METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING RAMMED AGGREGATE PIERS USING A HOLLOW MANDREL WITH UPWARD FLOW RESTRICTORS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for constructing aggregate piers, comprising:
- a mandrel having an upper portion and a tamper head, and a passage extending therethrough for feeding aggregate through the mandrel to the tamper head; and
said tamper head being open to provide a passage for aggregate to pass through the tamper head out of the mandrel, and having structural members connected therein for allowing free flow of aggregate therethrough when the mandrel is raised during operation, and for preventing aggregate flow back into the mandrel during downward tamping.
22 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for installing aggregate piers is provided. A cylindrical hollow mandrel is driven to a desired depth. Aggregate is fed through the mandrel in steps. The mandrel is raised and driven to tamp the aggregate. Physical members in a tamping head of the mandrel allow aggregate to remain in a cavity formed by the mandrel, and prevent aggregate from entering the mandrel during driving.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A system for constructing aggregate piers, comprising:
-
a mandrel having an upper portion and a tamper head, and a passage extending therethrough for feeding aggregate through the mandrel to the tamper head; and said tamper head being open to provide a passage for aggregate to pass through the tamper head out of the mandrel, and having structural members connected therein for allowing free flow of aggregate therethrough when the mandrel is raised during operation, and for preventing aggregate flow back into the mandrel during downward tamping. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of constructing aggregate piers comprising use of a mandrel having an upper portion and a tamper head, the upper portion and the tamper head being for allowing flow of aggregate therethrough, the method comprising:
-
providing structural members connected inside the tamper head in a configuration for allowing aggregate to remain in a cavity formed by driving of the mandrel, when the mandrel is raised during operation; and preventing aggregate flow back into the mandrel during tamping operations through engagement between said structural members and said aggregate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A system for constructing aggregate piers, comprising:
-
a mandrel having an upper portion and a tamper head, and a passage extending therethrough for feeding aggregate through the mandrel to the tamper head; and said tamper head being open to provide a passage for aggregate to pass through the tamper head into a cavity, and having moveable mechanical flow restrictors which move to block the tamper head passage into the mandrel for preventing aggregate from flowing into the mandrel during tamping. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A system for constructing aggregate piers, comprising:
-
a mandrel having an upper portion and a tamper head, and a passage extending therethrough for feeding aggregate through the mandrel to the tamper head; and said tamper head being open to provide a passage for aggregate to pass through the tamper head into a cavity, and having passive flow restrictors for preventing aggregate from flowing into the mandrel during tamping. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
-
Specification