# US 2013/0279984 A1 · Pneumatic anchoring system for wick drains > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0279984 A1 - Document ID: US20130279984A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/651,937 - Filed: 2012-10-15 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-14 - Inventors: Dean Tomlinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130279984A1 ## CPC - E02D 3/103: {by installing wick drains or sand bags} - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} ## Abstract A pneumatic anchoring system for installation and anchoring of wick drains in soil, comprising an excavator or crane having an elongate support mast and a tubular wick drain mandrel supported by the mast for downward penetration of the soil. The mandrel is capped at one end. A sled fixedly attached to the mandrel and slidable along the mast rides with the mandrel downward as the mandrel penetrates the soil. The sled supports a compressed air storage tank, and the compressed air storage tank supplies compressed air through a venturi into the mandrel to jet compressed air therein. When the mandrel is at its deepest point, the operator releases a jet of air into the mandrel to disengage the wick drain anchor into the soil, and then maintains a constant airflow rate into the mandrel during extraction to equalize the pore pressure of the borehole and prevent collapse. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil, comprising: an excavation base; an elongate mast supported by said base; a hollow tubular mandrel supported by said mast and adapted for downward insertion into said soil; a venturi conduit in fluid communication with said mandrel for injecting air into the hollow of said mandrel; an air supply in fluid communication with said venturi conduit for supply of air thereto. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 1, wherein said mandrel is slidably carried in said mast. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 1, said mandrel is capped at one end by a seal plate that allows ingress of air but prevents escape of air. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 2, wherein said mast is defined by a slot along its length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 4, wherein said mast is defined by a track along its length. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 5, further comprising a sled slidably engaged to said track. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 6, wherein said sled is fixedly attached to said mandrel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 7, further comprising a compressed air storage tank attached to said sled. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 8, wherein said compressed air storage tank includes an air inlet and an air outlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 9, further comprising an electronically-controlled solenoid valve at the outlet of said air tank for selectively controlling an output of compressed air from said outlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 10, wherein said venture conduit is in fluid communication between the outlet of said air tank and said mandrel. ### Claim 12 A method of installing a wick drain in soil, comprising the steps of: using a base carrier supporting a mast, a hollow tubular mandrel mounted to said mast for downward insertion into said soil, and wick drain material carried inside said mandrel; driving said mandrel down through said mast and soil until it reaches a deepest point; injecting said mandrel with a burst of pressurized air to overcome pore pressure and dislodge the wick drain material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method for installing a wick drain in soil according to claim 1, further comprising a step of extracting said mandrel after said injecting step. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method for installing a wick drain in soil according to claim 12, wherein said step of injecting said mandrel with a burst of pressurized air further comprises injecting air through a venture into aid mandrel to create a jet effect into the mandrel. ### Claim 15 A pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil, comprising: a base; an elongate mast supported by said base; a hollow tubular mandrel slidably carried by said mast and adapted for downward insertion into said soil, said mandrel having a cap at one end; a sled slidably engaged to said mast and fixedly attached to said mandrel; a compressed air storage tank attached to said sled and having an air inlet and an air outlet; a venturi conduit in fluid communication with said mandrel for injecting air into the hollow of said mandrel; a controllable valve coupled between the outlet of said compressed air storage tank and said venture conduit; an air supply in fluid communication with the inlet of said compressed air storage tank for supply of air thereto. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 15, wherein said cap comprises a seal plate that allows ingress of air but prevents escape of air. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 15, wherein said mast is defined by a track along its length, and said sled is slidably mounted on said track. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The pneumatic anchoring system for installation of a wick drain in soil according to claim 15, wherein said valve comprises an electronically-controlled solenoid valve.