Jet head device for sinking pilings

• US 6,568,881 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walter Daniel Long
• Original Assignee: Walter Daniel Long
• Inventors: Long, Walter Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYO-PINNOCK, TARA LEIGH
• Application Number:
  US09/977,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 405/232, 405/248, 405/253, 405/255, 175/19, 175/21, 175/57
• US Class Current: 405/248
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 7/24 Placing by using fluid jets prefabricated concrete piles with arrangements therefor E02D5/32

Abstract

A jetting device for installing a piling or post includes: (a) a cap including a generally conical or pyramidal shaped, perforated, hollow main body portion, and an upper flange portion for closely fitting over a base of the piling or post, the flange portion extending upward in a generally vertical direction from the main body portion; (b) attachment mechanism for attaching the flange portion of the cap to the base of the piling or post; and (c) a threaded fitting for receiving a detachable, generally vertical line for conducting a liquid or air into the cap, the fitting being in an upper section of the main body portion below the flange portion. Also included is a rectangular-shaped cap for a bulkhead section, and a method for installing a piling, post, or bulkhead.

Claims

1. A jetting device for installing a piling or post, the device comprising:

(a) a cap comprising a generally conical or pyramidal shaped main body portion, and an upper flange portion for closely fitting over a base of the piling or post, the flange portion extending upwardly in a generally vertical direction from the main body portion, the main body portion comprising a hollow interior and a plurality of perforations;

(b) attachment means for attaching the flange portion of the cap to the base of the piling or post; and

(c) a threaded fitting for receiving a detachable, generally vertical line for conducting a liquid or air into the cap, the fitting being in an upper section of the main body portion below the flange portion.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion comprises a groove portion in its upper section, the groove portion extending parallel and adjacent to the flange portion, the flange portion extending around the circumference of the piling or post.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the flange portion is generally cylindrical for closely fitting over the base of the piling or post, and the attachment means is a plurality of nails extending through the flange portion into the piling or post.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

(d) at least one detachable line for conducting liquids or air, a threaded lower end of the at least one line being closely connectable to the correspondingly threaded fitting, the at least one line extending in a generally vertical direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the piling or post; and

(e) at least one pump for pumping the liquid or air up or down the at least one line, the at least one pump being coupled to an opposite, upper end of the at least one line; and

(f) at least one supply source for the liquids, the at least one liquid supply source being connected to the upper end of the at least one line.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the fitting is a threaded, shouldered fitting for connecting the correspondingly threaded lower end of the line to a groove portion of the main body portion.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the cap is substantially comprised of a polyvinylchloride material.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein there are two of the lines for conducting liquid or air, and two of the at least one pump, with one of the two pumps being operably connected to each one of the two lines, a second one of the two lines being connected to the groove portion opposite to a point of entry of a first one of the two lines.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the cap is substantially comprised of a heavy duty steel material.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the attachment means is a plurality of bolts extending through the flange portion into the piling or post.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the attachment means are permanent, and the cap remains in place on the piling or post after installation of the piling or post.

11. A device according to claim 7, wherein the first line is a pressurized water injection line, a first one of the at least one liquid supply source is a water source, and a first one of the at least one pump is a water pump for pumping water down the at least one line to the cap.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the second line is a concrete injection line, and a second one of the at least one liquid supply source is a tank of flowable concrete.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the second line extends through the cap to a main aperture in a nose portion of the main body portion, the aperture having the same diameter as the inside diameter of the second line.

14. A device according to claim 5, wherein a second one of the at least one lines is a vacuum line, and a second one of the at least one pumps is a vacuum pump.

15. A device according to claim 5, wherein the flange portion is generally square in shape to accommodate a piling or post that is square in shape.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the main body portion has the pyramidal shape, and comprises a flattened, perforated nose portion at a lower end of the main body portion.

17. A device for installing a bulkhead section, the device comprising:

(a) a cap comprising a generally rectangular-shaped, perforated main body portion having a length and width generally equal to the length and width, respectively, of the bulkhead section;

the main body portion having a hollow interior, and a pointed nose;

the device further comprising a flange portion with two substantially matching sides extending in a vertical direction from the main body portion;

(b) attachment means on the flange portion for attaching the device to a base of the bulkhead section; and

(c) a threaded fitting on the device for receiving a detachable, generally vertical line for conducting a liquid or air into the main body portion.

18. A device according to claim 17, further comprising:

(d) at least one line for conducting the liquid or air, a threaded end of the at least one line being screwed into the fitting and leading to the hollow interior of the main body portion, an opposite end of the at least one line being connected to a supply of the liquid or air, the at least one line extending in a generally vertical direction adjacent to the bulkhead section.

19. A device according to claim 18, further comprising at least one pump for pumping the liquid or air up or down the line, the at least one pump coupled to an opposite, upper end of the line.

20. A device according to claim 17, wherein the bulkhead section is a sheet pile, and the attachment means is a plurality of projections on an inside face of the flange portion.

21. A method for installing a piling, post, or bulkhead section, comprising the steps of:

(a) affixing a conical, pyramidal, or pointed rectangular cap to the round, square, or rectangular shaped base of the piling, post, or bulkhead section to be installed, the cap being perforated;

(b) removably connecting a pressurized water line or vacuum line to the cap;

(b2) affixing a second line to an opposite side of the cap from the water or vacuum line;

(c) suspending the piling, post, or bulkhead section in a generally vertical position for installation;

(d) pumping water to the cap or pulling a vacuum in the line while sinking the piling, post, or bulkhead section down into the ground;

(e) disconnecting the water or vacuum line from the cap once the piling, post, or bulkhead section is installed; and

(f) pumping a flowable concrete through the second line into the cap once the piling, post, or bulkhead has been installed.

22. A method for installing a piling, post, or bulkhead section, comprising the steps of:

(a) affixing a conical, pyramidal, or pointed rectangular cap to the round, square, or rectangular shaped base of the piling, post, or bulkhead section to be installed, the cap being perforated;

(b) removably connecting a pressurized water line or vacuum line to the cap;

(b2) as part of step (b), affixing both the first, water line, and a second, vacuum line to opposite sides of the upper section of the cap;

(c) suspending the piling, post, or bulkhead section in a generally vertical position for installation;

(d) pumping water to the cap or pulling a vacuum in the line while sinking the piling, post, or bulkhead section down into the ground;

(d2) as part of step (d), pumping water into the cap; and

periodically operating a vacuum pump to pull a vacuum in the second line for removing water and dirt from the cap;

(e) disconnecting the water or vacuum line from the cap once the piling, post, or bulkhead section is installed; and

(e2) as part of step (e), disconnecting both of the lines from the cap once the piling, post, or bulkhead section has been installed.