The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 07, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 20, 1998
Kenneth J Blum, Parkville, MO (US);
Berkel & Company Contractors, Inc., Bonner Springs, KS (US);
Abstract
An improved lateral soil displacement and compaction auger (24) is provided including a central shaft (34) equipped with a central cementious material pipe (42), helical flighting sections (36,38) and lower rollers (64A-64E) positioned between lower flight sections. The rollers (64A-64E) are strategically located so that their outer peripheries cooperatively define an expanding spiral from the lower end of the auger (24) towards the central section (50) thereof. The rollers (64A-64E) are primarily responsible for lateral soil displacement and compaction during rotation of the auger (24) and do so with reduced frictional buildup. The preferred auger (24) also includes a lower cap (40) which is retained during auger rotation by teeth (90,92); during filling operations, the cap (40) is shifted downwardly to allow ejection of cementious material from the pipe (42) while retaining the cap (40). Downhole pressure buildup during filling can be monitored and adjusted through use of a pressure gauge (108) and throttle valve (110). In an alternative embodiment, an auger (132, 134) is equipped with an upper, lateral soil displacement and compaction portion (136) together with a lower drilling extension (138). Alternately, a auger monitoring and control assembly (182) is used, made up of series-coupled cementious material flow and cementious material pressure sensors (186, 188), together with an auger depth sensor (190). The sensors (186-190) are coupled to a readout device (200).