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.

1 . 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 exaction tool.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 evacuating a dislodged backfill material by vacuum source applied to a plurality of vacuum/tremie ports disposed in a spaced apart relation about the annulus excavation tool.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , 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.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 selectively lowering the annulus excavation tool to progressively dislodge and evacuate the backfill material to a desired depth in the ground surface   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , 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.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 selectively withdrawing the annulus excavation tool to fill the void with the liquid mortar mixture.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 Applying a sonotube around the support pole, the sonotube extending a desired vertical distance above the ground surface.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 pouring the liquid mortar mixture into the sonotube.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 Filling the sonotube with the liquid mortar mixture to the desired vertical distance.