Patent ID: 6517292
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: E02D

Abstract:
An apparatus for uninterrupted formation of a column of material in soil comprising a hollow shaft means with a cap means over a soil penetrating end outlet to penetrate into and displace said soil and form a cavity as it is withdrawn from said soil, a storage hopper to hold material to fill at least one said cavity to form said column with said storage hopper in a substantially fixed position from the start of said hollow shaft means advancing into said soil until said hollow shaft means is removed from said soil while said column is formed, a conveyor means with one end at said storage hopper to convey said material for said column from said storage hopper to the other end of said conveyor means positioned to deliver said material to a tank at its highest position with an entry port to accept said material and an outlet for passage of said material to said hollow shaft means with said cap means open at said soil penetrating end outlet of said hollow shaft means to fill said cavity formed in said soil, means to support and move said tank and said hollow shaft for travel toward and away from said soil, means to align said tank to said hollow shaft to form a flow path for said material in said tank to flow through said tank outlet and through said hollow shaft, a force means to advance said hollow shaft means with said soil penetrating end outlet closed by said cap means to displace said soil during the advance to the desired depth, a force means to withdraw said hollow shaft means to form said cavity below said soil penetrating end outlet in said soil enabling said cap means to open said soil penetrating end outlet as said hollow shaft is withdrawn from said soil to extend said flow path to said cavity as said cavity is formed, means to supply fluid pressure into said tank and said entry port is closed to cause said material to flow from said tank through said flow path into said cavity until said cavity is filled as required to form said column of said material in said soil.