Abstract: An auger assembly designed for creation of bores at sites where solid earth has a layer of loose overburden comprising an elongated auger shaft presenting a working end, with outwardly extending, helical fighting along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. Apparatus proximal to the working end is operable to compress the loose material as the auger assembly is rotated in a first direction, and preferably is in the form of arcuate rake structure above the working end; the auger serves to compress the loose material during rotation in the first direction until the solid earth is encountered, whereupon the auger assembly is rotated in the opposite direction to form the bore within the solid earth. The auger assembly preferably includes an upper auger section and a detachably secured lower auger bit assembly. The auger assembly is particularly useful in the formation of cast-in-place cementious piles.

Abstract: An auger assembly designed for creation of bores at sites where solid earth has a layer of loose overburden comprising an elongated auger shaft presenting a working end, with outwardly extending, helical flighting along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. Apparatus proximal to the working end is operable to compress the loose material as the auger assembly is rotated in a first direction, and preferably is in the form of arcuate rake structure above the working end; the auger serves to compress the loose material during rotation in the first direction until the solid earth is encountered, whereupon the auger assembly is rotated in the opposite direction to form the bore within the solid earth. The auger assembly preferably includes an upper auger section and a detachably secured lower auger bit assembly. The auger assembly is particularly useful in the formation of cast-in-place cementious piles.

Abstract: An auger assembly designed for creation of bores at sites where solid earth has a layer of loose overburden comprising an elongated auger shaft presenting a working end, with outwardly extending, helical fighting along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. Apparatus proximal to the working end is operable to compress the loose material as the auger assembly is rotated in a first direction, and preferably is in the form of arcuate rake structure above the working end; the auger serves to compress the loose material during rotation in the first direction until the solid earth is encountered, whereupon the auger assembly is rotated in the opposite direction to form the bore within the solid earth. The auger assembly preferably includes an upper auger section and a detachably secured lower auger bit assembly. The auger assembly is particularly useful in the formation of cast-in-place cementious piles.

Abstract: An auger assembly designed for creation of bores at sites where solid earth has a layer of loose overburden comprising an elongated auger shaft presenting a working end, with outwardly extending, helical flighting along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. Apparatus proximal to the working end is operable to compress the loose material as the auger assembly is rotated in a first direction, and preferably is in the form of arcuate rake structure above the working end; the auger serves to compress the loose material during rotation in the first direction until the solid earth is encountered, whereupon the auger assembly is rotated in the opposite direction to form the bore within the solid earth. The auger assembly preferably includes an upper auger section and a detachably secured lower auger bit assembly. The auger assembly is particularly useful in the formation of cast-in-place cementious piles.

Abstract: An auger bit is provided for a foundation pile system including a drilling rig adapted for mounting and rotating a grout pipe connected to the auger bit to form an auger. The auger bit includes a stem with lower and upper sections, which taper towards a transition whereat the stem has a maximum diameter. A pile foundation forming method includes the steps of providing a drilling rig, forming an auger with a grout pipe coupled to an auger bit, rotating the auger with the rig, forming a borehole with laterally displaced soil, pumping pressurized grout through the auger and into the borehole, placing a reinforcing cage in the wet grout and curing same. Another aspect of the invention involves correlating installation effort (IE) based on rig-specific performance charts with ultimate pile capacity (Qult).

Abstract: An auger bit is provided for a foundation pile system including a drilling rig adapted for mounting and rotating a grout pipe connected to the auger bit to form an auger. The auger bit includes a stem with lower and upper sections, which taper towards a transition whereat the stem has a maximum diameter. A pile foundation forming method includes the steps of providing a drilling rig, forming an auger with a grout pipe coupled to an auger bit, rotating the auger wit the rig, forming a borehole with laterally displaced soil, pumping pressurized grout through the auger and into the borehole, placing a reinforcing cage in the wet grout and curing same.

Abstract: An improved lateral soil displacement and compaction auger (24) is provided including a central shaft (34) equipped with a central cementious material pipe (42), helical flighting sections (36,38) and lower rollers (64A-64E) positioned between lower flight sections. The rollers (64A-64E) are strategically located so that their outer peripheries cooperatively define an expanding spiral from the lower end of the auger (24) towards the central section (50) thereof. The rollers (64A-64E) are primarily responsible for lateral soil displacement and compaction during rotation of the auger (24) and do so with reduced frictional buildup. The preferred auger (24) also includes a lower cap (40) which is retained during auger rotation by teeth (90,92); during filling operations, the cap (40) is shifted downwardly to allow ejection of cementious material from the pipe (42) while retaining the cap (40).

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring grout pressure in an auger assembly during construction of an auger pressure grouted piling includes a pressure sensing element positioned within the lower end of a hollow auger for sensing the pressure exerted on the pressure sensing element by grout supplied through the auger during installation of the piling. A pressure indicator is provided for displaying the pressure sensed at the element, and a transmission line connects the element and indicator for transmitting the pressure sensed at the element to the indicator.

Abstract: Apparatus (30) is disclosed for preventing accumulation of debris such as clay, dirt or stones in the flighting (28) of an elongated earth auger (12) so that when the auger is removed from a bore hole while continuing to rotate, accumulated debris is not left in the flights which could fall on adjacent workmen or equipment. The apparatus includes a fan-shaped flight cleaning device (76) having a rotatable hub (80) which carries a series of radially extending, co-planar petal elements (82) adapted to successively extend into the auger flighting to dislodge debris tending to accumulate in the flights. As the auger rotates, the flighting engages the edges of the petal elements to cause the cleaning device to rotate and successively bring the petal elements into the area between adjacent flight sections for dislodgement of debris tending to accumulate in such areas.

Abstract: A pre-lubrication system (14) for an internal combustion engines (10) having a pressurized lubrication system (12) is provided which serves to rapidly pre-lubricate internal engine components during an engine ignition sequence. The assembly (14) preferably includes a vessel (16) adapted to hold a charge of lubricant under positive pressure, together with a valve assembly (19) and conduit (54) coupling the vessel (16) and the engine lubrication system (12). The valve assembly (19) preferably includes a solenoid operated valve (58) and a parallel check valve (60) which cooperatively permit filling of the vessel (16) with lubricant during normal engine operation, while maintaining a pressurized charge of lubricant within the vessel (16) when the engine (10) is stopped. The solenoid valve (58) is preferably wired (80, 82) for selective and/or automatic valve opening during an ignition sequence.

Abstract: A grapple device (12) adapted for coupling to a conventional loader (110) is provided which is especially adapted for the pickup and handling of elongated auger sections. The device (12) includes a pair of pivotal arms (28,30) having auger-engaging pickup members (72,74) secured to the outermost ends thereof. The arms (28,30) are movable between a closed, auger-engaging position and an open position by a stationary piston and cylinder assembly (94) equipped with an extensible piston rod (96); the rod (96) is coupled to the arms (28, 30) by pivotal links (104,106). Selective rotation of the arms (28, 30) is effected by motor (108) coupled via chain (112) and sprockets (110,88) to the arm assembly.

Abstract: Improved apparatus (10) for pumping of a viscous, flowable material which minimizes the problem of large pressure fluctuations in downstream conduits (16). The apparatus (10) preferably includes a twin piston cement pump (12) and a flexible material delivery conduit (16). A surge control apparatus (14) operatively couples the pump (12) and the conduit (16). The surge control apparatus (14) includes a primary material-conveying body (40) with an elongated surge chamber (46) extending outward from the primary body (40). The surge chamber (46) includes a slidable piston (48) and means for filling a portion of the chamber with a pressurized fluid (62).

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the formation of casing assisted grout piles at low density overburden construction sites is provided which includes a collar assembly (44) adapted to be secured to the conventional upright support frame (12) forming a part of typical pile-forming equipment. Preferably, the assembly (44) includes a pair of hingedly interconnected arcuate collar sections (46,48) which cooperatively grip the upper protruding end (42) of an embedded metallic casing (40). The sections (46,48) are provided with circumferentially spaced elongated, gripping elements (70) thereon, as well as a piston and cylinder assembly (60) for selective opening and closing movement of the sections (46,48). Use of the casing-gripping assembly (44) prevents substantial movement or uprooting of the embedded casing (40), and permits pile formation at sites such as landfills containing municipal solid wastes.

Abstract: A combination burner has a burner pipe for pulverized fuel beside a burner chamber for fluid fuel. A plurality of retractable nozzles mounted in a retractable housing inside the chamber are connected to a plurality of fluid fuel sources. Primary air may be controlled in varying amounts to both burner pipe and burner chamber. Nozzles may be angled with respect to burner pipe to provide supportive flame.