GB2188689A

GB2188689A - Inflatable pipe shutter

Info

Publication number: GB2188689A
Application number: GB08706969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Owen Gregory Gallagher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-04-05
Filing date: 1987-03-24
Publication date: 1987-10-07
Also published as: GB8706969D0

Abstract

An inflatable channel shutter (16) can be fitted into the ends of pipes (12, 14) and inflated to provide a channel shaped profile on which concrete can be poured. Once the concrete has set the channel shutter (16) can be deflated and removed from the pipe to leave the formed channel (26). The use of a hollow inflatable channel shutter permits the concrete to be poured even when the pipes are carrying fluids. The channel can be inflated by simply connecting it to an air supply and it is of a double skin construction. The channel shutter is made of rubberised canvas which has an upper plastic spine (28) to which sockets (34) can be fitted and connected to straps (36,38) mounted in the side of the manhole to fully support the channel shutter (16) in an inflated position as the concrete is being poured. A plurality of shutters may be linked by collars (42, Fig. 4 not shown) to provide Y connectors, Fig. 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Inflatable pipe shutter The present invention relates to an inflatable pipe shutter particularly, but not exclusively, for use in the formation of channel and benching particularly during manhole construction.

When manholes are constructed for accessing pipes a hole is dug out in the ground and entry and exit pipes are connected in the manhole. It is required that the bottom of the manhole be filled with concrete and shaped to provide a continuous channel or benching between the inlet and outlet pipe. This can be extremely difficult particularly if water or any other fluid is present in the manhole. This is further compounded by the fact that in many areas even though the pipe is not carrying water, water from the surrounding ground seeps into the pipe and travels through the pipe to enter the manhole. This further complicates the problem of manufacturing the channel with concrete. Typical solutions to this problem have included providing very fast setting cement and also providing complex shuttering around the pipes.This procedure is very time consuming and expensive and if the work area is very wet it becomes more difficult to provide a satisfactory channel.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate disadvantages associated with the aforementioned prior art systems.

This is achieved by providing an inflatable channel shutter which can be fitted into the ends of pipes and inflated to provide a channel shaped profile on which concrete can be poured. Once the concrete has set the channel shutter can be deflated and removed from the pipe to leave the formed channel. The use of the inflatable channel shutter permits the concrete to be poured even when the pipes are carrying fluids. The channel can be inflated by simply connecting it to an air supply and it is of a double skin construction.

The channel shutter is made of rubberised canvas which has an upper plastic spine to which sockets can be fitted and connected to straps mounted in the side of the manhole to fully support the channel shutter in an inflated position as the concrete is being poured.

Collars can be provided for the channel shutter having circular portions for receiving similar channel shutters for connection to other entry pipes to the manhole where a complex channel system is required for a multi-pipe manhole.

Accordingly in one aspect of the invention there is provided an inflatable channel shutter comprising an inflatable member adapted to be connected to an inflation source, the inflatable member having ends adapted to be located in respective pipe ends, and be inflatable so that the exterior of the inflatable channel shutter provides a profile substantially similar to that of the pipes.

Preferably when inflated said channel shutter permits communication between entry and exit pipes into which the ends of the shutter are fitted. Conveniently said channel shutter is of a double skin construction made of rubberised canvas having a smooth external surface to facilitate release from set concrete. Preferably also the upper part of the inflatable channel shutter includes a plastic spine attached thereto having socket means for receiving sockets for permitting the inflated channel shutter to be connected to support straps fastened to the sides of the manhole.

Conveniently the channel shutter includes a valve for permitting the shutter to be inflated by connection to an air supply. Alternatively the shutter is inflated by connecting to a liquid supply. The shutter is also deflatable to permit the shutter to be removed after the concrete has set and to provide a channel of crosssection substantially similar to that of the entry and exit pipes.

Preferably also collar means are provided which are adapted to be located around the channel shutter when inflated and having means for receiving ends of other channel shutters so that multi-channel shuttering can be achieved in a manhole having a plurality of inlet pipes and an outlet pipe.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective and partly broken away view of a manhole illustrating an inflated channel shutter coupled between an inlet and an outlet pipe; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 after the concrete has been poured and the inflatable shutter deflated and removed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged and perspective view of a channel shutter shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a channel shutter as shown in Fig. 3 having a collar mounted thereon for connection to other inflatable channel shutters, and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrates the shape of a channel formed when the concrete has set using channel shutter and collar of the type shown in Fig. 4.

Reference is first made to Fig. 1 of the drawings which illustrates a manhole generally indicated by reference numeral 10 having an inlet pipe end 12 and an outlet pipe end 14 projecting into the manhole. The ends of the pipe are coupled together by inflatable channel shutter generally indicated by reference numeral 16 which is inflated as shown via a valve 18 coupled via an air supply hose 20 to a source of air supply not shown. In this position the inflatable channel shutter joins the ends of the pipe 12 and 14 and permits communication between the inlet and outlet pipes whilst providing a suitable shutter in which concrete can be poured.

As seen in Figure. 2, after concrete has been poured around the shutter up to a predetermined level 24. The concrete is allowed to set and when set the channel shutter 16 is deflated via valve 18, and the shutter is then removed from the pipe to leave a channel of generally U-shaped cross-section 26 which connects the inlet and outlet pipes and permits passage of water therethrough.

As best seen in Fig. 3 the channel shutter 16 shown in an inflated position is of a double skin construction and is made of strong rubberised canvas having a smooth external surface to facilitate release of the shutter after concrete has set. A plastic spine portion 28 is located at the upper portion of the shutter and retained in proximity thereto by rubber spine locating straps 30 which are bonded to the shutter 16.

Valve 18 is mounted in the spine to permit shutter to be inflated and deflated as and when required by an operator. The valve can be any suitable type for connection to an air supply. the spine also includes spaced pairs of moulded sockets 34 into which bridge portions 36 can be located and secured. In turn these bridge portions can receive adjustable straps 38 which can be secured to the wall of the manhole to provide support for the shutter when inflated.

The spine contains spaced air valve locating holes 40 so that the air valve can be placed in any particular hole depending on the spacing of the pipes to ensure that they are always accessible to inflate and deflate the channel shutter.

As best seen in Fig. 4 the channel shutter can be provided with a branch collar generally indicated by reference numeral 42 for permitting multiple channels to be formed in a manhole. The branch collar 42 contains cylindrical portions 44. adapted to receive the ends of like inflatable shutters in the same manner as pipe ends 12 and 14. The branch collar is made of a canvas rubberised structure in a similar manner to the pipe shutter and the collar is adjustable to suit shutters of different diameters.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5 which illustrates a complex channel structure made using inflatable shutters and branch collar 42 of the type shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that any inlet pipes 12 are coupled to an outlet pipe 14 via channels 46 achieved using using the structure shown in Fig. 4. With this arrangement, the operation is the same as Fig.

1 and Fig. 2, once the inflatable shutters have been positioned and inflated the concrete is then poured to a predetermined level. Once the concrete is set the channel shutters are deflated using the valves 18 and the channel shutters and collar removed to leave the drainage channels 46 of generally U-shaped crosssection as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the structure as hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it will be appreciated that although a double skin Structure is used any other suitable structure may be used which can be inflated to join the ends of the pipes.

Although the structure shown permits drainage between the inlet and outlet pipes through the interior of the shutter,this is not essential and shuttering can be achieved with a structure which does not provide such communication.

In addition, although the same valve was used to inflate and deflate the structure as hereinbefore described, it will be appreciated that this could be achieved bv separate valves. Furthermore, various other means of supporting the inflatable channel shutter could be achieved, for example, this could seemly be done by using an eye and a hook and attaching it to some point on the manhole surface. Furthermore, the material used for the shutter is not critical although it will be appreciated that it should be easily removable after the concrete has set and should be relatively resistant to puncture and other perforations.

It will be appreciated that the channel shutter may be available in a number of size, for example, from 100mm diameter and 25mm increments. Similarly the length could be varied and it will be appreciated that a length of 1 metre would cope with manholes 600mm to 800mm wide.

Similarly the plastic spine may be removable and available in varying lengths and formed to different angles as required, for example, 45 and 30 angles.

Advantages of the invention are that shuttering of the manhole when providing a drainage channel is achieved in a rapid efficient and effective manner. The inflatable channel shutter permits a manhole to carry fluid whilst at the same time permitting channels to be formed. Furthermore, after the concrete has set the shutter is readily and efficiently removed to provide the drainage channel. This is extremely advantageous where the work area is very wet, for example, when the ground is saturated with water and water is seeping in even to the drainage pipes although unconnected. Furthermore, a plurality of channel shutters can be combined using branch collars to permit compex channels to be performed and shuttered in a rapid and efficient manner.

Claims

1. An inflatable channel shutter comprising an inflatable member adapted to be connected to an inflation source, the inflatable member having ends adapted to be located in respective pipe ends, and be inflatable so that the exterior of the inflatable channel shutter pro vides a profile substantially similar to that of the pipes.

2. An inflatable channel shutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein when inflated said channel shutter permits communication between entry and exit pipes into which the ends of the shutter are fitted.

3. An inflatable channel shutter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said channel shutter is of a double skin construction made of rubberised canvas having a smooth external surface to facilitate release from set concrete.

4. An infaltable channel shutter as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upper part of the inflatable channel shutter includes a plastic spine attached thereto having socket means for receiving sockets for permitting the inflated channel shutter to be connected to support straps fastened to the sides of the manhole.

5. An inflatable channel shutter as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the channel shutter includes a valve for permitting the shutter to be inflated by connection to an air supply.

6. An inflatable channel shutter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the shutter is inflated by connecting to a liquid supply.

7. An inflatable channel shutter as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shutter is also deflatable to permit the shutter to be removed after the concrete has set to provide a channel of cross-section substantially similar to that of the entry and exit pipes.

8. An inflatable channel shutter as claimed in any preceding claim wherein collar means are provided which are adapted to be located around the channel shutter when inflated and having means for receiving ends of other channel shutters so that multi-channel shuttering can be achieved in a manhole having a plurality of inlet pipes and an outlet pipe.

9. An inflatable channel shutter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.