Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – With piercing or expanding earth anchor – Pivot means connecting separate fluke or hook
Patent
1985-09-30
1988-04-19
Pate, III, William F.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
With piercing or expanding earth anchor
Pivot means connecting separate fluke or hook
52155, 52162, E02D 580
Patent
active
047380632
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to ground anchors. More particularly, the present invention is related to anchors driven into the ground to remain in the position thus established with minimal slippage.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In my published U.K. Patent Application 2 085 386 A there is described a ground anchoring system in which a generally flat anchor plate is secured to one end of a flexible anchor line and driven edge-first into the ground by a driving tool.
When the driving tool is removed and a lifting force is subsequently applied to the flexible line, the plate tends to skew across the hole and thereby resist extraction from the ground. A somewhat similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,169.
On the whole this system works satisfactorily, but I have found that there is often a significant delay before the plate is skewed after a lifting force is applied to the line. During this period, the plate can be pulled some distance back up the hole, and the anchored object may not then be firmly anchored in its desired position. This problem is particularly troublesome when anchoring objects to the river or sea bed. For example, when anchoring a frond mat to the sea bed to combat erosion of the bed beneath structures such as oil or gas pipelines, any "lifting" of the mat after it has been anchoed can seriously affect subsequent performance of the mat under operating conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an anchor plate which overcomes this problem but without substantially increasing the resistance of the plate when being driven downwardly into the ground.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ground-anchoring system comprising an anchor plate which, in use, is driven edge-first into the ground by a driving tool, the plate being secured to one end of a flexible anchor line, characterised in that a projecting portion of the plate is retained in a first cocked position when driving the plate downwardly into the ground, the said portion being subsequently released from its cocked position to resist reverse upward movement of the plate when the driving tool is withdrawn and the anchor line is tensioned.
The projecting portion of the anchor plate preferably extends rearwardly from a trailing edge of the plate. In its cocked position the extended portion is generally aligned with the plate, the angle being generally in the range of 0.degree. to 15.degree. and preferably less than 10.degree.. It therefore offers minimum resistance to the downward movement of the plate into the ground. In its released position, on the other hand, the angle increases and generally lies in the range of 20.degree. to 60.degree. with a preferred range of 30.degree. to 45.degree..
The increased angle brings the rear edge of the extended portion into contact with the side of the hold produced by the downward movement of the plate, and the plate therefore pivots about this rear edge into a skew position across the hole when the anchor line is tensioned.
The extended portion is preferably resiliently biased into its released position but may alternatively fall freely into the released position when the driving tool is removed. It may comprise a deformable strip projecting from the trailing edge, or it may be hinged to the trailing edge. In either case it is preferably retained in its cocked position by a co-operating portion of the driving tool so that it is automatically released when the tool is withdrawn.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an anchor plate fitted with an anchoring strap;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the plate and strap;
FIG. 3 shows the plate being driven into the ground by a driving tool; and
FIG. 4 shows the skew position of the plate when the strap is subsequently tensioned after driving the p
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Dennison Caroline D.
Pate III William F.
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