US3759044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of earth wall construction using cementitious bentonitic mud
Assignee: Soletanche SA
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Filing: 1971-06-15
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A method of constructing a fluid impermeable wall in the ground. A first trench is dug and simultaneously filled with a cementitious bentonitic mud, which is sufficiently viscous to prevent the sides of the trench from caving in. This first trench forms a first section of the wall. Before the mud of the firt section has set, a second trench is dug adjacent to and continuing or extending from the first trench, to form a second wall section, and the second trench is also simultaneously filled with cementitious bentonitic mud. The abuttting end sections then bond firmly together upon setting to form a continuous wall.
Inventors
- 👤 C Caron
- 👤 J Hurtado
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:34
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B14/00; C04B14/02; C04B14/04; C04B14/10; C04B14/104; E; E02; E02D; E02D5/00; E02D5/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of constructing in the ground a fluid impermeable diaphragm wall composed of a plurality of longitudinally extending sections bonded together to form a wall, said method comprising: excavating a first section and simultaneously completely filling the excavation with a cementitious mixture consisting essentially of bentonitic mud and cement; before said cementitious mixture in the excavated first section completely hardens and sets, excavating a second section adjacent said first section while simultaneously completely filling in the excavation of said second section with said cementitious mixture; and allowing the mixtures filling the excavation of each of said sections to harden therein whereby when the mixtures in each of said sections harden they bond together at the junction of saiD first and said second sections to thereby provide a fluid impermeable wall consisting essentially of said hardened cementitious mixture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of constructing in the ground a fluid impermeable diaphragm wall composed of a plurality of longitudinally extending sections bonded together to form a wall, said method comprising: excavating a first section and simultaneously completely filling the excavation with a cementitious mixture consisting essentially of bentonitic mud and cement; before said cementitious mixture in the excavated first section completely hardens and sets, excavating a second section adjacent said first section while simultaneously completely filling in the excavation of said second section with said cementitious mixture; and allowing the mixtures filling the excavation of each of said sections to harden therein whereby when the mixtures in each of said sections harden they bond together at the junction of saiD first and said second sections to thereby provide a fluid impermeable wall consisting essentially of said hardened cementitious mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, in which of three consecutive sections along the wall, the end sections are first constructed and the middle section is then constructed before the mud of the end sections has set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
before said cementitious mixture completely filling the first excavated first section completely hardens and sets, excavating a second section adjacent said first section while simultaneously completely filling the excavation of said second section with said cementitious mixture;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
before said cementitious mixture completely filling the first excavated first section completely hardens and sets, excavating a second section adjacent said first section while simultaneously completely filling the excavation of said second section with said cementitious mixture;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
allowing the mixtures filling the excavations of each of said sections to harden therein; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
allowing the mixtures filling the excavations of each of said sections to harden therein; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 2, in which the partially set inner ends of the end sections are cut off during the construction of the middle section to ensure that no earth remains to interfere with the seal between the adjacent sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to, claim 1 wherein the setting time of the cementitious mixture is T and the second one of the two sections is constructed in a period between 0.5 T and 0.9 T after the first one of the sections has been cast.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
repeating steps (1) - (3) until a wall of the desired length is obtained, whereby when the cementitious mixtures in each of said sections harden they bond together at the junction with each adjacent section to thereby provide a continuous fluid impermeable wall consisting of said hardened cementitious mixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
repeating steps (1) - (3) until a wall of the desired length is obtained, whereby when the cementitious mixtures in each of said sections harden they bond together at the junction with each adjacent section to thereby provide a continuous fluid impermeable wall consisting of said hardened cementitious mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according, claim 1 wherein the diaphragm wall has a thickness of between 0.2 and 1 m and a depth of between 1 and 60 m.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to, claim 1 in which a continuous foil of plastics material, extending along the wall, is embedded in the sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to, claim 1 in which metal reinforcement is embedded in the sections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to, claim 1 in which the cementitious mixture consists essentially of bentonite mud and from 50 to 300 kilograms of cement per cubic metre.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to, claim 1 in which a retarding agent is present in the mixture to render the mixture more slowly setting.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of constructing in the ground a fluid impermeable diaphragm wall composed of a plurality of longitudinally extending sections bended together to form a continuous wall, said method comprising: a. excavating a first section and simultaneously completely filling the excavation with a cementitious mixture consisting of bentonitic mud and from 50 to 300 kilograms of cement per cubic meter of mixture, b. before said cementitious mixture completely filling the excavated first section completely hardens and sets, excavating a second section adjacent said first section while simultaneously completely filling the excavation of said second section with said cementitious mixture, c. allowing the mixtures filling the excavations of each of said sections to harden therein, and d. repeating step (a) - (c) until a wall of the desired length is obtained, whereby when the mixtures in each of said sections harden they bond together at the junction with each adjacent section to thereby provide a continuous fluid impermeable wall consisting of said hardened cementitious mixture.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of constructing in the ground a fluid impermeable diaphragm wall composed of a plurality of longitudinally extending sections bended together to form a continuous wall, said method comprising: a. excavating a first section and simultaneously completely filling the excavation with a cementitious mixture consisting of bentonitic mud and from 50 to 300 kilograms of cement per cubic meter of mixture, b. before said cementitious mixture completely filling the excavated first section completely hardens and sets, excavating a second section adjacent said first section while simultaneously completely filling the excavation of said second section with said cementitious mixture, c. allowing the mixtures filling the excavations of each of said sections to harden therein, and d. repeating step (a) - (c) until a wall of the desired length is obtained, whereby when the mixtures in each of said sections harden they bond together at the junction with each adjacent section to thereby provide a continuous fluid impermeable wall consisting of said hardened cementitious mixture.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
28 words
A method of constructing in the ground a fluid-impermeable diaphragm wall composed of a plurality of longitudinally-extending sections bonded together to form a continuous wall, said method comprising:
Claim 20
Independent Claim
28 words
A method of constructing in the ground a fluid-impermeable diaphragm wall composed of a plurality of longitudinally-extending sections bonded together to form a continuous wall, said method comprising:
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |