Title: Device for keeping a lining-layer in contact with the walls of a civil-engineering works

What is claimed is:

1. A device for maintaining a flexible liner in contact with the walls of an excavation in the earth comprising a plurality of frames spaced one from the other and disposed in planes which are substantially perpendicular to the larger dimension of the excavation, said frames comprising a double series of rods, means hinging the rods of each series together in a cascade-connection, means hinging the first rods of each series to each other at one end, and to the wall, an elastically deformable member hinged to the ends of the last rods of the series, and at least one rod intermediate said first and last rods hinged to the immediately preceding rod at a point intermediate of its length and hinged to the rod that follows in each series at its ends, and resilient means for drawing apart the double series of rods.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each hinge is placed in an asymmetrical position with respect to the rod's bary-center.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said elastically deformable elements are pressure-pads.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said elastically deformable elements are H-shaped structures.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for drawing apart the double series of rods are biasing means.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said biasing means comprise a spring interposed between the said first rods of two series of rods.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for drawing apart the double series of rods is a strut of variable length.

8. A skeleton supporting structure for a flexible sheet lining a wall of a cavity in the earth comprising on each of opposite sides of the cavity spaced flexible pads disposed against said sheet, and a series of rods connected together to form a support structure having axes which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cavity on opposite sides of the median line of the cavity, each series comprising a first rod pivotally secured to each of two adjacent flexible pads and spanning the space therebetween, a second rod pivotally secured at its ends to each of a pair of adjacent first rods, and a third rod pivotally secured at one end to a second rod and pivotally secured at its opposite end to said wall, and resilient means secured between said third rods on opposite sides of the cavity biasing the third rods apart thereby initiating a pressing force in the third rods which is transferred through the said second rods to the said first rods to press the pads against said sheet.

9. A skeleton supporting structure for a flexible sheet lining of a wall of a cavity in the earth comprising:

means securing a flexible hinge to the top of the cavity at a point intermediate the side walls of the cavity;

a first pair of rods of approximately equal length suspended by their upper ends from said hinge with spring means between said rods forcing them outwardly to form an inverted "V" formation, with one rod on each side of the center of said cavity;

a second pair of rods, each of which is pivotally secured, from a point intermediate its ends, to the lower ends of the first pair of rods;

third and fourth pairs of rods, each of which is pivotally secured, from a point intermediate its ends, to one of the ends of said second pair of rods;

a pressure pad secured to each end of each of said third and fourth rods, said pads contacting said sheet lining and pushing it outwardly from the center of said cavity to hold the lining against the walls of the cavity.

Other info:


Inventors: Rovelli, Giuseppe (Turin, IT)

Application Number: 06/236218
Filing Date: 1981-02-19
Publication_date: 1983-04-12
Assignee: Pirelli (IT)

Primary Class(es): 405/53 405/150.100
Other Classes: E21D11/38; B65G5/00; E21D11/00
US Patent Ref:

1766324	June, 1930	Berner	405/289	Brattice
3373571	March, 1968	Records	405/150	Apparatus for handling steel forms in tunnels
3417538	December, 1968	Dean	405/151	Kiln liner block supporting structure
4239416	December, 1980	Borca et al.	405/53	Lined cavity in the earth

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Corbin, David H.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher