Pile upending device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580882-B2
Application number	US-201314647955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2013
Priority date	Nov 29, 2012
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A pile upending device for large diameter tubular elements includes;
an annular base ring for extending along substantially the entire circumference of the tubular element, a central lifting arm for coupling the pile upending device to a hoisting element, which lifting arm is hingeably coupled with the base ring, a number of wedge assemblies disposed along the outside circumference of the base ring for facing the inside surface of the tubular element and frictional engagement with the tubular element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pile upending device for large diameter tubular elements, the device comprising;
an annular base ring for extending along the entire circumference of the tubular element,
a central lifting arm for coupling the pile upending device to a hoisting element, which lifting arm is hingeably coupled with the base ring,
a number of wedge assemblies disposed along an outside circumference of the base ring for facing an inside surface of the tubular element and frictional engagement with the tubular element, wherein the central lifting arm is moveably disposed between a pair of plate members within the annular base ring.

2. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the outside circumference of the base ring exceeds 3 meters.

3. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the base ring is centrally open.

4. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the number of wedge assemblies extend in total over more than 50% of the outside circumference of the base ring.

5. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting arm is hingeable around lifting arm rotation axis, and the rotation axis extends in a plane which is defined by the number of wedge assemblies such that in use the rotation axis imaginary crosses an annular contact area between the pile upending device and the tubular element.

6. The pile upending device according to claim 5 , wherein the rotation axis extends through the centre of the base ring.

7. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , comprising a lifting arm driving device for angular displacement of the lifting arm with respect to the base ring.

8. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , comprising a base ring driving device for centring the base ring with respect to the tubular element.

9. The pile upending device according to claim 8 , wherein the base ring driving device comprises a number of drive units for contacting the inside surface of the tubular element.

10. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein a wedge assembly of the number of wedge assemblies, comprises a wedge driving device.

11. The pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein a wedge assembly, of the number of wedge assemblies, comprises a wedge surface which is moveably arranged and moveable between a wedge inner position wherein the pile upending device can be introduced or taken out of the tubular element, and a wedge outer position wherein the wedge surface contacts the tubular element for friction coupling between the pile upending device and the tubular element.

12. The pile upending device according to claim 11 , wherein the wedge surface is moveable over a long stroke.

13. An assembly of a tubular element and a pile upending device according to claim 1 , wherein the pile upending device is friction coupled with the tubular element.

14. An assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the pile upending device is friction coupled with a conical section of the tubular element.

15. A method for upending a large diameter tubular element, comprising the steps;
providing a pile upending device according to claim 1 ,
introducing the device in a top end of a horizontal tubular element while controlling an angular position of the base ring with respect to the lifting arm,
centring the pile upending device with respect to the tubular element,
extending the wedge assemblies for frictional engagement with the tubular element,
upending the tubular element at a lift point on the lifting arm, and
lifting the tubular element.

Assignees

• Ihc Holland Ie Bv

Inventors

• Mulderij Klaas-Jan

Classifications

• E02D13/04

  Guide devices; Guide frames {(as parts of the driver scaffold E02D7/16)} · CPC title

• B66C1/56 Primary

  for handling tubes · CPC title

• E02D35/00 Primary

  Straightening, lifting, or lowering of foundation structures or of constructions erected on foundations {(foundations for sinking territories with incorporated means for remedying settlement E02D27/34; lifting or moving buildings E04G23/06)} · CPC title

• E02D11/00

  Methods or apparatus {specially adapted} for both placing and removing sheet pile bulkheads, piles, or mould-pipes (features relating to placing only E02D7/00, to removing only E02D9/00 {; placing apparatus which without special provisions, can be operated to remove, e.g. vibrating drivers E02D7/00}) · CPC title

• E04H12/345

  Arrangements for tilting up whole structures or sections thereof (E04H12/347 takes precedence) · CPC title