IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,353,887
Granted Patent B2
US 9,353,887 · App. 14/540,403 · Granted May 31, 2016

Multi-purpose micro-trench insert

Inventor: Jeffrey J. Konczak (Alpena, MI)
Assignee: SuperGrout, LLC
F16L1/028G02B6/504C04B2111/70G02B6/4459
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,353,887
App. No.
14/540,403
Granted
May 31, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A micro-trench filling system and method of filling a trench holding a conduit is provided. The micro-trench filling system includes a trench formed into a covering surface, a conduit disposed in the bottom of the trench, a structural filler disposed on the conduit in the bottom of the trench, the structural filler made of a mesh material and having a plurality of openings; and a flowable filler poured into the trench and over the structural filler and surrounding the conduit. The flowable filler flows through the plurality of openings of the structural filler creating a bond between the flowable filler and structural filler, the flowable filler cures after a predetermined amount of time, and the structural filler and the flowable filler hold the conduit in place.

Claims (30)

1. A micro-trench filling system, comprising;

a trench formed into a covering surface;

an air-tight conduit disposed in the bottom of the trench;

a structural filler disposed on the conduit in the bottom of the trench, and

a flowable filler disposed in the trench and over the structural filler and surrounding the conduit,

wherein the structural filler is made of a mesh material and has a plurality of openings, wherein the structural filler and the flowable filler completely covers and holds the conduit in place within the trench.

2. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein the flowable filler flows through the plurality of openings of the structural filler creating a bond between the flowable filler and structural filler, wherein the flowable filler cures after a predetermined amount of time, and wherein the structural filler and the flowable filler hold the conduit in place.

3. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sealing material applied over the flowable filler and structural filler for creating a protective seal across the trench.

4. The micro-trench filling system of claim 3 , wherein the sealing material is an asphalt sealer.

5. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a protective sleeve for receiving a cable.

6. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a fiber optic cable.

7. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein the trench has a predetermined depth of less than 13 inches.

8. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein structural filler is a single unit.

9. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein the structural filler is made of a metallic material.

10. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein the structural filler is made of synthetic fiber.

11. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein the flowable filler is a cementitious grout.

12. The micro-trench filling system of claim 1 , wherein the flowable filler is a polymeric elastomer.

13. A method for filling a micro-trench for holding an air-tight conduit, comprising:

cutting a trench from a covering surface forming a channel within the covering surface;

inserting the air-tight conduit into the bottom of the channel of the trench;

inserting a structural filler into the channel of the trench, the structural filler being disposed on the conduit and the structural filler being made of a mesh material and having a plurality of openings;

pouring a flowable filler into the channel of the trench, wherein the flowable filler flows through the plurality of openings of the structural filler to create a bond between the flowable filler and the structural filler and surrounds the conduit,

wherein the air-tight conduit is completely covered by the structural filler and the flowable filler such that the air-tight conduit is held in place within the bottom of the trench.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including:

applying a sealing material to the trench over the structural filler and flowable filler to create a protective seal across the trench.

15. The method of claim 13 , further including:

clearing debris from the trench after the trench is cut.

16. The method of claim 13 , further including:

providing a location for the trench to be cut.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2014
From: KONCZAK, JEFFREY J.
To: SUPERGROUT PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034208/0179 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61981326 · Apr 18, 2014
Related Publication 20150300527A1 · Oct 22, 2015