Hydraulic and earth engineering – Underground passageway – e.g. – tunnel – Sectional
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-12-11
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Underground passageway, e.g., tunnel
Sectional
C405S134000, C405S151000, C405S152000, C285S045000, C285S055000, C285S293100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328501
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a tunnel or shaft lining or pipeline of segments each of which is adapted to be connected to further segments.
For brevity the remainder of this specification will refer in general to tunnel linings, but this should in all situations be taken also to include shaft linings and the like. Where appropriate pipelines will also be discussed.
It is well known to manufacture of tunnel linings using curved segments connected end to end and side to side. In addition the manufacture of pipe linings from segments connected end to end is also well known. Such segments typically are formed from concrete with internal reinforcement of steel bars. However, there are disadvantages with such internally reinforced segments both in terms of the gradual degradation of the steel reinforcement and in terms of sealing the segments in fluid tight fashion to one another. This latter disadvantage is largely as a result of the nature of the concrete surfaces against which such seals press, which commonly have many irregularities.
Japanese patent specification JP01-154996 there is disclosed a method of making a curved lining segment in which a concrete core is lined externally with fibre reinforced cement mouldings. Each of a pair of mouldings is of a generally tray shaped configuration having a base and outstanding sides. The mouldings are arranged with the outstanding sides of the two trays facing one another. Concrete is then introduced into a substantially closed cavity thus produced, to form the segment.
Such a construction may simplify the manufacturing process, but it is necessary for the core to be provided with reinforcement as the cement mouldings will not provide substantial structural strength to the core.
First, this is because of the nature of cement mouldings. Cement, like concrete is not strong in tension, which is why it is essential to provide concrete with some reinforcement which is strong in tension.
Second, if such internal reinforcement was not included in the construction described in the earlier Japanese patent specification, it would be necessary for the edge portions, or at least a pair of the edge portions of the concrete core, to be reinforced to give the segment tensile strength. In the Japanese construction though, the outstanding sides of the two trays meet along the edge portions of the concrete body, so that regardless of the material from which the cement mouldings may alternatively be made, the mouldings cannot give any substantial reinforcement to the segment where such reinforcement is primarily needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a tunnel or shaft lining, or pipeline section of segments, wherein each segment comprises a concrete body having an extrados surface, an intrados surface and first and second ends and first and second sides, the ends and sides providing edge portions, the segments being adapted to be connected to further similar segments with edge portions adjacent edge portions of adjacent segments, the method being characterised in that the method includes enveloping the ends or sides of a least a pair of segments in a reinforcing material as the concrete is cast, and once the concrete has cured, connecting the segments together with one of each of their enveloped ends or sides adjacent, and sealing between the enveloped ends or sides.
Thus the tunnel or shaft lining or pipeline is made of generally curved, segments which are each reinforced by external reinforcement material.
Most conveniently the reinforcing material of each segment is provided by a pair of generally “C” or channel shaped reinforcing members each having an edge part which in use extends alongside an edge portion of the concrete body, and a pair of spaced generally parallel flanges which are integral with the edge part of the reinforcement member and in use each overlies a part of the intrados or extrados surface and the method further includes making each of the segments by supporting a pair of reinforcing members generally parallel to but spaced from one another, and casting concrete into the space between the reinforcement members so that opposing edge portions of the concrete body thus formed, are enveloped by the reinforcement members.
Thus there is no discontinuity in the reinforcing material along the reinforced sides or ends.
If desired, usually largely for cosmetic reasons, and to facilitate the casting in concrete of the, usually curved, intrados or extrados surfaces, at least one of an extrados and intrados surface covering member is provided, which may be supported relative to the reinforcement members so as to form a cavity into which the concrete is cast.
Such covering member will add little strength to the segment but will enable an extrados and/or intrados surface of improved finish to be produced, thus reducing or even eliminating finishing work within the tunnel or shaft lining or pipeline, which otherwise may be required.
Preferably a covering member is provided for both the intrados and extrados surfaces, which covering members are supported relative to the reinforcement members during concrete casting, and if desired additional covering members may be provided for each of the sides or ends which are not enveloped by the reinforcement material. Thus the method may comprise supporting the additional covering members relative to the reinforcement members and the covering members for the intrados and extrados surfaces, so as to form a substantially closed cavity, and introducing the concrete into the cavity through a passage provided in one of the covering or additional covering members under pressure.
So that the reinforcement material enveloping the ends or sides of the segment can be made as thin, strong and light as possible, the reinforcement members are preferably made in a fibre reinforced plastic material, with fibres of the reinforcement extending generally along the reinforcement member. The reinforcement members may be made by pultrusion or another suitable method.
The fibre reinforcement may comprise continuous filament mat and stitch bonded roving cloth and the plastic may comprise resin.
During construction of the lining or pipeline, a sealing member may be located between adjacent enveloped ends or sides of a pair of segments, prior to the segments being connected or finally connected to one another. Thus the sealing member may be compressed between reinforcing material enveloping the adjacent ends or sides as the end or sides are connected together, although, a hydrophilic kind of sealing member may alternatively/additionally/integrally be provided.
According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a method of manufacturing a lining segment comprising a concrete body having an extrados surface, an intrados surface and first and second ends and first and second sides, the ends and sides providing edge portions, the segment being adapted to be connected to a further similar segment with an edge portion adjacent an edge portion of the further segment, the method being characterised in that the method includes enveloping the ends or sides of the segment in a reinforcing material as the concrete is cast, and permitting the concrete to cure.
According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a lining segment comprising a concrete body having an extrados surface, an intrados surface, first and second ends and first and second sides, the ends and sides providing edge portions, characterised in that the ends or sides are enveloped by reinforcing material.
The reinforcing material of the segment of the third aspect of the invention may provided by a pair of edge reinforcement members each comprising a generally “C” or channel shape provided by an edge part which in use extends alongside an edge portion of the concrete body, and a pair of spaced generally parallel flanges which are integral with the edge part of the reinforcement member and in use each overlies a part of the intrados or ext
Marshall Gerstein & Borun
Pechhold Alexandra K.
Tarmac Heavy Building Materials UK Limited
Will Thomas B.
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