Method and apparatus for consolidating earth strata

• US 20040156685A1
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dirk Albertus Bodegom
• Original Assignee: Dirk Albertus Bodegom
• Inventors: Bodegom, Dirk Albertus
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/271
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 3/10 by watering, draining, de-aerating or blasting, e.g. by installing sand or wick drains E02D3/11 takes precedence; soil-penetrating vibrators with auxiliary watering E02D3/054; drainage of soil in general E02B11/00

Abstract

Method for consolidating an earth stratum situated in a subgrade by withdrawing water that is present in there from it, comprising the stepwise arrangement from the surface of the soil, at some depth, of vertical draining means, such as drainage strips, in the earth stratum, the arrangement of horizontal drainage means, such as drainage pipes, in the upper area of the earth stratum and connecting them to the vertical drainage means for water transfer between them, the arrangement of an air sealing layer directly over the horizontal drainage means and the closing of the surface of the soil, as well as the connection of the horizontal drainage means to a pump for discharge of the water.

Claims

1. A method for consolidating an earth stratum situated in a subgrade by withdrawing water from the subgrade comprising the steps of:

a) placing a plurality of generally vertically positioned drainage strips in the earth stratum;

b) connecting the drainage strips with a generally horizontally extended drainage means to provide water transfer between them;

c) forming an air sealing layer directly over the generally horizontal drainage means and the closing of the surface of the soil;

d) connecting the generally horizontal drainage means to a pump; and

e) discharging fluid from the generally horizontal drainage means using the pump.

2. The method of claim 1, in which a trench is made from the ground surface and the vertical drainage strips extend downwardly from the bottom of the trench.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the trench is formed with a plough supported by a mobile carriage device and a vertical drainage strips are positioned during use by means of said device and the horizontal drainage means each time being arranged after that until the next vertical drainage strip has to be arranged.

4. The method of claim 3, in which simultaneously with the arrangement of the horizontal drainage means or immediately after that, the air sealing layer is being arranged by means of the device.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the air sealing layer is arranged by removing soil material from the trench walls and arranging it on the horizontal drainage means.

6. The method of claim 4, in which the air sealing layer is arranged by arranging a sealing foil layer on the horizontal drainage means.

7. The method of claim 4, in which the air sealing layer is arranged by arranging a sealing layer of plastic material on the horizontal drainage means.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the plastic material is bentonite.

9. The method of claim 5, 6 or 7, in which the air sealing layer is arranged by means of the device.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the trench is finally closed off with soil material up to approximately the original surface.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the vertical drainage strips are taken from a supply and after each strip has been arranged are separated by cutting through at a level above the trench bottom.

12. The method of claim 10, in which the cutting through takes place in the device.

21. The method of claim 1, performed on a subaqueous soil.

13. A soil consolidation apparatus for consolidating a selected earth stratum, comprising:

a) movable carriage;

b) means for making a trench from the ground surface down to at least the upper side of the earth stratum to be consolidated;

c) means for the stepwise supplying of vertical drainage strips from a supply and driving each said strip into the earth stratum;

d) means for supplying a horizontal drainage means in the trench bottom that is in fluid communication with the strips.

14. The soil consolidation apparatus of claim 13, in which the device is further provided with means for cutting through the drainage ribbon at a selected level above the trench bottom.

15. The soil consolidation apparatus of claim 14, in which the means for cutting through includes a movable blade and an anvil for said blade.

16. The soil consolidation apparatus of claim 15 in which the blade has been arranged on a first arm of a lever rotatable about a horizontal center line, a second arm of said lever being connected to a hydraulic cylinder.

17. The soil consolidation apparatus of claim 13 in which the trench-making means includes a plough.

18. The soil consolidation apparatus of claim 17, in which at its rear side the plough is provided with means for removing soil material from the trench walls and for pressing it downward.

19. The soil consolidation apparatus of claim 17 in which at its rear side the plough is provided with means for supplying the horizontal drainage means, from a supply roll.

20. The soil consolidation apparatus of claim 17 furthermore provided with means for pivoting the plough about a horizontal axis of rotation, between a trench-making active position and an upwardly tilted moving position.

22. A method for consolidating an earth stratum situated in a subgrade by withdrawing water from the subgrade, comprising the steps of:

a) drainage strips in the earth stratum;

b) connecting the drainage strips with a horizontal drainage placed in the upper area of the earth stratum;

c) establishing water transfer between the drainage strips and pipe;

d) forming an air sealing layer directly over the horizontal drainage pipe to close the surface of the soil;

e) withdrawing water with a connection of the horizontal drainage pipe to a pump that discharges water and air.

23. The method according to claim 22, in which a trench is made from the ground surface and the vertical drainage pipe is arranged from the bottom of the trench.

24. The method of claim 23, in which the trench is formed with a plough supported by a mobile carriage device and a vertical drainage strips are positioned during use by means of said device and the horizontal drainage means each time being arranged after that until the next vertical drainage strip has to be arranged.

25. The method of claim 24, in which simultaneously with the arrangement of the horizontal drainage means or immediately after that, the air sealing layer is being arranged by means of the device.

26. The method of claim 25, in which the air sealing layer is arranged by removing soil material from the trench walls and placing it on the horizontal drainage pipe.

27. The method of claim 25, in which the air sealing layer is arranged by placing a sealing foil layer on the horizontal rainage pipe.

28. The method according to claim 25, in which the air sealing layer is arranged by arranging a sealing layer of plastic material on the horizontal drainage means.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the plastic material is bentonite.

30. The method of claim 26, 27 or 28, in which the air sealing layer is arranged by means of the device.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein the trench is closed off with soil material up to approximately the original earth'"'"'s surface.

32. The method of claim 23 in which the drainage strips are taken from a supply and, after having been arranged, are separated by cutting through at a level above the trench bottom.

33. The method of claim 32 in which the cutting through takes place in the device.

43. The method of claim 22 performed on a subaqueous soil.

34. A soil consolidation apparatus for consolidating a selected earth stratum comprising:

a) an earth working device provided with a propulsion system for moving the device in a horizontal direction over a ground surface;

b) the device having means for making a trench from the ground surface down to at least the upper side of the selected earth stratum to be consolidated,

c) the device having means for the stepwise supplying of a drainage ribbons from a supply and for driving each ribbon into the selected earth stratum; and

d) means for supplying a horizontal drainage in the trench bottom.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, in which the device is further provided with means for cutting trough the drainage ribbon at a level above the trench bottom.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, in which the means for cutting-through comprise a movable blade and an anvil for said blade.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, in which the blade has been arranged on an arm of a lever rotatable about a horizontal center line, the other arm of said lever being connected to a vertically active hydraulic cylinder, preferably accommodated in the trench-making means.

38. The apparatus according to one of claims 34-37 in which the trench-making means form a plough.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, in which at its rear side the plough is provided with means for removing soil material from the trench walls and for pressing it downward.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, in which the plough is provided with means for making an incision in the trench walls just below the line of engagement of the trench walls with the means for removing soil material from the trench walls.

41. The apparatus according to claim 38, 39, or 40 in which at its rear side the plough is provided with means for supplying the horizontal drainage means, particularly from a supply roll, in the trench.

42. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 38-41, furthermore provided with means for pivoting the plough about a horizontal axis of rotation, between a trench-making active position and an upwardly tilted moving position.