US2014227038A1PendingUtilityA1

Apparatus and Methods for Underground Structures and Construction Thereof

56
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 28, 2008Filed: Apr 14, 2014Published: Aug 14, 2014
Est. expiryJan 28, 2028(~1.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Darin R. Kruse
E04H 7/18E02D 17/04E02D 2600/20E02D 29/02E02D 29/045E04H 12/12E02D 29/055E21D 11/08E21D 11/083E04H 7/20
56
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Claims

Abstract

Described herein are apparatus, systems and methods useful in forming underground vertical structures. Methods are described for constructing an underground vertical structure, comprising the steps of excavating soil to a sufficient depth to create a circular void to accommodate a plurality of segments; assembling a ring shaped structure comprising the plurality of segments; connecting the outside surface of the ring shaped structure with the soil in said circular void, thereby securing the ring shaped structure to the soil; excavating earth beneath the ring shaped structure to accommodate a second ring shaped structure; and repeating steps b-d thereby forming one or more additional ring shaped structures downward into the earth below already formed ring shaped structures until a predetermined depth is reached; thereby forming the underground vertical structure. Systems to perform the above methods are also disclosed.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
We claim: 
     
         1 . A precast-concrete segment comprising:
 a concrete body including a top horizontal face, a bottom horizontal face, a left face, and a right face, wherein at least one of the left face and the right face are not substantially vertical,   wherein the precast-concrete segment includes one or more vertical conduits starting at the top horizontal face and ending at the bottom horizontal face.   
     
     
         2 . The precast-concrete segment of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vertical conduits are configured to install vertical post tension cables emerging at the top horizontal face and the bottom horizontal face. 
     
     
         3 . The precast-concrete segment of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more channels or groves on the left face or the right face. 
     
     
         4 . The precast-concrete segment of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more channels or groves are configured to install dowels. 
     
     
         5 . The precast-concrete segment of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more channels or groves are configured to install bolts. 
     
     
         6 . The precast-concrete segment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top horizontal face or the bottom horizontal face is about 20 ft long. 
     
     
         7 . The precast-concrete segment of  claim 1 , wherein a distance from the top horizontal face to the bottom horizontal face is about 5 ft long. 
     
     
         8 . An underground structure comprising:
 a horizontal ring including a plurality of segments,   wherein the plurality of segments includes one or more wedges or key segments to hold together the a plurality of segments.   
     
     
         9 . The underground structure according to  claim 8 , further comprising one or more devices to hold together the plurality of segments within the horizontal ring. 
     
     
         10 . The underground structure according to  claim 9 , wherein the one or more devices are one or more bolts or dowels. 
     
     
         11 . The underground structure according to  claim 8 , further comprising a segment including a top horizontal face, a bottom horizontal face, a left face, and a right face, wherein at least one of the left face and the right face are not vertical. 
     
     
         12 . The underground structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of segments comprises prefabricated concrete segments. 
     
     
         13 . The underground structure according to  claim 8 , wherein a segment in the plurality of segments includes a top horizontal face and a bottom horizontal face, and wherein the top horizontal face is shorter than the bottom horizontal face. 
     
     
         14 . The underground structure according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the top horizontal face and the bottom horizontal face is about 20 ft long. 
     
     
         15 . The underground structure according to  claim 8 , wherein a segment in the plurality of segments includes a left face and a right face, wherein the left face is longer than the right face. 
     
     
         16 . The underground structure according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the left face and the right face is about 5 ft long. 
     
     
         17 . The underground structure according to  claim 13 , wherein a distance between the top horizontal face and the bottom horizontal face is about 5 ft long. 
     
     
         18 . The underground structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the horizontal rings have a radius between about 25 ft and about 200 ft. 
     
     
         19 . The underground structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the wedge is at least partially formed of metal. 
     
     
         20 . The underground structure according to  claim 19 , wherein the metal is steel.

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