US2879648A - Method and apparatus for installing cesspools or the like - Google Patents

Description

March 1959 w. c. WILCOX, SR 2,879,648

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CESS POOLS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 24, 195 v ZSheet 1 I5 l H1 du uuhhh.

HI I I3 1] 6 I II Ill 0 I ll 0 mmvron WALTER c wlLconse.

Arromsvs March 31, 1959 w. c. WILCOX, sR 2,379,648

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CESSPOOLS OR THE LIKE Fild Feb. 24. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

WALTER c.wn.cox', sp.

United States Patent 2,s7'9,648 MErHob AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CESSPOOLS on THE LIKE Walter C. Wilcox, Sn, Canoga Park, Calif. Application February 24, 1956, Serial No. 567,654 7 Claims. (CI. 6163) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming and positioning a sectional wall within a well hole, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for lowering cesspool blocks or the like down into a well hole in a preformed position.

I Present day cesspool installation procedure requires the lowering of a man into the well hole to manually place and fit the blocks or wall sections around the well side walls. As a consequence of this procedure, it is necessary to provide another man at the top of the well hole on the ground level to lower additional blocks as the wall structure is progressively completed upwardly to the top of the well. It will be appreciated that this meth od of installation is cumbersome as well as time consuming, and additionally that a safety hazard results from the possibility of a man or tools falling into the well hole while the cesspool is being formed.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of pre-forming a sectional wall above ground level and thereafter lowering the wall into position within a well hole without the necessity of manual labor being performed within the well hole itself.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus in accordance with the preceding object eliminating dangers presently inherent in cesspool installation methods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for pre-forming and positioning a sectional wall Within a well hole, which will enable more precise and stable positioning of the sectional wall structure.

"A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for pre-forming and positioning a sectional wall within a well hole, which will result in a considerable savings of time in contrast to conventional methods now used, and in which the apparatus may be simply manufactured and maintained while still complying with the rugged structural requirements for equipment in this field.

These and other objects of the present invention are generally achieved by a method which comprises prestacking or pre-forming and holding the sectional wall above the ground level about a given diameter cylindrical fixture or gauge, in accordance with the inner finished diameter desired for the sectional walls. Thereafter, the sectional wall is supported on radial adjustable means, and the radially adjustable means are then lowered into the well, while the fixture remains stationary to serve as a guard fence around the well hole. After the wall is positioned within the well, the radially adjustable ice wheels for portability in moving from one work area to another. A cylindrical cage is disposed within the frame and is adjustably supported, whereby it may be leveled to a true vertical position in the event the ground area is not completely level at the working location. A wall positioning tool is axially disposed within the cage, and winch means are secured to the frame of the apparatus and connected to the wall positioning tool through a flexible member in the form of a cable or the like.

Wall supporting means are coupled to a lower portion of the wall positioning tool and extend radially therefrom at a vertical level disposed below the lower end of the cage. The wall supporting means are adapted for radial adjustment from a normal diameter, equal to or less than the diameter of the cage, to an operating diameter greater than the diameter of the cage. Actuating means are provided in the apparatus for controlling this radial adjustment from the ground level. With such a construction, the wall supporting means may be actuated to the operating diameter in order to position the sectional wall within the well hole, and thereafter the wall means may be contracted radially inward to the normal diameter for withdrawal from the well hole. I

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by. reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for performing the method of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a cesspool hole with the wall positioning tool disposed therein and the wall supporting means extended to the operating diameter; and,

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the wall positioning tool taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in Figure 2.

In Figure 1 there is shown a cesspool wall installing apparatus comprising a frame 10mounted on wheels 11, whereby the unit may be easily moved to different working areas. The frame 10 includes a base structure 12 from which extend upwardly angled uprights 13 and end members 14. A cross member 15 forms the upper portion of the frame 10 and is connected to the angled uprights 13 and end members 14 at their upper ends.

A winch 16 may be mounted on a suitable bracket (not shown) provided on one of the end members 14 of the frame. The winch 16 includes conventional gearing 17 and a handle 18 for manual operation. It is evident,

however, that the winch 16 may be powered with an elecmeans are contracted radially inwardly and removed from tric motor or other driving means if desired.

A cable 19 is connected to the winch 16 and passes upwardly over a pulley 20 secured to the cross member 15, to thereafter pass downwardly about another pulley 21 to a movable pulley 22. The end of the cable 19 passes up from the pulley 22 and is appropriately secured to the cross member 15. The movable pulley 22 is in turn coupled to a U-bracket 23, shown more clearly in the view of Figure 2. The U-bracket 23 is fastened to the upper end of the wall positioning tool indicated generally at 24.

A cylindrical cage 25 is disposed within thev frame 10 in a vertical position and is adjustably mounted on a hanger 26 connected to the cross member 15 and provided 29, also secured to the and 3. The-wall positioning tool-"24 l Qllldfii scoping ttubularimember ,30Mhaving. its

lower end positioned around an inner rod 31. A keyway 32 is provided in an upper portion of the rod 31, and is adapted to receivevadog 33 which is pivotably: seemed as at 3,4 to. thevouteriperiphery'xof the tubular member 30.: .Thus; in the: position shown in Figure 2, the tubular member 30 andinnerrod 31 .are locked in an axial ;position, with respect to each other. A

In order to permit telescoping of the tube 301upwardly with:r.espec t to the innerrod31, a rope 35 or the'like is attached to the dog, 33and may-be pulled at the ground level to in turn, disengage-the. dogfrom the keyway 32, whereby-:the outer tubularmember 30 is free'to slide-on the-inner rod 31.'

Linkage arms 36 are hinged to the lower end of the: tubular member 30, as at 37,. and extend downwardly to lower hinges 38 coupled: to triangular sections 39: Preferably, four sets of linkage arms-36 areemployechone member of eachset passing down along either side of fins; 40 extending from the inner rod 31'to a rim section 41. i

The triangular sections39 are rotatably coupled at 42 to the fins 40 andyare also desirably designed to be in paired relationship on either side of the fins 40 to corre-- spond with the sets of linkage arms 36.

The wall supporting means provided in the preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of quadrantal plates-43,

shown clearly in Figure 3, hinged at 44 to the triangular sections 39; In the view of Figure 2-, the: plates43 are disposed in their radially extended position in order' to support the wall sections 45 being lowered into thehole. In the view of Figure 3, the plates 43 are shown: by the solid lines in theirradially contracted'positionor normal (113.!1161161fbfiff8 operations have commenced, and by the: dotted lines in their expanded positions for the wall lowering step.

In operation, the apparatus is first positioned so that the bottom end of the rod 31 issolidly supported. Thereafter, the tubular member is allowed to impress its weight on the linkage arms 36 and actuate-the triangularmembers-39 to force the quadrantal plates 43 radially-outward to the dotted lineuposition of Figure 3. At 'thistime, the apparatus is brought into position over the cesspool hole and the wall positioning tool 24 is lowered by the winch 16 and. cable 19 to a position slightly below the level of the cage 25, whereby it is free for movement to seeka true vertical position; The cage 25 is thenverticallyleveled'- by the turn buckles 27 to be co-axial with the wall positioning tool 24. The wall positioningtool- 24 may then be raised to alevel approximately aligned with the lower endof the cage 25; preparatory the plates 43 around the outer periphery of the cage-25:. After the wall has been formed to the 'height'of the cage125, ther-winoh16 may be operated through the cable 4 wall asupportingplates 43 to move radially inwardly out of position from underneath the wall sections 45. The plates 43 will then be in the position shown by the solid lines in Figure 3 and the wall positioning tool 24 may be raised out of the hole by the winch means 16.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the method and apparatus of the present invention enable a more eflicientand safe:procedure for installingcesspool walls or equivalent structures. .In addition, the apparatus employed is of a rugged and durable construction requiring limited maintenance and yet being susceptible of economical manufacture:=

It will be appreciated that various details of construction can be varied without-departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention, therefore,

is not to be thought of as limited to the particular preferred embodiment shown and described with respect to the drawings, but rather is defined in accordance with the-scope'of the following claims;

' What-is claimed-is;

1. An apparatus forlocation' on the ground level-above a well hole and designed for the positioning of a=sectional" wall therein; said apparatus comprising: a frameya cylindrical cage having a given diameter; meansvertically supporting saidcage within said-frame'in an operative p'osi-- tionover said well hole above said ground level such thatsaid cage may serve" the dual function of agaugefor" forming said-wall to said given diameter and as a guard for -said hole-upon positioning of said-wall therein; a wall positioning-tool axially disposed within said' 'cage; Winch-meanssecured to said frame'and connected to said wall positioning tool'; wall supporting means coupled-to andfunotioning as apart of said wall positioning tool, said Wall supporting means being normally disposed below the lower' end of said cage; actuating means on said'wall positioning tool forradiallyadjusting said wall supporting means-from a normal diameter no greater than said given diameter to an operating diameter greater than said'given diameter, whereby said wall supporting means may be actuated to said operating diameter for positioning-said sectional wall within said well hole and thereafter-contracted to said normal diameter for withdrawal therefrom;-

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said" for limitedrelativemovement thereto, in which said 'rela tive movement of said upper member and said lo'wer-mem-- 19 to lower. the wallipositioning tool 24 withthe-blocks 45 stacked thereon down into position Within the hol'e;

Meanwhile, the cage 25 will remain stationary in position above the holeto act as protection against inadvertent falling of men or equipment down into thezcesspool. If thehole is deeper than the-length of the cage 25,'additionaliwall sections 45 may be stacked in anarray around theficage25 as the tool24 is lowered.

A bottom. plate-46 is-secured-to the lower end of the inner rod 31 and acts as a-stop when-it comes to rest on therbottom of thehole. Thereafter; the-rope 35' is actu i atedhu'pwardly, to in turnrotate tha dog 33 about the" pivot point 34 and releasefit frornthekeyseat-32 of the innerr'od31. As a 'consequence-of this=action, withan:

upward-iforceappliedto the tubing 30' thelinkage arms 36: willib'el urged, upwardlys'to"thereby torce the-triangular plated-39 upwardly-tar thehinge points 38 cause the-"*- ber efiects the operation of said actuating means.

i 3. Anapparatus according to claim 2, in which said actuating means includes a removable key member axially coupling and adapted to maintain said upper telescoping" member and said lower telescoping member in stable relationshipiwhilesaid sectional wall is positioned in said well' hole.

4. An-apparatus'accordmg to claim 2, in which said" actuating means includes linkage means coupled between said, upper telescoping member and said lowertelescoping membenfor radially; adjusting said wall supportingmeans'.

in response .to said limited relative movement.

5. An-apparatus for location on the ground level above a wellhole anddesigned for the positioning of a sectional wall therein; said apparatus comprising: a frame; a cylin dricalcage: having a given diameter; means vertically supporting said cage within said'frame in an operative positionoversaid well hole and above said ground level suchthat, said cage may serve the 'dualfunction of agauge;v for forming said wall tosaid given diameter andas a guard:

for ,said .hole upon positioning of said Wall therein; a wall positioning tool axially disposed within said cage, said wall positioning tool comprising an upper telescoping member and a lower telescoping member coupled together for limited relati've movement; winch means secured to said frame and: connected to saidwall positioning tool; wall supporting' meansfunctioning as a part of saidwa-ll posi tioning tool and coupled to said upper telescoping memher and said lower telescoping member, said wall supporting means being normally disposed below the lower end of said cage and comprising sector shaped members adapted for radial expansion and contraction with respect to said wall positioning tool; and, actuating means associated with said wall positioning tool for effecting said expansion and said contraction in response to said relative movement.

6. An apparatus, according to claim 5, in which fins extend radially outwardly from said lower telescoping member above said sector shaped members, and in which said actuating means includes linkage means coupled to each of said fins, to said upper telescoping member, and to each of said sector shaped members.

7. An apparatus, according to claim 6, in which said linkage means comprises: linkage arms having their upper ends connected to said upper telescoping member; triangular shaped members, each of which is coupled at one corner to the lower end of one of said linkage arms, and each of which is coupled at a second corner to one of said fins, and each of which is coupled at a third corner to one of said sector shaped members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,220,527 Martin Mar. 27, 1917 2,226,804 Carroll Dec. 31, 1940 2,650,477 Stine Sept. 1, 1953 2,658,352 Haeg et al. Nov. 10, 1953

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