Method for forming a textured surface on a geomembrane

• US 5,728,424 A
• Filed: 04/10/1996
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GSE Environmental, LLC (GSE Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GSE Lining Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Walling, Walter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lusignan, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARKER, FREDERICK JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/631,848
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 427/180, 427/197, 427/202, 427/316, 427/365
• US Class Current: 427/180
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/04 using rollers or endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/64 the filler influencing the surface characteristics of the material, e.g. by concentrating near the surface or by incorporating in the surface by force

Abstract

A system for forming a textured surface on a geomembrane including a support surface, a first set of rollers for passing the geomembrane onto the support surface such that a surface of the geomembrane faces upwardly, a heater positioned in proximity to the surface of the geomembrane so as to heat the geomembrane to a desired elevated temperature, a particle distributer positioned above the geomembrane so as to pass solid particles onto the surface of the geomembrane in a desired particle distribution. The particles can have a desired size and geometry as they are passed onto the surface of the geomembrane. A second set of rollers is positioned adjacent to the port surface so as to receive the geomembrane after the particles have been distributed thereon. The heater includes a preheater positioned on one side of the particle distributor and a postheater positioned on an opposite side of the particle distributor. The preheater serves to elevate a temperature of the surface of the geomembrane prior to receiving particles thereon. The postheater serves to bond the distributed particles onto the surface of the geomembrane.

Claims

1. A method of forming a textured surface on a geomembrane comprising the steps of:

passing the geomembrane over a first support surface;

heating a surface of the geomembrane;

distributing granules onto the heated surface of the geomembrane as the geomembrane passes over said first support surface;

bonding said granules onto the heated surface of the geomembrane, said step of bonding comprising the steps of;

heating the surface of the geomembrane and said granules after said granules are distributed; and

passing the heated surface and granules between rollers, said rollers exerting a compressive force onto the surface of the geomembrane such that said granules adhere onto said surface of the geomembrane with a weld factor of less than one; and

passing the geomembrane from the first support surface.

2. The method of claim 1, said step of passing the geomembrane from the support surface comprising the steps of:

passing the geomembrane over a second support surface;

heating another surface of the geomembrane;

distributing granules onto the heated another surface of the geomembrane;

bonding said granules onto the heated another surface of the geomembrane; and

passing the geomembrane from said second support surface.

3. The method of claim 2, said step of bonding comprising the step of:

heating said another surface of the geomembrane after the granules are distributed.

4. The method of claim 3, said step of bonding further comprising the step of:

passing the heated another surface and granules between rollers, said rollers exerting a compressive force onto the heated another surface of the geomembrane.

5. The method of claim 2, said step of bonding comprising the step of:

passing the heated another surface and granules between rollers, said rollers exerting a compressive force onto said another surface of the geomembrane.

6. The method of claim 1, said granules being solid particles during said step of distributing.

7. A method of forming a textured surface on a geomembrane comprising the steps of:

passing the geomembrane over a flat support surface;

heating a surface of the geomembrane;

distributing granules over the heated surface of the geomembrane as the geomembrane passes over said support surface;

bonding said granules onto the heated surface of the geomembrane, said step of heating and said step of bonding occurring as the geomembrane passes over said flat support surface; and

passing the geomembrane from the support surface.