Hydraulic and earth engineering – Foundation – Columnar structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-27
2001-05-15
Neuder, William (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Foundation
Columnar structure
C405S232000, C175S067000, C175S071000, C175S424000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231270
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices and methods of creating holes in soil. The present invention also relates to devices and methods for installing piles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Piles are used in many different applications. For example, piles are used to support buildings, docks, piers and other structures. Piles are also used to secure boats and locate desired sites.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,124 discloses a beach stabilizer system for building layers of sand on a beach and minimizing erosion of the beach. An important aspect of that system includes piles arranged at spaced intervals. The piles may be used to locate and literally retain discs associated with the beach stabilizer system and may also be used to facilitate vertical adjustment of such discs. It is explained in the '
124
patent that the piles may be installed by being driven to a sufficient depth beneath the surface of the ground through the use of a front end loader and water jets.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,139 discloses a removable “self-jetting pile”. The pile disclosed in the '
139
patent is made of concrete. The decent of the pile through soil is facilitated by the use of water jets.
It is also known to use augers or other sophisticated equipment to create holes in which piles will be arranged. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,758 discloses a method of driving hollow piles into the ground where an auger is utilized for excavating soil. When the excavated soil is lifted to a desired position, compressed air is utilized to force the excavated soil out of an associated hollow pile.
In certain applications, it is desirable for piles to be weight bearing devices (e.g., supporting buildings or docks), while other applications may require piles for lateral support (e.g., boat slips and jetty markers) but do not require a weight bearing function. Hollow piles can be efficiently installed in certain environments where a weight bearing function is not a requirement. Such an application is disclosed, for example, in the '
124
patent where the piles may be used as part of a beach stabilizer system.
In other applications where a weight bearing function is required, hollow piles may be installed and subsequently reinforced with a filler material, such as concrete or the like.
Regardless of the intended use of the piles, it has been inefficient prior to the present invention to create holes in which piles may be installed. The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing a highly efficient and effective method and apparatus for creating a hole in soil and optionally installing a pile in such hole.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of creating a hole in soil. The method may comprise the step of providing a tube including a body having an open bottom end, an open top end and a passageway extending between the open bottom and top ends. The open bottom end of the tube may be arranged substantially adjacent to a site where it is desired to create a hole. A stream of compressed air may then be applied below the open bottom end of the tube such that the compressed air stream impacts soil at the site and forces the soil upward through the passageway of the tube and out of the open top end thereof until a hole of the desired depth is obtained.
Preferably, a conduit is arranged between the open bottom and top ends of the tube and is used to transport the compressed air through the tube. In such a preferred embodiment, the method may further comprise the step of guiding the tube downwardly into the hole as it is being created. The method may also comprise the step of simultaneously applying the compressed air stream downwardly and upwardly through a nozzle arranged near the open bottom end of the tube to facilitate removal of the soil particles through the open top of the tube. After a hole of the desired depth is created, it is preferable to remove the conduit through which the compressed air is permitted to flow from the tube. In certain embodiments, it may also be desirable for the method to comprise the step of removing the tube from the hole. In one such embodiment, the method may comprise the step of arranging a solid pile within the hole.
In another preferred embodiment, where the tube is maintained in the hole, the method may comprise the step of placing filler material within the passageway of the tube. In such an embodiment, the once hollow tube may be converted to a substantially solid tube.
In an embodiment where it is desired for a pile to have a weight bearing function, the filler material placed in the tube may be concrete. The concrete may be permitted to form a base at the bottom of the hole below the open bottom end of the once hollow tube.
In another preferred embodiment, the filler material may comprise soil. In other preferred embodiments, the filler material may comprise rocks or substantially any other substance capable of reinforcing the tube as it is filled.
The method preferably comprises creating the hole only upon application of compressed air. Thus, it is not necessary to utilize heavy equipment, augers or water jets when creating a hole in accordance with the preferred method.
The method may also comprise removing water from the hole if the hole extends into the water table. This may be accomplished by first discontinuing the application of the stream of compressed air when the hole is at a desired depth. A vacuum source can then be applied to a conduit in order to remove water encountered during creation of the hole. The vacuum source may be maintained as long as necessary in order to remove water from the hole and maintain the hole in a substantially water-free state.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus for creating a hole in soil. The apparatus may comprise a tube including a body having an open bottom end, an open top end and a passageway extending between the open bottom and top ends. A compressed air source including a conduit and a nozzle may also be provided. In this preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the conduit is arranged within the tube, and the nozzle includes a downwardly facing opening for applying a stream of compressed air downwardly below the open bottom end of the tube so that soil is impacted by compressed air at a selected site. The nozzle also preferably has at least one upwardly facing opening for applying a stream of compressed air upwardly toward the open top end of the tube in order to facilitate removal of soil particles through the open top end.
Preferably, the nozzle of the present apparatus comprises a plurality of upwardly facing openings. The plurality of upwardly facing openings may be equally spaced from each other around the top of the nozzle.
In a preferred embodiment, a spacing device may be provided between a portion of the conduit and an inner wall of the tube for maintaining the conduit at a desired position with respect to the inner wall. The spacing device is preferably secured to the conduit. In one preferred embodiment, the spacing device may include an outer diameter arranged in abutment with the inner wall of the tube.
In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus may comprise an anchor device secured at the open top end of the tube where a portion of the conduit is secured to the anchor device. The anchor device may comprise a hollow cap mounted to the open top end of the tube, a cross bar extending through the hollow cap and a clamp in which the conduit is secured. It is preferable for the nozzle to be connected to the conduit at a location below the open bottom end of the tube. However, the present invention also contemplates arranging the nozzle at a location above or even with the open bottom end of the tube.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient method and apparatus for creating a hole in soil. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for installing a pile within the hole.
Piles installed through the method and app
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Neuder William
Singh Sunil
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