U.S. patent application number 17/199500 was filed with the patent office on 2022-08-11 for a microtrench fill sealant device and method of filling and sealing a microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct using the device.
The applicant listed for this patent is CCIIP LLC. Invention is credited to Angelo J. Pino, JR..
Application Number | 20220251801 17/199500 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220251801 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pino, JR.; Angelo J. |
August 11, 2022 |
A MICROTRENCH FILL SEALANT DEVICE AND METHOD OF FILLING AND SEALING
A MICROTRENCH CONTAINING AN OPTICAL FIBER AND/OR
INNERDUCT/MICRODUCT USING THE DEVICE
Abstract
A hot patch box and spray wand configured to install a hot patch
fill into a microtrench cut into a roadway. A method of sealing a
microtrench using the hot patch box.
Inventors: |
Pino, JR.; Angelo J.; (New
York, NY) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CCIIP LLC |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/199500 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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63147828 |
Feb 10, 2021 |
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International
Class: |
E02F 5/12 20060101
E02F005/12 |
Claims
1. A microtrench fill sealant device comprising: a spray wand
configured to spray a hot patch fill sealant into a microtrench; a
tip insert configured to be inserted into the microtrench to guide
the spray wand during filling of the microtrench; and a hot patch
box that surrounds the spray wand configured to contain overfill or
spillage of the hot patch fill sealant, wherein the hot patch box
is configured to be dragged over the microtrench so that the
overfill or spillage of the hot patch fill sealant are deposited in
the microtrench and/or spread in a thin layer over a surface of the
roadway, and wherein the spray wand is mounted in the hot patch box
so that during dragging of the hot patch box over the microtrench
the tip insert is inserted within the microtrench.
2. (canceled)
3. The microtrench fill sealant device according to claim 1,
wherein the hot patch box comprises a roadway seal to seal the hot
patch box against a roadway surface and reduce spillage of the hot
patch fill sealant from the hot patch box.
4. A method of sealing a microtrench in a roadway containing an
optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct comprising: spraying a hot
patch fill sealant into the microtrench containing the optical
fiber and/or innerduct/microduct from a spray wand; dragging a hot
patch box over the microtench, the hot patch box surrounds the
spray wand to contain overfill or spillage of the hot patch fill
sealant, wherein the spray wand is mounted in the hot patch box;
and the hot patch box depositing the overfill or spillage of the
hot patch fill sealant in the microtrench and/or spreading the
overfill or spillage of the hot patch fill sealant in a thin layer
over a surface of the roadway.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the spray wand further
comprises a tip insert and the method further comprises inserting
the tip insert into the microtrench to guide the spray wand during
dragging of the hot patch box.
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the hot patch box
comprises a roadway seal to seal the hot patch box against a
roadway surface and the method further comprises using the roadway
seal to reduce spillage of the hot patch fill sealant from the hot
patch box.
7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the roadway is asphalt
or concrete.
8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising wheels
mounted on the hot patch box.
9. The microtrench fill sealant device according to claim 1,
further comprising wheels mounted on the hot patch box.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a microtrench gravel installer
configured to install gravel into a microtrench at a precise gravel
layer thickness. The invention also relates to a method of filling
and sealing a microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or
innerduct/microduct using the microtrench gravel installer to
precisely fill a microtrench to a desired gravel layer
thickness.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] During installation of the optical fiber, a microtrench is
cut in a roadway, the optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct is
laid in the microtrench and then a fill and sealant are applied
over the optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct to protect them
from the environment. State and city regulations can require
different types of fill. For example, in some locations the optical
fiber must first be covered with gravel and then the microtrench is
sealed.
[0003] Methods of microtenching that can be utilized in the present
invention include the methods described in my previous U.S. Pat.
Nos. 10,641,414; 10,571,047; 10,571,045; 10,781,942; 10,808,379;
10,808,377 and U.S. patent publication Nos. 20180292027;
20180156357, and 20180106015, the complete disclosures of which are
incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.
[0004] Conventional methods of installing gravel into a microtrench
are not efficient, cannot provide a precise level of gravel in the
microtrench, and they are slow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Objectives of the invention include providing a microtrench
gravel installer that provides a precise level of gravel in a
microtrench in a fast and efficient manner.
[0006] Objectives of the invention, and other objectives are
obtained by a method of continuously filling and sealing a
microtrench in a roadway containing an optical fiber and/or
innerduct/microduct to return the roadway to substantially an
original state comprising: [0007] flowing gravel from a gravel
dispenser into a microtrench containing the optical fiber and/or
innerduct/microduct to provide a gravel layer over the optical
fiber and/or innerduct/microduct in the microduct, and the gravel
dispenser travelling in a first direction; [0008] scraping the
gravel layer in the first direction with a gravel leveler having a
scraping surface and a bottom surface; [0009] adjusting a distance
between the bottom surface and a bottom of the microtrench to
provide a gravel layer thickness, gravel below the bottom surface
remaining in place during scraping to provide the gravel layer and
gravel above the bottom surface contacting the scraping surface and
moving in the first direction; and [0010] installing a fill sealant
above the gravel layer to seal and fill the microtrench to
substantially return the roadway back to an original state with a
filled and sealed microtrench that protects the optical fiber
and/or innerduct/microduct in the microtrench from weather and
traffic travelling on the roadway.
[0011] The objectives are also obtained by a method of continuously
filling and sealing a microtrench in a roadway containing an
optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct to return the roadway to
substantially an original state comprising: [0012] flowing gravel
from a gravel dispenser into a premeasured gravel box to form a
premeasured amount of gravel; [0013] flowing the premeasured amount
of gravel from the premeasured gravel box into a microtrench
containing the optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct to provide
a gravel layer over the optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct in
the microduct; and [0014] installing a fill sealant above the
gravel layer to seal and fill the microtrench to substantially
return the roadway back to an original state with a filled and
sealed microtrench that protects the optical fiber and/or
innerduct/microduct in the microtrench from weather and traffic
travelling on the roadway.
[0015] The objectives are further obtained by a microtrench gravel
installer configured to install
[0016] a layer of gravel in a microtrench comprising: [0017] a
gravel container configured for containing gravel; [0018] a gravel
chute connected to the gravel container and configured for
dispensing gravel from the gravel container to a microtrench; and
[0019] a gravel leveler having a scraping surface and a bottom
surface, the scrapping surface is configured to scrape gravel in
the microtench and form a gravel layer in the microtrench having a
gravel layer thickness based on the distance from the bottom
surface to a bottom of the microtrench.
[0020] The objectives can also be obtained by a microtrench
premeasured gravel box comprising a gravel box container, a gravel
measurement configured to measure an amount of gravel contained in
the gravel box container, a gravel box door configured to dump
premeasured gravel from the gravel box container into a microtrench
to form a gravel layer in the microtrench having a desired
height.
[0021] The objectives are further obtained by a microtrench fill
sealant device comprising a spray wand configured to spray a hot
patch fill sealant into a microtrench, and a hot patch box that
surrounds the spray wand configured to contain overfill or spillage
of the hot patch fill sealant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1A illustrates a side view of a microtrench gravel
installer.
[0023] FIG. 1B illustrates a view of a gravel leveler inside the
microtrench.
[0024] FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of a microtrench gravel
installer.
[0025] FIG. 1D illustrates a gravel leveler having a convex
shape.
[0026] FIG. 1E illustrates a gravel leveler having a convex
shape.
[0027] FIG. 1F illustrates a gravel leveler having a concave
shape.
[0028] FIG. 1G illustrates a gravel leveler having a flat
shape.
[0029] FIG. 1H illustrates a gravel leveler height adjuster.
[0030] FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of a filled and sealed
microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or
innerduct/microduct.
[0031] FIG. 2B illustrates a view of the microtrench having a
roadway mask.
[0032] FIG. 3A illustrates a view of a gravel leveler inside the
microtrench.
[0033] FIG. 3B illustrates a view of a gravel leveler inside the
microtrench.
[0034] FIG. 3C illustrates a view of a gravel leveler inside the
microtrench.
[0035] FIG. 4A illustrates a view of the gravel tamper.
[0036] FIG. 4B illustrates a view of the gravel tamper.
[0037] FIG. 4C illustrates a view of the gravel tamper.
[0038] FIG. 4D illustrates a view of the gravel tamper.
[0039] FIG. 5A illustrates a view of a wand and box for installing
fill sealant.
[0040] FIG. 5B illustrates a view of a wand and box for installing
fill sealant.
[0041] FIG. 5C illustrates a view of a wand and box for installing
fill sealant.
[0042] FIG. 5D illustrates a view of a wand and box for installing
fill sealant.
[0043] FIG. 5E illustrates a view of a wand and box for installing
fill sealant.
[0044] FIG. 5F illustrates a view of a wand and box for installing
fill sealant.
[0045] FIG. 6A illustrates a view of gravel box.
[0046] FIG. 6B illustrates a view of a gravel box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0047] The invention will now be explained with reference to the
attached non-limiting drawings. To facilitate an understanding of
the principles and features of the various embodiments of the
present invention, various illustrative embodiments are explained
below. Although example embodiments of the present invention are
explained in detail, it is to be understood that other embodiments
are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the present
invention is limited in its scope to the details of construction
and arrangement of components set forth in the following
description or examples. The present invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various
ways.
[0048] As used in the specification and the appended claims, the
singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural references unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to a
component is intended also to include composition of a plurality of
components. References to a composition containing "a" constituent
is intended to include other constituents in addition to the one
named.
[0049] Also, in describing the example embodiments, terminology
will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that
each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those
skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents that
operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
[0050] It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more
method steps does not preclude the presence of additional method
steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly
identified. Similarly, it is also to be understood that the mention
of one or more components in a composition does not preclude the
presence of additional components than those expressly identified.
Such other components or steps not described herein can include,
but are not limited to, for example, similar components or steps
that are developed after development of the disclosed
technology.
[0051] While certain implementations of the disclosed technology
have been described in connection with what is presently considered
to be the most practical and various implementations, it is to be
understood that the disclosed technology is not to be limited to
the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to
cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included
within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms
are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive
sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
[0052] Microtrench widths usually range from about 0.25 to about 8
inches, preferably about 0.5 to about 6 inches, with a depth of 36
inches or less, preferably 20 inches or less. Other widths and
depths can be used as desired.
[0053] The microtrench gravel installer includes a gravel leveler
14 sized to fit within the microtrench 4 and which has an elongated
shape. The gravel leveler 14 has a bottom surface 18 that is
preferably flat to provide and even surface on the gravel 40.
However, other shapes of the bottom surface 18 can be used to
provide any desired shape of the surface on the gravel layer 40.
The bottom surface 18 is used to define a thickness of the gravel
layer 40 in the microtrench 8. The distance between the bottom
surface 18 and the bottom of the microtrench 4 is set by the user
to define the gravel layer thickness 42 of the gravel layer 40. The
gravel leveler 14 has a scraping surface 20 that faces the gravel 8
during use and scrapes the gavel 8 above the gravel layer thickness
42 in a direction the gravel leveler 14 is travelling in the
microtrench 4 and allows the gravel 8 below the gravel layer
thickness 42 to remain in place and form the gravel layer 40. The
scraping surface 20 can have a flat shape 22, a concave shape 24, a
convex shape 26, or any other shape as desired. More than one
gravel leveler 14 can be utilized if desired. The gravel leveler 14
is preferably formed from steel.
[0054] The gravel leveler 14 can be raised or lowered in the
microtrench 4 to provide a desired gravel layer thickness 42 using
a gravel leveler height adjuster 15. Height adjusters are
well-known and any the gravel leveler height adjuster 15 can
utilize any suitable device for lifting and lowering the gravel
leveler 14, such as hydraulic, spring loaded, manual, electric or
other. An example of a height adjuster 15 is shown in FIG. 1H,
which adjusts the height of gravel leveler 14 in relation to the
bottom of the microtrench 4 by sliding the threaded wheel axle 72
up or down in the slot 70 and then locking the wheel axle 72 in
place using the locking nut 74. Another example of a height
adjuster 15 is shown in FIG. 1C, in which the arm 17 to which the
gravel leveler 14 is attached can be raised and lowered by the
height adjuster 15.
[0055] The gravel leveler 14 should be firmly fixed in place in
relation to the height so that during use the gravel 8 in the
microtrench 4 does not lift the gravel leveler 14. The gravel
leveler 14 can have a wheel 19 that contacts a roadway surface 12
of the roadway 2. During movement of the roadway leveler 14, the
wheel 19 can rotate in contact with the roadway surface 12. To keep
the wheel 19 against the surface of the roadway 2 and the bottom
surface 18 a set distance from the bottom of the microtrench 4
during use, the gravel leveler 14 can be biased towards the bottom
of the microtrench 4. The biasing can provided by a spring 30, air
pressure 32, hydraulic pressure 34, weight 36 or any other desired
method. The weight 36 can be provided by added weight and/or by a
gravel leveler connection 37 to the gravel dispenser 50. The level
of biasing is preferably adjustable to provide different pressures
of the scraping surface 20 against the gravel 8. The gravel leveler
14 can be vibrated during use to help move the gravel 8 in the
microtrench 4. Examples of suitable gravel layer thicknesses 42 are
from about 1 inch to about 12 inches, and will usually depend upon
the total depth of the microtrench 4. The top, exposed surface of
the gravel layer thickness 42 is preferably about 1 to about 6
inches below the surface 12 of the roadway 2 so that there is
sufficient space to apply the fill sealant 10 (also referred to as
reinstatement material).
[0056] The gravel leveler 14 can be connected to a gravel dispenser
50 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C. The gravel dispenser 50 can have a
gravel container 52 for storing gravel 8 and a gravel chute 54 for
dispensing gravel 8 from the gravel container 52 to the microtrench
4. A gravel metering device 56 can be used to meter the amount of
gravel 8 dispensed from the gravel container 52 to the gravel chute
54. Gravel metering devices 56 used to measure an amount of gravel
are well-known and any suitable gravel metering device can be
utilized in the present invention. Examples of gravel dispensers 50
include dump trucks (FIG. 1C) and trailer's (FIG. 1A) having a
hitched hopper. The gravel chute 54 can be a surface that the
gravel flows by gravity, an auger, vibratory or any other
conventional means for flowing gravel. Gravel chutes are
well-known. The gravel chute 54 can be formed from any suitable
conventional gravel chute.
[0057] Another embodiment to fill the microtrench with gravel is
with the use a premeasured gravel box 90 as shown in FIGS. 6A and
6B, which can be used in addition to or in place of the gravel
leveler 14. The gravel 8 can be fed from the gravel dispenser 50
until a premeasured amount of gravel 98 is contained in the gravel
box container 92. The amount of gravel 8 in the gravel box
container 92 can be measured using a gravel measurement 96, which
for example can be a ruler, adjustable plate, laser measurement
device, or any suitable device for measuring the amount of gravel.
After the optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct 6 has been
installed in the microtrench 4, the premeasured gravel box 90 is
aligned over the microtrench 4 and the gravel box door 94 opened to
allow the premeasured amount of gravel 98 to flow into the
microtrench 4. The premeasured gravel box 90 can include wheels 99
for easy movement. The premeasured gravel box 90 can also include a
gravel box guide 97 that is inserted into the microtrench 4 to
guide the placement and/or movement of the premeasured gravel box
90.
[0058] If desired, the gravel layer 40 can be tamped (compacted) to
reduce future settling of the gravel layer 40. In this regard, a
gravel tamper 16 can be used to tamp the gravel layer 40. The
gravel tamper 16 is biased towards the bottom of the microtrench 4
to provide pressure against the gravel layer 40. The biasing can
provided by a spring 30, air pressure 32, hydraulic pressure 34,
weight 36, or any other desired method. The level of biasing is
preferably adjustable to provide different pressures of the gravel
tamper 16 against the gravel 8.
[0059] After a desired gravel layer 40 has been formed in the
microtrench 4, the microtrench 4 can be sealed with a fill sealant
10 to provide a sealed roadway 11 that looks substantially the same
as the original roadway surface 12. Any sealant 10 can be utilized
as desired, including the sealants 10 disclosed in my issued U.S.
Pat. Nos. 10,571,045 and 10,641,414, the complete disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0060] Before installing the fill sealant 10, a roadway mask 9 can
be formed on the roadway surface 12 on the sides of the microtrench
4, as disclosed in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 10,781,942, which is
incorporated herein by reference. The roadway mask simplifies
clean-up by avoiding the fill sealant 10 from sticking to the
roadway surface 12.
[0061] Some states and cities may require a hot patching material
as the top layer for fill sealant 10. Examples of such materials
are MasticOne and Polypatch, which can be applied using a Crafco
drag box assembly. In the Crafco drag box method, the hot patching
material is dumped to the hot patch box which is then dragged over
the microtrench to seal the microtrench, with the hot patch box
acting like a trowel to spread the hot patch material over the
roadway surface around the microtrench.
[0062] In the present invention, a hot patch spray wand 80 is
mounted in a hot patch box 82. The hot patch spray wand 80 can be
connected to a source of hot path fill sealant 89. In this manner,
the hot patch wand 80 is configured to spray or inject fill sealant
10 (hot patch material) into the microtrench 4 to form a hot patch
fill seal 85. Any fill sealant 10 that overflows or misses the
microtrench 4 is caught by the hot patch box 82 and dragged forward
by the hot patch box 82 so that the fill sealant 10 can be
deposited in the microtrench 4 and/or spread in a thin layer 86
over the roadway surface 12. The hot patch box 82 comprises sides
that encircle the hot patch wand 80, as shown in FIGS. 5A-5E. The
hot patch box 82 can have roadway seals 88 to seal the hot patch
box 82 to the roadway surface 12 and reduce spillage of the fill
sealant 10 from the hot patch box 82. The hot patch box 82 can be
formed from any suitable material, including for example, metal,
composites, and plastic. The roadway seals 88 are preferably formed
from a flexible or semi-flexible material, for example, rubber,
plastic or composites.
[0063] Before installing the gravel layer 40 and/or fill sealant
10, the microtrench 4 can be cleaned, for example, by using the
compressed air nozzle 60 connected to a compressed air source 62 to
blow debris out of the microtrench 4.
[0064] Video, measuring devices and global positioning devices
(GPS) can be utilized to measure the dimensions of the microtrench
4, location of the microtrench 4, the gravel layer thickness 42,
the thickness of the fill sealant 10 applied, and any other feature
of the filled and sealed microtrench. The microtrenching data can
be uploaded to city or state databases for the city and state
records. Examples of these types of measuring systems are disclosed
in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 10,571,047, the complete disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0065] 2 Roadway [0066] 4 Microtrench [0067] 6 Optical fiber,
Innerduct/microduct [0068] 8 Gravel [0069] 9 Roadway mask [0070] 10
Fill sealant (reinstatement material) [0071] 11 Sealed roadway
[0072] 12 Roadway surface [0073] 14 Gravel leveler [0074] 15 Gravel
leveler height adjuster [0075] 16 Gravel tamper [0076] 17 Arm
[0077] 18 Bottom surface [0078] 19 Wheel [0079] 20 Scraping surface
[0080] 22 Flat shape [0081] 24 Concave shape [0082] 26 Convex shape
[0083] 30 Spring [0084] 32 Air pressure [0085] 34 Hydraulic
pressure [0086] 36 Weight [0087] 37 Gravel leveler connection
[0088] 40 Gravel layer [0089] 42 Gravel layer thickness [0090] 50
Gravel dispenser [0091] 52 Gravel container [0092] 54 Gravel chute
[0093] 56 Gravel metering device [0094] 60 Air nozzle [0095] 62
Compressed air source [0096] 70 Slot [0097] 72 Threaded wheel axle
[0098] 74 Locking nut [0099] 80 Hot patch spray wand [0100] 82 Hot
patch box [0101] 84 Tip insert [0102] 85 Hot patch fill seal [0103]
86 Thin layer of hot patch fill spread on roadway surface [0104] 87
Wheel [0105] 88 Roadway seal [0106] 89 Source of hot patch fill
sealant [0107] 90 Premeasured gravel box [0108] 92 Gravel box
container [0109] 94 Gravel box door [0110] 96 Gravel measurement
[0111] 97 Gravel box guide [0112] 98 Measured amount of gravel
[0113] 99 Wheel
[0114] It is to be understood that the foregoing illustrative
embodiments have been provided merely for the purpose of
explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the
invention. Words used herein are words of description and
illustration, rather than words of limitation. In addition, the
advantages and objectives described herein may not be realized by
each and every embodiment practicing the present invention.
Further, although the invention has been described herein with
reference to particular structure, steps and/or embodiments, the
invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars
disclosed herein. Rather, the invention extends to all functionally
equivalent structures, processes and uses, such as are within the
scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the
benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous
modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention. While the invention has
been described to provide an access hole over a buried utility, the
invention can be utilized wherever an access hole in the roadway is
required.
* * * * *