Methods of laying underground conduits

• US 4,329,083 A
• Filed: 11/05/1979
• Issued: 05/11/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Societe Soletanche
• Original Assignee: Societe Soletanche
• Inventors: Parkinson, Jonathan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US06/091,516
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 405/154-157, 405/174-184, 405/267, 405/268, 405/266
• US Class Current: 405/184.5
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 11/005 Drainage conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/05 at least part of the cross-section being constructed in an open excavation or from the ground surface, e.g. assembled in a trench
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/00 Water main or service pipe systems pipes or tubes in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 3/06 Methods of, or installations for, laying sewer pipes making pipes in situ F16L1/038 ; laying conduits in association with the digging of a trench E02F5/10; laying pipes in general F16L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/028 in the ground F16L1/026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/06 in underground tubes or conduits; Tubes or conduits therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of laying underground conduits along a trench dug into the ground and filled with sludge designed to prevent the trench walls from collapsing.

The trench is at least partly lined with hardenable grout and the conduit laying operations are carried out under the protection of this grout so that, after the same has hardened, it seals the conduit into the ground.

Claims

1. A method of installing a conduit in the ground comprising digging a trench in the ground while keeping said trench at least partially filled with a thixotropic mud to prevent collapse of the trench walls and installing the conduit in said trench, said thixotropic mud containing hardenable sealing products at least in the part of said trench wherein said conduit is located, and retaining said conduit in said trench to seal it in the ground after said products have hardened.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hardenable sealing products comprise a hardenable binding agent which is mixed with said mud whereby said mud is a self-hardening mud.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conduit is lowered into said trench prior to hardening of said products and is maintained suspended in said trench until said products have hardened.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, after said products have hardened, a tunnel is dug therethrough and said conduit is installed therein.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein reinforcement means are incorporated into said products before said tunnel is dug.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hardenable sealing products have a specific weight higher than the specific weight of said mud and are substituted for a part of said mud after said trench has been dug.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein a hardenable product having a strength higher than the strength of said sealing product is substituted for said mud in the lower part of said trench, beneath said sealing products.

4. A method of installing a conduit in the ground comprising digging a trench in the ground while keeping said trench at least partially filled with a thixotropic mud to prevent collapse of the trench walls and installing the conduit in said trench, said thixotropic mud containing hardenable sealing products at least in the part of said trench wherein said conduit is located whereby said conduit is sealed in the ground after said products have hardened, wherein conduit elements for forming said conduit are obturated by sealing means at their ends and weighted prior to being lowered into said trench, and are interconnected when they lie under said mud, the conduit being cleared after the conduit elements have been interconnected.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said conduit elements are directly interconnected.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said conduit elements are axially located within said trench at a distance from one another and are interconnected after hardening of said products by elimination of said sealing means and of the hardened product located between said conduit elements, auxiliary connecting elements being installed between the respective conduit elements.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said sealing means comprise membranes bonded to the ends of said conduit elements, said membrances being flat and adapted to come into contact with each other when said conduit elements are interconnected.