US1959174A - Method of and apparatus for sinking pipes or well holes into the ground - Google Patents

Description

T. F. MOORE May 15, 1934.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING PIPES OR WELL HOLE-S INTO THE GROUND Filed Nov. 26, 1932 2 SheetsSheet 1 2} /4L /5 l7 l9 2/ 3 n hwENTuR BY @MWWL A'ITUR EYE T. F. MOORE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING PIPES OR WELL HOLES INTO THE GROUND Filed Nov. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN ENTBR BY %y% WITNESS J mm M ATTORNEYS Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES METHOD ()F AND APPARATUS FOR SINK- ING PIPES OR WELL HOLES INTO THE GROUND Thomas F. Moore, Morris Plains, N. J.

Application November 26, 1932, Serial No. 644,482

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for sinking pipes or well holes into the ground of the character set forth in my pending application Serial No. 545,444 filed May 6th, 1931, to be used either as a permanent foundation for portions of super-structures or for the removal of water from subterranean pockets through the medium of well-points, similar to those set forth in my Patents Nos. 1,570,697, January 26th, 1926; 1,648,587, November 8th, 1927; 1,657,684, January 31st, 1928; 1,729,790, October 1st, 1929; and 1,854,344, April 19th, 1932, any one of which may be used in connection with the present invention to form a part thereof.

These pipes or holes are frequently and systematically sunk over large areas to considerable depths and through strata of widely varying densities so that in some instances it is extremely difficult to cause the pipes to pass through the denser strata under the usual driving method.

I have found, however, that by introducing water or air under pressure into the pipes to discharge from the lower ends thereof during the sinking operation, the resultant pressure and liquefying action of the water upon the soil in and around the lower end of the pipe, commonly known as jetting, aided by the weight of the pipe greatly accelerates the sinking of the pipes and holes through the various strata even though the latter may be extremely dense and resistant to direct driving force.

I have also found that if the pipe is turned or oscillated angularly about its vertical axis during the sinking operation, its passage through the denser strata is greatly facilitated, particularly when the lower end of the pipe is slightly flared and serrated.

The main object of the invention is to render these operations less laborious and more expedi tious and thus permit a far greater number of holes to be sunk in a given time than has heretofore been practised.

One of the specific objects is to provide simple means for introducing water and air under pressure into the pipe to discharge from the lower end thereof into the soil for removing and loosening the soil from the lower end of the pipe and thereby to expedite the sinking of the pipe into the soil aided by its own weight.

Another object is to provide the lower end of the pipe with outwardly flaring serrations or teeth for the purpose of slightly enlarging the hole to a greater diameter than the remaining portions of the pipe and thereby to reduce the friction of the pipe with the soil and allow it to enter more readily through strata of varying densities and at the same time permitting the jetted soil at the lower end of the pipe to be washed outwardly between the serrations and upwardly along the outside of the pipe to the surfaces of the ground.

Another object is to provide simple means under the control of an attendant for intermittingly turning the pipe about its axis as it gradually sinks into the soil and thereby to render the sinking operation more expeditious and reliable.

A further object is to provide means whereby a well-point may be enclosed within and simultaneously sunk with the pipe ready for use for withdrawing water from the soil preferably after the sinking operation is completed.

Qther objects and uses relating to the specific parts of the apparatus and to the method of using the same will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hole sinking apparatus embodying the various features of my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively on lines 2-2 and 33, Figure 6.

Figure 4 is an enlarged face view, partly in section, and partly broken away, of the adjacent portions of the lower and upper pipe sections showing more particularly the coupling connection between said section and the underlying vertically movable collar carrying the means by which'the pipe sections or at least the lower pipe section may be turned about its axis during the sinking operation.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 6.

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view, partly broken away, taken on line 6-6, Figure. 1.

Figures 7 and 8 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively on lines 77 and 88, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a face view of the lower end of the pipe to be sunk into the ground.

As illustrated, this apparatus comprises a relatively heavy iron pipe 1 of any suitable length depending upon the depth to which it is to be sunk into the ground, said pipe having its lower end provided with outwardly flaring serrations or teeth 2 for cutting through the different strata of soil and enlarging the hole to a greater diameter than that of the remaining portion of the pipe, thereby reducing the friction between the soil and pipe and allowing the latter to pass more freely into the soil under the jetting action of the Water through the lower end thereof, aided by the weight of the pipe, in a manner hereinafter more fully described.

The pipe 1 is provided with diametrically opposite lengthwise guide ribs 3 welded 01' otherwise secured to its outer periphery to extend the major portion of the length thereof, but terminating some distance below and above its upper and lower ends, as shown more clearly in Figures 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8, for receiving and guiding a vertically movable carriage 9.

This carriage comprises a pair of diametrically opposite collar sections 10 extending loosely around corresponding sides of the pipe and provided with diametrically opposite pairs of flanges 11 connected by opposite pairs of transverse bolts 12 upon which are journaled a corresponding number of grooved rollers 13, the rollers at each side of the pipe being arranged in vertically spaced relation and engaged with the corresponding ribs 3 on the periphery of the pipe to enable the carriage 9 to be easily raised and lowered along said pipe.

The collar sections 10 are connected by bolts 14 to the inner bifurcated end 15 of a radial handle 16 by which the pipe 1 may be turned about its axis by reason of the engagement of the rollers 13 with the guide ribs 3 as shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7.

The bolts 14 for connecting the inner end of the handle 16 with the collar sections 10 may be riveted, welded or otherwise permanently secured to said collar sections to extend outwardly therefrom, thus leaving the collar sections free to move vertically along the pipe 1, it being understood that the ribs 3 are engaged in the grooves of the corresponding rollers 13 to establish a spline connection between the collar sections and pipe for turning the latter as the collar sectionsare turned by the angular movement of the handle 16.

The purpose of this angular movement of the pipe 1 about its vertical axis is to facilitate the entrance of its lower serrated end into the strata, the effect of which is to cut the strata and thereby to allow the pipe to sink more readily under its own weight.

This angular movement of the handle 16 and corresponding angular movement of the pipe is effected by one of the attendants standing upon the ground adjacent the pipe and in order that the handle may be .within easy reaching distance of the operator at all times during the sinking of the pipe into the ground suitable means is pro vided for raising and lowering the carriage 9 and handle 16.

For this latter purpose, a collar 17 is rigidly secured by welding or otherwise to the outer periphery of the upper end of the pipe 1, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 6 and is provided with circumferentially spaced pairs of flanges 18, those of each pair being connected by a bolt 19 for receiving and supporting grooved sheave or roller 20 which, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 5, are arranged in outwardly diverging planes substantially radial to the axis of the pipe 1 and also at opposite sides of the vertical plane in which the rollers 13 are located.

A pair of cables 21 are passed over the corresponding rollers 20 and have their inner ends extended downwardly and attached to the bolts 14 between the opposite arms 15 of the handle 6 and corresponding collar sections 10, as shown more clearly in Figures 1, 4, 5 and '7, the outer ends of said cables being extended downwardly to the operator on the ground whereby the carriage 9 may be adjusted vertically at will to keep the handle 6 in convenient reaching distance of the operator as the sinking of the pipe progresses.

That is, when the pipe is first stood on end at the point where the hole is to be sunk, it will be necessary to lower the carriage 9 and its handle 16 within reaching distance of the operator, but as the sinking of the pipe continues, it will be necessary to hold the carriage at the desired level.

An additional relatively heavy pipe or cap section 22 of substantially the same diameter as, but considerably shorter than the pipe section 1, is detachably mounted upon the upper end of the lower pipe section coaxial therewith and upon the lower end thereof is rigidly secured a collar section 23 adapted to rest upon the upper end of the collar section 17 to form a continuation thereof when the pipe sections 1 and 22 are assembled end to end.

The adjacent ends of the collar sections 17 and 23 are provided with inner annular grooves or recesses for receiving the opposite ends of a rubber or equivalent packing ring 24 which, when placed in operative position, covers both of the joints between the pipe sections 1 and 22 and collar sections 17 and 23 to prevent leakage of water and. air from the interior to the exterior of the pipes at the joints and is secured in the groove of the lower collar 17 by one or more screws 24', Figure 6.

The lower ends of the inner and outer walls of the annular groove in the upper collar 24 are beveled or flared to allow the upper end of the packing ring 24 to readily enter and center itself in said groove when the upper pipe section 22 is lowered onto the upper end of the lower pipe section 1.

The collar 17 on the upper end of the pipe 1 is provided at one side with spaced flanges 25 connected by a bolt 26 to which is attached the lower end of an upwardly extending hoisting cable 27, the upper end of the latter being adapted to be connected to a hoisting device, not shown, by which the pipe 1 and parts carried thereby may be brought to an upright position preparatory to sinking the same into the ground, the same hoisting device serving also as a means for withdrawing the pipe 1 and parts carried thereby from the ground, after being sunk thereinto, when or if desired.

The collar 23 on the lower end of the pipe section 22 and the upper end of said pipe section are provided on one and the same side with separate pairs of spaced flanges 28 and 28' connected by bolts 29 and 29' upon which are mounted rollers 30 and 30' for holding the hoisting cable against undue outward swinging movement and thereby serving also to hold the pipe sections 1 and 22 in a vertical position when the cable is tightened by the hoisting apparatus in the act of lifting the entire apparatus to an upright position preparatory to placing the same in the ground.

The plates 28 and 28' are welded or otherwise permanently secured to the periphery of the collar 23 and upper end of the pipe section to project outwardly therefrom in substantially the same plane as the plates 25 on the collar section 1'7 of the lower pipe section 1, as shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 6.

The lower portion of the upper pipe section 22 is provided with diametrically opposite pairs of spaced plates 31 welded or otherwise permanently secured to the periphery thereof and to the collar 23 and connected by transverse bolts 32 upon which are pivoted a pair of diametrically opposite pawls 33 having their lower ends provided with shoulders 33' movable into and out of engagement with the adjacent portions of the lower face of the collar 17 on the upper end of the pipe section 1, as shown more clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 4.

The upper ends of these pawls 33 are extended above their respective pivots 32 and are spring pressed outwardly by coil springs 34 thereby yieldingly holding the lower ends 33' of thepawls in engagement with the underside of the collar 1'7 for holding the pipe sections 1 and 22 end to end in engagement with each other.

A cap plug 35 is welded or otherwise permanently secured to and partly within the upper end of the pipe section 22 and is provided with upwardly projecting spaced flanges 35' connected by a cross bolt 36 to which is secured the lower end of a hoisting cable 3'? having its upper end attached to a hoisting device, not shown, but by which the entire apparatus may be hoisted to an upright position with the lower end of the pipe 1 resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to be formed.

It will benoted, however, that the same cable may be used for hoisting the upper pipe section 22 when its locking pawls 33 are disengaged from the underside of the collar 1'? on the upper end of the pipe section 1 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A weight rod or bar 38 is welded or otherwise secured at its upper end to the cap plug 35 to extend downwardly therefrom through the upper pipe section 22 and into the upper end of the lower pipe section 1 when both pipe sections are coupled together end to end in the manner pre viously explained.

The weight rod 38 is generally cylindrical an of less diameter than the interior diameter of the pipe sections 22 and change so as to form an intervening space through which water and air may readily pass to discharge at the lower end of the pipe section 1 for displacing the soil therefrom through the spaces between the serrations 2 as the sinking of the pipes progresses.

In order that the weight rod 38 may be held centrally within the pipe sections 1 and 22, it is provided with lengthwise peripheral ribs 39 ar- I ranged in uniformly spaced relation circumferentially and adapted to slide along and against the inner face of the pipe section 1 to enable the water and air to be distributed evenly through the intervening space in its passage through both p pes, and also to automatically aline the upper pipe section 22 with the lower pipe section 1 during the coupling operation, aided by the cable 27, Figure 6.

Suitable means is provided for steadying the apparatus in an upright position preparatory to sinking the same into the ground and for this purpose the upper end of the pipe section 22 is provided with diametrically opposite eyes or loops 40 to which a pair of guy wires or cables 41 are connected to'extend downwardly therefrom to within easy reaching distance of attendants upon the ground or to suitable anchorage in the ground where they may be held when the apparatus is brought to the proper upright position by the hoisting cable 37 or 27, the attaching eyes 40 being welded or otherwise permanently secured to the upper end of the pipe section 22 in a plane at right angles to the flanges 28 and 28'.

It will now be understood that when the hoisting cables 37 and 27 are tightened in the act of lifting the apparatus to an upright position, the tightening of the cable 27 aided by the guy ropes 41, greatly assist in holding the apparatus in an upright position against swaying, it being understood that when the apparatus is brought to an upright position with its lower end resting on the ground at the point where the hole'is to be formed it will extend upwardly to a considerable height above the surface of the ground.

Before the pipe sections 22 and 1 are coupled to each other, a well point, of the character set forth in my patent referred to, is attached to the lower end of the weight rod 38 in a manner presently described so that when said pipes are coupled together the well point will be enclosed within the pipe 1 with its lower end just above the lower end of the pipe 1.

The upper end of the well point is provided with an elbow 43 to allow a part of the pressure fluid in the pipe 1 to pass through the well point for loosening and jetting out the soil from within the lower end of said pipe as the latter sinks into the ground and thereby to further accelerate the sinking of the pipe and hole.

During this jetting and sinking operation, the well point serves to prevent the entrance and upward passage of large stones and other obstacles into the pipe and. thereby to maintain free exit of the water and air from the lower ends of the p pe and well point.

The means for attaching the well-point to the lower end of the weight rod 38 consists of a pair of laterally spaced flanges 44 welded or otherwise secured to the lower end of the weight rod 38 and connected by a cross bolt 4.5 to which is pivoted the upper end of a tubular member46 carrying near its lower end a pivotal pin 47 and having its lower end adapted to engage the upper end face of the elbow 43, Figure 6. A link 48 is pivoted to the bolt 47 to extend downwardly therefrom at opposite sides of the tube 46 and elbow 43 and is provided at its lower end with an inwardly projecting flange or shoulder 48' for engaging the lower end of the elbow.

A holding pin 49 is removably secured in suit able apertures in opposite sides of the link 48 to engage the underside of the horizontal portion of the elbow 43 and thereby to cooperate with the shoulder 48 for supporting the well point from the link.

It will be noted that the pivotal pins 45 and 4'7 are disposed at right angles to each other, thereby establishing a flexible or universal joint connection between the weight rod 38 and well point 42 and permitting the well point to automatically assume a central position within the pipe section 1.

The upper pipe section 22 is provided at its upper end with branch. inlet nipples 50 and 50 one of which as 50 may be connected by a conduit 51 to any suitable source of water supply under extra pressure for supplying water to the interior of the pipe sections 22 and 1 when coupled to each other and permitting the water to discharge on the soil at the bottomof the pipe 1 for jetting purposes or rather for displacing the soil and allowing the apparatus to sink more easily into the soil under its own weight.

The other nipple 50 may be connected by a conduit 51' to a source of air supply under extra pressure whereby air may be caused to pas-s through both pipes and to discharge at the lower end of the lower pipe with the water for further displacing the soil from around the lower end of the pipe, it being understood that a part of the water and air will be diverted from the interior of the pipe 1 through the well point in the manner and for the purpose previously described.

The purpose of sinking the well point into the hole formed by the pipe 1 is to enable its upper end or elbow 43 to be connected to a suction pump or equivalent device (not shown) for withdrawing any water which may seep into the hole from the surrounding soil and thereby to free the soil from such water preparatory to excavations for the foundations of super-structures.

It, therefore, follows that the well point, including its suction pipe, must be of somewhat greater length than the depth of the hole so that when the pipe 1 is withdrawn and the lower end of the well point is resting on the bottom of the hole its upper end will project above the surface of the adjacent soil for connection to the suction device.

Operation When it is desired to sink a hole into the ground, the well point 42 will be attached in the manner described to the lower end of the weight the well point and adjacent end of the weight rod rod 38 after which the pipe section 22 with the weight rod will be alined with the other pipe section 1 and then the two pipe sections will be coupled together by means of the jaws 33 to cause to enter the pipe 1, the length of the weight rod and well point being sufficient to allow the lower end of the well point to approach closely to the corresponding end of the pipe 1 when the pipes are coupled to each other, thus completing one of the hole forming units.

This unit is then hoisted to a substantially upright position by means of the cable 37 and a suitable hoisting apparatus, not shown, connected thereto with the lower end of the pipe section 1 resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to be formed, it being understood that during this hoisting operation the upper end of l the hole forming unit will be steadied against swaying by means of the guy ropes or cables 41.

This hoisting of the hole forming unit to an upright position may be aided by the attachment of the cable 2'7 to another or separate hoisting apparatus, not shown, under which conditions the tightening of the cable 27 against the rollers 29 and 29 would assist materially in steadying the upper end of the unit against swaying movement.

The fluid supply pipes 51 and 51' will then be connected to their respective sources of supply, in

' this instance water and/or air, under pressure either from a hydrant or mechanically driven pump, not shown, it being understood that these pipes will be provided with suitable valves under the control of the operator for admitting and shutting off the supply of fluid tothe upper end of the pipe section 22, as previously explained.

When the apparatus is ready for use, one or the other or both of the valves will be opened to allow water and/ or air to pass into the upper end of the pipe section 22 and thence downwardly around the weighted rod 38 and into the lower pipe section 1 to discharge at the lower end thereof between the serrations 2, thereby displacing the soil from the lower end thereof.

Owing to the outward flare of the lower end of the pipe 1, it is evident that the gradual sinking thereof into the ground will enlarge the hole beyond the diameter of the remaining portions of the pipe 1 to reduce friction thereof with the soil and thus allow the apparatus to sink more readily under its own weight.

If the soil should be sufficiently dense or hard to retard the sinking of the apparatus under its own weight, the entire unit may be turned angularly about its axis at intervals by means of the handle 16 and its connections with the carriage 9 which, as previously explained, will be adjusted by means of the cables 21 to the desired level for convenience of operation by the attendant on the ground.

During this inflow of water and air under high pressure, a part of such water and air enters the well point through the elbow 43 and passes downwardly therethrough to discharge at the lower end thereof for liquefying and expelling any soil which may tend to collect in the lower end of the pipe 1 thereby assisting in expelling the soil from within the pipe outwardly between the serrations 2.

The combined jetting of the liquid and air through the lower end of the pipe land well point 42 or through the pipe alone, not only expels the soil from between the serrations 2 on the lower end of the pipe and well point but causes any excess accumulations of the liquefied soil to pass upwardly through the hole around the pipe to discharge from the upper end of the hole over and upon the surface of the ground, thereby automatically removing such accumulations and at the same time facilitating the sinking of the pipe into the ground by reason of reduced friction of 'th pipe therewith.

When the pipe 1 of the hole forming unit has been sunk into the ground to the required depth, the water and air supply through the pipes 51 and 51' is shut off after which the coupling jaws 33 will be released from engagement with the lower end of the collar 1'7'on the pipe 1, thus disconnecting the upper pipe section 22 from the lower pipe section 1.

The upper pipe section 22 and parts carried thereby including the weight rod '38 and well point 42 are then hoisted by means of the cable 37 until the elbow 43 of the well point is brought to a'level some distance above the upper end of the pipe 1 which then extends some distance above the surface of the ground, thus exposing the locking pin 49 which is then removed to disconnect the well point from the link 48 and allow the lower end of said well point to drop back into the bottom of the pipe 1, it being understood that the well point, including the elbow 43, Will'be of greater length than the depth of the hole to cause the elbow toproject above the surface of the ground after the pipe section 1 has been withdrawn to permit connection of said elbow with a suction pipe or pumping system, not shown.

While the upper pipe section is still held in its elevated position after the well point has been dropped a second well point is hoisted by any suitable means and attached to the lower end of the link 48 by the re-insertion of the locking pin 49 under the elbow as 43 of said second well point.

The upper pipe 22 with the second well point attached thereto is then further hoisted and its hoisting means manipulated to bring the second well point into the pipe 1 where it is lowered until its lower end rests upon the upper end or elbow 43 of the first well point which is then resting on the bottom of the hole in which position the lowering ceases and the upper pipe 22 is held in this position pending the upward withdrawal of the lower section 1 in the manner presently described.

The lower pipe 1 is then drawn upwardly from the hole a by means of the cable 2'7 until its upper end engages the lower end of the upper pipe 22 thereby causing the jaws 33 to automatically interlock with the lower edge of the collar 17, as shown in Figure 4.

The pipe sections 1 and 22 being now coupled to each other with both well points within the lower pipe section 1, the first being released and the second attached to the upper pipe section, it is evident that both pipe sections together with the second well point may be hoisted simultaneously clear of the surface of the ground and then lowered to some other location where the holeforming operation is to be repeated leaving the first well point in the hole ready to be connected to the suction device for withdrawing the water from said hole.

It will thus be seen that the same apparatus may be used repeatedly for sinking any number of holes within a limited area without reinstalling the hoisting devices, and that after the first hole is formed and the first well point deposited therein, the apparatus remains in a substantially vertical position for all succeeding operations in that area, thereby greatly reducing the time, labor and cost of equipment necessary for each operation.

If desired, the lower pipe section 1 may be first hoisted to an upright position by means of the cable 2'7 with the lower end of said pipe section resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to be formed after which theupper pipe section 22 with the weight bar 38 and well-point 42 therein may be hoisted to an upright position by the cable 37 and brought into vertical alinement with the lower pipe section 1 aided by the action of the tightened cable 27 upon the sheaves 30 and 30'.

The upper pipe section and parts carried thereby will then be lowered by the cable 37, thereby causing the weight rod 28 to enter the upper end of the pipe 1 until both pipe sections are brought together end to end and coupled in the manner previously described.

During this operation, the ribs 39 on the weight rod 38 will slide against the inner walls of the age, transportation or installation within a relatively small compact space.

It is evident, however, that various changes may be made in the structural details and that the device may be used for sinking holes in the ground for other purposes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upper pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of said sections to each other, a well point having means for connection to a suction device and of greater length than the depth of the hole to be formed, means attached to the upper pipe section for supporting the well-point loosely within the lower pipe section, and means for hoisting the upper pipe section, when released, away from the lower pipe section without disconnecting the well-point therefrom.

2. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upper pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of said sections to each other, a weight-rod secured to and within the upper pipe section and extended into the lower pipe section when the sections are coupled, the major portions of said rod being spaced from the inner walls or the pipe sections, and means for introducing fluid under pressure into the upper pipe section and through said space to discharge at the lower end of the lower pipe section.

3. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upper pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of said sections to each other, a weight-rod secured to and within the upper pipe section and extended into the lower pipe section when the sections are coupled, the major portions of said rod being spaced from the inner walls of the pipe sections, means for introducing fluid under pressure into the upper pipe section and through said space to discharge at the lower end of the lower pipe section, and a well point carried by said rod to extend downwardly therefrom into the lower pipe section.

4. An apparatus for sinking holes into the ground comprising co-axial pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of the pipe sections to each other, a well point within the lower pipe section, releasable means for attaching the well point to the upper pipe section, said apparatus being adapted to be placed in an upright position with its lower end resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to be formed, and means for introducing fluid under extra pressure into the upper pipe section to discharge at the lower end of the lower pipe section.

5. An apparatus for sinking holes into the ground comprising co-axial pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of the pipe sections to each other, a well point within the lower pipe section, releasable means for attaching the well point to the upper pipe section, said apparatus being adapted to be placed in an upright position with its lower end resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to be formed, means for introducing fluid under extra pressure into the upper pipe section to discharge at the lower end of the lower pipe section, and means for hoisting the upper pipe section when released from the lower pipe section for permitting the release of the well point and allowing it to drop back into the lower pipe section.

6. An apparatus for sinking holes into the ground comprising co-axial pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of the pipe sections to each other, a well point within the lower pipe section and of greater length than the depth of the hole to be formed, releasable means for attaching the well point to the upper pipe section, said apparatus being adapted to be placed in an upright position with its lower end resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to be formed, means for introducing fluid under extra pressure into the upper pipe section to discharge at the lower end of the lower pipe section, and means for hoisting the lower pipe section from the ground after the release of the well point to allow the upper end of the well-point to be connected to a suction device.

7. The herein described method of sinking holes in the ground and for withdrawing water from the holes consisting in attaching a well point to a pipe so as to project beyond one end thereof, coupling that end of the pipe to one end or" a second pipe to cause the well point to enter the second pipe, bringing the coupled pipes to an upright position with the lower end of the second pipe on the ground at the place where the hole is to be formed, introducing fluid into the upper pipe to discharge from the lower end of the lower pipe for displacing the soil therefrom and allowing it to sink into the ground under its own weight, uncoupling the pipes, hoisting the upper pipe with the well point attached, detaching the well point and allowing it to drop back into the lower pipe, attaching a second Well point to the upper pipe while the latter is hoisted, and finally raising the lower pipe from the ground so as to enclose the second well point and recoupling the lower pipe to the upper pipe for reuse in sinking other holes.

8. In an apparatus for sinking holes into the ground, a pipe section adapted to be placed in an upright position with its lower end resting on the ground at the point where the hole is to be formed, a second pipe section adapted to be placed in an upright position above the first section and provided with a weight rodiadapted to slide telescopically into the upper end of said first section for alining said sections coaxially, a wellpoint, and releasable means for attaching the W l-min t he ht rod.

9. In an apparatus for sinking holes into the ground, coaxial pipe sections adapted to be placed end to end in an upright position with the lower end of the lower section resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to be sunk, hoisting means including a cable attached to the lower pipe section and extended upwardly along the outside of the upper pipe section, a second hoisting means including a cable attached to the upper pipe section, and means on the upper pipe section for engaging the first cable to assist in holding the pipe sections in axial alinement while the upper pipe section is being raised or lowered.

10. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upper pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of said sections to each other, and a weight-rod secured to and within the upper pipe section and extended into the lower pipe section when the sections are coupled.

11. In an apparatus for sinking holes into the ground, co-axial pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of the pipe sections to each other, a Well point, and releasable means for attaching the well-point to the upper pipe section to cause said well-point to enter the lower pipe section when the pipe sections are coupled.

12. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upper pipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacent ends of said sections to each other, a weight-rod secured to and within the upper pipe section and extended into the lower pipe section when the sections are coupled, a well-point, and releasable means for connecting the well-.point to the weight rod.

THOMASF. MOORE.

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