US3726095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ground freezing method and apparatus
Assignee: Union Carbide Canada Ltd
•
Filing: 1970-12-31
•
Granted: 1973-04-10
•
Expires: 1990-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method of freezing a large volume of ground for tunnel construction and the like utilizing liquified nitrogen is described. The apparatus consists generally of a series of freeze pipes embedded in the ground, each of the freeze pipes consisting of a conductor tube and an inner header tube. The header tube of each of the succeeding freeze pipes in the series have discharge holes of a predetermined cross-section so that greater control of gaseous and liquified nitrogen pressure can be maintained throughout the system. By means of this method and apparatus more accurate control of ground freezing can be made by merely controlling the inlet liquified nitrogen pressure and the exhaust gaseous nitrogen temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:54
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D3/00; E02D3/11; E02D3/115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
325 words
A ground freezing apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of freeze pipes connected in series, each of said freeze pipes consisting of a conductor tube closed at its upper and lower end and a header tube coaxially mounted in said conductor tube and extending therein substantially the length of said connector tube, said header tube having an opening at its lower end for discharging effluent into the lower end of said conductor tube; b. means for connecting the upper end of the header tube of the first of said freeze pipes to a source of liquid nitrogen; c. a conduit means whereby the upper end of the conductor tube of the first of said freeze pipes is placed in communication with the upper end of the header tube of the second of said freeze pipes for passing therethrough the effluent of the header tube of the fiRst of said freeze pipes; d. a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the header tube of the second of said freeze pipes spaced along at least a quarter of its length, the total cross-sectional area of said holes being equal to at least 200 percent of the crosssectional area of the header tube; e. a further conduit means at the upper end of the conductor tube of the second of said freeze pipes for discharging the effluent from the header tube of the second of said freeze pipes into the upper end of the header tube of the third of said freeze pipes and a discharge means at the upper end of the conductor tube of the third of said freeze pipes for discharging said effluent; f. a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the header tube of the third of said freeze pipes spaced along at least a quarter of its length, the total cross-sectional area of said holes being equal to at least 400 percent of the crosssectional area of the header tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
325 words
A ground freezing apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of freeze pipes connected in series, each of said freeze pipes consisting of a conductor tube closed at its upper and lower end and a header tube coaxially mounted in said conductor tube and extending therein substantially the length of said connector tube, said header tube having an opening at its lower end for discharging effluent into the lower end of said conductor tube; b. means for connecting the upper end of the header tube of the first of said freeze pipes to a source of liquid nitrogen; c. a conduit means whereby the upper end of the conductor tube of the first of said freeze pipes is placed in communication with the upper end of the header tube of the second of said freeze pipes for passing therethrough the effluent of the header tube of the fiRst of said freeze pipes; d. a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the header tube of the second of said freeze pipes spaced along at least a quarter of its length, the total cross-sectional area of said holes being equal to at least 200 percent of the crosssectional area of the header tube; e. a further conduit means at the upper end of the conductor tube of the second of said freeze pipes for discharging the effluent from the header tube of the second of said freeze pipes into the upper end of the header tube of the third of said freeze pipes and a discharge means at the upper end of the conductor tube of the third of said freeze pipes for discharging said effluent; f. a plurality of holes in the lower portion of the header tube of the third of said freeze pipes spaced along at least a quarter of its length, the total cross-sectional area of said holes being equal to at least 400 percent of the crosssectional area of the header tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ground freezing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of baffle plates are spaced along at least a portion of each of said freeze pipes thereby constricting the passage between the header tube and the conductor tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |