A. B. Chance Company

J Paul Pilliard

Robert M Hoyt

Donald E Bobbitt

Gary E Bartee

Stanley C Garton

A recoverable earth-retaining wall anchoring device and method is disclosed which allows the erection of a retaining wall in a quick, inexpensive manner and permits proof-load testing of the anchor during or immediately after installation, resulting in significant time and cost savings. The device includes a screw anchor having a central, elongated shaft with one or more outwardly extending helical blades affixed thereto, and an earth-penetrating lead point at one end. An adapter is attached to the anchor shaft and includes an opposed, threaded bore which receives an elongated threaded rod; a polygonal in cross-section engagement area is also provided between the opposed ends of the adapter. A wrench, having one or more releasably interconnected, tubular, polygonally-shaped shank sections is telescoped over the rod and operably and drivingly engages the adapter engagement area such that axial rotation of the wrench effects corresponding rotation of the anchor for installation and removal purposes. Multiple wrench shank sections are telescopically interfitted and releasably joined together by means of a spring biased locking dog inserted in aligned shank apertures. This dog is substantially flush mounted on the outer wrench section by means of an elongated, flat leaf spring which can be alternately positioned for maintaining the dog in a locking or a recessed position. The wrench may be easily removed from the soil because of the substantially flush configuration of the spring dog locking mechanism. The installation torque may be used to infer anchor load-bearing capacity and additionally, the device may be accurately proof-load tested and used immediately after installation, thereby eliminating costly construction delays. After the anchor is installed, the elongated rod is secured to the retaining wall thereby restraining the adjacent earth mass from lateral shifting.

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Columbia, MO, United States of America

J Paul Pilliard