System for strengthening structural elements
AssigneeInsitu, Inc.
InventorPhillip G. Landers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for strengthening a structural element, such as a wooden utility pole, wherein a structural foaming agent fills a void space defined by the structural element and a structural foaming agent within a container is employed to plug a passageway leading from the exterior of the structural element to the void space.
Claims17
A method of strengthening a structural element defining a void space and having a passageway leading from the exterior of said structural element to said void space, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting structural foaming agent into said void space in an essentially unfoamed state so that said essentially unfoamed structural foaming agent partially fills said void space;
- after said inserting step, positioning in said passageway a flexible container having structural foaming agent therein while said structural foaming agent in said flexible container is in an essentially unfoamed state;
- after said positioning step, sealing said passageway by foaming the structural foaming agent within the flexible container to form a bond between said flexible container and said structural element at the location of said passageway;
- and
- substantially filling said void space after the step of sealing said passageway by foaming and expanding the structural foaming agent within said void space.
A method of strengthening a structural element defining a void space, said method comprising the steps of:
- mixing a plurality of discrete, elongated fibers with structural foaming agent while said structural foaming agent is in an essentially unfoamed state;
- after said mixing step, inserting said mixture of essentially unfoamed structural foaming agent and discrete, elongated fibers into said void space to partially fill said void space;
- after said inserting step, foaming said structural foaming agent within said void space to expand said foaming agent;
- during said foaming step, orienting a substantial number of said elongated fibers so that the major axes of said oriented fibers are essentially uni-directionally disposed within said void space;
- and
- after said foaming step, hardening said structural foaming agent with said oriented fibers imbedded in said structural foaming agent.
In combination:
- a structural element having a void space and a passageway leading from the exterior of said structural element to said void space;
- hardened, foamed structural foaming agent substantially filling said void space;
- and
- a container in said passageway, said container being at least partially formed of porous material and defining an interior filled with hardened, foamed structural foaming agent, an exterior of said container having hardened foamed structural foaming agent bonded thereto and to the structural element to form a plug in said passageway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.