Hydraulic and earth engineering – Earth treatment or control – Shoring – bracing – or cave-in prevention
Patent
1994-05-04
1995-08-01
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Earth treatment or control
Shoring, bracing, or cave-in prevention
405276, 405278, 405281, E02D 508
Patent
active
054375207
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to in-ground barriers, of the kind that comprise pile-driven elements of sheet material, and the like. Such barriers are often required to be watertight, or at least to be leak resistant.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Patent publication GB-2228760 (VALES, published 05 Sept 1990) shows an arrangement of the interlocking edge forms of the elements of a barrier, the illustrated arrangement being highly effective to resist leakage. The present invention may be regarded as an improvement to that type of interlocking edge-form arrangement.
In VALES, one of the key aspects is that a cavity is created in the potential leak path that exists between two interlocking elements. The cavity is defined by the profiles of the interlocking edge forms. The cavity is large enough that a hose pipe may be passed down the cavity, and water then may be flushed through the cavity. When the cavity is flushed out, an injecting or dispensing pipe may be inserted into the cavity, and a sealant and/or adhesive may be injected into the cavity.
The present invention is aimed at improving the reliability with which the sealed junctions of this general type can be regarded as leak proof.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists in a leak-resistant barrier. Each element of the barrier has a senior edge form which interlocks with, and is pile-driven or otherwise inserted ahead of, a junior edge form of the next adjacent element.
In the invention, the configurations of the interlocking pairs of senior and junior edge forms are such that the configurations thereof jointly form the circumferences of two enclosed cavities.
In respect of each one of the two enclosed cavities, a portion of the circumference of the enclosed cavity is constituted by a portion of the senior edge form, and another portion of the circumference of that same enclosed cavity is constituted by a portion of the interlocking junior edge form.
In respect of both cavities, the portion of the circumference of the cavity constituted by the junior edge form preferably is the major portion of that circumference.
The barrier includes means for keeping the said enclosed cavities clear of dirt and debris when the barrier is installed. Preferably, this takes the form of scrapers attached to the foot of the junior edge form, which act to deflect the dirt and debris laterally away from the cavities as the junior edge form is driven onto the senior.
In respect of each one of the two enclosed cavities, the edge forms are so shaped that each enclosed cavity includes a respective clear, open space, which is defined by and inscribed wholly within the enclosed cavity, the inscribed circle being clear and open in that no portion of the material of either of the elements encroaches into the said inscribed circle. This clear, open space permits the insertion into the cavity of the flushing hose and/or a sealant injecting tube. The cavity is open from top to bottom of the barrier, so that the hose can be inserted from the surface all the way down to the bottom of the barrier. The inscribed circle is preferably of at least 18 mm diameter.
As mentioned, the interlocking senior and junior edge forms jointly form the whole circumferences of the cavities, with the result that potential leakpaths are created between the edge forms. It is arranged that each and every leakpath starting from in front of the barrier and finishing behind the barrier is in communication with the said two enclosed cavities, and in fact the interlocking edge forms are so arranged that all the potential leakpaths traverse through both the cavities, in series.
The interlocking adjacent elements are so arranged as to include an interlocking dovetail connection, being a connection which is effective to prevent lateral displacement of the senior edge form relative to the interlocking junior edge form and to prevent consequent distortion of the cavity, the prevented displacement being displacement of such magnitude as to cause such lateral distortion of the cavity wherein the open, clear i
REFERENCES:
patent: 1411905 (1922-04-01), Boardman
patent: 1896259 (1933-02-01), Thackray
patent: 2558367 (1951-06-01), Madsen
patent: 3302412 (1967-02-01), Hunsucker
patent: 3492826 (1970-02-01), Horstketter et al.
patent: 3688508 (1972-09-01), Taylor
patent: 4981540 (1991-01-01), Prochhorst
Cherry John A.
Vales Enoch S.
Taylor Dennis L.
University of Waterloo
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