Method and apparatus for constructing slurry walls
AssigneeThatcher Engineering Corporation
InventorFred C. Schmednecht
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for constructing a slurry wall in a trench utilizing a trenching apparatus equipped with slurry barriers behind the digging chain adapted to slidingly engage the opposite side walls of the trench from the ground level to the bottom of the trench and a trailing unit also behind the trencher straddling the trench and comprising plows near the point at which the digging chain deposits excavated soil at the ground level and a slurry injector for introducing slurry into the trench behind the slurry barriers. In a preferred embodiment, actuators are employed to shift the slurry barriers from a retracted position into an operative position.
Claims10
An apparatus for constructing a slurry wall in a trench comprising, in combination:
- a. a trencher including driving means and a trenching column, the trenching column having a digging chain to excavate soil to form a trench as the trencher is advanced;
- b. a slurry isolation means disposed immediately behind the trenching column, the slurry isolation means adapted to slidingly engage the opposite side walls of the trench from the ground level to the bottom of the trench;
- and
- c. trailing means towed by the driving means and including (i) plow means extending rearwardly and outwardly with respect to both sides of the trench from a point just behind the digging chain in close proximity to the slurry isolation means for displacing the excavated soil laterally away from the formed trench and (ii) slurry injection means for introducing slurry material into the trench behind the slurry isolation means whereby a slurry wall may be constructed simultaneously with the excavation of the trench, and the slurry isolation means prevent the slurry from entering the area of influence of the digging chain.
A method for constructing a slurry wall in a trench simultaneously with the excavation thereof comprising the steps of:
- a. excavating a trench with a trencher comprising a trenching column including a digging chain;
- b. forming a slurry isolation means behind the digging chaing between the trench side walls and the trenching column and grading the ground surface just behind the slurry isolation means and displacing the graded and excavated soil away from the trench to thereby prevent re-entry of the soil into the trench;
- and
- c. injecting slurry material into the excavated trench behind the slurry barrier whereby the slurry isolation means prevents the slurry from entering the area of influence of the digging chain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.