Abstract: An apparatus for punching an anchor bolt insertion hole is disclosed. The apparatus enables punching work for forming the anchor bolt insertion hole, of which the bottom side is wider than an inlet, on a panel surface for constructing a concrete structure to be performed regardless of the skill of a worker. During operation, the apparatus provides the movement direction of a hammer drill into the vertical direction and the inclination direction so as to enable precise punching work, and doubly arranges springs, which are elastic devices for adjusting the movement range of the hammer drill, so as to uniformly maintain the angle and size for cutting a wall such that a cross-sectional diameter is large at a portion adjacent to the bottom of the anchor bolt insertion hole.

Abstract: Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier.

Abstract: A drill assembly that includes one drill and a displacement unit, where the drill is releasably or permanently attached to said displacement unit, such that: —the displacement unit includes a guide unit and a channel unit, where the channel unit includes a guide channel, and said guide unit includes one or more guides adapted to engage with said guide channel, such that said guide channel is a circumferential channel that follows a wave or wave like path; —the drill includes a drill bit and/or a drill flight attached to a central shaft, wherein the drill bit and/or drill flight co-terminate at a first terminal end of the drill; —said first terminal end is the terminal end of the drill that is configured to enter the ground first; and—the central shaft is a thin elongate member that extends between the longitudinally separated terminal ends of the drill.

Abstract: Backflow during installation of a ground anchor is controlled using a preventer, and the preventer is removed during curing of grout and backflow. A cylinder may be inserted at least partially into a structure, and the preventer placed or attached atop the cylinder. A hollow bar may be extended through the preventer and cylinder into one or more layers of materials beyond the cylinder. Grout may be delivered to the layer(s) through the hollow bar, which may cause a viscous backflow to flow into the cylinder and preventer. During application of the grout, the preventer may be used to control a rate of backflow. After application of the grout, the preventer may put into an open position, and a seal assembly forced down the hollow bar, through an interior cavity of the preventer, to a position below the preventer, after which the preventer may be removed while the grout and backflow cure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of constructing a ground anchor, wherein the method comprises performing an introduction step for introducing the boring tool into the ground along a boring axis (F) so as to form a top portion (C1), the mixer device being in the retracted position during the introduction step; then performing a mixing step during which the mixer device is taken to the deployed position and the boring tool is driven in rotation with the mixer device (14) in the deployed position while moving the boring tool axially along the boring axis and while injecting the fluid so as to perform mechanical in-situ mixing of the ground in place with the fluid, thereby forming a bulb (B) in the ground under the top portion (C1), which bulb has a second diameter (D2) that is greater than the first diameter (D1); inserting a reinforcement into the bulb, whereby a ground anchor is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for mixing two or more materials underground. The apparatus comprises at least one hose in fluid communication with containers of the materials that are to be mixed. The apparatus further comprises a mixer in which the at least one hose is terminated. The mixer has at least one aperture for receiving the at least one hose. The mixer further defines a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the at least one aperture to receive the materials entering into each aperture through each hose for facilitating mixing thereof in the mixing chamber. The mixer further includes an outlet for discharging the mixture.

Abstract: A concrete forming tube formed from a thermoplastic material and having a first end, a second end, and a substantially uniform circumference from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: A grout injecting/structure anchoring system has a support bracket with a horizontal portion and a pair of threaded recesses and a sleeve there between. A grout tube has a plurality of apertures along its length. A lower cross brace is positioned above the sleeve and guide tube and grout tube with unthreaded holes axially aligned with the threaded recesses of the support bracket. The lower cross brace has associated there with threaded cylinders with lower ends coupled to the threaded recesses and upper ends extending through the unthreaded holes. Nuts are received by the upper ends of the threaded cylinders above the lower cross brace. The nuts are adapted to be rotated for raising the support bracket.

Abstract: A grout injecting/structure anchoring system has a support bracket with a horizontal portion and a pair of threaded recesses and a sleeve there between. A grout tube has a plurality of apertures along its length. A lower cross brace is positioned above the sleeve and guide tube and grout tube with unthreaded holes axially aligned with the threaded recesses of the support bracket. The lower cross brace has associated there with threaded cylinders with lower ends coupled to the threaded recesses and upper ends extending through the unthreaded holes. Nuts are received by the upper ends of the threaded cylinders above the lower cross brace. The nuts are adapted to be rotated for raising the support bracket.

Abstract: A structure has a foundation positionable on soil over bedrock. A hollow cylindrical supportive tube has a closed bottom end, an open top end and a plurality of spaced apertures along the length. A bracket coupled to the tube is adapted to be securely placed under a foundation of a structure. A pressurized grout dispensing unit is coupled to the upper end of the filling tube.

Abstract: Methods for augmenting the load bearing characteristics of short aggregate piers include preloading matrix soils, adding chemical additives to matrix soils and using mesh reinforcement in matrix soils and in cooperation with the aggregate lifts associated with pier constructions. Methods for expanding the feasibility of short aggregate piers include the use of gradations of aggregate, reducing friction between the short aggregate pier and adjacent matrix soils using liners or lubricating materials, controlling liquefaction by employing aggregate drains in short aggregate pier constructions, the use of non-impact forces alone or in conjunction with vibratory forces in construction short aggregate pier lifts, and the use of indigenous materials in short aggregate pier constructions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the stiffness of soil by forming an opening in the ground, inserting an expandable member, and distending the expandable member.

Abstract: The invention provides a pile construction method which allows repeated formation of a supplemental base concrete body at the bottom of a cast-in-place pile, wherein before a previously introduced cement mortar consolidates at the bottom of the pile, a soil stabilizing liquid agent is injected through an injection tube which extends to the bottom of a pile so as to penetrate into the earth surrounding the bottom of the pile. After the cement mortar consolidates, the flow passages of the soil stabilizing agent become permanent passages in the pile base for a next injection of cement mortar.

Abstract: A tunnel casing is formed by cylindrical casing sections whose proximal flanges are not only bridged by the usual drawbolts tending to pull the casing sections toward one another, seals and centering elements, but also are provided with wedge or hydraulic spacers which can fix the gap widths at the respective joints by hydraulic or wedge blocking to take up pressure forces which cannot be sustained by the drawbolts.

Abstract: A procedure for constructing a concrete lined underground chamber along a bore hole drilled within the earth. Such chambers serve as access work chambers for carrying out other various drilling and mining operations, such as, for example, horizontal drilling operations for steam enhanced recovery of oil. In constructing the lined chamber, the bore hole is initially drilled in the earth to a predetermined depth at which the chamber is to be constructed. In a first belling operation, a first bell-shaped chamber is formed. A substantial portion of the floor of this first chamber is then covered with a mound of gravel material. The remainder of the first chamber is then filled with concrete. Subsequently the bore hole is redrilled to a depth extending below the bottom of the first chamber and a second belling operation is carried out for forming a second bell-shaped chamber.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an earth-anchor or the like structural reference which is cast in cementatious filling at the installation site and which relies upon a particularly characterized bored cavity in the underground medium to permit primary reliance upon the confined compressive strength of the medium, thereby substantially increasing the load capacity of the reference, as compared to prior constructions. To achieve this result, the bored cavity is characterized by one or more wall surfaces of relatively uniform slope with respect to the axis of the bore, the slope being dependent upon the particular medium. The invention is described in application to a foundation pile or caisson, and to an earth anchor, to illustrate compressional and tensional uses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laying a sheet pile underground. A vertical slit is bored in the ground with an auger as a guide for a sheet pile, and the sheet pile is pushed into the earth in close vicinity to said vertical slit by a jack. The vertical slit is refilled with the removed earth by reverse operation of the auger. The auger for boring the vertical slit is elevatably mounted on the apparatus and an elevator is also mounted on a leader having a sheet pile base and a clamping device thereon for holding the sheet pile thereof between. A retaining frame elevatable under the operation of a jack is also provided on the elevator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of setting a concrete pile without noise or vibration which is thereby effective to decrease city noises. A concrete pile is sunk into a leading hole substantially concurrently with the progress of the excavation thereof. After the pile has been sunk through a desired distance, another supporting hole is excavated below the pile. A solidifying material, such as cement milk, mortar, or cement concrete including a cement expansion agent of calcium sulfoaluminate system or lime system, is poured into the supporting hole. The solidifying material is expanded within the supporting hole and permeates into the circumferential wall thereof, which is loosened by the excavation, so as to retighten the wall. Therefore, sufficient supporting force can be obtained.