US-20260125867-A1 - LOW FRICTION INSERTS FOR MARINE PILE GUIDES

US20260125867A1US 20260125867 A1US20260125867 A1US 20260125867A1US-20260125867-A1

Abstract

A pile guide has a body formed of thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene. The body has an internal area constructed and arranged to receive and retain a pile in the internal area of the body. Inserts formed of thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene, are attached to the internal area of the body and extend outwardly from the internal area of the body so that contact of the pile is with the inserts. The inserts are replaceable so that as the inserts wear due to frictional engagement with the pile, worn inserts may be replaced without replacement of the other components of the pile guide. The inserts are preferred to be formed of a corrosion resistant, low friction, chemical resistant, high impact and low moisture absorbing thermoplastic material.

Inventors

Sean Barnes
Michael Kirby

Assignees

Sean Barnes
Michael Kirby

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (15)

1 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides, comprising: cylindrical sector inserts formed of thermoplastic polymer, wherein the cylindrical sector inserts are constructed and arranged for positioning within an internal area of a marine pile guide body and extending outwardly from the internal area of the marine pile guide body, the cylindrical sector inserts having an upper flange that extends from a cylindrical sector of the cylindrical sector inserts, wherein the upper flange is attached to an upper exterior of the marine pile guide body, the inserts having a radius of 75 degrees to 179 degrees, and wherein the inserts are spaced apart when attached to the internal area of the marine pile guide body.
2 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , further comprising a barrier that is positioned between a first cylindrical sector insert and a second cylindrical sector insert.
3 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , further comprising a first barrier that is positioned between a first end of a first cylindrical sector insert and a first end of a second cylindrical sector insert and a second barrier that is positioned between a second end of a first cylindrical sector insert and a second end of a second cylindrical sector insert, wherein the first barrier and the second barrier space the first cylindrical sector and the second cylindrical sector apart.
4 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , further comprising a barrier that extends upwardly from the upper exterior of the marine pile guide body and is positioned between a first cylindrical sector insert and a second cylindrical sector insert.
5 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein a first cylindrical sector insert has a radius of 150 degrees to 179 degrees.
6 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein a first cylindrical sector insert has a radius of 150 degrees to 179 degrees and a second cylindrical sector insert has a radius of 150 degrees to 179 degrees.
7 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sector inserts are formed of thermoplastic polymer having greater abrasion resistance than the material from which the marine pile guide body is formed.
8 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sector inserts are formed of ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene.
9 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , further comprising a first clip and a second clip attached to an internal area of the marine pile guide body, wherein the first clip is positioned over a first side of a lower portion of the cylindrical sector insert and the second clip is positioned over a second side of the lower portion of the cylindrical sector insert.
10 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart inserts are formed of ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) thermoplastic polymer and the body is formed of high density thermoplastic polymer.
11 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein a first cylindrical sector has a radius of 75 degrees to 89 degrees.
12 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein a first cylindrical sector insert has a cylindrical sector that is thicker than a cylindrical sector of a second cylindrical sector insert.
13 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sector inserts extend outwardly from the internal area of the marine pile guide body, and cover substantially an entire internal area of the marine pile guide body.
14 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sector inserts are formed of thermoplastic polymer having greater abrasion resistance and lower frictional properties than the material from thermoplastic polymer of which the marine pile guide body is formed.
15 . Low friction inserts for marine pile guides as described in claim 1 , further comprising a first clip and a second clip attached to an internal area of the marine pile guide body, wherein the first clip is positioned in a recess formed in a first side of a lower portion of the cylindrical sector insert and the second clip is positioned in a recess formed in a second side of the lower portion of the cylindrical sector insert.

Description

This Application is a Continuation In Part of application Ser. No. 18/527,569, filed Dec. 4, 2023, the benefit of which is claimed hereby. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Piles are vertical posts or poles driven into the ground or attached to other objects. Piles may be formed of wood, concrete, steel or other materials. Commonly, piles are used to stabilize or hold other objects. In a typical application, piles are driven into the ground and a floating dock or similar floating object is held horizontally in place by the pile. The floating dock of other floating object comprises a pile guide. The pile extends through an internal area of the pile guide that allows vertical movement of the dock of other floating object relative to the pile, but retards horizonal movement. Pile guides in common use have inadequate service lives. Most pile guides in common use are formed of metal. Metal pile guides are not sufficiently resistant to environmental factors such as weather and sunlight. Particularly in salt water applications, corrosion of metals, even galvanized metals, leads to replacement of the pile guides. As the pile guide moves upwardly and downwardly relative to the pile, friction is present between the pile and the pile guide. Concrete piles in particular result in abrasion and wear of the pile guide. In some cases, the pile guide may comprise wheels to reduce friction, but wheels require bearings that do not have a long service life in wet applications, and particularly in salt water. Steel piles may result in less frictional interaction with the pile guide than concrete piles or wood piles, but steel piles are subject to corrosion. Some steel piles may be coated to resist corrosion, but the coating wears off due to weather and abrasion with the pile guide, exposing steel surfaces to weather and salt water, and the resulting corrosion. Abrasion and wear of pile guides is exacerbated by inaccurate placement of piles, especially piles that are driven or otherwise placed in the ground. The spacing of piles may not match the position of pile guides on a floating dock or floating object with precision. Piles may not be positioned exactly vertically. These factors mean that piles may place more force, and therefore more, or even complete, loading one side of the pile guide, resulting in more rapid wear of one side of the pile guide. However, the solution is frequently to replace the entire pile guide at substantial trouble and expense. There is a need for a low friction pile guide that is resistant to environmental degradation, and also has easily replaceable components. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a pile guide having a body formed of thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene. The body has an internal area constructed and arranged to receive and retain a pile in the internal area of the body. A plurality of spaced apart inserts formed of thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene, are attached to the internal area of the body and extend outwardly from the internal area of the body so that contact of the pile is with the inserts. The inserts are replaceable so that as the inserts wear due to frictional engagement with the pile, worn inserts may be replaced without replacement of the other components of the pile guide. The inserts are preferred to be formed of a corrosion resistant, low friction, chemical resistant, high impact and low moisture absorbing thermoplastic material. BRIEF DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 3 shows an elevation of an embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of another embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of another embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention, combining the pile guide of FIG. 5 with the pile guide of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of another embodiment of the pile guide according to the invention. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of low friction cylindrical sector inserts for a marine pile guide, with the cylindrical sector inserts in position in a pile guide in use with a pile. FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the low friction cylindrical sector inserts for a marine pile guide of FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the low friction cylindrical sector inserts of positioned in a marine pile guide. FIG. 14 is a top, plan view of an embodiment of the low friction cylindrica