Ground engaging shaft

Abstract

An apparatus and method for engaging a member within a soil formation. The apparatus comprises a shaft extending between top and bottom ends along a central axis and having at least one auger section therearound and a first plate, axially rotatably connected to the shaft. The apparatus may further comprise a second plate rotatably connected to the shaft above the first plate which may have connectors for engagement with a corresponding adjacent plate. The method comprises locating the shaft above a soil formation and rotating the shaft into the soil formation so as to draw the first plate into the soil formation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]1. Field of Disclosure[0002]The present disclosure relates to construction in general and in particular to a method and apparatus for engaging a member within a soil formation.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]At many worksites, it is frequently necessary to engage a construction member within the ground for the purposes of securing the member therein or to reinforce or retain a portion of the ground behind the member. Such members may commonly be located within the soil formation by pile driving wherein the member is forcibly pressed into the ground by a backhoe, pile driver or the like. One example of when such methods may be utilized is for locating pilings within the ground.[0005]One disadvantage of such methods is that the force required to drive such a member into the ground can be high requiring relatively large equipment or relatively small members to effectively penetrate the ground. It will be appreciated that such limitations often...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent describes an apparatus for engaging a soil formation using a shaft with an auger section and a rotating first plate. A second plate can also be used that is independently rotatable and interlocks with the first plate using connectors with flanges. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a more effective way to engage soil formations and facilitate the drilling of holes for piles and other structures.

Problems solved by technology

One disadvantage of such methods is that the force required to drive such a member into the ground can be high requiring relatively large equipment or relatively small members to effectively penetrate the ground.

It will be appreciated that such limitations often limit the size of ground penetrating members that may be used in some locations where larger equipment is not able to access.

In particular, one situation in which such methods are used is where it is necessary to excavate a hole to access a buried structure or to expose a location where the work is to occur.

In many instances, it is not practical to excavate a large amount of soil due to the proximity of other structures or time constraints.

In particular, shoring using a plurality of timbers may be time consuming and inaccurate to install as each timber must be located individually.

These multiple steps increase the amount of time required to shore the excavation.

Disadvantageously, such shoring structures are also required to either be assembled within the excavation or pre-assembled and lowered into the excavation as a whole.

Where the assembled structure is lowered into the excavation as a whole, it may be possible for the shoring structure to partially collapse or otherwise impact and thereby disturb the excavation wall.

An additional difficulty with current excavation shoring methods, is that it is necessary to excavate the location before the shoring is put into place.

In many soil types, such as, for example, moist or soft soils, such unshored excavations may be prone to wall collapse before the shoring can be properly located.

The struts and other bracing members between shoring walls may also limit the access that workers and equipment has to the bottom of the shored excavation.

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