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US 2014/0270987 A1Published application
Support for an excavation
OwnerPerry Williamsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A support has an expandable enclosure for use in an excavation. The enclosure is expandable, on introduction of a fluid to the enclosure, from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration. The enclosure is configured such that when the enclosure is in the expanded configuration, and is located in the excavation, pressure exerted by the fluid on an internal surface of the enclosure is sufficient to provide support for at least one wall of the excavation.
Claims28
A support for use in an excavation comprising a trench, the support comprising:
- an enclosure which is expandable, on introduction of a fluid to the enclosure, from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration;
- wherein the enclosure comprises an inner layer comprising a material that is impermeable to the fluid which in operation is used to expand the enclosure, and an outer layer comprising a pierce resistant material;
- wherein the enclosure has a cross-sectional shape that is configured, such that when the enclosure is in the expanded configuration, and is located in said trench, the enclosure:
- (a) conforms generally to a transverse cross-section of the trench and extends transversely across at least a substantial part of a transverse width of said trench;
- and
- (b) presents a generally flat exposed surface for substantially spanning the transverse width of said trench.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.