US4135588A — Boring and compacting tool

Claim 1

Independent Claim 307 words

In an auger for use with a rotating bore line for boring a hole through the earth; and having means for connecting the auger to the bore line; the front end of the auger is tapered and has a cutting edge for cutting into the earth; a tapered threaded flight spirally disposed about the rotational axis of the auger behind the cutting edge for threading the auger through the earth, and a cylindrical expander section behind the threaded flight for compacting the earth about the hole to form an expanded hole; the improvement comprising: an elongated shaft having an elongated tapering front end extending from a central portion; the expander section includes a separate annular collar with a cylindrical outer surface and a central axial opening positioned on the central portion of the elongated shaft for axial movement with respect thereto; means for removably securing the collar to the central portion of the shaft to tightly retain the collar in fixed position on the shaft; the cutting edge comprises a separate cutting member including the cutting edge, having a smaller diameter than that of the cylindrical outer surface of the annular collar and mounted to the front end of the shaft; means for removably securing the separate cutting member to the front end of the shaft to tightly retain the cutting member on the shaft; and the threaded flight comprises a tapered helical spring extending from the separate cutting member at the front of the shaft to the collar at the central portion of the shaft, the diameter of the front end of the spring being substantially equal to the diameter of the cutting member and the diameter of the rear portion of the spring being substantially equal to the outer surface of the collar; whereby the collar, helical spring and cylindrical cutting member are easily replaceable.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 307 words

In an auger for use with a rotating bore line for boring a hole through the earth; and having means for connecting the auger to the bore line; the front end of the auger is tapered and has a cutting edge for cutting into the earth; a tapered threaded flight spirally disposed about the rotational axis of the auger behind the cutting edge for threading the auger through the earth, and a cylindrical expander section behind the threaded flight for compacting the earth about the hole to form an expanded hole; the improvement comprising: an elongated shaft having an elongated tapering front end extending from a central portion; the expander section includes a separate annular collar with a cylindrical outer surface and a central axial opening positioned on the central portion of the elongated shaft for axial movement with respect thereto; means for removably securing the collar to the central portion of the shaft to tightly retain the collar in fixed position on the shaft; the cutting edge comprises a separate cutting member including the cutting edge, having a smaller diameter than that of the cylindrical outer surface of the annular collar and mounted to the front end of the shaft; means for removably securing the separate cutting member to the front end of the shaft to tightly retain the cutting member on the shaft; and the threaded flight comprises a tapered helical spring extending from the separate cutting member at the front of the shaft to the collar at the central portion of the shaft, the diameter of the front end of the spring being substantially equal to the diameter of the cutting member and the diameter of the rear portion of the spring being substantially equal to the outer surface of the collar; whereby the collar, helical spring and cylindrical cutting member are easily replaceable.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 56 words

An auger as defined in claim 1 wherein the separate cutting member includes a cutting bit rigidly secured to a tip of a cap, the cap has an internal bore; a front end of the conical section of the shaft fits within the internal bore; and means for removably securing the cutting head to the auger.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

An auger as defined in claim 1 wherein the helical spring is made from spring steel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 250 words

In an auger for use with a rotating bore line for boring a hole through the earth and having means for connecting the auger to the bore line, the front end of the auger is tapered and has a cutting edge for cutting into the earth, a tapered, threaded flight spirally disposed about the rotational axis of the auger behind the cutting edge for threading the auger through the earth, and a cylindrical expander section behind the threaded flight for compacting the earth about the hole to form an expanded hole, the improvement comprising: an elongated shaft having an elongated tapering front end extending from a central portion and a rear portion extending rearwardly from the shaft; the expander section includes a separate annular collar with a cylindrical outer surface and a central axial opening positioned on the central portion of the elongated shaft for axial movement with respect thereto; means for removably securing the collar to the central portion of the shaft to tightly retain the collar in fixed position on the shaft; the threaded flight comprises a tapered helical spring extending from the collar to the front end of the shaft; a rear helical spring axially wrapped around the rear portion of the shaft behind the collar; the outer diameter of the collar being at least as large as the diameter of the rear helical spring adjacent the collar; and the rear helical spring being spiralled in the same direction as the helical spring forming the threaded flight.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 250 words

In an auger for use with a rotating bore line for boring a hole through the earth and having means for connecting the auger to the bore line, the front end of the auger is tapered and has a cutting edge for cutting into the earth, a tapered, threaded flight spirally disposed about the rotational axis of the auger behind the cutting edge for threading the auger through the earth, and a cylindrical expander section behind the threaded flight for compacting the earth about the hole to form an expanded hole, the improvement comprising: an elongated shaft having an elongated tapering front end extending from a central portion and a rear portion extending rearwardly from the shaft; the expander section includes a separate annular collar with a cylindrical outer surface and a central axial opening positioned on the central portion of the elongated shaft for axial movement with respect thereto; means for removably securing the collar to the central portion of the shaft to tightly retain the collar in fixed position on the shaft; the threaded flight comprises a tapered helical spring extending from the collar to the front end of the shaft; a rear helical spring axially wrapped around the rear portion of the shaft behind the collar; the outer diameter of the collar being at least as large as the diameter of the rear helical spring adjacent the collar; and the rear helical spring being spiralled in the same direction as the helical spring forming the threaded flight.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

An auger as defined in claim 4 wherein the rear portion of the elongated shaft is tapered to a rear end thereof; the rear helical spring is correspondingly conical in shape and tapered toward its rear end such that the spring fits over the rear tapered section of the shaft.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-01-22	1982-07-24	1983-01-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-01-22	1986-07-24	1987-01-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-01-22	1990-07-24	1991-01-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Boring and compacting tool

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