Gravel excavation system
AssigneeNorthern Colorado Constructors, Inc.
InventorChristopher J. Zadel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are described for excavation of gravel from a gravel formation including an elongated cylindrical casing surrounding and supporting a rotating auger extending a chosen distance beyond an open end of the casing, and having openings through its upper surface for permitting gravel to enter the casing in addition to entering through the open end thereof, a source of vibration for vibrating the casing, a conveyor for removing material excavated by the system through an opening in the bottom surface of the casing, and a tracked excavator or other suitable vehicle for preventing the casing from rotating and for pushing the casing in a chosen horizontal direction into the gravel formation.
Claims20
A gravel excavation system, comprising:
- a hollow, elongated cylindrical casing having a chosen inner diameter, and a chosen length, a first open end and a second open end, an outer surface, at least one first rectangular-shaped opening on the top portion of the outer surface near to the second open end, and at least one second rectangular-shaped opening on the bottom surface of the outer surface near to the first open end;
- an auger having a chosen diameter, pitch, and length, and a driving spindle at one end thereof that passes through the first open end of said elongated cylindrical casing, and adapted to rotate within said elongated cylindrical casing;
- a hollow cylindrical housing attached to said elongated cylindrical casing having a closed end and an open end in communication with the first open end of said elongated cylindrical casing such that the driving spindle of said auger passes through the open end of said hollow cylindrical housing;
- a motor disposed within said hollow cylindrical housing for turning the driving spindle of said auger at a chosen speed;
- and a first vehicle for pushing said elongated cylindrical casing into a gravel formation.
A gravel excavation system, comprising:
- a hollow, elongated cylindrical casing having a chosen inner diameter, and a chosen length, a first open end and a second open end, an outer surface, at least one first rectangular-shaped opening on the top portion of the outer surface near to the second open end, and at least one second rectangular-shaped opening on the bottom surface of the outer surface near to the first open end;
- an auger having a chosen diameter, pitch, and length, and a driving spindle at one end thereof that passes through the first open end of said elongated cylindrical casing, and adapted to rotate within said elongated cylindrical casing;
- a hollow cylindrical housing attached to said elongated cylindrical casing having a closed end and an open end in communication with the first open end of said elongated cylindrical casing such that the driving spindle of said auger passes through the open end of said hollow cylindrical housing;
- a motor disposed within said hollow cylindrical housing for turning the driving spindle of said auger at a chosen speed;
- a source of vibration disposed on the outer surface of said elongated cylindrical casing near to the first open end thereof, effective for vibrating said elongated cylindrical casing at a chosen frequency and a chosen amplitude;
- and a first vehicle for pushing said elongated cylindrical casing into a gravel formation.
A method for extracting gravel from a gravel formation, comprising:
- moving a hollow, elongated cylindrical casing having a first end, a second open end and an outer surface, at least one first rectangular-shaped opening on the top portion of the outer surface near to the second end, and at least one second rectangular-shaped opening on the bottom surface of the outer surface near to the first open end, into said gravel formation;
- rotating an auger having a chosen diameter, pitch, and length, adapted to rotate within the elongated cylindrical casing at a selected speed;
- vibrating the elongated cylindrical casing at a chosen frequency and a chosen amplitude;
- whereby gravel from said gravel formation enters the elongated cylindrical casing through the second open end and the at least one first rectangular-shaped opening;
- and
- extracting said gravel through the at least one second rectangular-shaped opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.