Hydraulic and earth engineering – Earth treatment or control – Shoring – bracing – or cave-in prevention
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-09
2001-05-01
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Earth treatment or control
Shoring, bracing, or cave-in prevention
C405S283000, C405S272000, C405S273000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224296
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a trench shoring system for use in trenches such as those for burying pipes underground, and particularly, a trench shoring system which utilizes double sliding panels to prevent collapse of the walls of the trench.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, there exists a trench shoring system using panels to prevent soil collapse. In this system, two or more struts are affixed to slide rails. Two sets of this ladder-like structure are assembled. First, one set is driven vertically into the trench, then one end of each of two panels are fitted onto the slide rails, and then the other ladder-like structure is fitted onto the other end of the two panels. As the section of the trench inside this box-like structure is dug, the panels and the slide rails are driven in turns, and this step is repeated continuously until the panels reach a specified depth.
Concerning this system, panels are used in two levels, upper and lower. The lower panel is called the edged panel and the upper panel is called the extension panel. If the depth of the trench exceeds 5 m, double rails, which are slide rails with double grooves for inserting panels into, are also used.
With this conventional trench shoring system, as illustrated in
FIGS. 5-9
, after a preliminary ditch is dug, the front slide rails are driven in at the front end of the trench. Then two edged panels, which are panels with a pointed edge along the bottom, are fitted at one end into the front slide rails and driven in. After that, at the other end of the trench, back slide rails are fitted onto the other end of the edged panels and driven into the trench. This results, at the end, in a safe, box-like trench shoring structure. However, during the assembly of this structure, when the edged panels are being fitted into the front slide rails and driven in, or when the back slide rails are being driven into the free end of the edged panels, the work may be dangerous and difficult.
Also, similarly, after the back slide rails are driven in, when the front slide rails are being driven deeper into the trench floor, or when the extension panels are being fitted into the slide rails after the edged panels have been driven deeper into the trench floor, the work may be difficult.
Additionally, while digging to the desired depth, when driving in the inner panels and slide rails by pushing from on top with the bucket of an excavator, especially when the slide rails are double rails, there is the possibility of the problem of the outer panels, the top of which should be at ground level (GL) to stabilize the natural ground walls of trenches, falling or sinking further into the ground due to the vibration caused by the driving in of the slide rails.
This invention addresses the problems detailed above, and as a trench shoring system that uses panels as shoring walls to prevent the possible collapse of natural ground walls of trenches when burying pipes underground, it not only prevents danger but also, compared to conventional technology, presents a remarkable improvement injob efficiency. Additionally, this invention offers shoring panels which contain mechanisms that prevent the two sliding panels from sliding beyond the specified sliding depth.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In accordance with the invention the foregoing advantages have been achieved through the present trench shoring system for preventing possible falling of natural ground walls of trenches, comprising: a pair of outer panels, each outer panel having inner and outer wall surfaces and upper and lower portions; a pair of inner panels, each inner panel having inner and outer wall surfaces and upper and lower portions, the pair of inner panels being coupled together by at least one strut, one pair of panels being disposed for vertical sliding movement along a wall surface of the other pair of panels; and at least one stopping member associated with at least one pair of panels for preventing the one pair of panels from sliding past a desired position with respect to the other pair of panels whereby the lower portions of one pair of panels and the upper portions of other pair of panels define an overlapping area.
A further feature of the trench shoring system is that the inner panels may be coupled together by at least two struts. Another feature of the trench shoring system is that the pair of outer panels may be coupled together at the upper portions of the outer panels by at least one strut thereby providing a space between the pair of outer panels to receive the inner panels. An additional feature of the trench shoring system is that at least one of the pairs of panels may include guides thereby providing vertical sliding movement of the one pair of panels with respect to the other pair of panels. A further feature of the trench shoring system is that each of the at least one strut may be freely adjustable lengthwise. Another feature of the trench shoring system is that the outer panels may include a pair of stopping members. An additional feature of the trench shoring system is that the stopping member may include: at least one pendulum latch in contact with one of the pairs of panels, and a portion of the pendulum latch defines a projection; and at least one collision piece is in contact with one of the pairs of panels and contacts the projection when one pair of panels slides down to a desired position with respect to the other pair of panels, thereby preventing the one pair of panels form sliding down further with respect to the other pair of panels. A further feature of the trench shoring system is that the pendulum latch may be swingably supported at a position off from the center of gravity by a supporting axis thereby allowing the pendulum latch to rotate by its own weight, and includes a stopper that limits the rotation of the pendulum latch so that the pendulum latch stops with a portion thereof projecting from one of the pairs of panels. Another feature of the trench shoring system is that the pendulum latch may be swingably supported by a supporting axis, and includes an elastic energizing means thereby enabling the pendulum latch to rotate until a portion of the pendulum latch projects from one of the pairs of panels, and a stopper thereby limiting the rotation of the pendulum latch.
In accordance with the invention, the foregoing advantages have also been achieved through the present set of trench shoring panels comprising: two panels disposed for vertical sliding movement with respect to each other thereby providing shoring walls; at least one pendulum latch contacting one of the two panels, wherein a portion of the pendulum latch defines a projection; and at least one collision piece on the other panel which contacts the projection of the pendulum latch when the two panels slide to a desired position with respect to each other.
A further feature of the trench shoring panel assembly is that the set of trench shoring panels may include double slide rails having two parallel grooves, the two panels disposed for sliding movement of the two panels with respect to each other within the grooves.
In accordance with the invention, the foregoing advantages have also been achieved through the present stopping device comprising a pendulum latch wherein a portion of the pendulum latch defines a projection, the pendulum latch being swingably supported by a supporting axis at a position off from the center of gravity of the pendulum latch and rotated by the pendulum latch's own weight or an energizing force generated by an elastic energizing means; and a stopper that limits the rotation of the pendulum latch.
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Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.
Japan Speed Shore Co., Ltd.
Matheny Anthony F.
Pechhold Alexandra K.
Will Thomas B.
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