Apparatus for inserting wick drains into the earth

Claim 1

Apparatus for inserting flexible drain members downwardly into the earth, said apparatus comprising: a) mast means adapted to be arranged with a generally vertical extent above the earth, said mast means being formed with a longitudinally extending chamber therein and a continuous longitudinal slot formed in one wall of said chamber; b) an earth penetrating tube carried for vertical movement in said longitudinal chamber of said mast means, said tube being hollow for receiving a drain member for movement therewith, said tube being formed with a longitudinally extending flange member that projects outwardly through said slot in said mast and that includes openings at spaced intervals along its longitudinal extent, said flange member extending longitudinally along said tube for a substantial length that is at least equal to the depth to which said tube will penetrate the earth; and c) drive means for driving said tube into and o of the earth, said drive means including a drive gear that has teeth positioned to engage said spaced openings in said projecting flange, and moor means for rotating said drive gear to cause said tue and said drain member therein to be driven longitudinally through said chamber of said mast means and into and out of the earth, said drive means being positioned adjacent the lower end of said mast at a position selected in correspondence with the longitudinal extent of said projecting flange such that lower ones of said spaced openings in said protecting flange are engageable by said drive gear to initially drive said tube into the earth and upper ones of said spaced openings are engageable by said drive gear to continue driving said tube into the earth after said projecting flange has also penetrated the earth.