AU2014203096A1 - Cementitious tubular structure comprising a sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

A tubular structure comprising one or more stacked cementitious tubular sleeves. The tubular sleeve comprise an outer wall and an expanded upper part of the outer wall is expanded radially outwardly to accommodate one or 5 more upwardly facing lifting anchors that can be connected to a hoist. The lifting anchors are cast in the outer wall. Preferably at least two spaced apart discrete expanded portions are provided that are opposed such that the sleeve is held upright when lifting upwardly at the anchors. More preferably the expanded portions are extended downwardly forming a pier. Figure 2

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Cooke Pre-cast Concrete Pty Ltd Address for Service: A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys PO Box 222, Mitcham, SA 5062 Invention Title: Cementitious tubular structure comprising a sleeve The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- CEMENTITIOUS TUBULAR STRUCTURE COMPRISING A SLEEVE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a tubular structure comprising a sleeve in one aspect 5 of the invention with means for connection with a hoist at an upper end of the sleeve, and in another aspect of the invention having one or more axial piers, or both. The structure in one form of the invention is the well of a wastewater pumping station. 10 Tubular structures comprising one or more stacked sleeves being of cement or concrete construction, are known to make, for example, wastewater pumping stations, or water storage tanks or even smaller structures such as manholes. 15 The sleeves, are used to make the tubular structures transportable, however, even beyond a moderate size they require facilitated lifting such as by a crane or other hoist, whereby chains or cables are fastened to the sleeves which are then lifted, moved transversely and lowered into place. 20 Where the tubular or similar structure, such as a pipeline, is laid horizontally chains or cables can be secured around the sleeves, which sleeves may take the form of pipe sections, and removed when the pipe section is in place. Where the sleeves are stacked vertically placement of chains or cables in the 25 above manner is not possible. Instead anchors are embedded by casting them in the concrete or cement sleeves. A fastener, usually a quick release fastener is used to secure a cable or chain to the anchor in order to lift the pipe or other tubular element and then lower the same into place. 30 It is known to have anchors mounted on the sides of the sleeves. As a result the direction of approach for fastening and undoing of the fasteners is radial. The quick release mechanism of such fasteners is however operable in or counter the direction of fastening and thus release of fasteners so placed are difficult to operate from a remote position. Removal of lifting chains and 2 cables thus becomes laborious, and potentially dangerous, when the pipe or tubular element is either in ground or above ground beyond standing reach. A further problem of radially approachable anchors is that the chain or cable 5 that lifts the pipe or tubular element inevitably exerts an inwardly directed force on an upper outwardly facing edge of the sleeve, and often times this results in chipping or cracking of the upper outwardly facing edge, thus compromising the join between two adjacent pipes or tubular elements. Thus the water or other liquid contained therein may leak out if the compromise in 10 the join is not repaired. Such repair incurs additional cost and time. It is to be understood that it is desirable to keep the wall thickness of the pipe or tubular structures a thin as possible for two reasons i) the reduce costs associated with making the sleeves and ii) to reduce the weight thereof and 15 thus make handling easier and also reducing transport costs. The resulting difficulty is that placing a cover over the tubular structure can cause fracturing or crushing of the sleeve, and secondly thin walls compromise the capacity of the sleeves to withstand lateral pressure such as 20 hydraulic pressures exerted by soil inwardly or in the case of an above ground structure, outwardly directed pressure of liquid held within the tubular structure. It should be appreciated that any discussion of the prior art throughout the 25 specification is included solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention and should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art was widely known or formed part of the common general knowledge in the field as it existed before the priority date of the application. 30 The present invention provides, in one aspect, at least one upwardly facing lifting anchor integrally formed into the sleeve, the sleeve comprising an expanded upper portion extend radially outwardly to accommodate the lifting anchor. 3 The present invention provides in a second aspect at least two discrete axially elongate radially expanded parts of an outer wall of the sleeve each discrete expanded part forming a pier. 5 It is advantageous to have the expanded portions extend axially along the height of the sleeve to such an extent that on stacking the sleeves a pier is formed for the height of the tubular structure. 10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention might in the first aspect be said to reside in a tubular structure comprising one or more stacked cementitious tubular sleeves, the tubular sleeve comprising an outer wall, an expanded upper part of 15 the outer wall expanded radially outwardly to accommodate one or more upwardly facing lifting anchors for connection to a hoist, the lifting anchors being cast in the outer wall. In one form the expanded upper part of the wall comprises at least two 20 spaced apart discrete expanded portions, said expanded portions being opposed such that the sleeve is held upright when lifting upwardly at the anchors. The invention might in the second aspect be said to reside in a tubular 25 structure comprising one or more stacked cementitious tubular sleeves, the tubular sleeve comprising an outer wall, the outer wall comprising at least two discrete axially elongate expanded parts of the outer wall expanded radially, said discrete expanded part forming a pier. 30 In a preferred form the discrete expanded portions are axially elongate, such that when two sleeves are stacked one on top of the other the expanded portions form a pier functionally extending between the two sleeves. 4 The pier provides for vertical columnar strength thus providing greater support for, for example, a cover for the well. Such covers are typically cast cemetitious structures that are steel reinforced and can comprise a substantial weight. The provision of piers means that the wall thickness of the sleeves 5 can be reduced and still provide sufficient support for the cover. Similarly where three or more piers are provided these can also provide significant radial structural strength to assist with withstanding, for example, hydraulic soil pressure. The benefit again is that the outer wall of the tubular structure can be cast thinner and still have adequate resistance to soil pressures. 10 The base and sleeves are preferably reinforced. The reinforcement is preferably steel. The sleeves preferably comprise a mesh reinforcement, inside the outer wall to reinforce the same. The piers may further comprise an axial reinforcement bar, said axial reinforcement bar is preferably connected 15 with the mesh. In preference the lifting anchor is connected to the axial reinforcement bar and preferably made to form a unitary structure therewith, for example, by welding or by use of screw threaded fastening. In a preferred form an upper surface of the sleeve comprises hollows in which 20 the exposed ends of the lifting anchors are upwardly presented. This arrangement maintains the lifting anchors at or below the uppermost surface of the sleeve. In another form the expanded upper part of the wall comprises at least three, 25 spaced apart discrete expanded portions, said expanded portions being opposed such that the sleeve is held upright when lifting upwardly at the anchors. Sleeves preferably comprise registering means, so that the two sleeves when 30 accurately positioned register with one another. Such registering means may comprise an outer circumferential flange and an inner circumferential groove at an upper end of the sleeve with mating outer circumferential groove and an inner circumferential flange at an lower end of the sleeve, such that when one sleeve is stacked on top of another respective upper and lower ends register. 5 In one form the tubular structure is open at a lower end thereof, so that a lower end of a lowermost sleeve is downwardly open. Preferably the well comprises a base to close the lower end of the tubular structure. The base 5 may comprise a cementitious floor, on which a sleeve is placed. The base may or may not have an aperture therethrough, for example, to allow for passage of a pipe an outer wall of which can be sealed to prevent leakage of liquid between the pipe and the aperture. More usually the base will not have any apertures therethrough and is liquid impermeable, and in the illustrated 10 embodiment of a well of a wastewater pumping station the base will have no apertures therethrough. In a further preferred form the base will be integrally cast at the lower end of a stacked sleeve. Such lowermost sleeve can thus have a further sleeve 15 stacked thereon but cannot be stacked on top of another sleeve. The base preferably extends radially outwardly of the outer wall of the sleeve that it is integrally formed with or that it is fitted onto, such that the pier is supported on the base. 20 The invention relates to a tubular structure and reference is made to a well and thus the invention will be understood to be applicable to underground structures, however equally the tubular structure may extend above ground. The base may be underground with one or more sleeves fully underground, or 25 perhaps an upper sleeve above ground. The tubular structure may be applicable to a manhole access well, a well for water or a wastewater pumping station well. Equally one or more sleeves may be fully above ground or the entire tubular structure may be above ground. An example of a structure that may be partially or totally above ground is a water storage tank. 30 It will be appreciated that whilst the invention has other applications it is particularly suited to liquid impermeable applications, in particular to storage of water or waste water. 6 It may be desirable to have one or more aperture through the outer wall to have access therethrough by way of a pipe or other intrusion. Such intrusion will typically be sealed so that the outer wall will be sealed against traverse of liquids and thus it is anticipated that the outer wall is made liquid 5 impermeable. In particular embodiments of this invention, however, the outer wall may simply provide a structural feature with an inner liquid impermeable container housed therein. Reference is made to a tubular structure, and to radially extending 10 enlargements. It will readily be understood that the sleeves may have a circular cross-section when viewed from above, however, equally they may have other cross-sectional shapes such as oval. The sleeves may also have angular shape such as rectangular, or rounded angle shapes such as rectangular but with rounded corners. 15 Indications have been given above of the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the invention encompasses the combination of two or more of these indications including the combination of the first and second aspect of the invention. 20 For a better understanding the invention will now be described with reference to illustrated embodiments. In the drawings BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 Figure 1 is a part schematic perspective view from above of a first illustrated embodiment of the tubular structure comprising a wastewater well including a base and a cover, 30 Figure 2 is a rendered schematic perspective of a sleeve comprising a base, showing the location of the lifting anchors and piers, 7 Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the cross sectional shape of a sleeve, and in outline showing some only of the mesh reinforcement of the sleeve, and 5 Figure 4 is a cross sectional side plan view of an exploded view of a second embodiment comprising a sleeve to be fitted over a sleeve having a base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 10 The tubular structure of the illustrated embodiment takes the form of a well of a wastewater pumping station. The well comprises a tubular sleeve (1) comprising an outer wall (2). The outer wall comprises spaced apart discrete radially expanded portions (5, 6, 7, 8). The expanded portion thus extend 15 outwardly of the remainder of the outer wall, and thus constitute a considerable thickening of the wall. The expanded portions of the illustrated embodiments extend axially along the tubular sleeves the entire height of the sleeve. 20 The expanded portions are distributed so they are opposed in pairwise fashion, thus expanded portions (5) and (7) are opposed and expanded portions (6) and (8) are opposed. 25 Two types of sleeves are illustrated, those shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and the lower sleeve (1 b) shown in Figure 4 comprise a base (10). The upper sleeve (1a) shown in Figure 4 does not. The upper sleeve (1a) is shown as capable of fitting onto lower sleeve (1 b). Equally a separate base might be provided that the upper sleeve (1a) could fit onto, and one or more like upper 30 sleeves stack thereon. Upper sleeve comprises an outer wall the inner surface (15) of which is parallel to the outer surface (16). The uppermost part include registering means comprising an outer circumferential flange (17) and an inner 8 circumferential groove (18). The lowermost part comprises an inner circumferential flange (19) and an outer circumferential groove (20). It can be seen that the lower sleeve (1 b) has a similar outer circumferential upper flange (17) and an inner circumferential groove (18). Equally it can be seen in 5 figure 4 that when the upper sleeve (1 a) is stacked onto the lower sleeve (1 b) that the upper sleeve will register therein. Figure 2 shows a keyway (20) provided in the circumferential upper flange (17), not illustrated is a key extending downwardly from the lower 10 circumferential groove (20) that mates with the keyway, to register the upper sleeve (1 a) with lower sleeve (1 b) in an orientation to align respective expanded portions which thereby form piers extending from the top of the well to the base (10). 15 The lower sleeve (1 b) comprising the base (10), with which it is integrally cast. It can also be seen particularly from figure 4 that the outside wall of the lower sleeve is tapered being wider at a lower part (21) than at an upper part (22). An inwardly facing gusset (23) is also formed to provide appropriate structural integrity. 20 A cover (25) shown in Figure 1 fits over the sleeve (1) to cover the well. An access hole (26) is formed through the cover to provide access to the well. A lower surface of the cover may be provided with means to locate with the registering means of the sleeve, and may comprise a flange that fits snugly 25 into the inner circumferential groove (18), similarly there may be a key that fits into keyway (20), to register the cover in a desired orientation relative to the sleeve. Upwardly accessible lifting anchors (30, 31, 32, 33) are cast into the sleeve. 30 The lifting anchors comprise a metal pin having an enlarge head, the pin is cast into the sleeve, with the enlarged head exposed upwardly. The exposed head does not extend above an upper surface of the sleeve so that sleeves can be stacked stably, and therefore a cup shaped hollow if formed around the enlarged head for access and attachment by a suitable fastener. The 9 fastening system contemplated by the illustrated embodiment is sold under the Trade Mark Swift Lift. The sleeves include steel reinforcement, each having a reinforcement mesh 5 (40) positioned approximately in the middle of the outer wall. Not shown are vertical reinforcement bars extending axially along each of the piers formed by the expanded portions (5, 6, 7 and 8). These reinforcement bars are tied to the reinforcement mesh. Additionally the lifting anchor pins are connected with the reinforcement bars by welding to secure them in place. 10 On lifting the sleeves the anchoring pins transfer any potential shearing stress along the length of the piers to minimise any cracking or damage that might be occasioned either by the weight of the sleeve, or alternatively by any shock loading that might be transferred to the lifting anchors when the chains or 15 cable take up the stain. Suitable reinforcement (41) is also provided in the base of the well. Placement of a pump and associated pipes and controls in the pumping 20 station including formation of suitable inlet and outlet apertures are well known in the art and are not described. Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the exemplified embodiments of the invention, however, it 25 must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate and that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly the invention can include various modifications, which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be further understood that for the purpose of the specification the word "comprise" or "comprising" means "including but not limited to". 30 10

Claims (18)

1. A tubular structure comprising one or more stacked cementitious tubular sleeves, 5 the tubular sleeve comprising an outer wall, an expanded upper part of the outer wall expanded radially outwardly to accommodate one or more upwardly facing lifting anchors for connection to a hoist, the lifting anchors being cast in the outer wall. 10

2. The tubular structure of claim 1 wherein the expanded upper part of the wall comprises at least two spaced apart discrete expanded portions, said expanded portions being opposed such that the sleeve is held upright when lifting upwardly at the anchors. 15

3. The tubular structure of claim 2 the outer wall comprising at least two discrete axially elongate expanded parts of the outer wall expanded radially, said discrete expanded part forming a pier, and upper part of each of the piers comprising said expanded upper part of the outer wall. 20

4. The tubular structure of claim 3 wherein the discrete expanded portions are axially elongate, such that when two sleeves are stacked one on top of the other the expanded portions form a pier functionally extending between the two sleeves. 25

5. The tubular structure of either claim 3 or 4 comprising three or more piers.

6. The tubular structure of any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the base and sleeves are reinforced. 30

7. The tubular structure of either claim 5 or 6 wherein the sleeves comprise a mesh reinforcement, inside the outer wall to reinforce the same. 11

8. The tubular structure of any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the piers further comprise an axial reinforcement bar.

9. The tubular structure of claim 8 wherein said axial reinforcement bar is 5 connected with the mesh.

10. The tubular structure of either claim 8 or 9 wherein the lifting anchor is connected to the axial reinforcement bar 10

11. The tubular structure of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein an upper surface of each of the expanded upper parts of the outer wall comprise a hollow in which the exposed ends of the lifting anchors are upwardly presented. 15

12. The tubular structure of any one of claims 1 tol1 wherein the expanded upper part of the wall comprises at least three, spaced apart discrete expanded portions, said expanded portions being opposed such that the sleeve is held upright when lifting upwardly at the anchors. 20

13. The tubular structure of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the sleeves preferably comprise registering means, so that the two sleeves when accurately positioned register with one another.

14. The tubular structure of claim 13 wherein the registering means 25 comprise an outer circumferential flange and an inner circumferential groove at an upper end of the sleeve with mating outer circumferential groove and an inner circumferential flange at an lower end of the sleeve, such that when one sleeve is stacked on top of another respective upper and lower ends register. 30

15. The tubular structure of any one of claims 1 to 15 being open at a lower end thereof, so that a lower end of a lowermost sleeve is downwardly open.

16. The tubular structure of any one of claims 1 to 15 further comprising a a base to close the lower end of lowermost sleeve of the tubular structure. 12

17. The tubular structure of claim 16 wherein the base is integrally cast at the lower end of a lowermost one of the stacked sleeves. 5

18. The tubular structure of either claim 16 or 17 wherein the base extends radially outwardly of the outer wall of the sleeve such that the pier is supported on the base. 13