Keith E Wier

US Patent:

58634762, Jan 26, 1999

Filed:

Jan 15, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/782431

Inventors:

Keith E. Wier - Denver CO

International Classification:

B28B 1087

US Classification:

264 72

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for stabilizing soils and other granular materials at the site at which they are located. The apparatus includes a platform, fixed or mobile at a contamination site, carrying a hopper for receiving contaminated material to be stabilized including additives as required, a mixer for introducing additives to the material connected to the hopper, a mechanism for transporting contaminated granular materials from an adjacent contaminated site to the mixer, at least one mold having at least one movable wall, a harmonic compactor to form a uniformly dense, solid compacted preform body, and a discharge station for handling or holding the preform. Where desired or required an air dryer, thermal curing chamber or sintering furnace may be used to dry and/or fuse the preform into a final block. The method includes the steps of introducing a contaminated soil mixture, or other granular material, into a mold having at least one movable wall, applying an appropriate pneumatic preload force to the material in the mold, repetitively accelerating the mold in vibration followed by repetitive impact forces up to, but not exceeding the yield strength of the binding material with the lowest yield strength in the mixture to form a solid preform, removing the preform and allowing it to air dry, or subjecting it to low temperature cure or sintering to stabilize the material contained therein.

US Patent:

45319030, Jul 30, 1985

Filed:

Jun 19, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/622143

Inventors:

David J. Frey - Boulder CO
Keith E. Wier - Boulder CO

Assignee:

SXD Refractories, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

B28B 108
B29G 100

US Classification:

425429

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for forming fine, relatively dry particles into shaped refractory, ceramic and porcelain preforms or similar compacted articles by confining the loose particles in a shaped enclosure having at least one movable, preloaded side to maintain the particles in a loose but contiguous mass, accelerating the mass particles and at least a portion of the mold in such a manner as to induce a positive or negative acceleration of the mass of a magnitude at least 25 to 50 G's, depending upon the particle composition, and preferably in the range of 500 G's to 5000 G's, or greater, again depending on the particle composition in order that each particle undergoes a force generating impact with adjacent particles to homogeneously compact and fuse the adjacent particles one to the other in a nonbridging manner. A preferred apparatus for accomplishing the abrupt acceleration and deceleration of the particles of the mass comprises a mold having fixed sidewalls and at least one movable end wall positioned on a vertically oscillating table and confined above the table by an underdamped system tuned to a frequency corresponding to the frequency of oscillation of the table, and preferably including a pneumatic cylinder and a punch member to provide the desired preload on the particle mass. In operation, the pneumatic cylinder and overhead structure are tuned to reciprocate with the mold approximately 180. degree.

US Patent:

44565747, Jun 26, 1984

Filed:

Jul 23, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/401422

Inventors:

David J. Frey - Boulder CO
Keith E. Wier - Boulder CO

Assignee:

SXD Refractories - Boulder CO

International Classification:

B30B 1100

US Classification:

264 71

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for forming particles into shaped preforms by confining the loose particles in a shaped closure having at least one moveable side, subjecting each particle of the mass and at least a portion of the mold to an acceleration of a magnitude of at least 25 to 50 G's, and preferably in the range of 500 G's to 5000 G's, or greater, to generate at each particles a force causing such particle to impact with adjacent particles and form a homogeneous, fused article, and articles so formed.