Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier
AssigneeGeopier Foundation Company, Inc.
InventorDavid J. White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. A shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define an opening for receiving the granular construction material into the interior. The shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the shell to form a support pier.
Claims34
An extensible shell for constructing a support pier in ground, the extensible shell defining an interior for holding granular construction material and defining an opening for receiving the granular construction material into the interior, wherein the shell is flexible such that the shell expands laterally outward when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell.
A method for constructing a support pier in ground, the method comprising:
- (a) positioning an extensible shell into ground, the shell defining an interior for holding granular construction material and defining an opening for receiving the granular construction material into the interior, wherein the shell is flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell;
- (b) filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material;
- and
- (c) compacting the granular construction material in the interior of the shell to form a support pier.
A method for constructing a support pier in ground, the method comprising:
- (a) forming a cavity in the ground;
- (b) partially backfilling the cavity with an aggregate construction material;
- (c) positioning an extensible shell into the cavity, the shell defining an interior for holding granular construction material and defining an opening for receiving the granular construction material into the interior, wherein the shell is flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell;
- (d) filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material;
- and
- (e) compacting the granular construction material in the interior of the shell to form a support pier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.