Method and apparatus for installation of an underground seal beneath a garbage dump

• US 4,950,106 A
• Filed: 04/27/1989
• Issued: 08/21/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hans Richter
• Original Assignee: Hans Richter
• Inventors: Richter, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US07/347,779
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 405/129, 405/128, 405/270, 405/35, 405/53, 405/146, 405/141, 405/138, 405/52
• US Class Current: 405/129.7
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 31/006 Sealing of existing landfills, e.g. using mining techniques
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 41/00 Methods of underground or surface mining E21C45/00 takes precedence; Layouts therefor for peat E21C49/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for installing an underground seal beneath a garbage dump in a strip-like manner. The earth is worked in strips under the garbage dump by the front end of a driving shield. The earth is transported to the rear end of the driving shield, and is compressed at the rear end. A strip-like layer of a waterproof material is inserted, under the protection of a cover of the driving shield. A supply tunnel pipe is constructed and subsequently dismantled, comprised of individual tunnel pipe sections, under the protection of the cover while the driving shield is moved forward. The dismantled tunnel pipe sections of the tunnel pipe are used to erect an additional tunnel pipe which is laterally displaced in a direction toward the next strip-like layer opposite the first one tunnel pipe behind the driving shield. By stabilizing the dismantled pipe sections they need not be dragged along or transported out of the remaining tunnel pipe.

Claims

1. A method for installing an underground seal beneath a garbage dump in a strip-like manner, comprising progressively working the earth in strips under the garbage dump at the front end of a driving shield, transporting the earth to the rear end of the driving shield, compressing the earth at said rear end, inserting a strip-like layer of a waterproof material under the protection of a cover of the driving shield, constructing and subsequently dismantling a supply tunnel pipe comprised of individual tunnel pipe sections under the protection of said cover while the driving shield is moved forward, and using the dismantled tunnel pipe sections of the one tunnel pipe to erect an additional tunnel pipe which is laterally displaced in direction toward the next strip-like layer opposite said one tunnel pipe behind the driving shield.

2. A method according to claim 1, including pulling the driving shield forward on said one tunnel pipe via hydraulic drives while supporting itself on said additional tunnel pipe,

3. A method according to claim 2, including unwinding a foil strip beside said additional tunnel pipe under the protection of the cover by the forward motion of the driving shield, and welding or bonding the foil with foil sheet already laid in a previous step.

4. A method according to claim 3, including inserting said waterproof layer beside said one tunnel pipe and in front of the driving shield, said layer being run over by the base plate of the driving shield.

5. A method according to claim 4, including conveying excess waste material and sealing material to be inserted in the tunnel pipes.

6. A method according to claim 5, including attaching personnel and/or material sluices at the ends of the tunnel pipes.

7. A method according to claim 6, including laying piping on the layer of the waterproof material for drawing off seepage water to a pumping station and treatment station.

8. Apparatus for installing an underground seal beneath a garbage dump comprising a driving shield for progressively working the earth under the garbage dump in adjacent strips including means for transporting the worked earth to the rear end of the driving shield, means for compressing the transported earth at said rear end, a cover for the driving shield, means for laying a strip-like layer of a waterproof material under the protection of the cover prior to disposing worked earth takeover, and a first tunnel pipe comprised of individual pipe sections located beside the driving shield, and means for dismantling the pipe sections progressively and constructing an additional pipe, using the dismantled pipe, laterally displaced from the first tunnel pipe behind the first tunnel pipe.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 including means for pulling the driving shield forward on said one tunnel pipe via hydraulic drives and for supporting itself on said additional tunnel pipe.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including means for unwinding a roll of foil strip beside said additional tunnel pipe under protection of said cover as the driving shield moves forward.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including means for transporting sealing material within said tunnel pipes.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including personnel and/or material sluices at the ends of the tunnel pipes.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including drainage pipes for drawing off seepage water disposed on the layer of waterproof material.

14. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 8-13 in which at least some of the tunnel pipe sections have end profiles extending alternately vertically and diagonally to the pipe axis, in such a way that a bend of the tunnel pipe results when the tunnel pipe sections are turned about their axes.

15. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 8-13, and further including a clearing device for working the earth beside said one tunnel pipe and in front of the next tunnel pipe.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, and further including a clearing device for working the earth beside said one tunnel pipe and in front of the next tunnel pipe, in which said cover is larger than the base plate.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, further including laterally movable shields for preventing a cave-in.

18. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 10-15, further comprising a substantially vertical press located at the rear end of the driving shield above said roll of said foil strip having a folding plate, for backfilling and compressing earth behind the driving shield.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, in which the substantially vertical press has a duplicate spaced wall for guiding drainage filter material to the surface of the unwound foil strip.