US 2009/0290940 A1 · APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USING MULTIPLE TOOLS ON A SINGLE PLATFORM

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.

Claims17

Dependent claims

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.

1 more element

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.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for using multiple tools on a single platform

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for using multiple tools on a single platform

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17