Patent EP0082629A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0082629A2
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EP
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Sealing earthen depressions against liquid seepage
Assignee: Amcol International Corp
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Filing: 1982-12-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-12-07
Abstract
Abstract An earthen depression or pit (10) is sealed to reduce or prevent liquid (14) seepage therefrom into surrounding earth, by providing a seal (16) comprising an outer layer (18) and an inner layer (22) of water-expandable colloidal clay (e.g. bentonite) and, sandwiched therebetween a layer (34) of granular material in which is maintained a fluid pressure in excess of that of the contents of the depression or pit. Hydrostatic liquid pressure may be used in the granular fill, in which case means for sensing the relative levels of the liquid in the fill and the liquid in the depression or pit, are provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert P. Kingsbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/22; B65D90/24; E; E02; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/16; E02D; E02D31/00; E02D31/002; E02D31/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
An earthen depression or pit having a seal to prevent or reduce liquid seepage therefrom into the surrounding earth, wherein the seal comprises an outer layer and an inner layer comprising water-expandable colloidal clay and, sandwiched therebetween, a layer of granular fill material, and means are provided to maintain in said fill layer a fluid pressure greater than the pressure on the seal from the contents of the depression.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
An earthen depression or pit having a seal to prevent or reduce liquid seepage therefrom into the surrounding earth, wherein the seal comprises an outer layer and an inner layer comprising water-expandable colloidal clay and, sandwiched therebetween, a layer of granular fill material, and means are provided to maintain in said fill layer a fluid pressure greater than the pressure on the seal from the contents of the depression.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A depression or pit according to claim 1 wherein the fluid pressure maintenance means comprises means for flooding said fill layer with fluid to a depth greater than the depth of liquid contents of the depression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A depression or pit according to claim 2, which further includes means for sensing the relative levels of fluid in the depression and in the granular layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A depression or pit according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the said colloidal clay is bentonite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A depression or pit according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the inner and outer layers comprise 8 to 35% by weight of said clay.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A depression or pit according to any of claims 1 to 5, which further includes means for sampling fluid from the fill layer to check for seepage of contents from the depression.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pond of liquid which comprises an earthen depression or pit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, and a liquid in the said depression or pit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of sealing an earthen depression to reduce fluid seepage therefrom into surrounding soil, comprising: disposing a laver of water expandable colloidal clay onto the earth to form an outer seal, disposing a layer of granular fill material on said outer seal, disposing a layer of water expandable colloidal clay onto the granular fill material to form an inner seal, and introducing a fluid into said layer of granular fill material, between said outer and inner seals, to provide a positive pressure between said upper and lower seals greater than the pressure on the upper seal, from any fluid contents of the depression.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of sealing an earthen depression to reduce fluid seepage therefrom into surrounding soil, comprising: disposing a laver of water expandable colloidal clay onto the earth to form an outer seal, disposing a layer of granular fill material on said outer seal, disposing a layer of water expandable colloidal clay onto the granular fill material to form an inner seal, and introducing a fluid into said layer of granular fill material, between said outer and inner seals, to provide a positive pressure between said upper and lower seals greater than the pressure on the upper seal, from any fluid contents of the depression.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said water expandable colloidal clay is bentonite.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said inner and outer seals comprise 8-35% by weight water expandable colloidal clay.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of storing waste materials in an earthen depression or pit to prevent or reduce fluid seepage therefrom, which method comprises forming an earthen depression or pit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, and flooding said layer of granular fill material with a fluid and maintaining it at a level greater than the level of any waste material fluids in the depression or pit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of extracting a portion of said fluid from said granular fill material and testing the extracted fluid to determine the extent of any leakage through said inner layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
13 . A method according to claim 11 or 12, further including sensing the level of any waste material fluid in said depression, and the level of fluid in said granular fill layer, to ensure the maintenance of said relative levels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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