Pile Splice Assemblies, Pile Systems Involving Such Assemblies and Methods for Splicing Piles

Abstract

Pile splice assemblies, pile systems involving such assemblies and methods for splicing piles are provided. In this regard, a representative method includes: using strand locking devices to attach first and second anchors to respective strands of first and second piles; and securing the first and second anchors to each other.

1 . A pile splice assembly for use with prestressed concrete piles, the piles having strands extending the lengths of the piles, said pile splice assembly comprising:
 first and second pile anchors, each of said anchors having a plurality of anchor holes and a plurality of splice holes formed therethrough, each of said anchor holes being positioned to align with a corresponding one of the strands;   strand locking devices operative to attach said first pile anchor to the first pile and to attach said second pile anchor to the second pile, each of said strand locking devices having wedges, each of said anchor holes being sized and shaped to receive a corresponding one of said strand locking devices such that corresponding ones of said wedges engage corresponding ones of the strands; and   fasteners, each of said fasteners being sized and shaped to mount through a corresponding pair of said splice holes such that said first and second pile anchors are secured to each other in an overlying relationship via said fasteners with the prestressed concrete piles extending outwardly along a common axis from said first and second pile anchors.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said strand locking devices is a chuck having a chuck body and chuck jaws. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said chuck body has external threads; and   a corresponding one of said anchor holes is defined by a corresponding internally-threaded aperture sized and shaped to engage the external threads of said chuck body.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said chuck body is integrally formed with said first anchor. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first anchor is a substantially planar plate formed of metal. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said fasteners comprises a bolt and nut. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said splice holes are positioned adjacent corners of said anchors; and   said fasteners comprise pairs of fasteners such that each of said corners mounts a corresponding one of said pairs of fasteners.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said anchor holes are uniformly spaced about said anchors. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising guide pins operative to align said first and second anchors relative to each other. 
     
     
         10 . A pile system comprising:
 first and second prestressed concrete piles, each of the piles having strands extending respective lengths thereof;   a pile splice assembly having first and second pile anchors and chucks;   each of the anchors having a plurality of anchor holes formed therethrough, each of the anchor holes being positioned to align with a corresponding one of the strands;   the chucks being operative to attach the first pile anchor to the first pile and to attach the second pile anchor to the second pile, each of the chucks having a chuck body and chuck jaws, each of the anchor holes being sized and shaped to receive a corresponding one of the chucks such that corresponding chuck jaws engage corresponding ones of the strands;   the first and second anchors being operative to secure together such that the prestressed concrete piles are spliced together in an end-to-end relationship.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 each of the anchors has a plurality of splice holes formed therethrough; and   the system further comprises fasteners, each of the fasteners being sized and shaped to mount through a corresponding pair of the splice holes such that the first and second pile anchors are securable to each other in an overlying relationship via the fasteners.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the prestressed concrete piles extend outwardly along a common axis from the first and second pile anchors. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first prestressed concrete pile has fastener pockets located at a first end thereof, the fastener pockets being configured as recessed portions of the first end such that each of the fastener pockets forms a corresponding void between the first anchor and the first end, each of the fastener pockets being sized and shaped to facilitate attachment of a mechanical fastener to the first anchor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a setting device operative to set jaws of the chucks for attaching the anchors to the piles. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the strand chuck setting device comprises a setting component and a hydraulic actuator operative to move the setting component. 
     
     
         16 . A method for splicing prestressed concrete piles comprising:
 using strand locking devices to attach first and second anchors to respective strands of first and second piles; and   securing the first and second anchors to each other.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, in using the strand locking devices, the strand locking devices are engaged with the strands by a hydraulic ram. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydraulic ram facilitates engagement of the strand locking devices simultaneously with the strands of the first and second piles. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, in securing the first and second anchors, the anchors are secured to each other using mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the securing comprises:
 positioning the piles in an end-to-end relationship such that the first and second anchors are adjacent each other;   mounting a guide pin to the first anchor;   positioning the piles such that the guide pin aligns with a corresponding hole in the second anchor;   removing the guide pin; and   inserting a mechanical fastener through the hole in the second anchor to secure the anchors in position relative to each other.