Patent ID: 6247875
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: B09C,E02D

Abstract:
An apparatus for constructing subterranean walls comprised of granular material, the apparatus comprising:a beam for making successive overlapping insertions into and extractions out of the ground, the beam having a top portion which is attachable to a driver, an open bottom portion, and a hollow interior portion therebetween which receives a supply of granular material, the beam also including transverse end plate members mounted on either side thereof and extending between the top and bottom thereof, the beam being inserted into the ground and then extracted to form a void having opposed sidewalls therein;means disposed on the outer faces of the beam adjacent the bottom portion thereof for scarfing the opposed sidewalls of the void as the beam is extracted from the ground;a disposable shoe removably attached to the open bottom portion of the beam, the shoe preventing earthen material from entering the hollow interior portion of the beam while the beam is being inserted into the ground; andan actuating mechanism interposed between the beam and the shoe for selectively detaching 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.