Abstract: A human-powered borehole drill bridges the gap between large drilling rigs and the other less-effective manual methods. Intended mainly for developing countries, the design is affordable and also extremely simple, as very little product support or spare parts will be needed. The drill uses conventional drill pipe and drill bits allowing the drill system to mimic more conventional methods of drilling and existing hardware to maintain uniformity in drilling and easier access to more drilling products.

Abstract: A reusable nose cone device (and related retrieval apparatus) in a hollow helical piling system having a terminal helical anchor are described. The method and system include placing or installing either (i) reinforced concrete piles in situ and/or (ii) grounding systems into the ground—without utilizing a pile driver or an auger, without deconsolidating the surrounding earth and creating spoils (as with an auger), and without unnecessary sacrifice of materials. A terminal helical anchor may be installed through the hollow center of the helical piling system into the ground. The helical anchor may be installed after the removal of the nose cone device. With the system and method, independent and accurate measurement of the anchor's torque may be made and hence complementary “load” bearing, or compression, (or “pull” resisting, or tensioning) capacity may be determined prior to filling the entire pile with reinforced wet concrete.

Abstract: A post sleeve installation assembly includes: an elastomeric sleeve core shaped to form a post sleeve when positioned in uncured concrete, a removable stiffener inside the core, an aperture extending lengthwise in the stiffener, a locking element positioned within the core, and an assembly plate coupled to the stiffener. The assembly plate clamps to a prefabricated sleeve element, with the core and stiffener positioned within a post cavity of the sleeve element. an installation stake is positioned in the aperture and prevented from sliding upwards by the locking element. A release point on the assembly plate permits an operator to release the locking element for removal of the stake. To install a post sleeve, the operator positions the installation assembly, clamped to a prefabricated sleeve element, in a post hole with the stake resting on the bottom, then fills the hole with concrete, manipulating the stake to position the assembly.

Abstract: A reusable nose cone device (and related retrieval apparatus) in a hollow helical piling system having a terminal helical anchor are described. The method and system include placing or installing either (i) reinforced concrete piles in situ and/or (ii) grounding systems into the ground—without utilizing a pile driver or an auger, without deconsolidating the surrounding earth and creating spoils (as with an auger), and without unnecessary sacrifice of materials. A terminal helical anchor may be installed through the hollow center of the helical piling system into the ground. The helical anchor may be installed after the removal of the nose cone device. With the system and method, independent and accurate measurement of the anchor's torque may be made and hence complementary “load” bearing, or compression, (or “pull” resisting, or tensioning) capacity may be determined prior to filling the entire pile with reinforced wet concrete.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling device and a drilling method for drilling inside a casing tube with a drilling apparatus, which has a supporting frame with a fastening means for fixation with respect to the casing tube and a drilling tool, which is driven in a rotating manner via a telescopic rod by means of a drill drive arranged on the supporting frame. At the upper end of the casing tube a receiving part is arranged in accordance with the invention, onto which the supporting frame can be fastened. The receiving part is adjustably supported between a drilling position and an offset position, in which the receiving part is laterally offset with respect to the casing tube.

Abstract: There is described a method of laying pipe (20) through a fill (12) of loosely packed materials, where the pipe is installed between a pointed front section (36) and a rear section (50) of a tool, and the rear section is subjected to a drive force in the longitudinal direction, so that the pointed section and the pipe is pushed into the loosely packed materials. The method is characterized by that in the event that the progress is halted due to an inadvertent hindrance in the loosely packed materials, the tool and the pipe connected thereto is pulled back by exerting a tractive force on a tractive means (80) connected to the pointed front section. Preferably the tractive means is a line (80) in the shape of a wire and/or a chain, fixed to the front section (32), where the line runs within the pipe connected to the rear section (50), and the tractive force is controlled by the tool operator.

Abstract: During casing-while-drilling, drilling fluid is pumped through a conduit leading to a flow passage a casing string gripper and down the casing string. A bottom hole assembly is mounted at a lower end of the casing string for drilling a wellbore. The bottom hole assembly is retrieved by mounting a circulation sub to the casing string below the casing string gripper, the circulation sub having a lateral outlet. A return flow line is connected from the outlet to the circulation system. The operator flows fluid downward in an annulus of the casing string and back up the casing string, causing the bottom hole assembly to move upward. The fluid flowing back up the casing string is diverted through the outlet in the circulation sub to the circulation system without passing through the flow passage in the casing string gripper.

Abstract: An auger and hole stabilization combination system includes an auger bit that has a bottom end, a top end, and at least one boring blade positioned between the top and bottom ends. A cylinder has an upper end and a lower end. The cylinder has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the auger bit. A coupler releasably couples the auger bit to the cylinder. The auger is extended into a ground surface and the cylinder retained within a hole dug by the auger while a post is placed in the hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a hole in ground (10) includes a mounting plate (60) mounted to a loader (80). A probe (11) is coupled with the mounting plate (60). Two arms (32) extend radially outward from a vertical axis and from a periphery of the probe (11). The apparatus further includes two cylinders (40) each having an upper end (42) coupled to the mounting plate (60) and a lower end (44) coupled to one of the arms (32). The probe (11) is driven into the ground along the vertical axis by movement of the mounting plate (60) by the loader (80), and an upper portion of the probe (11) is simultaneously wobbled about two axes that are perpendicular to each other and to the vertical axis by moving at least one of the cylinders (40). The probe (11) is then moved out of the ground to leave a hole in the ground.

Abstract: A process for retrieving a bottom hole assembly through a casing string may include: installing a casing string in a borehole, the casing string including a bottom hole assembly releasably engaged thereto and moveable through an inner diameter of the casing string; releasing the bottom hole assembly from engagement with the casing string; reducing hydrostatic pressure in the casing string inner diameter above the bottom hole assembly so that the casing string inner diameter pressure above the bottom hole assembly is lower than a fluid pressure below the bottom hole assembly; permitting reverse circulation down through an annulus between the casing string and the borehole to permit the bottom hole assembly to rise up through the casing string toward the surface; and retrieving the bottom hole assembly from the casing string.

Abstract: Installation of support piers for a structure comprises the steps of positioning a hollow tube in a soil matrix followed by removal of soil from the hollow core, filling the core with an aggregate, subsequent raising and lowering of the hollow tube, compacting the aggregate by means of a mechanical device affixed to the bottom of the hollow tube to and also applying lateral forces to the aggregate against the walls of the cavity formed in the soil matrix, thereby pushing a portion of the aggregate laterally into the soil matrix.

Abstract: A boring device for producing a bore with a casing tube has a linkage, a boring tool, which can be fixed to the lower end of the linkage, a mounting frame for mounting on the casing tube, a drive and a connecting device, which is used for producing a rotary connection between the casing tube and the mounting frame. The linkage is hollow and has a first and a second flushing line. In the vicinity of the upper end of the link-age are provided a first connection for the supply of a fluid to the first flushing line and a second connection for removing the borings via the second flushing line. A boring method introduced the casing tube into the soil prior to an excavation.

Abstract: A telescopic drilling method includes the steps of drilling an outer bore through a surface, inserting a hollow outer conduit into the outer bore, and at least partially inserting a first hollow inner conduit through the outer conduit. Next, the method includes the steps of preventing the first inner conduit from moving longitudinal with respect to the outer conduit engaging a rotatable inner drill bit with a ring drill bit and further drilling the outer bore using a unitary drill bit head to a successive depth. The inner drill bit is disengaged from the ring drill bit and a second end of a successive hollow inner conduit is attached to a first end of a preceding one, and the preceding inner conduit is unclamped.

Abstract: A method and mechanical apparatus for installation of support pier for structure comprises positioning a hollow tube apparatus in a soil matrix wherein the hollow tube apparatus has a hollow core and is susceptible to lateral and longitudinal movement, removing soil from the hollow core and then filling that core with an aggregate followed by raising and lowering of the hollow tube apparatus by way of a bottom mechanical device in a manner which compacts the aggregate and also applies lateral forces to the aggregate against the walls of the cavity in the soil matrix, pushing a portion of the aggregate into the soil matrix.

Abstract: A method and special mechanical apparatus for installation of support pier for structure comprises positioning a hollow tube apparatus in a soil matrix wherein the hollow tube apparatus has a hollow core and is susceptible to lateral and longitudinal movement, removing soil from the hollow core and then filling that core with an aggregate followed by raising and lowering of the hollow tube apparatus by means of a special bottom mechanical device in a manner which compacts the aggregate and also applies lateral forces to the aggregate against the walls of the cavity in the soil matrix, pushing a portion of the aggregate into the soil matrix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installation of a support pier for a structure comprises positioning a hollow tube apparatus in a soil matrix wherein the hollow tube apparatus has a hollow core and is susceptible to lateral and longitudinal movement, removing soil from the hollow core and then filling that core with an aggregate followed by raising and lowering of the hollow tube apparatus by a bottom mechanical device in a manner which compacts the aggregate and also applies lateral forces to the aggregate against the walls of the cavity in the soil matrix, pushing a portion of the aggregate into the soil matrix.

Abstract: A method of creating a wellbore in an underground formation comprising drilling a borehole in the underground formation using a drilling tubular, capable of being expanded, to which a downhole motor driving a drill bit has been connected, and, after drilling to the desired casing setting depth, expanding the drilling tubular into place to line the borehole by applying a radial load to the drilling tubular and removing said load from the drilling tubular.

Abstract: A rotary displacement piling equipment for boring a hole within the soil comprising:

Abstract: In a process for drilling, in particular rotary percussion or percussion drilling, and lining holes in the ground or rocks, a hole is percussion and/or rotation drilled by a cutter mounted on boring rods and a lining is formed by a jacket tube. During drilling, at least one jacket tube coupled to the cutter is drawn in the axial direction by the cutter into the bore hole and once drilling is finished, the cutter is at least partially removed from the jacket tube together with the boring rods. In a device for drilling, in particular percussion or rotary percussion drilling, and lining holes in the ground or rocks, a cutter mounted on boring rods drills a bore hole by percussion and/or rotary drilling. The cutter is divided in the radial direction.

Abstract: A root feeding device for dispersing plant food or other substances into the soil. The root feeding device (10) includes a reservoir (12) for being implanted in soil and for receiving the plant food or other substances to be dispersed into the soil. The reservoir (12) defines a plurality of perforations (22) through which the plant food or other substance is dispersed. The device (10) also includes a water dispensing wand (26) for dispensing water under pressure which, in accordance with the method of the present invention, is used to bore a hole in the soil to facilitate the implantation of the reservoir (12) in the soil. A conduit (38) of the water dispensing wand (26) is received through the reservoir (12) and water dispensed from the conduit (38) erodes the soil, thereby producing a hole in the soil into which the reservoir (12) is carried.

Abstract: An assembly for locking the drive point at the forward end of an elongated sample tube includes a tapered drive point presenting a threaded chamber, a bolt having a threaded stem, a collar disposed about the stem and a locking member disposed about the stem and adapted for engaging a recess near the forward end of the tube. The bolt head may present a tool receiving slot for remotely releasing the locked drive point assembly. The bolt stem may include a recessed groove for receiving a setscrew through the drive point to ensure that the bolt does not become completely disengaged from the drive point when the point is released from the forward end of the sample tube.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for detecting leaks in, cathodically protecting, determining the effectiveness of such cathodic protection, and/or remediating fluid leaked from an aboveground storage tank. At least one substantially horizontal bore is formed beneath an aboveground storage tank and a slotted pipe or casing is positioned within the bore. The pipe or casing can be simultaneously advanced within the substantially horizontal bore while the bore is being formed. Slotted tubing and at least one anode are positioned within the slotted casing. The bore is filled with coke breeze and current is supplied to the anode(s) to cathodically protect substantially the entire tank bottom. The anode and slotted tubing can be removed to provide a passageway for remediation of fluid leakage from the storage tank.

Abstract: A device for obtaining soil samples beneath the surface of the ground. A sample tube is provided with a removable piston tip blocking the forward opening of the sample tube. Rearward movement of the piston tip is blocked by a removable piston stop. The sample tube is driven into the soil with the piston tip blocking its forward end. Tubular probe extension may be successively added to the rear of the device to allow driving of the sample tube to the desired depth. At the desired depth, the piston stop is removed to unblock the piston tip. The piston stop may be removed by a series of threadedly connected extension rods threadedly connected via a drivehead to the piston stop. The piston stop is threadedly connected to the sample tube with left-handed threads to ensure all other connections remain tight during removal. The sample tube is then driven forward, causing the soil sample to enter the tube and the tip to slide within the tube. The tube is then withdrawn from the soil to recover the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing the forward movement of a rod as it is moved through a loose medium has the versatility either to direct or not direct such movement. The apparatus has a directing member that is disabled in a first position wherein movement of the rod is not directed and is enabled in a second position wherein movement of the rod is directed. The apparatus includes drive-engaging members and a control mechanism for controlling the disengagement and engagement of the drive-engaging members selectively to permit forward movement of the rod in a desired direction. The apparatus may also include fluid passageways and valves for dispensing fluid such as water or drilling mud into the loose medium in the direction of movement to facilitate the movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing the forward movement of a rod as it is moved through a loose medium has the versatility either to direct or not direct such movement. The apparatus has a directing member that is disabled in a first position wherein movement of the rod is not directed and is enabled in a second position wherein movement of the rod is directed. The apparatus includes drive-engaging members and a control mechanism for controlling the disengagement and engagement of the drive-engaging members selectively to permit forward movement of the rod in a desired direction. The apparatus may also include fluid passageways and valves for dispensing fluid such as water or drilling mud into the loose medium in the direction of movement to facilitate the movement.

Abstract: In well drilling, and in particular the horizontal drilling field, a simultaneous drilling and casing device is provided. A drill string driven in rotation by a revolving table has at its end a drilling tool 28 driven by a bottom motor 22 and, in its intermediate part, a drive connection 10 to which the rear end 1a of a casing section 1 is screwed, whose front end is provided with an abrasive material ring 3. The length of the part of the drill string separating the connection 10 from tool 28 is substantially equal to the length of section 1. The casing 1 driven by the drill string at the speed of rotation of the revolving table cuts its own way during the drilling.

Abstract: A screen placement apparatus and system wherein the apparatus includes a motor for providing rotational torque to an auger received within a ground screen and a disposable cutting tip having a cutting diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the screen is connected to the end of the auger. The screen is placed into the ground by simultaneously drilling the hole with the disposable cutting tip, drawing the drill cuttings up through the screen with the auger, and inserting the screen into the hole. The drill cuttings, drawn up through the hole, are discharged through discharge openings. After the desired depth is reached, the auger and motor are longitudinally moved with respect to the screen and cutting tip thereby permanently disconnecting the disposable cutting tip and leaving it within the ground. The auger is, thereafter, retracted from within the ground screen.

Abstract: A marine pipeline surveying apparatus useful for locating buried pipelines includes a barge having a work deck with a dolly mounted on the work deck for movement on the deck upon a provided track. A slot in the barge can be provided so that workers can move completely around the dolly. The dolly provides a gimbal type articulating support for supporting a hollow casing during operation. The gimbal support allows the articulating movement to compensate wave action on the barge so that the wave action is not transmitted to the casing. During operation a magnetometer placed in the casing bore can be used to "roughly" position the barge and casing above the pipeline to be located. Then the barge can be anchored in position over the pipeline as dictated by the magnetometer "rough" positioning. The magnetometer is then removed from the casing bore and the casing provides a guide for a probe rod such as a jet probe which is placed within the casing.

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: This invention relates to an improved self-anchoring fence post characterized by an anchor member in the form of a rigid blade substantially bisected by a vertically-disposed groove for use in initially detachably clamping same to a driving tool for both burying it in the ground and simultaneously producing a posthole therebeneath. Following removal of the driving tool, this same groove is employed to permanently clamp the anchor member to a fence post passed down alongside thereof into the posthole. The invention also includes an apertured disc which is placed on the end of the driving tool and precedes same down into the ground so as to produce an oversize hole from which the tool can be removed as well as a permanent base upon which to rest the fence post. The invention further encompasses the method of installing the post by using the disc to drive an oversize posthole while simultaneously burying the anchor member.

Abstract: Improved sealing means in rock drilling equipment of the kind comprising casing sections positioned between the drilling unit and the cutter head and housing the drill rod sections. A combined seal consisting of a metal part and a resilient part is positioned between the casing and the cutter head to prevent water and mud from penetrating into the casing. In addition, sealing means are provided to prevent drill water from flowing between the drill rod and the casing in the direction towards the drill chamber, and further means are provided to close off communication between the drill chamber and the annular chamber between the casing and the drill hole wall.