Trenchless method of installing a monolithic manhole in a levee for pipe access
AssigneeHydro-Klean, LLC
InventorsMatt Huston, Michael Ingham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A monolithic manhole is formed in a levee without trenching, to provide access to drain pipes within the levee for maintenance and repair of the pipes. The manhole is formed by first forcing an outer tube downwardly into the earth and levee and removing soil from within the outer tube to expose the pipe. An inner tube is lowered into the outer tube, with an annular space maintained between the tubes. The annular space is filled with concrete, which hardens to form a monolithic vertical wall. A concrete floor may be poured at the bottom of the wall and a cover attached to the top of the wall. A hole is cut in the pipe inside the wall to provide internal access to the pipe.
Claims20
A method of creating a manhole in a soil levee having a drain pipe, comprising:
- determining a location of the manhole so as to intersect the drain pipe;
- inserting an outer tube vertically into the levee by vacuum excavation, so as to remove soil from inside the outer tube;
- inserting an inner tube inside the outer tube so as to provide an annular space between the tubes;
- and
- pouring concrete into the space to form a monolith concrete manhole wall.
A method of providing access to a pipe in an earthen levee, comprising:
- forcing an outer tubular member downwardly into the levee until a bottom of the outer tubular member is at least level with the pipe;
- then
- removing soil within the outer tubular member;
- then
- lowering an inner tubular member into the outer tubular member so as to form an annular space between the outer and inner tubular members;
- then
- filling the annular space with material to form an annular wall;
- and
- removing an upper piece of the pipe within the annular wall to expose the interior of the pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.