US 12,729,499 B2 · Pipe trench safety brace-barrier system and method

Abstract

A pipe trench safety brace-barrier system and method for use to form a protected workspace in a trench, providing trench-shoring or trench-shielding protection around an underground workspace in a portion of a trench within which a pipe, conduit, cable, or similar structure, and any manhole, junction box, or similar structure or equipment is to be installed. The pipe trench safety brace-barrier provides two trench side units, each having a main wall unit and two wing wall units. The main wall units are placed against opposing sides of the workspace, providing barriers against cave-ins or encroachment from the sides of the wider section of trench. In use, the wing wall units are angled inward toward the pipe, providing barriers against cave-ins or encroachment from the entering and exiting portions of the trench adjacent to the workspace. Optional adjustable wing extensions on the wing wall units are moved into place to support and limit movement of the pipes. One or more adjustable main transverse members are adjustably and removably mounted to the opposing main wall units to provide bracing and stability. Optionally, additional supplemental braces, barriers, fittings, or equipment can be mounted upon the frame members of the trench side units. The trench side units can be folded or collapsed to a reduced size for storage, transportation, and handling.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A pipe trench safety brace-barrier system for use to form a protected workspace in a trench, the pipe trench safety brace-barrier system comprising:

(i) two folding trench side units, each folding trench side unit comprising:
(a) a main wall folding unit comprising:
(1) two main vertical frame members;
(2) a lower main frame member mounted horizontally joining said two main vertical frame members at the bottom;
(3) an upper main frame member mounted horizontally joining said two main vertical frame members at the top;
and
(4) a main barrier mounted to said vertical frame members, said lower main frame member, and said upper main frame member;
and
(b) two wing wall folding units rotatably mounted to said main vertical frame members, each wing wall unit comprising:
(1) a lower wing frame member rotatably horizontally mounted to a said main vertical frame member at the bottom;
(2) an upper wing frame member rotatably horizontally mounted to a said main vertical frame member at the top;
(3) a vertical wing frame member mounted at the bottom to said lower wing frame member and mounted at the top to said upper wing frame member;
and
(4) a wing barrier mounted to said vertical wing frame member, said lower wing frame member, and said upper wing frame member;
and
(ii) at least one adjustable main transverse member adapted to hold said folding trench side units apart from each other and against the wall of the trench.

13 more elements

A pipe trench safety brace-barrier system for use to form a protected workspace in a trench, the pipe trench safety brace-barrier system comprising:

(i) two non-folding trench side units, each non-folding trench side unit comprising:
(a) a main wall non-folding unit comprising:
(1) two main vertical frame members;
(2) a lower main frame member mounted horizontally joining said two main vertical frame members at the bottom;
(3) an upper main frame member mounted horizontally joining said two main vertical frame members at the top;
and
(4) a main barrier mounted to said vertical frame members, said lower main frame member, and said upper main frame member;
and
(b) two wing wall non-folding units fixedly mounted to said main vertical frame members at a set angle, each wing wall unit comprising:
(1) a lower wing frame member fixedly horizontally mounted to a said main vertical frame member at the bottom;
(2) an upper wing frame member fixedly horizontally mounted to a said main vertical frame member at the top;
(3) a vertical wing frame member mounted at the bottom to said lower wing frame member and mounted at the top to said upper wing frame member;
and
(4) a wing barrier mounted to said vertical wing frame member, said lower wing frame member, and said upper wing frame member;
and
(ii) at least one adjustable main transverse member adapted to hold said non-folding trench side units apart from each other and against the wall of the trench.

13 more elements

A pipe trench safety brace-barrier method comprising:

(i) digging a section of a trench as a workspace for installation of a pipe;
(ii) providing a pipe trench safety brace-barrier system comprising:
(a) two trench side units, each trench side unit comprising:
(1) a main wall unit having a first width, comprising:
(i) two main vertical frame members;
(ii) a lower main frame member mounted horizontally joining said two main vertical frame members at the bottom;
(iii) an upper main frame member mounted horizontally joining said two main vertical frame members at the top;
and
(iv) a main barrier mounted to said vertical frame members, said lower main frame member, and said upper main frame member;
and
(2) two wing wall units mounted to said main vertical frame members, each having a width not greater than said first width of said main wall unit, each wing wall unit comprising:
(i) a lower wing frame member horizontally mounted to a said main vertical frame member at the bottom;
(ii) an upper wing frame member horizontally mounted to a said main vertical frame member at the top;
(iii) a vertical wing frame member mounted at the bottom to said lower wing frame member and mounted at the top to said upper wing frame member;
and
(iv) a wing barrier mounted to said vertical wing frame member, said lower wing frame member, and said upper wing frame member;
and
(b) at least one adjustable main transverse member adapted to hold said trench side units apart from each other and against the wall of the trench;
(iii) transporting said trench side units to the workspace site;
(iv) placing two said trench side units into the trench workspace on opposing walls;
(v) mounting said adjustable main transverse members upon said trench side units to prevent tilting of said trench side units toward each other;
and
(vi) forming a protected workspace in the trench.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pipe trench safety brace-barrier system and method

Life of this patent

Pipe trench safety brace-barrier system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19