SHEET PILE FOR THE SUBTERRANEAN SUPPORT OF UNDERGROUND CONDUITS
First Claim
1. A section of curved sheet pile adapted to be driven underneath a conduit buried underground, comprising:
- a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a gripping edge, a leading edge, and opposing side edges extending between said gripping edge and said leading edge, said body having a body radius of curvature extending between said gripping edge and said leading edge, said gripping edge, said leading edge, and said opposing side edges cooperating to define a perimeter of said body; and
a first flange extending outwardly from one of said opposing side edges of said body and extending beyond said perimeter of said body, said first flange having a support surface, said support surface being offset from said upper surface of said body, said first flange having a flange radius of curvature that is substantially identical to said body radius of curvature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a plurality of individual curved sheet piles that are positioned beneath an underground conduit, such as a raceway, to support the conduit during excavation. In one exemplary embodiment, the individual sections of curved sheet pile are interfit and/or interconnected. This allows the individual sections to work in combination with one another to support the conduit. Specifically, opposing ends of a length of interfit and/or interconnected curved sheet piles extend into unexcavated soil on both sides of an excavated hole to form a bridge across the hole that supports the conduit and any soil or other subterranean material positioned above the curved sheet pile.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A section of curved sheet pile adapted to be driven underneath a conduit buried underground, comprising:
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a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a gripping edge, a leading edge, and opposing side edges extending between said gripping edge and said leading edge, said body having a body radius of curvature extending between said gripping edge and said leading edge, said gripping edge, said leading edge, and said opposing side edges cooperating to define a perimeter of said body; and a first flange extending outwardly from one of said opposing side edges of said body and extending beyond said perimeter of said body, said first flange having a support surface, said support surface being offset from said upper surface of said body, said first flange having a flange radius of curvature that is substantially identical to said body radius of curvature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification