Pile coupling for helical pile/torqued in pile

Abstract

A pile includes a first pile section having a first end that engages a supporting medium and an opposing second end. A first end of a second pile section is engageable with the second end of the first pile section, each of the first and second pile sections having mating end fittings that create an interlocking fit. A sleeve overlays the first and second engaged ends of the first and second pile sections. At least one through hole aligned with at least one corresponding through hole of the first pile section is sized for receiving a fastener for securing the sleeve to the first pile section. In another version, the ends of the pile section are engaged in contact while the overlaying sleeve has a pair of interlocking sleeve or coupler portions that are configured to provide torsional resistance. Additional pile sections can be sequentially attached to the second pile section.

1 . A pile comprising:
 a first pile section defined by a first end that is configured for engaging a supporting medium and an opposing second end;   a second pile section having a first end engageable with the second end of the first pile section, each of the first and second pile sections having mating end fittings that create an interlocking fit; and   a sleeve sized to overlay the first and second engaged ends of the first and second pile sections, the sleeve having at least one through hole aligned with at least one corresponding through hole of the first pile section, the at least one through hole being sized for receiving a fastener for securing the sleeve to the first pile section.   
     
     
         2 . The pile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mating end fittings are defined by irregular cuts in the circumference of the pile section ends, such that the irregular cuts of the first pile section match those of the second pile section to create the interlocking fit with one another. 
     
     
         3 . The pile as recited in  claim 1 , in which the sleeve is secured to the second pile section. 
     
     
         4 . The pile as recited in  claim 3 , in which the sleeve is secured to the first pile section. 
     
     
         5 . The pile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first pile section includes a driving tip. 
     
     
         6 . The pile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first pile section includes helical fighting. 
     
     
         7 . The pile as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an additional pile section sequentially attached to a second end of the second pile section, wherein a first end of the additional pile section and the second end of the second pile section further include mating end fittings that create an interlocking fit when the second and additional pile sections are engaged. 
     
     
         8 . The pile as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one additional sleeve that is sized to overlay the connected ends of the second and additional pile sections, the sleeve including at least one set of through holes for receiving a fastener attached to the second pile section. 
     
     
         9 . The pile as recited in  claim 1 , in which one of the first or second pile sections includes a plurality of spaced teeth and the other of the first or second pile section includes a plurality of recesses that are sized to receive the spaced teeth of the first pile to create the interlocking fit. 
     
     
         10 . The pile as recited in  claim 9 , in which each of the teeth and recesses are angled relative to a primary axis of the pile shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The pile as recited in  claim 9 , in which each of the teeth have a shape in the form of a parallelogram with the exception of a distal end having a laterally extending feature and in which the corresponding recesses are shaped to receive the teeth including the laterally extending feature. 
     
     
         12 . A pile comprising:
 a first pile section defined by a first end that is configured for engaging a supporting medium and an opposing second end;   a second pile section having a first end engageable with the second end of the first pile section; and   a sleeve sized to overlay the first and second engaged ends of the first and second pile sections to permit interconnection of the pile sections, the sleeve having at least one through hole aligned with at least one corresponding through hole of the first pile section, the at least one through hole being sized for receiving a fastener for securing the sleeve to the first pile section and in which the sleeve is defined by a pair of sleeve portions, each sleeve portion having a mating fitting at one end that creates an interlocking fit when the sleeve portions are engaged with one another.   
     
     
         13 . The pile as recited in  claim 12 , in which the mating fittings of each sleeve portion are defined by a plurality of spaced irregular cuts in the circumference. 
     
     
         14 . The pile as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one of the pair of sleeve portions is secured to the first pile section and the other sleeve portion is secured to the second pile section. 
     
     
         15 . The pile as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first pile section includes a driving tip. 
     
     
         16 . The pile as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first pile section includes helical fighting. 
     
     
         17 . The pile as recited in  claim 12 , in which one of the pair of sleeve portions includes a plurality of spaced teeth and the other sleeve portion includes a plurality of recesses that are sized to receive the spaced teeth in order to create the interlocking fit. 
     
     
         18 . The pile as recited in  claim 12 , in which each of the teeth and recesses are angled relative to a primary axis of the pile shaft when attached thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The pile as recited in  claim 12 , in which each of the teeth have a shape in the form of a parallelogram with the exception of a distal end having a laterally extending feature and in which the corresponding recesses are shaped to receive the teeth, including the laterally extending feature. 
     
     
         20 . The pile as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional pile section sequentially attached to a second end of the second pile section, wherein a first end of the additional pile section and the second end of the second pile section are engaged; and   at least one additional sleeve that is sized to overlay the connected ends of the second and additional pile section, the sleeve including at least one set of through holes for receiving a fastener attached to the second pile section and in which the at least one additional sleeve is defined by a pair of engaged sleeve portions, each sleeve portion having a mating fitting at one end that creates an torque resistant and interlocking fit when the sleeve portions are engaged.