Systems and methods for pile repair

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for repairing and/or replacing a pile. In a specific embodiment, a system for repairing a pile includes: an elevating sleeve, where the elevating sleeve includes a top, a bottom, and a contiguous side wall spanning between the top and bottom, where the top is substantially closed, and the bottom is open, where the elevating sleeve is configured to fit over a top of a pile to be repaired, and where the elevating sleeve includes an input port and output port; one or more seals, where at least one seal includes an outer diameter shaped to fit within the elevating sleeve at or near the bottom of the elevating sleeve and an inner diameter to fit over the top of the pile to be repaired; one or more plugs; and a pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for repairing a pile comprising:
 an elevating sleeve, wherein the elevating sleeve comprises a top, a bottom, and a contiguous side wall spanning between the top and bottom, wherein the top is substantially closed, and the bottom is open, wherein the elevating sleeve is configured to fit over a top of a pile to be repaired, and wherein the elevating sleeve comprises an input port and output port;   one or more seals, wherein at least one seal comprises an outer diameter shaped to fit within the elevating sleeve at or near the bottom of the elevating sleeve and an inner diameter to fit over the top of the pile to be repaired;   one or more plugs; and   a pump.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising filler material, wherein the filler material is selected from grout and cement. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an insert, wherein the insert comprises: a top and a bottom and a side wall spanning between the top and bottom, wherein the top is substantially closed, and the bottom is opened, wherein the insert is configured to fit over a top of a pile to be repaired, and wherein when said replacement pile is of sufficient length that the insert is coupled to the building structure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a valve, wherein the valve is coupled to the input port, and wherein the valve is positioned exterior the elevating sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . A method of repairing a pile comprising:
 coupling a cap member to a surface of a pile this is to be repaired;   positioning an elevating sleeve over the cap member and under a structure that is supported by the pile that is to be repaired to form an interior space, wherein the elevating sleeve has an input port and output port disposed thereon, wherein the output port has a first valve, and wherein the input port has a second valve;   injecting one or more filler materials through the input port into the interior space of the elevating sleeve, wherein the injecting of the filler material is performed while the first valve of the output port is open;   closing the first valve of the output port;   injecting one or more filler materials through the input port into the interior space of the elevating sleeve to a desired pressure;   stopping the injection of the filler material; and   closing the second valve of the input port.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the method provides a constant linear expansion between a pile to be repaired and a structure that the pile is supporting. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the filler material is selected from grout and cement. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when implemented by one or more computers, causes the one or more computers to:
 receive an input of data from a user;   receive a signal from one or more sensors, wherein the sensors are selected from pressure sensors, flow rate sensors, weight sensors, temperature sensor, positioning sensors, accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes;   positioning an elevating sleeve over the cap member and under a structure that is supported by the pile that is to be repaired to form an interior space, wherein the elevating sleeve has an input port and output port disposed thereon;   injecting one or more filler materials through the input port into the interior space of the elevating sleeve to a desired pressure; and   stopping the injection of the filler material.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising sending a value of a pressure of the internal space to a display unit. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the filler material is selected from grout and cement.