Sheet piling

Feb. 13, 1940. η. m. knight 2,189,804

SHEET FILING

Filed May 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR

HerbertM.Knight

BY

ΑΤΓΟΙ

Feb. 13, 1940.

Η. M. KNIGHT

SHEET FILING

Filed May 14, 1938

2,189,804

Sheets-Sheet 2

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INVENTOR

Herbert M.Knight

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Feb. 13, 1940.

Η. M. KNIGHT

SHEET PILING

Filed May 14, 1938

2,189,804

Sheets-Sheet 3

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INVENTOR

HerbertM.Knight

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Patented Feb. 13, 1940

2,189,804

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2.189,804 SHEET PILING Herbert M. Knight, Montclair, N. J.

Application May 14, 1938, Serial No. 208,052

Claims.

This invention applies to improvements in sheet piling, and has particular reference to sheet piling of steel, or other metal.

One of the objects of this invention is a sheet β pile which is fully articulated. Another object of the invention is a sheet pile which has a restraining groove as a component part thereof. Another object of the invention is a sheet pile which can be fastened to. other and adjacent 10 piles by a key. Still another object of the invention is a sheet pile, through the body of which a wash-pipe can be readily introduced by means of which to more easily and quickly sink the said pile. A further object of the invention is 18 a sheet pile which one, or a multiple of re-entrant grooves as a component part thereof. Another object of the invention is a sheet pile in which the re-entrant grooves are produced by means of lugs. Still another object of the invention is 20 a sheet pile which readily produces small piers or anchorages. Another object of the invention is a sheet pile structure in which the piling is lapped. Still another object of the invention is a sheet pile which automatically positions itself 25 with relation to other and adjacent piles. A further object of the invention is a sheet pile structure in which the individual piles are loosely bound together for ease and rapidity of : driving, and which are subsequently firmly and tightly 30 united into a rigid structure. Other objects of the invention will· be disclosed by the accompanying drawings and specifications.

While the accompanying drawings illustrate the usual and preferred embodiment of the in35 vention, they are not to be construed as representing all of the forms in which the invention may be embodied, nor as excluding such forms as have not been shown.

I illustrate my invention by the accompanying 40 drawings in which Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a portion of a sheet pile showing the formation of the re-entrant groove after the U-portion of the groove has been formed, and before the closing of the throat of said groove; Fig. 2 is a cross45 section of the re-entrant groove after the said groove has been fully formed, and indicating the process by which said groove is completed; Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a straight sheet pile, arid Fig. 4 is a cross-section of an arch sheet pile; όθ Fig. 5 is a section of a portion of a sheet-pile cofferdam, in which a curved-straight type of sheet pile is indicated; Fig. 6 is an elevation of a grooved key, employed in such sheet-pile construction, on the line 6—6 of Fig. 7 ; Fig. 7 is a 55 cross-section of such a key on the line 7—7 of (Cl. 61—60)

Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a section of a curvilinear sheetpile pier; Fig. 9 is a section of such a pier, used as an anchorage in a straight line cofferdam; Fig. 10 is a section of such a pier as a Corner anchorage for such a cofferdam; Fig. 11 is a sec- 5 tion on the line 11—11 of Fig. 12, showing' the method of. application of a wash-pipe for the washing down and driving of such sheet piling; Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12—12 of Fig. 11, illustrating such application; Fig. 13 is a coffer- 10 dam, showing the application-.of such sheet piles, as walls, piers and anchorages; Fig, 14 is a crosssection at the point Of jointing of adjacent piles of different dimensions; Fig, 15 is a cross-section of a joint, indicating the use of a positioning ίί key; Fig. 16 is a side elevation of: such a positioning key; Fig. 17 is a section showing an angle connection and Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section of a straight-arched sheet-pile revetment.

Referring to the drawings in which similar numbers refer to similar parts:

I is the body portion of a sheet pile; 2 is a U-protuberance or crimp thereon, which, with lugs 3; form a, re-entrant groove 4. Bulbs 5, of keys 6, are encased iri said grooves. Positioning 25 beads 7, serve to locate the assembled piles longitudinally of a structure. Arch piles 8, arid curved piles 9, are examples of irregular, piling. Grooves 10, are in the peripheries Of keys. Piers I I, and anchors 12, are examples of the use of 30 assembled piles. Fillets 13, are formed on the lugs. Wash-pipes 14, are inserted into the grooves, and half-keys 15, serve to hold said pipes in position. Slots 16, receive arid house the wash-pipes, and shortened U-protuberances 35 17, permit the lugs and the body of the pile to enter the foot Ϊ8, of the pile driving hammer. A cofferdam 19, is formed of piers, anchorages and surrounding sheet piles; Positioning keys 20, have holes 21, therein, into Which pins 22, are 40 drifted for holding and withdrawing said positioning keys. Angular connections 23, permit of deflections. Mandrels 24 are phantomly indicated as showing their employment in fashioning the re-entrant grooves. 45

As usually constructed, a steel sheet pile consists-of a plate, having a re-entrant groove along one edge, and a slight spread bulb along the opposite edge; this bulb being- adapted to be inserted into the groove of a juxtaposed pile. 50 When so introduced the result is' a continuous sheet of metal, strongly arid tightly joined, surrounding and ;protecting some structure, or some projected structure. In the placing of such piling it becomes necessary to elevate each single 55

2,189,804 pile making up the completed structure, sufficiently high, so that the bulb and groove may register, and the added pile slip down to its position, with the bulb inserted in the said groove. 5 In order that tightness may result, there is little play between the bulb and the groove, and the raising, registering and sliding, above referred to, is a hard job, requiring skill, power and patience. When sheet piles become extra 10 long, these processes become exceedingly tedious, difficult and costly.

Often such piling has to be driven in location and soils where resistance to driving is great, necessitating additional methods, such as wash15 ing by hydraulic means, under pressure, in order to break up the resisting soil and permit the driving to continue to a satisfactory point. When such washing is desirable or necessary, washpipes have to be hung from the exterior of the 20 pile, or suspended by some impermanent means, there being no provision in, or on such piles by means of which said wash-piping can be readily or skillfully applied or held.

It also often occurs that such sheet piling is 25 only of a temporary character, introduced in order to permit of safe and expeditious building of a permanent structure, after the completion of which the sheet piling must be withdrawn. This withdrawing is always a very difficult and 30 costly process, the expense of which is rarely realized and provided for in advance, as the resistance to withdrawal is always an unknown and unpredictable item. Often the piling upon such withdrawal is found to be so badly bent 35 and distorted as to be worthless for use in any subsequent location.

This invention overcomes all of the undesirable elements above referred to, and produces a sheet-piling construction of superior line and 40 tightness, and which, because of its great flexibility, can be used to produce smaller structures, such as piers and anchorages, either separately, or as parts of other constructions, a condition impossible with other forms of sheet piling.

The invention consists in the formation of a re-entrant groove, or of grooves, longitudinal of the piles, either on the same side or on opposite sides of the pile, these grooves being either a short distance from the edge of the piles or at

B0 any point along the face of said pile. This groove is formed in the process of rolling the pile, the ingot or bloom passing successively through the rolls until a U, or a form similar thereto has been created, protruding outwardly Be from the face or faces of the pile being formed.

While the U is being formed upon one face, two short lugs are being developed upon the opposite face of the pile, in opposition to the location of the U. After the formation of the projecting 50 U and the depending lugs, the lugs are bent backward toward the U and parallel to the face of the pile, a special mandrel being employed during the passage of the pile to restrain the metal and to produce the desired form of groove. The 65 lengths of the lugs are so proportioned as that when in their final, alined position, their ends do not touch, but a short space interposes' between the ends of the alined lugs, such space being slightly in excess of the thickness of the 70 shank of the key to be used in fastening the individual piles together. The bending back of the lugs upon the pile creates the re-entrant groove, having a throat, or opening, between the ends of the lugs, and a body, closed, except for &lt;IB said throat, formed by the U protruding out wardly from the face of the pile. The proportions and form of the U and of the lugs is adjusted, so that any excess material required by the subsequent backward bending and alining of the lugs, is provided by means of fillets at the 5 points where the legs of the U meet the body of the pile. The U is hereinafter, in the claims, designated as “crimps,” in order to definitely describe the form and the method of formation.

The piles can be rolled as straight piles, or as 10 arched (that is, having a full trapezoidal form), straight arched (that is, having a slight offset at one end, in order to give a practically straight line of piling), or curved to any arc of any radius, the form of the U and of the clearances 15 being such that any type of pile can be used, and United with any other type, and with other sizes, widths, and thicknesses, the system admitting of complete interchangeableness.

It is apparent that each pile of a revetment, or 20 other construction, composed of this type of pile, is a unit by itself; that it is not rigidly, nor remotely rigidly confined or fastened to an adjacent or juxtaposed unit in placing or driving, and that in such setting and driving there is such freedom 25 of movement as does not bind or hinder the driving of a pile by reason of its position with reference to other and adjacent piles. At the same time, the pile, by reason of the keys, is, subsequent to driving, so firmly fixed in position as 30 to secure rigidity and tightness.

The method of procedure in setting and driving these piles is as follows: The piles are placed in a vertical position, the edge of each pile being in contact with the positioning bead of the ad- ^s5jacent pile, which brings the throats of the reentrant grooves of the lapped portions of the piles in alinement. A positioning key, a long key which loosely fits the throat and hollow of the grooves, is then dropped into the alined grooves, 4° its purpose being to hold these lapped adjacent piles in approximate definite and precise location, while the piles are being driven. This positioning key is handled and held by means of pins inserted in holes in the positioning key. When the 45 piles have been fully driven this loosely fitting temporary key is removed, and a more closely fitting permanent key is substituted in its place.

In case the pile is to be “washed” during driving, this loosely fitting key is substituted by a 50 special key, one side of which is solid and is located in the groove of the pile not being driven, while the other side of the said key is hollow and is inserted in the groove of the pile being driven, this hollow section constituting the “wash-pipe,” 55 and which is carried to a depth, at, or nearly at, the bottom of the pile, at which point, the water, under pressure is discharged with sufficient force to loosen the soil and aid in the rapid and easy descent of the pile. As such grooves and wash- 60 pipes are usually in multiple, it is evident that there is a very uniform distribution of this lubricating liquid, a condition which makes easier and more equable the driving, and which does not require such high pressures as are necessary 65 where a single· wash-pipe, at or near one end of the pile, is the sole and only means of loosening the ground. As soon as the pile has reached the desired depth, the temporary loosely fitting keys a,re withdrawn, and the final, permanent, tightly 70 fitting key is inserted and driven down to full depth. This final key fully fills the re-entrant groove as regards its longitudinal diameter. It presses against the lugs of both piles, forcing them closely together, so as to produce a water- 75

2,189,804 tight fit, and firmly bind both piles together. These permanent piles are usually grooved around their bulbs, the purpose of such grooving being to form a clutch for use if, arid when, withdrawal ^δ of the key is necessary, and also as a carrying and fastening means, if, and when, a cemeintitious filler is desired as between the keys and the grooves.

In order to make this type of pile fully inter 10 changeable, the spacing of the grooves and beads is such that any pile can be used in connection with any similar type of the same pile, and in any position as regards top or bottom, that .is the distance of beads and grooves from the edges is ³⁵ such that any single pile can be used inone, or in a reversed position, and will fit the structure⁷ and adjacent piles accurately and satisfactorily, without modification or adjustment.

In order to give greater facility inthe position²⁰ ing of the hammers of pile-drivers, and not . interfere with the foot of such hammers, the .ends of the U projections are cut off below the ends of the piles, as is indicated in Fig. 12, permitting the foot of the hammer to rest upon the top of ²⁶ . the. pile directly and without interference from such projections. Usually the foot is provided with a slot into which the top of the pile descends sufficiently to permit the pile to contact with the bottom of such slot, the foot exterior thereto resting upon the top of the shortened U-projections, thereby giving the foot a bearing on both the top of the body of the pile and upon the shortened U-projection as well. As both ends of the pile have their projections shortened, it is ⁸⁸ possible, as noted above, to use the piles interchangeably.

It is often necessary to wash the piles down. This is easily done in this type of pile, by slotting _ the top of the grooves sufficiently to permit the wash-pipe to drop into the slot, below, and removed from interference with the foot of the pile driving hammer, the said wash-pipe, with its attendant half key, hanging in the re-entrant groove, and suspended in and by the slot, sinking « with the pile as it descends under the blows of the hammer.

It has previously been noted that this type of pile can be assembled, ready for driving, without the necessity of sliding the edge of one pile upon N) and along the edge of an adjacent pile. In order to facilitate and expedite the assembling of this type of pile, the piles are rolled with a longitudinal positioning bead, so located as that when the edge of a pile being placed, is brought into contact with the positioning bead of an adjacent pile, the throats of juxtaposed grooves will be in alinement, and keys, either positioning or permanent, can be inserted quickly and without difficulty. At the same time such positioning ii'i beads prevent the side-slipping of the piles while being driven, and materially assist in the production of a perfect line of piling.

The type of pile covered by this invention yields itself fully to the construction of permanent &lt;s·- structures, such as piers or anchorages. Such piers or anchorages may be of any desired form, curvilinear, rectangular or irregular, the pile adapting itself automatically to the plan. Such piers may be sufficiently small to constitute a . single pile, driven at one operation, or they may be large, requiring the driving of a multiple of piles, each pile independently. Subsequent to driving, these piers may be filled with concrete, or any other form of construction may be installed, 75 dependent upon the form, area and extent of the surrounding piling. In the case of large cofferdams, subject to heavy heads; their use as comer anchorages or as intermediate piers, is applicable, such anchorages and piers being formed of piles of this type arid form, with extensions to which ⁶straight line sheeting can be connected without special or costly appurtenances. Such connection between said anchorages and said piers may be rectilinear or angular, and at any angle, right or obtuse without modification of the essential ³⁰elements of design or use. .

In many locations where angular connection is required, it is neither necessary, desirable Or possible to place piers or anchorages. In such cases bent pile sections^ in all respects similar, as re- ³⁸gards grooves and keys, are connected to straight pile sections, driven in similar manner to all piles, and. connected together by keys, all in regular manner and form of procedure, and Without requiring expensive special sections to meet each ²⁰individual need. Such angular connections are clearly indicated by Fig. 17.

Where the use of the piling is temporary, with the necessity of .subsequent withdrawal, this type of pile will be found to be particularly well adapt- ²⁸ed. Withdrawing the keys, which can be easily and quickly accomplished by attaching some form of clutch to the grooves of the keys, releases the piles so that each pile is an individual unit, no longer rigidly fastened to the adjacent units, so ⁸⁰that each pile can be lifted from its position independently, and without interference from such adjacent piles, uninjured, and capable of immediate use in other and similar situations.

Another advantage possessed by this type of ⁸⁸piling is, that, due to the fact that at joints adjacent piles are lapped in order that the juxtaposed grooves may aline, the lapped portions of each pile can be of less thickness than the body of the pile, thereby securing a lighter pile with- ⁴⁰out reduction in the strength of the complete pile driven structure. It will be seen that a single pile of varying thickness may be employed, as well as piles of varying thickness in combination.