AU2006230742A1 - Grout seal - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: MDP CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING PTY. LTD.

MICHAEL DENNIS PLUMB DENNIS HARVEY PLUMB SANDERCOCK COWIE SUITE 8C, 50-54 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 GROUT SEAL Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. 2005905837 Filed: 21"t October, 2005 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Fc2006-10-20.Z:\Filing\mdp file wpd, I -la-

TITLE:

GROUT SEAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns seals for cavities which are filled with concrete or grout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mines contain galleries which require linings, roofs, entranceways and other structures which need to be secured to the gallery wall. If a roof is to be constructed it is usually 2006-10-20,Z:ASpecifkations ndp cap. wpdI 1 N -2-

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0 suspended beneath the roof of the gallery.

0 Bores are drilled in the roof and a plug of epoxy resin is inserted into the end of the bore.

SThe end of the wire cable is threaded into the bore and inserted into the plug where it (-i remains until the plug cures. A plastic concave disc which is an interference fit in the bore is driven into the bore. The disc has a cable aperture and a grout aperture. A grout tube is inserted into the grout aperture in the disc and the cable is allowed to protrude through the cable aperture.

IND

A grout pump is coupled to the grout tube and the bore is filled with grout, for example water, sand and cement aggregate. This sets quickly and acts as an anchor for the cable.

The grout pump may exert appreciable pressure on the plastic disc seal which often detaches releasing the fluid grout requiring the operation to start again. The failures are messy and time wasting.

Cement grouts are available in different viscosities and are adequate in their performance.

They are capable of holding a cable tie in position and withstanding considerable cable tension.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus aspect of the invention provides a grout seal assembly for a cavity to be filled with grout, the seal assembly comprising a pair of opposed clamps each with a passage for a grout conduit, means to draw the opposed faces of the clamps together and between the clamps, a compressible seal capable of bulging outwardly beyond the clamps to seal against the wall defining the cavity.

The means to draw together the opposed faces of the clamps may be a threaded coupling.

The threaded coupling may be hollow in order to provide passage for a tie, rod, cable or other member capable of acting as a support member for a structure such as a wall, roof, diaphragm or other seal.

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O Preferably the clamps each have a third passage for a breather conduit enabling the cavity Sair to escape as the cavity is filled with grout. The breather conduit may be coaxial with O the grout conduit but it is more convenient if the breather and grout conduit are separate and lie side by side so that the axial penetration of the conduits into the cavity behind the seal can be independently adjusted. The clamps may be made of metal for example iron, steel, brass, bronze, aluminium or stainless alloys or plastic for example polyamide or polycarbonate.

IThe compressible member may be a disc with passages therethrough which correspond 10 to the passages in the clamps. Instead the compressible member may be a ring of suitable cross-section which preferably bulges to create a convex surface abutting the wall of the cavity.

When the member is a ring the cross-section may be substantially V-shaped with the apex of the V directed outwardly in order to seal against the cavity wall. The member may be made of silicone polyurethane, cork, rubber, closed cell plastic foam of suitable deformability or other suitably resilient materials. Usually the cavity will be a bore drilled in the substrate or rock stratum so that the seal size is matched to the drill diameter. If the internal bore surface is ragged, the bore entrance at least can be reamed smooth. If the bore is out of round the seal is free to expand into the extra clearance. The seal is intended for circular bores 62-80mm in diameter.

The threaded coupling which draws the clamps together may be centrally located, the passages being arranged radially around the coupling. The coupling may include a keyway to enable alignment of the bores with respect to one another to enable ease of insertion of cable, grout tube and breather tube.

Alternatively the coupling may be placed off centre allowing two passages to be accommodated across the width of the clamp. This in no way impairs the couplings ability to compress the deformable seal member. The coupling may comprise a first threaded sleeve fixed to the outer clamp and a second threaded sleeve keyed to the inner compression clamp for enabling axial adjustment of the clamps.

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The end of the sleeve which is accessible to the operator may be modified to accept a Stightening tool. The sleeve end may have a socket or flats. The sleeve end may have a O socket, flats or slots to enable sufficient torque to be applied in effecting the tightening or clamping action required.

The threaded coupling allows an operator to visit the seal at a later date and adjust it or dismantle it. The construction of the seal allows a pair of seals to be installed in series in a bore. The seal is also suitable for walls and floors. The support member in these Ninstances may be an eye, a threaded bolt or similar anchor.

In a variant, the threaded coupling is modified to accommodate both the grout conduit and the tie so that one passage through the seal suffices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross section through an assembly ready for insertion into a bore.

Figure 2 is a plan of a clamp disc.

Figure 3 is a side view of the assembly in its operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS Construction of the Seal Assembly Circular steel baseplate 2 and compression plate 4 are 5mm thick and 62mm in diameter.

Bore 6 is 27mm in diameter while bore 8 is 20.3mm in diameter. Bore 4 has a key and receives the sleeve 12 of a threaded coupling. Sleeve 12 has an external thread and a keyway 14 at one end for key 10. Sleeve 12 secured by weld 16 to compression plate 2006-0-20,ZASpecifatiortsVip cap.wpd,4 IN 4. Sleeve 12 is engaged by nut 18 which has an internal thread and has flats 20. Bore 22 is 6.5mm in diameter and lies beside both bores 6, 8. When the flats 20 are engaged by O a tubular spanner 24 and nut 18 rotates, the compression plate 4 closes toward the Sbaseplate 2. The plates compress an annular rubber seal 26 of hollow hexagonal section.

The seal has a bulging outer surface which is equal in diameter to the plates at its widest part 28.

Cc Manner of Use 10 A plastic tube 30, 20mm in diameter is inserted through bore 8 (20.3mm) and pushed 150mm past the compression plate. This tube carries grout.

A breather tube 32 is inserted into small bore 22 and slid through the assembly to the top of bore 34. A multi strand steel cable 30 receives a 2mm O-ring 38 and is threaded through the sleeve 12 so that it lies 100mm below the assembly while the cable extends for the full depth of the hole 34 which is to be grouted.

The 64mm hole 34 is drilled in the gallery roof and the entrance is reamed to a depth of 300mm. The grout machine (not shown) is brought to the site of the hole. The assembly is offered up to the hole. A tubular spanner 24 is used to slightly compress the seal by rotating the sleeve 18 in order to bulge the rubber seal. The assembly is pushed into the hole about 300mm and tightened with torque wrench 38. The tube spanner is tightened to enable the rubberseal 40 to expand in diameter.

The plastic grout tube 30 is coupled to the grout machine and the hole is filled. The grout hardens around the cable which is then used to support the roof structure built below the hole in the gallery roof. The grout tube is severed and left in situ.

Engagement of the nut 18 by the tightening tool is improved if 5 x 14mm cuts are made in the flats 20. The O-ring 38 may be substituted by a steel washer which sits by gravity on top of sleeve 12 closing the gap between the cable and the sleeve.

200D6 O-20.Z:\Spec iftaionsndp cap.wpdS -U- O 0 We have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be: O 1. The assembly's sealing range is 62-80mm in diameter.

2. Adaptable for bores and cavities of different cross-sections.

3. The sealing assembly withstands 100psi filling pressure.

S4. Allows multiple tubes and ties to be accommodated within a radius of 24mm 10 from the plate centre.

The seal will admit liquids, pastes and powders as long as the seal itself is chemically safe from the same.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (7)

1. 2. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means to draw together the S 10 opposed faces of the clamps is a threaded coupling.
2. 3. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the threaded coupling is hollow in order to provide passage for a support member projecting out of the cavity.
3. 4. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the support member is a tie, rod or cable. A grout seal as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the clamps each have a third passage for a breather conduit enabling the cavity air to escape as the cavity fills with grout.
4. 6. A grout seal as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the breather conduit and grout passage are coaxial.
5. 7. A grout seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressible seal is a disc with passages therethrough which correspond to the passages in the clamps.
6. 8. A grout seal as claimed in any one of Claims 1-6, wherein the compressible seal is a torus which bulges under compression to create a convex surface abutting the wall of the cavity.
7. 2006-1 0-20,Z:\peeiftcationsdp cap.wpd,7 -8- \O O 9. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the seal is a ring and the cross- C'I csection is substantially V-shaped with the apex of the V directed outwardly in O O order to seal against the cavity wall. C"1 10. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein the seal is made of cork or a N resilient, synthetic, polymeric material. 11. A grout seal as claimed in any one of Claims 2-10, wherein the threaded coupling is centrally located, the passages being arranged radially around the coupling. 12. A grout seal as claimed in any one of Claims 2-10, wherein the threaded coupling is located off-centre allowing two passages to be accommodated across the width of the clamps. 13. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein the threaded coupling includes a first threaded sleeve fixed to the distal clamp and a second threaded sleeve keyed to the proximal clamp to align the passages. 14. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the proximal sleeve which is accessible to the operator has an end which accepts a tightening tool. A grout seal as claimed in any one of Claims 3-14, wherein the annular gap between the support member and the threaded coupling is closed by an annular seal. 16. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the annular seal is an O-ring. 17. A grout seal as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the annular seal is a washer. 18. A grout seal substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2006-O-ZOZ: Speciflonsmndpcap. wpd,8 \O O 19. A seal assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cavity Sis filled at least partially with hardened grout. 0 20. A seal assembly as claimed in Claims 1-18, wherein a cavity is filled at least partially with hardened grout with a support member embedded in the grout. 21. A grout seal assembly for a cavity to be filled with grout, the seal assembly comprising a pair of opposed clamps each with a passage for a coupling adapted to draw the opposed faces of the clamps together, between the clamps a C 10 compressible seal capable of bulging outwardly beyond the clamps to seal against the cavity wall, the coupling being capable of accommodating a grout tube and a support member accessible outside the assembly. 20D6-1O-20,Z:\Specifttions\ndp cp pd.9