CA1262054A - Method and apparatus for forming reinforced concrete walls with continuous steel reinforcement - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to method and apparatus for forming reinforced concrete walls with continuous steel reinforcements. The invention is basically an improvement on the process disclosed in Veder U.S. Patent 3.310.952. The process includes the forming of a plurlaity of concrete panels, each panel having a reinforcing cage extending to proximate the joint between the concrete panels and one or more expansible joint reinforcing cages bridging the gap between the reinforcing cages are carried in carrier means in the end stop pipe. Each expansible joint reinforcing cage is comprised of a vertical support bar having secured thereto a plurality of horizontally extending concrete anchor members rigidly secured to one surface of the vertical support bar. A plurality of reinforcing bar members are pivotally coupled to the vertical support bar member and an operating rod member or channel member is coupled to the opposite ends of these reinforcing bar members and shifts them from a substantially vertical positions to a substantially horizontal position after the stop pipe has been removed and the next succeeding panel excavation performed. The vertical orientation of these reinforcing bar members as well as their operating member assures that they will be removed from the area of excavation of the next succeeding and adjacent panel section and at the same time, by virtue of the concrete anchor members they are rigidly and securely anchored in the preceeding concrete panel element. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical bar member is a channel member and the operating rod member is a similar channel member.

Description

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This invention relates to a hollow stop end pipe for use in slurry tr~nch construction of a reinforced concrete wall and also to a slurry trench method of constructing an underground concrete wall.
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent Application Serial Number 478,193 filed on April 2, 1985.
The construction of reinforced concrete walls using the slurry trench technique as basically disclosed in Veder U.SO
Patents 2,791,886 and 3~310,952 are well known in the art and basically comprise the formation of the slots or trench sections in the earth in panel form in the presence of a slurry, typically a bentonite slurry which is displaced by concrete to form concrete walls. In the case of steel reinforced walls, a slot is excavated in the earth in the presence of the bentonite slurry, a stop end pipe is inserted in one end of the slot and a steel reinforcing cage is then lowered into the slot. Concrete is then inserted into the slot or trench to displace the bentonite slurry, such concreting typically being done by the tremie pipe technique. After the concrete has hardened~ the stop end pipe is removed to form the beginning space for the next succeeding panel section.
There have been may efEorts in the past to create a contlnuou~ relnforc~nt ln such ~lurry wnll~ but a ~lmpl~
~olutlon to th~ problem has eluded th~ ~rt or m~ny y~r~. In F~hl~ann Qt ~1 U.S. P~t~nt 3.197,~6, a steel ~he~thlna ~uch wlre n~tt~ng~ p~r~or~t~d ~he~t metal or the llke, per~lt~ th~
reinforclng rod~ to po~ throu~h ths ~he~ ~t ~pproxl~t~ the end~ of th~ ~lok ~o a~ to ~orm ~ cnvlty whlch 18 111ed ~lth th~
b~ntonit~ for th~ purpo~ of provldlng ~ ~t~rtlng pl~ce for the next ~ucc~odlng ~xc~v~tln~ ~nd the formatlon of the ~olnt. In Schoewert U.~3. Patent 3,~64,665, a ~teel plate 18 connected to thQ t2mplato pl~te ln a d~tnch~ble m~nner ~nd 1~ t lsl to brldqe the gap. In K~w~k~ et ~1 U.S. P~t~nt~ ~,938,~2 and

3.990,200, protrudlnq r~ln~orcement~ ~nd 99~11n~ nA for posltlonlng th~ protrudln~ r~lnforc~ent~ ~re provld~d ~nd lnfl~ttablo elo~nts ~r~ utilized to ~hleld th~ protrudlng rQln~orce~ent~, d~ or bloc~ th~ concr~te ~nd for~ th~ open BphC~
for the n~xt succeedin~ ~xc~v~tlon ~nd coupliny between two unlt~. In Irwin-Chlld~ U.S. P~tent 3,79B,914, cruclfor~ ah~ped coupling *l~nt~ ~re utlll~ed to ~orm the coupllng between ~d~oc~nt p~n~l el~nt~. In Novet U.S. P~tent~ 3,Sl~,57~ ~n lntermediate r~lnforcln~ c~ 19 utill~ed. In 80ma C~5~B, ~uch e~ ~n Tn~ro U.S. P~t0nt ~,005,582, fl~n~ on connect~d on H-b~m palr~ provld~ th4 coupllng ~etween th~ ~teol relnforce~ent~. In ~o~e c~e~, the ~nd~ of the element~ nnd thelr aa~oclotod reln~or~ing c~ge~ ~re ~haped to provlde overl~p b~tween ~ucc~alv~ p~nel ~l~menta. Fin~lly, ln Plcc~gl~ U.S.
P~t~nt 3,796,054~ fle~lbl~ membrene~ ~re c~rrl~d in the atop end ipes which remain in place when the stop end has been removed so as to provide a barrier to the flow of fluids.
According to the present invention, there is provided a hollow stop end pipe for use in the slurry trench construction of a reinforced concrete wall. The improvement according to the invention resides in means forming at leas~ one expandible joint reinforcing cage carrier channel in the walI of the stop end pipe facing the portion of a slurry trench to be concretedA At least one channel is adapted to sealingly carry an in situ expandible reinforcing cage and maintain the expandible reinforcing cage in a predetermined position until the concrete in the wall has set.
Another aspect of the invention resides in a slurry trench method of constructing an underground concrete wall in ~
plurality of panel sections with continuous steel reinforcement, wherein the end stop molding pipe has at least one concrete forming surface extending to the full length thereof. The method involves providing at least one groove in ~he concrete forming surface of the molding pipe with an expandible steel reinforcing cage in the groove, the expandible steel reinforcing cage having a concrete anchor means projecting therefrom beyond the concrete forming surface and into the body of concrete cast there against.
The method further includes the steps of removing the molding pipe from a first panel section9 excavating the adjacent panel section, expanding the expandible steel reinforcing cage into the adjacent panel section, and filling the adjacent panel section with concre~e.
The present invention provides a simple solution to a problem that has eluded the art for many years. According to the invention the excavation initially begins as described in the aforementioned Veder Patent 3,310,952. In this case7 an expan-dible joint reinforcement cage is placed in the channel of the end pipe. One of the channels of the joint reinforcing cage facing the side in which concrete is to be poured is provided with the concrete anchors which extend into the excavated pace.
The two channels are in a "closed" position and may have styrofoam or other means to prevent concrete from entering in between them during the pour and may be fastened together at the top. The concrete anchor reinforcing bars which extend from the channel into the space to be poured assure that this assembly ~ 3 -. ~

;ill be firmly embedded into -the newly poured concrete panel.
When the rectangular stop end piece has been pulled out at the end of the pour, any frictional effects during the pulling out of the panel will tend to keep the channel assembly "closed". The adjacent panel section or slot is then excavated, a reinforcement cage is then placed inside this newly excavated panel section.
At this point, the expandible reinforcing cage is expanded by disconnecting the channels at the top, the one sticking up is tapped vertically which will result in its swinging out until the linkage reinforcing bars are in a horizontal position. These constitute the continuity of the reinforcement and the second panel section is then poured or filled with concrete.

The invention has the advantage that it is simple, relatively inexpensive, very workable and easy to install, since normally continuity of the reinforcement is located in the upper portion of the panels and does not normally extend to the full depth. Moreover, since the joint reinforcement cage is expan-dable, it is normally maintained in an out-of-the way and protected position during the excavation of the adjoining panel section and thereby avoids interference with the extensive horizontal protrusions in the joint reinforcing sections as is performed in the prior art such as in the above-mentioned Kawasaki et al patents and Fehlmann et al patents.

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The above and other objects r advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent when considered with the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the expandable joint reinforcing cage forming part of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a top view thereof, .
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Flg. 3 1~ a p~rtl~l 31de isometrlc vlew ahowlnq the unlt as lt 1~ b~in~ lnatalled into the ~top end tube, Fi~. 4 1B An lBometrlc vlew ahowln~ the ~xp~nded unlt, Fiq. 5 1A ~ top pl~n view showln~ th~ ln~erted poAltlon of a p~lr of the ~sembly ~hown ln Flg. 1-4 ln the end ~top pip~
of ~ p~nel ~ctlon belng ~ormed prlor to concretin~ thereof, Flg. 6 1~ Q top pl~n ~lew Mft~r thQ concretlng of the ~lr~t p~n~l ~ctlon wlth the exc~v~tlon in the ~econd p~n~l ~ectlon bolng ln pro~re~, Fig. 7 18 ~ Sop pl~n vlew ehowinq the expand~d ~ec~lons of th~ ~oint r~lnforclnq a~e ~nd the Juxt~po~ltlon o~ the r~inforcln~ cag~ ln the ~econd panel~ ~ectlon r~ady to be concrot~d, Fig. B t3 ~ ~ido elev~tlonol vlew of Flg. 6 ~howlng tho r4~d cle~ranco ~or the exc~v~ting tool in th~ pr~ctlce of th~
~nventlon, Fig. 9 1~ a sida l~o~etrlc vlew of ~ ~odiflcatlon of the expand~ble ~olnt relnforc~n~ cage, Flg. lO 18 8 ~id~ i~ometrlc v1ew of a ~urther Modiflcatlon of the ~olnt reinforcement cage, Flg~ .modlflcatlon of the end ~top plp~, F1~. 12 lllu~tr~tea ~ urther modlflcation ~nd, F1~ urther embodlment wh~n th~ ch~nn~l~ ~n the r~ctAn9ulLr ~top end plpe ~re on the ext~rlor thereo~
Rof~rrlng to F1~. 5, 6, 7 ~n~ 8, ~ r0inforce~ concret~

w~ll i8 lllu~r~tod ln th~ proce~ of b~ing for~dg ~nd the total -- 6 -- :
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l~ngth o~ the r~inforced concrete w~ll lt~lf ~y comprl~e m~ny (N) lndivldu~l panel element~. Inltl311y the tren~h or 310t ~ectlon 10 1~ ~xc~v~ted by ~ cl~m ~hell ~not shown) to ~ de~lr~d d~pth ln th~ pre~ence of a ~lurry which typlc~lly i~ bentonite.
A rectangul~r ond ~top plpe 11 h~ been ln~rt~d in on~ ~nd of trsnch ~ctlon 10. A conventlonsl relnforclng ca~e 12 whlch con~i~to of horl~ont~l rods 13 ~nd 14 ~d~c~nt ~ch ~ld~ of the w~ll for ~uxlmu~ ~trength purpo~e~ ~nd vertlc~l ~p~cer b~rs 16 ~nd 17 assocl~ted wlth ~ch horizont~l run, and ~pac~r bara 19 ~xtendlng b~tween tho two ~ide reinforcinq ~Aembll~.
R~ct~ngular ~nd ~top plpe 11 h~ ~ palr o ch~nn~l~ 22, 23 which ~ærv~ ~ carri~r~ for expandable ~oint reinforcln~ c~
24 and 2S, r~opcctlv~lyO Expandable ~olnt reinforcln~ caqes 24 ~nd 25 h~v~ as~ocl~tad ther~wlth lnte~r~l concr~t~ ~nchor~ 26 and 27, re~pectlv~ly, whlch pro~ect into the pr~vio~ ~xc~vatlon ~n~
batw~en th~ ends 28 ~nd 29 of the reinforcln~ ~saembli~s 13 ~nd 14. In the condltlon ~hown in Fig. 5, the trench p~nel ~ectlon 10 i~ full of bentonlt~ u~ed in ~lntalnlng ~nd ~u~t~lnln~ the ~xcav~t.lon walls o~ ths 810t or tr~nch p~nel ~ectlon~ and p~mlt~
tho r~inorcing c~e and the end plp~ to b* ~lly ln~ert~d and ~cur~t~ly po~ltlonedO A~ shown ln Fl~. 6~ ~oncrete hæ~ been ln~rt~d into the trenchJ preferrably by the tr~Rle method ln whlch 8 plp~ 18 ln~rted into the exc~v~tlon ~nd concrQt~ 1~
forced through th~ plpe ~o a~ to ~111 th~ trench ~rom the bottom up ~lth th~ ~nd of th~ pipe bein~ m~lnt~lned ln tha rl~ln~ bed of concr~ta~ v~rlou~ ~lbr~tion me~n~ ~nd the llke bein~ utlllz~d, 1 ~2~

d~lred, ~ 13 conventlon~l.
Aftar th~ concrete has R~t, tha re~t~ngul~r end 0top plpe 11 1~ pull~d from th~ trench And slnce the concrete anchor~ ~6 ~nd 27 of th~ ~xp~nd~ble Jolnt relnforclng cag~A 24 and ~5 ~re ~nchored lnto the poured ~oncrete, th~ as~e~blleA re~ln ln place ~g tho rect~ngul~r end stop pipe 11 1~ wlthdr~wn and pulled ~ro~
the trench. Thl~ ve~ ~ sp~ce ~O whlch form~ the end portlon of th~ n~xt 810t or p~nel trench exc~v~tion. MoreoYer, ~8 Wi 11 be expl~lned moro ully here~fter. the exp~ndable ~olnt relnforcln~ c~ges 24 ~nd ~5 ~re m~int~lned in the unexprlnded or coll~p~e~ condltlon 80 8~ to provlde protectlon ~or theae a~3~mblle~ ~nd, ~t the B~e tlme, provldQ more worklng roo~ for th~ ~xc~v~lng ~qulpm~nt a~ ~hown ln ~1~. 8. At thl~ polnt, lt ~hould b~ rec~lled thot ln tho prlor ~rt, the ~xt~nded end~ of th~ horlzont~l run~ o~ the relnforcing b~r~ pro~ct~d lnto ~uch ~p~c~ and could ln pr~ct~ce be bent by the exc~v~tlng cl~ shell~
~nd th~ llko or other oxc~Y~tlng equlpment aB lt wa~ dropped lnto ~nd pulled out of during th~ exc~v~tlon of the naxt p~n~l sectlon, p~nel aectlon lO-l ln Figs. 5-8.
Aft~r th~ ~xc~v~tlon of th~ ~lot or tr~nch for p~n~l s~ctlon lO-l, a ~urthor r~inforclng c~ge constructed ~ r to the relnforc~ng cuge th~t w~ ln~erted lnto p~nel ~lot lO ls ln~rtnd into p~n~l ~lot lO-l Rnd lt h~s ~nd~ 3S, 36 whlch proJect lnto th~ ~pac0 30 formerly occupled by the rect~ngul~r end 3top 11. Tho exp~nd~ble reinforclng cagQ~ 2~ ~nd 2S ~re expanded n~ that th~ relnforcln~ b~r~ 37 ~nd 38 for~lng purt o ' ~2~2~

th~ reinforclng c~e 24, 2S overl~p~ the end~ 35, 36 o~
relnforclng c~g~ 39 ln pnnel ~actlon 10-1. At this tlm~, the rect~n~ul~r ~top p~pe 11 h~ been lnAert~d ln the opposlte end ~in this C~80 the rlght end~ o panel 810t or trench 10-1 ~nd carrle~ ~ furthar p~lr of ~xpand~ble reln~orclng c~ge3 2~-2. 25-2 c~rrl~d ln slota 22 ond ~3, r~pectlv~lyD o~ end stop plp~ 11 ao th~t th~ proc~ c~n b0 repeAted. Th~ Jolnt reln40rclng c~ge~
ob~iou~ly c~n be ln~erted ~fter th~ end ~top plpo 11 h~ been ln~2rt~d but ln ln~t~nc~ where the ~olnt relnforclng cage doe~
not ~xt~nd to th~ bcttom of the p~nel ~ctlon, pr~p~ration of the botto~ portlon of the c~ges 24, 25 to ~vold concret~ l~pedlng the lAter ~xps~lon thereo~ c~n be ef~ect~d abov~ ~round. I~owever, thl~ is not ~ s~rlou~ con~lder~tlon alnc~ th0 lowe~t horizont~l b~ro c~n b~ sllmln~ted, 1 desired. Concret~ 1~ th~n poured ln ~h~ tr~nch ln tho m~nnQr lndl~ted ~bove ~nd th~ proces~ 1 rep~tQd .
A~ ~hown in Flg. 1, the exp~ndAble Joint reln~orcln~ c~ge ln thl~ ~bodl~ent 1~ constltue~ by a p~lr of oppo~lng ch~nnel ~mber~ 40, 41 llnked tog~ther by n plur~llty o concrete r0in~0rclng b~r~ 42~ ~ach of whlch h~s lts l~ter~l ~nds ~3, 44 plvotslly coupled or conn~cted to ch~nnel me~bQr~ 40 ~nd ~1~
re~p~ctl~oly by pivot memb~r~ 43P ~hd ~P, r~pectlvely. The ch~nn~ bor 40 constitute~ a vertlc~l Aupport bsr ~emher ~nd h~ plurl~lty of horizont~lly extending concret~ ~nchor member~
26-1~ 26-2... which ar~ aecur~d ~ by weldlng to one ~ur~ce o ~he vertlcal ~upport b~r momber con~tltut0d by ch~nnel 400 A

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vertlcal run 26V may be ~ecured to the enda of bars 26-l, 26-2 ~o to m~lntaln the~ vertlcQl ~nd avold bending the end~ o~ the b~rn 26-l~ 26-2...2~-n. It wlll be ~pprecl~ted that the ~nchor 26 m~y bo m0an~ con~tltuted by ~ perfor~ted stee1 pl~te 26 PSP
whlch hQ4 b~en ~lded to th~ bo~e o~ ch~nne1 me~ber ~0 ~ 3hown ln Fig. 9. E~ch o the ends 43, ~ of th~ reinforcln~ b~r3 42 ls bent ~nd p~e~ through on eyelet or opening ln pivot m~n~ ~3P
~nd 44P w~1dad to the in~id~ of the U-~h~ped ~hannel memb~r~ ~0, ~l. The end~ ~3 ~nd ~4 could be in th~ form of eyl~ta ~now ~ho~n). Ch~nn~l memb~r ~1 con~tltut~s ~n oper~tlng rod ~mber for novlnq t~ plurallty of r~lnforcin~ bRr member~ 42 from a sub~t~ntl~lly vertlc~l po~ltion to ~ ~ubst~ntlh11y horlzont~1 po~ltlon. Aa lndlc~t~d in Fl~. 1 and 2~ th~ po~ltlon durlnq the lnstDll~tion of th~ e~p~nd~ble Jolnt reinforclng c~ge ~mbly ln ~ectan~ul~r end ~top plpe member 11 ~nd aft~r re~ov~l of the end ~top pipe 11 ~nd durln~ the exc~v~tlon of th~ next ~d~cent p~nel ~e~tlon 10-l (ln Fig~ 6) the expand~ble ~olnt reinforcing caqe i~
nalntolned ~n a coll~psed or cloaed condltion whlch 1~ lndlcAted ln ~olld llne~ ln Fig~ nd 2. After the end ~top plpe 11 h~
baen wlthdr~wn fro~ the excav~tion and the exc~vatlon of the ~dJoinln~ slot or p~nel ~ection 10-1 complet~d the next ~onvontlon~l relnforcing c~ge 3'~ ls inst~lled.
Th~ exp~nda~le Jolnt relnforcing ca~e~ are m~lnt~lned ln thl~ collqp~ed po~ltlon flrst to protect the ~s~embly from dn~qe by the a~c~v~tlng equlpment and ~lso to provlde ~n ~ddltlonAl ~pace or room to ~cilit~te th~ use nnd ~anlpulatlon of the ~ .

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exc~vatlng ~quipment CSE, ~uch ~3 a cl~m ~hell, cl~m bu~ket, drllllng rlg~ and th~ llke wlthout dem~ge to ths rainforclnq bar~
~nd c~ and ma~lng the exc~v~tlon procedure ~omewhat e~ler and plier. A~ter the excqv~tion h~s been complet0d, ~nd the relnforcin~ c~g~ 39 in~erted lnto pnnel ~lot 10-1~ the upp~r end of the ch~nn~l ~ember 41 1~ t~pped ln the dlrecti~n o~ the ~rrow ~nd mov~d downwardly which c~u~e~ ~11 of the reln-forcing b~r~ ~2 to ~wlng or mov~ about ~n ~rc thereby extendlng the Joint r~lnforclng c~ to the po~itlon ~hown in dotted llne~ ln Flg.~. 1 nnd 2 ~nd to th~ ~olid llnes shown ln Fi~. 7. It i8. o cour~e, po~lbl~ that ~ho b~r~ could ~wlnq on ~ horizont~l ~rc ~
lndlc~ted ln Fi~. 12 w~n th~ pivot~ 43P' ~nd 44" permit the op~r~ting b~r4 ~1" to ~wln~ horlzontslly ~bout ~ v~rtlcal ~xl~.
Tho Alot~ 22 ~nd 23 for ret~ln~n~ the exp~ndabl~ ~olnt r~lnforclng CM9~ in a clo~ed po~ltlon extends for th~ full lenqth o~ the ~nd ~top plpe ~lement~ It 1~ ~ntlclp~ted in ~ number of cn~a th~t tho ~olnt expnn~lon reinforcln~ cage need only Qxtend for ~ c~rt~ln portlon of the depth of the wall, e.q. only where tho addltlon~l ~trençlth i~ ne0ded. In such c~se~, the ~xpetndable r~3inforcln~ c~ee~ need not extend for th~ ~ull d~pth o th~ wetll ~ut snly for th~t portlon of lt ~a ne~ded. In ~su::h C~1~8, the bottolR end o~ th~ c~qes ctre ~se~led ~ta by ~nee.ns of block~ of ~tyro~o~m etnd the l lkel ~o e~ to prev~nt the lntru~ on of concr0t~ whlch would prev~nt or llltpede the exp~nalon l~nd t~p~nin~ ht~ t~p~nti~ ~ht~ h~ po,31t~on e~h~wn ln F~
nd Z. A we~k cemt3nt m~ty b~ u~3d ~tt the lower extremltleEs of the ~ 2 62 0 5 ~

expandable ca~ ln the ch~nnel members to plu~ or block the flow of th~ concr~t~ ln the c~st ~ectlon from enterln~ ln~o or flowlnq up lnto the U-sh~ped chAnnels ~0 ~nd 41. It doean't si~nlfl~ntly ~ffoct tho ~trength lf tho lower horlzontal rolnforcln~ b~r 42 i~ broken of~ durlng the exp~ndlng oper~tion, p~rtlcul~rly ~lnce the length or hel~ht o~ the c~ge c~n e~lly b~
d~slgned for ouch contlngency.
As ~hown ln Flg. 9, the channel member 41 h~ been r~pl~ced by n fl~t pl~te 60 whlch ~erve~ ~8 th~ oper~tln~ rod ~ber ~or ~ovlng th~ plur~lity of relnforoing bar~ fro~ a sub~tanti~lly vertlc41 po~ltlon to the ~ub~tsntlHlly horlzont~l po~ltlon. In Flg. 10, both U-shaped channel membera h~ve been rspl~ced. The functlon o~ tho ~h~nnel member~ 1~ performed by Q
v~rtlcal aupport b~r ~e~ber 70 ~nd an operAting rod mem~er 71 ~0~8 th~ plurl~ity of reln~orclnq bar me~ber3 ~2-1", 92-2"...42-n". The anchor b~r ~ember.~ h~ve been repl~c~d by por~or~tod ~l~te 74 h~vln~ ~ plurl~ity of perfor~tlone 75 thoreln. In Flg. 11, the vertlc~l ~upport b~r 70' 1~ ln qroovea 74, 79 for~d ln end ~top member 11'. In the embodlment shown ln FI~. 11, ~ T~lon co~tlng m~y be 0pplled to the grooves and operatlng rod ~ember 72 mny be t~pped downwnrdl~ whlle ln the ~lot o~ r~ct~ngul~r end ~top plpe 11' ~o a~ to c~u~o th~ llnk~
to bear ~g~ln~t the slot~ 76 ~nd 78 thereby ~urln~ th~ ae~llnq ~g~ln~t th~ entry o~ concrete whlch mlqht lmPede the op~nln~ or exp~ndln~ o~ th~ exp~ndable ~olnt rqlnorclng c~s. In Fly. 12.
the Jolnt reinforcing members ~2' ~re plvot~d ~or horlzont~l swinging by operating bar 41".
Referring now to Fig. 13, the carrier channels 22' and 23' (only one being shown) are carried on the exterior surface of end stop pipe 11'. Each channel includes a pair of plates or ribs 80, 81 which are spaced the distance between legs ~ and 83 of vertical support bar or channel 40". The operating bar 41''' is nested within the confines of the two channels and a bottom closure 84 is secured to the bottom of the channel 40" to prevent concrete from rising in the channel and possibly interfering with 10 the expansion of the joint reinforcing cage.
The above-described expandable joint reinforcing cage is also disclosed and is clairned in above-identified parent application Serial Number: 598,632.
While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that various other embodiments as will become obvious to those skilled in the art is intended to be encompassed by the claims appended hereto.

Claims (15)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In a hollow stop end pipe for use in the slurry trench construction of a reinforced concrete wall, the improvement comprising, means forming at least one expandable joint reinforcing cage carrier channel in the wall of said stop end pipe facing the portion of a slurry trench to be concreted, said at least one channel being adapted to sealingly carry an in situ expandable reinforcing cage and maintain said expandable reinforcing cage in a predetermined position until the concrete in said wall has set.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said stop end pipe is rectangular in cross-section.

3. In combination, the hollow stop end pipe defined in claim 2, and an expandable joint reinforcing cage carried in said carrier channel, said expandable joint reinforcing cage comprising:
1) a vertical support bar member, 2) a plurality of horizontally extending concrete anchor members rigidly secured to one surface of said vertical support bar member and extending out of said channel member, 3) a plurality of reinforcing bar members, 4) a plurality of pivot means disposed along said vertical support bar members each said pivot means associated with one of said reinforcing bar members and pivotally coupling the one end of its associated reinforcing bar member with said vertical support bar members, respectively, and 5) an operating rod member for moving said plurality of reinforcing bar members from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position.

4. In combination, the hollow end stop pipe defined in claim 2 and a steel reinforcing cage for forming a reinforced joint in said reinforced concrete wall, each said cage comprising:
a pair of abutting, oppositely facing steel U-shaped channel members, a plurality of steel reinforcing bars, means pivotally connecting an end of each reinforcing bar to a respective one of said U-shaped channel members; and steel concrete anchor means projecting from the side of one of said channel members opposite the pivotal connections to said plurality of reinforcing bars and outside said carrier channels.

5. The hollow stop end pipe defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier channel is constituted by a pair of parallel ribs on the external surface of said stop end pipe.

6. In combination, the hollow stop end pipe defined in claim 5, and an expandable joint reinforcing cage carried in said carrier channel, said expandable joint reinforcing cage comprising:
1) a vertical support bar member extending between said pair of parallel ribs, 2) a plurality of horizontally extending concrete anchor members rigidly secured to one surface of said vertical support bar member and extending out of said channel member, 3) a plurality of reinforcing bar members, 4) a plurality of pivot means disposed along said vertical support bar member, each said pivot means associated with one of said reinforcing bar members and pivotally coupling the one end of its associated reinforcing bar member with said vertical support bar members, respectively, and 5) an operating rod member for moving said plurality of reinforcing bar members from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position.

7. In a slurry trench method of construction an underground concrete wall in a plurality of panel sections with continuous steel reinforcement, wherein the end stop molding pipe has at least one concrete forming surface extending to the full length thereof, the improvement comprising, providing at least one groove in said concrete forming surface of said molding pipe with an expandable steel reinforcing cage in said groove, said expandable steel reinforcing cage having a concrete anchor means projecting therefrom beyond said concrete forming surface and into the body of concrete cast thereagainst, removing said molding pipe from a first panel section, excavating the adjacent panel section, expanding said expandable steel reinforcing cage into the said adjacent panel section, and filling said adjacent panel section with concrete.

8. The method defined in claim 7 wherein said expandable steel reinforcing cage is maintained in a closed condition during excavation of said adjacent panel section.

9. The invention defined in claim 7, wherein said expandable steel reinforcing cage includes a plurality of pivoted reinforc-ing bars which are maintained in a substantially vertical position, and after excavation of said adjacent panel section, all said pivoted reinforcing bars are simultaneously moved to a horizontal position into said adjacent panel section.

10. In a slurry trench method of constructing an underground concrete wall in a plurality of panel sections with continuous steel reinforcement, wherein a first panel section is excavated, an end stop pipe is placed in an end of said first panel section after excavation thereof, said end stop molding pipe has at least one concrete forming surface extending to the full length thereof, the improvement comprising, providing at least one groove in said concrete forming surface of said molding pipe with an expandable steel reinforcing cage in said groove, said expandable steel reinforcing cage having a concrete anchor means projecting therefrom beyond said concrete forming surface and into a body of concrete cast thereagainst, casting concrete in said first panel section to surround said concrete anchor means and against said concrete forming surface, removing said molding pipe from said first panel section, excavating an adjacent panel section, expanding said expandable steel reinforcing cage into said adjacent panel section, and filling said adjacent panel section with concrete.

11. The method defined in claim 10, wherein said expandable steel reinforcing cage is maintained in an unexpanded and protected position during excavation of said adjacent panel section.

12. In a slurry trench method of constructing an underground concrete wall in a plurality of panel sections with continuous steel reinforcement, wherein a first panel section is excavated, an end stop pipe is placed in an end of said first panel section after excavation thereof, said end stop molding pipe has at least one concrete forming surface extending to the full length thereof, the improvement comprising, providing at least one groove in said concrete forming surface of said molding pipe with an expandable steel reinforcing cage in said groove, said expandable steel reinforcing cage having a concrete anchor means projecting therefrom beyond said concrete forming surface and into a body of concrete cast thereagainst, casting concrete in said first panel section to surround said concrete anchor means and against said concrete forming surface, removing said molding pipe from said first panel section, excavating an adjacent panel section, expanding said expandable steel reinforcing panel section, adjacent panel section, filling said adjacent panel section with concrete, said expandable steel reinforcing cage including a plurality of pivoted reinforcing bars which are maintained in a substan-tially vertical position, and after excavation of said adjacent panel section, all said pivoted reinforcing bars are simul-taneously moved in a vertical direction to a horizontal position into said adjacent panel section prior to filling of said adjacent panel section with concrete.

13. The invention defined in claim 12, wherein said expandable reinforcing cage includes an operating member which physically projects above said slurry trench and expands said expandable steel reinforcing cage by being moved in a vertically downward direction.

14. The invention defined in claim 13, wherein said operating member is a U-shaped channel member which protects said expan-dable reinforcing cage during excavation of an adjoining and overlapping slurry trench section.

15. The invention defined in claim 121 wherein each said reinforcing bar has (1) a first end pivotally connected to a member secured to said concrete anchor means, and (2) a second end pivotally connected to an operating member which projects upwardly above the slurry trench, and the step of expanding said expandable steel reinforcing cage is performed by applying a force to move said operating member in a vertically downward direction.