Method for treating and impregnating porous structures

Abstract

A method for treating by injecting a fluid treatment material into porous structures such as those formed from concrete, brick, stone, marble, and wood. The apparatus for use in the method includes an applicator head having an inner chamber and an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber both of which chambers are connected with a vacuum source. The inner chamber is also connected with a source of pressurized liquid treatment material. The method is for treating such porous structures and includes the steps of engaging the structures with the applicator head, drawing a vacuum on at least the outer chamber to secure the applicator head to the structure, and supplying the pressurized liquid treatment material to the inner chamber to impregnate the structure to be treated.

1 . The method of treating porous structures, comprising the steps of: 
 engaging in sealed relationship to a porous structure an applicator head having defined therein at least one first chamber and at least one second chamber, said chambers sealed from each other and the structure to be treated with said chamber communicating with the structure to be treated;    drawing a vacuum on at least said second chamber to secure said applicator head to the structure to be treated;    supplying pressurized fluid treatment material to said first chamber and the structure to be treated; and    maintaining the vacuum pressure and fluid pressure in said second and first chambers, respectively, keep the said applicator head in sealed engagement with the structure to be treated.    
   
   
       2 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said step of drawing a vacuum is on each of said first and second chambers; and including the step of withdrawing the vacuum from said first chamber prior to supplying pressurized fluid treatment material to said first chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 1  including the steps of discontinuing the function of drawing the vacuum on said second chamber and supplying the fluid treatment material to the first chamber when the desired impregnation of the structure to be treated is achieved.  
   
   
       4 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 1  including the step of removing substantially all fluids from the surface area of at least the section of the structure to be treated and substantially all fluids within the section of the same structure to be treated, prior to said supplying of the fluid treatment material.  
   
   
       5 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 1  including its step of breaking apart any material coating on the surface area of at least the section of the structure to be treated prior to said step of supplying pressurized liquid preservative material to impregnate the structure to be treated.  
   
   
       6 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 1  including its step of regulating the vacuum on said second chamber to maintain a desired predetermined vacuum therein during said step of supplying pressurized fluid preservative material.  
   
   
       7 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said engaging of said applicator head is onto at least a section of a porous structure to be treated at an oblique angle to a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       8 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said engaging of said applicator head is onto at least a downwardly facing section of a porous structure to be treated; and wherein said supplying of pressurized fluid is upwardly against gravity.  
   
   
       9 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said supplying step is of pressurized liquid preservative material.  
   
   
       10 . The method of treating porous structures, comprising the steps of: 
 forming a first enclosure on the surface of a porous structure to be treated;    defining a second enclosure of the porous structure within the confines of said first enclosure;    drawing a vacuum on at least said first enclosure;    supplying a pressurized fluid treatment material to said second enclosure until at least a portion of the porous structure is impregnated at least in part with the treatment material; and    maintaining said drawing of a vacuum on said first enclosure while supplying the fluid treatment material.    
   
   
       11 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the steps of drawing a vacuum is on each of said first and second enclosures; and including the step of withdrawing the vacuum from said second enclosure prior to supplying pressurized fluid treatment material to said second chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 10  including the steps of discontinuing the function of drawing the vacuum on said first enclosure and supplying the fluid treatment material to said second enclosure until the desired impregnation of the structure to be treated is achieved.  
   
   
       13 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 10  including the step removing substantially all fluids from the surface area of at least the section of the structure to be treated and substantially all fluids within the section of the structure to be treated prior to said supplying of the fluid treatment material.  
   
   
       14 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said forming of a first enclosure is such that said first enclosure is sealed from the area around the porous structure to be treated.  
   
   
       15 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 10  including the step of regulating the vacuum in said first enclosure to maintain a desired predetermined vacuum therein during said step of supplying pressured treatment material.  
   
   
       16 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the porous structure to be treated is at an oblique angle to a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       17 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the porous structure to be treated is facing downwardly; and wherein said supplying of pressurized fluid is upwardly against gravity.  
   
   
       18 . The method of treating as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said supplying step is of pressurized liquid preservative material