US3630037A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arctic piles
Assignee: BP America Production Co
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Filing: 1970-07-15
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Piles are used quite widely in the Arctic to support buildings and structures. However, in many areas the piles are forced upwardly by the thawing and refreezing of the surrounding earth. I solve this problem of pile heaving by placing a rubberlike sleeve around the pile. The lower end of the rubber sleeve is fastened to the pile below the thaw zone. The upper end of the rubber sleeve is sealingly and slideably fitted about the pile above the surface. The cavity between the sleeve and the pile is filled with a viscous nonfreezing liquid. The heaving force which would ordinarily act on the pile now acts only on the rubber sleeve.
Inventors
- 👤 George C Howard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:51
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D5/00; E02D5/22; E02D5/226; E02D5/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A pile assembly for setting in a permafrost formation which comprises: an elongated rigid member; an elastic impermeable sleeve surrounding a portion of said elongated member; first sealing means sealing one end of said sleeve and fixed to said elongated member; second sealing means placed about said pile at the other end of said sleeve, said second sealing means being slideably mounted on said elongated member, the other end of said sleeve being sealingly attached to said second sealing means; means to inject a fluid between the said sleeve and the said elongated member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A pile assembly for setting in a permafrost formation which comprises: an elongated rigid member; an elastic impermeable sleeve surrounding a portion of said elongated member; first sealing means sealing one end of said sleeve and fixed to said elongated member; second sealing means placed about said pile at the other end of said sleeve, said second sealing means being slideably mounted on said elongated member, the other end of said sleeve being sealingly attached to said second sealing means; means to inject a fluid between the said sleeve and the said elongated member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pile assembly as defined in claim 1 including an enclosed container and a flow line connecting said container to the interior of said sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pile assembly as defined in claim 1 with conduit means connecting the interior of said sleeve with the exterior and a relief valve in said conduit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A pile assembly as defined in claim 3 including an enclosed container and a flow line connecting the outlet of said pressure regulator to said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pile assembly as described in claim 3 including a viscous fluid and having a freezing point less than about 90* below zero.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A pile assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said second sealing means includes a first ring member, seal means between said first ring member and said pile, a conduit means extending from the interior of said sleeve through said first ring member to the exterior thereof, a valve and a pressure regulator in said conduit means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pile assembly as described in claim 1 including a latching groove in the exterior wall of said elongated member above said first sealing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A pile assembly as defined in claim 6 including a third sealing means having a second ring member of smaller diameter than said first ring member, and latching dogs biased inwardly carried by said second ring member to engage said latching groove of said elongated member; a replacement sleeve attached to said second ring member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A pile assembly as described in claim 1 including means to place said sleeve in longitudinal tension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A pile assembly as described in claim 1 in which the upper end of said elongated member includes a spool member which is detachably attached to the remaining portion of the said elongated rigid member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of setting a pile assembly in a permafrost formation in which said pile assembly includes an elongated member, and elastic impermeable sleeve surrounding a portion of the elongated member which comprises: drilling a hole in said permafrost formation to a depth greater than the thaw line; securing the lower end of said sleeve in a fixed position about the lower end of said elongated member, the distance from said point of securing said sleeve to lower end of the elongated member being of a less dimension than the depth of the hole below said thaw line; placing said elongated member and said sleeve in said hole so that the lower end of said sleeve is below said thaw line; sealing the upper end of said sleeve in a sliding relationship with said elongated member; placing a viscous fluid within said sleeve.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of setting a pile assembly in a permafrost formation in which said pile assembly includes an elongated member, and elastic impermeable sleeve surrounding a portion of the elongated member which comprises: drilling a hole in said permafrost formation to a depth greater than the thaw line; securing the lower end of said sleeve in a fixed position about the lower end of said elongated member, the distance from said point of securing said sleeve to lower end of the elongated member being of a less dimension than the depth of the hole below said thaw line; placing said elongated member and said sleeve in said hole so that the lower end of said sleeve is below said thaw line; sealing the upper end of said sleeve in a sliding relationship with said elongated member; placing a viscous fluid within said sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 11 including the step of applying longitudinal tension to said sleeve while said pile is lowered into said hole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3180099A
Cited
US3370432A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |