AU2022263588A1

AU2022263588A1 - Tunnel gantry

Info

Publication number: AU2022263588A1
Application number: AU2022263588A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nathan Tipping
Original assignee: Ce Its Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ce Its Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-04
Filing date: 2022-11-04
Publication date: 2023-05-18

Abstract

TUNNEL GANTRY ABSTRACT A tunnel gantry (100) for connecting two or more utility devices (10 to a ceiling surface (22) of a tunnel (20) extending in a tunnel direction (24), the tunnel gantry (100) having: an elongate body (110) configured to extend perpendicularly to the tunnel direction (24); a vertical (120) extending from the elongate body (110) toward the ceiling surface (22) and attached to the ceiling surface (22) to support the elongate body (110) from the ceiling surface (22); two or more mounts (130) located on the elongate body (110), each mount (130) being adapted to receive one or more utility devices (10); wherein each utility device (10) has an electrical connection (12) and/or a data connection (14) and the electrical (12) and/or data (14) connections are combined to form a gantry cable (140) attached to the elongate body (110). Fig. 3 2/4 12 L 4 100 lz FIG FIG. 3

Description

2/4

100

12 L 4

lz

FIG

FIG. 3

TUNNEL GANTRY RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is associated with Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2021903533, the contents of which are included herein in their entirety by reference thereto.

FIELD

[0002] The invention relates to a tunnel gantry.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Tunnels, particularly those constructed for traversal by roads and for use by personal and goods transportation vehicles, require a large variety of devices to be suspended from the ceiling of the tunnel. For example, lights, driver advisory screens, sensors, loudspeakers, and cameras all require mounting to the tunnel ceiling. Typically, these devices are provided by different manufacturers and are installed according to separate, often conflicting, schedules. This results in lengthy, undesirable blockage of the center portion of the tunnel during construction, which impedes other tasks from being carried out and extends the construction time of the tunnel. Each device is further individually connected to the primary cable tray running along the side of the tunnel, and individually suspended from the ceiling, resulting in undesirably complex wiring, as shown in FIG. 1.

SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to at least substantially address one or more of the above disadvantages, or at least provide a useful alternative to the above device installations.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a tunnel gantry for connecting two or more utility devices to a ceiling surface of a tunnel extending in a tunnel direction, the tunnel gantry having: an elongate body configured to extend perpendicularly to the tunnel direction; a vertical extending from the elongate body toward the ceiling surface and attached to the ceiling surface to support the elongate body from the ceiling surface; two or more mounts located on the elongate body, each mount being adapted to receive one or more utility devices; wherein each utility device has an electrical connection and/or a data connection and the electrical and/or data connections are combined to form a gantry cable attached to the elongate body.

[0006] Preferably, the tunnel gantry further includes a body stay extending in the tunnel direction and at an angle from the vertical toward the ceiling surface, the body stay being attached to the ceiling surface to assist the vertical to resist forces in the tunnel direction.

[0007] Preferably, the body stay includes a first body stay member and a second body stay member connected by a fastener, wherein the first and second body stay member are connectable in two or more positions offset in a direction colinear with the body stay to allow a change in length of the body stay.

[0008] Preferably, the body stay includes a first connector to connect the body stay to the vertical, wherein the connector is connectable to the vertical in two or more positions offset in a direction colinear with the vertical.

[0009] Preferably, one utility device includes a downlight, the downlight including an elongate arm connecting the downlight to its mount.

[0010] Preferably, the downlight includes a downlight stay extending from the elongate arm toward the ceiling surface such that the downlight stay is connected to the ceiling surface to support the downlight.

[0011] Preferably, the elongate arm is collapsible.

[0012] Preferably, the elongate arm is collapsible in a telescopic manner.

[0013] Preferably, the elongate arm extends from the body to a light source of the downlight by a distance of about 7.5 m.

[0014] Preferably, each mount includes a set of mounting holes to receive a respective mounting fastener to mount the respective utility device to the mount, wherein the mounting holes are elongated in a direction about a center of the mount, such that the utility device is mountable in two or more positions rotationally offset about the center of the mount.

[0015] Preferably, the elongate body further includes a cable tray mounted to an upper surface of the elongate body and extending from a first end of the elongate body to a second end of the elongate body, and wherein the cable tray receives the gantry cable.

[0016] Preferably, the gantry cable extends from the first end of the elongate body to a main tunnel cable loom.

[0017] Preferably, the utility devices include any of the following: a driver advisory sign; a loudspeaker; a camera; an air fan; an air quality sensor; a traffic flow sensor; downlight without an elongate arms a radio device; and a cell phone services antenna.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a tunnel lighting system including three or more of the tunnel gantries of claim 1, wherein the tunnel gantries are spaced by about 30 m.

[0019] Preferably, a linear heat detection wire extends between two or more tunnel gantries.

[0020] Preferably, a radio rebroadcast system extends between two or more tunnel gantries.

[0021] Preferably, the radio rebroadcast system includes one or more of: a catenary radio antenna; and a leaky coaxial feeder system.

[0022] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of installing the tunnel gantry of claim 1, connecting the elongate body, the vertical, the two or more mounts, and the utility devices to each other at an off-site location away from the tunnel; transporting the elongate body, the vertical, the two or more mounts, and the utility devices to the tunnel; and attaching the vertical to the ceiling surface of the tunnel, thereby suspending the tunnel gantry from the ceiling surface.

[0023] Preferably, the method further includes the step of: transporting a downlight to the tunnel, the downlight including an elongate arm; and connecting the downlight to the respective mount on the elongate body.

[0024] Preferably, during the transporting step the downlight is in a collapsed state and in the connecting step the downlight is in an extended state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a wiring scheme of a typical prior art tunnel.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of a wiring scheme of a tunnel using a tunnel gantry according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a tunnel gantry according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the tunnel gantry of FIG. 3.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the tunnel gantry of FIG. 3.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the tunnel gantry of FIG. 3.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a detailed dimetric view of the tunnel gantry of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIGS. 3 to 6 show a tunnel gantry 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The tunnel gantry 100 may be used to locate two or more utility devices 10 in a tunnel 20 extending in a tunnel direction 24, as shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, the tunnel gantry 100 is used to connect the utility devices 10 to a ceiling surface 22 of the tunnel 20. The utility devices 10 may include a driver advisory sign 10a, a loudspeaker 10b, a camera, c, an air fan (not shown), an air quality sensor or smoke sensor (not shown), a traffic flow sensor (not shown), a radio device (not shown), or a cell phone services antenna (not shown), as shown in FIG. 3. Each utility device 10 may have an electrical connection 12 and/or a data connection 14, the electrical and data connections 12, 14 from the utility devices 10 being bundled into a gantry cable 140. The gantry cable 140 may be a loose collection of cables running generally parallel, or a bundled cable using circumferential cable ties, or a composite cable comprising a plurality of component cables.

[0034] The tunnel gantry 100 has an elongate body 110 configured to extend from a first end 114 to a second end 116 perpendicularly to the tunnel direction 24. The elongate body 110 may be hollow to reduce weight. The tunnel gantry 100 further has at least one, in the preferred embodiment three, verticals 120 extending from an upper surface 112 of the elongate body 110 toward the ceiling surface 22. The verticals 120 attach to the ceiling surface 22, for example using a cable bolt (not shown), to support the elongate body 110 from the ceiling surface 22. Located along the elongate body 110 are mounts 130, each mount 130 being adapted to receive one or more utility devices 10.

[0035] As seen in FIG. 7, the verticals 120 are attached to the elongate body 110 using a set of mounting holes 132 to receive a respective mounting fastener (not shown) to mount the vertical 120 to the elongate body 110. The mounting holes 132 are preferably elongated in a direction 134 about a point 136 such that the vertical 120 is mountable in two or more positions rotationally offset about the point 136.

[0036] Each mount 130 includes a similar set of mounting holes 132 to receive a respective mounting fastener (not shown) to mount the respective utility device 10 to the mount 130. The mounting holes 132 are preferably elongated in a direction 134 about a center 136 of the mount 130 such that the utility device 10 is mountable in two or more positions rotationally offset about the center 136 of the mount 130.

[0037] As seen in FIG. 3, the tunnel gantry 100 further includes a body stay 150 extending in the tunnel direction 24 and at an angle 152 from the vertical 120 toward the ceiling surface 22. Preferably, the angle 152 is acute, more preferably the angle 152 is about 45 degrees. The body stay 150 is attached to the ceiling surface 22, for example using a cable bolt (not shown), to assist the vertical 120 in resisting forces in the tunnel direction 24. For example, air movement through the tunnel 20, caused, for example, by a pressure differential between ends of the tunnel 20 or the movement of vehicles, in particular freight transporters, through the tunnel 20 occurs almost exclusively parallel to the tunnel direction 24. The air movement imparts a force on the elongate body 110 that must be resisted. The body stays 150 assist in resisting these forces by extending at the angle 152.

[0038] Preferably, and as seen in FIG. 7, the body stay 150 includes a first member 154 and a second member 156 connected by a fastener 158. The first and second members 154, 156 each include a plurality of positions 159 for the fastener 158, such that the first and second members 154, 156 are connectable in two or more positions offset in a first direction 160. The first direction 160 is preferably colinear with the body stay 150 to allow a change in length of the body stay 150 when the first and second member 154, 156 are connected in different positions.

[0039] The body stay 150 further includes a first connector 162 to connect the body stay 150 to the vertical 120 using a fastener (not shown). Similar to thefirst and second members 154, 156, the first connector 162 and/or the vertical 120 include a plurality of positions 159 for the fastener, such that the first connector 162 is connectable to the vertical 120 in two or more positions offset in a second direction 164. Preferably the second direction 164 is colinear with the vertical 120 to allow changing the angle 152 by connecting thefirst connector 162 and the vertical 120 in different positions.

[0040] Returning to FIG. 6, the utility devices 10 may include a downlight 170. The downlight 170 includes an elongate arm 172 to connect the downlight 170 to the mount 130 to which it is connected. The downlight 170 includes a light source 176 to project light from the downlight 170 away from the ceiling surface 22. The elongate arm 172 may be collapsible, preferably telescopically, between a collapsed state (not shown) and an extended state, as seen in FIGS. 3 to 6. To this end, the elongate arm 172 may comprise one or more arm sections 178 that are configured to nest when collapsed. Preferably, the elongate arm

172 is dimensioned such that it extends from the body 110 to the light source 176 by a distance of about 7.5 m.

[0041] Moving to FIG. 4, the downlight 170 includes a downlight stay 174 extending from the elongate arm 172 toward the ceiling surface 22. Preferably, the downlight stay 174 is connected to the body stay 150 at a similar point along the tunnel direction 24 to where the body stay 150 is connected to the ceiling surface 22. In another embodiment, the downlight stay 174 be connected to the body stay 150 at the ceiling surface 22 such that only a single connection, for example using a cable bolt, is required to connect both the body stay 150 and the downlight stay 174 to the ceiling surface 22. Preferably, the downlight stay 174 extends at the angle 152 from the elongate arm 172.

[0042] Moving now to FIG. 5, the elongate body 110 further includes a cable tray 180 mounted to the upper surface 112 of the elongate body 110. Preferably, the cable tray 180 extends from the first end 114 to the second end 116 of the elongate body 110. The cable tray 180 is adapted to receive the gantry cable 140, and convey the gantry cable 140 towards a side of the tunnel 20 to facilitate connection of the gantry cable 140 to a main cable loom 26, that is typically located at a side of the tunnel 20. To this end, the cable tray 180 may preferably extends from the first end 114 of the elongate body 110 to the main cable loom 26.

[0043] In tunnels 20 of any significant length, such as that shown in FIG. 2, typically three or more tunnel gantries 100 are used, preferably at a spacing of about 30 m. An additional use of multiple tunnel gantries 100 is that sensor and/or antenna systems can be suspended between the mechanically sturdy gantries 100. For example, a linear heat detection system (not shown) could be suspended between two or more tunnel gantries 100. Alternatively, or in addition, a radio rebroadcast system (not shown) could be installed between two or more tunnel gantries 100. Two examples of suitable systems are a catenary radio antenna (not shown), and a leaky coaxial feeder system (not shown).

[0044] Use of the tunnel gantry 100 will now be discussed.

[0045] In order to install the tunnel gantry 100, the required utility devices 10 are installed to their mounts 130 on the elongate body 110 at a workshop site away from the tunnel 20. This may include a laydown area near an entry of the tunnel 20. This allows completion of the wiring to the utility devices 10 without working at height. If the geometry of the ceiling surface 22 is known, the body stays 150 may also be installed away from the tunnel 20, as the required angle 152 will be known. Typically, the downlight stays 174 will also be attached to the body stays 150 off-site. The body 110, utility devices 10, body and downlight stays 150, 174 are then shipped to the tunnel 20 and installed to the ceiling surface 22, for example by cable-bolting the verticals 120 and body stays 150 to the ceiling surface 22. The downlights 170 may be shipped separately and are installed to their mounts 130. The gantry cable 140 can then be connected to the main cable loom 26.

[0046] Advantages of the tunnel gantry 100 will now be discussed.

[0047] Because the utility devices 10 are connected to the tunnel gantry 100, it is possible to completing cabling and installation of the utility devices 10 off-site, which significantly improves logistics of a tunnel construction site.

[0048] The use of the body stays 150 assists the bearing of typical loadings on a tunnel gantry 100 as proposed. The ability to change the length and angle 152 of the body stays 150 allows the adaptation of the body stays 150 to varying ceiling surface 22 geometries and angles. Similarly, the use of the elongate mounting holes 132 allows adjustment of the utility device about the center 136 in response to varying geometry of the ceiling surface 22. The use of the elongate arm 172 allows spacing of the light sources 176 as mandated by various construction codes. The collapsibility of the elongate arm 172 allows separate transport of the elongate arms 172 in an economically compact form.

[0049] The use of the gantry cable 140 and the cable tray 180 significantly reduces the complexity of wiring for the utility devices 10, as well as the connections thereof to the main cable loom 26. The use of multiples tunnel gantries 100 allows the consistent application of light from the downlights 170 and repeated deployment of utility devices 10 throughout the tunnel20.

[0050] Integers:

Utility device 10c camera a driver advisory sign 10d air quality sensor b loudspeaker 10e traffic flow sensor

12 electrical connection 140 gantry cable 14 data connection 150 body stay tunnel 152 angle 22 ceiling surface 154 first member 24 tunnel direction 156 second member 26 main cable loom 158 fastener 100 Tunnel gantry 159 positions 110 elongate body 160 first direction 112 upper surface 162 first connector 114 first end 164 second direction 116 second end 170 downlight 120 vertical 172 elongate arm 130 mount 174 downlight stay 132 mounting holes 176 light source 134 direction 178 arm sections 136 center 180 cable tray

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tunnel gantry for connecting two or more utility devices to a ceiling surface of a tunnel extending in a tunnel direction, the tunnel gantry having: an elongate body configured to extend perpendicularly to the tunnel direction; a vertical extending from the elongate body toward the ceiling surface and attached to the ceiling surface to support the elongate body from the ceiling surface; two or more mounts located on the elongate body, each mount being adapted to receive one or more utility devices; wherein each utility device has an electrical connection and/or a data connection and the electrical and/or data connections are combined to form a gantry cable attached to the elongate body.

2. The tunnel gantry of claim 1, wherein the tunnel gantry further includes a body stay extending in the tunnel direction and at an angle from the vertical toward the ceiling surface, the body stay being attached to the ceiling surface to assist the vertical to resist forces in the tunnel direction.

3. The tunnel gantry of claim 2, wherein the body stay includes a first body stay member and a second body stay member connected by a fastener, wherein the first and second body stay member are connectable in two or more positions offset in a direction colinear with the body stay to allow a change in length of the body stay.

4. The tunnel gantry of claim 2 or 3, wherein the body stay includes a first connector to connect the body stay to the vertical, wherein the connector is connectable to the vertical in two or more positions offset in a direction colinear with the vertical.

5. The tunnel gantry of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one utility device includes a downlight, the downlight including an elongate arm connecting the downlight to its mount.

6. The tunnel gantry of claim 5, wherein the downlight includes a downlight stay extending from the elongate arm toward the ceiling surface such that the downlight stay is connected to the ceiling surface to support the downlight.

7. The tunnel gantry of claim 5 or 6, wherein the elongate arm is collapsible.

8. The tunnel gantry of claim 7, wherein the elongate arm is collapsible in a telescopic manner.

9. The tunnel gantry of any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the elongate arm extends from the body to a light source of the downlight by a distance of about 7.5 m.

10. The tunnel gantry of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each mount includes a set of mounting holes to receive a respective mounting fastener to mount the respective utility device to the mount, wherein the mounting holes are elongated in a direction about a center of the mount, such that the utility device is mountable in two or more positions rotationally offset about the center of the mount.

11. The tunnel gantry of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the elongate body further includes a cable tray mounted to an upper surface of the elongate body and extending from a first end of the elongate body to a second end of the elongate body, and wherein the cable tray receives the gantry cable.

12. The tunnel gantry of claim 11, wherein the gantry cable extends from the first end of the elongate body to a main tunnel cable loom.

13. The tunnel gantry of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the utility devices include any of the following: a driver advisory sign; a loudspeaker; a camera; an air fan; an air quality sensor; downlight without an elongate arm; a radio device; a cell phone services antenna; and a traffic flow sensor.

14. A tunnel lighting system including three or more of the tunnel gantries of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the tunnel gantries are spaced by about 30 m.

15. The tunnel lighting system of claim 14, wherein a linear heat detection wire extends between two or more tunnel gantries.

16. The tunnel lighting system of claim 14 or 15, wherein a radio rebroadcast system extends between two or more tunnel gantries.

17. The tunnel lighting system of claim 16, wherein the radio rebroadcast system includes one or more of: a catenary radio antenna; and a leaky coaxial feeder system.

18. A method of installing the tunnel gantry of any one of claims I to 17, connecting the elongate body, the vertical, the two or more mounts, and the utility devices to each other at an off-site location away from the tunnel; transporting the elongate body, the vertical, the two or more mounts, and the utility devices to the tunnel; and attaching the vertical to the ceiling surface of the tunnel, thereby suspending the tunnel gantry from the ceiling surface.

19. The method of claim 18, further including the step of: transporting a downlight to the tunnel, the downlight including an elongate arm; and connecting the downlight to the respective mount on the elongate body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein during the transporting step the downlight is in a collapsed state and in the connecting step the downlight is in an extended state.

CE ITS Holdings Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person GLMR