US3839871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Earthen dam repair
Assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-14
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1993-05-14
Abstract
Abstract An earthen dam is repaired without draining the water from the lake behind the dam and without disturbing the integrity of the earthen dam. A first hole is bored into the dam. As the hole is being drilled, drilling mud is circulated through the hole to remove cuttings and to maintain the integrity of the earthen dam. The first hole is lined with a casing. A second hole is bored into the earthen dam immediately adjacent and partially overlapping the first hole. The boring of the second hole disintegrates a portion of the casing in the first hole providing an interconnection between said first hole and said second hole. Drilling mud is circulated in the second hole during the boring of said second hole to remove cuttings and to maintain integrity of the earthen dam. The second hole is lined with a casing and the first hole is filled with concrete. The concrete displaces the drilling mud in the first hole and the concrete will not enter the second hole because of the lining in the second hole. By repeatedly drilling holes in the aforementioned manner, a monolithic fluid impervious underground wall is constructed along the center of the dam thereby substantially reinforcing the earthen dam.
Inventors
- 👤 N Dyer
- 👤 R Walker
- 👤 T Arrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:05
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D5/00; E02D5/20; E02D37/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of constructing a wall within the earth, comprising the steps of: boring a first hole in the earth, lining the first hole with a casing, said casing having an axial passage, boring a second hole immediately adjacent and partially overlapping said first hole, said second hole and said casing extending into said axial passage, maintaining a liquid in said first and second holes during the boring of said holes, lining said second hole with a casing, filling said first hole with a wall forming material and boring additional axially aligned overlapping holes by repeating the aforementioned steps.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of constructing a wall within the earth, comprising the steps of: boring a first hole in the earth, lining the first hole with a casing, said casing having an axial passage, boring a second hole immediately adjacent and partially overlapping said first hole, said second hole and said casing extending into said axial passage, maintaining a liquid in said first and second holes during the boring of said holes, lining said second hole with a casing, filling said first hole with a wall forming material and boring additional axially aligned overlapping holes by repeating the aforementioned steps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 including maintaining said first and second holes filled with drilling mud during the boring of said holes.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of constructing a wall within the earth comprising boring a plurality of overlapping holes such that in the final arrangement of holes the distance between the centers of two adjacent holes is less than the diameter of an individual hole, lining each hole with casing having an axial passage prior to the boring of the next adjacent hole, said next adjacent hole being bored in such a manner that said next adjacent hole extends into said axial passage, maintaining a liquid in said next adjacent hole and the previous hole during the boring of said holes, lining said next adjacent hole and filling the previous lined hole with a wall forming material.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of constructing a wall within the earth comprising boring a plurality of overlapping holes such that in the final arrangement of holes the distance between the centers of two adjacent holes is less than the diameter of an individual hole, lining each hole with casing having an axial passage prior to the boring of the next adjacent hole, said next adjacent hole being bored in such a manner that said next adjacent hole extends into said axial passage, maintaining a liquid in said next adjacent hole and the previous hole during the boring of said holes, lining said next adjacent hole and filling the previous lined hole with a wall forming material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of constructing a wall within the earth comprising the steps of: boring a first hole in the earth while, circulating a fluid drilling mud through said first hole during the boring of said first hole, lining said first hole with a casing, said casing having an axial passage, boring a second hole immediately adjacent and partially overlapping said first hole and said casing in said first hole, said second hole extending into said axial passage, circulating a fluid drilling mud through said second hole during the boring of said second hole, lining said second hole with a casing, filling said first hole with a wall forming material and boring additional axially aligned overlapping holes by repeating the aforementioned steps.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of constructing a wall within the earth comprising the steps of: boring a first hole in the earth while, circulating a fluid drilling mud through said first hole during the boring of said first hole, lining said first hole with a casing, said casing having an axial passage, boring a second hole immediately adjacent and partially overlapping said first hole and said casing in said first hole, said second hole extending into said axial passage, circulating a fluid drilling mud through said second hole during the boring of said second hole, lining said second hole with a casing, filling said first hole with a wall forming material and boring additional axially aligned overlapping holes by repeating the aforementioned steps.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of repairing an earthen dam, comprising the steps of: boring a first hole from the surface of said dam through said dam, circulating a drilling mud through said first hole during the boring of said first hole, lining said first hole with a destructible casing, said destructible casing having an axial passage, boring a second hole from the surface of the dam through said dam immediately adjacent and partially overlapping said first hole and said destructible casing, said second hole extending into said axial passage, circulating a drilling mud through said second hole during the boring of said second hole, lining said second hole with a destructible casing, and filling said first hole with a wall forming material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of repairing an earthen dam, comprising the steps of: boring a first hole from the surface of said dam through said dam, circulating a drilling mud through said first hole during the boring of said first hole, lining said first hole with a destructible casing, said destructible casing having an axial passage, boring a second hole from the surface of the dam through said dam immediately adjacent and partially overlapping said first hole and said destructible casing, said second hole extending into said axial passage, circulating a drilling mud through said second hole during the boring of said second hole, lining said second hole with a destructible casing, and filling said first hole with a wall forming material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 5 including the steps of boring a multiplicity of additional holes from the surface of said dam through said dam by repeatedly boring immediately adjacent and partially overlapping holes, lining each hole with a destructible casing having an axial passage prior to the boring of the next adjacent hole, with the next adjacent hole extending into said axial passage, circulating a drilling mud through said holes during the boring of said holes, and filling the prior hole with a wall forming materia..
Claim 11
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of repairing an earthen dam by drilling a multiplicity of axially aligned overlapping holes, cOmprising the steps of: boring the first hole from the surface of the dam through the dam, circulating a drilling mud through said first hole during the boring of said first hole, lining said first hole with a destructible casing, said destructible casing having an axial passage, boring the second hole immediately adjacent and partially overlapping said first hole thereby disintegrating a portion of the destructible casing in said first hole, and causing said second hole to extend into said axial passage, circulating a drilling mud through said second hole during the boring of said second hole, lining said second hole with a destructible casing, filling said first hole with a wall forming material, and boring additional axially aligned overlapping holes by repeating the aforementioned steps.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of repairing an earthen dam by drilling a multiplicity of axially aligned overlapping holes, cOmprising the steps of: boring the first hole from the surface of the dam through the dam, circulating a drilling mud through said first hole during the boring of said first hole, lining said first hole with a destructible casing, said destructible casing having an axial passage, boring the second hole immediately adjacent and partially overlapping said first hole thereby disintegrating a portion of the destructible casing in said first hole, and causing said second hole to extend into said axial passage, circulating a drilling mud through said second hole during the boring of said second hole, lining said second hole with a destructible casing, filling said first hole with a wall forming material, and boring additional axially aligned overlapping holes by repeating the aforementioned steps.
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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) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |