Vertical manhole apparatus and method for providing access to leachate collection pipes in a landfill

Abstract

A vertical manhole apparatus for use in a waste facility to provide access to one or more leachate collection pipe access points. The vertical manhole is stabilized using stabilizing features extending out from a vertical pipe of the vertical manhole apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vertical manhole apparatus for providing access to one or more leachate collection pipe access points, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of first pipe segments joined together vertically above a foundation in a landfill including a first pipe first segment wherein the plurality of first pipe segments form a first vertical pipe;   a cleanout riser pipe extending inside the first vertical pipe from a cleanout riser pipe access point to a collection pipe access point proximate a leachate collection pipe; and   a first stabilizer engaged with the first pipe first segment and extending from the first pipe first segment out into waste in the landfill.   
     
     
         2 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second stabilizer engaged with the first pipe first segment and extending from the first pipe first segment; and 
 a third stabilizer engaged with the first pipe first segment and extending from the first pipe first segment. 
 
     
     
         3 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first stabilizer comprises a first rod connected to the first pipe first segment. 
     
     
         4 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first stabilizer further comprises a first rod connected to the first pipe first segment, wherein the second stabilizer further comprises a second rod connected to the first pipe first segment, and wherein the third stabilizer further comprises a third rod connected to the first pipe first segment. 
     
     
         5 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a first motor attached adjacent to the vertical pipe and engaged with the first rod for adjusting the depth at which the first rod extends away from the vertical pipe, a second motor attached adjacent to the vertical pipe and engaged with the second rod for adjusting the depth at which the second rod extends away from the vertical pipe, and a third motor attached adjacent to the vertical pipe and engaged with the third rod for adjusting the depth at which the third rod extends away from the vertical pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the first stabilizer further comprises a first deadman anchor connected to the first rod. 
     
     
         7 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first stabilizer further comprises a first deadman anchor connected to the first rod, wherein the second stabilizer further comprises a second deadman anchor connected to the second rod, and wherein the third stabilizer further comprises a third deadman anchor connected to the third rod. 
     
     
         8 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the first stabilizer further comprises a first cable connected to the first rod and a first deadman anchor connected to the first cable. 
     
     
         9 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of second pipe segments joined together vertically above the foundation in the landfill wherein the plurality of second pipe segments form a second vertical pipe located inside the first vertical pipe with space between the first vertical pipe and the second vertical pipe and wherein the cleanout riser pipe extends inside the second vertical pipe from the cleanout riser pipe access point to the collection pipe access point proximate the leachate collection pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first stabilizer further comprises a geomat. 
     
     
         11 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first stabilizer further comprises a first geomat, wherein the second stabilizer further comprises a second geomat, and wherein the third stabilizer further comprises a third geomat. 
     
     
         12 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the geomat further comprises an aperture that fits closely around the first vertical pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The vertical manhole apparatus of  claim 10  further wherein the geomat further comprises an aperture that fits around the first vertical pipe and wherein the vertical manhole is configured so that that geomat is slidably engaged along the vertical pipe. 
     
     
         14 . A method of adjusting the orientation of a vertical manhole apparatus for providing access to one or more leachate collection pipe access points in a landfill, the method comprising the steps of:
 i. engaging a first stabilizer with a vertical pipe which forms part of a vertical manhole apparatus located in the landfill wherein at least a portion of the first stabilizer operates as a deadman anchor located in waste inside the landfill; and   ii. adjusting the first stabilizer using a tension control system in order to pull on the vertical pipe and thereby adjust the orientation of the vertical pipe relative to surrounding waste inside the landfill.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of:
 i. engaging a second stabilizer with the vertical pipe wherein at least a portion of the second stabilizer operates as a deadman anchor located in waste inside the landfill; 
 ii. engaging a third stabilizer with the vertical pipe wherein at least a portion of the third stabilizer operates as a deadman anchor located in waste inside the landfill; and 
 iii. adjusting the first stabilizer, the second stabilizer and the third stabilizer using a tension control system in order to pull on the vertical pipe and thereby adjust the orientation of the vertical pipe relative to surrounding waste inside the landfill.