US3772894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Installation of sand drains
Assignee: Raymond International Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-08
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-12-08
Abstract
Abstract Formation of sand drains in the earth by drilling and forcing a fluid at high velocity to wash out a hole and thereafter filling the hole by forcing filler material down through a pipe; the pipe being outfitted with special valve control means to control the flow of fluid and filler therethrough in generally inverse manner.
Inventors
- 👤 A Godley
- 👤 F Fuller
- 👤 C Houk
- 👤 H Holland
- 👤 G Gendron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:35
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D3/00; E02D3/02; E02D3/10; E02D3/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for forming sand drains comprising an elongated pipe, means mounted on one end of said pipe for digging into the earth, a housing on the other end of and opening into said pipe, said housing having a liquid inlet and a solid fill material inlet and first valve means within said housing for selectively controlling the relative flow of liquid and solid fill into said pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for forming sand drains comprising an elongated pipe, means mounted on one end of said pipe for digging into the earth, a housing on the other end of and opening into said pipe, said housing having a liquid inlet and a solid fill material inlet and first valve means within said housing for selectively controlling the relative flow of liquid and solid fill into said pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said solid fill material input includes a hopper mounted on top of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for digging into the earth is arranged to dig a hole of greater cross section than said pipe whereby liquid flowing down through said pipe will wash spoil up to the top of said hole around the outside of said pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for digging into the earth includes mechanical digging bits mounted on the lower end of said pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein means are provided for rotatively moving said pipe to cause said bits to dig into the earth while liquid flows down through said pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said hopper includes a flushing liquid outlet directed down into the center thereof and a liquid conduit including a second valve means connecting said liquid input to said liquid nozzle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said flushing liquid outlet is dimensioned to permit a more restricted flow of liquid therethrough than flows through said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 and further including valve interconnecting means inconnecting said first and second valve means, said interconnecting means being responsive to movement of one of said valves to move the other valve such that such second valve means is closed when said first valve means opens said liquid input and closes said solid fill material input and is opened when said first valve means closes said liquid input and opens said solid full material input.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first valve means comprises a closure element mounted to move alternately between positions in which respectively, it closes each of said housing inputs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 and further including pump means for supplying water to said housing, said pump means and said first and second valve means being dimensioned to produce a first liquid flow down through said pipe when said first valve means closes said solid fill material input sufficient to wash spoil out through the top of the dug hole, and a second liquid flow down through said pipe when said first valve means closes said liquid input, sufficient to wash solid fill material down through said pipe but insufficient to carry it up out of said hole and means interconnecting said first and second valves means to synchronize their operations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for digging into the earth is a nozzle arrangement constructed to direct a high velocity water spray out from the bottom of said pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said nozzle arrangement is adjustable to admit solid fill material out therethrough.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said first valve means is interconnected with said nozzle arrangement to effect automatic coordination of their adjustment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said nozzle arrangement and said first valve means are interconnected in a manner such that said nozzle means is adjusted to produce a high velocity water spray when said first valve means closes said solid fill inlet and to permit the flow of solid fill therethrough when said first valve means opens said solid fill inlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said nozzle arrangement includes a stopper element and means mounted to move said stopper element against and away from the lower edge of said pipe, said stopper element and pipe being shaped to define small jet spray forming openings out through the bottom of said pipe when said stopper element is against the lower edge of said pipe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first valve means comprises a further stopper element movable upwardly to a first position closing said solid fill material input while fully opening said liquid inlet and downwardly to a second position fully opening said solid fill material input and at least partially closing said liquid inlet.
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) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |