Connector for attaching an mesh grid to a geomembrane

Abstract

An anchorable member for attaching an article to a geomembrane, comprising a supply of a polymeric material for depositing a portion as a mound extending upwardly from a surface of a geomembrane, said polymeric material having a flowable state for depositing onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for anchoring to the geomembrane; and an article for encasing a portion thereof within the mound prior to curing, whereupon curing of the polymeric material in the mound secures the article to the geomembrane. A method of attaching an article to a geomembrane is disclosed.

Description

CONNECTOR FOR ATTACHING AN MESH GRID TO A GEOMEMBRANETechnical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to connectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to connectors and methods for attaching an article to a geomembrane ground cover, and more particularly, relates to connectors and methods for attaching mesh grids to geomembrane ground covers.Background Of The Invention

[0002] Geomembrane ground cover sheets overlie large area land sites such as waste lay- down sites including both short-term or long-term closure covers for landfills. The geomembrane sheets are provided as elongated rolls of a plastic impermeable material, which are installed by unrolling on land sites for covering the ground surface. Side edges of adjacent installed sheets are welded together to seal a seam from water flow therebetween into the ground. Often the geomembranes include an upper layer of a tufted geosynthetic to provide a surface of simulated grass blades of tufts of plastic yarns.

[0003] The impermeable geomembrane sheets prevent infiltration of ambient environmental water, typically from rain fall or melting snow, into the ground below the geomembrane covering. Inflow of ambient environmental water below grade may lead to leaching of contaminates into water tables below grade or into streams and ponds. The geomembrane thus restricts water table water from becoming contaminated by flow into and through the waste material at the covered site. Rather, the water flows across the upper surface of the geomembrane to lower flow channels or culverts for directing the water into collection basins orwater treatment ponds for treatment before discharge such as water supply systems or to streams, rivers, or lakes. For example, PCT / US21 / 53097 discloses a cover system for overlying ground sites that preferably restrict inflow of ambient environmental water such as from rain, snow, and other precipitation below the ground surface.

[0004] Environmentally restricted cover systems overlay large acreage land sites with elongated geomembrane sheets placed in side-by-side relation. Adjacent edge sides of the geomembrane sheets weldingly join as a water impermeable barrier. The geomembrane however is exposed to shear forces, primarily from wind but also from high velocity water flow. The shear forces cause uplift of the geomembrane and the geomembrane moves with rolling wavelike motion. The geomembrane also experiences movement due to expansion and contraction by heating from the sun during daylight and cooling from rain and overnight darkness. Such movements cause displacement and wear of the geomembrane that may lead to covering failure.

[0005] It is useful also at such landfill sites to install above-surface equipment. This equipment includes solar panels, solar panel operational equipment such as electrical invertors for converting generated direct current electricity to alternating current electricity for supply to conventional power grid distribution systems, and interconnection devices, as well as land site monitoring and operations equipment including weather condition sensors, network communications devices for reporting, and wildlife control devices. Installation of such abovesurface equipment heretofore involves foundational ground connectors to which the equipment attaches. For land sites covered by impermeable geomembranes, equipment is held by ballast devices such as concrete blocks that attach to a support structure for holding the above-ground equipment in place.

[0006] However, there are drawbacks to these installations of above-ground equipment. Landfill site operators are reticent to allow penetration of geomembranes even for necessary site monitoring equipment. Environmental regulations restrict pentation devices. Penetrations form potential leak paths for flow of ambient environmental water through the ground cover into the ground below the cover. Thermal-induced movement of the ground covering geomembrane can result in openings of tears or rips at cover penetrations. Any such necessary penetration requires monitoring and periodic inspection and maintenance to reseal the penetration and to close the tear or rip openings. Ballast devices, while holding equipment in place, may similarly lead to rips or open tears in geomembrane arising from geomembrane movement induced by temperature changes from heating by ambient lighting of the sun and cooling after sundown.

[0007] While various techniques have been developed to resist movement from shear forces, there are drawbacks to such including materials and installation costs, periodic maintenance, and unsatisfactory shear resistance performance. This includes overlying the impermeable geomembrane with webs of ropes held down by weights such as tires. Such however is unsightly and has been found ineffective as resisting geomembrane movements due to forces discussed above. Alternatively, the geomembrane is overlaid by a tufted geotextile having yarns tufted as simulated blades of grass. Such overlay however experiences relative movement of the tufted geosynthetic textile and the overlaid geomembrane due to the different responses of the respective layers to the loading forces.

[0008] Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for a connector that engagingly attaches articles to geomembranes overlying a ground surface. It is to such that the present invention is directed.Brief Summary Of The Invention

[0009] The present invention meets the need in the industry by providing an anchorable member for attaching an article to a geomembrane, comprising a supply of a polymeric material for depositing a portion as a mound extending upwardly from a surface of a geomembrane, said polymeric material having a flowable state for depositing onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for anchoring to the geomembrane; and an article for encasing a portion thereof within the mound prior to curing. Upon curing of the polymeric material in the mound, the connector secures the article to the geomembrane.

[0010] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of anchoring an article to a geomembrane, comprising the steps of:(a) depositing a polymeric material onto a surface of a geomembrane to define a mound extending therefrom, said polymeric material having a flowable state for extruding onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for the geomembrane;(b) positioning an article onto the mound of the polymeric material on the geomembrane; and(c) pressing the article into the mound of the polymeric material on the geomembrane prior to curing, whereby the mound of the polymeric material encases a portion of the article therein, whereupon curing of the polymeric material in the mound anchors the article attachingly to the geomembrane.[0001 1] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides an anchored connector for mesh grids covering a geomembrane, comprising a supply of a polymeric material for depositing a portion as a mound extending upwardly from a surface of a geomembrane, said polymeric material having a flowable state for depositing onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for anchoring to the geomembrane; at last one mesh grid overlying the geomembrane, said mesh grid having interconnected elongated longitudinal and transverse strands that define a plurality of apertures; and a plate defining an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate, said plate for seating above the mesh grid in alignment with the mound, and prior to curing, the plate being contactingly pressed towards the geomembrane for distributing a portion of the polymeric material through the mesh into the open passageway as a plug, whereupon curing of the polymeric material in the plug connects the plate securely to the geomembrane with the mesh grid therebetween.

[0012] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of anchoring a mesh grid to a geomembrane overlying a land site, comprising the steps of:(a) depositing a portion of a supply of a polymeric material as a mound extending upwardly from a surface of a geomembrane, said polymeric material having a flowable state for depositing onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for anchoring to the geomembrane;(b) overlying the geomembrane with a mesh grid, said mesh grid having interconnected elongated longitudinal and transverse strands that define a plurality of apertures; and(c) placing a plate above the mesh grid in alignment with the mound, said plate defining an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate; and(d) pressing the plate towards the geomembrane for distributing a portion of the polymeric material through the mesh as a plug into the open passageway, whereupon curing of the polymeric material of the plug bonds the plate securely to the geomembrane with the mesh grid therebetween.

[0013] Objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.Brief Description Of The Drawings

[0014] Fig. 1 illustrates in exploded perspective view a connector in accordance with the present invention for attaching an article to a geomembrane.

[0015] Fig. 2 illustrates in top perspective view the connector illustrated in Fig. 1 attaching an article to a geomembrane.

[0016] Fig. 3 illustrates in cross-sectional front elevational view the connector and article illustrated in Fig. 2 attached to a geomembrane.

[0017] Fig. 4 illustrates in cross-sectional exploded view a connector for attaching a mesh grid and a plate to a geomembrane.

[0018] Fig. 5 illustrates in cross-sectional view the connector illustrated in Fig. 4 with the plate engaged to the connector and securing a mesh grid in overlying relation to a geomembrane.

[0019] Fig. 6 illustrates in exploded cross-sectional view a connector for attaching a plate to a geomembrane.

[0020] Fig. 7 illustrates in cross-sectional view the connector illustrated in Fig. 6 attaching a plate with an in-place formed plug to a geomembrane.

[0021] Fig. 8 illustrates in exploded cross-sectional view a connector for attaching a plate to a geomembrane.

[0022] Fig. 9 illustrates in cross-sectional view the connector illustrated in Fig. 8 attaching the plate to the geomembrane.Detailed Description

[0023] With reference to the drawings, in which like parts have like identifiers, Fig. 1 illustrates in exploded perspective view a connector 20 in accordance with the present invention for attaching an article generally 22 to a geomembrane 24 that installs coveringly over a land site 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the article 22 is a mesh sheet or mesh grid 28 having longitudinal strands 30 and transverse strands 32 interconnected or joined at intersections and defining a plurality of apertures 34. The mesh grid 28 typically is provided as an elongated roll unrolling on a surface such as ground at a land site. The illustrated application involves overlying the mesh sheet 28 on the geomembrane 24. The connector 20 of the present invention securely attaches the mesh sheet 28 to the geomembrane 20, as discussed below.

[0024] The connector 20 comprises a polymeric material 40 having a flowable state for being extruded and a rigid state upon curing. The polymeric material 40 extrudes from a supply as a deposit of a mound 42 that extends upwardly from a surface of the geomembrane 20. A portion 44 of the polymeric material in the mound 42 contacts and attaches to the geomembrane 12. The polymeric material 40 has a bonding affinity for the geomembrane 20. During the cure of thedeposited polymeric material of the mound 42 from the flowable state to the rigid state, the mound receives a portion of the article 22. The article 22 embeds within the mound 42 and upon curing the connector 20 secures the article to the geomembrane 24.

[0025] With reference to Fig. 2, the mesh grid 28 shown in top view is pushed into contacting engagement with the mound 42 of the polymeric material 40 after depositing on to the geomembrane in its first flowable state. The mesh grid 28 embeds into the mound 42. As shown in cross-sectional view in Fig. 3, the polymeric material 40 distributes though one or more of the apertures 34 and engagingly contacts respective strands 30, 32. Upon curing, the polymeric material 40 anchors the mound 42 to the geomembrane 20 and engagingly secures to the mesh grid 28. The connector 20 thereby secures the mesh grid 28 to the geomembrane 24. A plurality of the connectors 20 may be placed in space-relation across the geomembrane 24.

[0026] Fig. 4 illustrates in cross-sectional exploded view an alternate installation using the connector 20 for engaging a plate 50 in overlying relation to the mesh grid 28 to the geomembrane 20. The plate 50 includes at least one through opening 52 between a top surface 54 and a bottom surface 56 of the plate. The installation joins together by pressing the plate 50 downwardly towards the geomembrane 24. As illustrated in cross-sectional view in Fig. 5, the polymeric material 40 distributes through one or more apertures 34 of the mesh grid 28 and into contact with the bottom surface 56. A portion of the polymeric material 40 flows into the opening 52 and outwardly of the top surface 54. Portions may flow laterally on the top surface. The polymeric material within the opening 52 and outwardly on the top surface form in situ a plug 58. The polymeric material 40 cures to the rigid state. The cured plug 58 thereby securely attaches the plate 50 in engaged relation to the mound 42 and thereby connects the plate and the underlying mesh grid 28 to the geomembrane 20.

[0027] Tt is to be appreciated that the plate 50 may be installed securely to the connector 10 without the mesh grid 28, as illustrated in exploded cross-sectional view in Fig. 6. The plate 50 engages the mound 42 of the polymeric material 40 by being pressed onto the mound towards the geomembrane 20. A portion of the polymeric material 40 flows into the opening 52 and outwardly of the top surface 54. Portions may flow laterally on the top surface. The polymeric material within the opening 52 forms in situ the plug 58. The polymeric material 40 cures to the rigid state. The cured plug 58 thereby securely attaches the plate 50 in engaged relation to the mound 42 and thereby connects the plate to the geomembrane 20, as shown in cross-sectional; view in Fig. 7.

[0028] Fig. 8 illustrates in exploded cross-sectional view an embodiment using the connector 20 for attaching a plate 70 to the geomembrane 20. The plate 70 includes one more fasteners 72 for engaging a housing 74 for a device attached to the geomembrane 20. As noted above, it is desirable to attach site monitoring equipment to land site / ground cover systems. In this embodiment, the plate 70 includes openings for receiving threaded shafts 76 of the respective fastener 72. The opening may be sized for grippingly holding the threaded shaft 76 pushed through the opening to seat a head 78 of the fastener against a bottom surface of the plate 70. The plate 70 seats on the mound 42, and pressingly is moved downwardly for distributing the flowable polymeric material 40 across a bottom surface of the plate. Upon curing, the housing 74 with openings that align with the spacing of the fasteners 72 seats on the plate 70 and nuts 80 engaged with the respective threaded shaft 76 secures the housing 74 to the geomembrane 24.

[0029] The foregoing describes various embodiments of an anchorable member for attaching an article to a geomembrane, which anchorable member comprises a supply of a polymeric material for depositing a portion as a mound extending upwardly from a surface of ageomembrane. The polymeric material having a flowable state for depositing onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for anchoring to the geomembrane. The article being pressed into the mound has a portion encased in the polymeric material prior to curing. Whereupon curing of the polymeric material in the mound secures the article to the geomembrane.

[0030] The polymeric material is thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene material, available in a range of forms in high, medium, and low density grades, and preferably a high- density polyethylene thermoplastic material.

[0031] The article comprises a device for attaching to the geomembrane covering an outdoor site, and in one aspect the article comprises a mesh grid having interconnected elongated longitudinal and transverse strands that define a plurality of apertures. A portion of the polymeric material of the mound passes through one or more apertures of the mesh grid and engagingly contacts respective ones of the strands.

[0032] In an embodiment, a plate seats above the mesh grid in alignment with the mound, and prior to curing, the plate being contactingly pressed towards the geomembrane distributes a portion of the polymeric material through an aperture in the mesh across a surface of the plate. The polymeric material of the mound being cured then secures the plate to the geomembrane.

[0033] In an aspect, the plate defines an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces. The pressing of the plate towards the geomembrane distributes a portion of the polymeric material into the open passageway as a plug. The portion of the polymeric material of the mound being cured as the plug secures the plate to the geomembrane.

[0034] Alternatively, the plate seats in alignment with the mound, and prior to curing, the plate being contactingly pressed towaids the geomembrane for distributing a portion of the polymeric material through an aperture in the mesh across a surface of the plate, whereby the portion of the polymeric material of the mound being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

[0035] The method of anchoring an article to a geomembrane, comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a polymeric material onto a surface of a geomembrane to define a mound extending therefrom, said polymeric material having a flowable state for extruding onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for the geomembrane; (b) positioning an article onto the mound of the polymeric material on the geomembrane; and (c) pressing the article into the mound of the polymeric material on the geomembrane prior to curing, whereby the mound of the polymeric material encases a portion of the article therein. Whereupon curing of the polymeric material in the mound anchors the article attachingly to the geomembrane.

[0036] The article comprises a mesh grid having interconnected elongated longitudinal and transverse strands that define a plurality of apertures. Pressing the mesh grid towards the geomembrane distributes a portion of the polymeric material through one or more of the plurality of apertures for contactingly engaging respective strands to engage the mesh grid to the mound and thus to the geomembrane.

[0037] Alternatively, the method further includes placing a plate above the mesh grid in alignment with the mound; and pressing the plate tow'ards the geomembrane, distributes a portion of the polymeric material through an aperture of tire mesh grid across a portion of asurface of the plate, whereby the polymeric material being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

[0038] Alternatively, the plate defines an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate. Pressing the plate towards the geomembrane distributes a portion of the polymeric material into the open passageway as a plug. The portion of the polymeric material of the plug being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

[0039] Alternatively, pressing the plate towards the geomembrane distributes a portion of the polymeric material across a portion of a surface of the plate, whereby the polymeric material being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

[0040] The foregoing discloses connector apparatus and method for attaching an article to a geomembrane overlying a surface. Changes and modifications will be readily apparent by persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the various embodiment presented in the disc losure.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An anchorable member for attaching an article to a geomembrane, comprising: a supply of a polymeric material for depositing a portion as a mound extending upwardly from a surface of a geomembrane, said polymeric material having a flowable state for depositing onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for anchoring to the geomembrane; and an article for encasing a portion thereof within the mound prior to curing, whereupon curing of the polymeric material in the mound secures the article to the geomembrane.

2. The anchorable member as recited in claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic.

3. The anchorable member as recited in claim 1, wherein the article comprises a mesh grid having interconnected elongated longitudinal and transverse strands that define a plurality of apertures, a portion of said polymeric material of said mound passing through one or more apertures of the mesh and engagingly contacting respective ones of the strands.

4. The anchorable member as recited in claim 3, further comprising a plate for seating above the mesh grid in alignment with the mound, and prior to curing, the plate being contacting!)' pressed towards the geomembrane for distributing a portion of the polymericmaterial through an aperture in the mesh across a surface of the plate, whereby the portion of the polymeric material of the mound being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

5. The anchorable member as recited in claim 4, wherein said plate defines an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate, and said pressing of the plate towards the geomembrane distributes a portion of the polymeric material into the open passageway as a plug, whereby the portion of the polymeric material of the mound being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

6. The anchorable member as recited in claim 5, wherein the polymeric material is a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic.

7. The anchorable member as recited in claim 1, wherein said article comprises a plate for seating in alignment with the mound, and prior to curing, the plate being contactingly pressed towards the geomembrane for distributing a portion of the polymeric material through an aperture in the mesh across a surface of the plate, whereby the portion of the polymeric material of the mound being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

8. The anchorable member as recited in claim 7, wherein said plate defines an open passageway betw een opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate, and said pressing of the plate towards the geomembrane distributes a portion of the polymeric material into the open passageway as a plug, whereby the portion of the polymeric material of the mound being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

9. The anchorable member as recited in claim 8, wherein the polymeric material is a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic.

10. A method of anchoring an article to a geomembrane, comprising the steps of:(a) depositing a polymeric material onto a surface of a geomembrane to define a mound extending therefrom, said polymeric material having a flowable state for extruding onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for the geomembrane; and(b) positioning an article onto the mound of the polymeric material on the geomembrane; and(c) pressing the article into the mound of the polymeric material on the geomembrane prior to curing, whereby the mound of die polymeric material encases a portion of the article therein, whereupon curing of the polymeric material in the mound anchors the article attachingly to the geomembrane.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the polymeric material is a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the article comprises a mesh grid having interconnected elongated longitudinal and transverse strands that define a plurality of apertures, and wherein pressing distributes a portion of the polymeric material through one or more of theplurality of apertures for contactingly engaging respective strands to engage the mesh grid to the mound.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of: placing a plate above the mesh grid in alignment with the mound; and pressing the plate towards the geomembrane for distributing a portion of the polymeric material through an aperture of the mesh grid across a portion of a surface of the plate, whereby the polymeric material being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said plate defines an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate; and pressing the plate distributes a portion of the polymeric material into the open passageway as a plug, whereby the portion of the polymeric material of the plug being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the polymeric material is a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the article comprises a plate; and wherein pressing the plate towards the geomembrane distributes a portion of the polymeric material across a portion of a surface of the plate, whereby the polymeric material being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the article comprises a plate that defines an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate; and wherein pressing the plate distributes a portion of the polymeric material into the open passageway as a plug, whereby the portion of the polymeric material of the plug being cured secures the plate to the geomembrane.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the polymeric material is a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic.

19. An anchored connector for mesh grids covering a geomembrane, comprising: a supply of a polymeric material for depositing a portion as a mound extending upwardly from a surface of a geomembrane, said polymeric material having a flowable state for depositing onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for anchoring to the geomembrane; at last one mesh grid overlying the geomembrane, said mesh grid having interconnected elongated longitudinal and transverse strands that define a plurality of apertures; and a plate defining an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate, said plate for seating above the mesh grid in alignment with the mound, and prior to curing, the plate being contactingly pressed towards the geomembrane for distributing a portion of the polymeric material through the mesh into the open passageway as a plug, whereupon curing of the polymeric material in the plug connects the plate securely to the geomembrane with the mesh grid therebetween.

20. The anchored connector as recited in claim 18, wherein a portion of the polymeric material of the mound distributes through one or more apertures across a portion of the bottom surface.

21. The anchored connector as recited in claim 19, wherein the polymeric material is a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic.

22. A method of anchoring a mesh grid to a geomembrane overlying a land site, comprising the steps of:(a) depositing a portion of a supply of a polymeric material as a mound extending upwardly from a surface of a geomembrane, said polymeric material having a flowable state for depositing onto the geomembrane and a rigid state upon curing and having a bonding affinity for anchoring to the geomembrane;(b) overlying the geomembrane with a mesh grid, said mesh grid having interconnected elongated longitudinal and transverse strands that define a plurality of apertures; and(c) placing a plate above the mesh grid in alignment with the mound, said plate defining an open passageway between opposing bottom and top surfaces of the plate; and(d) pressing the plate towards the geomembrane for distributing a portion of the polymeric material through the mesh as a plug into the open passageway, whereupon curing of the polymeric material of the plug bonds the plate securely to the geomembrane with the mesh grid therebetween.

23. The anchored connector as recited in claim 21 , wherein a portion of the polymeric material of the mound distributes through one or more apertures across a portion of the bottom surface.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of supplying the polymeric material as a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic.