Patent Grant
7513712
This application claims priority to Norwegian patent application 2003 4607, filed Oct. 15, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a device and a method for drainage of water from rock caves, tunnels and caverns. The invention also relates to an application of the device and the method in a system for draining or conducting water from rock caves, tunnels and caverns.
During blasting of caverns, one will as a general rule break the groundwater-leading channels and crevices in the rock so that more or less permanent water leakages occur into the cavern. Consequently there is a need to lead this water away, and this has been previously been solved in different ways. Thus, different funnel and duct constructions with associated pipes that lead the water to a drainage ditch or to a similar drainage system at the floor of the cavern have been used. For example, reference is made to Norwegian patent application 1999 2485 belonging to the present applicant that shows different ditch solutions. It is also common to build in constructions of wood, steel or concrete, encompassing a covering of walls and ceiling with different types of ceiling boards and wall covering boards. Examples of this are shown in the German patents 874.317 and 926.255. It is also common to fasten such ceiling boards and wall boards onto the exposed sections of the walls and ceiling only, where there is a danger for ingress of water. Spray concrete is also used to a large extent to cover such areas. Furthermore, it is common to use different types of vault constructions to seal off the vault ceiling, and to use concrete directly against the rock, possibly with a sealing membrane.
It is also previously known to put up a watertight canvas vault corresponding to the profile of the cavern, so that a space is formed between the canvas and the rock, and where the canvas, along its two lower edge sections (along the ditch sections), runs over into the ground material such as gravel, sand and the like to form a seal. The space between the canvas and the rock wall constitutes the wet room, while the workspace underneath the canvas vault, inside the canvas surface, is the dry room.
One of the abovementioned canvas solutions, which in reality is only used sporadically these days, involves the lower edge sections, or flaps of the canvas pieces, being arranged with a U-shaped course which forms a canal that is formed in the floor of the cavern along the lower edge of the walls. The hollow space of the U-shape can be filled with gravel, while underneath (and partially beside) the U-shape, there can be coarser gravel. A concrete covering, an asphalt covering or similar floor covering, can be arranged close up to the hollow space of the U-shape.
Reference is also given to what is known from Swedish patent 457.549 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,479.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description below.
To overcome limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention is concerned with be ability to retain and divert water from the ceiling sections of the rock outside the canvas material and for a system which leads the water away.
A first aspect of the invention provides a new solution to handle the water that drips or runs on the upper side of the ceiling covering.
A second aspect of the invention provides a device that provides a wall and ceiling covering which is arranged in the cavern at a certain distance from the walls and ceiling of the cavern, such as via rock bolts, where an edge section of the covering is joined with the floor covering, so that a space between the covering and walls and ceiling of the cavern are isolated from a workspace that is called the dry room.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For the present invention, a draining pipe, preferably made from plastic, is used to lead the water away.
According to the invention, the draining pipe is fastened to the ceiling of the cavern with the help of a number of rock/stone bolts, which are arranged in a row with mutual distance, secured to the overhanging rock ceiling. The draining pipe is arranged with a given inclined gradient so that the water runs down in one or more down pipes and can be further led away in a known way. From each of the longitudinal sides of the draining pipe the roof covering is arranged longitudinally down into the concave part of the draining pipe and secured, for example, mechanically by gluing/welding with hot air or the like. The size of the draining pipe can vary according to the amount of water. Its location, on the one side or in the middle, can also vary. It is also possible to arrange several draining pipes in connection with the same ceiling construction.
When one knows the shape of the ceiling in the cavern, the ceiling covering can be adjusted in advance in the workshop. A draining pipe with adjusted length is formed and the necessary holes in the bottom of the draining pipe are drilled out, adjusted to the bolts that are already secured in the ceiling of the cavern where the construction is to be fitted. At the same time, the necessary holes having a larger diameter for placing and fitting of the down pipes holes are drilled. Then the two canvas sections from each longitudinal side are fastened to the inside of the draining pipe as explained above, whereupon the canvas is rolled up. The whole of the construction is brought to the cavern/hall where it is lifted up to the ceiling so that the bolt ends are led through the respective holes. The necessary set of gaskets, washers and nuts are fastened to the rock bolts so that the bolt penetrations are watertight and the draining pipe is stabilised for the exact course and slope. Then, the necessary down pipes are fitted to the adapted holes in the bottom of the draining pipe. When the draining pipe is stabilised, the canvas is rolled out and secured to the ceiling of the rock in a suitable way so that the surface of the canvas forms an inclined gradient for collection and leading of the dripping water down to the draining pipe.
Compared to the features of the abovementioned Swedish patent 457.549, the present solution is more flexible and easy to rearrange after the mounting process. The Swedish patent discloses that several U-shaped beams (4) are arranged on both sides of and in parallel to the sides of a beam (2). The structure of the present invention needs no anchoring to both sides, but can be adjusted sideways and vertically to adapt to the shape of the rock cave. Furthermore in contrast to a solid plate structure as of the Swedish proposal, the anchoring of the canvas of the present structure neither needs to be in parallel to the draining pipe. The present solution is therefore much more flexible in that it simply can be adapted to any wall and ceiling shapes of rock caves or tunnels.
The abovementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,479 only discloses structures to prevent water inlet below terraces etc. and not for applications in rock caves or tunnels. Further, the beams (10) are mounted to the framing work or the like with a mutual distance of d3. Such fixings means are not present or possible in rock caves or tunnels. The structure of the present invention is not dependent on such requirements in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,479, but can be adjusted vertically and sideways, adapting the structure for the actual place of the water flowing to be solved.
Neither of the Swedish patent 457.549 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,479 present any solution how to conduct the water downwardly from a guiding pipe. The present invention provides a structure that permits one to, when appropriate, connect the drain pipe at any position to the guiding pipe. The present invention presents an extremely flexible solution.
Reference shall now be made to the subsequent figures in which:
Reference shall initially be made to
The draining pipe is arranged with a given slope so that the water 51 may flow down through an opening 50 in the bottom of the draining pipe 18 and into one (or more) down pipes 52, and can then be conducted away in a known manner. From both of the longitudinal sides of the draining pipe, the ceiling covering canvas is longitudinally arranged down into the concave part of the draining pipe and fastened, for example, mechanically by gluing/welding with hot air or the like. The size of the draining pipe can vary according to the amount of water. Its positioning, to the one side or in the middle, can also vary. It is also possible to arrange several draining pipes in connection with the same ceiling construction.
During the fitting, the upper nut 30 is first screwed onto the threaded bolt 20a and the upper gasket is led onto the rod below the nut 30. This is carried out in a similar fashion along the whole of the row of bolts 20a, 20b. Then the ceiling draining pipe is brought up so that the ends of the bolts go through the holes in the bottom of the ceiling draining pipe until this forces the gasket ring 26 upwards against the underside of the nut 30. The lower gasket ring 28 is then inserted on the rod, the nut 32 is screwed onto the bolt until it forces the gasket 28 up against the underside of the draining pipe and such that the upper gasket presses up against the upper nut and against the bottom of the draining pipe. It will be evident that the slope and accurate positioning of the draining pipe is given by adjusting the row of nuts 20a, 20b.
Pre-Manufacture of Ceiling Draining Pipe with Inlaid Canvas for Ceiling Construction
Knowing the shape of the ceiling in the cavern, the ceiling covering or the canvas can be adapted in advance in the workshop. A draining pipe 18 with adjusted length is prepared and the necessary holes are drilled in the bottom of the draining pipe adapted to the bolts 20a, 20b that are already secured, or shall be secured, to the ceiling 12 of the cavern where the construction shall be mounted. At the same time, the necessary holes are drilled in the bottom section of the draining pipe, and which have a larger diameter for the placing and fitting of the down pipes that are not shown in the figures. The two canvas sections 22,24 are then fastened to the inside of the draining pipe from both the longitudinal sides, as explained above, whereupon the canvas sections 22,24 are rolled up and can partially be placed in the draining pipe during storage and transportation. The whole construction is brought to the cavern/hall where it is lifted up to the ceiling so that the bolt ends are led through the respective holes. The necessary set of gaskets, washers and nuts are fastened to the rock bolts so that the bolt penetrations are watertight and the draining pipe is adjusted to an accurate course and slope. Then the necessary down pipes are fitted to the adapted holes in the draining pipe bottom.
When the draining pipe is then stabilised, the canvas is rolled out and brought up to the rock ceiling 12, or the transition between ceiling and wall, and secured in a suitable manner, so that the upper surface forms a downward gradient for collection and drainage of dripping water down to the draining pipe.
Inspection of the Tunnel Canvas and Water Draining Pipe
After the tunnel covering has been mounted, there will be a need to inspect the otherwise hidden rear side of the canvas and water draining pipe at regular intervals. Because, with the water that drips and runs down onto the canvas and into the draining pipe, particles, dust and the like often follow and these can accumulate and form a layer in the draining pipe and canvas surface and over time block the draining pipe and down pipes. Therefore, there is a need to inspect the canvas and the draining pipe to be able to carry out the necessary maintenance and cleaning. Therefore, the draining pipe comprises preferably one or more inspection hatches that can be opened to carry out the mentioned inspection. Inspection can also be carried out with the aid of a camera taking pictures (for example, a remote controlled camera via a cable) that is led in through the opening which the inspection hatch forms, and that can be moved according to need in the space at the back of the draining pipe.
Such an inspection hatch is shown in
With the present invention a new and simplified construction for drainage of water from caverns is provided. It will be evident that the fitting is very simple and the mounting operations have thereby become efficient and cost saving.
While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20034607 | Oct 2003 | NO | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050097845 A1 | May 2005 | US |
