Abstract: In forming holes in the earth, a circular frame of columns supported by structural members is placed in the earth to provide lateral support for the side walls of the hole while the hole is being excavated and after the hole is excavated. The structural members are generally concentric with the circle formed by the columns and, in reaction to the compressive forces of the earth acting on the columns, compressed between at least two columns. The method is specially adapted for use in forming holes in loose soils.

Abstract: In forming foundation piers in the earth, a slurry of earth support material such as bentonite clay is mixed under high shear mixing conditions and introduced into the hole as drilling thereof progresses to provide lateral support for the side walls of the hole. Plastic concrete is then injected into the hole, displacing the slurry upwardly until the hole is filled with concrete to the desired level.The slurry may be recovered for reuse in drilling and forming another foundation pier.

Abstract: This invention relates to a numbers game apparatus, among other things, for taking money, giving change, printing and giving out tickets, validating tickets, finding and checking winners, finding out the odds, and determining the amounts won by winning tickets. Apparatus is provided at a plurality of points remote from a central location where the money is taken, change, if any, is given, the amount bet is selected and a ticket is given out printed with, among other information, the numbers bet, the amount of the bet, the number, time, and date of the game, and the remote location. Also, at the remote locations, the winning numbers are posted and the local machine is prevented from accepting bets on a game just prior to numbers being drawn for that game. The ticket validation, the records, and the paying desk including manned payout windows and manned betting windows and of course the machine for drawing numbers is located at the central office or location.

Abstract: A method of strip mining in which a plurality of vertical shafts of square cross section are formed closely adjacent to one another with each shaft extending through overburden and a layer of valuable material such as coal. As spoil is removed in forming one shaft it is conveyed to a previously formed shaft and deposited therein. The apparatus includes a casing of square cross section, a cylindrical auger casing within the square casing, an auger rotatable in the auger casing and a square cutter at the lower end of the square casing. The latter is slidably mounted on a vertical track and is power driven vertically to force the cutter into the earth formation being worked. The auger is rotated under power to cut into the earth formation and remove spoil and coal therefrom. The upper end portions of both casings are formed with two sets of aligned discharge ports. A movable closure is provided for each set and a rake for each set.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting and loading auger spoil comprising a spinning plate having a central opening co-axial with an auger hole, power means for rotating said spinning plate; a fixed circular wall structure spaced from the periphery of the spinning plate, having a lower edge spaced from the upper surface of said spinning plate and formed with a gap; a conveyor belt having one end located at said gap; and a series of rings detachably secured together in stepped relation with the outermost ring connected to the spinning plate at the edge defining the opening therein whereby one or more of said rings may be removed from or added to said series to provide a plate opening of the same diameter as that of a particular auger hole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to belling apparatus for forming a bell shaped recess at the lower end of a pier bore and is concerned primarily with such apparatus in which spoil generated by cutting the recess is continuously removed by an auger.