Hydraulic and earth engineering – Earth treatment or control – Chemical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-06-19
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Earth treatment or control
Chemical
C405S240000, C405S241000, C405S243000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247875
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to subterranean walls and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for constructing subterranean walls comprised of pervious granular material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is frequently desirable to construct subterranean walls comprised of granular material. For example, it is known in the art that subterranean walls comprised of pervious granular iron material are particularly useful in treating certain pollutants in contaminated ground water, including, for example, trichloroethylene (T.C.E.) and other chlorinated solvents. Indeed, the oxidation of the granulated iron from such subterranean walls chemically neutralizes chlorinated solvents in the ground water. In this way, the granular iron from such subterranean walls acts as a corrective filter that treats the contaminated ground water.
While such subterranean walls are clearly useful in treating contaminated ground water, there are problems involved in their construction. For example, one known technique for constructing subterranean walls involves excavating a trench with a backhoe or the like, and then filling the trench with granular material. This particular technique, however, suffers from some obvious deficiencies. Namely, it is time consuming, labor intensive, expensive, and unsuited for use in constructing deep walls. In addition, this technique is also generally unreliable in terms of controlling the width of the wall.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for constructing subterranean walls comprised of pervious granular material which overcomes these and other deficiencies of the prior art.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for constructing subterranean walls comprised of granular iron material for use in treating contaminated ground water.
An even more detailed object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus utilizing a hollow beam with externally mounted scarfing elements for enhancing the passage of ground water into and through subterranean walls comprised of permeable granular material.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the foregoing type which lends itself to reliable operation and use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with these and other objects of the present invention, a method and apparatus is provided for constructing subterranean walls comprised of granular material. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a beam for making insertions into and extractions out of the ground. More specifically, the beam includes a top portion which is attachable to a driver, an open bottom portion, and a hollow interior portion therebetween which receives a supply of granular material. In usage, the beam is inserted into the ground to form a void therein. The apparatus also includes a disposable shoe which is removably attached to the open bottom portion of the beam. In usage, the shoe prevents earthen material from entering the hollow interior portion of the beam as the beam is inserted into the ground. The apparatus further includes an actuating mechanism which detaches the shoe from the open bottom portion of the beam after the beam has been inserted into the ground so that granular material is released into the void as the beam is extracted therefrom.
In the preferred embodiment, the hollow beam is provided with scarfing elements to cut through the compacted sidewall surfaces of the void created as the beam is withdrawn in order to enhance the passage of water into and through the wall.
The method of the present invention comprises the following steps: suspending the beam above the ground; removably installing a disposable shoe onto the open bottom portion of the beam; inserting the beam and the removably installed shoe into the ground to form a void therein; delivering granular material to the hollow interior portion of the beam; detaching the shoe from the bottom portion of the beam; and extracting the beam from the ground while granular material flows through the open bottom portion thereof to fill the void with granular material. These steps may be repeated a desired number of times to produce a subterranean wall comprised of granular material and defined by successive overlapping voids filled with granular material. The scarfing elements on the hollow beam not only cut into the skin-like layer of compacted sidewall soil, but also leave residual vertical channels to enhance the flow of ground water into and out of the granular material of the subterranean wall.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
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Schmednecht Dana A.
Schmednecht Fred C.
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Pechhold Alexandra K.
Pezzuto Robert E.
Schmednecht Dana A.
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