Patent ID: 8838344
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: E02D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for forming a column of compacted material in soil to increase load bearing capabilities or to provide drainage, which comprises: a system having: a hopper, a stone chamber, a transition splitter pipe having at least two outlet chutes, a vibratory probe mechanism having a tip, a nosecone, and a control system; said vibratory probe mechanism having same number of chutes as said transition splitter pipe; said chutes are positioned along the side of said vibratory probe mechanism to increase the flow rate of a material being discharged into a soil; said hopper is connected to said stone chamber which in turn is connected to said transition splitter pipe, said transition splitter pipe having said chutes that are connected to said chutes of said vibratory probe mechanism, wherein said vibratory probe mechanism is connected to said nosecone; said control system constantly monitors the pressure of the air in said system to ensure that said chutes continuously and uniformly discharge said material; wherein said control system has one or more valves, and one or more sensors, which are interlocked together to create a pressurized air system which is necessary in order to assist said material to travel down said pipes and into said chutes and out at the tip of the vibratory probe mechanism; said control system being connected to a compressor and further comprises positioning at least one air hose directed downwardly in each chute; and wherein the flow of air and pressure of air in said control system is used to clear chutes by reducing air flow from a clear chute(s) and diverts more air to the potentially blocked chute which causes an increase in flow and pressure in the potentially blocked chute, when the blockage is cleared, the previous operation is reversed and the flow and pressure of air to each chute is balanced once again.