Not applicable to this application.
The described example embodiments in general relate to cofferdams for holding back water.
Cofferdams have been used for centuries to divert, retain, or hold back water. Cofferdams have been made from earth, wood, sandbags, steel, and inflatable bladders. The users of cofferdams could benefit from a cofferdam system that is portable and is capable of rapid on-site assembly and disassembly.
Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cofferdam that can be assembled on-site and disassembled for transport or storage. When assembled, the cofferdam can hold back the waters from a body of water to create a dry working area near the shore of the body of water. The dry working area may surround (e.g., enclosed) the inlet of a culvert that serves as an overflow drain to the body of water. The dry working area created by the cofferdam enables men and machinery to access the culvert to perform repairs. Even though the example embodiments of cofferdams discussed herein show creating a dry workspace around a culvert, the portable cofferdam assembly system disclosed herein may be used to divert or hold back waters in any situation, such as to divert water from flowing under a bridge, to hold back water from flowing down a ditch, to create a dry working area in the middle of a body of water, or in any other situation where water needs to be held back or diverted.
Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure include walls with a first coupler connected to a first end of the wall and a second coupler connected to a second end of the wall. The couplers may be male couplers or female couplers to facilitate coupling the walls together to form the cofferdam. The walls may be couple together to form a cofferdam of a variety of shapes, preferably a U-shape, that surrounds the inlet of the culvert. In some embodiments, the cofferdam is formed using three walls (e.g., a first wall, a second wall, a third wall). In some embodiments, the cofferdam is formed using a plurality of walls. In some other embodiments, the cofferdam is formed using three walls (e.g., the first wall, the second wall, the third wall) and two connectors (e.g., a first connector, a second connector). The connectors include couplers to facilitate connecting adjacent walls to the connector. In some other embodiments, the cofferdam is formed using a plurality of walls and a plurality of connectors.
Construction equipment may be used to position and install the walls and/or connectors to form the cofferdam.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments of that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the various embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
To better understand the nature and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present disclosure. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evidence to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose.
Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cofferdam that may be assembled on-site. Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure include walls, or walls and connectors that may be connected to each other to form the cofferdam. The cofferdam may be used to wall off the water of a body of water, so that a dry work area may be created.
For example, as best shown in
In some example embodiments, as best shown in
The walls and/or the connectors used to form the cofferdam may be disassembled for transport and/or storage. The walls and the connectors are durable and may be assembled and disassembled multiple times.
The example embodiments of the walls used to assemble a cofferdam include a first end (e.g., 23, 33, 43), a second end (e.g., 24, 34, 44), an upper edge (e.g., 22, 32, 42), a lower edge (e.g., 21, 31, 41), a first coupler (e.g., 27, 37, 47) connected to or near the first end (e.g., 23, 33, 43) and a second coupler (e.g., 28, 38, 48) connected to or near the second end (e.g., 24, 34, 44). The couplers of the walls permit the walls to be connected to each other, or to connectors (e.g., 80, 90, 100), to assemble the cofferdam. For example, the first coupler 27 of a first wall 20 couples to the first coupler 37 of a second wall 30, and the second coupler 38 of the second wall 30 couples to the first coupler 47 of a third wall 40. Any number of walls may be assembled to form the cofferdam, so any number of walls may connect to each other in series to form the cofferdam.
The example embodiments of the first wall 20, the second wall 30 and the third wall 40 shown in
The embodiments of the first wall 20, the second wall 30 and the third wall 40 shown in
A wall (e.g., 20, 30, 40) is generally formed of a monolithic piece of material. Two or more distinct pieces of material may be permanently joined to form the monolithic piece of material for the wall. For example, two plates (e.g., sheets) of metal may be welded together to form the single plate that forms the wall. The material that forms the wall is impervious to water. The material that forms the wall may be flat (e.g., plate, sheet), curved, corrugated, or have some other shape. The thickness of the wall may be significantly less than the width and/or the height of the wall. In an example embodiment, the wall is formed of metal plate that is between ¼″ and 1″ thick, 4′ to 12′ in width and 6′ to 14′ tall. In an example embodiment, a wall (e.g., 20, 30, 40) is formed of a ½″ steel plate that is 8′ wide and between 12′ and 14′ tall.
The shape of the wall may be square, rectangular or tapered. The first wall 20, the second wall 30 and the third wall 40 are shown in
The first coupler (e.g., 27, 37, 47) and/or the second coupler (e.g., 28, 38, 48) of the wall (e.g., 20, 30, 40) may be formed separately from the wall and connected (e.g., welded) thereto or the first coupler and/or the second coupler may be integral to the wall. The first coupler (e.g., 27, 37, 47) and the second coupler (e.g., 28, 38, 48) may extend (e.g., protrude) from or near the first end (e.g., 23, 33, 43) and the second end (e.g., 24, 34, 44) respectively.
Although a cofferdam may be assembled from any number of walls (e.g., 20, 30, 40) and/or connectors (e.g., 80, 90, 100), one of the example embodiments most extensively discussed herein, as best shown in
The first wall 20, as best shown in
The second wall 30, as best shown in
The third wall 40, as best shown in
The cofferdam includes the first wall 20, the second wall 30 and the third wall 40. When assembled, the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 couples to the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30. The second coupler 38 of the second wall 30 couples to the first coupler 47 of the third wall 40. The first wall 20, the second wall 30 and the third wall 40 form a U-shape around the culvert 18. In other words, the first wall 20, the second wall 30 and the third wall 40 are positioned in a U-shape from the first side of the inlet of the culvert 18 to a second side of the inlet of the culvert 18. The walls 20, 30 and 40 surround the inlet of the culvert 18. The second coupler 28 (e.g., second end 24) of the first wall 20 and the second coupler 48 (e.g., second end 44) of the third wall 40 are positioned at the uppermost part of the U-shape. The ground surface 16 of the shore 14 is positioned across the uppermost part of the U-shaped.
The lower edges 21, 31 and 41 of the first wall 20, second wall 30 and third wall 40 are positioned below the ground surface 16. The upper edges 22, 32 and 42 are positioned at least above the level of the water 12 of the body of water 10 and preferably above the level of the ground surface 16 along the shore 14.
The interior side 25 of the first wall 20, the interior side 35 of the second wall 30 and the interior side 45 of the third wall 40 form the interior of the cofferdam. The interior sides 25, 35 and 45 are positioned toward the culvert 18, so the inlet of the culvert 18 is positioned in the interior of the cofferdam.
The exterior side 26 of the first wall 20, the exterior side 36 of the second wall 30 and the exterior side 46 of the third wall 40 face outward from the culvert 18 to form the exterior of the cofferdam. The exterior of the cofferdam contacts the water 12 of the body of water 10. The exterior sides 26, 36 and 46 holdback the water 12 from the body of water 10, so that the interior of the cofferdam may be evacuated of the water 12 down to the ground surface 16.
As discussed above, the walls 20, 30 and 40 are formed of a material that is impervious to water, so the water 12 cannot pass through walls 20, 30 and 40 to enter into the interior of the cofferdam. Because the lower edges 21, 31 and 41 are positioned below the ground surface 16, the ground seals around the lower edges 21, 31 and 41, so the water 12 cannot pass underneath the walls 20, 30 and 40 to enter into the interior of the cofferdam. Coupling the first or second coupler of one wall to the first or second coupler of another wall, brings the couplers into physical contact with each other so that they seal against each other. The seal between the couplers may not be completely impervious to water, but they resist the passage of almost all of the water 12 through the couplers into the interior of the cofferdam.
As a result of the water resistance of the walls 20, 30 and 40, and the couplers thereof, the assembled cofferdam is nearly completely resistant to the passage of the water 12 from the exterior of the cofferdam into the interior of the cofferdam. So, once the water 12 is evacuated from the interior of the cofferdam, the ground surface 16 on the interior the cofferdam can dry out to provide a dry workspace.
When disassembled, as best seen in
The first couplers 27, 37 and 47, and the second couplers 28, 38 and 48 of the walls 20, 30 and 40 respectively may be implemented as the male coupler 50 or the female coupler 60. For example, the first coupler 27 and the second coupler 28 of the first wall 20 may be the male coupler 50 and the male coupler 50 respectively, or the male coupler 50 and the female coupler 60 respectively, or the female coupler 60 and the female coupler 60 respectively, or the female coupler 60 and the male coupler 50. The same various combinations of the first couplers 37 and 47, and the second couplers 38 and 48 of the walls 30 and 40 applies.
The male coupler 50 is configured to couple to the female coupler 60. The male coupler 50 is not configured to couple to another male coupler 50 and the female coupler 60 is not configured to couple to another female coupler 60. So, if two walls are to be coupled together, one wall must have the male coupler 50 and the other wall must have the female coupler 60. If all of the couplers of both walls are all the male coupler 50 or all the female coupler 60, the two walls cannot be coupled to each other.
In an example embodiment discussed above, the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 couples to the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30. In this example embodiment, in order for first coupler 27 to couple to the first coupler 37, the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 is the male coupler 50 and the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 is the female coupler 60. Or, in another example embodiment, the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 can couple to the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 when the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 is the female coupler 60 and the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 is the male coupler 50.
The male coupler 50 and the female coupler 60 may be implemented in a variety of ways. As discussed above, the shape of the male coupler 50 complements the shape of the female coupler 60 to enable coupling. In the first example embodiment of the male coupler 50 and the female coupler 60, as best shown in
In an example embodiment of walls 20, 30 and 40, as best seen in
The round receiver 62 includes a channel 67 therethrough and a slot 68 along its length. The round protrusion 52 is coupled to the round receiver 62 by inserting the round protrusion 52 into the channel 67 of the round receiver 62 and sliding the round protrusion 52 along a length of the channel 67. The wall with the round protrusion 52 extends from the slot 68. Because the width of the slot 68 is less than the outside diameter of the round protrusion 52, the round protrusion 52 cannot exit the channel 67 of the round receiver 62, so the round receiver 62 holds (e.g., couples to) the round protrusion 52.
The round protrusion 52 may be inserted into (e.g., engage) either end (e.g., upper, lower) of the round receiver 62. For example, the lower end of the round protrusion 52 (e.g., end proximate to the lower edge 21) may be inserted into the channel 67 via the upper end of the round receiver 62 (e.g., end proximate to the upper edge 32). The round protrusion 52 may slide along the channel 67 of the round receiver 62 until the lower end of the round protrusion 52 is proximate to the lower end of the round receiver 62, or vice a versa.
With respect to the example implementation, referring to
The second wall 30 is coupled to the third wall 40 by inserting the upper end of the round protrusion 52 on the second end 24 of the second wall 30 into the channel 67 via the lower end of the round receiver 62 on the first end 43 of the third wall 40. The third wall 40 moves downward so that the round protrusion 52 slides along the length of the channel 67 of the round receiver 62 until the lower end of the round receiver 62 is proximate to the lower end of the round protrusion 52.
In this first embodiment of the male coupler 50 and that female coupler 60, there is space between the round protrusion 52 and the inside wall of the channel 67 while they are coupled, so the water 12 can enter the side of the slot 68 on the exterior side of the cofferdam, pass through the channel 67, and exit the side of the slot 68 on the interior side of the cofferdam to enter into the interior of the cofferdam.
However, most of the slot 68 is blocked by the wall (e.g., first wall 20). The wall may contact the sides of the opening of the slot 68 to form a seal that stops some if not all water infiltration into the interior of the cofferdam.
In a second embodiment of the male coupler 50 and the female coupler 60, as best shown in
The rectangular receiver 64 has a channel 67 and a slot 68 along its length. The rectangular protrusion 54 is coupled to the rectangular receiver 64 by inserting the rectangular protrusion 54 into the channel 67 of the rectangular receiver 64 and sliding the rectangular protrusion 54 along a length the channel 67 of the rectangular receiver 64. The wall (e.g., 20) extends from the slot 68. Because the width of the slot 68 is less than the width of the rectangular protrusion 54, the rectangular protrusion 54 cannot exit the channel 67 of the rectangular receiver 64, so the rectangular receiver 64 holds (e.g., couples to) the rectangular protrusion 54.
The rectangular protrusion 54 may be inserted into (e.g., engage) either end (e.g., upper, lower) of the rectangular receiver 64. For example, the lower end of the rectangular protrusion 54 (e.g., end proximate to the lower edge 21) may be inserted into the channel 67 via the upper end of the rectangular receiver 64 (e.g., end proximate to the upper edge 32). The rectangular protrusion 54 may slide along the channel 67 of the rectangular receiver 64 until the lower end of the rectangular protrusion 54 is proximate to the lower end of the rectangular receiver 64, or vice a versa.
The rectangular protrusion 54 provides more area near the opening of the slot 68 of the rectangular receiver 64, so there is a greater likelihood that the rectangular protrusion 54 will better seal against the inside of the channel 67 of the rectangular receiver 64 thereby decreasing the likelihood that water will pass from the exterior of the cofferdam into the interior of the cofferdam via the couplers.
As discussed above, the female coupler 60 (e.g., round receiver 62, rectangular receiver 64) includes the slot 68. While the male coupler 50 (e.g., round protrusion 52, rectangular protrusion 54) is coupled to the female coupler 60, the wall connected to the male coupler 50 (e.g., first wall 20) is positioned in and extends from the slot 68. The position of the slot 68 with respect to the wall to which the female coupler 60 is connected (e.g., second wall 30) determines the angle between the walls (e.g., 20 and 30) when coupled.
For example, as best shown in
As shown in
In
The same concept applies when the male coupler 50 and female coupler 60 are implemented as the rectangular protrusion 54 and the rectangular receiver 64. As shown in
The angle 69 determines the shape of the cofferdam once all of the walls have been coupled. For example, in the example embodiment of the walls 20, 30 and 40, the angle 69 between the interior sides 25 and 35, and the interior sides 25 and 45 respectively is about 90 degrees. Referring to
Cofferdams may be assembled from walls that have a variety of angles between the slot 68 and the wall. Walls may be selected with an appropriate angle between the wall and the slot 68 to assemble a cofferdam of any shape or size.
A cofferdam may be assembled using a combination of walls and connectors. In an example embodiment, as best shown in
In an example embodiment, couplers are formed of a monolithic piece of material that is impervious to water. The couplers of connected to the connectors may be formed separately from the connector and connected to the connector or the couplers of a connector may be integral to the connector. In an example embodiment, the connectors 80, 90 and 100 are formed of a steel pipe having a 12″ diameter with the couplers welded along the length thereof.
The first connector 80 includes the first coupler 82, the second coupler 84, the third coupler 86 and the fourth coupler 88. The second connector 90 includes the first coupler 92, the second coupler 94, the third coupler 96 and the fourth coupler 98. In another example embodiment, the first connector 80 includes only the first coupler 82, the second coupler 84 and the third coupler 86, and the second connector 90 includes only the first coupler 92, the second coupler 94 and the third coupler 96. In
The first connector 80 and the second connector 90 may be used with the first wall 20, the second wall 30 and the third wall 40 to form a cofferdam. As best seen in
The third connector 100 includes first coupler 101, the second coupler 102, the third coupler 103, the fourth coupler 104, the fifth coupler 105, the sixth coupler 106, the seventh coupler 107, and the eighth coupler 108. All of the couplers of the third connector 100 are the female couplers 60 which are shown as being implemented as the round receiver 62 in
The round receivers 62 of the third connector 100 also includes the slot 68, which establishes the angle 69 between the third connector 100 and the first wall 20 coupled thereto. The angle 69 established by the slot 68 of the various round receivers 62 is with reference to a central axis of the third connector 100. Referring to
In an example embodiment, the first coupler 27 and the second coupler 28 of the first wall 20 are implemented as the round protrusion 52. Since all of the couplers of the third connector 100 are implemented as the round receiver 62, either end (e.g., first end 22, second end 24) of the first wall 20 may couple to any of the couplers of the third connector 100. Connecting the first wall 20 to a coupler of the third connector 100 establishes the orientation (e.g., direction) of the first wall 20 with respect to the third connector 100.
In an example embodiment of the cofferdam, best shown in
The first coupler 101 of the present third connector 100 is coupled to the first coupler 27 of the next first wall 20. The second coupler 28 of the present first wall 20 is connected to the fifth coupler 105 of the next third connector 100. The second coupler 102 of the present third connector 100 is coupled to the first coupler 27 of the next first wall 20. The second coupler 28 of the present first wall 20 is coupled to the sixth coupler 106 of the next third connector 100. The third coupler 103 of the present third connector 100 is coupled to the first coupler 27 of the next first wall 20. The second coupler 28 of the present first wall 20 is coupled to the seventh coupler 107 of the next third connector 100. The fourth coupler 104 of the present third connector 100 is coupled to the first coupler 27 of the next first wall 20. The second coupler 28 of the present first wall 20 is coupled to the eighth coupler 108 of the next third connector 100. The fifth coupler 105 of the present third connector 100 is coupled to the first coupler 27 of the next first wall 20. The second coupler 28 of the present first wall 20 is coupled to the first coupler 101 of the next third connector 100. The fifth coupler 105 of the present third connector 100 is coupled to the first coupler 27 of the last first wall 20.
The method of assembling the cofferdam of the example embodiment shown in
The couplers (e.g., 27, 28) of the first walls 20 may be coupled to any of the couplers (101-108) of the connector 100 to assemble a cofferdam of any shape and/or size. The cofferdam may be assembled using any number of first walls 20 and any number of the third connectors 100.
A hoist coupler 70 be connected to a wall 20, 30 or 40. One or more hoist couplers 70 may couple to the wall 20, 30 or 40 at any location on the wall 20, 30 or 40. The hoist coupler 70 may be used to hoist (e.g., lift, raise) the wall 20, 30 or 40. The hoist coupler 70 facilitates coupling hoisting gear (e.g., rope, chain, cable) from a piece of construction equipment, for example the excavator 11, to the wall 20, 30 or 40. The excavator 11 may use the hoisting gear while coupled to the walls 20, 30 or 40 to lift the walls from the ground into the air, to position the walls relative to the culvert 18, to position one wall relative to another wall, to position walls relative to a connector (e.g., 80, 90, 100), and to lower the walls to couple the walls to each other or to a connector.
In an example embodiment, the hoist coupler 70 comprises a hole in the wall 20, 30 or 40 through which the hoisting gear may be passed to maneuver the wall. In another example implementation, the hoist coupler 70 comprises a hoist ring, and eyebolt, a tiedown ring, a hook, a cleavers hook and/or a rope guide.
In the example embodiment introduced above, the cofferdam is formed of the first wall 20, the second wall 30 and the third wall 40. The walls 20, 30 and 40 are hauled to the site of the culvert 18 while disassembled. The cofferdam is assembled to surround the culvert 18, as best shown in
The excavator 11 lifts the second wall 30 to position the second wall 30 vertically and above the first wall 20. The second wall 30 includes the first coupler 37 near the first end 33 of the second wall 30 and a second coupler 38 near the second end 34 of the second wall 30. Positioning the second wall 30 positions the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 so that it is aligned with the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20. The excavator 11 lowers the second wall 30 to slidably couple the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 with the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20. The excavator 11 applies a downward force to the upper edge 32 of the second wall 30 to press the second wall 30 downward. Pressing downward on the second wall 30 drives the lower edge 31 of the second wall 30 into the ground surface 16.
The excavator 11 lifts the third wall 40 to position the third wall 40 vertically and above the second wall 30. The third wall 40 includes the first coupler 47 near the first end 43 of the third wall 40. Positioning the third wall 40 positions the first coupler 47 of the third wall 40 so that it is aligned with the second coupler 38 of the second wall 30. The excavator 11 lowers the third wall 40 to slidably couple the first coupler 47 of the third wall 40 with the second coupler 38 of the second wall 30. The excavator 11 applies a downward force to the upper edge 42 of the third wall 40 to press the third wall 40 downward. Pressing downward on the third wall 40 drives the lower edge 41 of the third wall 40 into the ground surface 16 and completes the assembly of the cofferdam thereby forming an enclosure around the inlet of the culvert 18 that prevents passage of the water 12 from a body of water 10 into an interior of the enclosure.
The water 12 that is in the interior of the cofferdam may be pumped out to expose the ground surface 16 inside the cofferdam. The cofferdam keeps the water 12 of the body of water 10 outside of the interior of the cofferdam thereby providing a dry work area inside the cofferdam around the inlet of the culvert 18.
As the excavator 11 lowers the second wall 30 to slidably couple the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 with the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20, the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 engages with the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20. After the first coupler 37 engages with the first coupler 27, the excavator 11 continues to lower the second wall 30 so that the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 slides along a length of the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 thereby coupling the first coupler 37 to the first coupler 27 and the second wall 30 to the first wall 20.
In an example embodiment, the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 is implemented as the round protrusion 52 (e.g., male coupler 50) and the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 is implemented as the round receiver 62 (e.g., female coupler 60). The first coupler 37 engages the first coupler 27 when the round protrusion 52 enters the channel 67 of the round receiver 62. The round protrusion 52 slides along the channel 67 the round receiver 62 as the lower edge 31 of the second wall 30 descends toward the ground surface 16.
As the excavator 11 lowers the third wall 40 to slidably couple the first coupler 47 of the third wall 40 with the second coupler 38 of the second wall 30, first coupler 47 of the third wall 40 engages with the second coupler 38 of the second wall 30. After the first coupler 47 engages with the second coupler 38, the excavator 11 continues to lower the third wall 40 so that the first coupler 47 of the third wall 40 slides along a length of the second coupler 38 of the second wall 30 thereby coupling the first coupler 47 to the second coupler 38 and the third wall 40 to the second wall 30.
In an example embodiment, the second coupler 38 is implemented as the round protrusion 52 (e.g., male coupler 50) and the first coupler 47 is implemented as the round receiver 62 (e.g., female coupler 60). The first coupler 47 engages the second coupler 38 when the round protrusion 52 enters the channel 67 of the round receiver 62. The round protrusion 52 slides along the channel 67 the round receiver 62 as the lower edge 41 of the third wall 40 descends toward the ground surface 16.
Slidably coupling the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 to the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 forms a seal along a length of the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 and along a length of the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 that prevents passage of the water 12 from the body of water 10 into the interior of the enclosure. As discussed above, the seal between the first coupler 27 and the first coupler 37 may not stop the passage of all of the water 12 into the interior of the cofferdam, but it stops most of the water so that the ground surface 16 in the interior of the cofferdam may dry out.
A cofferdam may be assembled using a plurality of walls (e.g., 20, 30, 40). An example method of using a plurality of walls to assemble the cofferdam near the culvert 18 includes providing a plurality of walls (e.g., 20, 30, 40). Each wall of the plurality of walls includes a first coupler (e.g., 27, 37, 47) near a first end (e.g., 23, 33, 43) of the wall, a second coupler (e.g., 28, 38, 48) near a second end (e.g., 24, 34, 44) of the wall and a lower edge (e.g., 21, 31, 41). Selecting one wall of the plurality of walls as a selected wall. Positioning the selected wall vertically. Pressing downward on the selected wall to drive the lower edge of the selected wall into the ground surface 16. The above steps position the first wall (e.g., the first wall 20) of the cofferdam.
The example method continues by identifying the selected wall as a previously positioned wall. Selecting a next wall of the plurality of walls as the selected wall. Positioning the selected wall vertically and above the previously positioned wall so that the first coupler of the selected wall aligns with the second coupler of the previously positioned wall. Lowering the selected wall to slidably couple the first coupler of the selected wall with the second coupler of the previously positioned wall. Pressing downward on the selected wall to drive the lower edge of the selected wall into the ground surface 16.
The above consecutive steps of identifying, selecting, positioning, lowering and pressing are repeated in order until at least three of the walls of the plurality of walls are assembled thereby forming an enclosure around an inlet of the culvert 18 that prevents passage of the water 12 from a body of water 10 into an interior of the enclosure.
As the next wall is selected from the plurality of walls, the next wall may be selected so that the first coupler of the selected wall couples with the second coupler of the previously positioned wall. In other words, if the second coupler of the previously positioned wall is the male coupler 50, the first coupler of the selected wall is a female coupler 60 or vice versa.
Further, the walls are selected from the plurality of walls so that the slots 68 any female couplers 60 appropriately position the walls. Preferably the slots 68 of the female couplers 60 position the walls to form a U-shape so the interior of the cofferdam surrounds the culvert 18.
A cofferdam may be assembled using three walls (e.g., 20, 30, 40) and two connectors (e.g., 80, 90). An example method of assembling a cofferdam near the culvert 18 includes positioning the first wall 20 vertically and near the first side of an inlet of the culvert 18. The first wall includes the first coupler 27 near the first end 23 of the first wall 20. Pressing downward on the first wall 20 to drive the lower edge 21 of the first wall 20 into the ground surface 16.
Positioning the first connector 80 vertically and above the first wall 20, the first connector 80 includes a first coupler 82 and a second coupler 84. Positioning the first connector 80 to align the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 with the first coupler 37 of the first wall 20. Lowering the first connector 80 to slidably couple the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 with the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20. Pressing downward on the first connector 80 to drive the lower edge of the first connector 80 into the ground surface 16.
Following placement of the first wall 20 and the first connector 80, positioning the second wall 30 vertically and above the first connector 80. The second wall 30 includes the first coupler 37 near the first end 33 of the second wall 30 and a second coupler 38 near the second end 34 of the second wall 30. Positioning the second wall 30 aligns the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 with the second coupler 84 of the first connector 80. Lowering the second wall 30 to slidably couple the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 with the second coupler 84 of the first connector 80. Pressing downward on the second wall 30 to drive the lower edge 31 of the second wall 30 into the ground surface 16.
With the second wall 30 in place, the second connector 90 may be placed. Positioning a second connector 90 vertically and above the second wall 30. The first connector 80 includes a first coupler 92 and a second coupler 94. Positioning the second connector 90 aligns the first coupler 92 of the second connector 90 with the second coupler 38 of the second wall 30. Lowering the second connector 90 to slidably couple the first coupler 92 of the second connector 90 with the second coupler 38 of the second wall 30. Pressing downward on the second connector 90 to drive the lower edge of the second connector 90 into the ground surface 16.
With the second connector 90 in place, the method continues with positioning the third wall 40 vertically and above the second connector 90. The third wall 40 includes the first coupler 47 near the first end 43 of the third wall 40. Positioning the third wall 40 aligns the first coupler 47 of the third wall 40 with the second coupler 94 of the second connector 90. Lowering the third wall 40 to slidably couple the first coupler 47 of the third wall 40 with the second coupler 94 of the second connector 90. Pressing downward on the third wall 40 to drive the lower edge 41 of the third wall 40 into the ground surface 16 thereby forming an enclosure around the inlet of the culvert 18 that prevents passage of the water 12 from the body of water 10 into an interior of the enclosure.
In the example method of assembling a cofferdam using the first wall 20, the second wall 30, the third wall 40, the first connector 80 and the second connector 90, the steps of positioning positions (e.g., places, ranges) the first wall 20, the first connector 80, the second wall 30, the second connector 90 and the third wall 40 in a U-shape from the first side of the inlet of the culvert 18 to the second side of the inlet of the culvert 18.
As discussed above, the male coupler 50 couples with the female couplers 60. So, in an example embodiment, first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 comprises the male coupler 50 and first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 comprises the female coupler 60. The second coupler 84 of the first connector 80 comprises the male coupler 50 and first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 comprises the female coupler 60.
In another example embodiment, the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 comprises the female coupler 60 and the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 comprises the male coupler 50. The second coupler 84 of the first connector 80 comprises the female coupler and first coupler 37 of the second wall comprises the male coupler. The first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 may be either the male coupler 50 or the female coupler 60 so long as it complements the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80.
In the example method, positioning the first wall 20 comprises lifting the first wall 20 using a piece of construction equipment, such as the excavator 11. Positioning the first connector 80 comprises lifting the first connector 80 using a piece of construction equipment, also such as the excavator 11. The second wall 30 and the third wall 40 may also be positioned by be lifted by the excavator 11.
In the example method, lowering the first connector 80 to slidably couple the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 with the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 comprises engaging the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 with the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 and sliding the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 along a length of the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20.
With respect to the second wall 30 and the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80, lowering the second wall 30 to slidably couple the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 with the second coupler 84 of the first connector 80 comprises engaging the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 with the second coupler 84 of the first connector 80 and sliding the first coupler 37 of the second wall 30 along a length of the second coupler 84 of the first connector 80.
As discussed above, engaging includes the male coupler 50 entering the channel 67 of the female coupler 60. Sliding includes the male coupler 50 moving along (e.g., sliding) along the length of the channel 67 of the female coupler 60.
The seal formed between the first and the second example embodiments of the male coupler 50 and the female coupler 60 or discussed above. The same ceiling occurs between the couplers 82, 84, 92 and 94 of the connectors 80 and 90, and the couplers 27, 37, 38, and 47 of the walls 20, 30 and 40. For example, slidably coupling the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 to the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 forms a seal along the length of the first coupler 82 of the first connector 80 and along the length of the first coupler 27 of the first wall 20 that prevents passage of the water 12 from the body of water 10 into the interior of the enclosure formed by the cofferdam.
A cofferdam may be assembled using a plurality of walls (e.g., 20) and a plurality of connectors (e.g., third connector 100). An example method of using a plurality of the first walls 20 and the third connectors 100 to assemble the cofferdam near the culvert 18 includes providing a plurality of first walls 20, wherein each first wall 20 of the plurality of first walls 20 includes a first coupler 27 near the first end 23 of the first wall 20, the second coupler 28 near a second end 24 of the first wall 20, and a lower edge 21. Providing a plurality of the third connectors 100, wherein each third connector 100 of the plurality of the third connectors 100 includes a plurality of couplers (e.g., 101-108), and a lower edge.
The example method begins with selecting one wall 20 of the plurality of walls as a selected first wall 20, positioning the selected first wall 20 vertically, and pressing downward on the selected first wall 20 to drive the lower edge 21 of the selected wall into the ground surface 16.
Once the first wall 20 is positioned, the repetitive portion of the method begins with identifying the selected first wall 20 as a previously positioned first wall 20. Selecting a next third connector 100 of the plurality of connectors as the selected connector. Positioning the selected third connector 100 vertically and above the previously positioned first wall 20. Positioning the selected third connector 100 aligns a first coupler (e.g., 101-108) of the plurality of the selected third connector 100 with the second coupler 28 of the previously positioned first wall 20. Lowering the selected third connector 100 to slidably couple the first coupler (e.g., 101-108) of the selected connector 100 with the second coupler 28 of the previously positioned wall 20. Pressing downward on the selected third connector 100 to drive the lower edge of the selected third connector 100 into the ground surface 16. Identifying the selected third connector 100 as a previously positioned third connector 100.
The example method continues with selecting a next first wall 20 of the plurality of the first walls 20 as the selected first wall 20. Positioning the selected first wall 20 vertically and above the previously positioned third connector 100. Positioning the selected first wall 20 aligns the first coupler 27 of the selected first wall 20 with a second coupler (e.g., 101-108) of the plurality of the previously positioned third connector 100. Lowering the selected first wall 20 to slidably couple the first coupler 27 of the selected first wall 20 with the second coupler e.g., 101-108) of the previously positioned connector 100. Pressing downward on the selected first wall 20 to drive the lower edge 21 of the selected first wall 20 into the ground surface 16.
The repeating portion of the example method includes repeating the consecutive steps of identifying, selecting, positioning, lowering, pressing, identifying, selecting, positioning, lowering and pressing in order until at least three the first walls 20 of the plurality of first walls 20 and at least two of the third connectors 100 of the plurality of the third connectors 100 are assembled thereby forming an enclosure around the inlet of the culvert 18 that prevents passage of the water 12 from the body of water 10 into an interior of the enclosure.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described above. All patent applications, patents, and printed publications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, except for any definitions, subject matter disclaimers or disavowals, and except to the extent that the incorporated material is inconsistent with the express disclosure herein, in which case the language in this disclosure controls. The various embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the various embodiments in the present disclosure be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/333,269 filed on May 28, 2021 which issues as U.S. Pat. No. 11,242,665 on Feb. 8, 2022 (Docket No. STRO-022). Each of the aforementioned patent applications is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17333269 | May 2021 | US |
Child | 17584723 | US |