Trench box including modular panels and method of use thereof

A modular panel assembly for use in assembling a side wall of a trench box;

• said modular panel assembly comprising:
• a panel comprising:
• a base plate having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface is adapted to be disposed adjacent a side wall of a trench and the interior surface is adapted to be disposed remote from the side wall and face into the trench;
• a frame operatively engaged with one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the base plate;
• wherein the frame comprises at least two frame members;
• and
• at least one bracket extending between an end of adjacent frame members of the at least two frame members.

A method of forming a trench box comprising:

• providing a plurality of modular panels;
• providing a plurality of connectors;
• forming a first plate of the trench box by connecting a first group of at least four modular panels of the plurality of modular panels to one another with a first group of a first connector of the plurality of connectors and connecting a remainder of the first group of the plurality of modular panel to one another with the first group of the first connector or a first group of a second connector of the plurality of connectors;
• forming a second plate of the trench box by connecting a second group of the plurality of modular panels to one another with a second group of the plurality of connectors;
• and
• extending a plurality of spreader bars between an interior surface of the first plate and an interior surface of the second plate.

A method utilizing a trench box to prevent sides of a trench from collapsing into the trench, wherein the method comprises:

• assembling a first plate by connecting a plurality of modular panels to one another with a plurality of connectors;
• assembling a second plate by connecting the plurality of modular panels to one another with the plurality of connectors;
• fixing a plurality of spreader bars between an interior surface of the first plate and an interior surface of the second plate to form a trench box;
• digging a trench in a ground to perform a work operation therein, wherein the trench extends in a first direction in the ground;
• determining an obstacle extends across the trench in a second direction, wherein the second direction is oriented at an angle to the first direction;
• removing one of the plurality of modular panels from one of the first plate and the second plate by disconnecting at least one connector of the plurality of connectors from one of the plurality of modular panels;
• and
• forming an opening in the one of the first plate and the second plate where the removed one of the plurality of modular panels was previously located to accommodate the obstacle.