Method of filling and sealing a microtrench and a sealed microtrench

{
  "publication_number": "US10571045B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method of filling and sealing a microtrench and a sealed microtrench",
  "abstract": "Provided is a microtrench fill comprising cement, a polymer, and a colorant. Also provided is a method of using the microtrench fill to fill a microtrench in a roadway.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of continuously filling and sealing a microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct on a roadway to return the roadway to substantially an original state with a color-matched, filled and sealed microtrench comprising: forming a flowable concrete-based fill in a fill device by mixing together a cement, a polymer bonding agent, a colorant, an aggregate, and water, wherein the colorant provides the flowable concrete-based fill with a color substantially matching the color of the roadway, the polymer bonding agent provides adhesion to the existing roadway to seal the microtrench against water infiltration, and a cement accelerator and/or calcium sulfoaluminate cement in an amount to provide the flowable concrete-based fill with a final set time of 1 hour or less, and the flowable concrete-based fill is configured to flow into the microtrench from the fill device; and continuously filling the microtrench with the flowable concrete-based fill material from the fill device to cover the optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct, fill and seal the microtrench and return the roadway substantially back to the original state with the color-matched, filled and sealed microtrench.",
    "2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming the flowable concrete-based fill in real time and filling the microtrench by the fill device in real time.",
    "3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising mixing the cement accelerator into the flowable concrete-based fill in an amount to provide the flowable concrete-based fill with the final set time of less than 1 hour.",
    "4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cement comprises the calcium sulfoaluminate cement in an amount to provide the flowable concrete-based fill with the final set time of less than 1 hour.",
    "5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming the flowable concrete-based fill so that the flowable concreted-based fill flows from the fill device into the microtrench having a width of less than 2 inches and a depth of 2 inches to 20 inches.",
    "6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the roadway comprises asphalt or concrete.",
    "7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aggregate comprises sand.",
    "8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aggregate comprises spoil formed by ground up roadway from cutting the microtrench in the roadway.",
    "9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising continuously cutting the microtrench using a microtrencher, continuously laying the optical fiber cable or innerduct/microduct within the microtrench, and the fill device following behind the microtrencher continuously filling the microtrench with the flowable concrete-based fill.",
    "10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising continuously transporting at least a portion of a spoil from the microtrencher to a first container constructed to contain the spoil using at least one spoil transporting device; and continuously laying the cable and/or innerduct/microduct in the microtrench from a reel device.",
    "11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the steps of continuously transporting the spoil from the micro-trencher to the first container constructed to contain the spoil using the at least one spoil transporting device and continuously laying at least one of the cable and innerduct/microduct in the microtrench from the reel device are conducted using the micro-trencher using a multifunctional reel carrier, spoil material handling container device comprising: a first truck or first trailer; the first container constructed to contain the spoil being on the first truck or first trailer; and the at least one spoil transporting device constructed to transfer the spoil from the micro trencher and deposit the spoil in the first container.",
    "12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising using the at least one spoil transporting device to transport the at least a portion of the spoil from the first container to the fill device, wherein the aggregate comprises at least a portion of the spoil.",
    "13. A roadway having a color-matched, filled and sealed microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct formed solely by a flowable concrete-based fill that filled the microtrench according to the method of claim 1.",
    "14. A method of continuously filling and sealing a microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct on a roadway to return the roadway to substantially an original state with a filled and sealed microtrench comprising: forming a flowable concrete-based fill in a fill device by mixing together a cement, a polymer bonding agent, an aggregate, and water, wherein the polymer bonding agent provides adhesion to the existing roadway, and a cement accelerator and/or calcium sulfoaluminate cement in an amount to provide the flowable concrete-based fill with a final set time of 1 hour or less, and the flowable concrete-based fill is configured to flow into the microtrench from the fill device; and continuously filling the microtrench with the flowable concrete-based fill material from the fill device to simultaneously cover the optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct, fill and seal the microtrench and return the roadway substantially back to the original state with the filled and sealed microtrench.",
    "15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising forming the flowable concrete-based fill in real time and filling the microtrench by the fill device in real time.",
    "16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising mixing the cement accelerator into the flowable concrete-based fill in an amount to provide the fill with the final set time of less than 1 hour.",
    "17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the cement comprises the calcium sulfoaluminate cement in an amount to provide the fill with the final set time of less than 1 hour.",
    "18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising forming the flowable concrete-based fill so that the flowable concreted-based fill flows from the fill device into the microtrench having a width of less than 2 inches and a depth of 2 inches to 20 inches.",
    "19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the roadway comprises asphalt or concrete.",
    "20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the aggregate comprises sand.",
    "21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the aggregate comprises spoil formed by ground up roadway from cutting the microtrench in the roadway.",
    "22. The method according to claim 14, further comprising continuously cutting the microtrench using a microtrencher, continuously laying the optical fiber cable or innerduct/microduct within the microtrench, and the fill device following behind the microtrencher to continuously fill the microtrench with the flowable concrete-based fill from the fill device.",
    "23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising continuously transporting at least a portion of a spoil from the microtrencher to a first container constructed to contain the spoil using at least one spoil transporting device; and continuously laying the cable and/or innerduct/microduct in the microtrench from a reel device.",
    "24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the steps of continuously transporting the spoil from the micro-trencher to the first container constructed to contain the spoil using the at least one spoil transporting device and continuously laying at least one of the cable and innerduct/microduct in the microtrench from the reel device are conducted using the micro-trencher using a multifunctional reel carrier, spoil material handling container device comprising: a first truck or first trailer; the first container constructed to contain the spoil being on the first truck or first trailer; and the at least one spoil transporting device constructed to transfer the spoil from the micro trencher and deposit the spoil in the first container.",
    "25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising using the at least one spoil transporting device to transport the at least a portion of the spoil from the first container to the fill device, wherein the aggregate comprises at least a portion of the spoil.",
    "26. A roadway having a filled and sealed microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct formed solely by a flowable concrete-based fill that filled the microtrench in one step according to the method of claim 14."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention generally relates to a method of continuously filling and sealing a microtrench.\n\nConventional devices for the trenching and laying cable or duct cannot be used continuously. The micro trencher saw usually creates a pile of spoil (dirt, asphalt, concrete, etc.) alongside the formed trench and the trench must be cleaned before laying the cable in the trench. The pile of spoil must then be removed. A fill, also referred to as cement or grout, is inserted into the trench on top of the cable or innerduct/microduct. Large industrial vacuum trailers have been used to remove the piled up spoil. However, many hours are wasted by having to dump the spoil from the trailers.\n\nThere is a great need for a device that can be used to continuously remove and in some instances recycle the spoil to in effort to increase the speed for placing the cable and/or innerduct/microduct and to reduce the down time of roadways, and also to reduce production costs.\n\nWhile the vacuum truck concept is known in the industry, there is no current vacuum system that allows one to use a second vacuum or one vacuum to expel the cutting spoils into a cement/zim mixer or container allowing for the material to be recycled.\n\nInstalling new optical fiber networks to a location is expensive and time consuming. There is a great need for faster and less expensive installation of optical fiber networks.\n\nAn objective of the invention is to provide an improved microtrench fill and a method of continuously filling a microtrench.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16L 1/11",
    "E02F 5/08",
    "E02F 5/10",
    "E02F 5/101",
    "E02F 5/12",
    "E02F 5/226",
    "E02F 9/245",
    "F16L 1/028",
    "H02G 1/06",
    "H02G 9/02",
    "H02G 9/025",
    "H02G 9/06"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E02F 5/08",
    "E02F 5/10",
    "E02F 5/12",
    "E02F 5/22",
    "E02F 9/24",
    "F16L 1/028",
    "F16L 1/11",
    "H02G 1/06",
    "H02G 9/02",
    "H02G 9/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CCIIP LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Angelo J. Pino, JR.",
    "Daniel Urban"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-11-08",
  "publication_date": "2020-02-25",
  "grant_date": "2020-02-25",
  "priority_date": "2016-10-18",
  "application_number": "US-201816183780-A",
  "family_id": "65720043",
  "cited_by_count": 27,
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  ]
}