WO2003046300A1

WO2003046300A1 - A method and means for waterproofing joints

Info

Publication number: WO2003046300A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/001381
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Lyden
Original assignee: Commercial Waterproofing Services Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-29
Filing date: 2002-10-10
Publication date: 2003-06-05
Also published as: AUPR917301A0

Abstract

A method of waterproofing construction joints which comprises the combination of self locating resilient sealing members (4) and water reactive expandible materials (6) having a major component of sodium bentonite.

Description

A METHOD AND MEANS FOR WATERPROOFING JOINTS

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to methods and means for waterproofing joints and has particular relevance to the waterproofing of panel joints, expansion and construction joints, joints in tanks and reservoirs, bridge roads, culvert joints, floor joints and the like.

BACKGROUND ART A proven method of waterproofing construction joints involves the insertion of elongate resilient gaskets such as those sold under the name NEOFERMA, and supplied by our company.

The gaskets are supplied in various sizes and inserted by force into joints using impact tools.

Whilst gaskets of this type provide satisfactory waterproofing in most situations however, in some instances, such as in underground car park facilities, where flooding may occur, the gaskets alone may provide inadequate protection.

It is an object of the present invention to provide methods and means of improving the waterproofing of joints where gasket materials are set in constructions joints. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a method of waterproofing joints, the method comprising the steps of applying a water reactive expandable material into the base portion of a joint and inserting an elongate self-locating resilient sealing member into the joint to overlie the expandable material. The resilient sealing member may comprise a base wall, and outwardly diverging side walls which connect with a top wall which is wider than the base wall. The outwardly diverging side walls may be provided with a plurality of elongate spikes directionally biased towards the top wall.

The top wall can be provided with a centrally positioned elongate recess which facilitates compression of the side walls when the sealing member is inserted into a joint.

The reactive expandible material can comprise a major portion of sodium bentonite in the form of a powder, paste or extrusion.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an elongate sealing member having a base wall, divergent side walls extending upwardly from the base wall, a top wall connected to the side walls, a plurality of biased spikes extending upwardly from the sidewalls, ribbing joining the base wall the top wall and the side walls, and an elongate recess in the top wall forming a key slot for receiving a web of substantially T-section capping member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional drawing of a sealing gasket as is known in the art, and

Figure 1a shows a possible modification to the gasket of figure 1 in accordance with the present invention, and

Figure 2 is a further form of gasket as is known in the art, and Figure 3 is a sectional drawing of a sealing gasket in a construction joint showing underlying reactive material beneath the gasket.

With respect to the drawings sealing members in the form of gaskets such as that illustrated by figures 1 and 2 each comprise a base wall

1 , divergent side walls 2 extending upwardly from the base wall, a top wall 3 connected to the side walls and ribbing generally indicated by arrow 4 of varying configurations joining the base, side and top walls.

The gaskets are commonly moulded in a resilient materials such as rubber, plastics, nylon, neoprene and the like. The side walls of the gaskets are provided with a plurality of elongate directionally biased spikes 5.

The gaskets can be inserted in a joint by hand and then the use of an impact tool such as a hammer the process compressing the gaskets and maintaining close contact between the side walls of the gaskets and the walls of joints as illustrated by figure 3.

According to the present invention a water reactive expandable material 6 is laid into a joint beneath the gaskets prior to insertion of the gaskets. The character of the material is such that in the event of a leak past the sides of the gaskets and water coming into contact with the reactive material the material will rapidly expand and apply pressure to the base wall of the gaskets and to force the spikes 5 into an improved sealing contact with the walls of the joint to enhance waterproofing. A suitable expandable reactive material is sodium bentonite a naturally occurring mineral which can be supplied in the form of a powder, paste or extrusion.

Sodium bentonite is a naturally occurring clay material composed predominantly of the active constituent montmorillonite. On exposure to water, bentonite exhibits high swelling properties. Use is made of this in the sealing of porous soils where the swollen mass fills the voids and binds the soil particles to create an impermeable seal.

An expandible reactive material such as WATERSTOP-RX™ supplied by CETCO building materials of Arlington Heights, IL 60004-1440 in the United States of America. This material is a sodium bentonite based waterstop designed to stop water filtration through cast-in-place concrete construction joints by expanding upon contact with water to form a positive seal against the concrete.

WATERSTOP-RX™ is manufactured in flexible coils comprising a 75% content of sodium bentonite and a 25% butyl rubber content and is not designed or specified as an expansion joint sealant in its own right.

In figure 1a of the drawings modifications to the known forms of gasket may include the provision of an enlarged channel 8 in the top wall of same which is adapted to receive an elongate rib 9 of a T-shaped joint cover strip 10.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of waterproofing joints, the method comprising the steps of applying a water reactive expandable material into the base portion of a joint and inserting an elongate self-locating resilient sealing member into the joint to overlie the expandable material.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, the resilient sealing member comprises a base wall, and outwardly diverging side walls which connect with a top wall which is wider than the base wall.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the outwardly diverging side walls may be provided with a plurality of elongate spikes directionally biased towards the top wall.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the reactive expandible material includes a major portion of sodium bentonite in the form of a powder.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the reactive expandible material includes a major portion of sodium bentonite in the form of a paste.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the reactive expandible material includes a major portion of sodium bentonite in the form of an extrusion.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the top wall is provided with a centrally positioned elongate recess which facilitates compression of the side walls when the sealing member is inserted into a joint.

8. An elongate sealing member having a base wall, divergent side walls extending upwardly from the base wall, a top wall connected to the side walls, a plurality of biased spikes extending upwardly from the sidewalls, ribbing joining the base wall the top wall and the side walls, and an elongate recess in the top wall forming a key slot for receiving a web of substantially T- section capping member.