U.S. patent application number 12/581831 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-22 for biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around watercourses.
Invention is credited to Andrew MOUNTAIN.
Application Number | 20100098353 12/581831 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40097672 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100098353 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MOUNTAIN; Andrew |
April 22, 2010 |
BIODEGRADABLE OR DEGRADABLE FILM BAG FOR THE PLACEMENT OF CONCRETE
OR FORMATION OF CONCRETE REPAIRS IN AND AROUND WATERCOURSES
Abstract
The invention relates to a bag used for the placement of
concrete or grout, either hand placed or pump filled, in and around
watercourses. The bags are impermeable and contained in nature,
made of biodegradable, degradable or water soluble polymer film,
typically made from renewable starch based polymers or water
soluble polymers. The bags offer a means of easily and simply
placing concrete or grout, safely, cleanly and without risk of
contamination to the watercourse or environment from cement
leakage, being impermeable in nature, whilst allowing the polymer
film to safely degrade, dissolve or disintegrate, in the
environment, without the risk of unsightly or environmentally
detrimental polythene waste being placed in the watercourse.
Inventors: |
MOUNTAIN; Andrew; (Bradford,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRANKLIN & ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL LLC
230 St. Francis Drive, Suite 1
SANTA FE
NM
87501
US
|
Family ID: |
40097672 |
Appl. No.: |
12/581831 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/1 ; 383/63;
383/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 15/06 20130101;
E02B 3/108 20130101; E02B 3/127 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/1 ; 383/92;
383/63 |
International
Class: |
B65D 30/02 20060101
B65D030/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 20, 2008 |
GB |
0819163.7 |
Claims
1. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, where the bag is formed from a biodegradable or
degradable polymer film forming a fully impermeable means of
containment to allow concrete or grout to be placed safely in or
around watercourses.
2. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, where the bags are
specifically filled with said concrete or grout and then placed by
hand in its intended final position.
3. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, where the film material is
made from corn, potato, tapioca, wheat or similar derived natural
renewable polymer.
4. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claims 2, where the film material is
made from corn, potato, tapioca, wheat or similar derived natural
renewable polymer.
5. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, where closure of the bag is
provided by sewing the top of the bag, Ziploc or similar means.
6. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 2, where closure of the bag is
provided by sewing the top of the bag, Ziploc or similar means.
7. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, where closure of the bag is
provided by a formal inlet, incorporating a push-in or threaded
closure cap or plug.
8. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 2, where closure of the bag is
provided by a formal inlet, incorporating a push-in or threaded
closure cap or plug.
9. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, where the film bag is formed
into extensive mattresses and pump filled with grout, concrete or
similar cementitious material.
10. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, where the concrete or grout
placed within the bags is in its wet state.
11. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 2, where the concrete or grout
placed within the bags is in its wet state.
12. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, where the concrete or grout
placed within the bags is in its dry or semi-dry state.
13. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 2, where the concrete or grout
placed within the bags is in its dry or semi-dry state.
14. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, whereby the film bag can be
placed within a simple hessian, jute or similar natural fabric bag,
to give the appearance of a woven fabric bag.
15. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 2, whereby the film bag can be
placed within a simple hessian, jute or similar natural fabric bag,
to give the appearance of a woven fabric bag.
16. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 1, whereby the polymer forming
the film is specifically a water soluble polymer.
17. A biodegradable or degradable film bag for the placement of
concrete or formation of concrete repairs in and around
watercourses, as claimed in claim 2, whereby the polymer forming
the film is specifically a water soluble polymer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims the benefit of foreign priority
under 35 USC .sctn.119 of GB Patent Application 0819163.7, filed
Oct. 20, 2008, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates bags and, in particular, to a
bag used for the placement of concrete or grout, either hand placed
or pump filled, in and around watercourses.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0003] There are many instances in which concrete needs to be
placed in or around watercourses, for example, in order to repair
or protect bridges from undermining or scour.
[0004] Simple, hand-placed, concrete filled hessian bags, similar
to sand bags, have traditionally served this function, to enable
the placement concrete in rivers for example, however, the open
weave of the fabric allows the escape of cement fines into the
water which can result in pollution. As a consequence, strict
environmental legislation has resulted in their disfavour with
environmental consulting bodies.
[0005] A range of other fabrics have been used to overcome these
problems, utilising for example, a dense weave or coated fabrics,
to provide an impermeable component to the fabric to better contain
the concrete within the bag. These bags, due to their fabric
nature, are typically sewn and in order to contain a sealed and
impermeable nature have formal inlets and closure points, typically
involving plastic components. As a result, this contained
impermeable form of bagwork tends to be considerably more costly to
manufacture than traditional hessian bags.
[0006] Another form of bag currently used, utilises paper. In this
instance, bags containing dry sand/cement for example, can be
placed in or around water. The sand/cement slowly absorbs external
water through the paper bag to slowly cure the sand/cement mix, to
form a hardened block. The potential for rips or tears and
subsequent spillage of wet or dry material is however
significant.
[0007] The invention described herein attempts to match the
impermeable nature of coated fabric bags, instead utilising
biodegradable or degradable polythene or polymer film, to form the
bag lining. In this reference, polythene (adj) refers to any
polymer that can be moulded when hot, and not just as an
abbreviation of polyethylene. The biodegradable or degradable bag
is typically made of corn or potato starch, or similar natural
renewable polymer, a traditional fossil fuel polymer based film
with additional catalysts that allow rapid physical degradation, or
a water soluble polymer such as poly vinyl alcohol.
[0008] Biodegradable polymer film can also degrade rapidly, with
the use of micro-organisms, with both biodegradable or degradable
forms breaking down over a period of typically weeks to months,
into carbon dioxide, water and methane. The ultimate result is that
the polymer film and bagwork degrades and disappears, in a safe and
non-polluting manner.
[0009] For the function of placing concrete in water, the use of
biodegradable, degradable or watersoluble polymer film to form the
bags has several advantages. Firstly, the impermeable nature of the
polymer film means that unlike hessian, no cement fines can escape
the bag, preventing cement pollution from escaping into the
environment. The polymer film successfully achieves the primary
role of containing the concrete and forming a concrete block,
without allowing cement fines to escape out of the bag. Secondly,
the use of polymer film means that seams can be glued or heat
welded, eliminating the need for sewing for the bulk, if not all,
of the bag that would typically be required for fabrics. Bags could
therefore be mass-produced, using machines, significantly cheaper
than sewn bags.
[0010] Finally, having a bag or "formwork" made from a material
that breaks down in an environmentally safe manner means that
within a relatively short period of time, all traces of the bag
have disappeared, without looking tattered or unsightly and without
causing adverse environmental impact or pollution. This is
particularly true for starch-based polymer film, made from
renewable natural resources, and water soluble forms of polymer
film. It is important to appreciate the fact that bags used for the
placement of concrete below water are permanent and remain in
position after the blockwork has formed. Non-biodegradable polymer
film, typically traditional oil based polythene, could conceivably
be used for the bags, to place the concrete in an impermeable
manner, however, the polythene would be unsightly and have a
negative and very long term impact on any environment. Using
renewable biodegradable polymer based polymer film, typically
formed from corn, potato, tapioca or wheat starch, for example, or
various forms of water soluble polymer, for example poly vinyl
alcohol, will have many environmental benefits and importantly
allow the use of polymer films in this application.
[0011] According to one aspect, a biodegradable or degradable film
bag is described for the placement of concrete or formation of
concrete repairs in and around watercourses. The bag is formed from
a biodegradable or degradable polymer film forming a fully
impermeable means of containment to allow concrete or grout to be
placed safely in or around watercourses.
[0012] The biodegradable or degradable film bag can be specifically
filled with said concrete or grout and then placed by hand in its
intended final position. The film material can be made from corn,
potato, tapioca, wheat or similar derived natural renewable
polymer. The closure of the bag can be provided by sewing the top
of the bag, Ziploc or similar means. The closure of the bag can be
provided by a formal inlet, incorporating a push-in or threaded
closure cap or plug. The film bag can be formed into extensive
mattresses and pump filled with grout, concrete or similar
cementitious material. The concrete or grout placed within the bags
can be in its wet state or its dry or semi-dry state. The film bag
can be placed within a simple hessian, jute or similar natural
fabric bag, to give the appearance of a woven fabric bag. The
polymer forming the film can be specifically a water soluble
polymer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a typical open-ended bag, in section and
profile;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the sequence of filling and closure;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows several options for closure; and
[0017] FIG. 4 shows how typically the bags are placed below water,
in this instance to underpin an undermined wall or abutment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The particular values and configurations discussed in these
non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to
illustrate at least one embodiment of the present invention and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a biodegradable or degradable film bag, 1, in
both front and side elevations, with the top end open but the
opposing side, 2, sealed, in this instance with a heat weld.
Gussets, 3, are formed along the sides, to allow expansion of the
bag, when filled.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a typical sequence of filling, showing an
empty, open-ended film bag, 4, subsequently filled with concrete,
5, then sealed along the open end, in this example with a simple
sewn line of stitching.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows possible forms of closure along the top edge.
For bags with an open top edge, these include a simple sewn stitch
line, 7, or a Ziploc closure, 8. Alternatively, a fully closed bag
can be formed, including a formal inlet, 9, in this embodiment
shown with a circular threaded closure that utilises a threaded
closure cap or plug. For an embodiment incorporating a formal inlet
of this nature, both ends of the bag are sealed, in this instance
with a heat weld.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows how the hand placed bags are typically used and
placed, once the bags are filled with concrete or grout, and closed
in a manner shown in FIG. 3. the filled bags, 11, are placed, in
this instance, to fill a void, 12, beneath an undermined bridge
abutment, 13, below water.
[0023] The embodiments and examples set forth herein are presented
to best explain the present invention and its practical application
and to thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and utilize
the invention. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize
that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for
the purpose of illustration and example only.
[0024] Other variations and modifications of the present invention
will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and it is the intent
of the appended claims that such variations and modifications be
covered.
[0025] The description as set forth is not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention. Many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching without departing from the scope of the following claims.
It is contemplated that the use of the present invention can
involve components having different characteristics.
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