Abstract A machined pile splice for use in construction of offshore platforms. A box member is attached to a pile member before it is driven. A pin member is attached to the pile section to be added. A shear ring is located in opposing recesses in both the box and pin members. The shear ring is made slightly wedge-shaped in cross section and is initially installed in the box member where it is held centered by a corrugated spring strip. The box member is also provided with thread studs which force the shear ring into tight contact with the lower surface of the pin member recess and upper surface of the box member recess. The outer surface of the pin member and the inner surface of the box member are tapered. The tip of the pin member passes through the shear ring and outer wall of the pin member contacts the inner wall of the shear ring. As the tapered pin member continues through the shear ring, the ring is forced to increase in diameter which forces the ring deeper into the box member recess. After the pin member is fully inserted into the box member, the shear ring snaps out of the box member and into the opposing pin member recess. The thread studs are screwed in, forcing the wedge-shaped shear ring into tighter contact with the lower surface of the pin member recess and the upper surface of the box member recess. An O-ring is provided between the pin and box members to provide a fluid seal.
A pile splice comprising: a pin member attached to one pile section, said pin member having an outer shoulder, a tapered outer surface, an inclined lower end and a recess formed therein; a box member attached to another pile section in which said pin member is insertable, said box member having an end engageable with said pin member shoulder when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member, said box member also having a tapered inner surface and recess formed therein, said pin member and box member recesses opposing each other when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member; a shear ring initially arranged in said box recess and adapted to snap into said pin member recess and engage one surface of said pin member and an opposite surface of said box member when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member, the depth of said box member, the depth of said pin member recess being less than the thickness of said shear ring; means associated with said shear ring for urging said shear ring to snap into said pin member recess; and spring means for wedging said shear ring against said one surface of said pin member recess and said opposite surface of said box member recess when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member, said wedge action causing tight metal-tometal contact between the end of said box member and said shoulder of said pin member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A pile splice comprising: a pin member attached to one pile section, said pin member having an outer shoulder, a tapered outer surface, an inclined lower end and a recess formed therein; a box member attached to another pile section in which said pin member is insertable, said box member having an end engageable with said pin member shoulder when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member, said box member also having a tapered inner surface and recess formed therein, said pin member and box member recesses opposing each other when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member; a shear ring initially arranged in said box recess and adapted to snap into said pin member recess and engage one surface of said pin member and an opposite surface of said box member when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member, the depth of said box member, the depth of said pin member recess being less than the thickness of said shear ring; means associated with said shear ring for urging said shear ring to snap into said pin member recess; and spring means for wedging said shear ring against said one surface of said pin member recess and said opposite surface of said box member recess when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member, said wedge action causing tight metal-tometal contact between the end of said box member and said shoulder of said pin member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A pile splice as recited in claim 1 in which said spring means for urging said shear ring to snap into said pin member recess includes a corrugated spring strip initially arranged in said box recess between said shear ring and the wall of said box recess.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
A pile splice as recited in claim 2 in which said means for wedging said shear ring includes: a plurality of spaced-apart threaded openings extending from the outer surface of said box member to the interior of said box recess; and thread studs extending through each of said threaded openings, said thread studs abutting said shear ring to wedge said shear ring against said one surface of said pin member recess and said opposite surface of said box member recess when said pin member is fully inserted in said box member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pile splice as recited in claim 3 in which the surfaces of said shear ring which engage said surfaces of said recesses are tapered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pile splice as recited in claim 4 including an O-ring seal arranged between said pin member and box member.