US3685303A

US3685303A - Means for stabilizing structural layer overlying earth materials in situ

Info

Publication number: US3685303A
Application number: US15355A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lee A Turzillo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-02
Filing date: 1970-03-02
Publication date: 1972-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-22

Abstract

Method and means for providing solid columnar support under structural layer, overlying earth materials of an earth situs. Expansible agitator means projected through relatively small diameter hole in overlying layer and expanded to agitate and loosen earth materials to define elongated body thereof of greater peripheral size than hole. Self-hardenable fluid pumped through hole into loosened earth, is allowed to harden after removal of contracted agitator means through small hole. Resultant rigid, composite column underlies area of structural layer surrounding hole for the solid support of same.

Description

United States Patent Turzillo 151 3,685,303 51 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] MEANS FOR STABILIZING STRUCTURAL LAYER OVERLYING EARTH MATERIALS IN SITU [72] Inventor: Lee A. Turzillo, 2078 Glengary Rd.,

' Akron, Ohio 44313 [22] Filed: March 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 15,355

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 755,273, Aug. 26,. 1968,

Pat. No. 3,530,675.

[52] US Cl. ..61/63, 61/50, 175/292 [51] Int. Cl. ..E02d 3/12, E02cl 17/12, E2lh 9/21 [58] Field of Search..6/63, 5352, 53.6, 53.64, 53.66, 6/35, 36; 175/292 [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,384,016 7/1921 Fulkerson et a1. ..175/292 1,779,575 10/1930 Wilson ..175/292 xvi. xx.

3,023,585 3/1962 Liver ..61/63 X 3,422,629 l/l969 Watts ..61/53.52 3,479,829 11/1969 Goodman ..61/53.6 3,365,894 l/1968 Murati....'. ..6l/53.6

Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro Attorney-William Cleland 1 1 ABSTRACT Method and means for providing solid columnar support under structural layer, overlying earth materials of an earth situs. Expansible agitator means projected through relatively small diameter hole in overlying layer and expanded to agitate and loosen earth materials to define elongated body thereof of greater peripheral size than hole. Self-hardenable fluid pumped through hole into loosened earth, is allowed to harden after removal of contracted agitator means through small hole. Resultant rigid, composite column underlies area of structural layer surrounding hole for the solid support of same.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmczz m2 INVENTOR. Lee A. Turzlllo At tofneq MEANS FOR STABILIZING STRUCTURAL LAYER OVERLYING EARTH MATERIALS IN SITU This is a divisional application of United States application Ser. No. 755,273, filed Aug. 26, 1968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION existing or created in the same, so that only unpredictably limited areas of the subsoil could be depended upon for any substantial degree of increased load-bearing capacity.

In one known method of treating a porous earth situs, a pilot hole was drilled several feet into the earth, and cleared of loose material as by flushing with water. After forcing pressurized air into the hole to drive out columnar support provided in the situs by the method the flushing water, hardenable fluid repair material was required to be filled with filler material by a series of additional operations. Moreover, the last-mentioned method was impractical, if not unduly expensive, for providing a solid supporting column under a footer, floor, or the like, overlying an earth situs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In use of the method and means of the present invention to provide a solid columnar support under a sagging concrete floor or like slab or layer over an earth situs, a hole, smaller than the diameter of the required supporting column, is drilled in said slab. A boring tool provided with an expansible agitator means is then pushed through the hole and drilled into the earth below the slab. When the agitator means clears the slab, it is expanded, so that with requisite rotation of the tool the earth is loosened and thoroughly agitated to a requisite extent below the slab, to define a generally cylindrical-shaped body of loose earth, the operation being aided by outward compaction of the solid by the rotated agitator means.

Hydraulic self-hardenable cement mortar or chemical mortar, under pressure, is now pumped through a passage in the tool shaft to mix thoroughly with the loosened earth. Before the mortar hardens, however, the agitator means is contracted to allow removal of the boring tool through the small slab opening. Upon hardening of the mixture of mortar and earth, the cylindrical body thereof overlying the hole in the slab will support the slab, with or without elevating the slab, depending upon the requirements. The hole in the slab can be filled in with concrete if desired.

A general object of the present invention is to provide improved method and means for providinga solid columnar support under sagging floor or like slab overlying earth of a situs, without necessarily requiring use of conventional heavy drilling and pile-forming equipment, and whereby the cost of the operation will be relatively low and the need for total or substantial replacement of sagging slabs can be avoided.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section, partly broken away, illustrating improved means for providing solid columnar supportin an earth situs, under a floor or like slab overlying earth materials of the situs.

FIG. 2 is'a horizontal cross-section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but with the drilling tool apart from the situs. 1

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section corresponding to FIG. 1, but illustrating the completed of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding in part to FIG. 1, but illustrating use of a modified form of earth agitating means for practicing the method of the invention, in an initial step of the method.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, but illustrating use of the agitating means in a more advanced stage of the method. 4

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, but illustrating use of another form of expansible agitator means for use in the method.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding generally to FIGS. 4 and 6 but illustrating initial step in the method for use of further modified form of agitator means.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 but illustrating a further advanced step in the method performed by the agitator means.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated suitable apparatus for practicing the method of the present invention, as for providing reinforcing support for a sagging structural layer supported by earth E of a situs, such as a concrete floor or slab F. As shown in FIG. 1, the improved apparatus may include a tool T including an elongated hollow metal shaft 10, provided with an apertured closure member 11, which may be in the form of a drill bit of known type, releasably affixed on the inner end of the shaft, as by means of break-away pins 12. Shaft 10 may be of a single length of tubing, or of a plurality of sections thereof coupled together in known manner. In any event, the shaft 10 may be mounted for rotation in a number of ways, such as by affixing the shaft at its upper end to a connector 13 rotatably mounted in a carriage 14 of a known form of drilling rig (not shown), for rotation by 13a, for disconnecting the latter from said source, as

well as for inserting reinforcing devices down the holchain-dotted lines in FIG. 2. In said contracted condition, the lower end of the clockwise rotating rod 10 with agitator means 17 thereon is readily insertable downwardly through the hole H in slab F, and into the earth below the slab. Reverse rotation against the earth materials, however, causes the blades to expand outwardly due to resistance of the earth materials against concave inner portions of the blades, and continued reverse rotation is effective to cause the blades to agitate and loosen the earth materials to define a cylindrical body 20 thereof greater transverse cross-sectionthan that of hold H, as indicated by chain-dotted lines in FIG. 1. The length or depth of body 20 is determined by the total stroke of axial movement or reciprocation of the agitator means 17 below slab F. The requisite loosening action of the earth is aided by impaction of the soilradially beyond the circular path of the ends of the blades 18. Free movement of the loosened earth materials in either direction is, in any event, facilitated by provision of the aforementioned spaces A between the blades and shaft 10.

After formation of the earth body 20, the churning action of the expanded blades 18 may be utilized to mix in fluid cementitious material, such as self-hardenable hydraulic cement or chemical mortar, pumped through swivel 16, shaft 10, and the apertured closure or drill bit 11. The pressurized fluid material may be retained below slab F by radially outward expansion of a rubber sleeve 22 against the wall of the hole H. For this purpose, the rubber sleeve 22 is retained on a metal tube 23, axially slidably mounted on shaft 10, between relatively movable and fixed

stop rings

24 and 25 on tube 23, respectively. A nut 26 threaded on metal tube 23, is selectively rotatable against a metal sleeve 27 on tube 23, axially to compress the rubber sleeve for said radial expansion thereof. While mixture of mortar and earth of the formed cylindrical body thereof is still fluid, the nut 26 is backed away to permit removal of the tool with agitator means 17, in collapsed condition, through the hole H.

In use of the apparatus described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, to form a hardened columnar support C beneath the concrete slab F, as shown in FIG. 3, the steps of the method may be as follows:

First, a hole H is drilled in the floor, slab or surface layer F, to be of smaller diameter than that of the required column to be formed under the same, then the carriage 14 of a drilling rig (not shown) is moved to pass the rotating rod 10, with the contracted agitator means 17 thereon, downwardly through the hole H, until all of the agitator means is worked within the earth beneath the slab. At this point, the rubber sleeve 27, may be expanded to seal the hole H, as shown in FIG. 1, in which case the shaft 10 is freely rotatable and axially shiftable within the now fixedly positioned metal tube 27.

Now, with the agitator means 17 so positioned in the earth E, the direction of rotation of the shaft 10 is reversed to expand the blades 18, as shown in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, by pressure of the earth against the concave inner sides of the blades. Continued rotation of the agitator means, while reciprocating the shaft 10, is effective to form a cylindrical body 20 of loosened earth to selective depth, as indicated in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 1, and generally of diameter substantially greater than the opening H in slab F. The material of the body 20 will be more loose and porous than before due to compaction of soil into the surrounding earth.

After the body 20 of substantially loose and porous earth has been formed to required depth, indicated in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 1, fluid, self-hardenable cementitious material, such as hydraulic cement mortar under pressure, is pumped through the swivel connector 16, shaft 10, and apertured drill bit 11, into the loosened earth material of body 20 thereof formed by the agitator means. With continued rotation and vertical reciprocation of the expanded agitator means 17, as described above, the fluid mortar is thereby thoroughly mixed with the loosened earth materials into a fluid, self-hardenable mass. While this mass is still fluid, the shaft, 10 may be elevated with the agitator means in contracted condition thereon, to withdraw the same through the small hole H in slab F. Because the fluid is supplied under pressure, the intruded body 20 may be extended to raise and/or level the slab F.

Prior to such withdrawal of the agitator means, however, rigid reinforcing devices, such as one or more elongated rigid reinforcing elements R, may be projected downwardly through the shaft 10 to knock out the bit or closure member 11. The swivel connector 16 is adapted to be temporarily disconnected from shaft extension 13a for this purpose, as described above. After the reinforcing device or elements R have been so positioned, the aforesaid additional pumping of fluid into the intruded body 20 is accomplished if or as necessary to elevate the slab P.

Upon hardening of the concrete body 20, it forms a solid cylindrical concrete column or pile C, the upper end of which overlies or spans the hole H to provide requisite strong support for the slab F, as shown in FIG. 3. The hole H may be filled in with concrete to the upper level of the slab.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated a modified form of agitator means 17a mounted on shaft 10, the same including a plurality of spiral elements 18a .of strong spring steel wire, extended between a relatively fixed collar 30 at the lower end of shaft 10 and a relatively movable collar 31 non-rotatably carried by a sleeve 32 which is axially shiftable on shaft 10. Sleeve 32 is axially shiftable, as by manual or other means, radially to expand or contract the spiral elements 18a with reference to said shaft, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 4, respectively. That is, in the above described practice of the method of the invention, the contracted agitator 17a is insertable through hole H, and then can be expanded and rotated with the shaft 10, as shown in FIG. 5, to form a cylindrical body 20a of loose earth, as before, with or without fluid sealing the hole H. The results are otherwise substantially as described above in connection with FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, but showing a modified form of agitator means 17b, wherein the spiral blades 18b are of thin, flexible strips of flat springy metal, adapted radially to expand and contract, generally as illustrated in FIG. 5 and 4, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, illustrating another modified form of agitator means 17c, including a tapered spiral screw S on the inner end of shaft 10, adapted to pass through hole H in off-center relationship, progressively to pass axially staggered cutting teeth 18c, one at a time, until all of the cutting teeth are below slab F, for agitating and mixing the earth materials as before (see FIG. 5). The use is otherwise generally as for the method described above in connection with FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the agitator means being removed through the hole H in the same progressive manner as described for insertion thereof.

In any of the methods described above the selfhardenable fluid material pumped into earth body 20 may be other than hydraulic cement mortar. For example, well-known chemical grouts may be pumped into the earth body 20 in proportions which produce very stiff gels from dilute, properly catalyzed, aqueous solutrons.

Other modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structure having a point of support overlying earth material of an earth situs comprising: a boring tool including a hollow shaft, and adapted to be removably axially insertable through an opening provided in the situs, axially to penetrate substantially below said point of support; axially elongated blades on said shaft selectively operable below said point to agitate and loosen the penetrated earth material upon rotation of the tool in boring direction, to define an axially elongated body of such loosened earth material of transverse cross-section adapted to include a portion extending inwardly beneath said point of support; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable cementitious material through said shaft to a point inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structure at said point of support; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, said agitator means including radially expansible and retractable blade means.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said agitator means includes blade means on the tool operable to ex panded and retracted positions by rotation of the tool in the earth material, in opposite directions.

4. Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structure having a point of support overlying earth material of an earth situs, comprising; a boring tool including a shaft; a plurality of curvate agitator blades mounted on said shaft to pivot between radially contracted and expanded conditions about an axis coextensive with said shaft, the shaft being insertable through an opening provided in the situs while the agitator blades are contracted to penetrate the earth material, and operable with the agitator blades radially expanded by rotation in boring direction to agitate and loosen penetrated earth material beyond said point of support to define an elongated body of such loosened earth material generally of sufficient cross-section transversely of the axis of said shaft to penetrate below said point of support; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable, fluid cementitious material through said shaft inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structure at said point of support; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the'shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, said shaft having expansive, fluid-sealing means thereon expansible into fluidsealing engage-ment with the wall of said opening.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4, including swivel connector means on the upper end of said shaft for connecting the same to a source of supply of said pressurized cementitious material.

7. Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structural layer overlying earth material of an earth situs, comprising: a boring tool including a shaft; agitator means including at least one axially extending blade of concavo-convex cross-section mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement between a contracted condition in which the blade conforms to the shape of the shaft, and an expanded condition in which the blades extend radially with respect to the shaft; said shaft thereby being selectively insertable through an opening in the structural layer while the agitator means is contracted, to penetrate the earth material, and the shaft being operable with the agitator means expanded to agitate and loosen penetrated earth material beneath the structural layer to define an elongated body of such loosened earth material generally of greater transverse cross-section than that of the opening, inwardly of said layer; saidat least one agitator blade having opposed faces engageable with the penetrated earth material upon rotation of said shaft in opposite directions, correspondingly to pivot the blade to said contracted or expanded conditions; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable, fluid cementitious material through said shaft inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structural layer; swivel connector means being provided on the upper end of said shaft for connecting the same to a source of supply of said pressurized cementitious material, said swivel connector means being operable to provide passage therethrough from the exterior, as for selective insertion of elongated reinforcing means through the shaft and into the formed column while the mixed materials thereof are still fluid; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.

Claims

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said agitator means includes blade means on the tool operable to expanded and retracted positions by rotation of the tool in the earth material, in opposite directions.

4. Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structure having a point of support overlying earth material of an earth situs, comprising: a boring tool including a shaft; a plurality of curvate agitator blades mounted on said shaft to pivot between radially contracted and expanded conditions about an axis coextensive with said shaft, the shaft being insertable through an opening provided in the situs while the agitator blades are contracted to penetrate the earth material, and operable with the agitator blades radially expanded by rotation in boring direction to agitate and loosen penetrated earth material beyond said point of support to define an elongated body of such loosened earth material generally of sufficient cross-section transversely of the axis of said shaft to penetrate below said point of support; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable, fluid cementitious material through said shaft inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structure at said point of support; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, said shaft having expansive, fluid-sealing means thereon expansible into fluid-sealing engage-ment with the wall of said opening.

7. Apparatus as for providing reinforcing support for a structural layer overlying earth material of an earth situs, comprising: a boring tool including a shaft; agitator means including at least one axially extending blade of concavo-convex cross-section mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement between a contracted condition in which the blade conforms to the shape of the shaft, and an expanded condition in which the blades extend radially with respect to the shaft; said shaft thereby being selectively insertable through an opening in the structural layer while the agitator means is contracted, to penetrate the earth material, and the shaft being operable with the agitator means expanded to agitate and loosen penetrated earth material beneath the structural layer to define an elongated body of such loosened earth material generally of greater transverse cross-section than that of the opening, inwardly of said layer; said at least one agitator blade having opposed faces engageable with the penetrated earth material upon rotation of said shaft in opposite directions, correspondingly to pivot the blade to said contracted or expanded conditions; and means in said tool for passage of pressurized self-hardenable, fluid cementitious material through said shaft inwardly of the opening to mix with the loosened earth, for forming the elongated body thereof into a column adapted to harden and support the structural layer; swivel connector means being provided on the upper end of said shaft for connecting the same to a source of supply of said pressurized cementitious material, said swivel connector means being operable to provide passage therethrough from the exterior, as for selective insertion of elongated reinforcing means through the shaft and into the formed column while the mixed materials thereof are still fluid; stop means being provided on said shaft to limit contraction of said agitator blades to compact, curvate, coextension thereof about the shaft, and providing space of substantial flow area between the blades and the shaft for passage of earth materials around the blades tending to expand the same radially outwardly of the shaft upon rotation of the same in the boring direction.