초록 ▼

The barrier is waterproof, and is used to contain contaminated groundwater within an enclosure. Steel elements are pile driven, the elements having rolled-over forms (5,6) which inter-engage. Upon inter-engagement, an enclosed cavity (90) is created which extends from top to bottom of the piled elem

The barrier is waterproof, and is used to contain contaminated groundwater within an enclosure. Steel elements are pile driven, the elements having rolled-over forms (5,6) which inter-engage. Upon inter-engagement, an enclosed cavity (90) is created which extends from top to bottom of the piled elements. A scraper (19) on the junior element (8) cleans dirt out of the cavity as the junior is driven down alongside the adjacent senior element (7). The cavity may be cleaned out by inserting a hose pipe to the bottom of the cavity (90) and flushing through with water. Then, a sealant is injected into the cavity, using an injection tube. The inter-engagement of the edge forms (5,6) of the elements is such that the cavity formed by the inter-engagement is constrained to its nominal size and shape throughout the whole height of the barrier.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] Procedure for making an in-ground barrier, wherein:the procedure includes the step of providing adjoining barrier elements, each element comprising a length of sheet material of uniform cross-sectional shape when viewed in plan, the elements being arranged edge to edge;the procedure

[ I claim:] [1.] Procedure for making an in-ground barrier, wherein:the procedure includes the step of providing adjoining barrier elements, each element comprising a length of sheet material of uniform cross-sectional shape when viewed in plan, the elements being arranged edge to edge;the procedure includes the step of inserting the elements into the ground;the cross-sectional shape of each element, when viewed in plan, has a left edge-form and a right edge-form;the barrier is of the type wherein, when the barrier is installed in the ground, the left edge-form of a senior element is in operative engagement with the right edge-form of the adjoining junior element;the said operatively engaging left and right edge-forms overlap and interlock together to form, when viewed in plan, the circumference of an enclosure, which defines a cavity;one portion, termed the senior portion, of the circumference of the enclosure, being less than the whole circumference of the enclosure is constituted by a portion of the right edge-form of the senior element, and another portion of the circumference of the enclosure, termed the junior portion, being also less than the whole circumference of the enclosure is constituted by a portion of the left edge-form of the junior element;whereby the circumference of the enclosure is inherently not watertight, in that potential leakage paths exist between the senior and junior portions of the circumference of the enclosure;the senior and junior portions of the circumference of the enclosure overlap and interlock in such a manner that each and every leakage path starting from in front of the barrier and finishing behind the barrier is in communication with the said cavity;the shape and size of the said enclosure, when viewed in plan, is such that a circle inscribed within the cavity has a substantial diameter;the said inscribed circle is clear and unobstructed, in that, when viewed in plan, none of the material of either element encroaches within the inscribed circle;the edge-forms of the elements are so shaped that the said inscribed circle within the enclosure is clear and unobstructed over the height of the enclosure;the said senior and junior elements are provided with a mutually-interlocking dovetails means, for maintaining uniform the size and shape, when viewed in plan, of the said enclosure, both during insertion and after;the procedure includes the step of extracting solid material from the cavity inside the enclosure, and of removing the said solid material from the cavity;the procedure includes extracting and removing the solid material to the extent that, after removal, the cavity is substantially unobstructed by solid material, and is substantially clear and open, over the whole height of the enclosure, from top to bottom of the barrier;the procedure includes the step of passing an inspection probe down into the cavity, where the probe is of the kind which is capable of providing an indication of the nature of the walls of the enclosure, being an indication which is readable from outside of the cavityand wherein the procedure includes the step of passing the inspection probe down into the cavity, from the ground surface, substantially down to the foot of the junior element.