Drill Shaft Longitudinal Oscillation for Ground Compaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibratory devices for ground consolidation and aggregate compaction are complex, noisy, and often require separate drive systems, with limitations in radial compaction and difficulty in repairing components located within the ground.

Innovation Solution

A drill assembly with a single drill and a displacement unit featuring a guide unit and a channel unit with a circumferential guide channel, which imparts longitudinal oscillation to the drill, allowing for efficient compaction and consolidation of surrounding material without the need for multiple components or separate drive systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If eccentric weight vibrators are used to consolidate ground or compact aggregate, then vibratory motion is generated effectively, but the device complexity increases due to requiring separate drive systems and multiple rollers or wheels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibratory forceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the drill shaft and vibrator into a single integrated unit. The drill shaft itself serves as the vibrating element, eliminating the need for separate rollers or wheels with eccentric weights. The drive system rotates the drill shaft directly, merging the drilling and vibration functions into one component, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective vibratory power for ground consolidation and aggregate compaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If pneumatic and hydraulic vibrators are used to generate vibratory motion, then complex vibratory patterns can be achieved, but noise levels increase and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibratory motion capabilityVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex pneumatic or hydraulic vibration generation systems with a simpler mechanical rotation of the drill shaft. By rotating the drill shaft at controlled speeds, the desired vibratory motion is achieved through mechanical means alone, eliminating noisy pneumatic/hydraulic components while maintaining adaptability in vibratory patterns through variable speed control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the vibrator is located at the end of the drill within the ground, then compaction is effective, but ease of repair deteriorates when the vibrator fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompaction effectivenessVSAvoidease of repair
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the vibrator function from a separate component and integrates it directly into the drill shaft itself. Since the drill shaft is the primary component that must be inserted into and removed from the ground anyway, the vibrator is always accessible - simply withdraw the drill shaft to access the vibrator for repair or replacement, eliminating the difficulty of recovering separate vibrators from expanded drill sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Manufacturing precision

If multiple rollers or wheels with eccentric weights are used to apply complex vibratory motion, then compaction quality improves, but the need for separate drive devices increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompaction qualityVSAvoiddrive system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the drill shaft a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs drilling, vibration generation, and compaction. By controlling the rotation speed of the single drill shaft, various vibratory frequencies and patterns can be achieved, eliminating the need for multiple specialized rollers or wheels with separate drive systems, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining compaction quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides effective radial and longitudinal compaction, reducing noise and complexity, and allows for easier maintenance by eliminating the need for separate drive systems and complex component arrangements, while maintaining efficient material modification and compaction capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

interaction between the guides and the guide channel causes the drill to oscillate along its longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical vibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3482005B1Displacement and/or compaction device
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 MCMILLAN
  • EP3482005B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3482005B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4b
  • EP3482005B1 patent drawingFigure 5(i)~5(iv)

AI summary

A drill assembly that includes one drill and a displacement unit, where the drill is releasably or permanently attached to said displacement unit, such that: - the displacement unit includes a guide unit and a channel unit, where the channel unit includes a guide channel, and said guide unit includes one or more guides adapted to engage with said guide channel, such that said guide channel is a circumferential channel that follows a wave or wave like path; - the drill includes a drill bit and/or a drill flight attached to a central shaft, wherein the drill bit and/or drill flight co-terminate at a first terminal end of the drill; - said first terminal end is the terminal end of the drill that is configured to enter the ground first; and - the central shaft is a thin elongate member that extends between the longitudinally separated terminal ends of the drill.