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US 6,616,377 B1Granted
Device for joining tunnel segments
AssigneeBosworth Plastics Limited
InventorsChristopher R. Smith, Peter F. Robertshaw
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBosworth Plastics Limited
InventorsChristopher R. Smith, Peter F. Robertshaw
Estimating the term…
A coupler device for joining together two segments of a tunnel or shaft lining ring, the device being characterised by a double ended male dowel having an externally grooved cylindrical portion adjacent to both ends. This dowel engages in recesses cast into the segment. A reverse tapered sleeve is cast in the recesses retaining an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments, these arctuate segments having complimentary grooves on their inner surface to mate with the grooves on the dowel and a tapered external circumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve. As the dowel is inserted the arcuate segments, being retained elastically within the reverse tapered sleeve, lock the male part of the device into the recess preventing the device from pulling out.
A coupler device for joining together two construction segments of a construction member selected from the group comprising a tunnel lining ring and shaft lining, the coupler device comprising a double ended male first part having a substantially cylindrical portion adjacent to both ends, each substantially cylindrical portion having a surface which is formed into a series of grooves, a second part incorporating a reverse tapered sleeve for retention in one of the construction segments and a third part having an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments, said arcuate segments having complementary grooves on their inner surface to mate with the cylindrical portion of said first part and a tapered external circumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve of said second part, said arcuate segments being retained elastically within the second part.
Two tunnel lining segments joined by a coupler device comprising a double ended male first part having a substantially cylindrical portion adjacent to both ends, each substantially cylindrical portion having a surface which is formed into a series of grooves, a second part incorporating a reverse tapered sleeve retained in the tunnel lining segments and a third part having an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments, said arcuate segments having complementary grooves on their inner surface to mate with the cylindrical portion of said first part and a tapered external circumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve of said second part, said arcuate segments being retained elastically within the second part.
Two segments of a shaft lining joined by a coupler device comprising a double ended male first part having a substantially cylindrical portion adjacent to both ends, each substantially cylindrical portion having a surface which is formed into a series of grooves, a second part incorporating a reverse tapered sleeve retained in the shaft lining segments and a third part having an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments, said arcuate segments having complementary grooves on their inner surface to mate with the cylindrical portion of said first part and a tapered external circumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve of said second part, said arcuate segments being retained elastically within the second part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.