Method and apparatus for covering landfill

• US 6,558,079 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EPI Environmental Technologies (Nevada) Inc.
• Original Assignee: EPI Environmental Technologies (Nevada) Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Ian, Kozak, Randall Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JONG SUK
• Application Number:
  US09/543,061
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 405/129.1, 405/129.15, 405/129.2, 405/129.35, 405/129.45, 405/129.75, 405/129.9, 405/129.95, 405/270, 405/271, 405/264, 405/176, 405/179, 405/129.25, 111/199, 111/200, 111/900, 172/328, 156/71, 156/544
• US Class Current: 405/129.15
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/0287 Devices for laying-out or removing ground coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 1/004 Covering of dumping sites
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/30 Landfill technologies aiming to mitigate methane emissions

Abstract

A method and apparatus is used for covering the exposed workface of a landfill with a film. The apparatus includes a compactor rotatably mounted on a frame which is hitched to a tractor. A film, spray and ballast deployer is mounted on the end of the frame for spraying the landfill, deploying the film onto the landfill, and deploying the ballast onto the film. The compactor includes a roller which compacts the waste prior to spraying the landfill and deploying the film and serves as a wheel for the frame. Hydraulics are provided to raise and lower the deployer. In operation, the assembly is pulled by the tractor causing the compactor to compact the waste just prior to the deployer laying the film on the workface and the ballast being deposited onto the film. Additionally, the apparatus is capable of casing the overlapping layers of laid film to adhere to the ballast in between thereby forming a seal between the adjoining layers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for covering landfill comprising:

a compactor to pack the landfill;

a sprayer to apply a solution to the landfill;

a film deployer disposed adjacent said compactor and sprayer to deploy film on the landfill; and

a ballast deployer disposed adjacent said film deployer to deploy ballast on the film.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solution includes a pesticide.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solution includes a degradation accelerator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solution includes a degradation inhibitor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said compactor has a smooth outer surface.

6. An apparatus to be towed by a vehicle to deploy a covering on a surface comprising:

a frame adapted to be connected to the vehicle;

at least one compaction roller disposed on said frame to facilitate travel over the surface; and

at least one spray device to apply a solution to said surface following compaction;

a deployment assembly mounted to said frame to dispense the covering onto the surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said compaction roller compacts material on a previously laid covering to adhere the previously laid covering to a new covering.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said solution includes a pesticide.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said compaction roller has a smooth outer surface.

10. An apparatus to apply a film on an exposed workface of a landfill comprising:

a towing vehicle;

a structural frame with a hitch to connect to said vehicle;

at least one cylindrical roller disposed within said structural frame to function both as a wheel and as a compactor;

a sprayer to apply a solution to the landfill workface;

a deployment machine to dispense the film onto the workface and to deposit ballast upon the dispensed film; and

a hydraulically actuated member on said frame to adjust the position of said deployment machine relative to the surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cylindrical roller has a substantially smooth outer surface.

12. A method for covering a surface of a landfill comprising:

compacting the landfill;

spraying a solution upon the compacted landfill;

deploying a covering onto the landfill; and

deploying a material onto the covering.

13. The method of claim 12 further including

compacting the material deployed onto a previously laid covering; and

overlapping a new covering onto the compacted material and previously laid covering.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the solution is a pesticide.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first step comprises attaching a prime mover to a computer.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

overlapping new covering onto the compacted material and previously laid covering;

deploying additional material onto the new covering; and

compacting the material, the previously laid covering, the new covering, and the additional material.

17. A method for covering a surface of a landfill comprising:

pulling a compaction roller over the surface of said landfill to compress and flatten the surface;

spraying a solution upon the surface;

mounting a film deployment assembly behind the compaction roller;

depositing a first layer of film on top of the surface from said film deployment assembly;

depositing a ballast material on top of the first layer of film;

overlapping a second layer of film with said film deployment assembly on top of a portion of said first layer of film;

the compaction roller compacting the ballast deposited on top of the portion of said first layer of film prior to the second layer being deposited thereupon.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein differing ballast materials are deposited across the width of each of said first and said second layers of the film.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the compaction roller has a substantially smooth outer surface.

20. A method for covering a surface of a landfill comprising:

spraying a solution on the surface;

depositing a first layer of film on top of the surface with a film deployment assembly;

depositing a first amount of ballast material on top of the first layer of film;

pulling a compaction roller over said film and said first amount of ballast material to compress and flatten the surface, the film, and the first amount of ballast;

overlapping a second layer of film with said film deployment assembly on top of a portion of said first layer of film;

depositing a second amount of ballast material on top of the second layer of film; and

the compaction roller compacting said first and second amounts of ballast material and said first and second layers of film upon said surface concurrently.

21. An apparatus for covering landfill comprising:

a compactor to compact the landfill;

a film deployer located aft of said compactor to deploy a film on the compacted landfill;

a ballast deployer disposed adjacent said film deployer to deploy ballast on said film; and

a sprayer to apply a solution to the landfill, said sprayer located between said compactor and said film deployer.

22. An apparatus for covering landfill comprising:

a compactor to compact the landfill;

a film deployer located aft of said compactor to deploy a film on the compacted landfill;

a ballast deployer disposed adjacent said film deployer to deploy ballast on said film; and

a sprayer to apply a solution to the landfill, said sprayer located forward of said compactor.

23. An apparatus for covering landfill comprising:

a compactor to pack the landfill;

a film deployer disposed adjacent said compactor to deploy film on the landfill; and

a ballast deployer disposed adjacent said film deployer to deploy ballast on the film; and

said compactor is disposed on a frame adapted for attachment to a prime mover and said film and ballast deployers being disposed on said frame.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said compactor includes a roller rotatably mounted on said frame such that said film and ballast deployers are positioned aft of said roller.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said roller serves as a wheel on said frame.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said roller includes a smooth outer surface that acts as a wheel on said frame.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 further including an actuator to raise and lower said deployers with respect to the landfill.

28. An apparatus to be towed by a vehicle to deploy a rolled covering on a surface comprising:

a frame adapted to be connected to the vehicle;

at least one compaction roller disposed on said frame to facilitate travel over the surface; and

a deployment assembly mounted to said frame aft of said compaction roller to dispense the covering onto the surface, said frame including a mount for the rolled covering adapted to allow the covering to unroll onto the surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said deployment assembly deposits material onto the covering.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of soil, clay, gravel, sand, pebbles, asphalt, rocks, and wood chips.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said compaction roller compacts material on a previously laid covering to adhere the previously laid covering to a new covering.

32. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said deployment assembly is mounted on said frame by a quick release connection.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said quick release connection includes a mounting bracket having apertures for receiving a removable pin.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said connection is a shear pin.

35. The apparatus of claim 28 further including a member pivotally attached to said frame and connected to said deployment assembly and frame to adjust the position of said deployment assembly relative to the surface and at least one hydraulic cylinder to pivot said member.

36. An apparatus to apply a film cover on an exposed workface of a landfill comprising:

a towing vehicle;

a structural frame with a hitch to connect to said vehicle;

at least one cylindrical roller disposed within said structural frame to function both as a wheel and as a compactor;

a deployment machine to dispense the film onto the workface and to deposit ballast upon the dispensed film, the deployment machine located aft of the cylindrical roller; and

a hydraulically actuated member on said frame to adjust the position of said deployment machine relative to the surface.

37. A method for covering a surface of a landfill comprising:

deploying a prime mover across the surface, the prime mover adapted for pulling a compactor;

compacting the landfill with the compactor;

deploying a covering onto the landfill; and

deploying a material onto the covering.

38. The method of claim 37 further including

compacting the material deployed onto a previously laid covering; and

overlapping a new covering onto the compacted material and previously laid covering.

39. The method of claim 37 further including mounting the compactor and a film and ballast deployer on a frame to compact the landfill and to deploy the film and the material, the compactor and film and ballast deployer mounted aft of the compactor.

40. The method of claim 39 further including pulling the frame with the prime mover.

41. The method of claim 40 further including passing over the landfill in a serpentine manner.

42. A method for covering a surface of a landfill comprising:

pulling a compaction roller over the surface of said landfill to compress and flatten the surface;

mounting a film deployment assembly behind the compaction roller;

depositing a first layer of film on top of the surface from said film deployment assembly;

depositing a ballast material on top of the first layer of film;

overlapping a second layer of film with said film deployment assembly on top of a portion of said first layer of film;

the compaction roller compacting the ballast deposited on top of the portion of said first layer of film prior to the second layer being deposited thereupon.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein differing ballast materials are deposited across the width of each of said first and said second layers of the film.

44. A method for covering a surface of a landfill comprising:

depositing a first layer of film on top of the surface with a film deployment assembly;

depositing a first amount of ballast material on top of the first layer of film;

pulling a compaction roller over said film and said first amount of ballast material to compress and flatten the surface, the film, and the first amount of ballast;

overlapping a second layer of film with said film deployment assembly on top of a portion of said first layer of film;

depositing a second amount of ballast material on top of the second layer of film; and

the compaction roller compacting said first and second amounts of ballast material and said first and second layers of film upon said surface concurrently.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein differing ballast materials are deposited across the width of each of said first and said second layers of the film.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the first ballast material is soil.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the second ballast material is gravel.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein the second ballast material is sand.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the first ballast material is a clay based composition.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the second ballast material is gravel.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the second ballast material is sand.

52. An apparatus to be towed by a vehicle to deploy a covering on a surface comprising:

a frame adapted to be connected to the vehicle;

at least one smooth compaction roller disposed on said frame to facilitate travel over the surface; and

a deployment assembly mounted to said frame aft of said compaction roller to dispense a rolled covering onto the surface, said frame including a mount for the rolled covering adapted to allow the covering to unroll onto the surface.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the rolled covering is a plastic film.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the rolled covering is a textile fabric.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the rolled covering is a elastomeric sheet.