Systems and methods for coupling a drill rig to a screw pile

Abstract

A screw pile substructure support system comprises a tubular pile with a fixed conical tip having a helical flight thereon which draws the pile into a soil bed when a torque is applied to the pile. The tip has a substantially conical shape, and the largest diameter of the tip is substantially the same as the diameter of the tubular pile to which it is attached. The helical flight is attached to the outside surface of the tip. The tip may also be provided a point tip and one or more cutting teeth attached its surface.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An adapter assembly for coupling a drill rig to a screw pile, the adapter assembly comprising:
 an adapter configured to be attached to a drill rig head of the drill rig, wherein the drill rig is configured to drive screw piles into the ground; and   a driver tool comprising a cylindrical body having a first end coupled to the adapter and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the driver tool is configured to rotate about a pivot axis at the first end, the pivot axis being perpendicular to a centerline of the drill rig head,   wherein the second end is configured to be coupled with a section of the screw pile.   
     
     
         19 . The adapter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the second end of the driver tool is configured to fit within the section of the screw pile. 
     
     
         20 . The adapter assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising a pin, wherein the second end of the driver tool comprises a plurality of holes configured to receive the pin, wherein the section comprises a plurality of holes configured to receive the pin. 
     
     
         21 . The adapter of  claim 20 , wherein the second end holes and the section holes are configured to receive the pin when the second end holes and the section holes are aligned. 
     
     
         22 . The adapter assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a bracket attached to the first end of the driver tool. 
     
     
         23 . The adapter assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the bracket is configured to rotate about the pivot axis. 
     
     
         24 . The adapter assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a pin, wherein the first end of the driver tool comprises a plurality of holes configured to receive the pin, wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of holes configured to receive the pin. 
     
     
         25 . The adapter assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the first end holes and the bracket holes are configured to receive the pin when the first end holes and the bracket holes are aligned. 
     
     
         26 . The adapter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the adapter comprises a cylindrical body section and a circular end plate attached to an end of the cylindrical body section. 
     
     
         27 . The adapter assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the adapter further comprises a first pivot support and a second pivot support, each protruding from the end plate. 
     
     
         28 . The adapter assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a first bracket rotably coupled to the first pivot support; and   a second bracket rotably coupled to the second pivot support.   
     
     
         29 . The adapter assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are each attached to the first end of the driver tool. 
     
     
         30 . The adapter assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of pins, wherein the first end of the driver tool comprises a plurality of holes configured to receive the plurality of pins, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket each comprise a plurality of holes configured to receive the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         31 . The adapter assembly of  claim 27 :
 wherein the first pivot support is positioned near an outer edge of the circular end plate,   wherein the second pivot support is positioned near the outer edge of the circular end plate, and   wherein a position of the first pivot support along the circular end plate is about opposite to a position of the second pivot support along the circular end plate.   
     
     
         32 . The adapter assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a pile tip disposed at an end of the screw pile, the pile tip comprising:
 a tapered portion comprising a first end having a first diameter and a second end having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter and about equal to the diameter of the screw pile, and wherein the first tapered portion end is attached to the end of the screw pile; and 
 a first helical flight attached to and extending along an exterior surface of the tapered portion. 
   
     
     
         33 . The adapter assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a cylindrical shaft extending axially outward from the second tapered portion end; and   a second helical flight attached to and extending along an exterior surface of the cylindrical shaft.   
     
     
         34 . The adapter assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising an end plate fixedly attached to the second tapered portion end, the end plate having a substantially flat surface disposed perpendicular to a centerline of the screw pile. 
     
     
         35 . The adapter assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the screw pile and the pile tip are configured to be filled with concrete. 
     
     
         36 . The adapter assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the screw pile and the pile tip are configured to be installed in the ground, and once installed, to remain in the ground.