Removable and replaceable anchored frame-like tunnel gasket construction
AssigneeVertex, Inc.
InventorsWilliam C. Andrick, Richard J. Bowers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cast-in-place gasket construction for concrete structures such as tunnel segments includes a gasket body having a bottom face configured to be positioned against a surface of an associated tunnel segment. First and second gasket portions of the construction extend in different directions and are connected to each other at a first joint. The gasket portions are made of an elastomeric material having a first durometer on the Shore A hardness scale. The joint comprises an elastomeric material having a second and lesser durometer on the Shore A hardness scale. A method for replacing a damaged frame-like gasket construction is also disclosed.
Claims20
A selectively detachable gasket construction for concrete structures, the gasket construction comprising:
- a first gasket portion extending in a first direction;
- a second gasket portion extending in a second direction that is angled away from the first direction;
- a first corner joint connecting the first and second gasket portions;
- wherein the first and second gasket portions each comprise an elastomeric material having a first durometer on the Shore A hardness scale;
- and
- wherein the corner joint comprises an elastomeric material having a second and lesser durometer on the Shore A hardness scale, such that the corner joint is softer than either the first or second gasket portions.
A method for replacing a damaged tunnel segment gasket construction, comprising:
- locating a selectively detachable first tunnel segment gasket construction comprising four sides and four corner joints, the four gasket sides comprising an elastomeric material of a first durometer and the four corner joints comprising an elastomeric material of a second, and lesser, durometer, in a groove of a tunnel segment;
- pulling the first tunnel segment gasket construction out of the groove in the tunnel segment wherein the corner joints and the material of the gasket sides allow the first tunnel segment gasket construction to flex sufficiently such that it can be pulled out of the groove in the tunnel segment;
- providing a second tunnel segment gasket construction comprising four sides and four corner joints, the gasket sides comprising an elastomeric material of a third durometer and four corner joints comprising elastomeric material of a fourth and lesser durometer;
- and
- installing the second tunnel segment gasket construction in the groove of the tunnel segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.