Improvements in and relating to pile foundations

Abstract

A pile ( 270 ) within a bore ( 110 ) comprises a column ( 250 ). The column ( 250 ) comprises a stack of a plurality of pile sections ( 300 ) arranged end-to-end within the bore ( 110 ). There is a cured material ( 260 ) between at least a part of an outside surface of the column ( 250 ) and the surface of the bore ( 110 ). The cured material, for example grout, may be provided through channels in the pile sections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a pile within a bore, the method comprising:
 stacking a plurality of hollow pile sections end-to-end within the bore to form a column, there being a gap between at least a part of an outside surface of the column and the surface of the bore;   filling the gap with a curable liquid material; and   curing the liquid material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pile sections are tubular pile sections, preferably having the same inner diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further include the preceding step of joining together a plurality of section components to form each pile section. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the curable liquid material is grout. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of pouring the curable liquid material directly into the gap. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the method including the step of directing the curable liquid material into the gap through channels in the pile sections. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A pile within a bore, comprising:
 a column comprising a stack of a plurality of hollow pile sections arranged end-to-end within the bore, and   a cured material between at least a part of an outside surface of the column and the surface of the bore.   
     
     
         9 . The pile within a bore of  claim 8 , wherein the column tapers in width. 
     
     
         10 . The pile within a bore of  claim 8 , wherein the pile sections comprise elements at each of their axial ends, the axial end elements being sized and shaped to interlock with the corresponding axial end elements of another of the pile sections. 
     
     
         11 . The pile within a bore of  claim 8 , wherein the pile sections include channels configured to allow the transport of a curable liquid material along the length of the column. 
     
     
         12 . The pile within a bore of  claim 8 , wherein the pile sections are pre-fabricated concrete. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The pile within a bore of  claim 8 , wherein the pile is load-bearing within a building. 
     
     
         15 . A kit of parts for forming a pile within a bore, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of pile sections, wherein
 the plurality of hollow pile sections are configured to be stacked end-to-end 
 to form a column, the number of pile sections corresponds to a length of the 
 column, said length being equal to at least half of the depth of the bore; and 
   a curable liquid material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , further including the preceding step of joining together a plurality of section components to form each pile section. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the curable liquid material is grout. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 4 , including the step of pouring the curable liquid material directly into the gap. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 5 , the method including the step of directing the curable liquid material into the gap through channels in the pile sections. 
     
     
         20 . The pile within a bore of  claim 9 , wherein the pile sections comprise elements at each of their axial ends, the axial end elements being sized and shaped to interlock with the corresponding axial end elements of another of the pile sections. 
     
     
         21 . The pile within a bore of  claim 10 , wherein the pile sections include channels configured to allow the transport of a curable liquid material along the length of the column. 
     
     
         22 . The pile within a bore of  claim 11 , wherein the pile sections are pre-fabricated concrete.