Pile Wall System, Pile and Method of Installation

Abstract

The invention relates to a pile wall system, pile, and method of installation. A pile adapted to be used in a wall system with at least one other pile. Hexagonal polygonal tubes assembled from chevron panels make up the piles. The panels and piles are held together with through connectors. The pile wall system is easily made by stacking the panels against each other and bolting them together. It is just as easily taken apart.

1 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system with at least one other pile comprising a plurality of folded planar panels with a longitudinal crease, the panels having apertures for a receiving fastener so as to enable panels to be connected together to form a polygonal tubular pile, at least one panel has a longitudinal aperture for receiving a connector so that, in use, the connector passes through an aperture of a first pile and an aperture of a second pile, so as to connect the piles one to another, thereby permitting relative longitudinal movement of the first and second pile with respect to one another. 
     
     
         2 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the piles are provided with stack connectors to enable additional piles to be attached to upper or lower rims of the piles. 
     
     
         3 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the stack connector is in the form of a rim enabling piles to be joined end to end. 
     
     
         4 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the polygon is a hexagon. 
     
     
         5 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a nut and bolt. 
     
     
         6 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system comprising a fastener in accordance with  claim 5  which in use permits the panels to slide in the longitudinal direction when the fastener is loose, and when tight presses the panels together to prevent sliding. 
     
     
         7 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a pile is arranged to connect to at least two other piles to form a cluster. 
     
     
         8 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wall branches into two or more further walls. 
     
     
         9 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein piles are joined to form an enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein piles are orientated with longitudinal axis substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         11 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein piles are fixed in the ground and orientated with the longitudinal axis substantially vertical. 
     
     
         12 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the polygon of piles is filled with a material. 
     
     
         13 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the material is rubble. 
     
     
         14 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the material is concrete. 
     
     
         15 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein cross braces are provided within the piles. 
     
     
         16 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1 , where a pointed end cap is provided on an end of the piles in order to assist driving the piles into the ground. 
     
     
         17 . A pile adapted to be used in a wall system in accordance with  claim 1  where slot covers are provided to block the unused slots in the piles. 
     
     
         18 . A pile adapted for use in the pile wall system described in  claim 4  comprising: three, four, five or six planar panels are arranged symmetrically about a longitudinal axis to form the hexagonal tubular structure. 
     
     
         19 . A pile for use in a pile wall system described in  claim 1  with an end portion slightly tapered, stepped, or necked down, enabling stacked piles to nest inside one another. 
     
     
         20 . A pile adapted to be used in a pile system described in  claim 1  wherein the folded planar panel cross section is a chevron, comprising: a plate having two panels with transverse and longitudinal edges, said panels joined along a longitudinal edge to form a crease and further comprising slot apertures. 
     
     
         21 . A pile adapted to be used in a pile system described in  claim 1  comprising a plate having three panels with transverse and longitudinal edges, two of said panels each joined along opposite longitudinal edges of the third panel to form two creases and further comprising slot apertures. 
     
     
         22 . A pile for use in pile driving comprises: a plurality of folded planar panels arranged to be connected, one to another, so as to define a pile wall system, at least some of said panels have an aperture extending in a direction parallel to the panel folds, the aperture being dimensioned and arranged whereby, in use, a first panel, is placed against a second panel, so that an aperture in the first pile is placed adjacent an aperture in the second pile; and a fastener passes through adjacent apertures in the first and second piles, so as to permit relative displacement of the first pile with respect to the second pile and panels are connected together, one atop another, by way of a connector. 
     
     
         23 . A pile for use in pile driving as claimed in  claim 22  wherein connectors lie flush with external faces of the piles. 
     
     
         24 . A pile as in  claim 22  comprising a folded panel having an aperture and holes which in use receive a connector for connecting another pile, about the same axis, and which arrests relative axial displacement of the two coaxial piles. 
     
     
         25 . A pile as in  claim 22  comprising a folded panel wherein the aspect ratio of an unfolded panel is at least 5:1, preferably 10:1 most preferably at least 20:1. 
     
     
         26 . A pile as in  claim 22  comprising an insert interposing between adjacent piles in order to reduce the coefficient of friction between opposing faces of adjacent piles, thereby promoting sliding of one pile with respect to another. 
     
     
         27 . A pile for use in pile driving comprises: a polygonal and tubular pile having an aperture in at least one face, which in use receives a fastener so as to permit relative displacement of the pile with respect to an adjacent pile to which the fastener is attached; and holes which in use receive a bolt for connecting another pile, about the same axis, and which arrests axial displacement with respect to the two coaxial piles 
     
     
         28 . A method of driving a pile into a piece of ground, comprising the steps of: arranging a series of polygonal piles, one adjacent another, on the surface of the ground; connecting adjacent piles one to another, by way of a fastener that passes through slots in the adjacent piles; driving a first pile into the ground to a depth limited by the travel of the fastener in the slot of a pile; and driving the adjacent pile into the ground. 
     
     
         29 . A method of driving a pile to form a pile wall system into a piece of ground, comprising the steps of: arranging a series of piles, as defined in any of claim, one adjacent another, on the surface of the ground; securing adjacent piles one to another, using a fastener that passes through slots provided in the piles; driving a pile into the ground to a depth limited by the travel of the fastener in the slot defined in said driven pile and the slot defined in an adjacent pile; and driving the adjacent pile into the ground. 
     
     
         30 . A method of driving a pile in accordance with  claim 28  includes the step of excavating or compacting sub soil below an edge of the pile that is at the lowest point in the soil as the pile is being driven. 
     
     
         31 . A method of driving a pile wall system in accordance with  claim 28  includes use of impact breaking. 
     
     
         32 . A method of driving a pile wall system in accordance with  claim 29  includes use of a vibration. 
     
     
         33 . A method of driving a pile wall system in accordance with  claim 29  includes use of a plate that is shaped so that it is generally hexagonal and sits within the footprint of a pile. 
     
     
         34 . A method of driving a pile walling system into the ground comprising the steps of: arranging a plurality of polygonal piles, side by side; connecting the piles together using a fastener passed through slots or apertures provided in first and at least an adjacent second pile; driving the first pile into the ground to a depth limited by the travel of the fastener in the aperture; driving the second pile into the ground; attaching a third pile atop the first pile and attaching a fourth pile atop the second pile, connecting the third and fourth piles together using a fastener passed through slots or apertures provided in the third and the adjacent fourth pile; driving the fourth and second piles to a depth limited by the travel of the fasteners in the slots of adjacent piles; driving the first and third piles further into the ground and repeating this process to achieve the desired length of wall or barrier of piles. 
     
     
         35 . A method of constructing a pile wall system including the steps of securing one or more tiers of piles to exposed top of previously driven piles in accordance with either of  claim 34 . 
     
     
         36 . A retaining wall comprises contiguous modular containers, which are capable of receiving fluids to prevent floods. 
     
     
         37 - 39 . (canceled)