US5800090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for liquefaction remediation of liquefiable soils
Assignee: Keller North America Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-09
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2016-04-09
Abstract
Abstract Liquefiable soil is treated for earthquake liquefaction protection prior to erecting a building structure or work. A plurality of substantially vertical prefabricated drains are positioned at spaced intervals in the liquefiable soil and a reservoir is provided and adapted for draining off water which is expelled from the drains during an earthquake. The drains are generally comprised of an elongated plastic core material providing channels for channeling water off or therealong and this core is sometimes or selectively surrounded by a filter fabric as required to provide a composite drain.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Robert Goughnour
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:49
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D27/00; E02D27/32; E02D27/34; E02D3/00; E02D3/02; E02D3/10; E02D2300/00; E02D2300/0004; E02D2300/0006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for treating liquefiable soil for earthquake liquefaction protection for a structure or work on or below an overlying ground surface with an initial static ground water level in soil underlying said ground surface, comprising: a plurality of substantially vertical prefabricated drains positioned at spaced intervals in the liquefiable soil, and a reservoir located below said overlying ground surface for draining off water expelled from said drains.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for treating liquefiable soil for earthquake liquefaction protection for a structure or work on or below an overlying ground surface with an initial static ground water level in soil underlying said ground surface, comprising: a plurality of substantially vertical prefabricated drains positioned at spaced intervals in the liquefiable soil, and a reservoir located below said overlying ground surface for draining off water expelled from said drains.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, said liquefiable soil having a permeability in the approximate range of 1×10 -1 to 1×10 -7 cm/sec.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2, said drains comprised of an elongated plastic core providing channels therein for channeling water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 3, said elongated plastic core surrounded by filter fabric.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 4, said elongated plastic core including a flexible strip having lateral stand-off protrusions providing drainage channels therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 3, said elongated plastic core including corrugated and perforated plastic pipe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3, said drains spaced in the range of approximately 2 to 6 feet from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 7, said drains fully penetrating said liquefiable soil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, said reservoir consisting of a naturally available reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9, said naturally available reservoir comprised of highly permeable soil underlying said treated liquefiable soil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9, said naturally available reservoir comprised of a highly permeable soil overlying said treated liquefiable soil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, said reservoir comprised of a layer of high permeability soil applied over said liquefiable soil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, said drains including elongated piles incorporating said drains therein in combination, said drains comprised of plastic core material selectively surrounded by filter fabric.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for treating liquefiable soil for earthquake liquefaction protection for a structure or work on or below an overlying ground surface with an initial static ground water level in soil underlying said ground surface, comprising the steps of: inserting prefabricated drains in substantially vertical fashion into the liquefiable soil at predetermined spaced intervals, and draining water expelled from said drains during an earthquake to a reservoir located below said overlying ground surface.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for treating liquefiable soil for earthquake liquefaction protection for a structure or work on or below an overlying ground surface with an initial static ground water level in soil underlying said ground surface, comprising the steps of: inserting prefabricated drains in substantially vertical fashion into the liquefiable soil at predetermined spaced intervals, and draining water expelled from said drains during an earthquake to a reservoir located below said overlying ground surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the liquefiable soil being treated has a permeability in the approximate range of 1×10 -1 to 1×10-7 cm/sec.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, including the step of fabricating said drains of an elongated plastic core providing channels therein for channeling water therealong.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16, including the step of surrounding said elongated plastic core with filter fabric.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17, including the step of constructing said elongated plastic core from flexible strip material having lateral stand-off protrusions for providing said water channels therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16, including the step of constructing said elongated plastic core of corrugated and perforated plastic pipe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16, including the step of spacing said drains in the range of approximately two to six feet from each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20, including the step of fully penetrating said liquefiable soil with said drains.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, including the step of providing said reservoir in the form of a naturally available reservoir.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said naturally available reservoir is provided in the form of a highly permeable soil which underlies the liquefiable soil being treated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said naturally available reservoir is provided by utilizing a naturally highly permeable soil which overlies the liquefiable soil being treated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14, including the step of providing said reservoir by applying reservoir means over said drains.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said reservoir means is applied by applying lightly permeable soil layer over said drains.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said reservoir means is applied by positioning reservoir pipes over said drains and under said ground surface with a substantial portion of said pipes above the initial static ground water level found in said soil.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said reservoir is constructed by providing a layer of high permeability soil overlying said liquefiable soil.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14, including the steps of incorporating said drains therein in combination with elongated piles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14, including the step of enhancing compactions of said liquefiable soil either before or after inserting said drains.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, including the step of compacting said liquefiable soil during the step of inserting said drains.
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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) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |