US3791443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foundation for construction on frozen substrata
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1971-12-13
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1991-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A foundation construction, particularly useful for buildings and other supported structures in Arctic regions wherein a permafrost condition typically prevails, is provided by a construction pad having at least one or more perforated and ventilated conduits positioned within a cushion of air-permeable particulate material, said cushion containing the perforated conduit being substantially thermally isolated from the supported structure by means such as encapsulating with an insulating material. Generally, the pad is overburdened with, or imbedded in, a suitable gravel fill material. The pad can substantially reduce, and in certain instances eliminate, the necessity of providing piling supports in Arctic regions and furthermore provides both a thermal barrier restricting heat flowing downward from the building to the frozen substrata and a type of thermal shunt blocking heat from the structure while admitting a certain amount of geothermal heat flowing upward from the ground to an ambient air heat sink.
Inventors
- 👤 G Burt
- 👤 A Condo
- 👤 R Odsather
- 👤 K Eliason
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:40
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D27/00; E02D27/32; E02D27/35; E02D3/00; E02D3/11; E02D3/115; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S166/00; Y10S166/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
A thermal barrier capable of being employed in Arctic region construction comprising at least one perforated and ventilated conduit positioned within a cushion of air-permeable load-bearing particulate material wherein said particulate material is substantially completely encapsulated with synthetic insulating load-bearing material from ambient environment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
A thermal barrier capable of being employed in Arctic region construction comprising at least one perforated and ventilated conduit positioned within a cushion of air-permeable load-bearing particulate material wherein said particulate material is substantially completely encapsulated with synthetic insulating load-bearing material from ambient environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The thermal barrier of claim 1 wherein said conduit is at least one pair of air conduits arranged to provide an air inlet conduit and a separate air outlet conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The thermal barrier of claim 1 wherein said insulating material is a synthetic polymeric foam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The thermal barrier of claim 3 wherein said synthetic polymeric foam is a polyurethane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermal barrier of claim 1 having means to provide evaporative cooling within the thermal barrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermal barrier of claim 5 wherein evaporation cooling is provided by a water spray system at the air inlet of the conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A foundation construction, useful in Arctic regions wherein a permafrost condition typically pervails, capable of providing a thermal barrier between a structure and the substrata comprising a pad having at least one perforated and ventilated conduit positioned within a cushion of air-permeable particulate material, said cushion and perforated conduit being substantially completely encapsulated by synthetic insulating material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A foundation construction, useful in Arctic regions wherein a permafrost condition typically pervails, capable of providing a thermal barrier between a structure and the substrata comprising a pad having at least one perforated and ventilated conduit positioned within a cushion of air-permeable particulate material, said cushion and perforated conduit being substantially completely encapsulated by synthetic insulating material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A foundation construction according to claim 7 wherein said pad is encapsulated with a foamed polyurethane insulating material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A foundation construction according to claim 7 wherein said structure is a building.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A foundation construction according to claim 7 wherein said substrata is a frozen substrata.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A foundation construction according to claim 7 having mechanical means for forcing air through the perforated conduits.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A foundation construction according to claim 7 wherein said insulation material is synthetic foam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A foundation construction according to claim 12 wherein said synthetic foam is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes and polystyrenes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A foundation construction according to claim 7 wherein said perforated conduit is a series of conduits independently spaced and distributed within the cushion of particulate material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A foundation construction according to claim 14 wherein said series of conduits comprise at least one communicating pair of inlet and outlet conduits.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a building structure for northern regions having a building supported on a foundation, the improvement wherein a pad is positioned beneath the building floor, said pad being substantially completely thermally isolated from the ambient environment and having at least one perforated and ventilated conduit placed within a cushion of air-permeable particulate material said cushioN being encapsulated in synthetic insulating material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a building structure for northern regions having a building supported on a foundation, the improvement wherein a pad is positioned beneath the building floor, said pad being substantially completely thermally isolated from the ambient environment and having at least one perforated and ventilated conduit placed within a cushion of air-permeable particulate material said cushioN being encapsulated in synthetic insulating material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The building structure according to claim 16 wherein said conduit comprises at least one communicating pair of inlet and outlet conduits.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of thermally insulating a frozen substrata from a structure located above said frozen substrata comprising installing beneath the structure a pad of air permeable particulate material having at least one perforated conduit positioned therein, encapsulating said pad with a thermal insulating material and intermittently forcing air through said conduit.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of thermally insulating a frozen substrata from a structure located above said frozen substrata comprising installing beneath the structure a pad of air permeable particulate material having at least one perforated conduit positioned therein, encapsulating said pad with a thermal insulating material and intermittently forcing air through said conduit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said thermal insulating material is a synthetic foam selected from group consisting of polyurethanes and polystyrenes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |