US3707848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and system for increasing load-bearing capacity of soil
Assignee: Teledyne Bolt Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-07
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Granted: 1973-01-02
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Expires: 1991-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Process and system for increasing the load bearing capacity of soil by producing load-bearing columns formed of densely compacted granular material, such as sand or gravel or of concrete. For producing each column, the granular material or concrete is fed down through a hollow member, and an air gun supported at the lower end of a pipe assembly extending down coaxially through the hollow member is actuated to produce powerful impulses to impel the soil outwardly away from the lower end of the hollow member to compact the soil and then to impel the granular material or concrete outwardly to distribute it into the resulting cavity formed in the compacted soil. When sufficient material has been distributed and compaced by the powerful impulses from the air gun, the hollow member and pipe assembly are withdrawn an increment of distance, and then the steps are repeated to distribute and compact more of the desired material at a level above the first deposit, and so forth, to create a column of such material. If desired to create an encased concrete column, the pipe assembly is withdrawn from the interior of the hollow member, which is then filled with concrete. To facilitate the initial insertion of the hollow member into the soil, water is jetted down through it while the air gun is actuated producing powerful impulses to impel the soil away from the lower end, and to compact the soil cylindrically about the descending member to enhance lateral support. A novel air gun energy source is adapted to be operated while embedded in soil, poured concrete, sand, grit, and similar hostile environments. Columns of more coarsely granular material can be produced in the soil to enable ground water to percolate up, the ground water being released by intense, repeated air gun impulses.
Inventors
- 👤 S Chelminski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:45
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D3/00; E02D3/02; E02D3/10; E02D3/103; E02D15/00; E02D15/02; E02D15/04; E02D3/106; E02D5/00; E02D5/22; E02D5/34; E02D5/38; E02D5/385; E02D5/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column of material such as sand, gravel, concrete, or the like, in the soil comprising the steps of positioning a hollow tubular member in the soil, feeding the material down through the hollow member toward the lower end of the member, repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air near the lower end of the hollow member producing powerful impulses for repeatedly impelling the material outwardly from the lower end into the region in the soil surrounding the lower end, when sufficient material has been distributed into said first region, withdrawing the hollow member an increment to reposition the lower end of the hollow member a short distance above its original position, and repeating the foregoing steps of feeding the material and repeatedly abruptly releasing the pressurized air producing powerful impulses for repeatedly impelling additional material outwardly into a second region surrounding the re-positioned lower end so that said additional material is adjacent to and above the original material, when sufficient material has been distributed in said second region, withdrawing the hollow member another increment to again reposition its lower end and repeating the foregoing steps to create a column of load-bearing material in the soil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column of material such as sand, gravel, concrete, or the like, in the soil comprising the steps of positioning a hollow tubular member in the soil, feeding the material down through the hollow member toward the lower end of the member, repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air near the lower end of the hollow member producing powerful impulses for repeatedly impelling the material outwardly from the lower end into the region in the soil surrounding the lower end, when sufficient material has been distributed into said first region, withdrawing the hollow member an increment to reposition the lower end of the hollow member a short distance above its original position, and repeating the foregoing steps of feeding the material and repeatedly abruptly releasing the pressurized air producing powerful impulses for repeatedly impelling additional material outwardly into a second region surrounding the re-positioned lower end so that said additional material is adjacent to and above the original material, when sufficient material has been distributed in said second region, withdrawing the hollow member another increment to again reposition its lower end and repeating the foregoing steps to create a column of load-bearing material in the soil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column of material such as sand, gravel, concrete, or the like, in the soil, as claimed in claim 1, in which the hollow tubular member is initially inserted into the soil by forcing water down through the member and by repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air near the lower end of the hollow member to wash away and dislodge the soil at the descending lower end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column of material such as sand, gravel, concrete, or the like, in the soil, as claimed in claim 1, in which a cavity is initially created in the soil near the lower end of the fully inserted hollow member, said cavity being created by flowing water through the hollow member and by repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air near the lower end producing powerful impulses to form the cavity, and in which the material is initially distributed into this cavity by repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column of material such as sand, gravel, concrete, or the like, in the soil, as claimed in claim 1, in which the repeated forceful impulses produced by the abrupt release of pressurized air impels the material outwardly so as to produce a load-bearing column which is at least three times the diameter of the hollow member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column of material such as sand, gravel, concrete, or the like, in the soil, as claimed in claim 1, in which water is fed down through the hollow member together with the material being fed downwardly therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column in the soil comprising the steps of positioning a hollow tubular member in the soil and having soil removed from the interior of the hollow member, feeding concrete down through the hollow member toward its lower end, positioning an air gun within the concrete near the lower end of the hollow member, feeding pressurized air down through a high pressure hose line to said air gun, repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air from said air gun into the surrounding concrete near the lower end of the hollow member pRoducing powerful impulses within the concrete impelling the concrete outwardly from the lower end of the hollow member to form a footing of concrete about its lower end, removing the air gun, and filling the hollow member with concrete resting upon said footing to form an encased concrete column.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column in the soil comprising the steps of positioning a hollow tubular member in the soil and having soil removed from the interior of the hollow member, feeding concrete down through the hollow member toward its lower end, positioning an air gun within the concrete near the lower end of the hollow member, feeding pressurized air down through a high pressure hose line to said air gun, repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air from said air gun into the surrounding concrete near the lower end of the hollow member pRoducing powerful impulses within the concrete impelling the concrete outwardly from the lower end of the hollow member to form a footing of concrete about its lower end, removing the air gun, and filling the hollow member with concrete resting upon said footing to form an encased concrete column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
The process for producing a load-bearing column of material such as sand, gravel, concrete, or the like, in the soil, as claimed in claim 5, in which the determination of when sufficient material has been distributed into a region in the soil is made by observing the rate at which the material is feeding down through the hollow member, and when this feed rate has become slowed, then the region in the soil is sufficiently loaded with material that the time has arrived to raise the hollow member an increment of distance to reposition its lower end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
227 words
The process of removing ground water and the like from a depth in the soil comprising the steps of positioning a hollow tubular member in the coil to said depth having an interior space extending down within the hollow member, feeding coarse granular material down through the hollow member toward the lower end of the member, repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air near the lower of the hollow member producing powerful impulses for repeatedly impelling the granular material outwardly from the lower end into the region in the soil surrounding the lower end, when sufficient material has been distributed into said first region, withdrawing the hollow member an increment to reposition the lower end of the hollow member a short distance above its original position, and repeating the foregoing steps of feeding the material and repeatedly abruptly releasing the pressurized air producing powerful impulses for repeatedly impelling additional material outwardly into a second region surrounding the repositioned lower end so that said additional material is adjacent to and above the original material, when sufficient material has been distributed in said second region, withdrawing the hollow member another increment to again reposition its lower end, repeating the foregoing steps to create a column of coarse granular material in the soil extending from a depth up toward the surface to the ground through which water can percolate toward the surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
227 words
The process of removing ground water and the like from a depth in the soil comprising the steps of positioning a hollow tubular member in the coil to said depth having an interior space extending down within the hollow member, feeding coarse granular material down through the hollow member toward the lower end of the member, repeatedly abruptly releasing pressurized air near the lower of the hollow member producing powerful impulses for repeatedly impelling the granular material outwardly from the lower end into the region in the soil surrounding the lower end, when sufficient material has been distributed into said first region, withdrawing the hollow member an increment to reposition the lower end of the hollow member a short distance above its original position, and repeating the foregoing steps of feeding the material and repeatedly abruptly releasing the pressurized air producing powerful impulses for repeatedly impelling additional material outwardly into a second region surrounding the repositioned lower end so that said additional material is adjacent to and above the original material, when sufficient material has been distributed in said second region, withdrawing the hollow member another increment to again reposition its lower end, repeating the foregoing steps to create a column of coarse granular material in the soil extending from a depth up toward the surface to the ground through which water can percolate toward the surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of removing ground water as claimed in claim 8, further including creating a plurality of such columns in the soil through which water can percolate upwardly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The process of removing ground water as claimed in claim 9, wherein pressurized air is repeatedly abruptly released at a depth in the soil generally corresponding to the depth in soil from which water is to be removed, and the pressurized air is repeatedly abruptly released near the created columns of coarse granular material to release the ground water and allow it to percolate up through the columns of material to the surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |