Process and apparatus for introducing liquids into soil

Claim 1

An apparatus for introducing chemicals in a liquid form into soil for treating the soil, said apparatus comprising: a bit having cutting edges positioned at its leading end to bore a hole in the soil as the bit rotates, the bit further having a hollow interior which communicates with the exterior surface of the bit through at least one port; and adapter including a rotatable drive shaft, a collar surrounding the drive shaft, seals between the drive shaft and collar, and annular plates for axially positioning the drive shaft in the collar, the drive shaft having an enlarged portion of cylindrical shape located intermediate the ends thereof and forming shoulders thereon, the drive shaft further having an axially extending passageway and one end configured for connection to a portable drilling device, the leading end of the passageway terminating at a threaded bore which opens out of the other end of the drive shaft and the trailing end of the passageway opening outwardly through the side face of the enlarged cylindrical portion of the shaft, the collar encircling the enlarged cylindrical portion of the shaft and having a port extending through it to its interior, the port being connectable to a source of the liquid so that under pressure the liquid will flow into the interior of the collar and thence into the axial passageway of the drive shaft; the seals being on each side of the trailing end of the passageway in the cylindrical portion of the drive shaft and the port in the collar, the end plates being secured to the ends of the collar and extended over the shoulders on the drive shaft; a plurality of straight pipe sections between the bit and the adapter with the leading pipe section being detachably connected to the bit such that the two will rotate together, each pipe section having a hollow interior terminating at threaded bores which open out of the two ends of the pipe section and the hollow interior of the leading pipe section being in communication with the hollow interior of the bit; and connectors between the adapter and trailing pipe section and between adjacent pipe sections for joining the pipe sections and the drive shaft of the adapter together as a unit which rotates when the drilling device is energized, each connector including a central portion and axially aligned studs projecting from the ends of the central portion, the central portion forming shoulders at the ends of the studs and the studs being externally threaded to thread into the threaded bores to detachably connect the pipe sections and the drive shaft of the adapter together as a unit, each connector having an axially extending passageway extending completely through it so that the liquid in the axial passageway of the drive shaft will flow through the pipe sections to the bit from which it will be discharged into the soil.

Claim 2

An apparatus for introducing chemicals in a liquid form into soil for treating the soil, said apparatus comprising: a bit having cutting edges positioned at its leading end to bore a hole in the soil as the bit rotates, the bit further having a hollow interior which communicates with the exterior surface of the bit through at least one port; and adapter including a rotatable drive shaft, a collar surrounding the drive shaft, seals between the drive shaft and collar, and annular plates for axially positioning the drive shaft in the collar, the drive shaft having an enlarged portion of cylindrical shape located intermediate the ends thereof and forming shoulders thereon, the drive shaft further having an axially extending passageway and one end configured for connection to a portable drilling device, the leading end of the passageway terminating at a threaded bore which opens out of the other end of the drive shaft and the trailing end of the passageway opening outwardly through the side face of the enlarged cylindrical portion of the shaft, the collar encircling the enlarged cylindrical portion of the shaft and having a port extending through it to its interior, the port being connectable to a source of the liquid so that under pressure the liquid will flow into the interior of the collar and thence into the axial passageway of the drive shaft; the seals being on each side of the trailing end of the passageway in the cylindrical portion of the drive shaft and the port in the collar, the end plates being secured to the ends of the collar and extended over the shoulders on the drive shaft; a plurality of straight pipe sections between the bit and the adapter with the leading pipe section being detachably connected to the bit such that the two will rotate together, each pipe section having a hollow interior terminating at threaded bores which open out of the two ends of the pipe section and the hollow interior of the leading pipe section being in communication with the hollow interior of the bit; and connectors between the adapter and trailing pipe section and between adjacent pipe sections for joining the pipe sections and the drive shaft of the adapter together as a unit which rotates when the drilling device is energized, each connector including a central portion and axially aligned studs projecting from the ends of the central portion, the central portion forming shoulders at the ends of the studs and the studs being externally threaded to thread into the threaded bores to detachably connect the pipe sections and the drive shaft of the adapter together as a unit, each connector having an axially extending passageway extending completely through it so that the liquid in the axial passageway of the drive shaft will flow through the pipe sections to the bit from which it will be discharged into the soil.