Insulating tunnel liner system

Abstract

An insulating liner system especially adapted to railroad and highway tunnels to eliminate ice buildup on the tunnel crown, walls and roadbed caused by water leakage from the tunnel face. The insulating liner system includes a modular assembly of insulating panels, each comprised of a sheet metal or plastic face adherred to a preformed insulating foam core which is then waterproofed by coating all exposed faces of said core with an elastomeric or similar waterproof film. The ability of both the foam core and the elastomeric coating to stretch allows the panels to be fabricated and shipped in a flat configuration and formed to the tunnel arch during installation. The system also includes an insulating base with enclosed water drainage system, means of joining individual panels with waterproof joints, methods of supporting the liner system to the tunnel walls and a means of equalizing piston-effect pressures on the front and back faces of the liner system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.