Sheet pile connecting elements for use in pipe pile retaining walls

Abstract

A weld-on connecting element fox a pipe sheet pile wall assembly includes ( 1 ) a base end configured to be welded to a pipe pile wall member, ( 2 ) an elongate neck strip having a substantially uniform width and having a length, extending from the base end along a predetermined main assembly direction (X) to an opposite end, which length is at least five times greater than said width, and ( 3 ) a claw strip provided at the opposite end having two claw strip members that form an oval-shaped lock chamber with their free ends facing each other to form an open jaw. The claw strip is adapted to partially surround and interlock with a head strip of another, matching connecting element. The space between the two claw-strip members is at least partially filled with a malleable sealant material, installed prior to welding the connector to the pipe piles.

1 . A weld-on sheet pile connecting element for use in a pipe pile wall assembly comprising (a) a plurality of supporting, elongate pipe pile wall members with their longitudinal axes arranged substantially in parallel and disposed along a common horizontal line, and (b) a plurality of sheet pile connecting elements arranged in parallel with, and welded to, said pipe pile wall members, said weld-on connecting element comprising a base end configured to be welded to a pipe pile wall member, an elongate neck strip having a substantially uniform width and having a length, extending from the base end along a predetermined main assembly direction to an opposite end, which length is at least five times greater than said width, and a claw strip provided at the opposite end having two claw strip members that form an oval-shaped lock chamber with their free ends facing each other to form an open jaw, said claw strip being adapted to partially surround and interlock with a head strip of another, matching connecting element;
 wherein the space between the two claw-strip members is at least partially filled with a malleable sealant material.   
     
     
         2 . The weld-on profile connector of  claim 1 , wherein the two claw strip members are mirror images of each other about the main assembly direction. 
     
     
         3 . The weld-on profile connector of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the neck strip is at least six times greater than its width. 
     
     
         4 . The weld-on profile connector of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the neck strip is substantially equal to the width of each of the claw strip members. 
     
     
         5 . The weld-on profile connector of  claim 1 , wherein the melting point of the sealant material is in the range of 200 to 300° F. 
     
     
         6 . The weld-on profile connector of  claim 1 , wherein the melting point of the sealant material is substantially equal to 260° F. 
     
     
         7 . The weld-on profile connector of  claim 1 , having a length, from a bottom surface of the base end configured to be welded to a pipe pile wall member to a point at the center of said lock chamber, equal to approximately 88 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The weld-on profile connector of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the neck strip is approximately 76 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The weld-on profile connector of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the neck strip is approximately 11.5 mm. 
     
     
         10 . In a method of installing a pipe pile wall assembly comprising (a) a plurality of supporting, elongate pipe pile wall members with their longitudinal axes arranged substantially in parallel and disposed along a common horizontal line, and (b) a plurality of sheet pile connecting elements arranged in parallel with, and welded to, said pipe pile wall members, said weld-on connecting element comprising a base end configured to be welded to a pipe pile wall member, an elongate neck strip having a substantially uniform width and having a length, extending from the base end along a predetermined main assembly direction to an opposite end, which length is at least five times greater than said width, and a claw strip provided at the opposite end having two claw strip members that form an oval-shaped lock chamber with their free ends facing each other to form an open jaw, said claw strip being adapted to partially surround and interlock with a head strip of another, matching connecting element; said method comprising:
 at least partially filling the space between the two claw-strip members with a malleable sealant material; and thereafter   welding the said connecting element to a pipe pile; and thereafter   ramming said pipe pile into the ground.   
     
     
         11 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the two claw strip members are mirror images of each other about the main assembly direction. 
     
     
         12 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the length of the neck strip is at least six times greater than its width. 
     
     
         13 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the width of the neck strip is substantially equal to the width of each of the claw strip members. 
     
     
         14 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the melting point of the sealant material is in the range of 200 to 300° F. 
     
     
         15 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the melting point of the sealant material is substantially equal to 260° F. 
     
     
         16 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein said connecting element has a length, from a bottom surface of the base end configured to be welded to a pipe pile wall member to a point at the center of said lock chamber, equal to approximately 88 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the length of the neck strip is approximately 76 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the width of the neck strip is approximately 11.5 mm.