Pre-assembled timber piling

Abstract

A pre-assembled timber piling capable of being handled, transported and installed in the same manner as a single piece piling. The upper and lower wood members are connected with a metal plate(s) located on the exterior of the piling at the joint and may include additional components for alignment or reinforcement. Said timber piling may be pre-assembled with a specialized machine capable of aligning, shaping, connecting, inspecting and/or testing the piling.

1 . A pre-assembled wood piling consisting of two or more wood members connected together by a metal plate(s) in such a fashion as to permit handling, transportation and installation in the same manner as a single piece piling. 
     
     
         2 . The pre-assembled wood piling of  claim 1  assembled with a connection consisting of one or more metal plate(s) placed radially around the axis of the wood members at the splice point. Said metal plate(s) may be used in conjunction with:
 a plurality of fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, and the like; 
 a central dowel pin located along the axis of the members; 
 a central dowel pin having a threaded or otherwise deformed surface; 
 integrally formed prongs in the metal plate(s) which press into the wood members. 
 
     
     
         3 . The pre-assembled wood piling of  claim 2  having the metal plate(s) pre-formed such that only a portion of the metal plate(s) is in contact with the wood members in the unassembled condition so as to provide additional compression forces on the surface of the wood members when deformed by the fasteners into the assembled position. 
     
     
         4 . The preassembled wood piling of  claim 2  having the metal plate(s) spirally wrapped around the wood members in one or more wraps. 
     
     
         5 . A connector for joining multiple wood members into a pre-assembled wood piling consisting of one or more metal plates placed radially around the axis of the wood members at the splice point. Said connector may be used in conjunction with:
 a plurality of fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, and the like;   a central dowel pin located along the axis of the wood members;   a central dowel pin having a threaded or otherwise deformed surface;   integrally formed prongs in the metal plate which press into the wood members.   
     
     
         6 . The connector described in  claim 2  with the metal plate(s) pre-formed such that only a portion of the metal plate(s) is in contact with the wood members in the unassembled condition so as to provide additional compression forces on the surface of the wood members when deformed by the fasteners into the assembled position. 
     
     
         7 . The connector described in  claim 2  with the metal plate(s) spirally wrapped around the wood members in one or more wraps. 
     
     
         8 . A machine for pre-assembling wood pilings consisting of one or more of the following:
 device(s) for aligning and/or rotating the wood members to be joined;   device(s) for forming to a specific shape each end of the wood section to be spliced;   device(s) for placing and/or clamping the connector(s);   device(s) for installing a plurality of fasteners through the plate(s) into the wood;   device(s) for drilling a centered axial hole in each wood member;   device(s) for pressing a pin into the axial holes described above;   device(s) for inspecting/testing the pre-assembled piling.   
     
     
         9 . The machine in  claim 8  but adapted to be portable such that pre-assembled pilings could be fabricated near the installation site.