Apparatus and method for reinforcing a structural element

Abstract

An apparatus and method for reinforcement of structural elements such as piles, posts, pillars, and pipes are disclosed. The apparatus includes an upper unit which may be fixed to the structural element above the waterline and a lower unit which is suspended from the upper unit via cables or other support members. The apparatus enables a reinforcing sleeve structure to be constructed in multiple segmented layers from above the waterline while the sleeve structure is lowered beneath the waterline. The lower unit guides the lower end of the sleeve structure down around the submerged portion of the structural element and supports the weight of the sleeve structure until it is fixed in place and filled with concrete or another reinforcing core filler material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus ( 800 ) for assembling and lowering a sleeve structure ( 410 ) around a structural element ( 402 ), the apparatus ( 800 ) comprising:
 a. an upper unit ( 810 ), configured for fixation to the structural element ( 402 ), the upper unit ( 810 ) comprising:
 i. two or more support brackets ( 816 ), each configured to extend outwardly from the structural element ( 402 ); and 
 ii. one or more structural attachments ( 814 ) configured to attach to the two or more support brackets ( 816 ) so as to fix the upper unit ( 810 ) to the structural element ( 402 ); 
   b. two or more flexible support members ( 822 ), each extending downwardly from at least one of the support brackets ( 816 ) of the upper unit; and   c. a lower unit ( 830 ) configured for lowering the sleeve structure ( 410 ) around the structural element ( 402 ), wherein the lower unit ( 830 ) is suspended from the flexible support members ( 822 );
 wherein the lower unit ( 830 ) is configured to support the sleeve structure ( 410 ) as the sleeve structure ( 410 ) is assembled and lowered from the upper unit ( 810 ) by the flexible support members ( 822 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each support bracket is segmented into a first bracket subcomponent ( 870 ), a second bracket subcomponent ( 871 ) removably attached to the first bracket subcomponent ( 870 ), and a third bracket subcomponent ( 872 ) removably attached to the second bracket subcomponent ( 871 ). 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first bracket subcomponent ( 870 ) comprises one or more bracing components ( 859 ), wherein the one or more structural attachments ( 814 ) are configured to attach to said one or more bracing components. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower unit ( 830 ) comprises two or more lower perimeter components ( 832 ) configured to wrap around the submerged structural element ( 402 ). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the lower unit ( 830 ) further comprises at least one releasable attachment ( 834 ) configured to releasably attach the lowered sleeve structure ( 410 ) upon release of the releasable attachment ( 834 ), wherein the flexible support members ( 822 ) are configured to allow for recovery of the detached lower perimeter components ( 832 ) of the lower unit ( 830 ) after release of the releasable attachments ( 834 ). 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each releasable attachment ( 834 ) comprises an attachment pin ( 835 ) and two or more attachment barrels ( 836 ), each attachment barrel ( 836 ) affixed to an end of a lower perimeter component ( 832 ) such that lower perimeter components ( 832 ) may be attached by aligning their respective attachment barrels ( 836 ) and passing the attachment pin ( 835 ) through the aligned attachment barrels ( 836 ), and wherein the apparatus ( 800 ) additionally comprises a flexible release member ( 837 ) attached to each attachment pin ( 834 ) so as to enable release of the releasable attachments ( 834 ) via pulling the one or more flexible release members ( 837 ). 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising two or more gap guides ( 838 ), each extending inwardly from the lower unit ( 830 ) so as to maintain a gap between the lower unit ( 830 ) and the structural element ( 402 ). 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the lower unit ( 830 ) comprises two or more rollers ( 840 ) positioned extending inwardly from the gap guides ( 838 ) so as to guide the lower unit ( 830 ) around the structural element ( 410 ). 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the two or more gap guides ( 838 ) further comprise a spring-loaded mechanism, wherein the rollers ( 840 ) further comprise a spring-loaded mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more straps ( 860 ) configured to fit on or around the structural element ( 402 ). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more straps further comprise at least one strap attachment point ( 861 ), and wherein the upper unit ( 810 ) further comprises at least one upper unit attachment point ( 862 ), wherein the at least one strap attachment point ( 861 ) is releasably attached to the at least one upper unit attachment point ( 862 ) such that the upper unit ( 810 ) is releasably fixed to the structural element ( 402 ) via the one or more straps ( 860 ). 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one strap attachment point ( 861 ) comprises one or more hooks. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one upper unit attachment point ( 862 ) comprises a loop. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hoist system ( 818 ) configured to extend and retract the flexible support members ( 822 ), thereby lowering and raising the lower unit ( 830 ). 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the hoist system ( 818 ) comprises a winch ( 819 ) operatively coupled to a plurality of pulleys ( 820 ), each pulley disposed on on a support bracket ( 816 ) of the two or more support brackets ( 816 ) and operatively coupled to a flexible support member ( 822 ) of the two or more flexible support members. 
     
     
         16 . A method implementing the apparatus of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 a. fixing the upper unit ( 810 ) to the structural element ( 402 );   b. constructing a first segment ( 416 ) such that it is supported by the lower unit ( 830 );   c. constructing additional segments ( 416 ) on top of the first segment ( 416 ) such that each segment ( 416 ) is supported by the segment ( 416 ) below; and   d. periodically lowering the lower unit ( 830 ) via the flexible structural support members ( 822 ), thereby lowering segments ( 416 ) of the sleeve structure ( 410 ) below a water line ( 716 ) as the sleeve structure ( 410 ) is constructed.   
     
     
         17 . A method for reinforcing a structural element ( 402 ), the method comprising:
 a. fixing an upper unit ( 810 ) to the structural element ( 402 );   b. constructing a first segment ( 416 ) such that it is supported by a lower unit ( 830 );   c. constructing additional segments ( 416 ) on top of the first segment ( 416 ) such that each segment ( 416 ) is supported by the segment ( 416 ) below;   d. periodically lowering the lower unit ( 830 ) via two or more flexible structural support members ( 822 ) extending downwardly from the upper unit ( 810 ), thereby lowering segments ( 416 ) of a sleeve structure ( 410 ) comprising a first segmented layer ( 412 ) around a length of the structural element ( 402 ) below a water line ( 716 ) as the sleeve structure ( 410 ) is constructed; and   e. filling the chamber ( 406 ) between the structural element ( 402 ) and the sleeve structure ( 410 ) with a core filler material ( 426 ).   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first segment ( 416 ) seals below a mud line ( 756 ) so as to prevent the core filler material ( 426 ) from leaking out of the chamber ( 406 ). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve structure ( 410 ) additionally comprises a second segmented layer ( 414 ), comprising a plurality of stacked segments ( 416 ) which each surround the first segmented layer ( 412 ) and a plurality of horizontal seams ( 418 ) between the segments ( 416 ), the segments ( 416 ) disposed along the axis ( 404 ), wherein each segment ( 416 ) comprises two or more reinforcing shells ( 420 ) and two or more vertical seams ( 424 ) between the reinforcing shells ( 420 ). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first segmented layer ( 412 ) and the second segmented layer ( 414 ) are constructed and lowered simultaneously with each other.