Universal connecting element for sheet pile wall components
View Patent ↗A universal connecting element which is capable of connecting sheet pile wall components, such as sheet piles, beam piles and other sheet pile connectors, that have various types of interlocks such as Larssen locks, cold formed hooks and knob and claw locks. The connecting element includes a reverse “S” shaped profile to which has been added either a neck and head strip, for connection with a claw strip, or a claw strip, for connection with a head strip, or both.
1. A universal elongate sheet pile connecting element, of substantially constant cross-section along a length of the connecting element, for interconnecting sheet pile wall components, including sheet piles, beam piles and sheet pile connectors, which have at least one of a hook strip profile, a neck and head strip profile and a claw strip profile that extends longitudinally along a lateral edge thereof, said connecting element comprising, in profile:
(a) a substantially linear central strip having first and second ends and first and second lateral sides;
(b) a first hook strip extending from the first end of the central strip, commencing in the same longitudinal direction as the central strip, curving around in an arc of between 180° and 270° and terminating in a free end pointing substantially toward, and spaced from, said first side of the central strip to form a first hook adapted to engage a hook strip profile of a sheet pile component, when the connecting element is interconnecting sheet pile components; and
(c) a second hook strip extending from the second end of the central strip, commencing from the first side of the central strip in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, curving around in an arc of between 180° and 270° and terminating in a free end pointing substantially toward and in alignment with, and spaced from, said second end of the central strip to form a second hook adapted to engage a hook strip profile of a sheet pile component, when the connecting element is interconnecting sheet pile components;
wherein
(d) a claw strip formed by two opposing partial hooks, each partial hook extending in an arc of between 90° and 180° from the second side of the central strip and terminating in a free end pointing substantially toward, and spaced from, the free end of the other, opposing partial hook, for engaging a neck and head strip of a sheet pile component; and
further comprising an attachment profile formed by a neck strip, attached to an outer side of the first hook strip, and a first head strip, formed at an opposite end of the neck strip, that has a symmetrical shape and has a larger cross-section than the neck strip, for engaging a claw strip of a sheet pile wall component, the neck strip extending straight outward from said first hook strip in a direction substantially parallel to said central strip.
2. The connecting element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the opposing partial hooks of said claw strip are each connected to a separate one of said first and second ends of said central strip.
3. The connecting element as defined in claim 2 , wherein a second head strip is formed at the free end of a first one of the opposing partial hooks of said claw strip for engaging a claw strip of a sheet pile wall component.
4. The connecting element as defined in claim 3 , wherein the first one of the opposing partial hooks of the claw strip, on the free end of which is formed the second head strip, is attached to said first end of the central strip.
5. The connecting element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the profile widths of the central strip and of the first and second hook strips are substantially constant throughout lengths of the central strip and first and second hook strips.
6. The connecting element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the profile widths of the central strip and of the first and second hook strips are substantially the same.
7. A universal elongate sheet pile connecting element, of substantially constant cross-section along a length of the connecting element, for interconnecting sheet pile wall components, including sheet piles, beam piles, and sheet pile connectors, which have at least one of a hook strip profile, a neck and head strip profile and a claw strip profile that extends longitudinally along a lateral edge thereof to enable interconnection, said connecting element comprising, in profile:
(a) a substantially linear central strip having first and second ends and first and second lateral sides;
(b) a first hook strip extending from the first end of the central strip, commencing in the same longitudinal direction as the central strip;
(c) a second hook strip extending from the second end of the central strip, commencing from the first side of the central strip in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, curving around in an arc of between 180° and 270° and terminating in a free end pointing substantially toward, and spaced from, said second end of the central strip to form a second hook adapted to engage a hook strip profile of a sheet pile component, when the connecting element is interconnecting sheet pile components; and
(d) an attachment profile formed by a neck strip, attached to an outer side of the first hook strip, and a head strip, formed at an opposite end of the neck strip, that has a symmetrical shape and that has a larger cross-section than a horizontal cross-section of the neck strip, adapted to engage a claw strip of a sheet pile wall component, when the connecting element is interconnecting sheet pile components, the neck strip extending straight outward from said first hook strip in a direction substantially parallel to said central strip;
wherein
the first hook strip is, curving around in an arc of between 180° and 270° and terminating in a free end pointing substantially toward, and spaced from, said first side of the central strip to form a first hook for engaging a hook strip profile of a sheet pile component.
8. The connecting element as defined in claim 7 , wherein the profile widths of the central strip and of the first and second hook strips are substantially constant throughout a length of the central strip and first and second hook strips.
9. The connecting element as defined in claim 7 , wherein the profile widths of the central strip and of the first and second hook strips are substantially the same.
10. A universal elongate sheet pile connecting element, of substantially constant cross-section along a length of the connecting element, for interconnecting sheet pile wall components, including sheet piles, beam piles, and sheet pile connectors, which have at least one of a hook strip profile, a neck and head strip profile and a claw strip profile that extends longitudinally along a lateral edge thereof to enable interconnection, said connecting element comprising, in profile:
(a) a substantially linear central strip having first and second ends and first and second lateral sides;
(b) a first hook strip extending from the first end of the central strip, commencing in the same longitudinal direction as the central strip, curving around in an arc of between 180° and 270° and terminating in a free end pointing substantially toward, and spaced from, said first side of the central strip to form a first hook adapted to engage a hook strip profile of a sheet pile component, when the connecting element is interconnecting sheet pile components; and
(c) a second hook strip extending from the second end of the central strip, commencing from the first side of the central strip in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, curving around in an arc of between 180° and 270° and terminating in a free end pointing substantially toward in alignment with, and spaced from, said second end of the central strip to form a second hook adapted to engage a hook strip profile of a sheet pile component, when the connecting element is interconnecting sheet pile components; wherein
(d) a claw strip formed by two opposing partial hooks, each partial hook extending in an arc of between 90° and 180° from an outer side of the first hook strip and terminating in a free end pointing substantially toward, and spaced from, the free end of the other, opposing partial hook, for engaging a neck and head strip of a sheet pile component; and
further comprising an attachment profile formed by a neck strip, attached to an outer side of the first hook strip, and a head strip, formed at an opposite end of the neck strip, that has a symmetrical shape and has a larger cross-section than the neck strip, for engaging a claw strip of a sheet pile wall component, the neck strip extending straight outward from said first hook strip in a direction substantially parallel to said central strip.
11. The connecting element as defined in claim 10 , wherein the profile widths of the central strip and of the first and second hook strips are substantially constant throughout a length of the central strip and the first and second hook strips.
12. The connecting element as defined in claim 10 , wherein the profile widths of the central strip and of the first and second hook strips are substantially the same.