Tapered Pipe System and Method for Foundation Support

Abstract

A piling structure is provided. The piling structure includes a first piling section and a second piling section. At least one of the first and second piling sections has a tapered portion. An end of one of the first and second piling structures fits inside an end of the other of the first and second piling sections to form an overlap region where the first and second piling sections are coupled. In operation, the first piling section may be driven partially into strata. The second piling section may be coupled to the first piling section, and the combined piling structure may be driven further into the strata. The piling structure may be used to support a raised foundation structure.

1 . An apparatus for supporting at least a portion of a building structure, the apparatus comprising:
 a piling, the piling comprising a plurality of piling sections,   the plurality of piling sections comprising a first piling section and a second piling section adapted to be coupled to the first piling section,   the first piling section having a first end and a second end, the first end being adapted to be driven into strata upon which the building structure is disposed, the second end having a tapered portion adapted for coupling to an end of the second piling section   the first and second piling sections being connected to one another to enable rotational energy to be transmitted between the first and second piling sections.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first piling section has a first end adapted to be driven into the strata and a second end having a tapered portion adapted to fit inside a first end of the second piling section. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first piling section has a first end adapted to be driven into the strata and a second end having a tapered portion, and wherein a first end of the second piling section is adapted to fit inside the tapered portion of the second end of the first piling section. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first piling section has a first end adapted to be driven into the strata and a second end, and wherein the second piling section has a first end having a tapered portion adapted to fit inside the second end of the first piling section. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first piling section has a first end adapted to be driven into the strata and a second end, and wherein the second piling section has a first end having a tapered portion, the second end of the first piling section adapted to fit inside the tapered portion of the first end of the second piling section. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion tapers from a first dimension at the other of the first and second ends to a second dimension, and wherein the first dimension is less than the second dimension. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion is tapered from a first dimension at the other of the first and second ends to a second dimension, and wherein the first dimension is greater than the second dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion has an S-shaped profile. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion has a linear profile. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion has a stepped profile. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first piling section is cylindrical, wherein the first piling section further comprises a body portion, the tapered portion extending from an end of the body portion to the other of the first and second ends. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the tapered portion has a first inner diameter at the other of the first and second ends and a second inner diameter where the tapered portion meets the body portion, and wherein the first and second inner diameters are different. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first inner diameter is less than the second inner diameter and wherein the other of the first and second ends is adapted to fit inside the end of the other piling section. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter and wherein the other of the first and second ends is adapted to fit over the end of the other piling section. 
     
     
         15 . A method for driving a piling, comprising the steps of:
 driving a first end of a first piling section into strata until a predetermined length of the first piling section remains exposed above the strata, the first piling section having a second end;   coupling a first end of a second piling section to the exposed second end of the first piling section to form a piling structure, the first end of the second piling section having an inner diameter that is different than an inner diameter of the second end of the first piling section, and at least one of the coupled ends of the first and second piling sections being tapered so that at least one of the coupled ends fits inside the other of the coupled ends; and   rotating the second piling section to transmit rotational energy to the first piling section to drive the piling structure deeper into the strata.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the first piling section is tapered to fit inside the first end of the second piling section. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the first piling section is tapered to fit over the first end of the second piling section. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first end of the second piling section is tapered to fit inside the second end of the first piling section. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first end of the second piling section is tapered to fit over the second end of the first piling section. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of affixing the coupled piling sections to one another. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the coupled ends of the first and second piling sections form an overlap region and wherein the affixing step further comprises inserting at least one bolt through at least one first hole in a sidewall of the first piling section and at least one second hole in a sidewall of the second piling section, the at least one first and second holes being aligned and being formed in the overlap region. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the affixing step comprises welding an inner edge of one end of the first and second piling sections to an outer surface of the other of the first and second piling sections. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for forming a piling, the apparatus comprising:
 a first piling section having a body portion; and   a second piling section,   the body portion of the first piling section having a tapered portion extending from an end of the body portion, the tapered portion adapted to couple to an end of the second piling section to create an overlap area wherein an end of one of the first and second piling sections fits inside an end of the other of the first and second piling sections to form a piling structure adapted to be driven into strata,   the first and second piling sections being connected to one another to enable rotational energy to be transmitted between the first and second piling sections.