US 4,059,964 A · Sheeting installation system

Abstract

A sheeting installation system is provided for installing trench wall support sheeting during the excavation of trenches and the like. A rectangular frame is formed by a pair of sheeting support wall members which are secured to a pair of spreader members disposed at the opposite ends of the wall members. Each wall member has a modular construction and several vertically-disposed sheeting support slots which extend through the member from top to bottom. The slots are overlapped and each slot slidably receives a sheeting section which is driven into the earth so that it projects a distance beneath the bottom of the frame but still has a portion of its length remaining in the slot to provide cantilever support for the section against the force exerted by the walls of the trench. Since the slots in each wall member are overlapped, the sheeting sections will be driven into the earth in overlapping relationship. Spreader members of different lengths are utilized for trenches of different widths and trench wall side cutters may be provided on the frame. Locking means keep the sheeting sections retracted into the slots when the frame is moved.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A sheeting installation frame for installing sheeting sections during trench excavations and the like comprising

a pair of sheeting support wall members, each of said wall members having at least two substantially vertically-disposed sheeting support slots extending therethrough for slidably supporting sheeting sections therein with cantilever support, the sheeting support slots of each of said wall members being located along the length of the wall member and disposed in modular sections of the wall member defined by a series of substantially vertically-disposed and spaced apart end plates having laterally-extending edge portions, the end plates between abutting modular sections being stepped plates having longitudinally-extending central portions joining the edge portions thereof to separate the support slots of the abutting modular sections, so that the support slots of abutting modular sections are disposed on opposite sides of the end plate central portions in overlapping relationship, whereby sheeting sections disposed in said slots are overlapped;
a pair of spreader members disposed between said wall members adjacent opposite ends thereof for separating said wall member slots the distance between sheeting sections to be installed on opposite trench sides;
and
means for removably connecting said spreader members to said wall members to form a frame which resists the lateral forces exerted by said trench sides on the sheeting sections in said slots.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sheeting installation system

Life of this patent

Sheeting installation system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9