GB2258480A - Protective membrane - Google Patents

Description

2 n -) c. 4 ' j),) 1 PROTECTING MEMBRANE, ESPECIALLY FOR ROUNDED

FOUNDATIONS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a protecting membrane, especially for rounded foundations, for example tunfiels and rock vaults, and especially for protection against the intrusion of unwanted humidity and fluids from the foundation, comprising an elongated web having alternating flat and corrugated portions, for the provision of circulation paths along the extension of the membrane.

Background of the invention

The present invention is especially developed for the provision of a humidity protection membrane for arched structures. for example below viaducts or in tunnels or rock vaults.

In connection with such structures there exists a great risk for-the intrusion of water in the vault therein, and the present humidity protection membrane shall in an effective manner guide the water down to floor level, from where it can be conducted through for example appropriate drainage pipes.

State of the art Today there are on the market available products which are used for protection against humidity in arched structures. One of these comprises floating membranes which are directly attached to the foundation, as well as some additives for plastering. Further, there are available some membranes which have to be attached to the wall or the arched structure.

Plastered or applied sealing material will after some time easily crack due to vibration in the ground, especially where the arched structures are located below a road or a railway structure. This will also apply for plastering including additives.

2 Membranes which are attached on the outside of the foundation are not hampered with this disadvantage, but most of the membranes are manufactured such that they do not have 5 self-supporting properties, they require a tight attachment/adherence to the underlying wall, and thereby they lack the possibility of simple and effective inspection and/or repair.

Brief disclosure of the invention The object of the present invention is to provide a panel or a protecting membrane having the correct barrier properties against humidity, said membrane being formed such that it can easily be shaped in conformity with an arched configura is tion. Besides, the panel or the protecting membrane should constitute a relatively stiff and self-supporting structure requiring few attachment points in the foundation.

Further, the present protecting membrane is to be manufac- tured with an aesthetically appealing surface without any form of top cover.

A further requirement which the membrane has to meet, is a plurality of channels giving a large capacity for drainage of the intruded water, said channels or ribs being formed such that a joint will not involve that the water will extrude therefrom, but definitely follow the channels or the ribs to floor level.

These objects and aims are achieved in connection with a protecting membrane of the type as stated in the preamble, which is characterized in that the corrugated portions are formed as a plurality of longitudinally extending elevated ribs, comprising further corrugations allowing the membrane to be easily shaped in conformity with an arched foundation and arranged selfsupportingly.

Preferably, the elevated ribs may extend substantially 3 parallel to the main plane of the membrane and substantially with an even spacing therebetween.

The further corrugations in the longitudinally extending elevated ribs may appropriately take the form of in'section arched portions having alternating distance from the main plane of the membrane.

Preferably, the further corrugations can take the form of in section almost semi-circularly shaped arches having alternating radius, for example with an alteration after approx. 5-15 mm in the longitudinal direction.

The corrugated configuration of the channels consequently is renders favourable joints both in the transversal and longitudinal direction. Appropriately, the product may be delivered as membranes in appropriate sizes for facilitating the mounting thereof, and possible inspection of the underlying wall, as well as simple repair and exchange of possibly damaged membranes.

Preferably, the membrane may be made of thermoplastic material, but membranes manufactured of metal can also be contemplated.

The present protecting membrane finds special application as humidity protection membrane for tunnels and rock vaults. However, it is to be understood that the membrane can also be applied as a drainage panel, and then especially provided 30 with holes along said ribs.

A special application as drainage membrane including holes along said ribs may be as support for turfed roof, said membranes then being provided on a subjacent impervious supporting membrane or foil.

In a special embodiment of the present membrane this may comprise a corrugated semi-cylinder having a flange portion 1 4 which is provided with studs which in turn may engage corresponding studs on the adjacent correspondingly embodied foundation wall membrane provided with studs or similar prior art membranes, possibly also when saud pattern of knobs with their intermediate channels for each membrane has been turned 90' in relation to each other. Then the membrane may constitute a special, vertical drainage path in a foundation wall membrane.

Further features and advantages in connection with the present invention will appear from the following description take in connection with the appended drawings.

Brief disclosure of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cut-out of a first embodiment of a protecting membrane according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a shifted section taken along the line A-A in Fig.

1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the membrane as seen from the opposite side.

Fig. 4 illustrates an application of the present protecting membrane for the mounting on an arched foundation.

Fig. 5 illustrates a special embodiment of the present membrane, especially included in a foundation wall membrane.

Disclosure of embodiments

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrating a perspective view of a first embodiment of the protecting membrane according to the invention, a section along line A-A in Fig. 1 and a perspective view as seen from the opposite side of the protecting membrane, respectively, this membrane comprises an elongated web, which here is generally designated by reference numeral 1. The membrane is especially manufactured for the protection against the intrusion of unwanted humidity and fluids from a foundation, and the elongated web 1 comprises alternating flat and corrugated portions for the provision of circulating paths along the extension;Df the membrane.

Prior art protecting membranes of this type are disclosed in for example US 3.888.087 and CA 1.186.870, as well as

PCT/N091/00004.

However, in the embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 1, the corrugated portions have been given a special form, they here being provided as a plurality of longitudinally is extending elevated or bulging ribs, there being illustrating in Figures 1-3 two such ribs 2a and 2b, respectively. Further, each of the elevated ribs 2a and 2b comprise further corrugations 3n and 4n allowing the membrane as such to be easily shaped in conformity with an arched foundation, 20 as this is further illustrated in Fig. 4.

Further, the web 1 and the ribs 2a, 2b including their corrugations 3n and 4n are manufactured with such a material thickness and with such a material quality that they are self supporting.

The elevated ribs 2a, 2b extend substantially parallel to the main plane la of the membrane, and substantially with an even spacing D1 therebetween.

As specially appearing from Fig. 2, the further corrugations 3n and 4n of the longitudinally extending ribs 2a, 2b may have the form of in section ached portions 3p and 4p, respectively, with alternating distance from the main plane 35 la of the membrane.

Preferably, the further corrugations 3n and 4n may have a form of in section semi-circular arches'having alternating 6 radius, R3 and R4, respectively, said alteration being effected for example after 515 mm.

Appropriately, the longitudinally extending ribs 2a, 2b may be arranged with a mutual spacing D1 of approx. 5-15 cm..

it is to be understood that the dimensioning of the membrane as such can be effected in a plurality of ways, and the individual measurements may be altered within wide limits.

In the illustrated embodiment there is provided a panel or a humidity protection membrane which easily can be shaped in conformity with an arched configuration, see especially Fig. 4, wherein the membrane or the web 1 itself is mounted along an arched foundation 10 which has a tendency of expelling water and humidity towards the inside vault, which is generally designated by 11. Even if the membrane is manufactured as a relatively stiff and selfsupporting structure, it will due to the corrugations 3n and 4n in the longitudinally extending ribs easily be shaped in conformity with the foundation, the intermediate arched portions 4n or 4p being apt to yield, whereas the most bulging corrugations 4n or 4p will substantially maintain their form.

Since the membrane or the web 1 is mounted with the bulging ribs 2a, 2b facing towards the vault 11, the ribs 2a, 2b on the rear side of the membrane 1 will constitute corrugated channels having a very large capacity for drainage of the intruded water, said drainage representing favourable joint portions which engage each other in connection with adjacent membranes. Further, the channels are provided in such a way that the water extruding from the foundation 11 will follow the respective channels 2a, 2b down to floor level, at which level there may appropriately be provided not illustrated drainage pipes or channels for the passing away of the collected water.

In order to ensure that the water will follow the respec- 7 tive channels 2a, 2b also at the top of the arch-shaped foundation, i.e. at the top of a vault or a tunnel, said further corrugations, especially the lower, intermediate corrugations 4n, can be provided with not illustrated transition portions or liquid trickling portions thbre between.

Further, it is to be understood that the discussed types of corrugations render favourable joints in both the transver sal and longitudinal direction. The protecting membrane can be delivered either as running lengths or as appropriately dimensioned membranes, and will give a simple inspection of the outer surface of the foundation 10, as well as simplify the repair and the exchange of possible damaged membranes.

Even if the present protecting membrane is especially developed as humidity protecting membrane for tunnels and rock vaults, it is to be understood that the protecting membrane can also find application as drainage membranes, said ribs then being provided with lead-throughs, in the form of holes, slits or similar.

Another application for the present protecting membrane is as support for turfed roof, and then appropriately provided on an impervious supporting membrane or foil.

Finally, attention should be drawn to an embodiment which is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the present membrane comprises a corrugated half-cylinder 2x provided with flange portions 12a, 12b provided with studs 13 which on each side can come into engagement with corresponding studs on correspondingly shaped membranes provided with studs. Such application is especially contemplated in connection with foundation wall membranes, for example foundation wall membranes provided with studs and manufactured as stated in US 3.888.087 and CA 1.186.478 and PCT/N091/00004 or similar, and possibly also when the stud pattern with their intermediate channels for each membrane is turned 900 in relation 1 8 to each other. Conse(uently, it is to be understood that by this application the present membrane is to be included in a special foundation wall drainage system, but it can also be used in connection with the protection of tunnels and rock vaults.

9 P a t e n t

Claims (12)

c 1 a i m s

1. Protecting membrane, especially for rounded foundations (10), for example tunnels and rock vaults, and especially for protection against humidity and fluSds from the foundation (10), comprising an elongated web (1) having alternating flat and corrugated portions, for the provision of circulation paths along the extension of the membrane, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the corrugated portions are formed as a plurality of longitudinally extending elevated ribs (2a, 2b) comprising further corrugations (3n, 4n) allowing the membrane (1) to be easily shaped in conformity with an arched foundation (10) and arranged selfsupportingly.

is

2. Membrane as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the elevated ribs (2a, 2b) extend substantially parallel to the main plane 0a) of the membrane, and substantially with even spacing (D1) therebetween.

3. Membrane as stated in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the elevated corrugations (3n, 4n) of the longitudinally extending elevating ribs (2a, 2b) take the form of in section arched portions (3p, 4p) with alternating spacing or bulging from the main plane of the membrane (1a).

4. Membrane as stated in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the further corrugations (3n, 4n) take the form of in section semi-circularly shaped arches (3p, 4p) having alternating radius (R3, R4), for example with an alteration after approx. 5-15 mm.

5. Membrane as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the longitudinally extending ribs (2a, 2b) are provided with a mutual distance of approx. 5-15 cm.

6. Membrane as claimed in any of the claims 35, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the further corrugations (3n, 4n) are shaped with transition portions or 5 liquid trickling portions therebetween.

7. Use of a protecting membrane as claimed in any of the claims 1-6, especially as a humidity protection plate for tunnels and rock vaults.

8. Use of a protecting membrane as claimed in any of the claims 1-6, as a drainage membrane, especially including holes along said ribs.

9. Use of a protecting membrane as claimed in-claim 8, especially as a support for turfed roof and provided on an impervious supporting membrane or foil.

10. Use of a protecting membrane as stated in claims 1-6, especially comprising a corrugated half-cylinder including flange portions being provided with knobs which in turn can come into engagement with corresponding studs on correspond ingly embodied membranes provided with studs.

11. A protecting membrane substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

12. The use of a protective membrane according to claim 11, and substantially as hereinbefore described.