GB2537867A

GB2537867A - Shoring system and method of making an excavation with such shoring system

Info

Publication number: GB2537867A
Application number: GB1507280.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: De Maeijer Bob
Original assignee: EANDIS
Current assignee: EANDIS
Priority date: 2015-04-29
Filing date: 2015-04-29
Publication date: 2016-11-02
Also published as: GB201507280D0

Abstract

Shoring system 1 for shoring at least one sidewall of an excavation comprising; atleast one sheeting panel 2 for supporting the sidewall an upright guiding frame 3 for guiding the sheeting panel along the sidewall along an upright direction, a spreader frame 4 connected to the guiding frame lying horizontally in the excavation and supporting the guiding frame. The shoring system is at least partly made up by a set of longitudinally adjustable struts 5.

Description

Shoring System And Method Of Making An Excavation With Such Shoring System

Technical field

The present invention relates to a shoring system, an excavation provided with such shoring system and a method for making such excavation

Background art

Shoring systems are already known to the person skilled in the art. For example, excavations are being shored to avoid the excavation from collapsing, for example to avoid burying people present in the excavation and to avoid having to redo the digging.

US5533838A for example already describes a shoring system. The shoring system described by US5533838A is intended for shoring at least one sidewall of an excavation, more in particular for shoring two opposing longitudinal sidewalls of a trench, and thereto comprises several sheeting panels. The sheeting panels are, in use, guided by an upright guiding frame for guiding the sheeting panels along the opposing sidewalls along the upright direction. The spreader frame is connected to the guiding frame and is positioned along the excavation. The longitudinal sheeting panels are provided to be driven, more in particular pounded, into the ground and thereto are provided with a pounding plate at one end and a knife portion at the opposing end. As relatively large forces act on the shoring system while pounding the sheeting panels into the ground, the shoring system needs to be quite sturdy and therefore is relative large and heavy. Therefore, installing the shoring system often requires quite heavy material such as heavy lifting cranes, etc. and the shoring system is used for relatively large excavation works such as for example the installation of relatively large piping sections, digging of channels, etc. where usually such heavier equipment is already present, for example bulldozers, relatively large cranes, etc. However, such shoring systems are too bulky and heavy to be used in smaller excavations. It is indeed often required that excavations need to be performed for smaller works such as for example connecting a new power line to an existing power line, maintenance of power lines, sewage pipes, water supply lines, etc. Such excavations are often performed by smaller teams, of as little as, for example, two persons, and with relatively small equipment such as for example a shovel, a skid- -2 -steer loader and/or a compact excavator. For example, the excavation is being done by a team of two persons; one person with a shovel in the excavation checking the underground for cables, gas or water supply piping, etc. and a second person operating the relatively small excavator, e.g. the skid steer loader or the compact excavator. Following such configuration for digging the excavation, the weight of the shoring system is limited to the weight that can be handled by the skid-steer loader or the compact excavator or the limited amount of people present at the excavation. Often even, the equipment cannot be transported by a large truck but instead needs to be transported by, for example, a trailer attached to a car, a pickup truck or a van.

It has been found that the shoring systems as described by US5533838A usually are too heavy and bulky to be handled by for example a single skid-steer loader or compact excavator and two people.

Moreover, it has been found that the dimensions of such relatively small excavations are not always precisely known in advance and need to be further determined upon reviewing the situation in situ. For example, the exact location of power lines, gas and water supply piping cannot always be exactly determined in advance such that the planned excavations need to be adapted on the spot depending on the specific situation. As an effect, the shoring system according to U85533838A is also found too impractical as, the dimensions and shape of the shoring system according to US5533838A cannot be adjusted properly such that an appropriate support for the excavation cannot be formed, and/or relevant places are hard to reach because of obstructions caused by the shoring system.

In addition, the need to pound the sheeting panels into the ground often requires quite large and bulky machinery such as for example an automatic hammer which is often not available on the sites of smaller excavations as explained above.

Disclosure of the invention

It is therefore an object of the current invention to provide a shoring system that can for example be handled by a relative small amount of people, for example two people, and maybe a skid-steer loader or a compact excavator and that can be transported by for example a relatively small trailer towed by, for example, a van.

Thereto, the shoring system according to the present invention comprises the technical features of the characterizing part of the first claim.

Such shoring systems at least partly are made up by a set of dismountable struts, which may be longitudinally adjustable. -3 -

It has been found that with such shoring systems, the weight and the volume of the shoring systems can be decreased so that such shoring systems can be more easily deployed using limited resources such as for example two persons and a single skid-steer loader or a compact excavator.

Using the dismountable struts, it has been found that these struts can be used to modularly build the shoring system so that the shoring system can be transported in a more compact decomposed configuration, for example using a relatively compact trailer, to where the excavation needs to be dug and once there can be built on the location using the more light and compact longitudinally adjustable struts using the limited resources such as for example the two persons and a skid-steer loader or a compact excavator.

Moreover, it has been found that using longitudinally adjustable struts, the shape and dimensions of the shoring system according to the present invention can be adapted to the specific circumstances found at the excavation site so that a higher degree of flexibility can be achieved and/or the risk that important locations at the site of the excavation are obscured can be decreased.

Moreover it has been found that since the sheeting panels in relatively small excavation are not pounded in the ground but can slide downwards according to the progress of the excavation under the influence of their own weight, the frame in that case no longer needs to be that sturdy and can be made from more lightweight components.

In addition, since the excavations described above are relatively small, the need for a sturdy shoring system can also reduced as the sidewalls of the excavation that need to be shored in such case are relatively small and therefore the forces working on the sheeting panels is also relatively small. According to embodiments of the current invention, the shoring system, more in particular the part apart from the at least one shoring plate, is substantially made up by the set of struts to further improve the ease with which the shoring system can be transported and can be set up. According to embodiments of the current invention, the guiding frame and/or the spreader frame is at least partly, preferably substantially, made up by the set of struts to further improve the ease with which the shoring system can be transported and can be set up.

It has been found that vvhen the spreader frame is at least partly, preferably substantially, made up by the set of longitudinally adjustable struts, the shoring system can be more easily adapted to the planned excavation as often the -4 -dimensions of the excavation and therefore the dimensions of the spreader frame need to be adapted to the nature of the work that needs to be done in the excavation. According to embodiments of the current invention, the shoring system comprises at least one strut interconnecting the guiding frame and the spreader frame. Such a strut interconnecting the guiding frame and the spreader frame, forming a triangular structure, has been found to avoid the need for two pairs of parallel bars at opposing longitudinal end sides of the shoring system as described in US5533838A. As it has been found that the upper bar of the two pairs of parallel bars often hinders digging the excavation, allowing removal of the upper bar of the two pairs of parallel bars significantly increases the ease of digging the excavation in the presence of the shoring system at the excavation and allow a more swift evacuation by diggers out off the excavation when the excavation should cave in. Moreover, it has been found that by replacing the upper bar of the two pairs of parallel bars as described in the prior art by a strut interconnecting the guiding frame frame and the spreader frame does not significantly reduce the strength of the shoring system, especially when using the shoring system in the relatively small and shallow excavations such as the excavations described above. Moreover it has been found that such struts interconnecting the guiding frame and the spreader frame allow a more flexible positioning of the guiding frame with respect to the spreader frame.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, the strut interconnecting the guiding frame and the spreader frame is a dismountable strut and/or a longitudinally adjustable strut as it has been found that such a strut allows adjusting the angular position of the guiding frame with respect to the spreader frame by adjusting the length of the longitudinally adjustable strut.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, the strut interconnecting the guiding frame and the spreader frame is connected to the guiding and/or the spreader frame with a hinge as the use of a hinge allows to further allow the angular positioning of the guiding frame with respect to the spreader frame. In such embodiments, the spreader frame and the guiding frame preferably are interconnected, more preferably hingedly interconnected, for example with a hinge.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the hinge is slideably connected to the guiding and/or spreader frame as the use of such a hinge allows to further improve the angular positioning of the guiding frame with respect to the spreader frame.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, the strut interconnecting the guiding frame and the spreader frame is longitudinal and -5 -substantially directly, preferably directly, interconnects the guiding frame and the spreader frame.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the longitudinally adjustable struts of the set of struts comprise a first and a second part, wherein the first and the second part are slideably positioned along each other. Such struts are quite known to the person skilled in the art for example in the field of construction, for example to at least partially support buildings during construction, or during formwork. According to embodiments of the current invention, the guiding frame is hingedly connected to the spreader frame to further improve the angular positioning of the guiding frame with respect to the spreader frame.

According to embodiments of the current invention, at least one of the different sides of the spreader frame has an adjustable length as it has been found that such a configuration allows to further adapt the spreader frame to the excavation depending on the desired dimensions of the excavation and/or the work that needs to be performed in the excavation.

According to further embodiments of the current invention, the side of the spreader frame having an adjustable length is a longitudinally adjustable strut as it has been found that such struts, for example the struts as described above that are known to the person skilled in the art from construction, can be used for such purposes.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the spreader frame comprises a convex quadrilateral spreader frame, such as for example a rectangular spreader frame, as it has been found that such spreader frames allow to accommodate a great diversity of excavations having different dimensions and even shapes, although most excavations have a substantially rectangular shape.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the guiding frame is positioned along a first side of the spreader frame with a second side of the spreader frame extending from a first end of the first side of the spreader frame.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the guiding frame is positioned along a first side of the spreader frame with a second side of the spreader frame extending from a first end of the first side of the spreader frame. According to further embodiments of the present invention, the guiding frame comprises a first side in use upwardly extending from the first end of the first side of the spreader frame. It has been found that such configurations allow the shoring system to be more modularly built, using for example struts and/or longitudinally adjustable struts, such that the shoring system can be further adapted to the specific -6 -configuration of the excavation or the work that needs to be performed in the excavation.

To further support this effect, the longitudinally adjustable strut interconnecting the guiding frame and the spreader frame, interconnects the first side of the guiding frame and the second side of the spreader frame.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, the guiding frame is positioned along the first side of the spreader frame with a third side of the spreader frame extending from a second end of the first side of the spreader frame, the second end of the first side opposing the first end of the first side, wherein the guiding frame comprises a second side in use upwardly extending from the second end of the first side of the spreader frame. It has been found that such configurations allow the shoring system to be more modularly built, using for example struts and/or longitudinally adjustable struts, such that the shoring system can be further adapted to the specific configuration of the excavation or the work that needs to be performed in the excavation.

To further support this effect, a further longitudinally adjustable strut interconnects the second side of the guiding frame and the third side of the spreader frame.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the guiding frame comprises a convex quadrilateral guiding frame, such as for example a rectangular guiding frame, as it has been found that such guiding frames allow to accommodate a great diversity of sheeting panels at a great diversity of excavations having different dimensions and even shapes, although most sheeting panels have a substantially rectangular shape.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, the shoring system comprises a further guiding frame to allow shoring two walls of an excavation, for example two opposing side walls, for example of a trench.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, the further guiding frame is positioned along a fourth side of the spreader frame with the second side of the spreader frame extending from a first end of the fourth side of the spreader frame.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, the further guiding frame comprises a first side in use upwardly extending from the first end of the fourth side of the spreader frame. -7 -

According to further embodiments of the present invention, a further longitudinally adjustable strut interconnects the first side of the further guiding frame and the second side of the spreader frame.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, the guiding frame is positioned along the fourth side of the spreader frame with the third side of the spreader frame extending from a second end of the fourth side of the spreader frame, the second end of the fourth side opposing the first end of the fourth side, wherein the guiding frame comprises a second side in use upwardly extending from the second end of the fourth side of the spreader frame.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, a further longitudinally adjustable strut interconnects the second side of the further guiding frame and the third side of the spreader frame.

It has been found that such a configuration allows to improve the shoring of both sides of an excavation, for example a trench, in a similar way while maintaining the advantages of increased ease of transportation and set up of the shoring system.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the struts of the set of struts have a weight of less than 50kg, preferably of maximally 40kg, more preferably less than 30kg, for example less than 25kg, such as less than 20kg. It has been found that such struts can be carried by workers at the scene of the excavation, or at least the planned excavation avoiding having to revert to larger tools, such as for example a crane, needed to move the struts.

The invention also relates to an excavation comprising a shoring system according to the invention.

According to embodiments of the excavation of the current invention, the sheeting panel supports a side wall of the excavation.

In such excavation, the sidewall of the excavation is supported by the sheeting panel mounted in the guiding frame of the shoring system wherein the sheeting panel is positioned along the excavation sidewall. In such embodiment, the excavation is delimited by the guiding frame and the spreader frame. In such an embodiment the spreader frame and the guiding frame are positioned above the excavation.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, an upper side of the side wall of the excavation is delimited by a ridge on which the spreader frame of the shoring system is provided as such configuration has been found to improve the stability of the shoring system according to the invention. -8 -

The invention also relates to a method for making an excavation according to the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is an overview in perspective of an embodiment of the shoring system according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the embodiment of figure 1 including sheeting panels.

Modes for carrying out the invention The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. The terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

Furthermore, the various embodiments, although referred to as "preferred" are to be construed as exemplary manners in which the invention may be implemented rather than as limiting the scope of the invention.

The term "comprising'', used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the elements or steps listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It needs to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or -9 -groups thereof Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising A and B' should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B, rather with respect to the present invention, the only enumerated components of the device are A and B, and further the claim should be interpreted as including equivalents of those components.

Figure 1 shows an overview in perspective of an embodiment of the shoring system according to the invention.

The shoring system can be used to shore excavations such as for example, but not limited to, trenches.

The shoring system 1 shown in figure 1 could be a shoring system 1 in use and comprises an upright guiding frame 3 for guiding sheeting panels 2 along the sidewall of an excavation along an upright direction 30. The guiding frame 3 is connected to a spreader frame 4 of the shoring system 1. The spreader frame 4 lies substantially horizontally, preferably surrounding the excavation, and supports the guiding frame 3.

As can be seen the shoring system 1 is at least partly, in the case of figure 1 even substantially, made up by a set of dismountable longitudinal struts 5 and even substantially of dismountable longitudinally adjustable struts 36.

The dismountable struts 5 making up the shoring system 1 preferably are made from metal, such as for example steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. Preferably the struts are hollow.

Although figure 1 shows that the shoring system 1 is substantially made up by longitudinally adjustable struts 36, this is not critical for the invention and the shoring system could also comprise parts made up by different parts. For example, it could be that the guiding frame 3 or the spreader frame 4 is made as a single part to be mounted to the spreader frame 4.

As shown in figure 1, preferably the guiding frame 3 and the spreader frame 4 are substantially made up by the set of longitudinally adjustable struts 36. However, other embodiments are possible in which, for example, the guiding frame 3 or the spreader frame 4 for example comprise parts which are for example plate-shaped.

The spreader frame 4 shown in figure 1 is a convex quadrilateral, more in particular a rectangle. However, other embodiments are also possible such as or example a spreader frame which is in the form of triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, etc. In general, the shape of the spreader frame 4 is determined based on the shape of the excavation.

-10 -The spreader frame 4, shaped like a convex quadrilateral, comprises four sides: a first side 11 opposing a fourth side 14 and a second 12 and a third 13 side interconnecting the first 11 and the fourth 14 side. The first 11 and the fourth 14 side are longer than the second 12 and the third 13 side and are provided to be positioned along the length direction of the excavation, whereas the second 12 and the third 13 side are provided to be positioned along the width direction of the excavation, generally a trench.

Figure 1 further shows that the four sides 11, 12, 13 and 14 have an adjustable length. Although such an embodiment allows further increasing the adaptability of the spreader frame to the excavation, also fewer sides could be adjustable in length. Preferably, at least one of the different sides of the spreader frame 4 has an adjustable length. More preferably the first and the fourth side 11, 14 have an adjustable length as these are provided to be positioned along length direction of the excavation, where often further adjustment in length is required, depending on the circumstances of the excavation.

As can be seen in figure 1, the four sides 11, 12, 13 and 14 are preferably in the form of struts, preferably longitudinally adjustable struts which are interconnected to each other to form the convex quadrilateral. The respective struts are interconnected to each other using connecting means thereto provided at the end sections of the respective struts. The connecting means shown in figure 1 for example have a rectangular cross section but could have any cross section deemed appropriate by the person skilled in the art such as for example round, triangular, etc. Although not clearly shown in the figures, the guiding frame 3 preferably is hingedly connected to the spreader frame 4. Preferably, thereto the shoring system comprises hinging means at the interconnection of the guiding frame 3 to the spreader frame 4.

The guiding frame 3 shown in figure 1 is positioned along the first side 11 of the spreader frame 4 with the second side 12 of the spreader frame 4 extending from a first end 15 of the first side 11 of the spreader frame 4.

Figure 1 also shows a further guiding frame 23 which is positioned along a side of the spreader frame 4 opposing the side from which the first guiding frame 3 extends. Such further guiding frame 23 has been found to be able to give support to a wall of an excavation for which support is given through the first guiding frame 3, which is convenient when digging for example trenches. In addition also further guiding frame, such as for example a third, a fourth, a fifth, etc. guiding frame guiding sheeting panels 2 supporting further sidewalls delimiting the excavation.

It can be seen in figure 1 that the guiding frames 3, 23 are attached to the respective sides 11, 12, 13, 14 interconnecting the respective sides to each other and thus forming the spreader frame 4 and thus also the guiding frames 3, 23. Thereto, the sides 11, 12, 13, 14, preferably in the form of longitudinally adjustable struts 36, are for example provided to fit around the respective struts of the guiding frame 3, 23, which generally have, for example, a rectangular cross section. Moreover, it has been found that such interconnection allows a hinging interconnection of the spreader frame 4 and the guiding frames 3, 23 using, for example, simple bolts. Such configuration is however not critical for the invention and the sides 11, 12, 13, 14 of the spreader frame 4 can also for example be directly interconnected.

The guiding frame 3 shown in figure 1 comprises a first side 21 upwardly extending from the first end 15 of the first side 11 of the spreader frame 4. As shown in figure 1, the third side 13 of the spreader frame 4 extends from a second end 16 of the first side 11 of the spreader frame 4, the second end 16 of the first side 11 opposing the first end 15 of the first side 11. The guiding frame 3 comprises a second side 22 in use upwardly extending from the second end 16 of the first side 11 of the spreader frame 4.

The first and the second side 21, 22 shown in figure 1 are not longitudinally adjustable but are nevertheless in the form of a strut.

The guiding frame 3 as shown in figure 1 comprises a convex quadrilateral guiding frame 3, as shown in figure 1 a rectangle. However, also other different shapes are possible such as for example triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. The further guiding frame 23 in figure 1 is provided along the fourth side 14 of the spreader frame 4 which opposes the first side 11 of the spreader frame 4. Although the further guiding frame 23 could also be provided along different sides of the spreader frame 4, depending on the excavation.

The further guiding frame 23 comprises a first side 27 upwardly extending from the first end 25 of the fourth side 14 of the spreader frame 4. The first side 27 in use extends upwardly from the first end 25 of the fourth side 14 of the spreader frame 4.

The third side 13 of the spreader frame 4 extends from a second end 26 of the fourth side 14 of the spreader frame 4 as shown in figure 1. The second end 26 of the fourth side 14 opposes the first end 25 of the fourth side 14. The further -12 -guiding frame 23 comprises a second side 28 in use upwardly extending from the second end 26 of the fourth side 14 of the spreader frame 4.

As can be seen in figure 1, the two guiding frames 3, 23 preferably are substantially identical although positioned along opposing sides of the spreader frame 4.

Figure 1 further shows that the guiding frames 3, 23 comprise guiding struts which interconnect the upright opposing sides of the guiding frames. Figure 1 for example shows that the first and the second side 21, 22 of the guiding frame 3 are interconnected by the first and the second guiding struts 19, 20 and shows that the first and the second side 27, 28 of the further guiding frame 23 are interconnected by the third and the fourth guiding struts 24, 29.

Figure 1 shows that the guiding struts 19, 20 and the guiding struts 24, 29 are connected on opposing sides of the sides of the guiding frame the respectively interconnected forming parts of guiding struts. A pair of guiding struts 19, 20 is then provided to guide the sheeting panels 2 in between them along the upright direction such as to be able to shore the sidewall of the excavation positioned along and below the guiding frame to which they belong.

As the guiding struts 19, 20, 24, 29 are positioned along the direction of the first 11 and the fourth 14 side of the spreader frame 4, the guiding struts 19, 20, 24, 29 preferably also are longitudinally adjustable struts 36 as to accommodate the change in length of the first 11 and the fourth 14 side of the spreader frame 4.

As can be seen in the figures, the shoring system 1 comprises at least one strut 6, preferably a longitudinally adjustable strut 36, interconnecting the guiding frame 3 and the spreader frame 4.

As further shown in figure 1, the strut 6 interconnecting the guiding frame 3 and the spreader frame 4 is connected to the guiding 3 and the spreader frame 4 with a hinge 7 to accommodate the hinging movement between the spreader frame 4 and the guiding frame 3. As can be seen in the figures, the hinge 7 is then further slideably connected to the guiding and the spreader frame 4 to make the shoring system 1 further adaptable to the specific circumstances of the excavation.

It can be seen that the slidable hinges 7 are attached to the sides of the spreader frame and the guiding frame using pins slid through openings in the corresponding side. Although such a fastening of the hinge to the respective sides is easy to do, such fastening is not critical for the invention and other kinds of fastenings are possible such as for example using a clamp which is screwed to the respective side.

-13 -The strut 6 shown in figure 1, interconnecting the guiding frame 3 and the spreader frame 4 is longitudinal and substantially directly, preferably directly, interconnects the guiding frame 3 and the spreader frame 4.

Figure 1 further shows that the spreader frame 4 and the guiding frames 3, 23 are further interconnected by further struts 6. The first strut 6 interconnecting the guiding frame 3 and the spreader frame 4, interconnects the first side 21 of the guiding frame 3 and the second side 12 of the spreader frame 4. The second strut 10 interconnects the second side 22 of the guiding frame 3 and the third side 13 of the spreader frame 4. The third strut 17 interconnects the first side 27 of the further guiding frame 23 and the second side 12 of the spreader frame 4. The fourth strut 18 interconnects the second side 28 of the further guiding frame 23 and the third side 13 of the spreader frame 4. The struts 6, 10, 17, 18 in a diagonal relationship respectively form respective triangular structural elements each triangular element further strengthening the shoring system.

Longitudinally adjustable struts 36 are quite known to the person skilled in the art. As shown in figure 1 they usually comprise a first 8 and a second 9 part, wherein the first and the second part 8, 9 are slideably positioned along each other. For example, the first part 8 is slideably mounted inside the second part 9. It can be seen that different longitudinally adjustable struts 36 are being used in the embodiment shown in figure 1. However the adjustable struts 36 shown in figure 5 have in common that at least one of the first 8 and the second 8 part is provided with perforations 33 to accommodate a fixation element, now in the form of a pin 31, to fix the mutual longitudinal position of the first and the second part 8, 9 with respect to each other. In case both parts 8, 9 are being provided with perforations 33, the pin 31 is slid through both perforations of the first and the second part 8, 9 to fix their mutual position. Such as for example is the case in the longitudinally adjustable strut 36 forming the first, second, third and fourth 11, 12, 13, 14 side of the spreader frame 4 and the guiding struts 19, 20, 24, 29 of the guiding frames 3, 23. In case only one of the two parts 8, 9 is provided with perforations 33, the fixation element can be in the form of a bent pin 34 provided through the first part 8 to abut an end 35 of the other part 9. The end part 35 often can be screwed with respect to the remainder of the part 9 such as to provide more flexibility in the adjusting the length of the adjustable strut 36. Such a longitudinally adjustable strut 36 for example in figure 1 forms the adjustable struts 6, 10, 17 and 18 interconnecting the guiding frames 3, 23 to the spreader frame 4.

-14 -Figure 1 further shows that the first 21, 27 and second 22, 28 side of the guiding frame 3, 23 are made as struts which are not adjustable. Although these sides 21, 27, 22, 28 also could be in the form of adjustable struts often the length of these sides 21, 27, 22, 28 does not need adjustment in view of the excavations as they generally just depend of the depth of the excavation, which generally is about the same.

Figure 2 shows that the shoring system 1 comprises at least one sheeting panel 2 for supporting the sidewall. The sheeting panels 2 preferably are in the form of multiple interlocking rectangular plates which are designed to retain the earth of the walls surrounding the excavation behind them such as to keep the excavation free of earth falling from the walls surrounding the excavation. The sheeting panels 2 are thereto provided to slide along the upright direction 30 into the excavation guided by the guiding frame 3, 23. By providing several interlocking sheeting panels 2, the multitude of sheeting panels 2 can descend into the excavation, supporting the surrounding wall of the excavation, progressively while digging the excavation with, for example, adjacent interlocking plates descending into the excavation with different rates, depending on the digging activities.

Although the figures do not show it, the shoring system 1 can be provided with markers allowing it to provide information to people passing by. For example the shoring system 1 can be provided with warning means for informing pedestrians and/or vehicle drivers of the presence of the excavation, especially under dimly lit conditions. The warning means for example comprise messages in bright colors, warning signs, lights, which may be flashing or can produce continuous lighting, etc. The warning means can be mounted to the shoring system 1 by any means known to the person skilled in the art. For example, the means can be attached to one of the struts of the set of struts, for example by screwing, by snap-fitting, etc. According to further examples, at least one of the sheeting panels, for example all the sheeting panels, are provided with bright colors, for example fluorescent colors. The sheeting panels in such embodiments can for example be colored in alternating colors, etc. Numbering: 1. Shoring system 2. Sheeting panel 3. Guiding frame 4. Spreader frame 5. Dismountable strut 6. Strut interconnecting the guiding frame (3) and the spreader frame (4) 7. Hinge 8. First part longitudinally adjustable strut 9. Second part longitudinally adjustable strut 10. Further strut interconnecting the guiding frame (3) and the spreader frame (4) 11. First side spreader frame 12. Second side spreader frame 13. Third side spreader frame 14. Fourth side spreader frame 15. First end of the first side of the spreader frame 16. Second end of the first side of the spreader frame 17. Further strut interconnecting the further guiding frame (23) and the spreader frame (4) 18. Further strut interconnecting the further guiding frame (23) and the spreader frame (4) 19. First guiding strut 20. Second guiding strut 21. First side guiding frame 22. Second side guiding frame 23. Further guiding frame 24. Third guiding strut 25. First end of the fourth side of the spreader frame 26. Second end of the fourth side of the spreader frame 27. First side further guiding frame 28. Second side further guiding frame 29 Fourth guiding strut 30 Upright direction 31 Pin 32 Screwable end part 33. Perforations 34. Bent pin 35. End part 36. Longitudinaly adjustable strut

Claims

-16 -CLAIMS1. Shoring system (1) for shoring at least one sidewall of an excavation, comprising: a. at least one sheeting panel (2) for supporting the sidewall b. an, in use, upright guiding frame (3) for guiding the sheeting panel (2) along the sidewall along an upright direction, c. a spreader frame (4) connected to the guiding frame (3) and in use lying substantially horizontally in the excavation and supporting the guiding frame (3), characterized in that, the shoring system (1) is at least partly, preferably substantially, made up by a set of dismountable struts (5).
2. The shoring system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the guiding frame (3) and/or the spreader frame (4) is at least partly, preferably substantially, made up by the set of struts (5).
3. The shoring system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more, preferably all, struts (36) of the set are adjustable in length.
4. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shoring system (1) comprises at least one dismountable strut (6) interconnecting the guiding frame (3) and the spreader frame (4).
5. The shoring system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the strut (6) interconnecting the guiding frame (3) and the spreader frame (4) is a longitudinally adjustable strut (5).
6. The shoring system (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the strut (6) interconnecting the guiding frame (3) and the spreader frame (4) is connected to the guiding and/or the spreader frame (4) with a hinge (7).
7. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the hinge (7) is slideably connected to the guiding and/or spreader frame (4).
8. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 4-7, wherein the strut (6) interconnecting the guiding frame (3) and the spreader frame (4) is longitudinal and substantially directly, preferably directly, interconnects the guiding frame (3) and the spreader frame (4).
9. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinally adjustable struts (5) comprises a first (8) and a second (9) part, wherein the first and the second part (8, 9) are slideably positioned along each other.
10. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding frame (3) is hingedly connected to the spreader frame (4).
11. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the different sides of the spreader frame (4) has an adjustable length.
12. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the side of the spreader frame (4) having an adjustable length is a longitudinally adjustable strut (5).
13. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spreader frame (4) comprises a convex quadrilateral spreader frame (4).
14. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the spreader frame (4) is rectangular.
15. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding frame (3) is positioned along a first side (11) of the spreader frame (4) with a second side (12) of the spreader frame (4) extending from a first end (15) of the first side (11) of the spreader frame (4).
16. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the guiding frame (3) comprises a first side (21) in use upwardly extending from the first end (15) of the first side (11) of the spreader frame (4).
17. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the strut (6) interconnecting the guiding frame (3) and the spreader frame (4), interconnects the first side (21) of the guiding frame (3) and the second side (12) of the spreader frame (4)
18. The shoring system (1) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the guiding frame (3) is positioned along the first side (11) of the spreader frame (4) with a third side (13) of the spreader frame (4) extending from a second end (16) of the first side (11) of the spreader frame (4), the second end (16) of the first side (11) opposing the first end (15) of the first side (11), wherein the guiding frame (3) comprises a second side (22) in use upwardly extending from the second end (16) of the first side (11) of the spreader frame (4).
19. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a further longitudinally adjustable strut (10) interconnects the second side (22) of the guiding frame (3) and the third side (13) of the spreader frame (4).
20. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding frame (3) comprises a convex quadrilateral guiding frame (3).
21. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding frame (3) is rectangular.
22. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shoring system (1) comprises a further guiding frame (23).
23. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the further guiding frame (23) is positioned along a fourth side (14) of the spreader frame (4) with the second side (12) of the spreader frame (4) extending from a first end (25) of the fourth side (14) of the spreader frame (4).
24. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the further guiding frame (23) comprises a first side (27) in use upwardly extending from the first end (25) of the fourth side (14) of the spreader frame (4).
25. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a further longitudinally adjustable strut (17) interconnects the first side (27) of the further guiding frame (23) and the second side (12) of the spreader frame (4).
26. The shoring system (1) according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the further guiding frame (23) is positioned along the fourth side (14) of the spreader frame (4) with the third side (13) of the spreader frame (4) extending from a second end (26) of the fourth side (14) of the spreader frame (4), the second end (26) of the fourth side (14) opposing the first end (25) of the fourth side (14), wherein the further guiding frame (23) comprises a second side (28) in use upwardly extending from the second end (26) of the fourth side (14) of the spreader frame (4).
27. The shoring system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a further longitudinally adjustable strut (18) interconnects the second side (28) of the further guiding frame (23) and the third side (13; of the spreader frame (4).
28. The shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the struts of the set of struts have a weight of less than 50kg. preferably of maximally 40kg, more preferably less than 30kg, for example less than 25kg, such as less than 20kg.
29. Excavation provided with shoring system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
30. Excavation according to the preceding claim, wherein the sheeting panel (2) supports a side wall of the excavation.
31. Excavation according to the preceding claim, wherein an upper side of the side wall of the excavation is delimited by ridge on which the spreader frame (4) of the shoring system (1) is provided.
32. Method of making an excavation according to claim any one of claims 29-31.