APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USING MULTIPLE TOOLS ON A SINGLE PLATFORM

• US 20090290940A1
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Geopier Foundation Company
• Original Assignee: Geopier Foundation Company
• Inventors: Martin, John Paul SR.
• Application Number:
  US12/470,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20090290940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/232
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 3/123 and compacting the soil E02D3/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 7/02 Placing by driving E02D7/18 - E02D7/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 7/16 Scaffolds or supports for drivers guide frames for the elements to be driven per se E02D13/04; supports of the artificial island type E02B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/06 with digging screws earth drilling E21; for digging trenches or ditches E02F5/04
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/966 of hammer-type tools arrangements for breaking-up hard ground E02F5/305; percussion -type rippers E02F5/323

Abstract

A soil structure tool for building structures in soil, placing structures in soil, or both, may improve the load bearing capability for soil by using multiple devices as part of a single tool. The soil structure tool may be operated to place a first device in a working position while placing the remaining device or devices in a non-working position so the first device in the working position may be used without interference from the remaining tools. Moving devices attached to the soil structure tool between the working and non-working positions permits building structures in soil or placing structures in soil without requiring multiple vehicles or other platforms to hold various devices and without requiring multiple devices to be attached to or detached from a vehicle or other platform.

Claims

1. A soil structure tool comprising:

a tool head pivotally connected to an articulated arm of a tool platform, the tool head including a first elongate tool head portion and a second elongate tool head portion extending in a direction substantially away from the first elongate tool head portion;

a first device mount pivotally connected proximate a free end of the first elongate tool head portion; and

a second device mount pivotally connected proximate a free end of the second elongate tool head portion.

2. The soil structure tool according to claim 1, wherein:

the first elongate tool head portion includes a first arm rigidly connected to a tool head base; and

the second elongate tool head portion includes a second arm rigidly connected to the tool head base.

3. The soil structure tool according to claim 2, wherein:

the tool head base includes a first plate and a second plate, the first arm is rigidly attached between the first and second plates, and the second arm is rigidly attached between the first and second plates;

the first device mount includes a third plate and a fourth plate, and the third and fourth plates are pinned proximate to the free end of the first arm; and

the second device mount includes a fifth plate and a sixth plate, and the fifth and sixth plates are pinned proximate to the free end of the second arm.

4. The soil structure tool according to claim 3, further comprising:

a motor operably connected to an auger, the motor retained between the third and fourth plates; and

a pneumatic hammer operably connected to a tamping apparatus, the pneumatic hammer retained between the fifth and sixth plates.

5. The soil structure tool according to claim 2, further comprising a first selectively engagable coupling structure operably connected between the first arm and the first device mount;

and a second selectively engagable coupling structure operably connected between the second arm and the second device mount.

6. The soil structure tool according to claim 5, wherein the first selectively engagable coupling structure and the second selectively engagable coupling structure each include an engagable tongue and groove.

7. The soil structure tool according to claim 2, wherein the tool head includes:

a first portion pivotally connected to an articulated arm of a tool platform;

a second portion coupled to the first portion;

a third portion rotatably coupled to the second portion, wherein the first arm is rigidly attached to the tool head third portion, and the second arm is rigidly attached to the tool head third portion.

8. The soil structure tool according to claim 7, wherein the second portion includes an actuator selected from the group of an electric motor, a pneumatic motor, and a hydraulic motor.

9. A soil structure tool comprising:

a tool head pivotally connected to an articulated arm of a tool platform;

a raceway attached to the tool head;

a first arm moveably connected in the raceway;

a first device mount pivotally connected to the first arm;

a second arm moveably connected in the raceway; and

a second device mount pivotally connected to the second arm

10. A soil structure tool according to claim 9, wherein:

the tool head includes a first plate and a second plate;

the first device mount includes a third plate and a fourth plate, and the third and fourth plates are pinned proximate to a free end of the first arm; and

the second device mount includes a fifth plate and a sixth plate, and the fifth and sixth plates are pinned proximate to a free end of the second arm

11. A soil structure tool according to claim 10, further comprising:

a motor operably connected to an auger, the motor retained between the third and fourth plates; and

a pneumatic hammer operably connected to a tamping apparatus, the pneumatic hammer retained between the fifth and sixth plates.

12. A tool for constructing structures in soil according to claim 11, further comprising:

a first selectively engagable coupling structure operably connected between the first arm and the first device mount; and

a second selectively engagable coupling structure operably connected between the second arm and the second device mount.

13. A method for improving a load bearing capability of soil comprising the steps of:

providing a soil structure tool attached to an articulating arm of a tool platform wherein the soil structure tool includes a tool head having a first elongate portion and a second elongate portion extending in a direction substantially away from the first elongate portion, a first device pivotally connected proximate a free end of the first elongate portion, and a second device pivotally connected proximate a free end of the second elongate portion;

positioning the tool platform proximate a location where the load bearing capability for soil will be improved;

operating the articulating arm to move the first device into a working position wherein the first device pivots to substantially align with a longitudinal axis of the first elongate portion, and to simultaneously move the second device into a non-working position;

operating the articulating arm and the first device to create a bore in the soil;

removing the first device from the bore;

operating the articulating arm to move the second device into a working position wherein the second device pivots to substantially align with a longitudinal axis of the second elongate portion, and to simultaneously move the first device into a non-working position; and

operating the articulating arm and the second device to build a structure in the bore.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

the force of gravity substantially aligns the first device with the longitudinal axis of the first elongate portion when the articulating arm is operated to move the first device into a working position; and

the force of gravity substantially aligns the second device with the longitudinal axis of the second elongate portion when the articulating arm is operated to move the second device into a working position.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

placing aggregate in the bore after removing the first device from the bore; and

wherein building the structure includes compacting the aggregate with the second device.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein the step of moving the first device to a working position and simultaneously moving the second device to a non-working position is accomplished by pivotal movement of the soil structure tool;

and

wherein the step of moving the second device to a working position and simultaneously moving the first device to a non-working position is accomplished by pivotal movement of the soil structure tool.

17. The method according to claim 13 wherein the step of moving the first device to a working position and simultaneously moving the second device to a non-working position is accomplished by rotational movement of the soil structure tool;

and

wherein the step of moving the second device to a working position and simultaneously moving the first device to a non-working position is accomplished by rotational movement of the soil structure tool.