Wick drain shoe systems and methods
AssigneeAmerican Piledriving Equipment, Inc.
InventorEric C. Legault
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wick drain shoe is configured to be connected to a free end of a length of wick drain material and driven by a mandrel of a wick drain insertion system. The wick drain shoe comprises a base portion and an extension portion secured to the base portion to define first and second shoe openings, an anchor portion, and a bearing portion. The wick drain material is connected to the wick drain shoe by inserting the free end through the first and second shoe openings such that the anchor portion and bearing portion engage the wick drain material when the wick drain material is under tension. The base portion is sized and dimensioned to engage the mandrel such that displacement of the mandrel in a first direction causes displacement of the wick drain shoe in the first direction.
Claims24
A wick drain shoe adapted to be connected to a free end of a length of wick drain material and driven by a mandrel of a wick drain insertion system, the wick drain shoe comprising:
- a base portion;
- and
- an extension structure secured to the base portion to define first and second shoe openings, an anchor portion, and a bearing portion;
- wherein
- the wick drain material is connected to the wick drain shoe by inserting the free end through the first and second shoe openings such that the anchor portion and bearing portion engage the wick drain material when the wick drain material is under tension;
- and
- the base portion is sized and dimensioned to engage the mandrel such that displacement of the mandrel in a first direction causes displacement of the wick drain shoe in the first direction.
A method of driving a free end of a length of wick drain material into the earth using a mandrel of a wick drain insertion system, method comprising the steps of:
- providing a base portion;
- and
- providing an extension structure;
- securing the extension structure to the base portion to define first and second shoe openings, an anchor portion, and a bearing portion;
- inserting the free end through the first and second shoe openings such that the anchor portion and bearing portion engage the wick drain material when the wick drain material is under tension to connect the wick drain material to the wick drain shoe;
- and
- arranging the mandrel to engage the base portion;
- and
- displacing the mandrel in a first direction to displace the wick drain shoe in the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.