IL314253B2 - Array, kit and methods for releasing anchoring materials - Google Patents

Description

ANCHORING MATERIAL EGRESS ARRANGEMENT, KIT, AND METHODS TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD The presently disclosed subject matter generally relates to anchoring material egress arrangements for use with a ground anchoring system, including an anchoring material egress arrangement kit incorporating the anchoring material egress arrangement and methods of producing and operating the anchoring material egress arrangement. BACKGROUNDReferences considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below. • GB2506298A • RU63409U1 • WO1991006713A1 • US10837154B2 • CN114278352A • CN116658222A • KR101488721B• US20150016897A• BE1027304B• KR20130084335A • WO2020007055A• US3869530A • US10767480B Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Ground anchor systems, also referred to as earth anchor systems, are inserted into subterrain volumes formed of geosphere materials for enhancing the structural stability of the subterrain volumes. The subterrain volumes can be present under a terrain surface comprising geosphere materials. In a non-limiting example, such a terrain surface can include a ground, slopes or walls, as those found at construction sites, excavation sites, tunnels, mines, etc. The geosphere materials include natural or artificial materials present in the subterrain volumes, such as in a non-limiting example: sand, silt, clay, mortar, grout, concrete, soil including soft soil, a load bearing stratum, typically found at construction or excavation sites and sites requiring ground stabilisation. Additionally, the geosphere materials can include in a non-limiting example: rock or gravel, which can be found at tunnels or mines, or any other type of geosphere material . The ground anchor systems are stabilized in the subterrain volume by forming a bonded friction surface between the ground anchor system and the geosphere material. Bonded friction surfaces can be formed by an anchoring material inserted into the subterrain volume and permeating therein, thereby forming a bonding volume, also referred to as a bonding bulb. Non-limiting examples of anchoring materials can include grout, mortar, slurry, cement and any material which is initially flowable and thereafter can form a solid for providing the bonded friction surface. In some embodiments, the ground anchor system comprises a tube unit operative for being drilled into the subterrain volume while it is inserted therein. An outer surface of the tube unit or a portion thereof can be threaded so as to be actuated to drill the subterrain volume as the tube unit is inserted into the subterrain volume from the terrain surface. The tube unit is inserted until the tube unit reaches a distal location in the depth of the subterrain volume, relative to the terrain surface. The tube unit has a proximal end, which in its inserted state, is proximal to the terrain surface, and a distal end, which is positioned in its inserted state in proximity to the distal location. The tube unit has a peripheral wall surrounding a lumen. In some embodiments, during drilling or following insertion of the tube unit into the subterrain volume, the anchoring material is injected, such as via a pump, into the lumen from the tube unit proximal end to flow to the tube unit distal end and thereout via a drill bit mounted at the distal end of the tube unit or in proximity thereto. The drill bit includes any release element mountable on the tube unit and comprising at least one main opening for release of the anchoring material from the lumen to an exterior of the tube unit to form a primary bonding volume. The primary bonding volume provides a bonded friction surface between the tube unit and the geosphere material within the subterrain volume. A portion of the tube unit can protrude out of the terrain surface at its proximal end for facilitating the tensioning of the tube unit, generally following fixing the tube unit to the terrain surface via a bearing plate and further by any other fixations means, such as bolts or screws. The tensioning force is transferred to the subterrain volume via the bonded friction surface, resulting in reinforcement of the subterrain volume surrounding the bonded friction surface. Tensioning the tube unit may cause dislodgment of the tube unit out of the subterrain volume in a case in which the tube unit is not sufficiently bonded to the subterrain volume. Accordingly, the tensioning force used for self drilling ground anchors can be prohibitively low, e.g. around 15 Newton, which can limit use of the tube unit in subterrain volumes formed of geosphere materials with low bearing capacities. In accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter, an additional or a plurality of bonded friction surfaces are provided for reinforcing the bonding of the tube unit to the subterrain volume. The additional bonded friction surface can be formed at portions along the outer surface of the tube unit and away from the primary bonded friction surface, which is disposed at the tube unit distal end. The additional bonded friction surface can be provided by an anchoring material egress arrangement used with the ground anchor system and further described herein. The additional bonded friction surface can be provided to prevent dislodgment of the tube unit out of the subterrain volume and/or can be provided in any case in which reinforcing the bonding of the tube unit to the subterrain volume can be beneficial. It is noted that ground anchor systems described herein and used with an anchoring material egress arrangement can be used for any one of self drilled ground anchors, permanent ground anchors, removable ground anchors, injection bore anchors, monopoles and micropiles, as well as for jet grouting, permeation grouting, ground stabilisation systems, basement retention systems and any other process in which an anchoring material is released from the tube unit thereout.

EMBODIMENTS A more specific description is provided in the Detailed Description whilst the following are non-limiting examples of different embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. 1. An anchoring material egress arrangement for use with a ground anchoring system, the ground anchoring system comprising: a tube unit having a peripheral wall surrounding a lumen for receiving an anchoring material at a proximal end of the tube unit so as to allow the anchoring material to flow along the lumen to a distal end of the tube unit, and a drill bit mounted at the distal end of the tube unit and comprising at least one main opening for release of the anchoring material from the lumen via the main opening to the an exterior of the tube unit, the tube unit further comprising at least one additional opening formed in the peripheral wall of the tube unit and providing fluid communication between the lumen and an exterior of the tube unit at a location thereof spaced from the distal end, the egress arrangement comprising at least in operation within the lumen: at least one sealing element receiving member having an aperture allowing flow of the anchoring material from a proximal side of the sealing element receiving member, facing the proximal end to its distal side, facing the distal end; and at least one sealing element insertable into the lumen from the proximal end of the tube unit so as to permanently seal the aperture of the sealing element receiving member to permanently prevent flow of the anchoring material from the proximal side to the distal side and thereby force the anchoring material to egress said additional opening to the exterior of the tube unit. 2. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 1, wherein: the member is mountable at a member receiving portion of the tube unit, and the tube unit comprises at least a first tube and a second tube, each tube having a proximal end portion facing the proximal end of the tube unit and a distal end portion facing the distal end of the tube unit, the distal portion of the first tube being connected to the proximal portion of the second tube. 3. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 2, wherein the member receiving portion is located at any one of the distal end portions of the first tube and the proximal end portion of the second tube. 4. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the tube unit further comprises a coupler for adjoining the first tube to the second tube and having a lumen constituting a part of the tube unit lumen. 5. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 4, wherein said additional opening is formed on the coupler. 6. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 4 or 5, wherein the member is disposed within the coupler lumen or in between the distal end portion of the second tube and the coupler. 7. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 1-6, further comprising the additional opening. 8. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 1-7, wherein the member is shaped as a ring with said aperture. 9. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein the sealing element has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the lumen and equal or larger than a diameter of the aperture. 10. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 1-9, wherein the sealing element has such a shape that when it is inserted in the lumen it has a portion covering the aperture and an area of the member around the aperture at least when viewing from the proximal end. 11. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 10, wherein the aperture has a circular shape and the sealing element is in the form of a ball having a diameter larger than the aperture. 12. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 2 and 3-when dependent on embodiment 2, wherein the at least one member comprises at least a first and a second member and the at least one sealing element comprises at least a first and a second sealing element, the first sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the first member and the second sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the second member. 13. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 12, wherein: the first member is mountable at a first member receiving portion of the tube unit, which is positioned at a greater proximity to the proximal end of the tube unit than a second member receiving portion at which the second member is mountable, and the aperture of the first member is larger than the aperture of the second member. 14. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 13, wherein the first and second sealing element each have a corresponding first and second sealing portion operative to be aligned with and seal the aperture of the corresponding first and second sealing element, the size of the first sealing portion being larger than the size of the second sealing portion. 15. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the member is a separate component of the sealing element and detachable therefrom. 16. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, constituting, prior to said operation, a kit comprising at least said sealing element receiving member and said sealing element. 17. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 16 when dependent on embodiment 4, wherein the kit further comprises said coupler. 18. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 17, wherein said additional opening is formed on the coupler. 19. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 16-18, wherein the kit comprises the additional opening. 20. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 16-19, wherein the member is shaped as a ring with said aperture. 21. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 16-20, wherein the sealing element has such a shape that when it is inserted in the lumen it has a portion covering the aperture and an area of the member around the aperture at least when viewing from the proximal end. 22. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of embodiments 16-21, wherein the aperture has a circular shape and the sealing element is in the form of a ball having a diameter larger than the aperture. 23. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to according to any one of embodiments 16-22, wherein the kit comprises at least a first and a second member and at least a first and a second sealing element, the first sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the first member and the second sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the second member. 24. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 23, wherein: the first member is mountable at a first member receiving portion of the tube unit, which is positioned at a greater proximity to the proximal end of the tube unit than a second member receiving portion at which the second member is mountable, and the aperture of the first member is larger than the aperture of the second member.

. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to embodiment 24, wherein the first and second sealing element each have a corresponding first and second portion covering the aperture of the corresponding first and second sealing element, the size of the first covering portion being larger than the size of the second covering portion. 26. The anchoring material egress arrangement of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the anchoring material egress arrangement is operative for use with a ground anchoring system comprising a self-drilling ground anchor having drilling functionalities for facilitating the drilling of the ground anchoring system simultaneously with inserting the ground anchoring system into a subterrain volume. 27. A method for producing an egress arrangement for a tube unit having a peripheral wall surrounding a lumen for receiving an anchoring material at a proximal end of the tube unit so as to allow the anchoring material to flow along the lumen to a distal end of the tube unit, including: producing a sealing element receiving member having an aperture and being mountable, before the operation of the tube unit, within a predetermined location within the tube between the proximal end and a location spaced from the distal end; producing a sealing element insertable into the lumen from the proximal end of the tube unit; and forming an opening within the tube unit at a location between the proximal end of the tube unit and said predetermined location of the member. 28. The method of embodiment 27, wherein the tube unit comprises at least a first tube and a second tube, each tube having a proximal end portion facing the proximal end of the tube unit and a distal end portion facing the distal end of the tube unit, the distal portion of the first tube being connected to the proximal portion of the second tube. 29. The method of embodiment 28, further comprising providing a coupler for adjoining the first tube to the second tube and having a lumen constituting a part of the tube unit lumen. 30. The method of embodiment 29, wherein said forming said opening is performed on the coupler. 31. The method of embodiment 29 or 30, further comprising mounting, before the operation of the tube unit, the member within the coupler lumen or in between the distal end of the second tube and the coupler. 32. The method according to any one of embodiments 27-31, wherein said producing said member comprises forming the member as a ring with said aperture. 33. The method according to any one of embodiments 27-32, wherein said producing said sealing element comprises forming the sealing element with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the lumen and equal or larger than a diameter of the aperture. 34. The method according to any one of embodiments 27-33, wherein said producing said sealing element comprises forming the sealing element with a shape that when it is inserted in the lumen it has a portion covering the aperture and an area of the member around the aperture at least when viewing from the proximal end. 35. The method according to embodiment 34, wherein said producing the member comprises forming the aperture with a circular shape and said producing the sealing element is in the form of a ball having a diameter larger than the aperture. 36. The method according to any one of embodiments 27-35, wherein producing said member comprises producing at least a first and a second member and producing said sealing element comprises producing at least a first and a second sealing element, the first sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the first member and the second sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the second member. 37. The method according to embodiment 36 further comprising mounting the first member at a first member receiving portion of the tube unit, which is positioned at a greater proximity to the proximal end of the tube unit than a second member receiving portion at which the second member is mountable, and forming the aperture of the first member to be larger than the aperture of the second member. 38. The method according to embodiment 37, wherein said producing the first and the second sealing element comprises producing a corresponding first and a second sealing portion covering the aperture of the corresponding first and the second sealing element, wherein the size of the first covering portion is formed to be larger than the size of the second covering portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic, perspective view of a ground anchoring system used with an anchoring material egress arrangement, configured in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter; Figs. 2A and 2B illustrate the ground anchoring system and the anchoring material egress arrangement of Fig. 1, shown in a first and a second operational mode, configured in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter; Fig. 3A illustrates a schematic, exploded view of a ground anchoring system used with an anchoring material egress arrangement, configured in accordance with another example of the presently disclosed subject matter; Fig. 3B illustrates an assembled view of the ground anchoring system and the anchoring material egress arrangement of Fig. 2A; and Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic, perspective view of a ground anchoring system used with an anchoring material egress arrangement, configured in accordance with yet another example of the presently disclosed subject matter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSReference is made to Figs. 1-2B which illustrate a ground anchoring system 100 used with an anchoring material egress arrangement 102 configured in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter.

In Figs. 1-2B the ground anchoring system 100 and the anchoring material egress arrangement 102 are shown inserted at a terrain surface 104 into a subterrain volume 106 formed of geosphere materials. The ground anchoring system 100 comprises a tube unit 110 having a longitudinal axis X. The tube unit can include a single tube, e.g. as shown in Figs. 1-2B, for example. In some embodiments, the tube unit can include a plurality of segments at least comprising a first tube and a second tubed attached to each other in any suitable manner, such as via couplers, fixing elements and the like, e.g. as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B for example. Any one of the tubes in the tube unit can be formed in any suitable shape, such as with a circular cross-section as shown in Figs. 1A-3B. It is appreciated that the tube unit may be formed in alternative shapes, such as with an oval-like cross section, and/or with a rectangular or triangular cross section, in a non-limiting example. In the present example, as shown in Fig. 1, the tube unit 110 is formed with a peripheral wall 112 surrounding a lumen 114. The lumen 114 is operable for receiving an anchoring material 116 (Fig. 2A) at a proximal end 120 of the tube unit 110 so as to allow the anchoring material 1to flow in the lumen 114 along the longitudinal axis X to a distal end 124 of the tube unit 110. A seen in Fig. 2A, in the first operational mode the primary anchoring material flows out of the main opening 130 to form a primary bonding volume. A drill bit 128 is mounted at the distal end 124. The drill bit 128 is formed with at least one main opening 130 for release of the anchoring material 116 from the lumen 114, via the main opening 130, to an exterior location of the tube unit 110 to form the primary bonding volume, schematically shown as a bulb 134. The tube unit can comprise a single additional opening or a plurality of additional openings formed in the peripheral wall of the tube unit. An additional volume of anchoring material can be injected into the lumen and egress the additional opening thereout so as to form an additional bonded friction surface. The additional opening can be located along the peripheral wall between the proximal end and a location at a distance from the distal end. The location at a distance from the distal end can be defined as an effective distance from the distal end that is spaced away from an area on the tube unit that is adjacent to the primary bonding volume. In some embodiments, the egress of the additional anchoring material from the additional opening can be performed simultaneously with the egress of the primary anchoring material from the main opening.

In some embodiments, the egress of the additional anchoring material from the additional opening can be performed subsequently to the egress of the primary anchoring material from the main opening and in a controlled manner, which is facilitated by the anchoring material egress arrangement. The anchoring material egress arrangement is operative for selectively sealing a sealing location in between the additional opening and the main opening, so as to initially allow the anchoring material to flow to the main opening. Thereafter the anchoring material egress arrangement is operative to direct the anchoring material to egress out of the additional opening. In some embodiments, the selective sealing can include permanent sealing of the sealing location. Accordingly, the anchoring material egress arrangement is operative to permanently prevent flow of the anchoring material out of the main opening and to direct the anchoring material to egress out of the additional opening. The permanent sealing prevents inadvertent flow of the anchoring material to the main opening. The anchoring material egress arrangement comprises at least one sealing element receiving member. The member is formed with an aperture, which can allow the flow of the anchoring material therethrough from a proximal side of the member, facing the proximal end, to its distal side, facing the distal end, at a first operational mode when the primary anchoring material is injected to flow out of the main opening. In a second operational mode the aperture is operative to be permanently sealed by a sealing element. The aperture can include a throughgoing bore or any selectively sealable passageway. The sealing element is operative to permanently seal the aperture for permanently preventing flow of the anchoring material to the main opening and force the anchoring material to egress said additional opening to the exterior of the tube unit. The member can be positioned at a member receiving portion within the lumen and can be formed as an auxiliary component to the tube unit. The member formed as the auxiliary component can be installed in the tube unit prior to inserting the tube unit in the subterrain volume. Alternatively, the member can be inserted into the lumen following inserting the tube unit in the subterrain volume via the proximal end of the tube unit and even following injection of the primary anchoring material to the main opening. In some embodiments, the member can be formed as an integral part of the tube unit, such as by forming a portion of the lumen with an internal rim circumscribing the aperture.

The member receiving portion can be located along the lumen in between the additional opening and the effective distance from the distal end. The member can comprise any suitable shape corresponding to the shape and dimension of the lumen. In an embodiment in which the lumen cross section is circular, the member may be formed as a ring or a cylinder, for example, having an outer diameter corresponding to a diameter of the lumen and an aperture defined by a smaller, inner diameter. The sealing element can be formed with a body operative, when disposed in the lumen, to block the flow of the anchoring material therethrough. In some embodiments, the sealing element can be formed to be insertable into the lumen in an insertion orientation parallel to the longitudinal axis from the proximal end of the tube unit to the distal end, such as during the second operational mode. In such an embodiment, the sealing element can be formed with a diameter or circumference smaller than the diameter of the lumen and equal or larger than the inner diameter defining the aperture. The sealing element can comprise any suitable shape corresponding to the shape and dimension of the lumen and/or of the aperture. In some embodiments, the sealing member is shaped in a formed such that when it is inserted in the lumen it has a sealing portion covering the aperture and a surrounding area of the member around the aperture, at least when viewing from the proximal end. Therefore, the sealing member can be in direct contact with the surrounding area when the sealing element is positioned to seal the aperture. Furthermore, at least the sealing portion can be positioned above the surrounding area, namely at a greater proximity to the proximal end than the surrounding area of the member. Accordingly, the sealing element can apply pressure on the surrounding area in the insertion orientation. This applied pressure can be caused by gravitational forces. Furthermore, additional pressure can be applied during the second operational mode in the insertion orientation by the sealing element on the surrounding area. The additional pressure is due to pressure applied by the injected additional anchoring material on the sealing element, which in turn applies further pressure on the surrounding area. Accordingly, positioning the sealing element in direct contact and above the member, facilitates tight and permanent sealing of the aperture. It is noted that the sealing element is configured to apply pressure on the member in a tube unit positioned in the subterrain volume in a vertical orientation or angularly thereto. The sealing element and the member form together a one-way, irreversible valve for permanently preventing flow of the anchoring material through the aperture to the distal end.

It is noted that in some embodiments, the sealing portion covering the surrounding area can be positioned below the surrounding area at greater proximity to the distal end than the surrounding area. The aperture is enclosed by a wall circumscribing the longitudinal axis and having a wall circumference. The sealing element can be formed with a first portion having a dimension slightly larger than the wall circumference, causing the first portion to protrude from the proximal side of the member towards the proximal end. A second portion of the sealing element can be formed with a dimension equal to the wall circumference, causing the second portion to protrude from the distal side of the member towards the distal end. The sealing element can be formed with an inclined curvilinear or linear surface relative to the longitudinal axis, thereby applying pressure on the aperture wall in an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the sealing element is formed as a disk or any other form, dimensioned to cover the aperture. In some embodiments, the sealing element is formed as a cylinder, a box, a cork, a sphere or any other form at least partially insertable into the aperture. In some embodiments, the aperture has a circular shape and the sealing element is in the form of a ball having a diameter larger than the aperture. In some embodiments, the sealing element can be formed as a valve, such as a one or more way valve. The member can be statically positioned at the member receiving portion and remain at its position at least all during the operation of injecting the primary and additional anchoring material into the lumen. Additionally, as described herein, the sealing portion covers the aperture and the surrounding area of the member, when the sealing element is positioned at the member. Thereby, when the sealing element is inserted into the lumen from the proximal end, its descent in the lumen is automatically blocked by the surrounding area without further intervention. Accordingly, the insertion of the sealing element into the lumen can be performed freely, namely without guided positioning of the sealing element at the member. In some embodiments, the sealing element and the member are each a distinctive, detachable component. In some embodiments, the sealing element can be integrally formed with the member so as to constitute a single component. In some embodiments, the sealing element can be formed to be predisposed in the lumen prior to the first operational mode yet in a position in which the sealing element does not block the flow of the anchoring material therethrough and thereafter may be activated to seal the passageway of the anchoring material during the second operational mode. For example, in such an embodiment, the sealing element can be operative to change its position in the lumen such that during the first operational mode the sealing element is positioned partially within the lumen leaving a passageway for the anchoring material to the main opening. At the second operational mode the sealing element can be operative to change its position so as to block the flow of the anchoring material therethrough. In some embodiments, the sealing element can be operative to be sized so as to allow its insertion into the lumen at a sealing element receiving portion within the lumen and thereafter to change its form, such as by expansion thereof, so as to seal the lumen and prevent the flow of the anchoring material through the sealing element receiving portion. The primary anchoring material may have the same material properties as the additional anchoring material. Alternatively, the primary anchoring material and the additional anchoring material can have different material properties, such that each primary and additional anchoring material comprises a different substance or the same substance with a different concentration, namely a solid to liquid ratio. In a non-limiting example, the primary anchoring material can have a material concentration at least twofold greater that the material concentration of the additional anchoring material. In the present example, as seen in Figs. 1-2B, the tube unit 110 comprises an additional opening 140 positioned between the proximal end 120 and the effective distance from the distal end 124 which is spaced away from an area on the tube unit 110 that is adjacent to the primary bonding volume 134. The anchoring material egress arrangement 102 comprises a sealing element receiving member 150 having an aperture 152 allowing flow of the anchoring material 116 from a proximal side of the sealing element receiving member 150, facing the proximal end 120 to a distal side, facing the distal end 124. A sealing element 160 formed to be insertable into the lumen 114 from the proximal end 120 is operative to permanently seal the aperture 152 of the member 150. In the second operational mode as shown in Fig. 2B, the sealing element 160 is inserted into the lumen 114 from the proximal end 120 and is disposed over or is inserted within the aperture 152. Thereafter, additional anchoring material 116 (Fig. 2A), is injected into the lumen 114 from the proximal end 120. The additional anchoring material 116 is permanently prevented from flowing from the proximal side of the member 150 to the distal side thereof. The anchoring material 116 is forced to egress the additional opening 140 to an exterior location of the tube unit 110 to form an additional bonding volume, schematically shown as a bulb 158 in Fig. 2B. In some embodiments, the tube unit comprises at least a first tube and a second tube. Each tube has a proximal end portion facing the proximal end of the tube unit and a distal end portion facing the distal end of the tube unit, the distal portion of the first tube being connected to the proximal portion of the second tube. The first and second tubes can be mutually attached in any suitable manner such as via couplers, fixing elements and the like. In some embodiments, a coupler can adjoin the first tube to the second tube. The coupler has a lumen constituting a part of the tube unit lumen and may be formed with a smooth outer surface or with a partially or entirely threaded outer surface so as to be actuated to drill the subterrain volume. The additional opening can be formed in any one or more of the first and second tube and the coupler. The member receiving portion can be located at a location which is at greater proximity to the distal end of the tube unit than the additional opening. In embodiments where the additional opening is formed in the coupler, the member can be disposed within the coupler lumen or in between the distal end portion of the second tube and the coupler. In some embodiments, the member receiving portion can be located at any one of the distal end portions of the first tube, the proximal end portion of the second tube and the coupler. In the present example, as seen in Figs. 3A and 3B, the tube unit 110 comprises a first tube 200 adjoined to a second tube 202 via a coupler 206. Each first and second tube has a proximal end portion 210 proximal to the proximal end 120 of the tube unit 110 and a distal end portion 2proximal to the distal end 124 of the tube unit 110. The additional opening 140 is formed in the coupler 206. The member 150 is formed in the shape of a ring with its aperture 152 having a diameter which is smaller that a diameter of the lumen 114 of the first and second tubes 200 and 202. The member 150 is shown to be mounted on an edge of the second tube 202 at the proximal end portion 210 thereof and can be attached thereto by welding, an adhesive, or any other fixing element. The sealing element 160 is shaped as a ball with a diameter larger than the diameter of the member aperture 152. Therefore, upon inserting the sealing element 160 into the member aperture 152, the aperture 152 is snuggly seated in the aperture as it applied pressure on the member in the insertion orientation from the proximal end 120 to the distal end 124 parallel to longitudinal axis X, as shown in Fig. 3B.

Additionally, the sealing member 160 is shaped in a formed such that when it is inserted in the lumen 114 it has a sealing portion 230 covering the aperture 152 and a surrounding area 2of the member 150 around the aperture 152, at least when viewing from the proximal end 120. Therefore, the sealing member 160 is in direct contact with the surrounding area 234 when the sealing element 160 is positioned to seal the aperture 152, as shown in the enlargement window in Fig. 3B. Furthermore, at least the sealing portion 230 is positioned above the surrounding area 234, namely at a greater proximity to the proximal end 120 than the surrounding area 234 of the member 150. Accordingly, the sealing element 160 applies pressure on the surrounding area 234 in the insertion orientation. This applied pressure is caused by gravitational forces. Furthermore, additional pressure is applied during the second operational mode in the insertion orientation by the sealing element 160 on the surrounding area 234. The additional pressure is due to pressure applied by the injected additional anchoring material on the sealing element 160, which in turn applies the additional pressure on the surrounding area 234. Accordingly, positioning the sealing element 160 in direct contact and above the member 150, facilitates tight and permanent sealing of the aperture 152. The aperture 152 is enclosed by a wall 240 circumscribing the longitudinal axis X and having a wall circumference. The sealing element 160 can be formed with a first portion 2having a dimension larger than the wall circumference, allowing the first portion 242 to protrude from the proximal side of the member 152 towards the proximal end 120. In the example shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, the sealing element 120 is formed as a ball with an orthodrome shown in dashed lines 241 which has a circumference larger than the circumference of the wall 240. A second portion 244 of the sealing element 160 is formed with a dimension equal to the wall circumference causing the second portion 242 to protrude from the distal side of the member 1towards the distal end 124. In the example shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, a small circle of the ball is shown in dashed lines 246 and has a circumference equal to the wall circumference. The sealing element 160 is formed with an inclined curvilinear surface relative to the longitudinal axis X, shown in the present example as the spherical surface of the ball, thereby applying pressure on the aperture wall 240 in an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis X. The additional anchoring material injected into the tube unit 110 from the proximal end 120 is forced to egress from the additional opening 140 in the coupler 206 to form the additional bonding volume 158, shown in Fig. 2B.

In some embodiments, the anchoring material egress arrangement comprises a plurality of members and corresponding sealing elements and the tube unit can be formed with a plurality of additional openings so as to form a plurality of additional bonding volumes along the tube unit. The size of the aperture of the plurality of members and the size of the sealing portion of the plurality of sealing elements increases as the member and corresponding sealing element is positioned at greater proximity to the proximal end. This size consideration facilitates successive mounting of a distally positionable sealing element by allowing it to pass through a proximally positioned aperture, until it reaches its corresponding distally positioned aperture for sealing thereof. The plurality of members can include at least a first and a second member and the plurality of sealing elements can include at least a first and a second sealing element. The first member is mountable at a first member receiving portion of the tube unit, which is positioned at a greater proximity to the proximal end of the tube unit than a second member receiving portion, at which the second member is mountable. The aperture of the first member is larger than the aperture of the second member so as to allow the second sealing element to pass through the first member aperture towards the second member aperture for sealing thereof. As seen in the present example in Fig. 4, the anchoring material egress arrangement 1comprises at least a first member 250 having a first aperture 251, a second member 252 having a second aperture 253 and a third member 254 having a third aperture 255 and corresponding first sealing element 260, second sealing element 262 and third sealing element 264. The first member 250 is mountable at a first member receiving portion 270 of the tube unit 110, which is positioned at a greater proximity to the proximal end 120 of the tube unit 110 than a second member receiving portion 272 at which the second member 252 is mountable. The first aperture 251 is larger than the second aperture 253 so as to allow the second sealing element 262 to pass through the first aperture 251 towards the second aperture 253 for sealing thereof. The tube unit 110 comprising a single tube or a plurality of tubes adjoined via couplers, is formed with a first additional opening 280 formed in the tube 110 in proximity to the proximal end 120, a second additional opening 2and a third additional opening 284 formed in the tube 110 in proximity to the distal end 124. At the second operational mode, following the first operational mode including injection of the primary anchoring material, the third sealing element 264 is inserted into the lumen 114. The third sealing element 264 permanently seals the third aperture 255. Thereafter, the additional anchoring material is injected into the lumen 114 and is forced to egress the third additional opening 284 forming an additional bonding volume. At anytime thereafter, the second sealing element 262 is inserted into the lumen 114 so as to permanently seal the second aperture 253. The additional anchoring material is then injected into the lumen 114 and is forced to egress the second additional opening 282 forming an additional bonding volume. The same process can be performed with the first sealing element 260. In some embodiments, the anchoring material egress arrangement can constitute, prior to the first operational mode, a kit comprising: the sealing element receiving member and the sealing element. The kit can be used with a ground anchoring system comprising at least the tube unit and the drill bit. The kit further comprises at least one coupler, such as when the tube unit comprises a plurality of tubes adjoined together by the coupler. The additional opening can be formed at any location along the tube unit in between the member receiving portion of the tube unit and the distal end of the tube unit. For example, the additional opening can be formed on the coupler. As seen in the present example shown in Fig. 3A in which parts of a kit is shown, the kit comprises: the sealing element receiving member 150 and the sealing element 160. The kit can be used with the ground anchoring system 100 comprising at least the tube unit 110 and the drill bit 128. The kit further comprises at least one coupler 206, such as when the tube unit 110 comprises a plurality of tubes adjoined together by the coupler 206. The additional opening 140 can be formed at any location along the tube unit 110 in between the member receiving portion of the tube unit 110 and the proximal end 120 of the tube unit 110. For example, the additional opening 140 can be formed on the coupler 206. The kit can comprise the features described in reference to Figs. 1-3B. The anchoring material egress arrangement can be produced by any suitable method including at least the following steps performed in any sequence, including: producing a sealing element receiving member having an aperture and being mountable, before the operation of the tube unit, within a predetermined location at the member receiving portion within the tube between the proximal end and a location spaced from the distal end. The method includes producing the sealing element which is insertable into the lumen from the proximal end of the tube unit, and the method incudes forming an opening constituting the additional opening within the tube unit at a location between the proximal end of the tube unit and the member receiving portion.

In embodiments in which the tube unit comprises a plurality of tubes adjoined together by the coupler, the additional opening can be formed on the coupler or at any location along the tube unit in between the member receiving portion of the tube unit and the distal end of the tube unit. As seen in the present example shown any one of Figs. 1-4, the anchoring material egress arrangement 102 can be produced by any suitable method including at least the following steps performed in any sequence, including: producing the sealing element receiving member 1having the aperture 152 and being mountable, before the operation of the tube unit 110, within a predetermined location at the member receiving portion between the proximal end 120 and a location spaced from the distal end 124. The method further includes producing the sealing element 160, which is insertable into the lumen 114 from the proximal end 120 of the tube unit 110, and the method includes forming an opening constituting the additional opening 140 within the tube unit 110 at a location between the proximal end 120 and the member receiving portion. In embodiments in which the tube unit 110 comprises a plurality of tubes adjoined together by the coupler 206, the additional opening 140 can be formed on the coupler 206 or at any location along the tube unit 110 in between the member receiving portion of the tube unit 110 and the distal end 124 of the tube unit 110. While various inventive examples have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means, materials, or structure for performing the function, obtaining the results, or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive examples described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be for example only and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive examples described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing examples are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims, equivalents thereto, and any claims supported by the present disclosure, inventive examples may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive examples of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, composition, kit, method, and step, described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, compositions, kits, methods, and steps, if such features, systems, articles, materials, compositions, kits, methods, and steps, are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure. Examples disclosed herein may also be combined with one or more features, functionality, or materials, as well as complete systems, devices or methods, to yield yet other examples and inventions. Moreover, some examples, may be distinguishable from the prior art by specifically lacking one and/or another feature disclosed in the particular prior art reference(s); i.e., claims to some examples may be distinguishable from the prior art by including one or more negative limitations. Also, as noted, various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, examples may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative examples. Any and all references to publications or other documents, including but not limited to, patents, patent applications, articles, webpages, books, etc., presented anywhere in the present application, are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Moreover, all definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and ordinary meanings of the defined terms. The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean "at least one." The phrase "and/or," as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and/or" should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and/or B", when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising" can refer, in one example, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another example, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another example, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and/or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and/or" shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only one of" or "exactly one of," or, when used in the claims, "consisting of," will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term "or" as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. "one or the other but not both") when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as "either," "one of," "only one of," or "exactly one of." "Consisting essentially of," when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase "at least one," in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B," or, equivalently "at least one of A and/or B") can refer, in one example, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another example, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another example, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc. In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving," "holding," "composed of," and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

Although various example embodiments have been described in detail herein, however, in view of the present disclosure many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from the concepts of present disclosure. Accordingly, any such modifications are intended to be included in the scope of this disclosure. Likewise, while the disclosure herein contains many specific combinations, these specific combinations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure or of any of the appended claims, but are provided as a description pertinent to one or more specific embodiments that may fall within the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. Any described features from the various embodiments disclosed may be employed in combination with other disclosed embodiments. In addition, other embodiments of the present disclosure may also be devised which lie within the scopes of the disclosure and the appended claims. This disclosure provides various examples, embodiments, and features which, unless expressly stated or which would be mutually exclusive, should be understood to be combinable with other examples, embodiments, or features described herein.

Claims (38)

1. 314253/2 03021434111- What is claimed is: 1. An anchoring material egress arrangement for use with a ground anchoring system, the ground anchoring system comprising: a tube unit having a peripheral wall surrounding a lumen for receiving an anchoring material at a proximal end of the tube unit so as to allow the anchoring material to flow along the lumen to a distal end of the tube unit, and a drill bit mounted at the distal end of the tube unit and comprising at least one main opening for release of the anchoring material from the lumen via the main opening to the an exterior of the tube unit, the tube unit further comprising at least one additional opening formed in the peripheral wall of the tube unit and providing fluid communication between the lumen and an exterior of the tube unit at a location thereof spaced from the distal end, the egress arrangement comprising at least in operation within the lumen: at least one sealing element receiving member having an aperture allowing flow of the anchoring material from a proximal side of the sealing element receiving member, facing the proximal end to its distal side, facing the distal end, the member being statically positioned at a member receiving portion of the tube unit at least during said operation; and at least one sealing element insertable into the lumen from the proximal end of the tube unit so as to permanently seal the aperture of the sealing element receiving member to permanently prevent flow of the anchoring material from the proximal side to the distal side and thereby force the anchoring material to egress said additional opening to the exterior of the tube unit.

2. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tube unit comprises at least a first tube and a second tube, each tube having a proximal end portion facing the proximal end of the tube unit and a distal end portion facing the distal end of the tube unit, the distal portion of the first tube being connected to the proximal portion of the second tube. 314253/2 03021434111-

3. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the member receiving portion is located at any one of the distal end portions of the first tube and the proximal end portion of the second tube.

4. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the tube unit further comprises a coupler for adjoining the first tube to the second tube and having a lumen constituting a part of the tube unit lumen.

5. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said additional opening is formed on the coupler.

6. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the member is disposed within the coupler lumen or in between the distal end portion of the second tube and the coupler.

7. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 1-6, further comprising the additional opening.

8. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the member is shaped as a ring with said aperture.

9. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the sealing element has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the lumen and equal or larger than a diameter of the aperture.

10. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the sealing element has such a shape that when it is inserted in the lumen it has a portion covering the aperture and an area of the member around the aperture at least when viewing from the proximal end. 314253/2 03021434111-

11. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the aperture has a circular shape and the sealing element is in the form of a ball having a diameter larger than the aperture.

12. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 2 and 3-11 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the at least one member comprises at least a first and a second member and the at least one sealing element comprises at least a first and a second sealing element, the first sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the first member and the second sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the second member.

13. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 12, wherein: the first member is mountable at a first member receiving portion of the tube unit, which is positioned at a greater proximity to the proximal end of the tube unit than a second member receiving portion at which the second member is mountable, and the aperture of the first member is larger than the aperture of the second member.

14. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the first and second sealing element each have a corresponding first and second sealing portion operative to be aligned with and seal the aperture of the corresponding first and second sealing element, the size of the first sealing portion being larger than the size of the second sealing portion.

15. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the member is a separate component of the sealing element and detachable therefrom.

16. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, constituting, prior to said operation, a kit comprising at least said sealing element receiving member and said sealing element. 314253/2 03021434111-

17. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 16 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the kit further comprises said coupler.

18. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 17, wherein said additional opening is formed on the coupler.

19. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 16-18, wherein the kit comprises the additional opening.

20. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 16-19, wherein the member is shaped as a ring with said aperture.

21. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 16-20, wherein the sealing element has such a shape that when it is inserted in the lumen it has a portion covering the aperture and an area of the member around the aperture at least when viewing from the proximal end.

22. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to any one of claims 16-21, wherein the aperture has a circular shape and the sealing element is in the form of a ball having a diameter larger than the aperture.

23. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to according to any one of claims 16-22, wherein the kit comprises at least a first and a second member and at least a first and a second sealing element, the first sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the first member and the second sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the second member.

24. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 23, wherein: 314253/2 03021434111- the first member is mountable at a first member receiving portion of the tube unit, which is positioned at a greater proximity to the proximal end of the tube unit than a second member receiving portion at which the second member is mountable, and the aperture of the first member is larger than the aperture of the second member.

25. The anchoring material egress arrangement according to claim 24, wherein the first and second sealing element each have a corresponding first and second portion covering the aperture of the corresponding first and second sealing element, the size of the first covering portion being larger than the size of the second covering portion.

26. The anchoring material egress arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anchoring material egress arrangement is operative for use with a ground anchoring system comprising a self-drilling ground anchor having drilling functionalities for facilitating the drilling of the ground anchoring system simultaneously with inserting the ground anchoring system into a subterrain volume.

27. A method for producing an egress arrangement for a tube unit having a peripheral wall surrounding a lumen for receiving an anchoring material at a proximal end of the tube unit so as to allow the anchoring material to flow along the lumen to a distal end of the tube unit, including: producing a sealing element receiving member having an aperture and being statically mountable, before the operation of the tube unit, within a predetermined location within the tube between the proximal end and a location spaced from the distal end and being operative to remain statically positioned at the predetermined location at least during the operation of the tube unit; producing a sealing element insertable into the lumen from the proximal end of the tube unit; and forming an opening within the tube unit at a location between the proximal end of the tube unit and said predetermined location of the member. 314253/2 03021434111-

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the tube unit comprises at least a first tube and a second tube, each tube having a proximal end portion facing the proximal end of the tube unit and a distal end portion facing the distal end of the tube unit, the distal portion of the first tube being connected to the proximal portion of the second tube.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing a coupler for adjoining the first tube to the second tube and having a lumen constituting a part of the tube unit lumen.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said forming said opening is performed on the coupler.

31. The method of claim 29 or 30, further comprising mounting, before the operation of the tube unit, the member within the coupler lumen or in between the distal end of the second tube and the coupler.

32. The method according to any one of claims 27-31, wherein said producing said member comprises forming the member as a ring with said aperture.

33. The method according to any one of claims 27-32, wherein said producing said sealing element comprises forming the sealing element with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the lumen and equal or larger than a diameter of the aperture.

34. The method according to any one of claims 27-33, wherein said producing said sealing element comprises forming the sealing element with a shape that when it is inserted in the lumen it has a portion covering the aperture and an area of the member around the aperture at least when viewing from the proximal end.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein said producing the member comprises forming the aperture with a circular shape and said producing the sealing element is in the form of a ball having a diameter larger than the aperture. 314253/2 03021434111-

36. The method according to any one of claims 27-35, wherein producing said member comprises producing at least a first and a second member and producing said sealing element comprises producing at least a first and a second sealing element, the first sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the first member and the second sealing element operative to permanently seal the aperture of the second member.

37. The method according to claim 36 further comprising mounting the first member at a first member receiving portion of the tube unit, which is positioned at a greater proximity to the proximal end of the tube unit than a second member receiving portion at which the second member is mountable, and forming the aperture of the first member to be larger than the aperture of the second member.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein said producing the first and the second sealing element comprises producing a corresponding first and a second sealing portion covering the aperture of the corresponding first and the second sealing element, wherein the size of the first covering portion is formed to be larger than the size of the second covering portion.