Apparatus for inserting flexible members into the earth

Abstract

Apparatus for inserting flexible members such as tie-back anchors for slope stabilization or prefabricated vertical drains into underlying earth which includes an articulatable mast to be arranged with a generally upright extent above the underlying earth. An elongated earth penetrating tube or mandrel is carried by the mast for guided movement therealong and for receiving a flexible member for movement with the mandrel to insert the flexible members into the underlying earth. A drive is mounted on the mast and engaged with this mandrel for driving the mandrel into and out of the underlying earth. A vibrator assembly is mounted for imparting vibrations to the mandrel to assist movement of the mandrel in underlying earth when a vibrator is energized. The vibrator assembly includes a circular gear mounted for concentric rotation on an axis and supported for rotation about its axis on a frame carried by the vibrator. This gear is meshed with a gear rack on the mandrel for imparting vibrations to the mandrel through the gear and a flywheel mass is engaged with this gear for simultaneous rotation therewith to impart increased rotational mass momentum to the gear.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.