Sonic Anchor Pile Installation for Deep Ground Anchorage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for anchoring objects to the ground using anchor piles are laborious, time-consuming, and require significant power, often failing to reach desired depths due to high resistance, and result in anchor piles with insufficient tension strength.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a sonic drill apparatus to insert a head section and rod sections into the ground with simultaneous sonic vibration, allowing direct drilling without a retrievable drill string, and injecting a curable substance to form a compacted mixture around the head section, enhancing tension strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional drilling methods are used to insert anchor piles, then the anchor piles can be inserted into the ground, but the process is laborious, time-consuming, and requires significant power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion speedVSAvoiddrilling time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies sonic vibration to the anchor pile during insertion to reduce friction and resistance between the pile and ground particles. This vibration mechanism enables faster penetration depth achievement compared to traditional static drilling methods, directly resolving the contradiction between insertion speed and drilling time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the ground particles through sonic vibration, transforming them from a static resistant state to a more compliant state that allows easier penetration. This parameter change in the ground's physical properties enables rapid insertion without requiring excessive time or power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of stationary object

If traditional drilling methods are used to reach deep depths, then the anchor piles can be inserted to desired depths, but the resistance becomes too high and great power is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion depthVSAvoiddrilling power
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Sonic vibration is applied continuously during deep insertion to maintain reduced friction and resistance at the pile-ground interface. This vibration mechanism distributes the mechanical stress and prevents excessive resistance accumulation, enabling deep penetration without requiring proportional increases in drilling power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional methods with retrievable drill strings are used, then the ground particles can be flushed away, but the process requires pressurized flushing liquids and is complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoiddrill string system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex retrievable drill string system and pressurized flushing liquid mechanism from the process. By using sonic vibration directly on the anchor pile, the method achieves ground particle removal and mixing without requiring these additional complex components, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing and operational process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor pile itself, through sonic vibration, performs the function of flushing and mixing ground particles without requiring external flushing liquids or complex drill string systems. The vibration mechanism enables the pile to self-clean and self-mix the grout with ground particles during insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If large volumes of grout are used to fill the hole, then the anchor pile can be formed, but the time and material consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchor pile formationVSAvoidgrout volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Sonic vibration changes the physical state and distribution characteristics of the grout and ground particles during mixing. This vibration-induced parameter change enables more efficient mixing and compacting, reducing the total grout volume needed while ensuring complete and reliable anchor pile formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Continuous sonic vibration during grout injection and mixing prevents grout settling and ensures uniform distribution with ground particles. This vibration mechanism achieves complete hole filling and reliable anchor formation with reduced grout volumes compared to static injection methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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

Significantly reduces time and labor, eliminates the need for pressurized flushing liquids and large grout volumes, and achieves anchor piles with higher tension strength, enabling quicker and more efficient insertion to desired depths.

Implementation Method 1

A method involving a sonic drill apparatus to insert a head section and rod sections into the ground with simultaneous sonic vibration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSonic vibration: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

injecting a curable substance to form a compacted mixture around the head section, enhancing tension strength

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSonic vibration compaction: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentEP3240931B2Method for anchoring an object to the ground
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 HIGH FIVE SOLUTIONS BV
  • EP3240931B2 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3240931B2 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3240931B2 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

A method for anchoring/founding an object (15) comprises the steps of positioning a sonic drill apparatus (1), providing an assembly of head and rod sections (6; 20), in which the rod sections are connectable to the head section and to each other while extending in the longitudinal direction for forming a pile,inserting the pile into the ground, and coupling the object to a proximal end of the connected sections of the pile. The head section comprises a drilling portion. The head section is drilled directly into the ground by means of the sonic drill apparatus, and repeatedly gets one of the rod sections connected thereto, after which the connected sections get drilled further into the ground. During at least part of this drilling, a sonic vibration is introduced into the connected sections.