Open-end 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. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible 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 extensible 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 extensible shell to form a support pier.
Claims24
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 a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and defining a second opening at an opposing second end, 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 having a first end with a first opening and a second end having a second opening, 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.
An extensible shell for constructing a support pier in ground, the extensible shell defining an interior for holding granular construction material and defining a first end having a first opening therethrough for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and an opposing second end having a second opening therethrough, wherein the shell is flexible such that the shell expands laterally outward when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell and further comprising a plurality of slots extending between an interior of the shell to an exterior of the shell, the slots being generally transverse to a centerline along the length of the shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.