Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-04
2004-10-05
Picard, Leo (Department: 2125)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
C700S097000, C700S108000, C702S158000, C175S071000, C405S232000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06801814
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to grouting, and more particularly to the field of electronic gathering, monitoring, analyzing, managing, and utilizing of grouting information in order to facilitate and control drilling, testing, installation of grouting materials, and other grouting operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Grouting is practiced in the construction industry for many purposes. Grouting techniques have been successfully used in many applications including, for example: displacement/densification of soils; stabilization of rock formations; void filling; re-leveling of settled slabs and footings; containment of surface and subsurface water flow; sinkhole remediation and inhibiting further sinkhole development; dam and levee construction; landfill barrier formation; surface subsidence; foundation grouting; driven pile wall re-enforcement; slip liner construction; and tunnel and service conduit reconstruction and abandonment.
There are numerous types of grouts in use today. Grout is typically comprised of a mixture of cement, fly ash, water, and various additives or a solution (chemical) grout such as sodium silicate, acrylates, polyurethanes, etc. The proportions of each ingredient, as well as the selection of additives, can be adjusted to control the grout characteristics such as apparent viscosity (marsh funnel flow time), cohesion, set or gel time, compressive strength, and the like. For example, sodium silicate is commonly used to produce a structural grout suitable for applications involving loose, sandy soils. As the sodium silicate mixture is injected, it permeates the soil resulting in a hardened mass similar to a soft sandstone. The gel time of the sodium silicate can be controlled to limit the radius of influence by modifying the concentrations. Sodium silicate has been effectively used to increase bearing capacity of in-place soils, to underpin existing structures, to control underground water flow, and to provide excavation support of existing structures (or soil) in lieu of sheet piling.
Common methods of installing grout require a sequence of several operations. Typically, holes are first drilled into soil, rock or concrete structures. If the holes are in rock or concrete, the hole is typically washed, then partitioned and tested in stages to evaluate the characteristics of the subsurface conditions. If it is determined that the hole requires treatment, the appropriate type of grout is then injected into the stage or stages of the hole where necessary under controlled pressures. Grout injection continues until the volume of grout injected, reduction in grout flow rate and/or the injection pressures indicate that the stage has been treated satisfactorily. Often times, grouting projects will include several lines of these grout holes and the individual lines may include multiple series of holes, with the distance between the holes on the individual lines becoming successively closer.
As previously described, the monitoring of injection pressures, grout flow rates, and total injected grout volumes on each stage of every hole at the grouting site is critical to the success of a grouting project. Parameters such as pressure and volume are commonly measured using inductive flow meters, pump strokes, transducers, and other known sensors. Common methods of monitoring grouting pressures and volumes involve manual reading, calculation, and recording of pressures and volumes. These manual operations are typically performed by operators at each grouting site, who commonly record data and calculations on paper data sheets. These known methods are labor intensive, and are highly subject to human error. As the number of borings and other grouting sites increase, such as on a large concrete dam, the monitoring of grouting operations becomes exponentially more difficult, resulting in higher labor costs, increased total grouting time, and higher likelihood of error.
Known methods of monitoring grout volume and pressure involve rudimentary electronic monitoring using chart recorders. Traditional chart recorders monitor only a single source, use analog signals, and record resulting data on paper charts. More modern chart recorders provide for electronic monitoring of several data sources (such sensors in grout lines) simultaneously, and can either record data electronically, such as on a memory card, or through a communications link to a personal computer (“PC”). However, in every known method, operators at each grouting site must gather their own information, perform calculations, and manually make adjustments independent of the other grouting sites. Thus, known methods do not facilitate automatic data gathering, calculations, data manipulation, and real- time information sharing between grouting sites. Moreover, known apparatus do not provide a centralized, readily-accessible computerized apparatus for accurate grouting data gathering, manipulation, sharing, and storage.
Therefore, the need exists for a system and method which provide automated, centralized, and readily-accessible gathering, manipulation, sharing, and storage of grouting data. This long-felt need is especially felt at large grouting sites, such as dams, where multiple holes must be monitored and controlled, and where holes have different stages of operational and grouting completion at any given time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, the present invention, through one or more of its various aspects, embodiments and/or specific features or sub-components thereof, is provided to bring about one or more objects and advantages, such as those specifically noted below.
A general object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for gathering, monitoring, analyzing, managing, and utilizing grouting information in order to facilitate and control grouting operations such as drilling, testing, washing, and installation of grouting materials.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method that prevents the loss or destruction of critical job information by replacing the traditional data gathering methods and paper forms associated with each grouting operation with electronic record data gathering and storage that can be easily accessed, reviewed, and manipulated. It is a further object to improve and enhance the quality, efficiency and organization of stored expert knowledge at, for example, a progressive grouting site by storing data in a central database. Still another object is to provide an apparatus and method for searching previously completed grouting operations based on various search criteria.
Yet another object of the invention is to lessen the effort and time required to analyze completed construction work to determine the effectiveness of grouting operations. This can be accomplished by automatic generation of reports by querying the central database and by providing various display screens and viewing modes to display gathered data, including 2-D and 3-D viewing modes, an overhead plan view mode, and an orthographic viewing mode. Other viewing functions which facilitate effective analysis of the grouting installation include, for example, zooming, panning, and rotating.
The present invention, therefore, is directed to a system and method provided for electronically creating a grouting plan, initiating grouting operations pursuant to the plan, monitoring, manipulating, and controlling grouting operations, and storing and retrieving data from said operations. The apparatus and method use electronic apparatus and software to provide a graphical user interface for use by operators involved in all phases of grouting operations.
The apparatus of the present invention is comprised of: at least one sensor which generates signals containing information relating to grouting operations; at least one server equipped with server software, database software, and computer-aided drafting software, which server is linked to said sensor by a communications link; one or more microprocessors having at least one input device
Cockburn James
Dreese Trent L.
Heenan Douglas
Wilson David B.
Ehresman Kurt L.
Gannett Fleming, Inc.
Lee Douglas S.
McNees Wallace & Nurick
Picard Leo
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for computerized data collection,... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for computerized data collection,..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for computerized data collection,... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3264374