Boring or penetrating the earth – Processes
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-05-01
Dang, Hoang (Department: 3672)
Boring or penetrating the earth
Processes
C175S323000, C175S394000, C175S402000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223838
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to auger devices and more specifically it relates to an auger system for removing material from around an object without damaging the object.
Water valves and other objects are often times located along a street. Water valves have a tubular casing that extends upwardly from the valve exposing a fitting through the upper surface of the street. When a street is old and requires improvements, asphalt grinders are sometimes utilized to lower the street surface. To avoid damaging the valve within the street, many workers must utilize jack-hammers, picks and shovels to remove asphalt, cement, gravel, dirt and other debris from about the tubular casing of the valve. After the debris is removed, the workers are able to lower the height of the tubular casing thereby allowing them to grind the surface of the street to the desired level. Hence, there is a need for a system that conveniently and easily removes the debris from about an object such as a tubular casing of a valve thereby eliminating the significant labor required.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Auger devices have been in use for years. Typically, an auger device comprises an elongated center member, a length of flighting attached about the center member, and a plurality of mill teeth at the lower portion of the center member.
Conventional auger devices do not allow for removing debris from around an object for allowing removal or adjustment of the object. Conventional auger devices are designed for removing a cylindrical volume of debris and are not designed for removing debris from about an object.
Examples of attempted solutions to removing debris from about objects include U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,949 to Jury; U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,951 to Paulson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,131 to Nolan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,101 to Bossow; U.S. Pat. No. GB2134165A to James which are all illustrative of such prior art.
Jury (U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,949) discloses a manhole casting removing device. Jury specifically teaches a device mounted on a conventional road grader that has been modified to accommodate the device and is positioned over the manhole casting so that the existing pavement and cement may be cut from the road surface and the manhole casting for allowing adjustment of the manhole casing.
Paulson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,951) discloses a manhole cutter for cutting a circular groove of a fixed depth about a manhole. Paulson specifically teaches a cutter ring assembly with staggered cutters and clean-out slots that rotate about a central shaft of the cutter.
Nolan et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,131) discloses an apparatus for cutting circular slots in pavement about manhole castings. Nolan et al. specifically teaches a self-propelled core-cutting apparatus that is utilized to cut circular slots in pavement extending about manhole castings to permit the castings to be adjusted in height.
Bossow (U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,101) discloses a vertical asphalt and concrete miller. Bossow specifically teaches a drive unit that is mechanically connected to a rotary cutting head.
James (GB2134165A) discloses a device for removing bodies from road surfaces. James specifically teaches a burner adapted to apply direct heat onto the roadway to soften the roadway about the object and a member having a cutting edge for cutting around the object.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for removing material from around an object without damaging the object. Conventional auger devices are not designed to cut around an object within a street. In addition, manhole cutting devices are incapable of cutting around a valve casing without damaging the valve casing.
In these respects, the auger system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of removing material from around an object without damaging the object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of auger devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new auger system construction wherein the same can be utilized for removing material from around an object without damaging the object.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new auger system that has many of the advantages of the auger devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new auger system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art auger devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a tubular auger attachable to a drive unit, and an insert member insertable within the upper opening of the valve casing. The tubular auger is comprised of a plurality of mill teeth attached to the lower portion of the tubular auger. The tubular auger includes an auger lumen that is positionable about the valve casing during cutting. The insert member is comprised of lower portion that is positionable within the casing lumen of the valve casing, and an outer portion that has an outer diameter approximately the same as the outer diameter of the valve casing for guiding the tubular auger and for preventing debris from entering the valve casing. The insert member preferably includes a handle for allowing insertion and removal from the valve casing.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an auger system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
Another object is to provide an auger system that removes material from around an object without damaging the object.
An additional object is to provide an auger system that maintains the object in its normal position during and after cutting of the debris from about the object.
A further object is to provide an auger system that is attachable to a conventional tractor.
Another object is to provide an auger system that significantly reduces labor costs in lowing a valve casing.
An additional object is to provide an auger system that significantly reduces the time required to remove material from a valve casing.
Another object is to provide an auger system that reduces the amount of injuries to workers during removal of debris from about the valve casing.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1484352 (1924-02-01), Izard
patent: 3095051 (1963-06-01), Robin
Dengel Nicholas J.
McCormick, Jr. Steve
Dang Hoang
Neustel Michael S.
Northern Improvement Company
LandOfFree
Auger system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Auger system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Auger system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2509311