Method and apparatus for installation of leachate containment system

• US 5,118,230 A
• Filed: 12/27/1990
• Issued: 06/02/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SMA Technology Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Donald R. Justice
• Inventors: Justice, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CORBIN, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/634,686
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 405/36, 405/50, 405/115, 405/128, 405/129, 405/176, 405/267
• US Class Current: 405/129.75
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 17/13 Foundation slots or slits; Implements for making these slots or slits
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 19/18 by making use of sealing aprons, e.g. diaphragms made from bituminous or clay materialconcrete diaphragms E02D5/18; sealing or joints for hydraulic engineering work E02B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/06 with digging elements mounted on an endless chain E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging elements mounted on an endless chain per se E02F3/08

Abstract

A trenching tool which digs a trench to depths of six to thirty feet. A liner carrier case is conveyed to the trench bottom from which is withdrawn an impermeable barrier liner; extended from the bottom to the top of the excavated trench. The liner casing is positioned at the trench bottom and forms a bottom seal for a vertical liner. The impermeable liner is deployed simultaneously with the trenching operation. The trenching, liner and bottom seal positioning of the liner casing, and backfilling, is all part of a coordinated operation.

Claims

1. A trenching mechanism comprising:

a trenching tool for digging a trench,

drive means for conveying and powering said trenching tool,

a soil retainment device mounted on said trenching tool for maintaining a trench dug by said trenching tool, and

feed means for releasing a single impermeable liner from a liner carrying case into a vertically oriented position within a trench dug by said trenching tool with said liner carrying case being retained at a bottom of the trench.

2. A trenching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feed means includes means for supplying the impermeable liner to the trench in a folded condition.

3. A trenching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feed means includes a slotted tube located within said soil retainment device.

4. A trenching mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein a slotted edge catch is located at an upper portion of said soil retainment device.

5. A trenching mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said slotted edge catch extends laterally from said soil retainment device.

6. An apparatus for establishing a containment system, said apparatus comprising:

a trenching tool mechanism including a trenching tool for digging a trench,

drive means for conveying and powering said trenching tool,

a soil retainment device mounted on said trenching tool for maintaining a trench dug by said trenching tool, and

feed means for releasing an impermeable liner into a vertically oriented position within a trench dug by said trenching tool, and

a liner carrying case containing a single, folded impermeable barrier liner,

said feed means conveying said liner carrying case from on said trenching tool mechanism to below ground at a bottom of the trench and positioning said barrier liner to extend into a vertically extending position with said liner extending from above ground to said liner carrying case located at the bottom of the trench.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said feed means includes a slotted tube located within said soil retainment device.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a slotted edge catch is located at an upper portion of said soil retainment device.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said liner is secured to said liner carrying case at one end and secured to a bar at an opposite end, said slotted edge catch engaging said bar and said liner vertically between said slotted catch bar and said slotted tube.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said slotted tube includes a portion extending vertically from above ground and includes a portion extending horizontally during digging of a trench by said trenching tool.

11. A trenching mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein said liner carrying case includes a bottom wall thicker than its side walls and a top wall, said liner carrying case anchoring said liner carrying case at a bottom of a trench.

12. A trenching mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein said top wall is slotted.

13. In combination, an impermeable liner and an elongated carrying case adapted to be buried around a leachate containment site, said carrying case including a bottom wall, side walls extending from said bottom wall, a top wall extending from said side walls and including a slot, said impermeable liner being located within said carrying case and preventing migration of leachate from a leachate containment site, a terminal portion of said liner being secured to said bottom wall, an opposite terminal portion of said liner being secured to a bar located outside of said carrying case, said bar having a width greater than a width of said slot, and said bar extending longitudinally along said opposite terminal portion of said liner.

14. A liner and carrying case as claimed in claim 13, wherein said carrying case is located on a supply reel.

15. A leachate containment system comprising:

a contaminated site,

a liner carrying case located at a bottom of a trench surrounding the contaminated site,

a vertically extending impermeable liner extending from said liner carrying case to above ground level,

a length of horizontally extending perforated pipe buried below the contaminated site and on a contaminated side of said liner and separated from said liner,

vertically extending headers connected to said perforated pipe and extending to above ground level, and

pump means for pumping out water collected in said perforated pipe so as to lower a water table below the contaminated site and draw water from a clean side of said liner towards the contaminated side of said liner to ensure against escape of contaminated water from the contaminated side to the clean side of said liner.

16. A leachate containment system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said liner extends to a depth greater than six feet.