Corrosion-resistant encasement for structural members
OwnerDouglas L. Foxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protective system for concrete, wood and steel piling or other structures subject to corrosion or wear from the action of water. The system includes an encasement sleeve surrounding the piling or other structure and made of fiberglass, epoxy resin, or other inert, corrosion resistant material, and a filler of concrete, epoxy resin or the like between the encasement sleeve and the piling. The encasement sleeve is made of separate sections connected together by tongue and groove joints. The encasement and filler are left permanently on the structure to protect the same from water or other elements, and also to reconstruct worn portions to achieve the original structural integrity of the structure.
Claims12
A light-weight in situ-formed protective encasement for a structural member situated at least partially in water, and supporting a transverse load,
- said encasement member comprising a sheet-like jacket of reinforced resin material which is chemically inert and corrosion resistant sized to receive at least a portion of said structural member therein with at least the lower end of said encasement member located beneath the water level,
- said jacket having at least two separated and confronting longitudinal wall edges, and having a cross-sectional area appreciably larger than the cross sectional area of said structural member to define a continuous gap between said jacket and said structural member,
- said sheet-like jacket being sufficiently flexible to enable separation of said jacket at said longitudinal edge walls by a distance greater than the width of said structural member whereby to permit said jacekt to be inserted transversely about said structural member in a mounted position in which said longitudinal edge walls are in overlapping relationship,
- said overlapping edge walls of said jacket in said mounted position being joined in situ by a sealing agent capable of curing in water,
- and a filler of inert bonding material filling said gap and bonding said jacket to said structural member, thereby forming with said jacket a rigid unitary encasement member as a permanent part of said structural member,
- said filler being made of a water insensitive resin capable of curing in water.
A method of forming a reinforcing and protective encasement about a portion of a structural member supporting a load and situated at least partially in water, comprising the steps of
- providing a sheet-like jacket of reinforced resin material which is chemically inert and corrosion resistant, said jacket having at least two separable longitudinal wall edges, and having a cross-sectional area appreciably larger than the cross-sectional area of said structural member,
- separating said jacket at said separable longitudinal wall edges and applying said jacket transversely about said structural member portion with at least the lower end of said structural member located beneath the water level,
- bringing said jacket to a closed position in which said longitudinal wall edges overlap and said jacket fits loosely around said structural member portion to provide a continuous gap between the inner surface of said jacket and the outer surface of said structural member,
- applying a seal to the bottom end of said jacket,
- sealing said overlapping edges with a sealant capable of setting in water,
- pouring into said gap a bonding composition capable of curing in water to displace the water in said gap,
- and allowing said bonding composition to cure and bond said jacket to said structural member, to form with said cover a permanent rigid encasement for said structural member, said encasement being free of water and constituting a structural replacement for said structural member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.