1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shoring systems for supporting the sides of an excavation to prevent cave-ins.
2. Description of the Related Art
Shoring systems are used to “shore” (support) the earthen walls of an excavation to help prevent cave-in around workers. A shoring system typically includes a pair of opposing side walls driven forcibly outward by hydraulic actuators against earthen walls of the excavation. Shoring therefore protects workers doing work in the excavation, such as below ground repairs, maintenance, or installations such as laying a pipeline. Excavations may be deep and the soil in and surrounding the excavation may be unstable, which poses a risk to workers. Therefore, it is important to use a reliable shoring system capable of withstanding the large pressures that can be exerted by earthen walls. It is also important to use a shoring system that can be easily controlled, such as to drive the side walls outward and maintain pressure against the earthen walls of the excavation. It is critical for a shoring system to be easily controllable in case of an emergency, as well as for efficiently inserting and subsequently removing the shoring system from the excavation.
The configuration of the conventional manifold 21 limits a user's ability to access the block manifold body, such as to connect and disconnect hoses or to control the supply of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic jacks. The user's ability to quickly and easily control the movement of the side walls 2 is thereby limited. In the even of an emergency, a user may be unable to access the manifold to control the side walls 2. Even under normal operating conditions, the lack of access a user has to the manifold reduces the efficiency by which the conventional shoring system 1 may be operated. Therefore, an improved shoring system is needed for faster, safer, more reliable, and more convenient operation by a user.
The present invention includes improved shoring systems and methods. In one embodiment, a shoring system includes first and second opposing side walls. A plurality of hydraulic jacks are connected between the side walls for selectively adjusting a spacing between the side walls. A manifold includes a hydraulic inlet for receiving hydraulic fluid from a fluid source and a plurality of hydraulic outlets for distributing the hydraulic fluid to the plurality of hydraulic jacks. The manifold is pivotally secured to the first side wall and pivotally moveable between a shielded position and an exposed position. A manifold shield is disposed on the manifold for shielding the manifold when the manifold is in the shielded position.
In a second embodiment, a shoring system includes first and second opposing side walls. A plurality of hydraulic jacks are connected between the side walls for adjusting the relative spacing between the side walls. A pair of rails connected in parallel across an inner face of each of the opposing side walls. A plurality of first pads are carried in each of the rails of the first side wall and a plurality of second pads are carried in each of the rails of the second side wall. The plurality of hydraulic jacks are each operatively connected between one of the first pads and one of the second pads. A manifold has a hydraulic inlet for receiving hydraulic fluid and a plurality of hydraulic outlets for distributing hydraulic fluid to the plurality of hydraulic jacks. A manifold shield is pivotally secured to the first side wall for carrying the manifold between a shielded position wherein the manifold is covered by the shield, and an exposed position wherein the manifold is exposed.
In a third embodiment, a method of shoring is provided. A manifold secured to a first side wall is exposed by pivoting the manifold from a shielded position, wherein the manifold is shielded, to an exposed position, wherein manifold is accessible to a user. Fluid flow through the manifold is controlled to actuate a plurality of hydraulic jacks connected between the first side wall and an opposing second side wall, to adjust a spacing between the first and second side walls. The manifold is shielded by pivoting the manifold from the exposed position back to the shielded position.
The present invention includes shoring systems and shoring methods providing a greater measure of control and safety than with conventional shoring systems and methods. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a manifold for controlling a hydraulically operated shoring system is moveable between a shielded position and an exposed position. An operator can easily pivot the manifold to the exposed position to gain control of hydraulic controls, or to connect or disconnect the various hydraulic control lines. An operator can then pivot the manifold to a shielded position, wherein the manifold, the hydraulic controls, and the hydraulic connections are at least partially shielded and protected. The shielded position protects against inadvertent manipulation of the manifold during normal use, such as where workers are working in the excavation. While the workers are moving about within the confines of the shoring system walls, they are unlikely to bump any shielded controls to cause any sudden, unexpected movement of the side walls. Simultaneously, the workers have the option of gaining full or at least limited access to the hydraulic controls. For example, if there is a sudden pressure loss in the hydraulic cylinders, a worker may simply pivot the manifold to the exposed position to supply additional fluid pressure to the hydraulic actuators. Furthermore, workers may efficiently and reliably pivot the manifold to the exposed position during installation or removal of the shoring system in the excavation, to connect or disconnect hydraulic lines as needed. A shoring system according to the present invention is therefore safe, convenient, and efficient to operate.
With reference first to
The side walls are connected in a box-like structure by telescoping rectangular steel-tubing cross-member sets, having telescoping component parts 220a, 220b. Adjustable static widths are determined by way of retaining bolts or pins 222 and spaced apart locking holes 224 in each cross member 220b. The ends of the cross member sets 220a, 220b are mounted in channels 219 (see
A hydraulic jack 250 is mounted within each cross member (see
Each of the hydraulic jacks 250 comprise a hydraulic cylinder 256 operatively connected, via a bolt or pin 249, to a first pad 252 of an opposing pair of first and second pads. A hydraulic piston 258 is disposed for axial movement within each hydraulic cylinder 256, and a piston rod 260 (and possibly complementing extensions and/or oversleeves, neither of which is shown) extends from each hydraulic piston 258 for transferring force to or from the hydraulic piston 258. The piston rod 260 is operatively connected, via a bolt or pin 251, to a second pad 254 of the opposing pair of first and second pads.
A plurality of coiled steel closure springs 262 are also mounted between the opposing wales 218, by way of engagement with the bolts or pins 253, 255 at the respective ends of the spring 262. Each spring 262 is positioned proximate a hydraulic jack 250 within a cross member set 220a, 220b for aiding in the contraction of the side wall spacing, and thus the removal of the shoring system 210 from an excavation.
The hydraulic jacks are operable under hydraulic fluid pressure delivered from a source (not shown) such as a hand pump or powered pump coupled to a reservoir of hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid is distributed to the hydraulic jacks 250 by way of a movable manifold assembly 226 (see
The manifold shield 230 is pivotally mounted to an inner face of one of the side walls 212 using a bolt or pin 242 carried across a flanged portion 231 of the manifold shield. The bolt 242 is further carried across a flanged portion 244 of a bracket 246 bolted to the inner face of the one side wall. As shown in
The manifold shield 230 will be secured in the lower position of
In
In
The manifold shield 230 is substantially Y-shaped, having a wider portion at or near one end 230a and the narrower flanged portion 231 at or near another end 230b. The cylindrical manifold body 228 is pipe-like, and is carried across the wider portion 230a of the manifold shield 230, by way of welding (weld bead 229 depicted in
The movable manifold assembly 226 according to the present invention is easier to operate compared to the limited utility of conventional manifold assemblies. By mounting the manifold body 228 to one side of a manifold shield 230, and pivotally mounting the shield to an inner face of one of the shoring system side walls 212, the manifold body is selectively positionable in the shielded position, wherein the manifold is at least partially covered and protected by the manifold shield for normal use. The manifold is then moveable to the exposed position, wherein the manifold body is rotated above the cap element 214 for easy access. Accordingly, the manifold body may be quickly and conveniently moved to an elevated position such as for connecting and disconnecting a hydraulic supply hose to the manifold body 228 and the shut-off inlet valve 232, by way of the quick-connect coupling 234, and for similarly connecting and disconnecting the hydraulic discharge hoses 240 to the manifold body.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used in the claims and specification herein, shall be considered as indicating an open group that may include other elements not specified. The terms “a,” “an,” and the singular forms of words shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The term “one” or “single” may be used to indicate that one and only one of something is intended. Similarly, other specific integer values, such as “two,” may be used when a specific number of things is intended. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5096334 | Plank | Mar 1992 | A |
5209606 | Plank | May 1993 | A |
5232312 | Jennings et al. | Aug 1993 | A |