Hydraulic and earth engineering – Foundation – Columnar structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2001-05-29
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Foundation
Columnar structure
C405S236000, C175S048000, C073S715000, C073S730000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238142
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus with a drilling device for erecting or installing a foundation element in the ground. More specifically, the present invention relates to such an apparatus where the drilling device includes a hollow core tube, an auger bit and a pumping device through which a solidifying or settable suspension material, such as concrete, can be passed through the hollow core tube under pressure into a drilled hole or bore.
2. Description of Related Art
Apparatuses for erecting a foundation element such as a pile or a structural column in the ground is currently known and used in the industry. Such apparatus often include a drilling device with a hollow core tube and an auger bit. The drilling device drills a hole into the ground and as the auger bit is withdrawn from the hole, a solidifying suspension material such as concrete/cement is provided into the hole through the hollow core tube. In this regard, the apparatus may also include a pumping device to provided the solidifying suspension material under pressure in order to expedite the filling process and to ensure the hole is filled. For example, bored piles are erected with such apparatuses so that initially, a hole is made by the drilling device and the soil removed is transported away. Concrete is then introduced into the hole via the hollow core tube as the drilling device is removed. Such process and apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,109 and No. 3,807,184, both to Turzillo. These references disclose the formation of a pile or a structural column produced in an earth situs by drilling with a continuous flight auger to define a cavity of requisite depth, and then withdrawing the auger by incremental extents while feeding a column-forming material through the hollow shaft of the auger.
The problem with the prior art and current systems arises in that the solidifying suspension material such as concrete can pass through various openings and cavities in the hole and proceed into the surrounding soil which was not intended to receive the solidifying suspension material. This creates undesirable waste in using the relatively expensive solidifying suspension material while at the same time, prolongs the time required to complete the filling process thereby diminishing process efficiency.
Therefore, there exists an unfulfilled need for an apparatus for erecting a foundation element in the ground which will minimize the waste of solidifying suspension material. There also exists an unfulfilled need for such an apparatus that will minimize the time required to complete the filling process to maximize process efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for erecting a foundation element in the ground that will minimize the waste of solidifying suspension material.
The second object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for erecting a foundation element in the ground that will minimize the time required to complete the filling process to maximize process efficiency.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for erecting a foundation element in the ground by providing a pressure transducer that measures the pressure of the solidifying suspension material. The fourth object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus where the waste of solidifying suspension material is minimized by optimally controlling the pumping pressure of the hole based on the pressure of the solidifying suspension material.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, these objects are achieved by an improved apparatus for erecting a foundation element in a ground surface comprising 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 such as concrete 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. In this embodiment, the pressure transducer may be positioned proximate to the auger bit and the control unit may be adapted to control the pumping device based on the pressure signal from the pressure transducer.
In addition, the drilling device in accordance with the present invention may also comprise a screw auger with a feed helix helically attached to an outer surface of the hollow core tube. The pressure transducer may be electrically connected to the control unit through a lead within the core tube and be connected to a slip ring positioned at an end of the drilling device remote from the auger bit. Sliding contacts and/or brushes adapted to electrically engage the slip ring may also be provided thereby allowing transmission of pressure data and/or electrical power from/to the pressure transducer. Thus, in this reliable manner, data and/or power can be transmitted to the pressure transducer within the rotating drilling device.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the core tube is constructed as a double-walled core tube. The inner tube can be used for supplying the solidifying suspension material and the space between the inner and outer tubes is sealed by a circular stop plate so that the solidifying suspension material from the inner tube cannot penetrate the gap between the two tubes. In this regard, the space between the two tubes can be used for routing the lead from the pressure transducer.
Also in accordance with the present embodiment, the pressure transducer is located on a lower area of the core tube in an increased diameter chamber and face is positioned to the auger bit. In the embodiment using a double-walled core tube, the larger diameter chamber in the lower area is formed by the outer core tube, while the inner tube is shortened and does not project into the area of the chamber. The two ends of the chamber are formed by the aforementioned circular stop plate and the auger bit which may incorporate a cutting device. The solidifying suspension material such as concrete can flow out into the hole through openings in the wall of the outer core tube.
In addition, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the pressure transducer may include a tubular element and an elastic element arranged in a manner to form a measuring chamber thereinbetween, and a sensor adapted to measure pressure in the measuring chamber. In this embodiment, the pressure transducer may also include a suspension passage adapted to allow flow of the solidifying suspension material and two flanges adapted to allow mounting of the pressure transducer to the hollow core tube. In still another embodiment, a reception hole adapted to receive the pressure transducer is provided on the hollow core tube and the pressure transducer includes an elastically deformable measuring chamber wall and a facing sensor wall arranged in a manner to form a measuring chamber such that the sensor measures the pressure in the measuring chamber. A locking ring may also be provided to fixedly hold together a peripheral edge portion of the sensor wall and a peripheral edge portion of the measuring chamber wall.
In yet another alternative embodiment, a transponder device may be provided for wireless data transmission from the pressure transducer to the control unit. The transponder device may also be adapted to provide wireless power transmission from a power supply to pressure transducer. In such embodiment, the transponder device will eliminate the need for the lead, the slip ring as well as the sliding contacts or brushes. Such transponder device would utilize a signal with a specific fre
Bauer Spezialtiebau GmbH
Lillis Eileen D.
Mayo Tara L.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Studebaker Donald R.
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