Containment wall installation process and apparatus

• US 5,701,692 A
• Filed: 07/03/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Groundwater Control, Inc. (NTS Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Groundwater Control, Inc. (NTS Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Woodall, Weldon
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/675,060
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 37/142.5, 37/353, 37/DIG. 18, 61/72.6, 61/72.4, 404/100, 404/102, 404/113, 404/114, 405/174, 405/175, 405/176, 405/177, 405/182, 405/180, 405/183, 405/128
• US Class Current: 37/353
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/12 with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches

Abstract

A method of installing a groundwater containment system is provided utilizing a powered trenching apparatus. The apparatus includes a boom at an end thereof; a trenching tool coupled to the boom; and frame structure mounted with respect to the boom. The frame structure is separated into at least first and second adjacent compartments. Each compartment has an inlet opening and an exit opening. The method includes advancing the trenching apparatus to create a single trench with the frame structure being disposed within the trench. Filter material is fed through the inlet opening of the second compartment. A first, impermeable wall panel is inserted through the inlet opening of the first compartment. While the trenching apparatus is advancing, at least a portion of the first wall panel passes through the exit opening of the first compartment and at least some of the filter material passes through the exit opening of the second compartment in such a manner that the wall panel portion is contained within the trench between a wall of the trench and the filter material exiting the second compartment. Additional wall panels are inserted in to the frame structure and joined together to form a containment wall.

Claims

1. A method for installing a groundwater containment system utilizing a powered trenching apparatus, the apparatus having a main body defining front and rear ends;

a boom coupled to the rear end thereof;

a trenching tool coupled to the boom for displacing soil to define a trench;

frame structure mounted with respect to the boom rearwardly of the trenching tool, said frame structure including opposing sidewalls defining a space therebetween, said space being separated into at least first and second adjacent compartments, each said compartment having an inlet opening and an exit opening, the method comprising the steps of;

advancing the trenching apparatus along the ground such that the trenching tool creates a single trench, with said frame structure advancing within the trench as the trench is being excavated,

feeding filter material into said second compartment through the inlet opening thereof,

inserting at least one impermeable wall panel into said first compartment through the inlet opening thereof,

wherein during the advancing step, said at least one wall panel passes through the exit opening of the first compartment and at least some of the filter material passes through the exit opening of the second compartment in such a manner that said at least one wall panel is disposed within the trench between a wall of the trench and filter material exiting said second compartment.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising inserting a second, impermeable wall panel through the inlet opening of the first compartment and into said first compartment and coupling said second wall panel to said one wall panel to form a containment wall structure.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising feeding a perforated pipe into said second compartment, the perforated pipe exiting the exit opening of the second compartment together with the filter material in such a manner that the filter material covers the perforated pipe near a bottom of the trench adjacent the containment wall structure.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein a hollow tube is disposed within the second compartment, said tube being constructed and arranged and to permit the perforated pipe to pass therethrough and be fed generally along a bottom of the trench.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said wall panels are inserted generally vertically into the inlet opening of the first compartment.

6. A trenching system for installing a groundwater containment system, the trenching system comprising:

a powered trenching apparatus having a main body defining front ad rear ends, a boom mounted at the rear end and a trenching tool coupled to the boom for displacing soil to define a trench, and

frame structure mounted to said boom generally rearwardly of said trenching tool, said frame structure including opposing sidewalls constructed and arranged to be disposed substantially within the trench, said sidewalls defining a space therebetween, said space being separated into at least first and second adjacent compartments, each said compartment having an inlet opening and an exit opening, said second compartment being constructed and arranged to receive filter material therein, said first compartment being constructed and arranged to receive an impermeable wall panel therein,

said frame structure being constructed and arranged such that upon advancement of said apparatus, filter material and a wall panel may pass through said respective exit openings generally simultaneously such that a wall panel exiting said first compartment is disposed within the trench between a wall of the trench and filter material exiting said second compartment.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a hollow tube extending generally between said inlet opening and said exit opening of said second compartment, said tube having first and second opened ends.

8. The system according to claim 7, in combination with filter material in said second compartment, a perforated pipe in said tube and a wall panel in said first compartment, wherein said frame structure is constructed and arranged so that as said apparatus is advanced, at least a portion of said perforated pipe together with the filter material pass though the exit opening in the second compartment while said wall panel passes through the exit opening of said first compartment with the filter material (1) covering the perforated pipe near a bottom of the trench and (2) stably containing the wall panel within the trench.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said second compartment includes a deflector for guiding the filter material around said perforated pipe.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein said first compartment includes sealing structure at the exit opening of said first compartment, said sealing structure being constructed and arranged to permit a wall panel to pass through said first compartment exit opening while preventing excavation soils from entering said first compartment exit opening.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said first compartment includes sealing structure at said first compartment exit opening, said sealing structure being constructed and arranged to permit said wall panel to pass through said first compartment exit opening while preventing excavation soils from entering said first compartment exit opening.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said sealing structure includes first and second seal members disposed at said first compartment exit opening, said seal members being in spaced relation, with said wall panel being oriented within the first compartment so as to pass between said seal members, each seal member being pneumatically operated such that inflation and deflation of said seal members controls a force of contact of the seal members with said wall panel.

13. The system according to claim 6, wherein said frame structure includes reinforcing structure constructed and arranged to reinforce the sidewalls against ground pressure.

14. The system according to claim 6, wherein said trenching apparatus includes connecting structure for removably coupling said frame structure to said boom.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said connecting structure includes a post removably coupled to the boom and a spacer coupled between said post and said frame structure, said spacer being constructed and arranged so as to ensure that the frame structure is disposed generally vertically upright within the trench.

16. The system according to claim 6, wherein said frame structure includes a hopper for guiding filter material into the second compartment.

17. The system according to claim 6, wherein said second compartment is constructed and arranged to permit a selected amount of filter material to pass through said second compartment exit opening.

18. The system according to claim 8, wherein said wall panel is composed of high density polyethylene, is generally rectangular and has a thickness in the range of 60 to 100 mils.

19. The system according to claim 8, wherein said filter material is gravel.

20. The system according to claim 8, wherein said perforated pipe is composed of high density polyethylene.