the Trident unit

The Trident unit/method involves deploying, and activating, three Phoenix™ Machines together in a triangular array, rather than having a single machine working alone in isolation.

The machines are structurally fixed in a triangular configuration to become a single composite tool, such that this machine can he mounted on, and supported by, a single deployment vehicle so as to facilitate their simultaneous insertion, and subsequent withdrawal from, the ground.

The mere fact that there are three independently actuatable pokers in the ground at the same time, and in close proximity, opens a whole new prospect in ground improvement technology. This is because each of the three neighbouring machines can be made to perform their functions independently, leading to many combinations of forces/influences being available to the design engineer.

Each of the three machines is independently controlled so that both the vibrations and the water flow through each unit is at the command of the operator. Therefore, the ground within the triangle can be subjected to vibrations emitted from each individual poker, which of course, could be changed in frequency and/or phase relationship with the others. While at the same time a variety of hydraulic gradients can be created between the pokers so as to cause fluid flow and Seepage Forces in the ground around them.

The possibilities of garnering the benefits of handshaking between complementary energy sources which are working close enough to one another to produce synergetic effects, are simply uncharted.

Again, there is a significantly increased potential for environmental enhancement of soils by virtue of having three tools at depth within the ground at the same time. Water or liquid could be either pumped into, or sucked out of, the ground by each poker either in tune with its partners, or in a cooperative manner such as to create a flow in any lateral direction between them. In comparison, having one pumped well working alone in isolation might be viewed as somewhat impotent.

By judicious sequencing of the Seepage Force directions between the pokers as indicated in the "water forces" sketch, it is likely that the the soil within the compass of the three separate Phoenix™ Machines can be made into an very dense column which could replace the "stone column" approach to foundation support, and here, without the need to import crushed rock.

The physical/mechanical operational procedures involved in deploying the Trident hardware, of inserting the composite machine in the ground, and then improving the ground while it is being withdrawn, remain the same as for the single Phoenix™ Machines.

This idea of Hodge has been granted proprietory status by virtue of US Patent 8,419,316.