GB2198166A

GB2198166A - Support prop suitable for bridges

Info

Publication number: GB2198166A
Application number: GB08626060A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Barrie Worthington
Original assignee: Thos Storey
Current assignee: Thos Storey
Priority date: 1986-10-31
Filing date: 1986-10-31
Publication date: 1988-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-31
Also published as: GB2209360A; GB8825560D0; GB8626060D0; GB2198166B; GB2209360B

Abstract

This invention relates to support props which have at least dual applications. The prop in accordance with the invention has a main body section comprising a plurality of elongated support members 18A and connecting means 20A to secure the support members together. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SUPPORT WORK PROPS This invention relates to a support work prop.

Known props have always been designed to have the single function of acting as a prop, no consideration having been made as to other possible applications.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention a support work prop has a main body section comprising a plurality of elongated support members, and connecting means to secure together the support members.

Preferably the support members are reinforcing chords used in panel bridges, and in consequence the components making up the prop have dual applications.

A prop preferably has a head section to connect together the upper ends of the support members, and a base section to connect the lower ends of the support members.

The head and/or base section may comprise a flat plate with a number of upstanding lugs to which the ends of the support members are attached. Alternatively, the head and/or base sections suitably comprise a plate having a number of lugs to which the ends of the support members are attached and a housing member for an adjustable screw which may be pivotally connected at the outer end thereof to a flat plate.

Suitably, the pivoted flat plate is adapted such that it can be connected to one or more header beams.

The connecting means are advantageously adapted to connect one or more bracing panels such that a plurality of props can be braced together.

The prop may also include a number of extension members having a plurality of short elongated support members integrally connected to the connecting means.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention a beam has first attachment means at one end snugly engaging the web of the beam, and second attachment means at the other end of the beam positioned away from the web of the beam and extending between the flanges of the beam.

The first and second connecting means are so dimensioned and arranged such that the first attachment means of one headed beam cooperates and can be attached to the second attachment means of another headed beam.

The first attachment means preferably extends beyond the outer end of the beam, while the second attachment means does not extend beyond the other end of the beam.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a trestling arrangement incorporating a number of props in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view of a strutting arrangement using a prop in accordance with the present invention, Figure 3 is a side view of a shoring arrangement using a prop in accordance with the present invention, Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the chord connector portion of the props shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the portion of Figure 4, as taken along line c-c of Figure 4, Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the prop head portion of the props shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 7 is a side view of the portion of Figure 6, Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of the prop base plate portion of the props shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 9 is a side view of the portion of Figure 8, Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of the header beam as shown in Figure 1, Figure 11 is a plan cross-sectional view of the beam of Figure 10, taken along line A-A of Figure 10, and Figure 12 is a plan cross-sectional view of the beam of Figure 10, taken along line B-B of Figure 10.

In Figures 1 to 3, a plurality of props 10 are shown having a main body section 12, a head section 14, and a foot section 16. The main body section 12 of each prop is composed of two sub-sections 12a and 12b, the sub-section 12a comprising four long reinforcing chords 18a removably secured to two chord connectors 20a (see Figures 4 and 5), while the sub-section 12b comprises a prop extension having four short reinforcing chords 18b integrally secured to a single chord connector 20b.

The head sections 14 of all the props 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3, as well as the foot sections 16 of the two right hand side props 10 shown in Figure 1, each have a prop head 22 (see Figures 6 and 7) secured by nuts and bolts to the top ends of four reinforcing chords 18, an adjustable screw member 24 inserted at its inner end within the prop head 22 and rotatably movable thereto, and a screw plate 26 pivotally attached to the outer end of the adjustable screw member 24.

The foot sections 16 of the three left hand side props 10 shown in Figure 1 and the foot sections 16 of the props shown in Figures 2 and 3 meanwhile, each comprise a prop base plate member 28 (see Figures 8 and 9) secured by nuts and bolts to the bottom ends of four reinforcing chords 18.

In Figures 4 and 5, the chord connector 20a is shown in greater detail having an upper end plate member 30 and a lower end plate member 32 joined together by four hollow rectangular connecting members 34. Each end of the connecting member 34 supports a dowel 36 which is adapted to receive a bolt to secure a reinforcing chord 18 to the chord connector 20. A reinforcing chord 18 is secured by means of the dowels 36 on each side of the chord connector 20 at both the top and bottom thereof, in order to form an overall cross formation. The chord connector 20 is also provided at each corner with a hole 38 to which bracing members (not shown) can be attached.

In Figures 6 and 7, the prop head 22 is shown in greater detail having a plate member 40 supporting firstly a central tube 42 which is treaded to receive the inner end of the adjustable screw 24, and secondly four lugs 44 to which the end of reinforcing chords 18 are connected. The plate 40 is also provided with slots 46 positioned between the lugs 44 for bolting down hydraulic jacks or packing stools (not shown).

In Figures 8 and 9, the prop base plate 28 is shown in greater detail having a plate member 48 supporting eight lugs 50. The lugs 50 are arranged in pairs along each side of the base plate 28, and are adapted to connect the end of a reinforcing chord 18.

The plate member 48 is also provided with four holes 52 positioned between the pairs of lugs 50.

In Figure 1, five props 10 are shown in a heavy duty trestling arrangement, the props 10 being connected together by a number of bracing panels 54. The head sections 14 of the props 10 are shown supporting I-shaped header beams 56 (see Figures 10 to 12), the cross fall of which is taken up by the prop heads 22, adjustable screws 24 and pivoting screw platess 26. The uneven ground on the other hand is allowed for by using firstly flat prop base plates 28 for the three left hand props 10, and secondly prop heads 22/adjustable screws 24/pivoting screw plates 26 for the two right hand props 10. The arrangement of Figure 1 can be released using hydraulic jacks in conjunction with the prop heads 22.

In Figures 10 to 12, the header beam 56 is shown in greater detail having an upper flange 57, a lower flange 60, and a web 62 interconnecting the upper and lower flanges. At one end of the beam 56, two attachment plates 58a are snugly provided one each side of the web 62 (see Figure 11), the plates 58a extending beyond the outer end of the I-shaped beam 56, and each being provided with three holes 64. At the other end of the beam 56, two similar attachment plates 58b are also provided, however these plates 58b do not extend beyond the outer end of the I-shaped beam 56, and are positioned away from the web 62 and extend between the upper and lower flanges 57 and 60 (see Figure 12).

The attachment plates 58b are also provided with three holes 64, and the web 62 of the beam 56 is also provided with three holes 66 in alignment with the holes 64 of the plates 58b. The arrangement of the attachment plates 58a and 58b are such that the plates 58a on one headed beam 56 can cooperate and be joined to the attachment plates 58b on another headed beam 56 (see Figure 1).

The headed beams 56 can be used either as primary support beams or as ground distribution beams since they provide a flat surface on both the upper and lower flanges 57 and 60.

In Figure 2 a prop 10 is shown used for cofferdam strutting, and for long distances the strut capacity can be maintained by the addition of bracing panels 54 to reduce self weight bending. In Figure 2 the props extend between two headed beams 56 which engage the side walls of the cofferdam.

In Figure 3 the prop 10 is shown as a shoring member, an adjustable tilting base 68 being provided on which the prop base plate member 28 rests. Alternatively the prop base plate member 28 can be replaced by an arrangement as shown at the head section 14 of the prop shown in Figure 3, such that the prop has a "swivel" head and base which can be used for raking prop applications.

In conclusion, the props may be used as vertical supports within falsework schemes to carry loads arising from in-situ or precast construction, to support bridge decks while repairs are carried out, backpropping to newly constructed slabs, temporary underpinning of existing structures and for heavy lifting schemes. As horizontal struts, the prop is ideal for use in large sheet pile or diaphragm wall cofferdams.

The prop can also be used as a raking prop to support existing structures during alterations, temporary supports to precast units and support to single sided sheet pile walls.

Within the head of the prop, there are provisions for preloading or jacking up and releasing of structures using hydraulic jacks without the need for subsidiary packing or support.

Header beams that can be used as primary support beams or ground distribution beams will give a flush top and bottom flange allowing freedom of position for any support members or formwork. Splice connections between beams are made using pins and beams are bolted down to prop head or base using single bolt connections.

The props can also be used as tension members.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A support prop having a main body section, comprising a plurality of elongated support members and connecting means to secure support members together.

2. A prop as claimed in Claim 1 in which the support members comprise standard reinforcing chords for use in pre-fabricated panel bridges.

3. A prop as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 having a head section to connect the upper ends of the support members together and/or a base section connecting the lower ends of the support members.

4. A prop as claimed in Claim 3 in which the head and/or base section comprise a flat plate with a number of upstanding lugs to which the ends of the support members are attached.

5. A prop as claimed in Claim 3 in which the head and/or base sections each comprises a plate having a number of lugs to which the endsof the support members are attached and a housing member for an ajustable screw for pivotally connection at its outer end to a flat plate.

6. A prop as claimed in Claim 5 in which the pivoted flat plate is so formed that it can be connected to one or more standard header beams.

7. A prop as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the connecting means are adapted to connect one or more bracing panels so that a plurality of props can be braced together.

8. A prop as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a number of extension members having a plurality of short elongated support members integrally connected to the connecting means.

9. A beam having first attachment means at one end snugly engaging the web of the beam and second attachment means at the other end positioned away from the web of the beam to extend between flanges of the beam.

10. A beam as claimed in Claim 9 in which the first and second connecting means are so dimensioned and arranged that the first attachment means of one beam cooperates with and can be attached to the second attachment means of another beam as claimed in Claim 9.

11. A beam as claimed in Claim 9 or 10 in which the first attachment means extends beyond the outer end of the beam, the second attachment means being within the confines of the beam at the other end thereof.

12. A prop substantially and herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.