GB2451449A

GB2451449A - Waterproof tunnel lining

Info

Publication number: GB2451449A
Application number: GB0714774A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Allan Bailey
Original assignee: Lameek Ltd
Current assignee: Lameek Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-30
Filing date: 2007-07-30
Publication date: 2009-02-04
Also published as: GB0714774D0; GB2451449A8

Abstract

A waterproof tunnel lining comprises base panels 1, link panels 10 and infill panels 11 of semi-rigid material. The base panels are fixed to an inner surface of the tunnel by rods or bars and are linked in vertical lines by the linking panels, the space between two parallel vertical lines of linking and base panels is filled by the infill panels. The panels are lapped such that the bottom edge of each plate overlaps the top of the plate below. The vertical edges of the base and link panels are double folded such that the edges of the infill panels may be inserted into the fold and supported by the base and link panels, the folds may contain a strip of compressible material to form a water tight seal with the infill panels. The base plates may be split horizontally such that they may be mounted on a rod or bar already supporting equipment or another structure.

Description

WAThR:MANAGBMENr;Sfil ELD

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a method for constructing a panelEnd structure such as to stop or greatly reduce the passag of water frQtncne t'aó of th structwe to the other especially but not excluaively for use in thc management of water-in&ress into un1erground railway tunneland siniilát coctoa..

In underground. Lunnis, it isôflCna rquiTernntto ibtal1 new uinisbà and. equipment and at th.iam mepréveittorIimit,thc flbw of'atei leaking through ihctunnel lining so a* to avoid. dam4ge to thenew mstallaXion. It is often possible to provide for such éxcltsiöi of watrby thc usc of a flcdble material or plastic membrane but such materials may give risc to difflc:idties with.ombustibiiit dci thcgtheration of noxious I 5 fumes in u fire situatibn.

Similarly, ii will be apprecite4 thâ; such a shi1d may be coiisfructcd from sheets of material in one fOmi or another but tiatthere'afe diffic,J tics with jihüYg sUch sheets of inutesül in a manner that maintains protection against the passage of water.

AccOiding1y itis the purpose Of this üivntioñ'o pmvideméans* ITo conshuct a waler management shiàldT fiorn a Thyer of:plaXes semi-4gid mteriaI such as bu not exclusively, thin metal 1teeL 4i iaiticulc àluminium tine; cpp, Or steel, the steel pidcrabty having been lirre coated tp:pteven.t c�nosion hi consrnictiiig such a shield, it is necessary to provide a means of maintaining the shield h a continuous form with water-esistànt hbrizoñtal and vertical jioLs and the means ot'accomtnodating the passage of protrusions passing tom one side of the shield to the other such as, but not exclusively rods or brs fixed intb the tunnel wall supportIng structures or equipment within the tunnel.

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It i an obj ect or this present invention to provide a form of construction that avoids the diflic.uujcs with known forms such as are discussed above.

Accordingly, a IirsL aspect of the invention resides in a series of piaces arraiigcd in m ttTay so as. to be generally in one continuous plane with joints bewcen the plates. the joints prcvenring or substantially reducing the passage of water through the array of plates, as further described hereafter.

A second aspect of the invention resides in the means of constructing a shield from a I U vertical array of panels whereby the panels are lapped such that the bottom edge of each plate is arranged to be on the outer side of the plate below it and with a sufficient overlap such that water is shed fonn the outer surface of the array and does not pass to the other face of the array it third aspect of the invention residcs in a panel in a vertical array that irms a base panel for the construction of the shield and which is installed ftrst, either on cisting rods or bars or on purpose fixed rods or bars, and which is provided with hohs or slols to allow the passage ofthe rods or bars and to allow ridng and mounting or the base plate by the use of nuts and washers on each side of the base plate such as to clamp is in 2u position, at least one washer in each clamping arrangement having a secondary washer being from a flexible material such as, but not exclusively, silicone rubber, thereby providing a water-resistant seal around each penetration.

A fourth aspect of' the invention resides in a particular form of base plate which is split 2S along a horizontal line so as to allow the split base plate to be mounted onto a threaded rod or bar already supporting equipment or another structure, the two parts of the split plate being overlapped such as to shed waler as previously described for a vertical plate array, the plates being clamped in position by means of split nuts, split washers and split seafin washers, these split components allowing installation where they are prevented from being threaded onto the rod in the nomal way 3.

A filTh aspect of the invention resides in thc vertical edge or edges of the base panel whereby a vertical edge is double-folded such as to allow the insertion arid support of the plates in the adjacent vertical array of panels.

A sixth aspect of the invention resides in the vertical edge or edges of link panels above and/or below the base ianels such as to allow the insertion and support of the plates in the adjacent vertical array of panels.

A seventh aspect of the invention resides in the cutting-back of the bottom section of the double-folded edge or edges. of the base panel and link panels such that the panels below can be lapped as previously dectibed and can be, placed in approximately the same plane thercby allowing the folding edge feature of the base panels effectively to be continuous over the full extent of the height of The array and to reccive a continuous mull panel.

An eighth aspect of the invention resides in the infill panels which arc cut to size to ft into the doubletblded edges of a veticaL array of base panels and of link panels such as to comletc the shield across the area required to prevent or substantially reduce the penetration of water from one face of the shield to thc other.

A ninth aspect of the invention resides in the incorporation of a strip of compliant and compressible material such as, but not exclusively, foamed silicone rubber, pressed intn the double-folded edges of the base panels and the link panels such that, upon insertion of the mull panels when cut to the correct size, compression of the strip causes the edge of the inflhl panels to be substantially scaled against the passage of water from one facc of the shield to the other.

In order that the invention may be more Ii.illy understood, a preThrred embodiment of the water management shield in accordnc.e with the invention will be now described by way of ecample and with reference to accompanying drawings in which: 4.

liiurc I. is a front view of a simple hase panel (I) mounted onto a threaded rod or bar (2) and fixed by means of nuts (3) and washers (4) the nuts and washers normally being on each side of the base plate such as to clamp the base plate in a fixed position and with a compressible washer (5) beneath one or both of the washers (4), the base panel having double-folded edges (6).

Figure 2. is a view in section of the base panel asscmbly shown in Figure I. Figure 3. is a front view of a base panel (1) with the bottom section of the double-folded I u edge or edges (5) cut away on one lace 31(6) such as to accommodate a. link panel to be mounted below the base panel and generally in the sante plane although displaced by one metal thickness.

Figure 4. is a front view of a split-base panel being in two scctions (Ia) and i Ib) to allow tilting in instances where the standard base plate cannot be fitted over the har or rod and the normal nuts and washers cannot be placed in position, the bottom section of the double-Ibided edges (5) of the upper Section (Ia) being cut back to allow overlap with the -lower section (Ib) but-also with a centrally disposed vertical slot (7) being cut into the lower edge of the upper section (la) to allow it to slide downwards over the threaded rod or bar and similarly a centrally disposed vertical slot (8) being cut into the upper cdgc o1 the lower section (Ib) to allow it in slide upwards over the threaded rod or bar, the bottom section of the double4blded edges of the lower section (1 b) being similarly cut back (6) if required to allow overlap with the link panel below, as previously described1 the arrangement to form a continuous vertical array and thereby allowing the folded-edge fcturc of the split baser panel to be effectively conhintious for the purpose.c of inserting adjacent irttiLl panels.

Figure 5. is a view in section of the folded-edge on a base panel or link panel as previously shown in.Figure 2. but incorporsting a strip of compliant and compressible niaterial (9). 5.

Figure 6. is a front view of a link panel (10) in a vertical array, the link panel having double-f bided edge features (5) cut back (6) when required to form a ontinuous vertical army as previously described.

Figure 7. is a front view of a base panel (1) with link panels (10) :ssemhlèd ahoc and below to form a continuous vertical array of panels.

Fiurc 8. is a front view of two vertical base and Link panel arrays as Figure 7. with overlapped int'iIl panels (II) bctwecn and to each side such as to form a multiple-panel array capable of being further linked with panels both veriicaliy and horizontally thereby fonning a Water Management Shield as previously described.

Claims

1. A water-resistant construction from an array of semi-rigid panels, formed from materials not involving the use of plastic membranes, with lapped or interlocking joints to form a continuous structure generally in the same plane and comprising base panels, link panels, and infihl panels, thereby providing a shield against the ingress of water or other fluids.

2. A water-resistant construction according to Claim 1. wherein the array of base, link, and infihl panels, is supported by rods or bars or similar devices from the inner face of a tunnel or other space which tunnel or space is subject or likely to be subject to the ingress of water or other fluids. * I. * * * * **

3. A water-resistant construction according to Claim 1. wherein the array may be constructed by the use of split base panels, split washers and split nuts in instances where an obstruction prevents the base panel passing over the end of the supporting rod, bar or similar supporting device. *.** * * *6*4 S. ** * *

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