Mobile barrier to control litter and wind

Abstract

A mobile barrier for use in wind control, reduction of blowing litter and suspension and transport of airborne contaminants with applications in areas of landfill maintenance, agriculture, erosion control, and snow control is described. The mobile barrier is a large mesh panel supported in an orientation which is at a slight angle to the vertcial. The panel is supported using a pair of upright members which extend upward from a base which is freestanding. A vertically adjustable lifting boom is also supported by the upright members, and is used to secure the mobile barrier to lifting machinery for purposes of transport. Further, a system for controlling the spread of wind-borne contaminants will be described which includes a mobile barrier in combination with a misting device.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Number 60 / 376,487 filed on Apr. 30, 2002 and U.S. Utility Application Number 10 / 426,190 filed Apr. 30, 2003. [0001] This invention relates to control of blowing litter from sanitary landfill operations, specifically to an improved mobile barrier to reduce blowing litter. This invention also relates to control of wind in the presence of earthwork, landfill, and surface mining operations, specifically to an improved mobile barrier to reduce wind speed and thereby reduce suspension and transport of airborne contaminants from these operations. Further, this invention relates to a misting system that is externally mounted to the mobile barrier to further reduce airborne emissions from these operations. Lastly, this invention relates to control of wind in the fields of agriculture, erosion control, and snow control.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Control of Litter [0002] As sanitary landfills continue to grow higher in eleva...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is an improved mobile barrier that can control blowing litter, wind speed, and turbulence. It is designed to be easily moved to different locations and can accommodate a variety of machines. It has smooth stable base, uprights, and lifting boom that can easily be removed or righted without damage. It has planar screen panels that are not prone to catching litter or wind loads, and it is made of steel to prevent wind buffeting and failure. It can be easily disassembled and reassembled, and it provides for convenient interchangeable screen panels for dual use. When equipped with a misting system, it prevents the wind from blowing the mist away and retains it where it is needed. The mobile barrier is optimized for durability, stability, and shipping efficiency."

Problems solved by technology

As sanitary landfills continue to grow higher in elevation, and as surrounding areas continue to be developed, landfill operators are facing increasing problems with blowing litter.

Blowing litter causes complaints from neighbors, citations from regulatory agencies, and labor cost to clean it up.

However, extreme winds, or any winds during a lapse in these precautions, can cause litter transport far beyond landfill boundaries.

However this fencing is only partially effective.

The fencing is stationary and cannot be moved to adjust to changing site and wind conditions.

However they have several common deficiencies that impair their performance and utility:

They lack provisions for readily moving them to the most appropriate location to adjust to changing site and wind conditions, in time to be effective.

Barriers on skids or trucks are difficult and time-consuming to pull or push across unstable ground without sticking or damage.

Tires become punctured and flattened when rolled over refuse.

This is undesirable in areas of treacherous ground or during inclement weather.

Lifting bales are not adjustable and can only accommodate one particular machine.

Because of these difficulties the barriers typically stay in one place even as the waste face constantly moves throughout the life of the landfill and as wind conditions change.

Therefore they are seldom positioned in the most appropriate location to effectively control litter.

They are not suitable for positioning close to, or within, the active waste face that is the source of the litter.

They sink into unstable refuse or ground, get stuck, or tip over.

They are difficult to remove or right without damage.

Their screens have catches, pinch points, and obstructions that tend to trap litter against the screen, even after the wind has subsided.

This “blinding” is unsightly, reduces effectiveness of the barriers, and increases wind loads, making the barriers prone to tipping.

Plastic construction fencing is prone to wind buffeting and resulting premature failure.

Their designs do not consider the full loading of high winds and they are therefore prone to tipping.

They are difficult to position end-to-end with the result of allowing gaps in coverage.

Consequently litter blows through, between the ends of multiple barriers.

They are not matched in scale to the heavy machinery with which they are used.

They are often frail structures in comparison to these machines, difficult to see and easy to damage.

They have no provisions for convenient disassembly and reassembly that would be necessary, because of their large size, to ship them to or from landfill sites.

Consequently they must be custom-fabricated on-site, generally under inadequate conditions to produce effective barriers at reasonable cost.

Therefore the barriers do not lend themselves to economies of standardization, interchangeable parts, mass production, and shipping efficiency.

However, the aforementioned deficiencies impair their performance and utility to the point where they are not very effective.

Ineffective litter control is a liability to the landfill operator in the form of neighbor complaints, regulatory citations, and clean-up costs.

As public awareness of air quality continues to increase, and as governments respond with stricter laws and regulations, suspension and transport of airborne contaminants is an increasing problem for earthwork, landfill, and surface mining operations.

However they have some deficiencies that impair their performance and utility:

Because of their aerodynamic opacity they are prone to high wind loads, often resulting in damage, tipping, and failure.

The wind-reducing fabric is prone to wind buffeting and resulting premature failure.

They are not suitable for positioning close to, or within, the active face that is the source of the airborne contaminants.

They are not mobile and therefore cannot adjust to changing site and wind conditions.

Although they reduce suspension and transport of airborne contaminants, such suspension and transport remains a significant problem.

However, the aforementioned deficiencies, particularly their lack of mobility, impair their performance and utility to the point where they are not very effective.

Ineffective control of airborne contaminants is a liability to these operations in the form of neighbor complaints and regulatory citations.

There are several disadvantages to known misting systems.

The most important disadvantage occurs when misting systems are used in open air operations.

Frequently mist applied in open air operations is blown away by wind before it has beneficial effect, and it is difficult to retain the mist where it is needed.

There are also problems with autonomy and mobility of known misting systems.

Known systems usually rely on external power and water and are not suited to moving around a landfill, for example, on a daily basis.

Lastly, most commercially available systems lack convenient operational control and are prone to excessive water consumption and accumulation on the ground.

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