PYLON SNAP JACKET ENCASEMENT

Abstract

The present invention provides a protective coating for protecting a substrate from deleterious elements present in environments in which the substrates are deployed and methods and apparatus for deploying a PVC encasement with a longitudinal snap jacket of suitable length and girth to coat a pylon substrate or building girder and provide a filler within the snap jacket and around an encased pylon.

Claims

1. A method of providing a pylon substrate with a longitudinal snap jacket protective encasement, said method comprising steps of: opening the longitudinal snap jacket encasement wide enough to insert the pylon substrate within an interior of the longitudinal snap jacket encasement; securing the snap jacket in a closed position; and pouring a flowable mixture into an area bordered by the longitudinal snap jacket encasement.

2. A longitudinal snap jacket encasement system comprising: a PVC encasement with a longitudinal snap jacket around a pylon substrate with the snap jacket fastened in a closed position; and a flowable mixture poured in between the pylon substrate and the PVC encasement with a longitudinal snap jacket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a snap jacket with a longitudinal collar that may be snapped closed.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a pylon substrate with a snap jacket encasement and a cement filler.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a snap jacket encasement with a variable length insert.

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a pylon with a snap jacket encasement and filler deployed in all environment including submersion in water.

[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a cut-away of a pylon and snap jacket encasement with filler.

[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates pylons that may be treated with a snap jacket encasement and filler.

[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates a worker removing a section of a pylon that may subsequently be encased with a snap jacket encasement.

[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates pylons with sections removed.

[0023] FIG. 9 illustrates a worker installing a snap jacket encasement on a pylon with a section of the pylon removed.

[0024] FIG. 10 illustrates a pylon with a snap jacket encasement installed around the pylon.

[0025] FIG. 11 illustrates a worker installing a snap jacket over a pylon partially submerged in water.

[0026] FIG. 12 illustrates a series of snap jacket encased pylons with end caps installed.

[0027] FIG. 13 illustrates a pylon with a snap jacket receiving a filler within the snap jacket and around the pylon.

[0028] FIG. 14 illustrates a pylon encased with a snap jacket and including a longitudinal seam formed by the snapped joint.

[0029] FIG. 15 illustrates a structure with multiple snap jacket encased pylons.

[0030] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the specific components, configurations, shapes, relative sizes, ornamental aspects or proportions as shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention provides for a pylon (or other substrate) with longitudinally snap jacket encasement. The longitudinally snap jacket encasement is functional to protect the pylon from exposure to deleterious elements present in environments in which the substrates may be deployed. The present invention also includes methods and apparatus for manufacturing the longitudinally snap jacket encasement in the form of a PVC sleeve of suitable length and diameter to encapsulate a pylon size or larger substrate, such as for example a wooden pylon, a bridge support, a timber, a traffic post, building or other structure support, or other large substrate exposed to a hostile environment and subject to deterioration.

[0032] More specifically, the present invention provides a PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasement to protect a curvilinear or other shaped substrate, which may in some preferred embodiments be four inches or greater in diameter or an angular shaped substrate four inches with a diagonal of twelve inches or greater, and also include a substrate of twelve inches or greater in diameter or an angular shaped substrate twelve inches with a diagonal of fourteen inches or greater and methods and apparatus for manufacturing said PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasement. In some embodiments an end cap may also be deployed to further encapsulate the substrate or girder.

[0033] To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in some exemplary implementations of the present invention, a continuously extruded seamless polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) pipe is manufactured from a combination of a unique PVC compound and a specialized extrusion process is provided that enables the PVC sleeve to be processed, such as via machining to form the longitudinal snap jacket seam after the PVC is extruded.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention includes snap jacket encasement sleeve 100 with an interior surface 103 forming an enclosed area 104 suitable in size and shape for encasing a pylon. The snap jacket includes a longitudinal snap 105 with a first longitudinal edge portion 101 and a second longitudinal edge portion 102 forming a closable interface for fixedly joining the first edge portion 101 to the second edge portion 102. The snap jacket may include a PVC sleeve with a formed edge.

[0035] In some preferred embodiments, the snap jacket encasement sleeve 100 may be formed with raw materials comprising a dry blend of plastic polyvinyl chloride pellets and additional optional ingredients are introduced through a hopper and extruded into a pipe with a longitudinal enclosable seam sometimes referred to herein as a “PVC sleeve”, in various embodiments, additional components may be included in the PVC blend and various designs of longitudinal sleeve may be extruded. In some specific embodiments a longitudinal seam will be extruded in a single form and longitudinally cut to form a snappable interface.

[0036] A dry blend PVC compound to be extruded into snap jacket encasement may include components to both reflect and absorb ultra-violet rays, coloring pigments, process stabilizers, flexibility enhancers, surface migrating ablative fungicides/biocides and algaecides. A non-limiting example of an exemplary blend is provided below in Table 1.

[0037] It is understood that various blends may in include all or some subset of the following listed components:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Parts* Wt % Material Lbs 100 78.25%  PVC Resin 460.00 4 3.13% Ultra-Violet Inhibitor 18.40 5 3.91% UFT Calcium Carbonate 23.00 0.8 0.63% Calcium Stearate 3.68 1.2 0.94% Paraffin Wax 5.52 0.2 0.16% Oxidized Polyethylene 0.92 7 5.48% Plasticizer 32.20 0.02 0.02% Marine Growth Inhibitor 0.09 1.2 0.94% Heat Stabilizer 5.52 4 3.13% Process Aid 18.40 0.38 0.30% Grey Color 1.75 3 2.35% Epoxidized Soy Bean Oil 13.80 1 0.78% Ultra-Violet Absorbative 4.60 127.8 100.0%  TOTALS 587.88 *Parts by weight per 100 parts of PVC resin

[0038] A motor may power one or more screws of an extruder. The extruder heats the raw material supplied through a hopper and forces the resulting melted polymer through an extrusion die. The molten polymer leaves the extruder die 10 in the form of one or more ribbons or molten streams.

[0039] The extrusion die supports and distributes the homogeneous polymer melt around a solid mandrel, which forms the homogeneous polymer melt into an annular shape resembling a solid wall sleeve. The formed solid wall pipe is sometimes referred to herein as a “sleeve.” In some preferred embodiments, following extrusion, the formed pipe is seamless, though it may exhibit artifacts from the extrusion process and also includes a longitudinal formation that may be further processed such, as via machining or sawing to create a longitudinal snap jacket.

[0040] In some exemplary embodiments, the longitudinal formation that is further processed to create a longitudinal snap jacket may include two longitudinal features at a distance between each other of about ½ inch or more.

[0041] The PVC sleeve is not limited to a structure having a circular cross section. Structures having non-circular cross section shapes (e.g., rectangular) may be produced in accordance with the principles of the invention. Thus, for examples, pipes having rectangular cross section shapes may encapsulate lumber and ties having rectangular cross section shapes. Additionally, pipes having shapes that differ from the shape of the substrate (e.g., a circular cross section pipe over a rectangular cross section substrate) may encapsulate the substrate.

[0042] Pullers may be used to provide necessary forces to pull the PVC sleeve through post extrusion processing and maintain a proper wall thickness by providing a constant pulling rate. A first puller may control the wall thickness of the pre-expanded pipe and prevent a second puller from influencing a thickness of the PVC sleeve as it is drawn from a die. Increasing the puller speed at a constant screw speed may reduce the wall thickness, while reducing the puller speed at the same screw speed may increase wall thickness. The two pullers may be electronically controlled and linked to precisely control the wall thickness of the expanded pipe.

[0043] The pipe is then cut by a cutter 160 into specified lengths for bundling, storage and shipping. The pipe may be cut into any desired lengths (e.g., 8, 10, 12, or 16 feet). Lengths that are not greater than 40 to 50 feet can be shipped easily by rail or truck. Bundling provides ease of handling and safety during loading and unloading.

[0044] The extrusion line may have one or more printing stations for printing notations on the pipe. An on-line gauging system may measure the product's outer diameter with a laser-based scantier. Such laser gauging systems have a very high measurement accuracy and a very high scanning rate for measurement averaging. Such gauging scanners are usually placed in the extrusion line after cooling and before the belt puller.

[0045] The PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasement is opened at the collar and fitted around the pylon. The sleeve does not have to cover the entire pylon. The portion of the pylon below the seabed does not have to be covered. The portion of the pylon consistently above the sea level does not have to be covered. The remaining portion of the pylon should be covered. As the sleeve diameter is greater than the pylon diameter, the sleeve should freely slide on the pylon.

[0046] Following extrusion, the PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasement may be post processed, such as, via reheating along a longitudinally area in order to make the PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasement more flexible and able to be opened more easily. In some embodiments, reheating may also provide increased strength to the PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasement.

[0047] In another aspect, the PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasements may be nested for shipment which allows for less volume during shipping and also provides for combined increased modulus allowing for greater ease of handling.

[0048] After the sleeve is correctly positioned over the portions of the pylon to be protected, the collar is fastened closed thereby creating an encasement around the substrate. Closure may be facilitated with a strap wrench, hose clamp, winch, or other tool for facilitating mechanical movement towards a smaller diameter during the closure process.

[0049] In still another aspect, in some embodiments, a seam resulting from a fastened longitudinal snap jacket, may be further sealed with a sealant, such as a silicone or other curable substance to provide further protection against seepage of water or other liquid through the seam.

[0050] The encasement may be filled with a flowable substance, such as a cement mixture, an aggregate, a polymer, an insulator, a foam, an epoxy mixture or other desirable substance. IN some specific embodiments a fire retardant material, such as vermiculite may be included in the flowable material to provide protection against files. Such embodiments may be especially effective for utility poles that are periodically exposed to situations that may result in fire. Other applications include support structures for buildings, and in particular as a method and apparatus for providing increased protection against explosions that damage building infrastructure, such as structures in underground parking lots in multi-level buildings. Other embodiments may include providing an encasement around piping, such as, for example around natural gas or water piping,

[0051] In preferred embodiments, the flowable mixture will conform to the shape of the surface of the encased substrate and the inner surface of the closed PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasement. The resulting product is a pylon with a longitudinally closed PVC snap jacket encasement covering at least a portion of the pylon.

[0052] A fungicide may be included in one or both of the PVC dry blend and the hot melt adhesive. Any fungicide suitable for extrusion processing and marine applications may be utilized within the scope of the present invention. Alternatively, a fungicide coating may be applied to the surfaces of the pipe after manufacturing.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a cross section illustrating some aspects of the present invention as embodied in a generally round PVC encasement 203 with a longitudinal collar 205. The longitudinal collar 105 may be engaged to create a fixed closure of the PVC encasement 203. In the interior of the PVC encasement 207, a flowable material 202, such as cement, cement with aggregate or other additive, or a polymer may be included. In addition, in some embodiments an optional material preservative and/or fungicide or other material may be contained within the PVC encasement 203 enclosure and flowable material 202. A substrate 201 is encased by the PVC encasement 203.

[0054] Referring now to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, two or more longitudinal snap jacket portions 301-302 may be interlocked to create a single multi-part encasement 300 of a greater diameter. For example a PVC encasement 300 with an 18 inch diameter may be formed via assembly of a first longitudinal snap jacket 301 interlocked with a second longitudinal snap jacket 302 from a second PVC encasement of a same or different diameter, such as for example a second diameter of 24 inches, which will result in a single encasement with a diameter equal to the diameter of the combined PVC encasements (i.e. 42 inches). The multiple PVC encasements 301 and 302 may be joined along longitudinal snap seams 303a-303b.

[0055] The PVC encasement may include a generally angular square cross section or a curvilinear cross section. A snap jacket may be fastened to secure the PVC encasement and flowable material. The angular cross section is shown concentrically with a volume of flowable material, such as cement that may cure into a solid form with added mechanical strength to the pylon or other substrate. Accordingly, implementations of the present invention may include a substrate including a wooden pylon with a diameter of any given cross section of between about six inches and fourteen inches. Similarly, implementations may include a timber beam with an angular shape such as a square or a rectangle, with each side of the timber beam between about six inches and twelve inches,

[0056] Substrates to be protected by the pipe may include wood pylon, dimensional lumber, railroad ties, fence posts, elongated metal structures such as steel beams, columns and posts, and the like. Any elongated structure having a diameter or maximum width that is less than the inner diameter or width of the pipe may be protected by the pipe. The pipe does not have to cover the entirety of the substrate. Rather, only the portion requiring protection may be covered. In some cases, the entirety of the substrate may require protection. In other cases, only a portion (e.g., a submerged portion) may require protection.

[0057] The pipe is not limited to a circular cross section. Other shapes, including but not limited to rectangular, I-beam, L, U, and other curvaceous or polygonal shapes may be produced within the scope of the invention.

[0058] In another aspect, in some implementations of the present invention, during installation of PVC longitudinally snap jacket encasements, an area around a base of a pylon may be cleared of soil, muck and debris up to a depth of 12 inches or more. Clearing may be accomplished via blowing the area around the base. The pylon may also be cleaned, such as, via power washing.

[0059] In still other implementations, it may be beneficial to remove a portion of a pylon or other substrate and replace a section of the pylon with an insert. The insert may be held in place via pressure from the downward pressure of the pylon top section, or secured via convention methods, such as a bracket and bolts. The PVC encasement with a longitudinal snap jacket may surround the pylon and the insert, and the cement of other flowable mixture will hold the insert and pylon in place relative to each other.

[0060] While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the components and steps of the invention, including variations in order, form, content, function and manner of operation, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. The above description and drawings are illustrative of modifications that can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is to be limited only by the following claims. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.