US7309188B2 — Drainable base course for a landfill and method o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 242 words

A synthetic drainable base course composite element suitable for providing drainage when positioned within a landfill, said base course element comprising a void-maintaining geocomposite, said geocomposite including a) a geocomposite core element having a plurality of ribs constructed and arranged to form a plurality of interconnected voids, said core element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a no-load thickness and a thickness under load, wherein said thicknesses are measured substantially perpendicular to said surfaces, and b) at least one fluid-transmissible layer attached adjacent said upper surface, wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 1,000 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 19 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 33% and at least 33 gallons/minute at a slope gradient of 10%, and wherein said geocomposite is constructed and arranged so that said transmissivity is maintained within said landfill when, fill comprising one or more layers, sections or quantities of waste or refuse materials, or waste or materials to be processed at least partially within said landfill, is disposed above said geocomposite, wherein at least a portion of said synthetic drainable base course is sloped downwardly in a gradient from a first portion to a second portion of said landfill.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 242 words

A synthetic drainable base course composite element suitable for providing drainage when positioned within a landfill, said base course element comprising a void-maintaining geocomposite, said geocomposite including a) a geocomposite core element having a plurality of ribs constructed and arranged to form a plurality of interconnected voids, said core element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a no-load thickness and a thickness under load, wherein said thicknesses are measured substantially perpendicular to said surfaces, and b) at least one fluid-transmissible layer attached adjacent said upper surface, wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 1,000 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 19 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 33% and at least 33 gallons/minute at a slope gradient of 10%, and wherein said geocomposite is constructed and arranged so that said transmissivity is maintained within said landfill when, fill comprising one or more layers, sections or quantities of waste or refuse materials, or waste or materials to be processed at least partially within said landfill, is disposed above said geocomposite, wherein at least a portion of said synthetic drainable base course is sloped downwardly in a gradient from a first portion to a second portion of said landfill.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 251 words

A drainable landfill comprising I. a base layer formed at least partially of one or more of native soil components and non-native soil components, II. a synthetic drainable base course element disposed above said base layer, said drainable base course element comprising A) a void-maintaining geocomposite, said geocomposite including i) a geocomposite core element having a plurality of ribs constructed and arranged to form a plurality of interconnected voids, said core element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a no-load thickness and a thickness under load, wherein said thicknesses are measured substantially perpendicular to said surfaces, and ii) at least one fluid-transmissible layer attached adjacent said upper surface, wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 500 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 19 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 33% and at least 33 gallons/minute at a slope gradient of 10%, and III. above said synthetic drainable base course, fill suitable to be drained, said fill comprising one or more layers, sections or quantities of refuse materials, or materials to be processed at least partially within said landfill, wherein at least a portion of said synthetic drainable base course is sloped downwardly in a gradient from a first portion to a second portion of said landfill.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 251 words

A drainable landfill comprising I. a base layer formed at least partially of one or more of native soil components and non-native soil components, II. a synthetic drainable base course element disposed above said base layer, said drainable base course element comprising A) a void-maintaining geocomposite, said geocomposite including i) a geocomposite core element having a plurality of ribs constructed and arranged to form a plurality of interconnected voids, said core element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a no-load thickness and a thickness under load, wherein said thicknesses are measured substantially perpendicular to said surfaces, and ii) at least one fluid-transmissible layer attached adjacent said upper surface, wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 500 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 19 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 33% and at least 33 gallons/minute at a slope gradient of 10%, and III. above said synthetic drainable base course, fill suitable to be drained, said fill comprising one or more layers, sections or quantities of refuse materials, or materials to be processed at least partially within said landfill, wherein at least a portion of said synthetic drainable base course is sloped downwardly in a gradient from a first portion to a second portion of said landfill.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 83 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 1,000 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 19 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 33% and at least 33 gallons/minute at a slope gradient of 10%.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 72 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 15,000 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 8.5 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 10%.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 72 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 25,000 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 3.5 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 10%.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said core element comprises ribs constructed and arranged in a bi-planar configuration.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said core element comprises ribs constructed and arranged in a tri-planar configuration.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said core element comprises ribs constructed and arranged in a uniplanar configuration.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 50 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said non-native soil components are one or more selected from the group consisting of refuse from highway excavations, refuse from building foundation excavations, mining refuse, manufacturing refuse, geologic refuse, gypsum refuse, quarry refuse, refuse from road-building activities, and refuse from dredging operations.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said base layer of said drainable structure comprises at least one slope.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said base layer of said drainable landfill comprises a plurality of sloping surfaces.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said plurality of surfaces form at least one container.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said landfill comprises a plurality of containers.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 41 words

The drainable landfill of claim 13 , wherein said plurality of containers are constructed and arranged such that at least portions of one container can drain via gravitational means into one or more of other containers of said plurality of containers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said drainage element further comprises iii) at least one frictional layer attached adjacent said lower surface of said geocomposite.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said drainage element further comprises iii) at least one cushion layer adjacent said lower surface of said geocomposite.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 12 words

The drainable landfill of claim 2 , wherein said landfill is layered.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 80 words

The synthetic drainable base course (SDBC) of claim 2 , wherein said ribs of said core are provided in a first set and a second set, and a) said ribs of said first set are disposed substantially parallel to one another and substantially in a first plane, and b) said ribs of said second set being disposed substantially parallel to one another and substantially in a second plane, and wherein said first and second planes are disposed adjacent one another.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 58 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 18 , wherein further ribs are provided in at least a third set wherein said ribs of said third set are disposed substantially parallel to one another and said third set of ribs is disposed in a third plane adjacent and non-parallel to the ribs of said first or second sets.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 18 , wherein the cross-section of any one of said ribs approximates one or more shapes from the group consisting of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a star shape, a crenulation, and a trapezoid.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 20 , wherein at least one of said ribs has the cross-section of a square and said square has a width and a height approximately equal to one another, and said width and said height have dimensions of from 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 55 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 20 , wherein at least one of said ribs has the cross-section of a rectangle and said rectangle has a width and a height, and said width has dimensions of from 2.0 mm to 15.0 mm and said height has dimensions of from 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 72 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 20 , wherein at least one of said ribs has the cross-section of a trapezoid and said trapezoid has a major width, a minor width and a height, and said major width has dimensions of from 2.0 mm to 15.0 mm, said minor width has dimensions of from 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm and said height has dimensions of from 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein at least some of said ribs comprise crenulations and said crenulations are disposed longitudinally along the surfaces of said ribs.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 28 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein all of said ribs are crenulated and said crenulations are disposed longitudinally along the surfaces of said ribs.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 1,200 kPa for at least 10,000 hours at 20 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 65% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 38 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 720 kPa for at least 5,000 hours at 40 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 65% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 38 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 1,200 kPa for at least 10,000 hours at 20 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 60% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 38 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 720 kPa for at least 5,000 hours at 40 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 60% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 38 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 1,200 kPa for at least 10,000 hours at 20 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 50% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 38 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 720 kPa for at least 5,000 hours at 40 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 50% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 45 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 720 kPa and a shear load of 240 kPa for at least 5,000 hours at 40 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 50% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 45 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 720 kPa and a shear load of 240 kPa for at least 5,000 hours at 40 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 45% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 45 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a normal load of 720 kPa and a shear load of 240 kPa for at least 5,000 hours at 40 degrees Celsius, said thickness under load is at least 40% of said no-load thickness.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 24 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein said no-load thickness is in the range of from 0.20 inches to 1.00 inches.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 24 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein said no-load thickness is in the range of from 0.20 inches to 0.75 inches.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 24 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein said no-load thickness is in the range of from 0.25 inches to 0.35 inches.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 38 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein said core element is a machine manufactured network of fibers or filaments and has a tensile strength of at least 400 lbs per foot in the machine direction.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 38 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein said core element is a machine manufactured network of fibers or filaments and has a tensile strength of at least 500 lbs per foot in the machine direction.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 26 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein said gradient is at least 1% in a direction away from said portion of said landfill.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 18 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein said portion of said landfill is the centerline.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 41 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 720 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average width of at least 2.0 mm and an average height of at least 10.0 mm.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 34 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 720 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average width of from 2.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 34 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 720 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average width of from 3.0 mm to 8.0 mm.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 34 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 1,200 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average width of from 2.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 34 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 1,200 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average width of from 3.0 mm to 8.0 mm.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 34 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 1,200 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average height of from 2.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 34 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 1,200 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average height of from 3.0 mm to 8.0 mm.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 41 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 720 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average width of at least 3.0 mm and an average height of at least 10.0 mm.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 41 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 1,200 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average width of at least 2.0 mm and an average height of at least 8.0 mm.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 41 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 720 kPa for at least 100 hours, said voids maintain an average width of at least 6.0 mm and an average height of at least 8.0 mm.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 41 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 1,200 kPa for at least 1,000 hours, said voids maintain an average width of at least 2.0 mm and an average height of at least 8.0 mm.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 41 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein under a load of 720 kPa for at least 1,000 hours, said voids maintain an average width of at least 6.0 mm and an average height of at least 8.0 mm.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 32 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 2 , wherein said ribs are constructed and arranged to form preferential flow paths and non-preferential flow paths in a sloped portion of said landfill.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 31 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 54 , wherein said preferential flow paths and said non-preferential flow paths are not parallel to one another and are formed by said ribs.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 28 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 54 , disposed in a landfill such that said preferential flow paths are substantially perpendicular to said portion of said landfill.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 28 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 54 , disposed in a landfill such that said preferential flow paths are substantially parallel to said portion of said landfill.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 31 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 54 , wherein at least 35% of the volume of fluid moving through said SDBC does so by way of said preferential flow paths.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 31 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 54 , wherein at least 50% of the volume of fluid moving through said SDBC does so by way of said preferential flow paths.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 31 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 54 , wherein at least 65% of the volume of fluid moving through said SDBC does so by way of said preferential flow paths.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 33 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 54 , wherein said portion of said landfill is the centerline or axis of at least one of said first and second portions of said landfill.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 32 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 1 , wherein said geocomposite core comprises at least one margin constructed and arranged to transmit fluids from said base course away from said landfill.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 51 words

The synthetic drainable base course of claim 62 , wherein said at least one margin is constructed and arranged to connect with one or more selected from the group consisting of perforated pipes, non-perforated pipes, drainage ditches, sumps, canals, re-circulating manifolds, drainage manifolds and facilities for further processing of said fluid.

Claim 66

Independent Claim 258 words

A method of forming drainable landfill, comprising the steps of I. providing a base layer formed at least partially of one or more of native soil components and non-native soil components, II. providing a synthetic drainable base course element disposed above said base layer, said drainage element comprising A) a void-maintaining geocomposite, said geocomposite including i) a geocomposite core element having a plurality of ribs constructed and arranged to form a plurality of interconnected voids, said core element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a no-load thickness and a thickness under load, wherein said thicknesses are measured substantially perpendicular to said surfaces, and ii) at least one fluid-transmissible layer attached adjacent said upper surface, wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 500 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 19 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 33% and at least 33 gallons/minute at a slope gradient of 10%, and III. providing above said synthetic drainable base course, fill suitable to be drained, said fill comprising one or more layers, sections or quantities of refuse materials, or materials to be processed at least partially within said landfill, wherein at least a portion of said synthetic drainable base course is sloped downwardly in a gradient from a first portion to a second portion of said landfill.

Claim 67

Independent Claim 258 words

A method of forming drainable landfill, comprising the steps of I. providing a base layer formed at least partially of one or more of native soil components and non-native soil components, II. providing a synthetic drainable base course element disposed above said base layer, said drainage element comprising A) a void-maintaining geocomposite, said geocomposite including i) a geocomposite core element having a plurality of ribs constructed and arranged to form a plurality of interconnected voids, said core element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a no-load thickness and a thickness under load, wherein said thicknesses are measured substantially perpendicular to said surfaces, and ii) at least one fluid-transmissible layer attached adjacent said upper surface, wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 500 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 19 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 33% and at least 33 gallons/minute at a slope gradient of 10%, and III. providing above said synthetic drainable base course, fill suitable to be drained, said fill comprising one or more layers, sections or quantities of refuse materials, or materials to be processed at least partially within said landfill, wherein at least a portion of said synthetic drainable base course is sloped downwardly in a gradient from a first portion to a second portion of said landfill.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said non-native soil components are one or more selected from the group consisting of refuse from highway excavations, refuse from building foundation excavations, mining refuse, manufacturing refuse, geologic refuse, gypsum refuse, quarry refuse, refuse from road-building activities, and refuse from dredging operations.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said base layer of said drainable structure comprises at least one slope.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said drainage element of said drainable landfill further comprises iii) at least one frictional layer attached adjacent said lower surface of said geocomposite.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said drainage element of said drainable landfill further comprises iii) at least one cushion layer adjacent said lower surface of said geocomposite.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said landfill is layered.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 76 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said ribs of said core are provided in a first set and a second set, and a) said ribs of said first set are disposed substantially parallel to one another and substantially in a first plane, and b) said ribs of said second set being disposed substantially parallel to one another and substantially in a second plane, and wherein said first and second planes are disposed adjacent one another.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein further ribs are provided in at least a third set wherein said ribs of said third set are disposed substantially parallel to one another and said third set of ribs is disposed in a third plane adjacent and non-parallel to the ribs of said first or second sets.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein the cross-section of any one of said ribs approximates one or more shapes from the group consisting of squares, rectangles, ovals, star shapes, crenulations, and trapezoids.

Claim 76

Dependent Claim 82 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 1,000 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 19 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 33% and at least 33 gallons/minute at a slope gradient of 10%.

Claim 77

Dependent Claim 71 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 15,000 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 8.5 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 10%.

Claim 78

Dependent Claim 71 words

The method of claim 64 , wherein said layers and said core element are constructed and arranged so that, under a load of at least 25,000 lbs/foot 2 for a period of at least 100 hours, said geocomposite maintains voids of sufficient dimension that fluid from said landfill can move freely through portions of said drainage element at a transmissivity of at least 3.5 gallons/minute/foot at a slope gradient of 10%.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-12-17	2011-06-18	2011-12-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-12-17	2015-06-18	2015-12-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-12-17	2019-06-18	2019-12-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Drainable base course for a landfill and method of forming the same

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