Foamed glass composite material and a method for using the same

• US 9,382,671 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Earthstone International LLC (Iron Out Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Ungerleider, W. Gene Ramsey
• Inventors: Ungerleider, Andrew, Ramsey, W Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary
• Application Number:
  US14/301,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20140294501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6, 404/10, 404/72, 244/114.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/025 using decelerating or arresting beds
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 19/08 by foaming
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 11/007 Foam glass, e.g. obtained by incorporating a blowing agent and heating
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 14/00 Glass compositions containing a non-glass component, e.g. compositions containing fibres, filaments, whiskers, platelets, or the like, dispersed in a glass matrix devitrified glass ceramics C03C10/00
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/087 containing calcium oxide, e.g. common sheet or container glass
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/24 porous, e.g. foamed glass
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/00612 as one or more layers of a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/0075 for road construction
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/04 Portland cements
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 38/08 by adding porous substances
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/00 Machines, tools or auxiliary devices for preparing or distributing paving materials, for working the placed materials, or for forming, consolidating, or finishing the paving surface stabilisation E01C21/00; apparatus specially adapted for reconditioning or repairing paving E01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 3/003 characterised by material or composition used, e.g. waste or recycled material E01C3/006, E01C3/04 and E01C3/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 7/142 Mixtures or their components, e.g. aggregate E01C7/147, E01C7/355 take precedence; different layers of different composition E01C7/14
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 9/007 Vehicle decelerating or arresting surfacings or surface arrangements, e.g. arrester beds road surface configuration or surface arrangements for enforcing reduced speed, e.g. speed-control humps E01F9/529; Escape roads, e.g. for steep descents, for sharp bends
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/126 Pitfall barriers, causing the vehicle to face a step-like obstruction

Abstract

A method of slowing an aircraft overrunning a runway, including paving an area immediately beyond the end of a runway with foamed glass bodies to define a bed, covering the bed with a layer of cementitious material to define a composite bed, and crushing at least a portion of the composite bed with an oncoming aircraft, wherein crushing the at least a portion of the composite bed removes kinetic energy from the oncoming aircraft to slow the oncoming aircraft. The composite bed is generally resistant to fire.

Claims

1. A method of slowing an aircraft overrunning a runway, comprising:

a) paving an area with foamed glass bodies to define a bed;

b) covering the bed with a layer of cementitious material to define a composite bed; and

c) crushing at least a portion of the composite bed with an oncoming aircraft;

wherein the composite bed is at least 85 percent foamed glass bodies; and

wherein the composite bed has a cementitious surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the composite bed is at least about 90 volume percent foamed glass bodies.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the foamed glass bodies have a closed cell structure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the foamed glass bodies have a crush strength of between about 50 PSI and about 100 PSI.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the foamed glass bodies have a crush strength of at least about 100 PSI, and wherein the foamed glass bodies have densities of between about 100 kg/m³ and 180 kg/m³.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the foamed glass bodies have compositions in the range around 70 weight percent SiO₂, around 13 weight percent Na₂O and around 10 weight percent CaO with the remainder being other metal oxides.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising d) before step a), mixing the foamed glass bodies with a cementitious material to define a paving mixture.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the bed is comprised entirely of foamed glass bodies.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the bed includes a cementitious matrix material in which the foamed glass bodies are distributed.

10. A method of slowing an aircraft overrunning a runway, comprising:

a) establishing an aircraft arrestor bed adjacent a runway, wherein the aircraft arrestor bed is formed from a plurality of foamed glass aggregate bodies covered by a paving layer;

b) moving an aircraft over the aircraft arrestor bed; and

c) crushing at least a portion of the arrestor bed with the aircraft; and

d) slowing the oncoming aircraft;

wherein the arrestor bed is has a crushing failure mode.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the arrestor bed is made up of at least about 90 volume percent foamed glass aggregate bodies.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the foamed glass aggregate bodies have an interconnected open porosity.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the respective foamed glass bodies have a crush strength of between about 50 PSI and about 100 PSI.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the respective foamed glass bodies have a crush strength of at least about 100 PSI, and wherein the respective foamed glass bodies have densities of between about 100 kg/m³ and 180 kg/m³.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the paving layer is a cementitious surface.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the arrestor bed has a contoured surface.