US4030307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Impermeable ecological barrier and process of making same from reconstituted shale
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-06-14
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-06-14
Abstract
Abstract An ecologically acceptable liquid-impermeable geologic barrier is made from shale. In the process described, the preferred shale is Brainard Shale, the upper shale formation in the Maquoketa Group, which is excavated to expose solid, unweathered shale in its original sedimentary state. The Brainard shale is removed by a suitable mining operaton and crushed into an aggregate which can be readily compacted. Water is added and the shale aggregate is thoroughly mixed to uniformly disperse the water. It is immediately spread in a layer of uniform thickness along a wall to be sealed and worked and further mixed in place and compacted solid by multiple passes of a sheepsfoot roller. This is repeated in multiple lifts until the barrier reaches a desired total compacted thickness and width.
Inventors
- 👤 Armen G. Avedisian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:23
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D31/00; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/04; E02B3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A process for reconstituting shale to make an ecologically impermeable geologic barrier along a wall comprising the steps of: a. primarily crushing solid, as-mined shale selected from the group consisting of Maquoketa Group shale, a shale identified by the presence of Cornulite fossils in the upper part thereof, and shale which is high in illite mineral content, to produce a readily compactible aggregate having a progressive gradation of sizes; b. mixing water with said shale to provide a wetted aggregate; c. spreading said wetted aggregate along said wall; and d. secondarily crushing and mixing said wetted aggregate in place against said wall to compact it to a substantially solid, impermeable state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A process for reconstituting shale to make an ecologically impermeable geologic barrier along a wall comprising the steps of: a. primarily crushing solid, as-mined shale selected from the group consisting of Maquoketa Group shale, a shale identified by the presence of Cornulite fossils in the upper part thereof, and shale which is high in illite mineral content, to produce a readily compactible aggregate having a progressive gradation of sizes; b. mixing water with said shale to provide a wetted aggregate; c. spreading said wetted aggregate along said wall; and d. secondarily crushing and mixing said wetted aggregate in place against said wall to compact it to a substantially solid, impermeable state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 in which said barrier is compacted to a coefficient of permeability of less than 5 × 10.sup. -8 centimeters per second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1 in which said aggregate has a gradation of sizes progressively varying from plus 3/4 inch to minus 200 mesh.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the largest size of said aggregate passes through a 1 -inch screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An ecologically impermeable geologic barrier for a ground cavity including bottom and side walls comprising compacted reconstituted shale disposed along at least the side walls of said cavity, said shale selected from the group consisting of Maguoketa Group shale, a shale identified by the presence of Cornulite fossils in the upper part thereof, and shale which is high in illite mineral content.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
An ecologically impermeable geologic barrier for a ground cavity including bottom and side walls comprising compacted reconstituted shale disposed along at least the side walls of said cavity, said shale selected from the group consisting of Maguoketa Group shale, a shale identified by the presence of Cornulite fossils in the upper part thereof, and shale which is high in illite mineral content.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ecologically impermeable geologic barrier according to claim 5 wherein the bottom wall of said ground cavity is comprised of said shale in its natural solid state, said shale having a coefficient of permeability of less than 5 × 10.sup. -8 centimeters per second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process for reconstituting shale to make an ecologically impermeable geologic barrier along a wall comprising the steps of: a. primarily crushing solid, as-mined shale identified by the presence of Cornulite fossils in the upper part thereof, to produce a readily compactible aggregate having a progressive gradation of sizes; b. mixing water with said shale to provide a wetted aggregate; c. spreading said wetted aggregate along said wall; and d. secondarily crushing and mixing said wetted aggregate in place against said wall to compact it to a substantially solid, impermeable state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process for reconstituting shale to make an ecologically impermeable geologic barrier along a wall comprising the steps of: a. primarily crushing solid, as-mined shale identified by the presence of Cornulite fossils in the upper part thereof, to produce a readily compactible aggregate having a progressive gradation of sizes; b. mixing water with said shale to provide a wetted aggregate; c. spreading said wetted aggregate along said wall; and d. secondarily crushing and mixing said wetted aggregate in place against said wall to compact it to a substantially solid, impermeable state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A process for reconstituting shale to make an ecologically impermeable geologic barrier along a wall comprising the steps of: a. primarily crushing solid, as-mined shale high in illite mineral content, to produce a readily compactible aggregate having a progressive gradation of sizes; b. mixing water with said shale to provide a wetted aggregate; c. spreading said wetted aggregate along said wall; and d. secondarily crushing and mixing said wetted aggregate in place against said wall to compact it to a substantially solid, impermeable state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A process for reconstituting shale to make an ecologically impermeable geologic barrier along a wall comprising the steps of: a. primarily crushing solid, as-mined shale high in illite mineral content, to produce a readily compactible aggregate having a progressive gradation of sizes; b. mixing water with said shale to provide a wetted aggregate; c. spreading said wetted aggregate along said wall; and d. secondarily crushing and mixing said wetted aggregate in place against said wall to compact it to a substantially solid, impermeable state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
A process for reconstituting shale to make an ecologically impermeable geologic barrier along a wall comprising the steps of: a. primarily crushing solid, as-mined Maquoketa Group shale, to produce a readily compactible aggregate having a progressive gradation of sizes; b. mixing water with said shale to provide a wetted aggregate; c. spreading said wetted aggregate along said wall; and d. secondarily crushing and mixing said wetted aggregate in place against said wall to compact it to a substantially solid, impermeable state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
A process for reconstituting shale to make an ecologically impermeable geologic barrier along a wall comprising the steps of: a. primarily crushing solid, as-mined Maquoketa Group shale, to produce a readily compactible aggregate having a progressive gradation of sizes; b. mixing water with said shale to provide a wetted aggregate; c. spreading said wetted aggregate along said wall; and d. secondarily crushing and mixing said wetted aggregate in place against said wall to compact it to a substantially solid, impermeable state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 9 in which said shale is from the Brainard Formation of the Maquoketa Group.
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) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |