US1642709A

US1642709A - Tunnel construction

Info

Publication number: US1642709A
Application number: US658236A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zucco Pierre
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-08-20
Filing date: 1923-08-20
Publication date: 1927-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1944-09-20

Description

Sept; 20, P. ZUCCO TUNNEL CONSTRUCTI 0N Original Filed Aug. 20, 1923 IN VEN TOR. PIERRE ZUC'CO.

BY 49 m Md I 2 AT TORNE Y5- Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed August 20, 1923, Serial No. 658,236. Renewed March 19, 19 27.

This invention relates to tunnel construction, and has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of concrete tunnels.

This object I accomplish by making use of precast forms which are light in weight, and therefore readily handled such forms being provided with means for assembling them into the shape of a tunnel, and thereafter applying a back fill of coarser concrete to take care of the stresses and Weightsur rounding the tunnel.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a vertical sectional view of a tunnel constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a plan View, partly in section, of the same.

The tunnel has its sides and top all formed of curved concrete slabs or sections 10 and 11 which are pro-cast and make comparatively thin and of a length such as to permit handling without special appliances. These curved sections meet at their upper ends to form an arch and at their lower ends they rest on a floor or invert 12 which may be pre-cast in slabs or sections or poured in place, as desired. Each section 10 and 11 is formed with a groove 13 at one of its'curved edges so that adjacent sections may be bonded together by a filling of cement within the groove. 1

It may also be desirable to employ reinforcing rods, as indicated at 14, in each of the sections, such rods, in the case of the sections, 10 and 11, extending vertically of the slab and projecting from its upper edge so as to enter a core in the opposite section, as shown in Fig. 2. It is preferable to arrange the sections so that the joints at opposite sides of the center line will be staggeredt When the slabs or sections are in place a concrete back filling is applied. This consists of a lean concrete or mortar which may be poured or shot into place. Such back filling may contain reinforcements 16 here enough to be handled and support the bacf additional strength is required. The sections 10 and-11 may be made extremely thin, as it is only necessary that they be made stron filling while the latter is being poured.

Vhere a tunnel of the character is used for carrying or conducting water only the precast sections need bennadeof a rich or compact mixture, such as will exclude water. The back filling in such cases may be made of a lean and porous mixture, thus effecting a saving in the construction of the tunnel.

The present tunnel construction permits the use of sections which may be comparatively thin and light, since they are only required to support the weight of the back fill when serving to furnish the main support of the tunnel. The staggered arrangement of the sections is also a matter of some importance;

Various changes in the construction and arrangement of the several parts herein shown and described may be employed without departing from the spirit of my inven tion as disclosed in the appended claims.

Having nowparticularly described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tunnel structure comprising in any cross-section a bottom member and side members, the latter meeting at the top of the roof and defining said roof, all of said members being thin, are-cast units, and serving as a lining for the tunnel, and a filling of concrete covering the outer periphery of said members and occupying the space between such members and the Walls of the tunnel excavation.

2. A tunnel structure comprising in any cross-section a floor, side and roof members, the side and roof members being thin, precast units of cemetitious material, serving as a lining for the tunnel and a support for the back filling, and a filling of concrete covering the outer periphery of said members and occupying the space between such members and the walls of the tunnel excavation.

PIERRE ZUCCO.