# US 11,994,029 B2 · Tunnel profile element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,029 B2 - Document ID: US11994029B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/953,064 - Filed: 2022-09-26 - Published: 2023-02-02 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-22 - Assignees: Foamrox AS - Applicants: Foamrox AS - Inventors: Rolf Jakobsen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994029B2 ## CPC - E21D 11/00: Lining tunnels, galleries or other underground cavities, e.g. large underground chambers; Linings therefor; Making such linings in situ, e.g. by assembling (E21D15/00 - E21D23/00 take precedence; specially for shafts E21D5/00; {driving shields in combination with means for lining the tunnel E21D9/06}; lining pressure water galleries, linings therefor E02B9/06) - B32B 1/00: Layered products having a non-planar shape - B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material - B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties - E21D 11/38: Waterproofing (in general E02D31/00); Heat insulating; Soundproofing; Electric insulating (for building constructions in general E04B1/62) - B32B 2250/40: Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA - B32B 2255/26: Polymeric coating - B32B 2266/057: Silicon-containing material, e.g. glass - B32B 2607/00: Walls, panels - E21D: SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS (soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; drilling or cutting machines for mining or quarrying E21C; safety devices, transport, rescue, ventilation or drainage E21F) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract A tunnel profile element is disclosed. The tunnel profile element includes a lightweight body constituted by a plurality of foam glass side wall panels and a foam glass roof panel between the plurality of side wall panels. The foam glass panels being sprayed with unbroken polyurea layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tunnel profile element insertable into a tunnel to provide a lining for exposed raw tunnel surfaces, the tunnel profile element comprising: a plurality of foam glass side wall panels; and a foam glass roof panel between the plurality of side wall panels, wherein the plurality of side wall panels and the roof panel are assembled into the tunnel profile element prior to insertion into the tunnel, and wherein the assembled tunnel profile element is held together by an unbroken layer of polyurea covering all exposed surfaces of the assembled side wall panels and the roof panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tunnel profile element according to claim 1, further comprising at least one foam glass infrastructure panel, the at least one infrastructure panel being held together with at least one of the side wall panels and the roof panel by the unbroken layer of polyurea. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tunnel profile element according to claim 2, wherein the at least one infrastructure panel held together with the at least one of the side wall panels and the roof panel forms an infrastructure element on an interior or exterior of the tunnel profile element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tunnel profile element according to claim 3, wherein the infrastructure element is an airing channel element arranged adjacent the roof panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The tunnel profile element according to claim 3, wherein the infrastructure element is an escape-route tunnel element arranged adjacent the at least one of the plurality of side wall panels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The tunnel profile element according to claim 3, wherein the infrastructure element is a channel element arranged adjacent the at least one of the plurality of side wall panels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tunnel profile element according to claim 1, further comprising a foam glass floor panel between the side wall panels and spaced from the roof panel, wherein the plurality of side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel are held together by the unbroken layer of polyurea. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tunnel profile element according to claim 7, further comprising at least one foam glass infrastructure panel, the at least one infrastructure panel being held together with at least one of the side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel by the unbroken layer of polyurea. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tunnel profile element according to claim 8, wherein the at least one infrastructure panel held together with the at least one of the side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel forms an infrastructure element on an interior or exterior of the tunnel profile element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tunnel profile element according to claim 9, wherein the infrastructure element is a channel element arranged adjacent the floor panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tunnel profile element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side wall panels and the roof panel comprises a plurality of sandwiched foam glass plates that form the at least one of the side wall panels and the roof panel, wherein a joint between a first plate adjacent a second plate is covered by a third plate, and wherein the unbroken layer of polyurea is applied on all exposed surfaces of the sandwiched plates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tunnel profile element according to claim 1, further comprising at least one light arranged in at least one of the side wall panels and the roof panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tunnel profile element according to claim 12, wherein the at least one light is a light emitting diode light. ### Claim 14 A tunnel profile element insertable into a tunnel to provide a lining for exposed raw tunnel surfaces, the tunnel profile element comprising: a plurality of foam glass side wall panels; a foam glass roof panel between the side wall panels; and a foam glass floor panel between the side wall panels and spaced from the roof panel, wherein the side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel are assembled into the tunnel profile element prior to insertion into the tunnel, and wherein the assembled tunnel profile element is held together by an unbroken layer of polyurea covering all exposed surfaces of the assembled side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The tunnel profile element according to claim 14, further comprising at least one foam glass infrastructure panel, the at least one infrastructure panel being held together with at least one of the side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel by the unbroken layer of polyurea. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tunnel profile element according to claim 15, wherein the at least one infrastructure panel held together with the at least one of the side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel forms an infrastructure element on an interior or exterior of the tunnel profile element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tunnel profile element according to claim 16, wherein the infrastructure element is an airing channel element arranged adjacent the roof panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The tunnel profile element according to claim 16, wherein the infrastructure element is an escape-route tunnel element arranged adjacent the at least one of the side wall panels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The tunnel profile element according to claim 16, wherein the infrastructure element is a channel element arranged adjacent the at least one of the side wall panels or the floor panel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The tunnel profile element according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel comprises a plurality of sandwiched foam glass plates that form the at least one of the side wall panels, the roof panel and the floor panel, wherein a joint between a first plate adjacent a second plate is covered by a third plate, and wherein the unbroken layer of polyurea is applied on all exposed surfaces of the sandwiched plates. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The tunnel profile element according to claim 14, further comprising at least one light arranged in at least one of the side wall panels and the roof panel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The tunnel profile element according to claim 21, wherein the at least one light is a light emitting diode light. ### Claim 23 A tunnel profile element adaptable for installation in raw tunnels, the tunnel profile element comprising: a plurality of foam glass panels assembled prior to installation in the raw tunnels to form a first side wall element, a second side wall element and a roof element, wherein the roof element is between the first side wall element and the second side wall element, and wherein the assembled tunnel profile element is held together by an unbroken layer of polyurea covering all exposed surfaces of the assembled plurality of foam glass panels. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The tunnel profile element according to claim 23, further comprising at least one foam glass panel forming a floor element between the first side wall element and the second side wall element and spaced from the roof element, wherein the first side wall element, the second side wall element, the roof element and the floor element are held together by the unbroken layer of polyurea.