Means for stabilizing structural layer overlying earth materials in situ

Claim 2

Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structure having a point of support overlying earth material of an earth situs comprising: a boring tool including a hollow shaft, and adapted to be removably axially insertable through an opening provided in the situs, axially to penetrate substantially below said point of support; axially elongated blades on said shaft selectively operable below said point to agitate and loosen the penetrated earth material upon rotation of the tool in boring direction, to define an axially elongated body of such loosened earth material of transverse cross-section adapted to include a portion extending inwardly beneath said point of support; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable cementitious material through said shaft to a point inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structure at said point of support; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1, said agitator means including radially expansible and retractable blade means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said agitator means includes blade means on the tool operable to expanded and retracted positions by rotation of the tool in the earth material, in opposite directions.

Claim 5

Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structure having a point of support overlying earth material of an earth situs, comprising: a boring tool including a shaft; a plurality of curvate agitator blades mounted on said shaft to pivot between radially contracted and expanded conditions about an axis coextensive with said shaft, the shaft being insertable through an opening provided in the situs while the agitator blades are contracted to penetrate the earth material, and operable with the agitator blades radially expanded by rotation in boring direction to agitate and loosen penetrated earth material beyond said point of support to define an elongated body of such loosened earth material generally of sufficient cross-section transversely of the axis of said shaft to penetrate below said point of support; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable, fluid cementitious material through said shaft inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structure at said point of support; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.

Claim 6

Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structure having a point of support overlying earth material of an earth situs, comprising: a boring tool including a shaft; a plurality of curvate agitator blades mounted on said shaft to pivot between radially contracted and expanded conditions about an axis coextensive with said shaft, the shaft being insertable through an opening provided in the situs while the agitator blades are contracted to penetrate the earth material, and operable with the agitator blades radially expanded by rotation in boring direction to agitate and loosen penetrated earth material beyond said point of support to define an elongated body of such loosened earth material generally of sufficient cross-section transversely of the axis of said shaft to penetrate below said point of support; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable, fluid cementitious material through said shaft inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structure at said point of support; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 4, said shaft having expansive, fluid-sealing means thereon expansible into fluid-sealing engage-ment with the wall of said opening.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 4, including swivel connector means on the upper end of said shaft for connecting the same to a source of supply of said pressurized cementitious material.

Claim 9

Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structural layer overlying earth material of an earth situs, comprising: a boring tool including a shaft; agitator means including at least one axially extending blade of concavo-convex cross-section mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement between a contracted condition in which the blade conforms to the shape of the shaft, and an expanded condition in which the blades extend radially with respect to the shaft; said shaft thereby being selectively insertable through an opening in the structural layer while the agitator means is contracted, to penetrate the earth material, and the shaft being operable with the agitator means expanded to agitate and loosen penetrated earth material beneath the structural layer to define an elongated body of such loosened earth material generally of greater transverse cross-section than that of the opening, inwardly of said layer; said at least one agitator blade having opposed faces engageable with the penetrated earth material upon rotation of said shaft in opposite directions, correspondingly to pivot the blade to said contracted or expanded conditions; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable, fluid cementitious material through said shaft inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structural layer; swivel connector means being provided on the upper end of said shaft for connecting the same to a source of supply of said pressurized cementitious material, said swivel connector means being operable to provide passage therethrough from the exterior, as for selective insertion of elongated reinforcing means through the shaft and into the formed column while the mixed materials thereof are still fluid; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.

Claim 10

Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structural layer overlying earth material of an earth situs, comprising: a boring tool including a shaft; agitator means including at least one axially extending blade of concavo-convex cross-section mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement between a contracted condition in which the blade conforms to the shape of the shaft, and an expanded condition in which the blades extend radially with respect to the shaft; said shaft thereby being selectively insertable through an opening in the structural layer while the agitator means is contracted, to penetrate the earth material, and the shaft being operable with the agitator means expanded to agitate and loosen penetrated earth material beneath the structural layer to define an elongated body of such loosened earth material generally of greater transverse cross-section than that of the opening, inwardly of said layer; said at least one agitator blade having opposed faces engageable with the penetrated earth material upon rotation of said shaft in opposite directions, correspondingly to pivot the blade to said contracted or expanded conditions; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable, fluid cementitious material through said shaft inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structural layer; swivel connector means being provided on the upper end of said shaft for connecting the same to a source of supply of said pressurized cementitious material, said swivel connector means being operable to provide passage therethrough from the exterior, as for selective insertion of elongated reinforcing means through the shaft and into the formed column while the mixed materials thereof are still fluid; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.