GB2134582A

GB2134582A - A method of installing channelling in concrete

Info

Publication number: GB2134582A
Application number: GB08402525A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin William Regin Duckworth; Peter Delhees; James Marsh; Peter Fearns
Original assignee: BICC PLC
Current assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
Priority date: 1983-02-01
Filing date: 1984-01-31
Publication date: 1984-08-15
Also published as: GB2134582B; GB8402525D0

Abstract

A method of installing channeling (1) in concrete comprises covering each aperture in the base (2) of the channeling with a cap (5) before concrete is poured into the shuttering (11), each cap having one or more areas (12) of reduced thickness through which a nail or screw (10) can be driven to fasten the channeling to the shuttering and/or one or more holes (9) adjacent an area of reduced thickness, the nail or screw passing through the hole. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of installing channelling This invnetion relates to a method of installing channelling in concrete. For this type of installation, the channelling, for example that sold by BICC Vantrunk Limited, an Agency Company of the Applicants, under the trade marks "Leprack" or "Intelok" is specially adapted by forming projections from the base of the channel to leave apertures in the base, the projections extending away from the channel. This adapted channelling will hereinafter, for convenience, be referred to as "channelling of the kind described". These projections (which are usually substantially L-shaped) help to secure the channelling in the concrete.

In a known method of installing channelling of the kind described, the method comprises filling the channel with an infill, for example polystyrene, fastening the channel to the concrete shuttering by passing nails through the apertures in the base and through the infill so that the head of each nail engages an edge of an aperture, pouring concrete into the shuttering and allowing it to set (the infill is intended to prevent ingress of the concrete into the channelling), and removing the shuttering, infill and nails. This arrangement has the disadvantages that due to the pressure of the concrete and despite the presence of the infill, concrete still gets into the channelling, and that removal of the infill, which is usually done by digging it out with a suitable tool can be very time consuming.

According to the present invention, a method of installing channelling of the kind described in concrete comprises covering each aperture in the base of the channel with a cap, each cap having one or more areas of reduced thickness through which a nail or screw can be driven to fasten the channelling to the shuttering, and/or one or more holes adjacent an area of reduced thickness, the nail or screw passing through the hole, each cap being on the side of the channelling from which the projections extend, pouring the concrete into the shuttering and allowing it to set, and removing the shuttering and fastening means.

This arrangement has the advantage that the position of each cap relative to the channelling is such that the pressure of the concrete pushes the cap against the channelling thereby forming a better seal and preventing ingress of concrete into the channel. This also removes the need for an infill and its subsequent removal.

When the shuttering is removed after the concrete has set, the force exerted by the head of the nail or screw on its respective area of reduced thickness preferably causes that part of the cap to break to allow removal of the nail or screw, as the case may be. Alternatively the nails or screws may be removed after the shuttering.

Each cap preferably makes a snap-fit with an aperture in the base of the channelling to cover the aperture. Preferably the snap-fit is made by resilient fingers each of which have a lip which engages behind an edge of the aperture.

Alternatively each cap may be secured in place to cover an aperture by the same means which fastens the channelling to the shuttering.

Preferably one cap covers two adjacent apertures.

Each cap is preferably of plastics material which has preferably been moulded. Alternatively each cap may be of sheet metal or metal alloy, wood, cork or any other suitable material.

Using the method herein described there is no need to remove each cap after the shuttering is removed because the caps do not block the channel.

This invention also includes a cap for use in the method herein described.

This invention is further described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of channelling as hereinbefore defined; Figure 2 is side, and end (Figure 2A) views of a plastics cap; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the area marked IV in Figure 2A; Figure 5 is four alternative cross-sectional views of areas of reduced thickness for a cap; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of channelling attached to shuttering.

The type of channelling 1 shown in Figure 1 is used for fastening and/or supporting cables, pipes, or other elongate members. The channelling 1 comprises a base 2 having substantially L-shaped projections formed from the base to leave apertures 4. In use the apertures 4 are covered by moulded plastics caps 5 (Figures 2 to 4) positioned on the side of the base 2 from which the projections 3 extend. Each cap 5 covers two adjacent apertures 4, and has four resilient fingers 6, each having a lip 7 which engages behind an edge 8 of the aperture 4. Each cap 5 also has two holes 9 through which screws 10 can pass to fasten the cap 5 and channelling 1 to shuttering 11 (Figure 6). Adjacent each screw hole 9 is an area 12 of reduced thickness which can break to allow removal of the screw when the shuttering 11 is removed. In use (see Figure 6) end caps (not shown) also close the end of each section of channelling 1 to prevent concrete entering the channelling.

In the alternative arrangements shown in Figure 5, in Figures 5a and 5b, a nail or screw is driven through the area 13, 13' of reduced thickness in the cap 14, 14', whereas in Figures Sc and 5d, hole 15, 15' already exists in the area 16, 16' of reduced thickness.

1. A method of installing channelling of the kind described in concrete comprises covering each aperture in the base of the channel with a cap, each cap having one or more areas of reduced thickness through which a nail or screw can be

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A method of installing channelling This invnetion relates to a method of installing channelling in concrete. For this type of installation, the channelling, for example that sold by BICC Vantrunk Limited, an Agency Company of the Applicants, under the trade marks "Leprack" or "Intelok" is specially adapted by forming projections from the base of the channel to leave apertures in the base, the projections extending away from the channel. This adapted channelling will hereinafter, for convenience, be referred to as "channelling of the kind described". These projections (which are usually substantially L-shaped) help to secure the channelling in the concrete. In a known method of installing channelling of the kind described, the method comprises filling the channel with an infill, for example polystyrene, fastening the channel to the concrete shuttering by passing nails through the apertures in the base and through the infill so that the head of each nail engages an edge of an aperture, pouring concrete into the shuttering and allowing it to set (the infill is intended to prevent ingress of the concrete into the channelling), and removing the shuttering, infill and nails. This arrangement has the disadvantages that due to the pressure of the concrete and despite the presence of the infill, concrete still gets into the channelling, and that removal of the infill, which is usually done by digging it out with a suitable tool can be very time consuming. According to the present invention, a method of installing channelling of the kind described in concrete comprises covering each aperture in the base of the channel with a cap, each cap having one or more areas of reduced thickness through which a nail or screw can be driven to fasten the channelling to the shuttering, and/or one or more holes adjacent an area of reduced thickness, the nail or screw passing through the hole, each cap being on the side of the channelling from which the projections extend, pouring the concrete into the shuttering and allowing it to set, and removing the shuttering and fastening means. This arrangement has the advantage that the position of each cap relative to the channelling is such that the pressure of the concrete pushes the cap against the channelling thereby forming a better seal and preventing ingress of concrete into the channel. This also removes the need for an infill and its subsequent removal. When the shuttering is removed after the concrete has set, the force exerted by the head of the nail or screw on its respective area of reduced thickness preferably causes that part of the cap to break to allow removal of the nail or screw, as the case may be. Alternatively the nails or screws may be removed after the shuttering. Each cap preferably makes a snap-fit with an aperture in the base of the channelling to cover the aperture. Preferably the snap-fit is made by resilient fingers each of which have a lip which engages behind an edge of the aperture. Alternatively each cap may be secured in place to cover an aperture by the same means which fastens the channelling to the shuttering. Preferably one cap covers two adjacent apertures. Each cap is preferably of plastics material which has preferably been moulded. Alternatively each cap may be of sheet metal or metal alloy, wood, cork or any other suitable material. Using the method herein described there is no need to remove each cap after the shuttering is removed because the caps do not block the channel. This invention also includes a cap for use in the method herein described. This invention is further described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of channelling as hereinbefore defined; Figure 2 is side, and end (Figure 2A) views of a plastics cap; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the area marked IV in Figure 2A; Figure 5 is four alternative cross-sectional views of areas of reduced thickness for a cap; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of channelling attached to shuttering. The type of channelling 1 shown in Figure 1 is used for fastening and/or supporting cables, pipes, or other elongate members. The channelling 1 comprises a base 2 having substantially L-shaped projections formed from the base to leave apertures 4. In use the apertures 4 are covered by moulded plastics caps 5 (Figures 2 to 4) positioned on the side of the base 2 from which the projections 3 extend. Each cap 5 covers two adjacent apertures 4, and has four resilient fingers 6, each having a lip 7 which engages behind an edge 8 of the aperture 4. Each cap 5 also has two holes 9 through which screws 10 can pass to fasten the cap 5 and channelling 1 to shuttering 11 (Figure 6). Adjacent each screw hole 9 is an area 12 of reduced thickness which can break to allow removal of the screw when the shuttering 11 is removed.In use (see Figure 6) end caps (not shown) also close the end of each section of channelling 1 to prevent concrete entering the channelling. In the alternative arrangements shown in Figure 5, in Figures 5a and 5b, a nail or screw is driven through the area 13, 13' of reduced thickness in the cap 14, 14', whereas in Figures Sc and 5d, hole 15, 15' already exists in the area 16, 16' of reduced thickness. CLAIMS

1. A method of installing channelling of the kind described in concrete comprises covering each aperture in the base of the channel with a cap, each cap having one or more areas of reduced thickness through which a nail or screw can be driven to fasten the channelling to the shuttering, and/or one or more holes adjacent an area of reduced thickness, the nail or screw passing through the hole, each cap being on the side of the channelling from which the projections extend, pouring the concrete into the shuttering and allowing it to set, and removing the shuttering and fastening means.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein when the shuttering is removed after the concrete has set, the force exerted by the head of the nail or screw on its respective area of reduced thickness causes that part of the cap to break to allow removal of the nail or screw, as the case may be.

3. A method as claimed in any one Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each cap makes a snap-fit with an aperture in the base of the channelling to cover the aperture.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the snap-fit is made by resilient fingers each of which have a lip which engages behind an edge of the aperture.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein one cap covers two adjacent apertures.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein each cap is of plastics material.

7. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A cap for use in the method claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.

9. A cap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.