Dispensing Auger Patents (Class 405/241)
  • Patent number: 10934677
    Abstract: A machine, method and system for installing helical foundation piers that sues a driving tamper connected to a rotary tool to drive helical piers into the ground. Once the pier reaches the target depth, the tamper is decoupled, and counter rotated away from the pier. While it is withdrawn the soil between the driven and pier and the driving tamper is compressed by intermittent downward action of the tamper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ojjo, Inc.
    Inventors: David Mar, Daniel Flanigan
  • Patent number: 10907318
    Abstract: A closed-loop feedback-control system for a screw anchor driving machine that uses a programmable logic controller (PLC) and array of sensors providing real-time data to control an automated screw anchor driving operation relying on a rotary driver, a crowd motor applying downforce to the rotary driver and a tool driver extending a tool through the rotary driver and screw anchor to drive screw anchors to a target depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ojjo, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Flanigan, Steven Kraft, Charles Almy, Spencer Shupe, Tyrus Hudson, Ryan Woodward
  • Patent number: 10787865
    Abstract: An in-situ injection of soil and groundwater—high pressure rotary jet grouting in-situ remediation system and method. The system has an agent dispensing station, high pressure grouting pump, air compressor, rotary jet grouting drilling machine, second double-pipe water flow joint, automatic lifting mechanism for grouting drill pipe of rotary jet grouting drilling machine, high pressure jet drill pipe, inner tube for high pressure jet triple drill pipe, outer tube for high pressure jet triple drill pipe, agent jet nozzle, an air jet nozzle, cemented carbide block and a drill bit. Parameters are arranged according to the triangle method to ensure that the remediation area is covered within the diffusion radius of the agent. After positioning the GPS measuring point, a guided-boring rig is positioned at the center of the injection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BCEG Environmental Remediation Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shupeng Li, Yuewei Yang, Lili Guo, Peng Liu, Yue Zhang, Xiaowei Song, Fan Chen, Pengcheng Yin, Fuwang Wang, Yan Liu, Qiang Niu, Fanyang Bu
  • Patent number: 10227748
    Abstract: A drill unit for forming a column in ground which includes an outer drill and a concentric inner drill, where attached to the outer drill there is at least one drill tooth which includes a first face, a second face and a base face wherein: —the first face and the second face are immediately adjacent one another and are coterminous at a first edge and a second edge; —the base face is the face closest to, or coterminous with, the first terminal end; —all faces, except the base face, are independently coterminous with the base face; and extend away from the base face in the same direction; —at least part of the at least one drill tooth extends away from the first terminal end to terminate at the second edge; —the second edge is the edge of the at least one tooth that is most longitudinally distant from the first terminal end; —the first face further includes a first alpha edge, where the first alpha edge is an edge of the first face opposite the first edge; —a line joining the first edge and the first alpha edge
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: Jaron Lyell McMillan
  • Patent number: 9587362
    Abstract: A screw pile substructure support system comprises a tubular pile with a fixed conical tip having a helical flight thereon which draws the pile into a soil bed when a torque is applied to the pile. The tip has a substantially conical shape, and the largest diameter of the tip is substantially the same as the diameter of the tubular pile to which it is attached. The helical flight is attached to the outside surface of the tip. The tip may also be provided a point tip and one or more cutting teeth attached its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Steve Neville
  • Patent number: 9546464
    Abstract: A vibrating arrangement includes at least one elongate silo tube for receiving filling material, the silo tube having a longitudinal direction, a lengthwise filling material outlet at one end of the silo tube and a casing. At least one vibrator is disposed on the silo tube. At least one outer closure is disposed on the casing of the silo tube. At least one filling material container is disposed so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the silo tube before the outer closures, in which the filling material container has at least one opening facing the casing of the silo tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Degen, Wilhelm Degen
  • Patent number: 9365997
    Abstract: A granular stone column drill which includes a first drill, a second drill and a displacement device, where—the first drill includes a tube within which the second drill at least partially, co-axially, lies; —the second drill includes a drill flight and first terminal end; —the displacement device includes a displacement unit and at least one guidance means; —the displacement unit includes a guide channel and an exposed wall such that the guide channel extends into the exposed wall; —the exposed wall lies approximately parallel to a centerline of the second drill; and—the at least one guidance means are located within the guide channel; such that the guide channel is a continuous circumferential channel that follows a wave like path, and either the at least one guidance means or the displacement unit is releasably or permanently attached to the second drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Jaron Lyell McMillan
  • Patent number: 8926228
    Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a method and apparatus for placing an auger grouted displacement pile or helical pile in soil. The pile has an elongated shaft with at least one lateral compaction protrusion which establishes a regular bore diameter in the supporting medium. The pile also has a helical blade configured to move the pile into the supporting medium. The bottom of the shaft includes means for forming irregularities in the bore diameter after compaction by the lateral compaction protrusion. The bore is filled with grout while leaving the pile in the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Ben Stroyer
  • Patent number: 8672058
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for adapting an HVAC system in an existing building for utilizing geothermal energy, the system comprising an incoming flux of geothermal energy; a plurality of heat exchange surfaces adapted to receive the incoming flux of geothermal energy; and an interface between the HVAC system and the heat exchange surfaces, said interface adapted to transfer the geothermal energy to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GeoThermal Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Shelton E. Tommie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8567519
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ground working device comprising a carrier implement, a mast that forms a mast sequence and has a lower mast part, which is linked to the carrier implement, an upper mast part and at least one mast extension piece, whereby for the purpose of increasing the mast length the mast extension piece is removably inserted into the mast sequence between lower mast part and upper mast part and removed from the mast sequence, and, with the mast extension piece removed, the upper mast part can be fixed directly on the lower mast part, a work sledge which is guided in a displaceable manner along the mast, and at least one feed rope for displacing the work sledge, which runs at least in some areas longitudinally of the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Bauer Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Poeckl
  • Patent number: 8555561
    Abstract: A headstone support system includes a pole having a first auger attached to the pole proximate a first end thereof, the first auger configured to drill through soil upon rotation of the pole, and a headstone support attached to a second end of the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Source of Pride, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Duncan Dickinson, Rodney Kenneth Knyvett, Enrique Escamilla
  • Patent number: 8429859
    Abstract: A headstone support system includes a pole having a first auger attached to the pole proximate a first end thereof, the first auger configured to drill through soil upon rotation of the pole, and a headstone support attached to a second end of the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Source of Pride, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Duncan Dickinson, Rodney Kenneth Knyvett, Enrique Escamilla
  • Publication number: 20120087740
    Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a method and apparatus for placing an auger grouted displacement pile or helical pile in soil. The pile has an elongated shaft with at least one lateral compaction protrusion which establishes a regular bore diameter in the supporting medium. The pile also has a helical blade configured to move the pile into the supporting medium. The bottom of the shaft includes means for forming irregularities in the bore diameter after compaction by the lateral compaction protrusion. The bore is then filled with grout while leaving the pile in the soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Ben Stroyer
  • Patent number: 8113743
    Abstract: An earth-working apparatus (1) having a drive (1?, 1?) located above the ground is described. The earth-working apparatus has at least two earth-working devices (300, 400), a first earth-working device (300) including a rotating cutter and agitator device (30) that penetrates into the ground to be worked, having first tools and a second earth-working device (400) including a comminuting device (40) having second tools. Each earth-working device (300, 400) is individually mountable on the drive. The earth-working devices (300, 400) may be individually mountable on the drive. It is also possible to combine two or more earth-working devices and to mount them together on the drive. A method for working particularly encrusted ground surfaces is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: LOBBE Industrieservice GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Reinhold Straus, Martin Straus
  • Patent number: 7883295
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming an in situ subterranean soil cement structure wherein a soil processing tool incorporates a novel cyclonic mixing region. The cyclonic mixing region is formed by deflecting a jetstream which initially moves away from a hollow Kelly and, after being deflected, the jetstream is redirected into a direction flowing towards the hollow Kelly. A contoured flight is provided having an exterior contoured surface extending upwardly from a central section of the contoured flight and bends through an angle greater than 110° in order to deflect a jetstream which is directed outwardly from the hollow Kelly back towards the hollow Kelly. By preventing any of the high pressure jetstreams from impacting the side wall of the hole, higher jetstream velocities and pressures may be utilized. Two or more jetstreams may also be utilized to direct their jetstreams around a central horizontal axis to provide the cyclonic mixing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Verne L. Schellhorn
  • Patent number: 7854572
    Abstract: A piling machine with high-pressure jet spiral bit, including an underpan, a pile frame, a drill pipe, a drill bit having an upper leaf helix, a lower leaf helix and a middle leaf helix, a power system, a high-pressure concrete casting system and a high-pressure jet grouting system. The drill bit is disposed at the head of the drill pipe and has multiple nozzles disposed thereon, a diameter of the middle leaf helix is constant from the top to the bottom thereof, a diameter of each of the upper leaf helix and the lower leaf helix decreases from the top to the bottom thereof so that the drill bit with upper and lower tines is formed, the drill bit is spiral, the high-pressure jet grouting system is disposed in the drill bit, and the nozzles are disposed on the drill bit. A piling method is also taught herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Yuhua Lei
  • Patent number: 7748932
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for use in stabilizing different types of soils and/or creating anchorage and more particularly, to a system and method for injecting various types of solidifying material into a subsurface through a drilling apparatus during the drilling operation. The drilling apparatus may be removable and reusable used to create a micro or mini pile for soil stabilization, or alternatively it can be left in place to be used in conjunction with grout and similar materials for forming an anchor or load carry pier. A solidifying material swivel, a drive connector and a drilling apparatus, in combination are attached to a power drive unit. In one preferred embodiment, the drilling apparatus remains within the soil subsurface, encased in solidifying material. In another preferred embodiment, the drilling apparatus is removed leaving a homogenous pile of solidifying material behind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Russell Lindsey
  • Patent number: 7677839
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling implement for installing or erecting a drilling pillar in the ground, having a mast, a carriage displaceably mounted on the mast, a rotary drive located on the carriage for the rotary driving of a drill pipe and a pipe bunker connectable to the drill pipe with a storage area for fill material for filling a drill hole on drawing the drill pipe. According to the invention it is provided that the pipe bunker is axially adjustably mounted with respect to the carriage on said carriage. The invention also relates to a method for installing or erecting a drilling pillar, which can be implemented with a drilling implement according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Bauer Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Stoetzer
  • Patent number: 7651301
    Abstract: A method of soil improvement work drills the ground with a drilling head arranged at a lower end of a rotary shaft and sends the rotary shaft into the ground. The method mixes pressurized water with compressed air on the ground, to prepare a fluid mixture, feeds the fluid mixture through a feed path arranged along the rotary shaft into an ejector arranged on the drilling head, and ejects the fluid mixture from the ejector toward the ground to drill. An envelope defined by a front end of the drilling head has a conical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Fudo Tetra Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa Taniguchi, Masahiro Nagaishi, Hiroshi Nitao, Makoto Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7546887
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a borehole in the soil, in which a drill pipe and a conveyor screw arranged inside the drill pipe are set into rotation and introduced into the soil, and in which outcropping soil material is loosened by means of at least one main cutting edge, which is positioned axially in front of the conveyor screw, and is conveyed by means of the conveyor screw in the inside of the drill pipe. In accordance with the invention provision is made for the main cutting edge to be arranged on the drill pipe and to be rotated therewith. The invention further relates to a device for producing a borehole in the soil which can be employed in the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Bauer Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Gerold Schwab
  • Publication number: 20080131211
    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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Willie M. NeSmith, Kenneth J. Blum
  • Patent number: 7338232
    Abstract: A screw pile is equipped with internal grout pipes extending downwardly through the bore of the tubular pile shaft. The grout pipes connect with side-opening ports in the shaft side wall, to form conduits through which fluid grout may be injected into the surrounding ground. The grout is injected at high pressure as the pile is rotatively driven into a sub-surface target formation in which the pile is to be landed. In this way, the grout is distributed along a vertical interval of formation. It has been shown that this technique is characterized by increased load capacities of the implanted pile, relative to piles implanted without grouting or with grouting but only at landed depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Mamdouh A. Nasr
  • Patent number: 7306405
    Abstract: The invention relates to a boring appliance for producing a concrete element in the ground with a vehicle on which are located a tower, a concrete pump and a boring tool, which is installed for introduction in the ground at the tower. By means of a concrete pump and a delivery line concrete is pumped into a cavity formed by the boring tool for forming the concrete element. According to the invention, the concrete pump is detachably held on the rear region of the vehicle, which is opposite a front area with the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Bauer Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Schmidmaier, Wolfgang Harttig
  • Publication number: 20070253782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling implement for installing or erecting a drilling pillar in the ground, having a mast, a carriage displaceably mounted on the mast, a rotary drive located on the carriage for the rotary driving of a drill pipe and a pipe bunker connectable to the drill pipe with a storage area for fill material for filling a drill hole on drawing the drill pipe. According to the invention it is provided that the pipe bunker is axially adjustably mounted with respect to the carriage on said carriage. The invention also relates to a method for installing or erecting a drilling pillar, which can be implemented with a drilling implement according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventor: Erwin Stoetzer
  • Patent number: 7198434
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Berkel & Company Contractors, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Blum
  • Patent number: 7192220
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to produce in-situ pilings, controllably injecting binder and water into soil formation in which the piling is to be formed, the quantities of water and binder being respective to strength demands for the piling, and to demand for water to supplement existing water to react (hydrate) with the binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Johan M. Gunther
  • Patent number: 7137503
    Abstract: An auger assembly suitable for use with a food separator is provided with a removable brush. The auger assembly includes an auger defining a channel around the crest thereof. A brush is received in the channel and defining a flange at each end thereof. First and second retaining clips are removably attached to opposite ends of the auger, with each retaining clip defining an opening therethrough that receives a respective flange to secure the brush within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Greg Chesack, Robert Grabhorn
  • Patent number: 7029207
    Abstract: A rapid-set injection system using high-speed jet fluid for forming a pile-shaped solid body in the ground has an injection rod which does not jam in the ground and which has two or three jet nozzles so that the injection rod linearly excavates the target ground. The injection rod has an excavating bit provided at a lower portion of the injection rod to inject downward a fluid to the outside of the injection rod in criss-crossing diagonal directions, with a drill bit coupled to a lower end of the excavating bit, a first agitating unit mounted to an upper end of the excavating bit to inject desired materials to the outside of the injection rod at different levels in different diagonal directions, and a second agitating unit mounted to an upper end of the first agitating unit to horizontally inject air to the outside of the injection rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Yong-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 6824331
    Abstract: A screw form anchor device (10) intended for screwed penetration into a host material. The anchor device (10) includes a body (11) having a manipulating end (12) and a distal end (13). A screw thread (22) is formed by a plurality of tapering angular helix thread forms (22a) which extend from the distal end. Each angular helix thread form (22a) has an outward facing surface (24) and, relative to the distal end, a downward facing surface (25). In the preferred form an emergent helix thread (26) commences from a point distant from the distal end (13). This emergent helix thread (26) extends toward the manipulating end (12) of the body (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Clifford Alan Parker
  • Publication number: 20040105728
    Abstract: The invention describes a boring device for producing tubed bored piles, in which during sinking, simultaneously a tubing-with inside auger is introduced into the ground using the rotary boring method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Ludwig Schmidmaier, Wolfgang Harttig
  • Publication number: 20040105727
    Abstract: A piering device includes a shaft having interspaced threaded portions and unthreaded portions extending axially along at least a portion of its length. The unthreaded portions of the shaft are radially recessed with respect to the threaded portions. A helical plate with a threaded passageway can engage the threaded portions of the shaft at any desired location along the shaft. A key is then inserted into the passageway between the helical plate and an unthreaded portion of the shaft to hold the helical plate at the desired location on the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Robert L. Jones
  • Patent number: 6652195
    Abstract: A screw pier has an elongated shaft with a screw adjacent one end thereof. Soil displacing members are disposed on the shaft. The soil displacing members may be drawn through soil by turning the screw. A soil displacing member closer to the screw may be smaller than one or more soil displacing members farther from the screw. A driving tool may be provided for turning the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Vickars Developments Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Alfred Vickars, Jeremiah Charles Tilney Vickars, Gary Matheus Toebosch
  • Patent number: 6592300
    Abstract: A concrete pile construction method and an apparatus used for improving soft earth ground by constructing reinforced bar concrete pile structures in the earth. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a process for securing firm concrete piles having a reinforced bar core with uniform concrete by a pile apparatus in which projections are radially formed and a conical-shaped bit is formed pointedly on the pile apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: C. S. Kim and Associates
    Inventors: Won-Hoi Yang, Ho-Sang Lee
  • Publication number: 20030044241
    Abstract: A monitoring device (14) for a continuous flight auger is connected between a continuous flight auger (11) and a drive mechanism (12) and rotates with the auger. A strain measurement arrangement provides strain signals for use in deriving the rotational torque and axial force of the auger. The axial strain and rotational torque information are used to build up a model of the ground. In particular, the shear strength of the soil can be determined which enables the maximum pile capacity to be calculated without a detailed site investigation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Norman Mure, Jason Scott
  • Patent number: 6485234
    Abstract: A tool for use with a rotatable drill shaft and a source of pressurized fluidized solidifying agent. The tool member has upper and lower extremities. A coupler is coupled to the upper extremity of the tool member and is adapted to be secured to the drill shaft. A plurality of radially extending arms are secured to the tool member intermediate the upper and lower extremities of the tool member. A plurality of forwardly and downwardly extending teeth are secured to each of the radially extending arms and are spaced apart longitudinally of the arms. A plurality of nozzles are carried by the tool member and are spaced circumferentially of the tool member and are coupled to the source of pressurized fluidized solidifying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Condon-Johnson & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James O. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6435776
    Abstract: A screw pier has an elongated shaft with a screw adjacent one end thereof. Soil displacing members are disposed on the shaft. The soil displacing members may be drawn through soil by turning the screw. A soil displacing member closer to the screw may be smaller than one or more soil displacing members farther from the screw. A driving tool may be provided for turning the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Vickars Development Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Alfred Vickars, Jeremiah Charles Tilney Vickars, Gary Matheus Toebosch
  • Patent number: 6427402
    Abstract: A wall system, comprising a plurality of pile members. The pile members are driven next to each other using a conventional pile driving system. An interlock system locks adjacent pile members together. A flowable hardenable material may be introduced into the pile members to reinforce the wall system. A reinforcing assembly may be inserted into the pile members to provide additional strength to the wall system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: American Piledriving Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. White
  • Publication number: 20020071726
    Abstract: A tool for use with a rotatable drill shaft and a source of pressurized fluidized solidifying agent. The tool member has upper and lower extremities. A coupler is coupled to the upper extremity of the tool member and is adapted to be secured to the drill shaft. A plurality of radially extending arms are secured to the tool member intermediate the upper and lower extremities of the tool member. A plurality of forwardly and downwardly extending teeth are secured to each of the radially extending arms and are spaced apart longitudinally of the arms. A plurality of nozzles are carried by the tool member and are spaced circumferentially of the tool member and are coupled to the source of pressurized fluidized solidifying agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Condon-Johnson & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: James O. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20020008328
    Abstract: Forming concrete piles with an enlarged base for structural foundations for buildings. The invention involves: a) drilling a bore hole with an auger; (b) pumping fluid concrete into the bore hole through a channel in the auger whilst retracting the auger from a lower portion of the bore, such that the lower portion of the bore becomes filled with a volume of fluid concrete; (c) applying a pressure to the volume of fluid concrete by at least partly reinserting the auger into the lower portion of the bore, such that the applied pressure causes the volume of concrete to expand radially, thereby increasing the diameter of the lower portion of the bore; (d) retracting the auger from the remainder of the bore whilst pumping further concrete into the bore, such that the bore fills with concrete and forms a concrete pile with an enlarged base. The enlarged base area provides greater load bearing capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Arwell Williams
  • Patent number: 6283231
    Abstract: Soil-displacing screw auger which contains an auger tube (1); a double displacement body (2) equipped with a hollow shaft (8) fixed to the auger tube (1) and containing an upper part (6) which constitutes a closed screw the radius of which increases towards its lower extremity and a lower part (7) which constitutes a closed screw the radius of which decreases towards its lower extremity, preferably with the same pitch as the upper part (6); a lower tube the diameter of which is smaller than twice the largest radius (R2) of the displacement body and which is situated between the lower part (7) of the displacement body (2) and the lower extremity of the auger; a screw blade (4) welded onto the outer casing of the lower tube, which rotates in the same sense as the lower part (7) of the displacement body (2) and an auger tip (5) connected to the lower extremity of the lower tube, with the special characteristic that the lower tube of the auger is an intermediate tube (3) with an outer diameter (D3) which is small
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: Gaspar Jozef Coelus
  • Patent number: 6264402
    Abstract: A method for making piles and apparatus for practising the method of the invention are disclosed. The invention may be used to support the foundation of a structure, such as a building. The method draws one or more soil displacing members on a shaft down through a body of soil by turning a screw at the lower end of the shaft. The soil displacing members force soil out of a cylindrical region around the shaft. The cylindrical region is filled with grout to encapsulate and strengthen the shaft. The grout may be fed by gravity from a bath of grout around the shaft. The methods of the invention may be used to make stepped piers at much lower cost than existing methods. The invention provides methods for coating the screw portion of a screw pier with grout to protect the screw from the action of corrosive soils and to reinforce helical screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Vickars Developments Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Alfred Vickars, Jeremiah Charles Tilney Vickars, Gary Matheus Toebosch
  • Patent number: 6247875
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing subterranean walls comprised of granular material. The apparatus comprises a beam for making insertions into and extractions out of the ground to form a series of voids therein. The beam includes a hollow interior portion which receives a supply of granular material. The beam also has a plurality of outwardly projecting spurs on the outer faces thereof for scarfing the sidewalls of the void as the beam is extracted. The apparatus also includes a disposable shoe which is removably attached to the open bottom portion of the beam to prevent earthen material from entering the hollow interior portion of the beam as the beam is inserted into the ground. An actuating mechanism detaches the shoe from the open bottom portion of the beam after the beam has been inserted into the ground so that granular material is released into the void as the beam is extracted therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventors: Fred C. Schmednecht, Dana A. Schmednecht
  • Patent number: 6238142
    Abstract: An apparatus for erecting a foundation element in a ground surface including a drilling device, a pumping device, a pressure transducer and a control unit. The drilling device includes a hollow core tube and an auger bit adapted to drill a hole in the ground surface while the pumping device is adapted to pump a solidifying suspension material under pressure through the hollow core tube and into the hole in the ground surface. In addition, the pressure transducer is mounted on the core tube and is adapted to provide a pressure signal indicative of a pressure of the solidifying suspension material in the core tube while the control unit is adapted to control the pressure of the solidifying suspension material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Bauer Spezialtiebau GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Alois Harsch
  • Patent number: 6183166
    Abstract: A method is provided for centrifugally forming a subterranean, cylindrically shaped soil-cement casing in material located in a subterranean earth situs. A soil processing tool is advanced and rotated into the subterranean situs and as the tool advances a high velocity cement slurry is introduced through said tool to hydraulically divide the pieces of soil into particles and to mix the cement slurry with the particles to form a soil-cement slurry. As the soil processing tool is then withdrawn from the situs, the tool is rotated at a speed to exert a centrifugal force by the tool on the soil-cement slurry in excess of two G's, causing the solids of the soil-cement slurry to migrate away from the center of the hole to form a first cylindrical region at the edge of the hole and a second cylindrical region at the center of the hole. The first region has more of the dense solids and the second internal region has a greater proportion of free water and less of the dense solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Verne L. Schellhorn
  • Patent number: 6120214
    Abstract: A process for constructing a jet grouted subterranean column provided with reinforcement. A hole is drilled in the ground to the desired depth using a drill bit carried in a hollow drill rod to which a drill casing is detachably coupled. As the drilling proceeds, grout is applied through the drill rod and is injected sidewardly at high pressure to cut into and mix with the bore wall. The casing is detached from the drill rod and lowered to the bottom of the bore, with the grout filling the annular space between the casing and enlarged bore wall. After the drill rod has been withdrawn from the casing, the casing may be left in place and filled with grout such that the casing provides reinforcement for the resulting grout column. Additional reinforcing material may be inserted through the casing. In an alternative process carried out in accordance with the invention, a bore is drilled with a special drill rod and a sacrificial drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Layne Christensen Company
    Inventor: Pier Iovino
  • Patent number: 6116819
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of continuous flight auger piling and a continuous flight auger rig (1), wherein an auger (2) is applied to the ground so as to undergo a first, penetration phase and a second, withdrawal phase, and wherein the rotational speed of and/or the rate of penetration of and/or the torque applied to the auger (2) during the first, penetration phase are determined and controlled as a function of the ground conditions and the auger geometry by means of an electronic computer (8) so as to tend to keep the auger flights loaded (11) with soil originating from the region of the tip of the auger (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Kvaerner Cementation Fondations Ltd.
    Inventor: Melvin Gerrard England
  • Patent number: 6079906
    Abstract: A method for making foundation piles in soil with a drilling device having an auger, the auger including two concentric tubes, an outer tube occupying an upper part of the auger and an inner tuber projecting partially as a prolongation of the upper part and occupying a lower part of the auger, the inner tuber having a first screw and the outer having one of a second screw and a plurality of blades, both of said tubes being displaceable with respect to each other, the method including the steps rotating the inner tube in a first direction, simultaneously rotating the outer tube in an opposite direction of the first tube and advancing the auger through said soil whereby the soil is compacted against a wall of a formed hole by the combined action of the first screw and the one of the second screw and plurality of blades of the inner and outer tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Juan Vicente Herrero Codina
  • Patent number: 6033152
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Berkel & Company Contractors, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Blum
  • Patent number: 6030150
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing subterranean walls comprised of granular material. The apparatus comprises a beam for making insertions into and extractions out of the ground. The beam includes a top portion, an open bottom portion, and a hollow interior portion therebetween which receives a supply of granular material. In usage, the beam is inserted into the ground to form a void therein. The apparatus also includes a disposable shoe which is removably attached to the open bottom portion of the beam. In usage, the shoe prevents earthen material from entering the hollow interior portion of the beam as the beam is inserted into the ground. The apparatus further includes an actuating mechanism which detaches the shoe from the open bottom portion of the beam after the beam has been inserted into the ground so that granular material is released into the void as the beam is extracted therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Dana A. Schmednecht
    Inventors: Fred C. Schmednecht, Dana A. Schmednecht
  • Patent number: 5927905
    Abstract: A method for and inserting a ground anchor into the ground, comprising the step of screwing an elongated anchor body into the ground by means of an extension tube that is to be connected to the proximal end of the anchor body. The distal end of a tension line is connected to the anchor body above the screw blade turns. A pipe sleeve is slid onto the extension tube, while guiding the tension line via an eyelet at the pipe sleeve adjacent to the distal end of the pipe sleeve, from the anchor body along the pipe sleeve. The anchor body is then screwed downwardly by turning the extension tube and the pipe sleeve jointly to a predetermined depth. Finally, the pipe sleeve together with the line extending there along are rotated around the stationary anchor body/extension tube assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Tijmen van Halteren