Tyre foundation structure
OwnerGarry Kevin Callinan, Peter Chapmaninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a foundation comprising one or more layers or mattresses of tyres such as 12 and 14, and a fill material provided within and/or between tyres of each of the mattresses 12 and 14. The fill material 16 is preferably a relatively coarse aggregate and provides a porous bed having relatively high drainage capacity. The lowermost mattress 14 is typically wrapped in a porous sheet such as a geofabric cloth which is designed to allow the passage of water across the lowermost mattress 14 whilst preventing the ingress of relatively finer material into the fill and which can otherwise lead to degeneration of the foundation. At least some of the tyres typically also have an upper sidewall removed therefrom.
Claims26
A foundation comprising one or more layers of tyres including a lowermost layer being located adjacent to the ground, and a fill material provided within tyres of each of the layers, wherein at least the lowermost layer has a porous sheet positioned thereunder which is adapted for allowing the passage of water across the lowermost layer whilst preventing the ingress of matter of a grade finer than the fill material into the lowermost layer.
A foundation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tyres within each of the layers are laid generally horizontally and are located adjacent to one another in a fixed array, with each of the layers in conjunction with the fill material forming a tyre mattress.
A foundation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the porous sheet is a geofabric textile layer allowing the passage of water across the lowermost layer whilst preventing the ingress of matter of a grade finer that the fill material into the lowermost layer.
A foundation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fill material is a rock aggregate or cobble of a relatively coarse grade.
A foundation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising an edge support structure that is located on opposing sides of at least an uppermost layer of the layers of tyres, wherein the support structure is adapted to inhibit lateral movement of the tyres.
A foundation as claim in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a series of drainage tyres located adjacent to one another within a trench excavated underneath the lowermost layer of tyres, with a drainage fill material being provided within or between the drainage tyres.
A foundation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least some of the tyres within the foundation have tyre portions arranged therewithin as additional reinforcement.
A foundation as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each tyre employed has an intact tread portion.
A foundation comprising one or more layers of tyres including a lowermost layer being located adjacent to the ground on a geofabric material, with tyres in the lowermost layer having an upper sidewall removed therefrom and being provided with a fill material therewithin,
- wherein the lowermost layer is enclosed within the geofabric material, and further fill material and/or one or more further layers of tyres overlay the enclosed lowermost layer to define the foundation.
A method of constructing on ground a foundation as defined in any one of the preceding claims including the steps of:
- forming one or more layers of tyres including a lowermost layer;
- positioning on the ground a porous sheet which is adapted for allowing the passage of water across the lowermost layer whilst preventing the ingress of matter of a grade finer than the fill material into the lowermost layer;
- locating the lowermost layer on the porous sheet adjacent to the ground;
- and
- filling within tyres of each of the layers with the fill material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.