Device for joining tunnel segments

ABSTRACT

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.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a coupler device for joining two tunnel liningsegments together.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Previous inventions disclose devices, which align and restrain twotunnel lining segments of a ring. However they are limited by theaccuracy of their manufacture or the accuracy of the casting of thetunnel lining segment. In all cases the joining device is inserted priorto the segments being pushed together by rams and relies on geometricinterference to provide restraint.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a coupler devicefor joining together two construction segments of a construction memberselected from the group comprising a tunnel lining ring, shaft liningand the like, the coupler device comprising a double ended male firstpart having a substantially cylindrical portion adjacent to both ends,each substantially cylindrical portion having a surface which is formedinto a series of grooves, a second part incorporating a reverse taperedsleeve for retention in one of the construction segments and a thirdpart having an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuatesegments, said arcuate segments having complementary grooves on theirinner surface to mate with the cylindrical portion of said first partand a tapered external circumferential portion to abut the reversetapered sleeve of said second part, said arcuate segments being retainedelastically within the second part.
The arcuate segments maybe retained by a membrane of elasticallyflexible material.
In use, as two tunnel lining segments are urged together with the malepart engaged in the recesses in both segments the cylindrical groovedportion adjacent to both ends of the device abuts the internally groovedarcuate segments retained in the sleeve at the base of the recesses castin the segments, forcing back and radially outwards the expandablecollar formed by the arcuate segments.
The movement of the expandable collar is resisted elastically whichforces the mating grooves around the internal surfaces of the ring ofarcuate segments to engage the cylindrical grooved portion of the malepart of the device.
The tapered external surfaces of the ring of arcuate segments engage thesurrounding reverse tapered sleeve thus locking the male part of thedevice into the recess formed in the sides of the segments preventingthe device from pulling out.
 When segments are urged together it is to be expected that the abuttingfaces of the tunnel rings do not fully contact one another. Therelationship between the grooved cylindrical portion adjacent to bothends of the male part of device and the expandable collar formed by thearcuate segments is so arranged as to start the expandable collarengaging the grooved cylindrical portion of the male part of the deviceand the tapered external surfaces of the ring of arcuate segmentsengaging the surrounding reverse tapered sleeve prior to fully closingthe gap between the adjacent segments.
When segments are urged together it is to be expected that the abuttingfaces of the tunnel rings do not initially fully align one to the other.The relationship between the expandable collar formed by the arcuatesegments and the abutting surface of the surrounding reverse taperedsleeve is so arranged as to allow each arcuate segment of the expandablecollar to individually engage the grooved cylindrical portion of themale part of the device prior to full alignment between the adjacentsegments.
The significant advantage gained from this invention is that therestraint does not rely on geometric interference. The highly accuratedimensions of the recesses in the segments and the extremely tighttolerances required when forming the existing devices are not necessary.This means that the device is easier to use, easier to manufacture andmore practical.
The segments may be made of concrete.
The central male portion of the device may be made of plastic or similarmaterial to provide the necessary strength and durability.
The central male portion of the device may incorporate additionalstrengthening inserts of other material along its length.
The central male portion of the device may be double conical in shape toassist in aligning the tunnel segments.
 The arcuate segments forming the expandable collar may be identical andformed from plastic or similar material to provide the necessarystrength and durability.
The arcuate segments forming the expandable collar may be integral attheir base with an elastic ring formed from plastic or similar materialto provide the necessary strength and durability.
The expandable collar may be formed of any number of arcuate segments.
The expandable collar may be retained within an elastic membrane whichmay be formed from plastic or similar material to provide the necessarystrength and durability.
The external surface of the central male portion of the device may beserrated or recessed.
The external surface of the cylindrical ends of the central male portionof the device may incorporate a series of grooves or recesses.
The grooves or recesses around the external surface of the cylindricalends of the central male portion of the device may be individualconcentric rings or threads or discrete recesses.
The grooves around the internal surface of the arcuate segments formingthe expandable collar of the device may be individual concentric ringsor threads or discrete recesses in order to mate with the grooves aroundthe external surfaces of the central male portion of the device tomaximising the locking forces between the central male portion and theexpandable collar.
The external surface of the arcuate segments orming the expandablecollar includes a reverse tapered portion to assist in locking thecentral male core into the recesses.
The external surface of the arcuate segments forming the expandablecollar may have ridges or recesses to assist in maintaining itsalignment with the external sleeve.
The internal surface of the external sleeve may have ridges or recessesto assist in maintaining the alignment of the arcuate segments formingthe expandable collar.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described by way of example with reference to thefollowing drawings.
 FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates an end view of a typical concretetunnel lining ring made up of a plurality of tunnel lining segments;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of two adjacent ringsjoined together with coupler devices according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of the coupler device according toone embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the recess formed in the tunnellining and the external sleeve of the coupler device according to oneembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the external sleeve of the coupler deviceaccording to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the ring of arcuate segments formingthe expandable collar and the retaining elastic membrane of the couplerdevice according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the extrados of an individual arcuate segmentfrom the expandable collar with two part sections through the individualarcuate segment according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is an end view of a separate annular segment forming theexpandable collar according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of the elastic membrane that retainsthe expandable collar of the coupler device according to one embodimentof this invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the elastic membrane that retainsthe expandable collar of the coupler device according to one embodimentof this invention;

FIG. 11 is a part longitudinal section and side view of the male part ofthe coupler device engaged within the expandable collar according to asecond embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the ring of arcuate segmentsforming the expandable collar of the coupler device according to asecond embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 13 is a part longitudinal section and side view of the expandablecollar device according to a second embodiment of this invention.
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that wherever reference is made in thisspecification to a tunnel lining, the present coupler devices are alsointended to be used with lining segments for shafts and the like.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10 of the drawings, a tunnel lining ring istypically made up of plurality of concrete lining segments 1 joined toone another. Once a ring has been fitted in place in the tunnel, thenext ring can be urged towards the first ring by rams, either as acomplete ring or one segment at a time, and automatically joined to itby coupler devices 2.
The coupler devices 2 consist of a male part 4 which engage insymmetrical recesses 3A and 3B formed in the abutting faces of thesegments. A reverse tapered sleeve 5 incorporating the expandable collar6 is fixed at the base of each recess 3.
Each male part 4 of the device 2 has a central double conical core 7which acts as a dowel, and a cylindrical end portion 8 adjacent to thecentral double conical part of the core 7. The external surface of thecylindrical end portion 8 having grooves 9 around its circumference.
The central double conical part of the core 7 assists in the alignmentbetween segments and incorporates recesses 10 to provide a limitedamount of flexibility without reducing the shear and tensile capacity ofthe device.
Longitudinally along the centre of the male part of the device 4 theremay be a strengthening rod 11 of another material totally encased withinthe male part of the device 4.
Encased at the ends of recesses 3 there is an external sleeve 5 of thedevice which has a reverse tapered portion 12 encasing the expandablecollar 6 engaging on the reverse tapered portion 12 of the externalsleeve 5.
 The expandable collar 6 consists of a plurality of arcuate wedges 13,the inner surface of the arcuate wedges 13 having a number of ridges 14so shaped as to mate with the grooves 9 around the external surface ofthe cylindrical ends 8 of the central male part of the device 4.
According to one embodiment of this invention the external surface ofeach arcuate wedge 13 incorporates a tapered portion 15 engaging on thereverse tapered portion 12 of the external sleeve 5, and a groove 16locating the surrounding elastic membrane 17. The external surface ofeach arcuate wedge 13 may incorporate a ridge 18 to abut against theexternal sleeve 5 assisting in the alignment of the arcuate wedges 13.
Around the outer circumference of the ring of arcuate segmental wedges13 there is a cylindrical flexible elastic membrane 17. The elasticmembrane 17 incorporates a skirt 19 that locates in a recess 20 in thebase 21 of the external sleeve 5, a number of slots 22 and a number offingers 23 that locate in the grooves 16 in the external surface of eachof the arcuate wedges 13.
The external sleeve 5 may incorporate a ridge or recess 24 to engage theridge 18 formed on the external circumferential surface of the arcuatewedges 13 to assist in the alignment of the arcuate wedges 13.
In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 theexpandable collar 25 consists of a ring of arcuate wedges 26. The innersurface of the arcuate wedges 26 having a number of ridges 31 so shapedas to mate with the grooves 9 around the external surface of thecylindrical ends of the central male part of the device 4.
 The external surface of the ring of arcuate wedge 26 incorporates atapered portion 27 engaging on the reverse tapered portion 28 of theexternal sleeve 29. The ring of arcuate wedges 26 is retained by anintegral elastic cylinder 30 which forces the ring of arcuate wedges 26to engage with the grooves 9 around the external surface of thecylindrical ends 8 of the central male part of the device 4. The base ofthe elastic cylinder 30 abuts against the external sleeve 29 assistingin the alignment of the expandable collar 25.
We claim:
 1. A coupler device for joining together two constructionsegments of a construction member selected from the group comprising atunnel lining ring and shaft lining, the coupler device comprising adouble ended male first part having a substantially cylindrical portionadjacent to both ends, each substantially cylindrical portion having asurface which is formed into a series of grooves, a second partincorporating a reverse tapered sleeve for retention in one of theconstruction segments and a third part having an expandable collarformed of a plurality of arcuate segments, said arcuate segments havingcomplementary grooves on their inner surface to mate with thecylindrical portion of said first part and a tapered externalcircumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve of saidsecond part, said arcuate segments being retained elastically within thesecond part.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the arcuatesegments are retained by a membrane of elastically flexible material. 3.A device according to claim 1, wherein the relationship between thegrooved cylindrical portion adjacent to both ends of the male first partof the device and the expandable collar formed by the arcuate segmentsis so arranged as to start the expandable collar engaging the groovedcylindrical portion of the male first part of the device and the taperedexternal surfaces of the ring of arcuate segments engaging thesurrounding reverse tapered sleeve as the segments are urged, in use ofthe device, together and prior to fully closing the gap between theadjacent tunnel lining segments.
4. A device according to claim 1,wherein the relationship between the expandable collar formed by thearcuate segments and the abutting surface of the surrounding reversetapered sleeve is so arranged as to allow, in use, each arcuate segmentof the expandable collar to individually engage the grooved cylindricalportion of the first male part of the device prior to full alignmentbetween the adjacent tunnel lining segments.
5. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the male first part is made from a material selectedfrom the group comprising plastic and similar material.
6. A deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the male first part incorporatesadditional strengthening inserts of material other than plastic orsimilar material along its length.
7. A device according to claim 1,wherein the male first part is double conical in shape to assist inaligning the construction segments.
8. A device according to claim 1,wherein the arcuate segments forming the expandable collar are formed ofmaterial selected from the group comprising plastic and similarmaterial.
9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate segmentsforming the expandable collar are identical.
 10. A device according toclaim 8, wherein the arcuate segments forming the expandable collar areformed in to an integral base with an elastic ring formed from plasticsand similar material.
11. A device according to claim 1, wherein theexpandable collar is retained within an elastic membrane.
12. A deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the expandable collar is formed frommaterial selected from the group comprising plastics and similarmaterial.
13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the externalsurface of the male first part is serrated.
14. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the external surface of the male first part isrecessed.
15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the externalsurface of the cylindrical ends of the male first part incorporate aseries of profiles selected from the group comprising grooves andrecesses.
16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the profilesaround the external surface of the cylindrical ends of the male firstpart are selected from the group comprising individual concentric rings,threads and discrete recesses.
17. A device according to claim 1,wherein the grooves around the internal surface of the arcuate segmentsforming the expandable collar are selected from the group comprisingindividual concentric rings, threads and discrete recesses in order tomate with the grooves around the external surfaces of the male firstpart.
18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the external surface ofthe arcuate segments forming the expandable collar includes a reversetapered portion to assist in locking the male first part into the tunnellining segments.
19. A device according to claim 1, wherein the externalsurface of the arcuate segments forming the expandable collar haveprofiles selected from the group comprising ridges and recesses, toassist in maintaining the alignment of the collar with the sleeve.
 20. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the internal surface of the sleevehas profiles selected from the group comprising ridges and recesses toassist in maintaining the alignment of the arcuate segments forming theexpandable collar.
21. Two tunnel lining segments joined by a couplerdevice comprising a double ended male first part having a substantiallycylindrical portion adjacent to both ends, each substantiallycylindrical portion having a surface which is formed into a series ofgrooves, a second part incorporating a reverse tapered sleeve retainedin the tunnel lining segments and a third part having an expandablecollar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments, said arcuate segmentshaving complementary grooves on their inner surface to mate with thecylindrical portion of said first part and a tapered externalcircumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve of saidsecond part, said arcuate segments being retained elastically within thesecond part.
22. Two tunnel lining segments according to claim 21,wherein the tunnel lining segments are of concrete.
23. Two segments ofa shaft lining joined by a coupler device comprising a double ended malefirst part having a substantially cylindrical portion adjacent to bothends, each substantially cylindrical portion having a surface which isformed into a series of grooves, a second part incorporating a reversetapered sleeve retained in the shaft lining segments and a third parthaving an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments,said arcuate segments having complementary grooves on their innersurface to mate with the cylindrical portion of said first part and atapered external circumferential portion to abut the reverse taperedsleeve of said second part, said arcuate segments being retainedelastically within the second part.
24. Two segments of a shaft liningaccording to claim 23, wherein the shaft lining segments are ofconcrete..
