Abstract: A drill string is advanced into the ground by inducing vibrations in the drill string at a resonant frequency. The drill string has an opening at a downhole end leading to a hollow interior. As drilling progresses, a core enters the hollow interior. A casing is driven around the drill string to seal the borehole. Sonic advancing of the drill string minimizes waste materials and can be operated without a circulating fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides that an underground through borehole (28) is formed with a reaming tool (24). It is filled with a viscous fluid and as soon as possible after being so filled, a flexible lining tube (32) is inserted into the borehole (28) to keep the surface from collapsing until a rigid service pipe (12) has been pulled or pushed into the borehole.

Abstract: Described is a device for driving into the ground which includes a drive point, a fluid passage section, an annular seal and an annular drive rod. The annular seal is the widest member and fits snugly in a borehole formed after the device is driven into the ground to form a seal. Specially configured drive points are also described.

Abstract: In combination with resonant sonic earth drilling components, and for particular use in retrieving a core sample in a core barrel seated against an internal shoulder in a sonically driven drill bit, a resilient axial loading device not only urges the bottom of the core barrel into continuous contact with the seat but also cushions the core barrel from the sonic energy in the drill bit, thereby minimizing damage to the core sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for making earth bores with simultaneous emplacement of pipe, especially for making well bores, includes an earth boring device (10) with a drive device (12) and a displacement head (14) coaxial with the drive device (12). The outer diameter of the displacement head is larger than that of the drive device (12) and of the surrounding pipe (16) with the pipe being connected to the drive device with a releasable force fit connection, wherein at least three pressure fluid jet nozzles (18) are arranged on the displacement head (14) pointing nearly in the boring direction and arranged at least nearly symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the displacement head (14).

Abstract: A vibrating hole forming device for seismic exploration in which a vertically elongated mounting pipe with attached rack gear is powered vertically by a hydraulically driven pinion gear which will mechanically push the pipe downwardly into the earth's surface. A vibrating mechanism imparts vibration to the downward force exerted by the pinion gear and rack gear. Vibration is imparted to the pipe automatically when hydraulic pressure required to operate the pinion gear reaches a predetermined pressure such as when the point on the lower end of the pipe encounters a predetermined resistance to further downward movement. This enables a lightweight unit to impart a constant downward force and a vibration force when needed to enable the device to penetrate through sands or extremely dense subsurface terrain thereby eliminating the necessity of providing a heavy weight vehicle such as is required when conventional hole forming devices are used on which the device is mounted.

Abstract: An upstanding tubular housing is provided mounted in sealed connection to the lower end of a tubing string as a downward extension thereof and encloses a screen sample tube therein for movement between an upper limit position with the lower end of the tube closing a center bore formed through a cone point on the lower end of the housing and a lower limit position with a major portion of the length of the screen tube downwardly projected through said center bore. A drop rod is downwardly insertable through the tubing string and engageable with the upper end of the screen tube for downwardly displacing the latter from its upper limit position to its lower limit position and the drop rod is tubular and defines an upward extension of the interior of the screen tube.

Abstract: An impact borer, a connector, a method for embedding lines and an improved method for sinking geothermal wells. The impact borer has a shell, which has a longitudinal bore. An anvil closes one end of the bore. A ram is reciprocally slideable within the bore, against and away from the anvil. The ram divides the bore into front, rear, and ram chambers. A director is joined to the shell. The director is monolithic. The director isolates the front and rear chambers in alternation upon reciprocation of the ram. The director defines an inlet passage communicating with the ram chamber and an outlet passage communicating with the rear chamber.

Abstract: A system and method for implanting an underground device. The system includes a hollow body for containing said underground device and a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground. The drive cone is removably attached to the hollow body so that once the system is driven into the ground to a desired depth, the hollow body may be pulled upward slightly to cause the drive cone to be removed. This permits underground fluids to enter the hollow body and the underground device. The system provides a durable and inexpensive method for sampling fluids from a desired depth without requiring the drilling of a well.

Abstract: In a process for laying underground service lines without excavation by means of a ram boring machine, old pipe lines already buried underground are replaced by new service lines without having to tear up the ground or destroy the old pipe line. To enable the new line to be laid accurately in position and to be accurately targeted the ram boring machine is provided with a guiding bore passing axially through the casing and is guided on the old line.

Abstract: A device for retrieving a groundwater sample is provided. The device includes an elonagated hollow housing, a closure assembly mounted on the top end of the housing, and a drive cone removably mounted on the bottom end of the housing. The drive cone is adapted to penetrate the ground and is configured to be restrained by the ground once in place below the ground surface, so that frictional engagement between the drive cone and housing is overcome when the closure assembly and housing are withdrawn toward the surface. Such withdrawal of the closure assembly and housing leaves the drive cone in place, separated from the housing. A collection and containment unit is mounted within the hollow housing and closure assembly for collecting a groundwater sample after the drive cone has been separated from the housing.

Abstract: A well casing of an elastic metal material is placed in concentric relationship with a casing of an inert material such as a suitable plastic. A penetrating cap piece is placed on the bottom end of the metallic casing. The two concentric casings are then driven into the earth in an area to be monitored for contamination, such driving action being achieved by a sonic oscillator which is attached to the top end of the metallic casing. Preferably, the sonic energy is provided at a frequency such as to effect resonant standing wave vibration of the metallic casing. Further, water may be injected down the casing so as to lubricate the earthen structure immediately below the cap to accelerate the penetration of the casing. When the casings have been driven to the desired depth, the metallic casing is withdrawn by lifting up thereon while continuing to apply sonic energy, leaving the casing of inert material in place such that earth samples can be periodically withdrawn from the well thus formed.

Abstract: In a ram boring machine for laying pipelines without trenching, a double blade that is axially moveable against a compression spring is housed in an impact tip and projects through slots in the impact tip. The double blade is struck by a striker piston and moves, during the breaking-up of an old pipe laid in the ground, substantially independently of the ram boring machine or of its housing. In this way substantially all the impact energy of the piston is used for the benefit of the breaking-up operation.

Abstract: A well screen filter is formed with inner and outer concentric screens defining an annular filtering space filled with filtrating medium. A lower perforated plate supporting the filtrating materials has passages allowing transit of fine particles entrained into the filter with formation fluid to a sedimentation tube preventing clogging of the filtering pack. A top perforated plate may be provided to prevent clogging of upper back areas. Openings in the outer screen extend elevationally higher than corresponding openings in the inner screen so that as the filtrating materials compact during production the inner screen openings always remain covered by the pack. A method of installing the sand control filter is also disclosed, utilizing a wash down media of glass or polymer spheres surrounding the filter to assist in stabilization of formation sand when the well is initially placed in production.

Abstract: The present invention is a double-headed hammer slidingly encompassing a ground rod driving shaft having a single anvil affixed thereto which can be selectively engaged by either hammer. The driving shaft has a recess in each end to receive the grounding rod, depending upon whether the action is to initiate and continue the insertion of grounding rod into the ground or to complete the insertion of the rod in accordance with the provisions of the Code. The present invention does not require the operator to take a position above the ground or to use any other instrument to make the complete and proper insertion of the grounding rod into the ground.

Abstract: The invention concerns itself with a process and a device for drilling the soil, more particularly but not exclusively, for the purpose of laying pipelines.

Abstract: A pipeline replacement system incorporating an expansion and line replacement mandrel and having a power system for imparting linear movement and rotation to the mandrel. Within the scope of the invention, the mandrel may be pushed or pulled or both pushed and pulled through an existing buried pipeline by the power system while being rotated by the power system. The mechanism, in a single pass, breaks up the existing pipeline, forces the broken fragments of the pipeline into the surrounding earth and positions a replacement pipe of the same dimension or larger dimension in place of the existing pipeline. A swivel system allows the replacement pipe to be moved linearly into the expanded passage behind the mandrel without rotation. The power system includes a mechanism or mechanisms for applying pushing, rotational and pulling forces to the mandrel.

Abstract: A process of installing a pipe system under an existing building constructed upon a concrete slab or other foundation not permitting access beneath the ground floor, for the purpose of periodic introduction of insecticide to control or eradicate subterranean termites or other such pests, comprising forming a substantially horizontal hole or accessway beneath the building slab or foundation, inserting a pipe through the formed hole, the pipe being made of a plastic or flexible material containing apertures for discharging the insecticide, the pipe being inserted in the hole or accessway by capping one end of the pipe and inserting a solid push rod into the pipe until the push rod contacts the capped end whereby the pipe can be pushed through the hole or accessway without lateral or vertical displacement.

Abstract: A geothermal system and method of installing the same comprises the steps successively driving a drive pipe structure vertically into the ground at a plurality of locations so that a major portion of the length of the drive pipe structure is located below the frost line. An elongate geothermal pipe having closed ends is inserted into the drive pipe structure and its lower end is interlocked with a drive point device located at the lower end of the drive pipe structure. Thereafter, when the drive pipe is removed, the geothermal pipe remains anchored to the drive point. The geothermal pipes are connected together by conduits and connected to a heat pump so that a heat exchange liquid will be circulated through the system.

Abstract: A method of tapping groundwater and an apparatus therefor are disclosed. A probe is driven to a water bearing stratum to determine the depth thereof. Then a riser tube is driven to the thus determined depth and a riser conduit with a foot valve is lowered into the riser tube, whereupon a suction-producing device, (e.g. pump) is connected to the upper end of the conduit.

Abstract: An earth boring assembly is provided with a hammer member at its leading end for impacting through an earth formation to form a boring therein. An expander cone is attached rearwardly of the hammer to expand the boring which has been formed by the hammer and drag pipes are connected to follow the hammer into the boring. Clamping means interposed between the expander cone and the drag pipe operate to automatically effect frictional locking engagement between the hammer and the drag pipe when the expander cone and the drag pipe are moved toward each other and to automatically release the frictional engagement when the members are moved away from each other. The clamping means may specifically comprise an annular slotted ring having wedge-shaped outer surfaces by means of which the ring is caused to become clamped and released about the hammer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow auger and to a method for producing piles cast in the ground. The method is characterized in that one uses an auger provided with a removable cutting head and which is able to slide in a sealed manner in the blade support tube of the auger and in that the injection of concrete, taking place through a central passageway provided in the cutting head, is undertaken in two successive stages, a first stage in which concrete is injected into the support tube by progressively raising the cutting head to a predetermined level, namely zero level in the latter and a second stage in which the auger is raised from the drill-hole by exerting a constant pressure on the cutting head and by injecting concrete in order to maintain this head at the predetermined level. The invention has application in the manufacture of piles cast from concrete.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for pulling flexible duct through soil simultaneously with the penetration of soil which comprises a means for penetrating the soil having a duct receiving portion mounted to its trailing end. The duct is pulled through the soil by a pulling means operably associated with the penetrating means which acts to pull the duct in the same direction and simultaneously with the movement of the penetrating means.

Abstract: A piling pole, comprising a piling pole for driving into the ground and having a shoe or foot provided with a displacement member, wherein the displacement member is formed by a plurality of parts, for example by two parts and both parts are disposed opposite one another and laterally spaced with respect to the axis of the piling shaft and are interconnected.

Abstract: A ram-borer apparatus is described which comprises a tubular housing, a percussion piston which is movable axially to and fro in the housing, and a striker-tip which is arranged to slide in an axial direction relative to the housing and which bears against the housing in the working direction via a resilient member. In accordance with the invention, there is attached to the rear end of the housing a drag-sock for coupling a tube or cable, etc. to the housing, and/or an expander-cone for enlarging the bore formed by the apparatus, and/or a steering tube for steering the apparatus along a straight or preselected arcuate path.

Abstract: Pipe laying apparatus wherein pipe drawing means are fixed to one end of a pipe and serve to pull a pipe through the ground as the pipe is rotated. The pipe is supported from a track, and a carriage movable along the track includes means for rotating the pipe. The pipe drawing means includes a gimlet to provide a hole substantially the same size as the pipe, and a propeller carried by the gimlet provides forward motion of the gimlet.