Apparatus and method for building a foundation for uprights or for making passages therethrough
OwnerMatti K. Tiikkaineninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for building a foundation for uprights, such as flagpoles, posts, pillars or the like, or for making passages e.g. for cables, tubes etc. The apparatus (1) includes a drive-shaft (3) equipped helical auger (2). The shaft (3) is provided with a tubular body portion (4,4a). The end of the body section (4a) facing the helical auger (2) is fitted with a conical section (5) tapering towards helical auger (2). Thus, when the apparatus is in operation, the tapered section (5) serves to compact a soil layer softened by the helical auger (2).
Claims14
An apparatus for at least one of building a frost-resistant foundation for uprights and making passages, said apparatus comprising:
- a drive shaft equipped helical auger, which shaft is fitted with a tubular body portion, a diameter of said helical auger being substantially larger than a diameter of said body portion, a ratio of said diameter of said helical auger to said diameter of said tubular body portion being at least 1.8:1;
- said tubular body portion having at least a first body section, an end of said first body section of said tubular body portion facing said helical auger being fitted with a conical section tapering towards helical auger, an apex of said conical section being substantially level with a top edge of said helical auger, and a length of said conical section being at least equal to a pitch of said helical auger;
- whereby, when the apparatus is in operation, said tapered conical section compacts a soil layer softened by said helical auger, a volume of earth material compacted by said conical section being at least equal to a volume of earth material displaced by said helical auger during the course of a single rotation thereof.
A method for building a frost-resistant foundation for uprights, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus which includes a drive shaft equipped helical auger, said shaft being provided with a tubular body portion, a ratio of said diameter of said helical auger to said diameter of said tubular body portion being at least 1.8:1;
- fitting an end of a body section of said tubular body portion facing said helical auger with a tapered conical section which tapers towards said helical auger, an apex of said conical section being substantially level with a top edge of said helical auger, and a length of said conical section being at least equal to a pitch of said helical auger;
- and driving said apparatus to a desired depth in a soil material by rotating said drive shaft, said tapered conical section serving to compact a softened soil layer penetrated by said helical auger, a volume of earth material compacted by said conical section being at least equal to a volume of earth material displaced by said helical auger during the course of a single rotation thereof.
A method for making passages, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus having a drive shaft equipped helical auger, said shaft being provided with a tubular body portion having at least one tubular section, a ratio of said diameter of said helical auger to said diameter of said tubular body portion being at least 1.8:1;
- fitting an end of a body section of said tubular body portion facing said helical auger with a conical section which tapers towards said helical auger, an apex of said conical section being substantially level with atop edge of said helical auger, and a length of said conical section being at least equal to a pitch of said helical auger;
- driving said apparatus through a soil layer to be penetrated by rotating said drive shaft, said tapered conical section serving to compact a softened soil layer penetrated by said helical auger;
- and at least partially removing said apparatus on an emerging side such that said at least one tubular section remains in position for providing a passage, and when said apparatus is completely removed, the passage is formed by a compacted conduit directly in earth material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.