Piling System

Abstract

A pile comprises a first side portion configured as a section of the pile and comprising first and second edges. A second side portion comprising first and second edges and is configured to slidably engage with the respective second and first edges of the first side portion, wherein the first edge is configured to slidably engage the second edge. When engaged, the two side portions form a substantially hollow pile and the side portions form junctions between the two side portions that are located inside the outermost boundary of the pile.

1 . A pile, comprising:
 a first side portion comprising first and second edges, the first side portion configured as a section of a pile;   a second side portion comprising first and second edges configured to slidably engage with the respective second and first edges of the first side portion, wherein the first edge is configured to slidably engage the second edge;   wherein when engaged, the two side portions form a substantially hollow pile;   wherein when engaged, the side portions form junctions between the two side portions that are located inside the outermost boundary of the pile.   
     
     
         2 . The pile of  claim 1 , wherein pile further comprises a female slot disposed along the length of the first edge and a male member disposed along the length of the second edge configured for being slidably received into the female slot forming the junction between the two side portions;
 wherein the pile may be formed by aligning the first and second side portions end on end such that a first edge of the first side portion is matched to the second edge of the second side portion and the two portions are slid together along each other's length to form the pile.   
     
     
         3 . The pile of  claim 2 , wherein the side portions form a groove on either side of the pile adjacent to the junction. 
     
     
         4 . The pile of  claim 3 , further comprising solar power electrical system comprising:
 a thin film solar cell mounted to the side of the pile;   a battery for storing electric charge generated by the solar cell, mounted inside the hollow pile;   a least one electric load device connected to the battery and positioned in the groove.   
     
     
         5 . The pile of  claim 3 , further comprising a gap infill having an outer side and sized and shaped to fill the groove and the gap infill configured wherein the outer side will substantially align with the outer boundary of the pile when the gap infill is inserted into the groove. 
     
     
         6 . The pile of  claim 1 , wherein when engaged the side portions form a cavity on either side of the pile adjacent to the junction, the cavity formed from a part of the first side portion suspended over a valley formed in the second side portion. 
     
     
         7 . The pile of  claim 6 , wherein a part of the of the second side portion is suspended over the valley in the second side portion, wherein when engaged, the side portions form a throat between the first and second side portions that leads into the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The pile of  claim 6 , wherein the cavity runs along substantially the entire length of the pile, the pile further comprising:
 a carriage disposed in the cavity and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respective dimensions of the carriage and the cavity walls, the carriage configured to slide within the cavity along the length of the pile.   
     
     
         9 . The pile of  claim 8 , wherein the carriage is a roller carriage, comprising wheels positioned on the carriage and sized to roll along the length of the cavity, the carriage comprising a cleat connected to the carriage and disposed outside the outer boundary of the pile. 
     
     
         10 . The pile of  claim 6 , wherein the cavity runs along substantially the entire length of the pile, and the throat is formed by two side walls that leads into the cavity, the pile further comprising:
 a roller carriage disposed in the cavity and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respective dimensions of the carriage and the cavity walls, the carriage configured to slide within the cavity along the length of the pile, the carriage comprising a plurality of wheels, wherein one wheel is positioned on the carriage and sized to roll along the floor of the length of the cavity, and one wheel is configured to roll against a wall of the throat, the carriage comprising a cleat connected to the carriage and disposed outside the outer boundary of the pile.   
     
     
         11 . The pile of  claim 10 , further comprising a pile tip, generally conical in shape configured to engage an end of the first and second side portions such that a tip of the pile tip points away from the side portions. 
     
     
         12 . The pile of  claim 11 , wherein the pile comprises a mechanism between the pile tip and the side portions for locking the pile tip to the side portions comprising a male piece for being received into a slot. 
     
     
         13 . A system for constructing a pile, comprising:
 at least two side portions configured as a section of a pile having a length and comprised generally as a curved surface having a substantially constant cross section along the entire length of the side portion;   a side portion connector configured for slidably interlocking with the side portions to form a hollow pile.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising two side portion connectors and two side portions, wherein the side portions are identical in shape and at least one side portion connector has a channel and wherein each side portion is configured to slidably interlock with a side portion connector on either side of the side portion such that four junctions are formed interior to an outer boundary of the pile by assembling the two side portions with the two side portion connectors. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the channel disposed on the side portion connector comprises a throat that leads to a cavity that both run along the side portion connector, and the side portion connector is configured such that when the pile is assembled, the cavity is disposed interior to the outer boundary of the pile. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein one side portion connector has a groove that runs along the side portion connector, and the side portion connector is configured such that when the pile is assembled, the groove is disposed interior to the outer boundary of the pile. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the side portions and the side portion connectors are formed by a pultrusion process.