A foundation construction, particularly useful for buildings and other supported structures in Arctic regions wherein a permafrost condition typically prevails, is provided by a construction pad having at least one or more perforated and ventilated conduits positioned within a cushion of air-permeable particulate material, said cushion containing the perforated conduit being substantially thermally isolated from the supported structure by means such as encapsulating with an insulating material. Generally, the pad is overburdened with, or imbedded in, a suitable gravel fill material. The pad can substantially reduce, and in certain instances eliminate, the necessity of providing piling supports in Arctic regions and furthermore provides both a thermal barrier restricting heat flowing downward from the building to the frozen substrata and a type of thermal shunt blocking heat from the structure while admitting a certain amount of geothermal heat flowing upward from the ground to an ambient air heat sink.
An arrangement in building structures (1) having a support mat (2) for creating beneath the support mat (2) an air mass or volume (3'). A fan or like device is provided for supplying air under overpressure to a bed located beneath the support mat. Arranged in the bed (3) beneath the mat (2) are hoses (9) and/or pipes, which are connected to the fan (7).
A horizontal panel structure is provided for disposition over and support from the roof portion of a vehicle, such as a passenger automobile. The panel structure serves not only as a sun shield but also as a rain shield and includes front, rear and opposite side marginal portions for disposition along the corresponding marginal portions of the associated vehicle roof portion. Each of the panel structure marginal portions defines an outwardly opening slot extending therealong and an extension panel member is shiftably disposed in each slot and extendible and retractable therein relative to the corresponding marginal portion of the panel structure. The opposite ends of one pair of opposite extension panel members include extension sections supported therefrom for extension and retraction relative to the opposite ends of the extension panel members and the panel structure consists of at least three layers or plies with the top ply being constructed of heat insulative material, the central ply comprising a plurality of side by side open ended tubular members and the lower ply comprising a thin sheet of material having poor heat transmitting properties. The tubes of the center ply extend longitudinally of the panel structure and the forward marginal edge of the upper ply includes an elongated radiant heat absorbing member extending therealong closely above the forward ends of the tubes, whereby the radiant heat absorbing member may, by convection currents, generate a forward flow of cooling air through each of the tubes when the associated vehicle is at least substantially at a standstill.
A caisson for an underwater structure is provided comprising an elongated sponge mat fitted along the outer edge of the base of the frame, said sponge mat being molded from a plastic material and having a skin of a dense foam structure and an interior of a coarse foam structure, a plurality of small holes being provided in said sponge mat so as to extend crosswise, or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mat, from one side of the mat to the other side, and at least one rope being passed through each of said holes, each of said ropes being of a length equal to or greater than the length of the corresponding small hole.
A method and apparatus for hydraulically isolating a volume in porous unsaturated material, such as soil. Air is forced through a permeable layer of material adjacent to the volume to be hydraulically isolated. The air flow through the permeable layer creates a water potential gradient. This causes water to migrate from more saturated areas which in turn would allow hydraulic isolation of any unsaturated area.
A waste disposal landfill comprises a layer of porous material such as stone or crushed concrete applied over the waste before the final cover. Conduits extend from the layer through the cover to atmosphere and terminate in self-aligning airscoops. Ventilation through the porous layer occurs in response to ambient winds to remove water from the landfill especially that intercepted and temporarily retained by the porous layer and thus inhibit leachate formation.
