BACKGROUND of the INVENTION Invention Field

The present invention relates to in-ground barriers, and more particularly to a hazardous waste bamer system for preventing the generally lateral, subterranean migration of certain fluid substances (including both liquid and gaseous fluids, as well as non-fluid particulates conveyed therewith) beyond an established peπmeter, while providing the capability of controlled collection of said fluids for monitoπng, treatment, or disposal

The present system utilizes a bamer, which may be formed in-ground, for example, via horizontally rolled, fluid impermeable sheeting

The present system may be configured to allow the interception, collection, or monitoπng of the flow path of the substance to be contained, and may be configured with additional systems to enhance containment or collection of the fluid Such an additional system is disclosed, teaching a pass-through conduit at a pre-designated point or points in the bamer wall for providing a collection area, which collection area may further include a suction system for establishing a low pressure area for drawing the desired fluid thereto

In use, the bamer of the present invention is installed by first making an excavation to accommodate the bamer system, the excavation and bamer wall implemented to a depth so as to allow the interception of the established or anticipated migration path of the fluid to be contained or collected Installation of interconnected, vertical guide boxes to facilitate installation of an in-ground, sealed containment or restriction wall and/or collection system or the like may be implemented to facilitate an excavation of a sufficient depth for installation of the bamer, while preventing caving in of the side walls of the excavation Once the bamer and/or collection system is installed, the guide box assembly may be removed, and the open area adjacent to both sides of the bamer may be back filled, or said guide box may remain, for providing structural integnty to the system

The present system is particularly suitable for providing a bamer for preventing the further flow of fluids having a lower specific gravity than water In such a system, a trench would be excavated to a point below the water table, effectively blocking further passage of any fluids above the water line This alternative embodiment further may include suction means incorporated with the pass-through conduit to provide a low pressure area, drawing the water table upward, and allowing for enhanced containment and/or fluid sampling or removal

BACKGROUND ART As may be determined by a review of the below αted patents, the pnor art has failed to contemplate a system as taught in the present invention Further the patents cited below are fully

distinguishable in construction and use and are σted only as being at best remotely pertinent to the claimed invention,

A list of pnor patents which may be of interest is presented below

U S Pat No Patentee(s) Issue Date

5 2,101 ,285 Stevens 12/07/1937

2,937,065 L Harza 05/17/1960

2,961 ,731 Buzzell et al 11/29/1960

3,202,412 Hunsucker 02/07/1967

3,411,305 A Cella 11/19/1968

10 3,848,855 Weiland 11/19/1974

3,886,705 Coruland 06/03/1975

4,808,039 Fischer 02/28/1989

A cursory review of the above αted patents shows that the pnor art is indeed clearly distinguishable from and does not make "obvious" the present invention Indeed most, if not all, of

] i the αted patents are not part of the pnor art of the invention but rather are from disparate, non-analogous arts

U S Pat No 2,101,285 teaches a "tubular interlocking piling" of steel having interlocking structures incorporated therewith The specification teaches the system as being used in the construction or reinforcement of coffer dams, bndge piers and the like It is noted that the apparatus

20 does not contemplate the utilization of a containment structure, although it does teach implementation as a support wall for above ground construction Further, unlike the present invention, sealing means for preventing fluid migration is not taught

U S Pat No 3,302,412 to Hunsucker teaches "interlocking sheet piles and method of installation", including means to slidingly engage and seal the sheet piles The system is likewise

X> obviously distinguishable from the present invention, for a vanety of reasons

The lugs 30 (FIG 2) as taught in the 412 patent render the system unworkable in terms of taking away the tolerance necessary for slidingly engaging the panels The tolerance or gap between the shoe and cavity is needed to allow a smooth installation Lastly, the construction is overly costly and highly impractical, with the necessity of multiple apertures to both cavities, the

30 removal and replacement of the feed tube at each dnven pile, and the implementation of scrapers as taught in the specification in the field would be very difficult and time consuming Thus, even if the system works as taught, it would be usable only with extreme cost and complexity of fabπcation

U S Pat No 3,886,705 to Cornland teaches a "Hollow Structural Panel of Extruded Plastics Matenal and a Composite Panel Structure Formed Thereof The patent teaches a hollow X) structural panel configured to form partition walls or the like and is designed for resisting deformation due to load bearing While the 705 patent does teach the utilization of a rubber gasket for preventing leakage of snow, rain, or the like, this apparatus is unsuitable for utilization in

conjunction with the system of the present invention Apparently, the system of the '705 patent would require complete fabncation above ground pnor to installation, which would make the system unsuitable for use with the preferred method of the present invention

U S Pat Nos 2,937,065 and 2,961,731 disclose fluid impermeable gasket systems fully distinguishable in use, method and apparatus from the present invention

Not found duπng the patent search, but known to applicants, is an apparently unpatented method for containing hazardous waste This present method of preventing the leaching of contaminated fluids from hazardous waste sites comprises the implementation of a "slurry" wall around the site A trench is dug to a sufficient depth to contact a fluid impermeable natural earth strata, such as clay

A problem with prepanng such a trench, however, relates to the soils' cohesive strength and its propensity for "caving" This system therefore often has had to resort to expensive sheet pilings to retain and strengthen the trench walls As the sheet pilings typically were insufficient to prevent seepage of the containment therethrough, a still more expensive medium, typically bentonite, a naturally occurring clay, was used to fill the trench This slurry would solidify, forming a fluid impermeable subterranean "dam" for containment

The present invention is antiαpated to cost substantially less than the most cost efficient slurry wall system, as it does not require sheet pilings or any other means of preventing "caving" because the present invention provides a senes of guide box assemblies that create a temporary, isolated work space for the insertion and joining of the bamer members,

Other matenal costs of the present system are likewise significantly less, requinng as little as one-one-hundredth (1/100) of the amount of bentonite It is noted that the bentonite costs fluctuate, but may run as high as two hundred ($20000) dollars per ton including freight (freight on board) job site

Likewise, the present invention does not require the utilization of piling equipment, heavy lift equipment, or extensive labor, as is necessary for implementation of the above system Instead, no piling equipment, and only relatively available lifters and less extensive labor is needed

Some additional patents are listed below

U S Pat No Patentee(s) Issue Date

1,007,718 J I cGill 11/07/11

1 ,713,675 R L Paπsh 05/21/29

1 ,937,758 1£ R Hams 12/05/33

2,355,102 0 R Odman 08/08/44

3,302,412 W A Hunsucker 02/07/67

3,479,827 A R 5 Momce 11/25/69

3,593,528 J R Pavese 07/20/71

3,864,921 Marx et al 02/11/75

4,059,964 Pavese 11/29/77

4,090,365 Nieber 05/23/78

4 145,891 Icπngs 03/27/79

4,194,855 Egger 03/25/80 4.259,028 Cook 03/31/81 4,407,612 van Weele 10/04/83 4,453,861 Bretz et al 06/12/84 4,484,835 van Minken 11/27/84 4,519,729 Clarke, Jr et al 05/28/85 4,537,536 Tsubonuma et al 08/27/85 4,607,981 van Minken 08/26/86 4,657,442 Icπngs 04/14/87 0 4,659,260 Morelli 04/21/87 4,664,560 Cortlever 05/12/87 4,671,705 Nussbaumer et al 06/09/87 4,673,316 Nussbaumer et al 06/16/87 4,679,965 Glliser et al 07/14/87 5 4,697,953 Nussbaumer et al 10/06/87 4,741 ,644 Cavelli et al 05/03/88 4,753,551 Brueggemann et al 06/28/88 4,797.158 Hamett 01/10/89 4,808,039 Fischer 02/28/89 4,909,674 Konno et al 03/20/90 4,917,543 Cole et al 04/17/90 4,927,297 Simpson 05/22/90 4,929,126 Steeπbergen et al 05/29/90 4,981 ,394 Mebtren et al 01/01/91 4,993,880 Collins 02/19/91 5,013,185 Taki 05/07/91 5,096,334 Plank 03/27/92

The 718, '675, 758, '412, '039, '543 and '394 patents are considered to be more pertinent to the sealing aspects of the invention, the '827, '528, '921, '964, '365, '891 , '028, '442, '260 and

) ] '334 patents are directed to vanous types of "trench boxes," the '855, '612, '835, '861 , 729, '536, '981 , 705, '316. '965, "953, '644, '551 , '158, O39, '297, '126, '880 and '185 patents are considered to be more pertinent to the over-all system of the invention, while the '102, '412 and '126 patents are considered to be more pertinent to vanous profiles used in vanous types of male/female joints used in a number of different items, some non- analogous to the present invention and all of which

I ) are significantly different from those used in the present invention, particularly those used in the interconnecting joints between the bamer members of the present invention

With regard to "trench boxes", the pnor art has contemplated numerous configurations for trench wall shoπng devices and the like for preventing excavation cave-in, as evidenced by the sampling of patents noted above

40 For example, U S Pat No 4,659,260 issued in 1987 for a "Trench Box" discloses a system to prevent the caving in of an excavated area, providing a reinforced shonng system However, the guide box assembly of the present invention, which contemplates a slotted mechanism specifically configured for installing the bamer containment members of the present invention, teaches a mechanical installation system fully distinguishable from the '260 patent

U S Pat No 4,090,364 to Nieber discloses a "Portal Frame for Trench Box Stack" wherein

there is provided an easily assembled and disassembled system, but which nonetheless does not teach nor contemplate the mechanical aspects or template system or methodology of the present invention

U S Pat No 4,059,964 issued in 1977 discloses an opposed, support wail system for the installation of trench wail sheeting in side open areas in the wail system, which are positioned against the side wails of the excavation in which the trench wall sheeting is being installed This system, while pertinent, is nonetheless fully distinguishable from the present system, as it does not teach nor contemplate the mechanical interrelationship or methodology of the present invention

The other patents noted are likewise distinguishable from the present invention but are included to illustrate the state of the art In summation, the guide box assembly system of the present invention does have substantial novelty with regard to the mechanical aspects of the invention as utilized in the installation of the bamer member containment system of the invention

Most of the patents noted as being pertinent to the over-all system of the invention teach or contemplate a system for containing or preventing the lateral migration of fluids through the soil via fluid impermeable fabπc or plastic sheeting subterranean structures or the like

These patents typically rely upon a bentonite slurry or similar liquid means of preventing the caving in of the excavated area, and are thereby much more expensive to install when compared to the present invention Further, these systems are distinguishable in their interlocking means for the vanous bamer members, which include systems which do not even contemplate a sealed connection along with the vanous joined members, substantially reduαng, if not eliminating, any reliable containment of toxic fluid wastes

With regard to the noted seal and the male/female profile patents, there is included vanous sealing means for panel members and other pertinent systems For example, Cortlever U S Pat No 4,664,560 issued in 1987 teaches a subterranean containment system wherein there is provided (note FIG 3) a heat activated seal for preventing the lateral migration of liquid there through The system as taught is clearly distinguishable from a patentability standpoint

U S Pat No 4,917,543 issued in 1990 teaches a "Wall System Employing Extruded Panel Selections" wherein there is taught a connector element (25) which may also act to seal the vanous installed panels Again, however, this system is distinguishable from the present invention

U S Pat No 3,302,412 issued in 1967 discloses a lug member 30 (note FIG 2) configured to space the sheet piling into a proper interlocking installation Also taught is the disposition of a sealant (36, FIG 7) for preventing leakage of the system Again, however, this is still ust another profile and seal means which is clearly distinguishable from the present invention

The Simpson '297 patent forms an impermeable bamer in an excavation made down to bedrock to contain waste mateπals in the ground, in which a sheet of impervious matenal, such as a fabπc carrying a substantially dehydrated sodium bentonite clay, is placed along the side walls of the excavation, and the rest of the excavation is then filled with concrete

The Van Klinken '835 & '981 patents are directed to waste containment systems in which "more or less flexible sheets or foils" are introduced into the soil by means of a "lance"

In the Nussbaumer et al '953 patent a fluid sealing matenal is introduced through pipes into the ground which thereafter solidifies, sealing the wastes in a dump The Brueggemaun et al patent 5 likewise uses a piping system to provide "a sealing screen for waste dumps" The Nussbaumer et al

'316 patent uses slotted wall connections which must be flushed out pnor to using plastic foil sealing elements for sealing two adjacent bamer wall sections

In the Cavalli '644 patent initially vertically coupling members are formed in spaced bore holes in the ground, with the space between them excavated, and then a sandwich of high density 10 polyethylene sheets with an internal mesh is connected between the coupling members, forming an

"environmental cut-off and drain" In the Clark et al 729 patent a trench is made and a senes of membrane fluid barriers are placed in it suspended between slotted end connectors

The Konno et al '674 patent forms "an underground continuous water-impervious wall" by rolling out an impervious sheet of matenal into a trench and charging a hardening matenal against ] ^' ) the opposite side surfaces of the impervious sheet and allowing the matenal to harden In the

Steenbergen et al patent a screen of flexible matenal is fed into a trench typically in a folded over fashion, with the top of the fold being held up by appropπate means in the unfilled trench

The Cortlever '560 patent, referred to above connection with seals, also discloses the use of dam wall sheets (1) of stainless steel of a synthetic resin which are sequentially inserted into the 20 ground using an enclosing, vibrating, injection guide (19) aided by earth loosening water jets (29), with one sheet being vertically engaged with the preceding dam sheet via male/female edge joints which are slid together After one dam sheet is inserted into the ground, the vibratory injection guide is withdrawn to then be used for the next dam sheet

The presence of all of these diverse, attempted "solutions" of the past to the challenge of ) forming an impermeable bamer for intercepting a waste area and the pnor existence for many years of the vanous means used in the present invention to successfully meet this challenge provide further objective indiαa or evidence of the "unobviousness" and patentability of the invention

GENERAL DISCUSSION OF INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems of the pnor art by providing a bamer wall 30 installation system which is reliable, relatively economical and less hazardous, which not only isolates and confines or restπcts a contaminated area but also allows the controlled removal, collection, or treatment of fluids and other mateπals, including filtering or separation of paniculate or liquid heavy metal suspensions

As may be noted from the above, the pnor art has not provided a relatively inexpensive yet

. J consistently impermeable, readily implemented containment system for preventing the leaching of

toxic mateπals from dump sites and the like Nor does the pnor art contemplate a satisfactory system for in situ treatment of such mateπals, including non- fluid particulates removing them from the water supply

However, such is achieved in the present invention, and the exemplary embodiments of the present system compπse the utilization of a single or plurality of bamer members, the bamer member providing a fluid impermeable bamer Said bamer member can include edge appendages on the opposite or complementary ends of the bamer member, with the bamer members being installed and interconnected in an open work space in an excavation, protected by a seπes of interconnected guide box assemblies At lease one of the bamer members may include or have affixed thereto a pass-through module, through which fluids or other mateπals can be removed under controlled αrcumstances from the contained area for treatment, monitonng or containment

As indicated, the bamer member may include appendages for connecting one to the other, and the bamer member appendages may be of a "male" and "female" type, respectively, and configured to slidingly engage and lockingly interconnected juxtaposed bamer members in a vertical fashion Other, alternative means of connecting the bamer members may include welding, adhesives, zipper, clamping, riveting fold mechanisms, and the like

The only stipulation to the connection means is that the interlocking appendages should configured with each to include a fluid impermeable seal between the associated appendages of the interconnected bamer members

It is noted that the appendages are not limited to a hundred and eighty (180) degree, planar separation and may be implemented in a vaπety of αrcumferentially located positions relative to one another For example, a forty five (45) or twenty-two (22) degree separation would be used for a degree "catch" bamer system Thus, the containment system need not necessaπly form a αrcle or rectangle, and may be configured in any desired layout It is noted that the engagement appendages for all interlocking configuration bamer members are designed to mate with the opposite appendages of other members of this invention

The present invention of providing a vertical wall as a containment or catch bamer is possible as the wall is installed down to a depth to allow for the interception of, for example, an underlying clay strata in the soil, a fluid impermeable strata found at varying depths, or in the alternative, the water line when seeking to block somewhat lateral, subterranean flow of fluids having a lesser or neutral speαfic gravity than water The system can even be configured to provide a means of interception, and thereby collection, of fluids and particulates having a greater specific gravity of water, if adequate information on the underwater migration of the water table is known and within certain penmeters Thus, vanous sites require different depths of implementation utilizing diffeπng member lengths

Normally it is not necessary to go deeper than forty (40') feet, and thus conventional excavation equipment typically may be used in the present system

For installation of the present invention particularly in soil conditions having a likelihood of "caving", the present invention teaches the implementation of a "guide box" template or guide box assembly system, into which the bamer members are placed and interconnected, extending the full depth and ultimately the full length of the excavation The "guide box" serves at least five purposes, 5 namely (1) it provides an outer support structure which prevents any caving walls of the excavation from enteπng the area where the members are to be installed, lessening the likelihood of complications duπng engagement of the bamer members, (2) it provides a template for easy engagement and proper alignment of the bamer members duπng installation, (3) it provides protection for previously installed bamers against damage from the excavation equipment (when an

10 trench or guide box is desirable), (4) it can act as a guide for the excavation equipment excavation, if auguπng is used, and (5) it can allow for gradual and controlled back-filling by being slowly extracted from the excavation, if so desired However, the first two purposes are the pπmary purposes of the guide box assemblies of the invention

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide box allows for the rolling of j ^' ) the bamer sheeting in generally hoπzontal fashion along the excavation, supporting the roll while guiding said roll or sheeting along a protected work area

Also, each guide box assembly may include two spaced wall panels providing the protected, open work space for the bamer member installation between them, which wall panels can be easily assembled into a ngid unit by means of a seπes of laterally extending, top and bottom spreader

20 bars The lower or bottom spreader bars, which preferably can also serve as anchors for the guide box assemblies and bases for the bamer members, are easily detached and left down in the ground when the wall panels are removed from the excavation This is achieved by the use of a seπes of vertical, parallel, guide shafts extending through the full height of the wall panels, connected at their tops to the top of their respective wall panels and temporanly

X) connected at their bottoms to the anchoπng spreader bars by means of rotatable interconnections which can be easily reversed to detach the bottom spreader bars from the wall panels

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pass through module is provided which includes the pass through, collection tank and piping, and, where desired, m-situ treatment equipment Said pass through module may also have provided therein first and second bamer rolls for faαlitating installation of the bamers, as well as trench or guide box connection means for faαlitating connections to the trench or guide boxes for installation of said bamer rolls

In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the guide box assemblies may also include pass-through areas, through which access to the pass-through in the guide box's associated bamer member is possible A typical, completed pass-through will include one or more pipe sections

V) feeding through or otherwise communicating with, for example, an integral, flanged pass-through in the bamer member The guide box assembly with its pass-through areas is preferably left "permanently" in the ground, rather than removed like the other guide box assemblies

The leaving in the ground of the pass-through guide box assembly helps to strengthen and secure the pass-through of the associated bamer member However, after the site has been processed and cleaned up and the pass-throughs and bamer walls are no longer needed, they likewise can then be removed, if so desired, returning the site to its natural state The pass-through may include suction means for providing a low pressure given for urging the fluid to be contained to the pass-through

The present system contemplates excavation of the ground soil via trenching or auguπng, but expressly teaches that other methods of excavation may be utilized with satisfactory results

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for containing hazardous wastes, which is efficient, utilitaπan, cost effective, and which provides reliable protection against the threat of migrating contamination of adjacent aquifers and soil and also allows the controlled removal or treatment of contaminated matenal from the contained or restπcted area

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for preventing the lateral migration hazardous wastes beyond an established peπmeter, which utilizes a plurality of slidingly engaged interlocking containment members which are installed in a protected, open work space provided by a seπes of interconnected guide box assemblies, at least one of which preferably includes co-operative pass-through areas

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system for intercepting the lateral flow of hazardous wastes through the ground, that is adaptable to a vaπety of dump site configurations- It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for interception of hazardous wastes which provides an economical and effective procedure

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for containing hazardous wastes while allowing the wastes to be removed or neutralized or treated in situ, as desired

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a hazardous waste containment system utilizing a plurality of vertical bamer members, wherein the method includes the utilization of a "guide box" template or assembly which aids in the installation process, in which at least one of the bamer members includes an integral pass-through for one or more pipes for the controlled removal of, for example, heavy metals, or treatment of the hazardous wastes on site

It is still a further object to provide a protected satellite area or cell adjacent to the contained area for use as an on-going work and equipment area for equipment and the like to remove by pumping or suctioning the hazardous matenals from the contained hazardous waste area and, if so desired, at least preliminary treating the waste materials on-site in the satellite area

It is further corollary object to build such a protected satellite area or cell using the same or similar types of guide box assemblies and bamer members and assoαated methodology as used to build the containment or restriction system

It is another object of the present invention to provide a one piece, prefabπcated pass-through module which provides the capability of intercepting a waste plume in the ground, collecting said plume, removing the toxins therefrom, and releasing the treated, unpolluted liquid back into the ground. 5 Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for intercepting the lateral migration of hazardous wastes, preventing further contamination of the soil or ground water, utilizing a rolled barrier system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION of the DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference 0 should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals, and wherein:

Figure IA is a side, cross-sectional view of the an embodiment of the bamer system of the present invention, illustrating, as an example of the use of the present system, a hazardous waste plume suspended in the water table being intercepted, collected, and treated ex situ. ' ^" ) Figure 1 B is a side, cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the bamer system of the present invention, illustrating a hazardous waste plume suspended in the water table being intercepted, collected, and treated ex situ via a pass through system.

Figure 1C is a side, partially cross-sectional, partially cut-away view of the embodiment of Figure ill, illustrating the wing wall collection members and utilization of suction through the 0 pass-through provide a low pressure area, drawing the hazardous waste plume to the collection area

Figure 1D is a side, partially cross-sectional, partially cut-away view of the embodiment of Figure 1C, but teaching an in-situ treatment arrangement, as opposed to the Figure 1C ex-situ treatment system. 5 Figure 2a-2b illustrate an upper, cross-sectional view of the system of Figure 1C, illustrating the migration of the plume with the water table to the collection site, as well as the rolled bamer installation of the wing walls.

Figure 3 is a top view of an exemplary trench or guide box of the present invention, including a bamer roll support for dispensing bamer sheeting in longitudinal alignment with the 0 trench or guide box.

Figure 4 is a top view of a pass through system as may be used in the invention of Figure 1B or 1C, installed in an exemplary excavation.

Figure 5 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the trench or guide box used in the system of the present invention, illustrating the unrolling of the bamer sheet in the excavation Figure 5A is a side view of the preferred embodiment of Figure 5, illustrating the operation

of the unfuriing mechanism of the trench or guide box

Figure 6 illustrates a top view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a pass-through module having the sump/collection tank juxtaposed the rear and front walls

Figure 7 illustrates a top view of the invention of Figure 6, illustrating a pass-through module having the sump/collection tank juxtaposed the rear and front walls, and further illustrating the installation of the rolled bamer, disbursing the sheet bamer member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION of the INVENTION

As can be seen in Figure IA, the present invention compπses a system for intercepting, collecting and processing subterranean hazardous waste in the form of a fluid or suspension

As shown, the placement of the present collection/bamer system is dependent upon the terrain and composition of the area to be implemented In the area of Figure IA, there is illustrated, as an example, a ground area having a πse i, and a lower area 2 below the nse, forming a hill H As shown, an exemplary waste dump C or the like is illustrated at the top of the πse, where hazardous fluids and particulates are leaching therefrom in the form of a plume P into the ground G

The plume P is drawn by gravity through the ground, downward until intersecting 3 with saturation area 5, in this example, compπsing the water table, where the ground is saturated with naturally occumng water, until intersecting with the water table, the plumes rate of descent through the ground is altered due to the change in composition of the area traversed, particularly due to the saturation and the speαfic gravity of the water therein Further, the path of the exemplary plume is altered due to the naturally occumng flow F of the water table in the saturation area 5 As shown, the plume is directed in a new, more horizontal flow path, 4 generally aligned with the natural groundwater or water table flow F, by said flow F

The present invention compπses placing a bamer wall 8 or the like at a depth and location to allow for the interception of the plume, coupled with a means to collect or monitor the plume, which may take the form of a generally laterally situated collection pipe or pipes 6a-6d having collection apertures 7 for collecting the plume contents

As further shown, the hazardous waste forming the plume, once collected by the collection pipe or pipes 6a-6d, may be processed 10 in-situ or ex-situ, so as to remove the hazardous mateπals or fluids therein, and return treated, residual groundwater 12 into the ground behind the bamer 13 via outflow/release pipe 11 or the like, where said treated, residual groundwater is returned to the water table and drawn away from the area via groundwater current 14

An advantage of the present system is that, by intercepting the plume, in its path, at any depth within the plume, one need not install the barπer to a depth intersecting with the fluid impermeable, clay strata L, which can run sixty feet or much deeper under the ground, and which would, in many situations, be far too costly. With the present, exemplary illustration of Figure la, the base of bamer wall needs to be at a greater depth than the anticipated plume depth at the area to be intercepted; thereby leaving an open area 9 between the base of the barrier wall 8 and the fluid impermeable strata L, wherein the uncontaminated groundwater table flow can pass thereunder;

Figure in illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizing the pass-through 17 port situated in the barrier wall 15 so as to intercept the plume P as it is directed by the flow F of the saturation S area. As shown, the pass through 17 is configured to collect and direct the plume P through the barrier wall is, collecting of waste in the plume in a waste sump tank 18 for collection and/or further processing. As shown, the collected waste 19 is directed through a sump removal pipe 20 via suction/removal pump 21 , to an ex situ collection/treatment module 22, wherein the collected waste is stored, or treated, with the treated groundwater 25 returned to the ground via infusion pipe 23, and the outlet port 24.

Figure 1C illustrates the utilization of a suction means such as a pump 30 or the like in conjunction with the pass through collection port 31 to generate a low pressure area L, in order to direct the plume P in a direction 26 generally toward the collection port 31 , so that said plume does not flow in the open area 29 beneath the bamer wall 27. As shown, angled side wing 28 can be utilized on both sides of the collection area to form a collection basin, facilitating better collection of the plume.

Figure 1D illustrates an in situ treatment plant version of the invention of Figure 1C, wherein the collected waste from the plume is collected from the sump tank via intake pipe 33, wherein it is • processed underground in the in situ collection/treatment module 32, and the treated, residual groundwater 35 is released via the release or outflow pipe 34; the collection/treatment module may be serviced via a cell 37, 37' or silo running to the surface, providing access

Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the collection and processing of the plume P. In this version of the invention, the bamer wall 27 includes first 28' and second 28" angled wing walls, forming a collection basin or funnel effect. Situated along the bamer wall is perforated, generally horizontally situated collection piping, for facilitating remote collection of the plume P via the pass through port 41

As indicated in the discussion of the invention above, the plume P is dnven toward the collection area via the natural flow thereof, or the flow of the groundwater 42 which it may have ) interfaced and, once in contact with the established low pressure area L created by the suction from the pass through port 41 , said plume is directed to said pass through port, and into the sump tank 38, wherein it is pumped via pump 39 through a collection/treatment module

The present invention may include generally vertically situated monitoπng/collection pipes 43, 43' or the like situated behind or down gradient of the bamer wall relative the pass through so as to monitor the effectiveness of the collection system in containing the plume.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate an embodiment of the present invention particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a fluid impermeable sheeting, such as, for example, 4- 100 mil HDPE or the like. As shown in Figure 2A, the system compπses a pass-through module M having a rear wall 46 and a forward wall 47, with a an open area 53 therebetween.

The pass-through module M may be pre-fabricated and installed as a one piece construction at the installation site, greatly simplifying installation of the system. After excavating a main trench area for the pass-through module M, trenches are excavated for placement of the bamer wall member emanating from the module M, which may include the step of providing guide boxes in the excavation to support the side walls from caving, and to allow for the installation of the bamer wing walls or the like.

As shown, the bamer wall 45 passes through the open area 53 of the module M, although it could be affixed to the ends of the inner 46 or outer 47 walls, extending and widening the collection area as desired. Also shown are horizontal collection pipes 48 having collection apertures 49, said collection pipes interfacing with the pass-through pipe 50, facilitating collection of the plume contaminants which may have escaped the mam collection area. A filtration medium such as silica sand or the like may be provided before the front wall , in the vicinity of the pass-through pipe 50 and other collection pipes 48 and apertures 49.

Although the horizontal collection pipes 48 are illustrated as being situated in the open area 53 between the rear 46 and front 47 walls, they may be located in front of the front wall 47, or behind the rear wall 47, and may comprise a single pipe, depending upon the circumstances of use and desired effect Also, there may be provided rearty situated lateral collection monitonng pipes 52, 52', for verifying the effectiveness of the collection/containment.

The sump tank 5Th may be situated to the front of (and attached to) the front wall 47, or may be located in the open area 53 between the rear 46 and front 47 walls, as desired, to form the one piece module M. A rearly situated treatment module 51 may be situated to the rear of the collection area.

Figure 2b illustrates a method by which the bamer wall 45 may be installed in the present system, utilizing a single, unitary, prefabricated, pass through module including a bamer wall installation means therein.

As shown, the module of the present invention includes rolls R, R' of fluid impermeable sheeting or film, such as, for example, 4-100 Mil HDPE or the like, although sheeting of vanous densities should work equally as well, depending upon the application. In use, a roll of such bamer sheeting is generally vertically aligned on frames F', F" designed to slidingly πde or be supported via cherry picker or the like just above the upper peπphery or top edges of the pass through module

M frames front 47 ami rear 46 walls, as well as the upper edges of the trench or guide boxes when installing the bamer sheeting to form adjacent bamers, such as wing walls or the like

In one example of the dispensing of the rolled bamer sheeting, the sheeting or film is affixed, for example, to the central, rear area of the module, and the rolls are moved via the sliding frames away from each other, such that said rolls are rotated along their longitudinal axis, dispensing the fluid impermeable sheeting or film as they are slid apart, thereby forming a bamer wall.

The pass through can also penetrate the bamer matenal at any point in the bamer wall, where a pass through is located The pass through can also be installed at the beginning of a roll of matenal and with an interlock or other fluid impermeable joining means, a second roll can be installed by joining with one end of the first installed roll. Subsequent rolls can likewise be similarly installed, effectively allowing for a bamer of unlimited length

Trench or guide boxes may be thereby affixed to the ends of said front and rear walls forming the pass-through module M, so as to allow for the further extension of said walls, via allowing said frames P, F" to slide along said trench or guide box extensιon(s), further extending said bamer walls. Said rolls may be provided in the pass through module as prefabπcated for on-site installation, with the installation on site only compπsing the excavation, and the providing the module, and desired trench or guide boxes for the installation, the module including the pass through, collection tank and equipment, as well as the barrier roll members for facilitating the collection or catch basin/containment or funnel area

Figure 3 illustrates a top view of an alternative trench or guide box which may be utilized with the pass through module of the present invention for faαlitating installation of the bamer wall As shown, the trench or guide box is shown in an excavation E, the trench or guide box 54 including first 60 and second 59 ends, the first end including a roller containment area including a rolled bamer 56 mounted upon a frame for rotational dispensing 57, via the directing of said bamer from said first end of said trench or guide box towards 58 and past said second end of said trench or guide box, rotating said roll and dispensing said bamer wall along the length of the trench or guide box, as well as any adjoining guide pr trench or guide boxes via connecting slots 55 or the like, as desired Figure 4 illustrates an excavation E containing a simple alternative prefabπcation of the pass through of the present invention, including a wall member 63 having affixed thereto a sump tank 61 having a pass through 62 in communication therewith, the pass through formed through the wall member, the sump tank further including a waste removal/monitoπng pipe 64 The system is shown from a top view, installed in an exemplary excavation Figures 5 and 5A illustrate an exemplary trench or guide box 65 which may be utilized to prevent caving of an excavation for installation of a rolled bamer member, and which may be joined at its end via sliding engagement or the like with, for example, the pass through module of Figures

2a and 2b, to form a fluid impermeable seal

Returning to Figure 5, the trench or guide box 65 is shown from a top view in an excavation made to the desired installation depth As shown in Figures 5 and SA, the trench or guide box 65 includes first 67 and second 66 end gates, and further having an upper support bars 75 forming an upper edge Resting on the upper edge formed by support bars 75 is a roller frame 70, supporting a roll 71 of fluid impermeable bamer sheeting, or the like via rotatable axle 72 longitudinally aligned

In use, the path of the plume through the area must be determined, discerning the depth and extent of migration Then, the optimal area to intercept said plume is determined, taking into consideration the depth of the plume, and the general lateral extent of the plume and concentration Ideally, the plume should, at its intersect or collection area, not be too widespread, so as to provide an economy in the size and depth of the containment bamer and, where desired, collection system

Next, an excavation is made in the ground to the desired depth to contain or intersect the plume, an exemplary excavation depth could be, as an example, 30 feet The pass through module is then installed in said excavation in the general vicinity of said plume, the bamer wall would be of suffiαent width and depth to allow for the interception of the plume, containing it or providing adequate containment for collection via the pass through or other collection means, such as a suction pipe or the like In the present example, plume intersection with the excavation would occur at, for example, 20 feet, therefore, 30 foot bamer walls would extend ideally ten feet below the plume intersection in this embodiment, so as to provide some degree of assurance as to the containment of said plume

Once the pass through module is in place, guide boxes are utilized to faαlitate installation of the bamer wall beyond the area of the pass through If a rolled bamer is utilized, the trench or guide box would be engaged to the pass through module so as to allow continued sliding passage of the rolled bamer member from the pass through module, through and along the guide boxes, sliding the roller frame along or just above the trench or guide box, thereby rotating the roll, and dispensing the rolled bamer member along the length of the excavation, wherein guide boxes are provided

Another guide box can be joined to the free end of the first installed guide box, and the bamer member roll likewise dispensed in similar fashion along the length of the newly installed, joined guide box, at which point another guide box can be attached at the free end, and so on, until the bamer member is installed to its desired length Only two guide boxes would be needed for the operation, as the first guide box could be removed once the rolled bamer member has been dispensed therein, and the roll has been placed upon the second guide box, at which time the first guide box is removed and may be joined with the second, unattached end of the second guide box to as to facilitate further installation of the rolled bamer member, and so on, until the bamer sheet is dispensed throughout the excavation, likewise, the process can be repeated to form a bamer on the

opposing side of the pass-through area

If a rigid bamer member is utilized in place of the sheet bamer, then the system of patents 3,240,348, 3,106,233, 5.334J49, or patent application seπal number 07/986,241 may be utilized for installing the bamer wall, the content of all of the above referenced patents and applications is

5 incorporated herein by reference

Figure 5a, further illustrates the preferred means of installing the bamer sheet member in the excavation, from a roll of bamer sheeting As shown, in beginning the installation of a wall in such a case, the end of the rolled bamer member 69 is anchored utilizing, for example, end support rod 68 or the like to, for example, the first end 67 of the guide box The roll 71 is then directed to 0 the second end 66 or the guide box via sliding or lifting via padeye 72' utilizing a cherry picker or crane, and maneuveπng the roller frame 70 towards 74 the second end 66, because the end of the rolled bamer member is anchored, the roll 71 must rotate 73 about its longitudinal axis as the roller frame 70 is moved, thereby dispensing the wall along the length of the trench or guide box A second trench or guide box may be attached via sliding engagement at its end via connection slots 5 76, and the process may be repeated until the excavation has fully dispensed therein the sheet bamer; End sliding bamers 77 may be provided to keep the dirt out dunng installation of the trench or guide box into the ground and joining of same with a second trench or guide box, at which time the bamers 77 may be lifted from the trench box, providing an open passage for the roller and bamer, 0 Refemng to Figures 5 and SA, a dispenser cover 70' may be provided to protect the roll 71 to be dispensed, the cover 70' having first and second ends, the first end communicating with the upper roller frame 70, the second, lower end having affixed thereto the lower roller frame 70", forming a dispenser shell As shown in Figure 5, the forward area of the frame may be more narrow than the width about the roller to facilitate easier forward movement of the system duπng dispensing

I of the sheet matenal from the roll The shell

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative construction of the pass through module of the present invention, wherein the sump tank 78 including the optional pump/filteπng unit 79 mounted between the rear 80 and forward 81 walls, the module further having provided therein first and second rolls 83 of bamer sheeting 86, attached 84 at their end to sump tank 78 As shown in

30 Figure 7, the bamer wall may be installed in the manner discussed in Figure 5 and 5A, returning to

Figure 7, the dispenser or roller frame 89 is directed 87 away from the sump tank, causing the roll to rotate 85 about its longitudinal axis, and dispensing the bamer wall 86, further the trench or guide box of Figures 5 and SA may be slidingly engaged to the ends of the module, via, for example engagement slots 82, to faαlitate further dispensing of said bamer roll in a manner consistent with the above, the trench or guide boxes allowing the continued direction of the roll away from the module, and the rotation and dispensing of the wall with said action

The invention embodiments herein described are done so in detail for exemplary purposes

only, and may be subject to many different variations in design, structure, application and operation methodology. Thus, the detailed disclosures therein should be interpreted in an illustrative, exemplary manner, and not in a limited sense.