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US 4,440,520 AGranted
Ice aggregate road and method and apparatus for constructing same
AssigneeAtlantic Richfield Company
InventorEdwin N. Fisher
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAtlantic Richfield Company
InventorEdwin N. Fisher
Estimating the term…
A method and apparatus for constructing an ice aggregate structure, such as a road, at all sub-freezing temperatures likely to be encountered at high latitudes, including below -45.degree. F. Initially, ice is mined, crushed and then stripped of substantially all "fines", i.e., ice particles smaller than approximately 0.1 inch. The resulting crushed ice aggregate is then distributed and placed to the desired grade without requiring surface work or compaction. The upper thickness of the crushed ice aggregate is then bonded by spraying heated water thereon during single or multiple passes. Apparatus is provided to prevent evaporative cooling of the spray water prior to its contact with the crushed ice surface, which preferably comprises an enclosure or flexible skirt which extends around the spray nozzles downwardly to the ice aggregate surface. Substantially immediately following the final spray pass, normal wheeled traffic, such as machines utilized to form the ice aggregate road and to transport crushed ice and bond water, can be permitted to traverse the bonded crushed ice aggregate. A preferred embodiment of a crushed ice placement and bonding machine is disclosed which permits a smooth ice aggregate surface to be constructed over uneven terrain. The machine is capable of changing grade as may be required to ramp-on or ramp-off a structure or to clear a natural obstruction, and includes means for incorporating super-elevation (banking) into road curves. The machine is totally self-contained and self-sufficient, and permits construction, on a continuous flow basis, of roads and other civil structures over natural terrain without any machinery contact with the terrain. That is, the machine is capable of operating from the surface that it constructs.
A method of building a road suitable for use in cold climates, comprising the steps of:
A method of constructing an ice aggregate road suitable for use in arctic climates, comprising the steps of:
A method of building a road suitable for use in cold climates, comprises the steps of:
A method of continuously constructing an ice aggregate road in cold climates using a machine that supports, transports and distributes ice aggregate and bond water and grades distributed aggregate, comprising the steps of:
A method of constructing a road of ice aggregate over natural terrain without necessarily contacting the terrain, comprising the steps of:
A method of constructing an ice aggregate road suitable for use in Arctic climates, comprising the steps of:
A method of constructing an ice aggregate road suitable for use in Arctic climates, comprising the steps of:
A method as set forth in claim 42, further comprising the step of removing substantially all ice particles from said aggregate which are smaller than a particular size before the aggregate is placed over the road.
A method of constructing an ice aggregate road suitable for use in Arctic climates, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.