Arc melted glass piles for structural foundations and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11021846-B2
Application number	US-201916570420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2019
Priority date	Sep 15, 2018
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A system for forming a piling structure includes a hollow casing, a control assembly positioned proximately to the hollow casing, and a pivoting support device connected to the control assembly. A pivoting electrode is connected to the pivoting support device and configured to extend into the hollow casing. A second electrode is connected to the control assembly and extends into the hollow casing within the range of motion of the pivoting electrode. An electric power source is connected to the pivoting electrode and the second electrode, wherein charge on the electrodes produces a current arc between the pivoting electrode and the second electrode. A lift mechanism is positioned proximately to the hollow casing to control the electrodes position within the hollow casing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for forming a piling structure, comprising:
a hollow casing;
a control assembly positioned proximately to the hollow casing;
a pivoting support device connected to the control assembly;
a pivoting electrode connected to the pivoting support device and configured to extend into the hollow casing, wherein the pivoting electrode has a range of motion defined by the hollow casing;
a second electrode connected to the control assembly and configured to extend into the hollow casing and within the range of motion of the pivoting electrode;
an electric power source connected to the pivoting electrode and the second electrode, wherein charge on the electrodes produces a current arc between the pivoting electrode and the second electrode; and
a lift mechanism positioned proximately to the hollow casing and configured to move the pivoting electrode and the second electrode along an interior of the hollow casing.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow casing comprises a steel sleeve that conducts heat from the current arc.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control assembly comprises an insulating enclosure surrounding the electric power source and/or the pivoting support device and/or at least one actuator engaging the pivoting support device to move the pivoting electrode toward the second electrode and induce the current arc.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the insulating enclosure is so dimensioned to traverse the interior of the hollow casing as the lift mechanism moves the pivoting electrode and the second electrode.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the range of motion of the pivoting electrode is sufficient to move the pivoting electrode to a position contacting the second electrode.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control assembly comprises a computer having a processor and memory storing computerized software instructions to control the system.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control assembly fits within the hollow casing with the insulating enclosure extending alongside an interior surface of the hollow casing, and wherein the insulating enclosure defines a drop slot for directing raw materials into the hollow casing and toward respective distal ends of the pivoting electrode and the second electrode.

8. The system according to claim 7 , further comprising a pushing mechanism moving the raw materials from an open end of the hollow casing into the drop slot.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the pushing mechanism is a feed screw.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are made of a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, tungsten-copper alloys, graphite, graphite alloys, and other conductive metal alloys.

11. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising raw materials traversing the hollow casing toward a respective distal end of the pivoting electrode and the second electrode.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the raw materials comprise glass forming components.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the glass forming components are selected from the group consisting of silica, sand, fluxing materials, sodium carbonate, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, iron oxide, and boron oxide.

14. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an outer surface of the hollow casing conducting heat to an exterior substrate that melts onto the outer surface of the hollow casing.

15. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature probe positioned proximately to a distal end of the electrodes and configured to transmit a temperature at which glass is forming within the hollow casing.

16. A method of producing a piling comprising:
positioning a pair of electrodes inside of a hollow casing;
connecting one of the electrodes to a pivoting support device as a pivoting electrode with a range of motion defined by the hollow casing;
connecting the electrodes to a power source and inducing a charge on at least one of the electrodes;
moving one of the electrodes toward the other electrode within the hollow casing such that the charge initiates an arc of conduction between the pair of electrodes;
exposing glass forming materials to heat from the arc within the hollow casing and forming a glass filler within the hollow casing;
moving the electrodes along an interior of the hollow casing such that the electrodes exit the hollow casing in a direction opposite the forming of the glass filler; and
allowing the heat from the arc to conduct across the hollow casing to an exterior environment.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising positioning the hollow casing underground with the exterior environment being soil.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising melting the soil in the exterior environment onto an outer surface of the hollow casing.

19. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising lifting the electrodes from a first end of the hollow casing such that respective distal ends move from an opposite end of the hollow casing toward the first end of the hollow casing.

20. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising forming the glass filler with the pair of electrodes as the pair of electrodes moves from the opposite end toward the first end of the hollow casing.

21. The method according to claim 20 , further comprising forming a glass cap in the exterior environment, wherein the glass cap connects to the hollow casing and the glass filler in the hollow casing by melting soil in the exterior environment below the opposite end of the hollow casing.

22. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising adding the glass forming materials into the hollow casing as the electrodes move across an interior of the hollow casing and forming the glass filler therein.

Assignees

• Univ South Florida

Inventors

• Cotter John Michael
• Guldiken Rasim O

Classifications

• E02D5/38 Primary

  making by use of mould-pipes or other moulds · CPC title

• E02D5/665

  for making piles · CPC title

• E02D27/32

  Foundations for special purposes {(for paving of roads E01C3/00)} · CPC title