EP0056287B1

EP0056287B1 - A pile construction for fender and such like constructions

Info

Publication number: EP0056287B1
Application number: EP19820200012
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cor Groot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-01-09
Filing date: 1982-01-08
Publication date: 1984-11-07
Also published as: NL8100094A; EP0056287A1; DE3261144D1

Description

The invention relates to a pile construction by which wooden piles can be constructed in longer lengths than trees are growing.
Constructions of square wooden piles are known in which several piles are connected together by means of steel plates or profiles. Such type of connection, however, can only be used a few times for one pile and up to a maximum diameter of about 50 or 60 cm, because of the lack of elasticity at the position of the connection and the high costs for such a connection.
FR-A-2264144 describes a pile construction for use as a fender and formed of annular sections of constant inner diameter and different onter diameters, the ends of adjacent sections being directly connected together. This construction lacks however the cheapness and favourable properties of a wooden pile.
An object of the invention is primarily to obtain long lengths of piles while retaining the good elastic properties of wood. A second object of the invention is to make it possible to use short timber pieces in their natural shape, which pieces remain by the production of wood in forest and sawmill.
According to the invention the pile construction consists of timber pieces joined in the length together by means of at least one tension rod extending through holes drilled in longitudinal direction in said timber pieces, the ends of the timber pieces being sawn smooth in a plane normal to the length of said timber pieces. Normally the length of said timber pieces will lie between 100 and 200 cm, but it will be clear, that other lengths can be used as well.
By using the construction according to the invention at the same time faults present in the growing tree can be eliminated without a big loss of material.
By combining timber pieces with a different diameter the strength of a pile can be influenced in a such way that the part with the greatest diameter is situated in that part of the pile which is highest loaded, such that material can be saved.
According to the invention in the case of one hole being drilled in each of said timbers this hole will be positioned near the center of said timbers, while the diameter of said hole depends on the diameter of the tension rod to be used. After drilling a hole in each individual timber, the timbers are placed beside each other in such way that the part with the greatest diameter is situated in that part of the pile which is highest loaded, the diameter of the adjacent lying parts being gradually smaller.
After this the tension rod can be passed through the holes in the adjacent timbers for connecting the parts together.
it will be clear, that also more than one hole can be provided in each timber, so that more than one tension rod can be provided. The tension rods can have the shape of a solid steel bar or can be shaped by steel wires or by artificial material, e. g. carbon fibers and such like.
These tension rods are pre-tensioned till the desired load is obtained and can be blocked in a well known way. Attention must be paid to the fact that the plates, in particular steel plates, which transfer the load of the rod to the surface of the wood, have a sufficient surface to do so.
It is also possible to pre-tension two or more pieces together at the moment of joining of the timber pieces, which gives the opportunity to make bent constructions or piles with a break point at a pre-chosen place.
If it is desired to have a smooth outside surface of a pile, this can be obtained in a sawmill.
When wood of less durability is used a center hole in it can be filled with anti-mould and/or an insect killing and/or a rust protection medium, which medium will penetrate entirely into the material of the pile.
For an easy joining it is recommended to use an accessory like a piece of artificial tube when connecting the timber parts, by placing said piece of tube in the ends of the drilled holes.
In special cases it is possible to apply a packing material between the pieces of timber.
The invention will be explained by the description of embodiments given in the drawing, in which :

figure 1 and 2 are side elevational views of two different piles according to the invention ;
figure 3 is an exploded view of a pile according to the invention ;
figure 4 is a view of an end plate of the pile of figure 3 ; and
figure 5 is a sectional view of a piece of timber of the pile of figure 3.

The piles shown in the figures 1, 2 and 3 are composed of a number of pieces of timber 1. Each piece 1 is provided with a longitudinal hole 2 through which runs a tension rod 3. The ends of this tension rod 3 are fastened in blocks 4, which can be made of steel.
Between the blocks 4 and the end of the adjacent piece of timber 1 a plate 5, see figure 4, is provided for transferring the force exerted by the block 4 over the end surface of the piece of timber 1.
In this way in most cases it will be sufficient to use only one tension rod 3.
The diameter of the hole 2 is made such large, that the hole can contain a sufficient amount of protective liquid which will penetrate into the wood of the entire pile.
Further the top of the pile is covered by a cap 6 for protecting the tension rod 3 and the fastening block 4 for this.
In the case of the piles according to figures 1 and 2 the pieces of timber 1 with the greatest diameter are positioned at the place of the pile which will be heaviest loaded.
In the case of the pile according to figure 1 the outer surface of the pieces is worked afterwards for obtaining a smooth outer surface of the pile. In the case of the pile of figure 3 all pieces of timber have the same diameter.
It will be obvious that only some embodiments of the invention are described and that various modifications are possible without leaving the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pile construction for fender and such like constructions, which pile considered along its length is formed from a number of pieces (1), characterized in that said pieces (1) are each made of timber and are joined in the length together by means of at least one tension rod (3) extending through holes (2) drilled in longitudinal direction in said timber pieces (1), the ends of each of the timber pieces being sawn smooth in a plane normal to the length of said timber pieces (1).

2. A pile construction according to claims 1, characterized in that said timber pieces (1) have different diameters, the part with the greatest diameter being situated in that part of the pile which is highest loaded.

3. A pile construction according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that only one hole (2) is drilled in each of said timber pieces (1), which hole (2) is positioned near the center of each timber piece, the diameter of the hole depending on the diameter of the tension rod (3) which is used.

4. A pile construction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between a locking part (4) of the tension rod (3) and the adjacent surface of a timber piece (1) is positioned a metal plate (5) for transferring the load of the tension rod (3) to the surface of the timber piece (1).

5. A pile constructions according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tension rod (3) is also blocked between two of said timber pieces (1).

6. A pile construction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holes in the timber pieces are filled with anti-mould and/or an insect killer and/or a rust protection medium, which medium will penetrate entirely into the material of the pile.

7. A pile construction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outside of the pile is worked smooth over the hole or a part of its length.

8. A pile construction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a packing material is inserted between two timber pieces (1 ).