stages of inserting a hollow steel tube into the ground, making the process time-consuming and inefficient, especially when forming a foundation base.

Innovation Solution

A displacement body with a flat blade having a limited transverse section and recesses or openings is used, allowing for reduced resistance and improved mixing of construction liquid with ground material, enabling easier and faster insertion and formation of a solid foundation base, with optional features like a tapered point for precise placement and a collar for anchoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If propeller blades are used as displacing members, then mixing capacity between construction liquid and ground material is improved, but resistance in axial direction increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing capacityVSAvoidresistance in axial direction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The propeller blade is segmented by providing cut-away parts that divide the blade into separate sections. This segmentation reduces the continuous transverse section area that resists axial movement while maintaining the blade's ability to mix grout with ground material during rotation. The segmented structure allows easier penetration into the ground with reduced axial resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the blade are given different properties: the main body maintains sufficient mass for effective grout mixing, while cut-away sections reduce resistance in the axial direction. This local differentiation optimizes both mixing capacity and insertion ease by concentrating material only where needed for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Force

If propeller blades with cut-away parts are used, then axial resistance is reduced, but mixing capacity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance in axial directionVSAvoidmixing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is designed with cut-away parts that remove only the excessive material causing axial resistance, while retaining sufficient blade section to perform effective mixing. This partial removal approach maintains adequate mixing capacity while eliminating the harmful resistance, achieving optimal balance between the two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of manufacture

If the tube is driven repeatedly up and downward to form foundation base, then grout mixing with ground material is improved, but time required for the process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrout mixing effectivenessVSAvoidtime required for base formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is pre-configured with cut-away parts and recesses that create optimized mixing zones before the tube is even inserted into the ground. This preliminary design ensures that during the necessary up-and-down movements, grout mixing occurs more efficiently and rapidly, reducing the total time required for foundation base formation while maintaining thorough mixing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The blade design incorporates recesses and cut-away sections that create a porous-like structure, increasing the surface area available for grout-to-ground-material contact. This enhanced surface area accelerates the mixing process during each up-and-down cycle, reducing the number of cycles needed and thereby reducing overall process time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 assembly facilitates rapid and precise placement of the displacement body with reduced resistance, ensuring efficient mixing and anchoring, thereby significantly reducing the time required to form a solid foundation base.

Implementation Method 1

a cement-like construction liquid is introduced via the tube and can escape from the outflow opening at an outer end of the tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

This so-called grout forms a cement covering around an outer wall of the tube and the propeller blades, which mixes with ground material to form a curing mortar

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Implementation Method 3

Once at or at least close to the desired depth, the tube is usually driven up and down repeatedly so as to thus enable an excess of grout to be relinquished to the ground and to be mixed with the earth to form a weighted lump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP1878832B1Assembly for forming an elongated construction element under ground.

Publication Date: 2013.12.04 DECOMBI

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

An assembly for forming an elongate construction element underground, in particular a foundation pile, comprises an elongate displacement body (10) and a device for driving the displacement body into the ground in an axial direction. The displacement body is provided at an outer end (13) with at least one displacing member (14) and with an outflow opening (12) for a curing construction liquid. The at least one displacing member herein comprises at least one substantially flat blade which extends in axial direction from the outer end of the displacement body. The blade (14) is provided with at least one recess (21..24) within a periphery (15) which may or may not be imaginary.