U.S. patent application number 11/353118 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for textured geocell.
Invention is credited to Ferdie Chen, Chin-Tai Lin.
Application Number | 20060147276 11/353118 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46323837 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060147276 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Chin-Tai ; et
al. |
July 6, 2006 |
Textured geocell
Abstract
A geocell for retaining infill in geotechnical structure, e.g. a
protection construction on an unstable slope in mountainous areas,
construction foundation, and green-making with plants, consists of
several plastic plates; every two adjacent plastic plates are
connected together at several spaced apart elongated joints by
means of ultrasonic welding, each of which elongate joints includes
several aligned points; thus, the geocell can be expanded into a
honeycomb shape, and cells are formed therein for containing
backfill therein; the plastic plates are formed with rough finishes
so as to increase the backfill retaining capability of the present
geocell.
Inventors: |
Lin; Chin-Tai; (Taichung,
TW) ; Chen; Ferdie; (Tainan, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
46323837 |
Appl. No.: |
11/353118 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11024694 |
Dec 30, 2004 |
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11353118 |
Feb 14, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/302.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 3/00 20130101; E02D
17/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/302.4 |
International
Class: |
E02D 3/00 20060101
E02D003/00 |
Claims
1. A textured geocell for retaining infill in geotechnical
structure, comprising a plurality of plastic plates, every two
adjacent said plastic plates being connected together at a
plurality of spaced apart elongate joints by means of ultrasonic
welding, each of said elongate joints includes a plurality of
aligned points, such that said plastic plates expand to form a
honeycomb shape for containing the backfill therein; a plurality of
rough finishes on said plastic plates, said rough finishes having
irregular projections forming a randomized pattern so as to have
increased backfill retaining capability.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Patent Application is a Continuation-in-Part
Application based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/024,694,
filed on 30 Dec. 2004, currently pending.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a geocell three-dimensional
confinement system for retaining infill as a protective
construction for slope protection, erosion control, ground
stabilization, and retaining wall. More particularly, an infill is
contained in geocells in the shape of honeycombs, which are
composed of several plastic plates formed with rough surfaces for
increasing the infill retaining capability of the geocell.
[0004] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
[0005] A common geocell structure for retaining infill in
geotechnical structure includes several plastic plates. Every two
adjacent ones of the plastic plates are connected by ultrasonic
welding or other methods together at several joints with certain
ranges such that when the geocell is expanded, it will be in the
shape of a honeycomb, which includes many cells for containing the
infill, e.g. sand, stones, and earth, therein.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 8, a first infill retained geocell 3 of
the above structure consists of plastic plates 31. The plastic
plates 31 have smooth surfaces therefore friction between the
retained geocell 3 and backfill, which is contained in cells 32
formed between the plastic plates 31, is too weak to prevent the
backfill from being washed away from the retained geocell 3.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 9, a second infill retained geocell 4 of
the above structure consists of plastic plates, on which
diamond-shaped veins 41 are formed by means of an embossing roller
such that the friction between the retained geocell 4 and the
backfill increases slightly. However, the asperity height of the
embossed pattern is still not enough, usually lower than 0.3 mm.
Consequently, the friction between the retained geocell 4 and the
backfill still is not large enough to prevent the backfill from
being washed away from the retained geocell 4.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 10, U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,097 teaches a kind
of texturized cell material, which has a plate shape with
texturized surfaces; the plate-shaped main body is made by means of
extrusion forming, and rollers with superficial projections are
pressed against and moved along the plate-shaped main body to form
texturized surfaces before the plate-shaped main body cools and
hardens.
[0009] The manufacturing cost of the texturized cell material will
increase because rollers have to be pressed against and moved along
the plate-shaped main body in addition to the extrusion step.
Furthermore, because the texturized surfaces are formed by means of
rollers with superficial projections, they have regular projections
thereon; the pattern on the rollers will repeat itself every time
after the rollers turn one circle, as shown in FIG. 10.
Consequently, backfill can't closely fit in the space between the
regular projections, and the friction between the texturized cell
material and the backfill isn't large enough to prevent the
backfill from being washed away from the cell material.
SUMMARY
[0010] It is a main object of the present invention to provide a
textured geocell to overcome the above disadvantages. Improved
geotechnical structure can be a protection construction for slope
protection, erosion control, ground stabilization, and retaining
wall with plants.
[0011] The infill retained geocell of the present invention
consists of several plastic plates, which have rough surfaces.
Every two adjacent plastic plates are connected together at several
joints by means of ultrasonic welding or other methods. Each of
which elongate joints includes several aligned points; thus, the
geocell can be expanded into a honeycomb-shaped three-dimenmsional
confinement structure, and cells are formed for containing backfill
therein. Because the plastic plates have rough surfaces, the
backfill retaining capability has been significantly increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will be better understood by referring
to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective. view of the textured geocell for
retaining backfill in geotechnical structure in the present
invention,
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the textured geocell for
retaining backfill in the present invention, in stretched honeycomb
shape,
[0015] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the textured geocell of the
present invention,
[0016] FIG. 4 is a view showing the first usage of the textured
geocell of the present invention,
[0017] FIG. 5 is a view showing the second usage of the textured
geocell of the present invention,
[0018] FIG. 6 is a view showing the third usage of the textured
geocell of the present invention,
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of a
textured geocell in the present invention,
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first conventional
geocell for retaining backfill in geotechnical structure described
in Background,
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second conventional
geocell for retaining backfill in geotechnical structure described
in Background, and
[0022] FIG. 10 is a partial side view of the structure taught in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,097.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a preferred embodiment 1 of a
geocell for retaining infill in geotechnical structure includes
several plastic plates with rough finishes 11 with irregular
projections on both sides. Every two adjacent plastic plates are
connected together at several spaced apart elongate joints, each of
which elongate joints includes several aligned points, and in
turns, the present geocell will be in the shape of a honeycomb,
which includes many cells 12 for containing backfill therein, when
it is expanded, as shown in FIG. 2; welding with ultrasonic wave or
other methods can be used for connecting the plastic plates
together. Because the plastic plates have rough finishes 11 with
irregular projections, the backfill 2 can be effectively retained
in the textured infill retained geocell 1 of the present
invention.
[0024] The rough finishes 11 on the plastic plates are made by
means of the following steps:
[0025] 1. mixing materials: plastic materials, stains, and
processing aids are mixed and fed into a material barrel of a main
extruding machine (A), and plastic materials, stains, processing
aids, and foaming agent are mixed and fed into material barrels of
second extruding machines (B) and (C);
[0026] 2. extruding: the mixture of plastic materials, stains, and
processing aids is melted in a material conduit of the main
extruding machine (A), and extruded from the main extruding machine
(A) to form a smooth basic material of the plastic plates; also,
the mixtures of plastic materials, stains, processing aids, and
foaming agent are melted in material conduits of the second
extruding machines (B) and (C), with the foaming agent being heated
and decomposed to produce gas, and the molten mixtures are extruded
from the second extruding machines (B) and (C) respectively to form
two pieces of rough covering materials of the plastic plates; the
amount of the foaming agent is such that gas produced from the
foaming agent is enough for making plastics produce bubbles and the
bubbles break;
[0027] 3. shaping: the smooth basic material extruded from the main
extruding machine (A), and the rough covering material extruded
from the second extruding machines (B) and (C) are conveyed to a
mold head, and passed through the mold head together such that the
rough covering materials are joined to two sides of the smooth
basic parts, and a continuous sheet of plastic material forms with
rough finishes;
[0028] 4. cooling, rolling and severing: the continuous sheet of
plastic material with rough finishes is cooled, rolled, and severed
to form plural plastic plates with a predetermined size.
[0029] Because foaming agent is added to the material mixture, and
the amount of the foaming agent is such that when the foaming agent
is heated and decomposed, gas produced from it is enough for making
plastics produce bubbles and the bubbles break, the plastic plates
will form with bubbles on the surfaces thereof, and the bubbles
will break randomly. In other words, the plastic plates have rough
finishes with irregular projections forming a randomized
pattern.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, several textured geocells of the
present invention are expanded into honeycomb shape, filled with
backfill 2, and stacked up for use as a retaining wall or in a
construction foundation.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, several textured geocells of the
present invention are positioned side by side on an unstable slope
in a mountainous area, expanded into honeycomb shape, and filled
with backfill 2. Furthermore, trailing plants are planted on the
fill 2. Because the plastic plates have rough finishes 11 with
irregular projections, the filled 2 will be retained in the cells
12, and wash-away of the backfill 2 will be prevented when there is
rain. And, the trailing plants on the backfill 2 will grow to help
hold the backfill 2 in position. Consequently, the unstable slope
will be strengthened, and stones are prevented from falling.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 6, several textured geocells of the
present invention are positioned side by side on the ground,
stretched into honeycomb shape, and filled with backfill 2, and
then plants are planted on the backfill 2 to make green. Because
the plastic plates have rough finishes 11 with irregular
projections, the backfill 2 can be effectively retained in the
cells 12, and strength of the ground increased. Consequently, the
ground can remain in good shape even if people run thereon, and
wash-away of the backfill 2 will be prevented when there is rain,
and the trees and plants will grow well.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 7, in a second embodiment, the plastic
plates of the textured geocell 1 are further formed with several
through holes 13 over them.
[0034] From the above description, it can be easily understood that
the textured geocell of the present invention has better retaining
capability than the conventional ones as described in
Background.
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