System, method and apparatus for servicing support poles

Abstract

An annulus excavation tool that would surround the decayed pole or pile and hydraulically excavate the annulus around the pole down to −2.0′ via a jetting manifold. A vacuum/tremie manifold is selectively coupled to a vacuum source to remove the soil and decayed material and creating a bonding surface for the mortar. The annulus tool would then be coupled to the mortar source and raised while a UHPC mortar would be tremied into the tool for delivery into the annulus. When the tool reaches ground level the rest of the pour is done using a Sonotube or other temporary form. This mortar encasement not only makes up for the structural deficiencies but also isolates the pole from both air and water which then kills the existing fungi and insects while also preventing any future invasion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An annulus excavation tool, comprising:
 a cylindrical sidewall dimensioned to surround a circumference of a support pole;   a jetting manifold configured to receive a pressurized fluid source;   a plurality of fluid jets in communication with the jetting manifold, the plurality of fluid jets disposed in a spaced apart relation within an interior of the cylindrical sidewall and are oriented to eject the pressurized fluid source downward towards a ground surface surrounding the support pole;   a vacuum/tremie manifold configured for communication with a vacuum source; and   a plurality of vacuum/tremie ports in communication with the vacuum/tremie manifold, the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports disposed in a spaced apart relation within the cylindrical sidewall and oriented to evacuate a back fill material from the ground surface surrounding the support pole to define a void.   
     
     
         2 . The annulus excavation tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of auxiliary jets oriented towards an interior of the cylindrical sidewall and direct the pressurized fluid source against an exterior surface the support pole.   
     
     
         3 . The annulus excavation tool of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a plurality of auxiliary jets oriented towards an exterior of the cylindrical sidewall.   
     
     
         4 . The annulus excavation tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of segments, wherein each segment comprises a portion of each of the cylindrical sidewall, the jetting manifold, and the vacuum/tremie manifold; the plurality of fluid jets, and the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports.   
     
     
         5 . The annulus excavation tool of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a fastener to join each of the plurality of segments.   
     
     
         6 . The annulus excavation tool, of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum/tremie manifold and the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports are configured to deliver a liquid mortar mix into the void. 
     
     
         7 . A method of reinforcing a support pole, comprising:
 attaching an annulus excavation tool around a support pole installed in a ground surface, the annulus excavation tool having a cylindrical sidewall;   applying a pressurized fluid source to the annulus excavation tool; and   directing the pressurized fluid source to dislodge a backfill material retaining the support pole in the ground surface by a plurality of fluid jets disposed in a spaced apart relation around an interior surface of the cylindrical sidewall of the annulus excavation tool.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 evacuating a dislodged backfill material by a vacuum source applied to a plurality of vacuum/tremie ports disposed in a spaced apart relation about the annulus excavation tool.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 directing the pressurized fluid source against a decayed surface of the support pole via a plurality of inwardly oriented fluid jets in communication with the pressurized fluid source.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 selectively lowering the annulus excavation tool to progressively dislodge and evacuate the backfill material to a desired depth in the ground surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the desired depth is below the decayed surface of the support pole.
 injecting a liquid mortar mixture through the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports to fill a void around the support pole created by evacuation of the dislodged backfill material.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selectively withdrawing the annulus excavation tool to fill the void with the liquid mortar mixture.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 applying a sonotube around the support pole, the sonotube extending a desired vertical distance above the ground surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 pouring the liquid mortar mixture into the sonotube.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 filling the sonotube with the liquid mortar mixture to the desired vertical distance.   
     
     
         16 . A system for servicing a support pole installation, comprising:
 an annulus excavation tool having a plurality of jets oriented to direct a pressurized fluid source to dislodge a backfill material retaining the support pole in a ground surface, a plurality of vacuum/tremie ports to selectively evacuate the dislodged backfill material to define a void around the support pole communicate a liquid mortar to fill the void,   a reservoir containing a volume of the fluid;   a pressure delivery pump in communication with the reservoir; and   a suction pump in selective communication with the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports and a decant unit to contain a quantity of the evacuated backfill material.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a mixing unit configured to mix a predetermined quantity of the liquid mortar; and   a tremie pump in communication with the mixing unit to selectively deliver the liquid mortar to the vacuum/tremie ports.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a materials container configured to communicate a predetermined quantity of a dry mortar mix to the mixing unit.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a storage unit for storing the annulus excavation tool; and   a generator for powering one or more of the pressure delivery pump, the suction pump, the tremie pump, and the mixing unit.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a control station having a plurality of controls for operating one or more of the generator, the pressure delivery pump, the suction pump, the tremie pump, and the mixing unit.