Key information

Title: Chair and method for fixing supportive profiles to a lining.
Application number: 20190590
Case type: National
Status: 05.06.2020 P.g.a. manglende svar. Søker har ikke begjært gjenopptakelse
Filed: 08.05.2019
Priority: 08.05.2018 NO 20180659
Effective date: 08.05.2019
Publicly available: 11.11.2019
Applicant: CHEETHAM JOHN OLDROYD (NO)
Inventor: John Oldroyd Cheetham (NO)
Agent: ACAPO AS (NO)

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.

This publication relates to a chair (10) for fixing a supporting profile (30) to a lining (28) or supporting surface (28), for example arranged on a tunnel wall or roof surface. The chair (10) comprising a base (12) member configured to be attached with a first side to the lining (28); at least a stem (14) extending out from a second side of the base (12). The chair (10) further comprising at least one fin (24) extending out from the stem (14) for locking of the supporting profile (30) between the base (12) and the fin (24) of the chair (10) by threading of the stem (14) and the at least one fin (24) of the chair (10) through an aperture (32) of the profile (30). The publication relates also to a method for fixing such supporting profiles (30) to a lining (28) by the use of mentioned chairs (10).

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Date

Date	Doc. No.	Process	Case number	In/Out	Journal description	To/from
14.10.2020	04-01	Saksbehandling	20190590	UT	Endelig Henleggelse	ACAPO AS
19.06.2020	03-01	Saksbehandling	20190590	UT	Henlagt manglede svar	ACAPO AS
05.12.2019	02-02	Saksbehandling	20190590	UT	PT_report 09:50:36
05.12.2019	02-01	Saksbehandling	20190590	UT	Realitet patent	ACAPO AS
08.05.2019	01-04	Saksbehandling	20190590	INN	Fullmakt	ACAPO AS
08.05.2019	01-03	Saksbehandling	20190590	INN	Beskrivelse	ACAPO AS
08.05.2019	01-02	Saksbehandling	20190590	INN	P17253NO01-fig.	ACAPO AS
08.05.2019	01-01	Saksbehandling	20190590	INN	Søknadsskjema Patent	ACAPO AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.

Description

The Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a chair and a method for fixing profiles to a lining or supporting surface in order to reinforce the lining or supporting surface in such a way that it may be possible to maintain the lining or supporting surface at a predetermined distance from a concrete reinforcement member as further defined in the preamble of the independent claims.

Thus, the present invention relates to a chair for fixing a supporting profile to a lining, for example arranged on a tunnel wall or roof surface, the chair comprises a base member configured to be attached with a first side of the lining; a stem fixed to and extending out from a second side of the base.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for fixing an elongate profile to a lining, such as a supporting membrane or foil surface to be reinforced and subsequently covered with concrete, using chairs as claimed in claim 1 to 12.

Further, the invention also relates to a method for reinforcing a lining arranged on a tunnel wall and/or roof using a chair according to claim 11.

Background for the Invention

In many cases, there is a need for a waterproof and/or fire proof lining of a wall or a roof, such as for example the walls and/or roof of a tunnel, and at the same time there is a requirement that such linings or membranes are to be covered by concrete. The lining is affixed to the wall/roof by means of rock anchors fixed at one end to the rock, the other end extending a distance outwards from the rock, the lining being arranged as a continuous lining across the tunnel in lengthwise sections, forming a water tight barrier covering both the walls and the roof. In addition, reinforcement is fixed to and supported by the same rock anchors whereupon a layer of concrete is shot on to the lining, the lining serving as formwork for such shotcrete.

In order to reinforce the concrete, reinforcement is required, either as reinforcement rebars, together with the lining, which are extending both in a longitudinal direction of the tunnel and also in transverse direction, following the contour of the lining, or as reinforcement nets. Such reinforcement, together with the lining, is fixed to the rock by means of rock anchors while the lining is additionally supported by means of chairs, fixed to the lining. The reinforcements bars and lining are both typically connected to a number of chairs prior to shotcreting in order to prevent parts of the flexible lining from being displaced during concreting and in order to secure the required minimum distance from the lining to the reinforcement and to secure the require coverage of the reinforcement, externally of the

reinforcement.

Thus, the reinforcement can be affixed to the lining with chairs to keep the desired distance. For instance, chairs such as the one revealed in NO 341919 can be used. Using this type of chairs or other types of chairs for fixing the reinforcements without any other support means that the distance between the flexible liner and the reinforcement only will be precisely maintained at the points where there is a chair present. To maintain the distance between liner and reinforcement in between chairs it is common to additionally use supportive plastic profiles (from now on referred to as profiles) in between chairs, glued or welded on the surface of the lining. These profiles prevent the membrane from moving away from the reinforcements when exposed to the force from shotcreting, preventing it from yielding outwards during shotcreting and helps keeping the lining stretched out in the desired shape. Large quantities of profiles are needed, and fixing them to the lining is time consuming. Gluing is the common way for fixing the profiles to the lining as of today.

Use of glue incorporates a number of inherent drawbacks. Firstly, the glue its self must be of a two-component type, preferably mixed in the outlet of a glue pistol or melt glue pistol. Such glue is expensive, requiring a clean surface in order to secure sufficient and adequate gluing effect. Moreover, such method also requires time for enable the glue to cure. Hence, the method is both expensive due to time taken, man hours required and the cost of the glue. Moreover, experience has shown that the quality of the gluing effect may vary substantially, due to both lack of or varying proper distribution of a uniform layer of glue over the entire contact area of the profile and varying cleanness of the membrane surface and the presence of moist. As a consequence, it is experienced that some of the profiles drops off during concreting, such shotcrete being applied at a high pressure causing heavy impact on the lining or supporting surface, reinforcement, chairs and profiles. In areas where one or more profiles have dropped off, the lining or supporting surface will yield during the shotcreting operation, forcing the lining outwards toward the rock behind. In such regions, the layer of shotcrete, will as a consequence, be thicker, thus consuming more concrete than necessary due to the yielding outwards, thus increasing the time taken for the concreting process and the cost of added volume of concrete necessary.

NO 341919 which describes an earlies invention made by the inventor discloses a chair for fixing reinforcements. This chair comprises a base and a reinforcement bar locking device. The base can be welded onto the liner and the reinforcements bars can be inserted into the locking device. The chair helps keeping the desired distance between the liner and the reinforcement.

From NO 333588 it is known a chair for fixing reinforcement nets or bar at a predetermined distance from an insulated tunnel wall. The chair comprises a threaded section intended to be screwed into the insulating material until a stop surface enters into engagement with the surface of the insulation. A part of the chair is configured to project outwards from the insulation with two parallel discs arranged at a predefined distance from the insulation, securing adequate position for the reinforcement with respect to the insulation. The chair is also provided with a spy, i.e. a devise to enable the concreting operator to identify whether an adequate concrete coverage is obtained in the shotcreting process or not.

US 3,673,753 describes a concrete reinforcing bar support device which includes a base supporting an upright pedestal, configured to rest more or less firmly on a more or less horizontal surface. A lower clamping portion is supported by the pedestal, which has a first rod-receiving open passageway there through. Resilient detents extend from the lower clamping portion to retain detents extend from the lower clamping portion to retain a reinforcing rod disposed through the first passageway. An upper clamping portion is provided which includes a pair of hook members extending from the lower clamping portion. Each of the hook members has a mouth opening in the same direction to define a second rod-receiving passageway, which is normally disposed to the first passageway. The chair disclosed is of a type intended to rest on a more or less horizontal surface without any fixing means to the supporting surface.

US 2008/0178554 disclose a chair for supporting one or more reinforcement bars in a concrete structure. The chair includes a base member having a centered opening, a pair of opposing first leg members extending upwards from the base member at a first angle, a pair of opposing second leg member extending upwards from the base element at a second angle, and a strap-shaped locking cradle. The strap-shaped locking cradle includes an arc-shaped receiving portion attached to the first and second leg members, a flexible portion suitable for wrapping over the bars and a fastener to affix the flexible portion to the arc-shaped receiving portion or one of the first leg members such that transverse and vertical movement of the bars is limited and longitudinal movement of bars is allowed. The chair is also provided with a centrally arranged spike extending downwards from the cradle and downwards past the base, intended to be forced into the ground.

It should be appreciated that the lining on the one hand, although fixed to the tunnel wall by means of the rock anchors, is flexible and pliable, so that the distance between the lining and the established or mounted reinforcement may vary due to said flexibility. On the other hand, the reinforcement fixed to the rock anchors forms a quite rigid frame structure. Because of the varying distance between the fixed reinforcement and the flexible lining, and in order to secure an even distance between these two elements, chairs and profiles are used. Said chairs and profiles are fixed subsequent to mounting of the lining on the rock anchors, the chairs and profiles being used to obtain the correct distance between the ling and the later fixed reinforcement. As a consequence, sometimes the lining must be pushed away from the reinforcement using the chairs and profiles and in other instances the chairs are used to pull the lining towards the fixed reinforcement. Frequently, there is for different reasons a need for adding additional rigidity to and to support the lining. This is proposed solved by using elongate profiles extending between the chairs. These profiles are typically made of plastic materials, for example of re-circulated plastic materials. It has proved difficult and/or time consuming, however, to provide a proper fixture of the elongate profiles to the supporting lining or surface. It is therefore a need for a method that allows quick fixing of both chairs and profiles to secure adequate fixing and enabling pulling or pushing the lining into required position rapidly after fixing of the chair.

Thus, there is a need for hardware and a method that allows quick and efficient mounting of profiles and where the profiles, and as a result the lining, are maintained in the intended position during the shotcreting process.

Summary of the Invention

In the following throughout the specification, the following terms means:

The term “lining” used in this specification means a membrane, an insulation sheet, a foil, a lining or similar type of installations. The lining may function as a supporting surface for concrete by optionally covering the lining, chair, profile and optionally reinforcement with concrete by shotcreating.

The term “reinforcement bar locking device” or “locking device” used in this specification means a member fixed to an opposite end of the stem of the chair, the member being a locking device provided for receiving and holding or fixing a reinforcement bar or net to the chair and consequently to the lining.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified and more efficient way for interconnecting at least profiles, and preferably also reinforcements, to a lining covering the roof and/or walls for example in tunnels, before concrete is applied in a shotcreting process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a chair that makes the process of affixing the profiles effective and less time consuming compared to using the prior art methods and hardware.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to make the fixing of chairs and profiles sufficiently rigid and resistant to withstand the impact from the shotcreating process.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system that distributes the impact from the shotcreting more evenly over a larger surface area.

A further objective of the present invention is to make a chair that fulfills the already mentioned objectives and at the same time being easy to manufacture, leaving the casting mold easily; and thereby being cost effective to produce.

The objects are achieved by a chair and a method for affixing profiles to a lining or supporting surface by the use of such a chair as further defined by the independent claims, while embodiments, alternatives, modifications and variants are defined by the dependent claims.

In a first aspect the present invention relates to a chair for fixing supporting profile, for example arranged on a tunnel wall or roof surface, the chair comprising a base member configured to be attached with a first side to the lining; at least a stem extending out from a second opposing side of the base. Moreover, the chair further comprising at least one fin extending sideways or laterally out from the stem for locking of the supporting profile between the base and the fin of the chair by threading of the stem and the at least one fin of the chair through an aperture of the profile.

According to one embodiment, the supporting profile is an elongated profile with a number of apertures, preferably an U-shaped profile with a series of apertures distributed along its length.

According to one embodiment the at least one fin is provided with a flexible tip, allowing a profile with an aperture or a hold to be snapped over the fin(s).

According to another embodiment of the invention the flexible tip of the at least one fin is pointed towards the base of the chair.

According to yet another embodiment the tip of the at least one fin is pointed away from the base of the chair.

Further, according to another embodiment the at least one fin is triangularly shaped, the flexible tip pointing orthogonally out of the stem.

According to still another embodiment of the invention the at least one fin is provided with the at least one side surface, inclined outwards and downwards towards the base member.

According to another embodiment the at least one fin is extending bent out from the stem.

Further according to one possible embodiment of the invention the at least one fin is provided with a surface, facing the base member and arranged at a distance apart from a surface of the base member.

According to another embodiment of the invention the at least one fin extends more or less continuous in circumferential direction around the intermediate part and preferably, but not necessarily extending 360 degrees around the intermediate part. As a variant the external surface of such fin may be provided with one or more recess, allowing the tip to be yielding when pressed through an opening in the profile.

According to yet another embodiment the chair further comprises a reinforcement bar locking device for fixing reinforcement bar or net to the lining, where the locking device being arranged on a distant end of the stem.

Further, according to another possible embodiment, the lining is a membrane or a foil.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for fixing a elongate profile to a lining, such as a supporting membrane of foil surface to be reinforced and subsequently covered with concrete, using a chair as claimed in the claims 1 to 12, following the steps of threading the profile onto the chair by insertion and/or snapping of the stem the fin through an aperture of the profile and attaching the chair with its base on the lining.

According to another embodiment the profile is threaded onto and fixed the chair (10) by subsequent steps of:

(i) aligning the at least one fin arranged on at least one side of the stem of the chair with an aperture of the elongated profile, having a dimension at least suitable to thread the fin and the stem through it,

(ii) inserting or snapping the stem and the fin through said aperture

(iii) turning the elongated profile or the chair to lock the elongated profile between the fin and the base of the chair.

According to yet another embodiment the profile is threaded onto and fixed to the chair wherein the fin is at least partially flexible and the aperture of the profile is smaller than the dimension of the fin and stem, comprising the steps of;

(i) pressing or snapping the aperture of the elongated profile and the chair towards each other, thereby at least partially and temporarily deflecting the fin when passing through the opening,

(ii) locking the elongated profile between the fin and the base of the chair after the shape of the fin is recovered.

According to another embodiment, the chair is fixed to the lining before securing the profile to the chair.

According to one embodiment, the profile is secured to the chair before the chair is affixed to the lining.

According to yet another embodiment, a profile is fixed by using one or more chairs that are fixed to the lining whereupon the profile is threaded and snapped onto the at least one chair

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method for reinforcing a lining arranged on a tunnel wall and/or roof using a chair comprising the following steps:

(i) fixing the lining (28) to the tunnel wall and/or roof by anchors;

(ii) attaching a number of chairs (10) with its base on the lining;

(iii) attaching a number of profiles (30) to a number of chairs (10) according to any of the method of claims 13-18;

(iv) attaching a reinforcement bar or net on the chair and anchors;

(v) optionally covering the lining and reinforcement by shotcreting.

According to one embodiment, the chair is threaded into an aperture or hole in the profile and then the profile or the chair is turned around the intermediate part of the chair so that a part of the profile becomes fixed between the fins and the base. For such purpose both the aperture or hole and the cross sectional foot print of the chair, seen from the opposite end of the base may be rectangular, allowing the stem and the reinforcement bar fixing and locking device to pass through the aperture or hole in the profile when aligned, but is prevented to pass through the aperture or hole in the profile and thereby prevented for removement when the profile or the chair are rotated the required degrees in order to be in a locked position.

According to another embodiment, the profile is secured to the chair before the chair is affixed to the supportive surface.

According to yet another embodiment, a profile is fixed by using one or more chairs that are fixed to the lining or supporting surface whereupon the profile is threaded and snapped onto the at least one chair.

Further, according to another embodiment of the invention, a profile is threaded onto a chair and forced past at least one flexible fin or a flexible collet on the chair.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below, embodiments of the invention will be described, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows schematically, in perspective and simplified a part of a tunnel wall and roof provided with a lining attached to the rock and reinforcement of the lining also being strengthened by means of conventional profiles, fixed to the lining by means of one possible embodiment of the chair, also used for fixing reinforcement to a lining or supporting surface;

Figure 2 shows schematically and in perspective the profiles and a reinforcement net fixed to a lining or supporting surface by means of a number of chairs;

Figure 3 shows a detail A from figure 2;

Figure 4 shows schematically in perspective and in an enlarged scale details for one way of fixing the profile to the lining or supporting surface; and

Figure 5 shows schematically, one possible embodiment of the chair seen from the side.

Detailed Description of Embodiments disclosed in the Drawings

The following description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The following embodiments are discussed, for simplicity, with regard to a method for fixing profiles to a lining or to insulation, using the chairs as fixing points.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

Although a chair 10 comprising a base 12 element, a stem or intermediate part 14 projecting upwards from the base 12 and a reinforcement bar holding and locking device 16 and possibly a spy 18 and two locking fins 24 is described below, it should be appreciated that the chair 10 also may be modified in such way that chair 10 only consist of the base or foot 12 and the stem or intermediate part 14 extending out from the foot.

Figure 1 shows schematically, in perspective and simplified a lining or supporting surface 28 as a part of a tunnel wall and roof. The lining or supporting surface 28 being attached to the rock (not shown) and reinforcement 26, the lining or supporting surface 28 also being strengthened by means of conventional profiles 30, fixed to the lining 28 by means of one possible embodiment of the chair 10, also used for fixing reinforcement 26 to a lining or supporting surface 28. In Figure 1 one can see the lining or supporting surface 28, the chairs 10, the profiles 30 and the reinforcement 26 assembled on a sidewall and partly in the roof of a tunnel. Although only a section of a lining 28 is shown, the lining or supporting surface 28 may extend around the full profile of the tunnel and along the entire length of the tunnel. The number of profiles 30 used depends on the need for strengthening of the rigidity of the lining or supporting surface 28 both lengthwise and crosswise in the tunnel. Both the reinforcement 26 and the profiles 30 are arranged on the side of the lining or supporting surface 28 facing the tunnel cavity.

Figure 2 shows one profile 30 and reinforcement 26 fixed to a number of chairs 10. The purpose of this figure is to show the details in an enlarged view compared to figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a detail A from figure 2 showing a close-up of one chair 10 fixing a profile 30 and holding a reinforcement net. Even though the figure shows a reinforcement net, it is not limited to a reinforcement net, it could also be a reinforcement bar or the like.

Figure 4 shows schematically and in perspective a section through a single profile 30 fixed to the lining or supporting surface 28 (not shown in Figure 4). The profile 30 according to the embodiment shown has a general U-shaped form with two wings 36 and an intermediate bottom structure or plate 34, interconnecting the two wings 36, preferably, but not necessarily made of plastic material, other suitable materials are e.g. recycled plastics, aluminum or steel. According to the embodiment shown, a portion of the profile 30 is locked to the lining or supporting surface 28 (not shown in Figure 4) by means of fins 24 on the chair 10, pressing the intermediate bottom structure 34 against the foot or base 12 of the chair 10, fixed to the lining or supporting surface 28.

According to the embodiment shown, the chair 10 is threaded through an aperture or hole 32 in the intermediate bottom structure 34 and then rotated to a position as disclosed where the lower surface of the fins 24 forces the intermediate bottom structure 34 of the profile 30 against the referenced foot or base 12. For this purpose, the aperture or hole 32 may be elongate, i.e. smaller width than length, the longitudinal aperture or hole 32 being lengthways oriented in the longitudinal direction of the profile 30. Correspondingly, the shape and dimension of the chair 10 in one plane correspond in size to the shape of the slot, while when rotated, the chair 10 is prevented from being retracted from the profile 30. In order to fix the chair 10 to the profile 30, the profile 30 is inserted into the aperture or aperture 32 from the bottom of the profile 30 and pressed until it is physical contact between the base 12 plate of the chair 10 and the bottom surface of the intermediate bottom structure 34 of the profile 30. At this stage the chair 10 is rotated whereby the chair 10 is locked in position by means of the lower surface/edge of the flexible (or rigid) fins 24. When the required number of chairs 10 on a profile 30 is adequately installed, the base 12 plate of each chair 10 is fixed to the lining or supporting surface 28, for example by welding or gluing.

Alternatively, the required number of chairs 10 may be threaded onto the profile 30, or vice versa, whereupon the profile 30 is pressed down and snapped over the outwards extending fin(s) 24 of the chair 10 or the chairs 10 is pressed up in the apertures or holes 32 of the profile 30 and the fin(s) (24) is snapping through the apertures or holes 32, where the fin(s) 24 of the chair 10 which preferably, but not necessarily may be somewhat flexible or yielding. The profile 30 and the chairs 10 is in a locked position between the respective base 12 plates and the adjacent surface(s) of the fins 24. When the required number of chairs 10 on a profile 30 is adequately installed, the base 12 plate of each chair 10 is fixed to the lining or supporting surface 28, for example by welding or gluing.

Alternatively, the required number of chairs 10 may be welded or glued to the lining or supporting surface 28, aligned and distanced apart corresponding to the corresponding apertures or holes 32 in a profile 30, the whereupon the profile 30 is threaded onto the aligned row of chairs 10, pressed down and snapped over the outwards extending fins 24, which preferably, but not necessarily may be somewhat flexible or yielding. Again, in this position the profile 30 is in a locked position between the respective base 12 plates and the adjacent surface(s) of the fins 24.

The reinforcement 26 may be snapped into an opening 17 in the head at an free end of the chair 10, while a spy 18 is dimensioned in such way that it visually may be determined when sufficient thickness of the concrete covering layer over the reinforcement 26 is obtained.

Figure 5 shows schematically a sectional side view of one embodiment of a chair 10 according to the present invention. As indicated the disclosed embodiment of the chair 10 comprises a base or a foot 12, preferably having a circular foot print, although also an oval or a rectangular foot print may be beneficial; a stem or intermediate part 14 projecting upwards from the base 12; a reinforcement bar holding and locking device 16; a spy 18 and two locking fins 24. The diameter of the foot or the length along the major axis of the oval or the longest side in case of a rectangle should be arranged such that when the chair 10 is fixed to the profile 30 the foot extend laterally out past the base 12 of the profile 30, allowing access to the bottom surface of the base 12 for welding or gluing of the chair 10 to the lining or supporting surface 28. The foot or base 12 member of the chair is fixed to the lining with a first side, while the stem 14 extends outward from a second, opposing side of said base 12 member.

The purpose of the spy 18 is to serve as an indicator for required concrete thickness during the shotcreting process. Concrete is shot on to the lining or supporting surface 28 and supporting element to achieve an even thickness of concrete over the entire surface of the lining or supporting surface 28. The length of the spy 18 is chosen to secure sufficient concrete coverage for the reinforcement 26.

Moreover, it should be appreciated that the distance from the top surface of the base 12, i.e. the surface facing the intermediate part 14, to the adjacent surface of the fin(s) 24 should be equal to or larger than the thickness of the intermediate bottom structure 34 of the profile 30, thereby locking the profile 30 when threaded past the fin(s) 24, Moreover, the distance from the base 12 of the chair 10 to the reinforcement bar locking device 16 is configured such that sufficient concrete also may be placed between the lining or supporting surface 28 and the reinforcement 26.

The shown reinforcement bar locking device 16 comprises a ventrally arranged aperture 19 with an area somewhat larger than the cross sectional area of the reinforcement 26 bar to be inserted into the aperture 19. In order to enable reinforcement 26 bars to be inserted into the aperture 19, the reinforcement bar locking device 16 is provided with an opening 17.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 the two locking fins 24 are extending radially sideways out from the intermediate part 14 on opposite sides of the intermediate part 14. The shape of the fins 24 according to the view shown in Figure 5 equals to the axial cross sectional shape of a cone. The purpose of the two fins 24 is to act as a locking mechanism for locking profiles 30 to the chair 10.

An alternative method may be utilized to fix the chair 10 to the lining 28 prior to fixing the profiles 30 to the chairs 10. For this method, the chairs 10 that are to support one profile 30 have to be aligned so that the fins 24 point in almost the same direction seen perpendicular onto the base 12 of the chair 10. The direction of the fins 24 should not be parallel, but slightly different from parallel seen from the said angle. By doing this one can use the flex in the profile 30, bend it with force and then thread it onto the second (and the third, fourth etc.…) chair 10. When the force is taken of the profile 30 it will be secured to the chairs 10.

In other embodiments of the invention, one can have only one of the fins 24, or one can have several placed out in a star pattern around the stem or intermediate part 14.

As mentioned earlier a snap on solution can be utilized to secure the profiles 30 to the chairs 10. In such a case the fins 24 should preferably but not necessary have a flexible tip and it would be preferred if the tip would be angled towards the base 12 of the chair 10 to act as a snap on barb. In this case a profile 30 with an aperture or hole 32 slightly narrower than the fins 24 from tip to tip could be treaded down on the chair 10 and forced passed the fins 24. Instead of separate fin(s) 24, one could extend the fin(s) 24 to form a continuing collet stretching 360 degrees around the intermediate part 14.

The chair 10 can be made of plastic material using a molding technique, but other materials and manufacturing methods can also be utilized. The chair 10 can even be made of two-component material, where the chair 10 itself may be made of one plastic material and the underside of the base 12 of the chair 10 may be made of a plastic material more suitable for or giving a faster welding or gluing in order to fix the chair 10 to the lining 28.

Table 1

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Chair (10) for fixing a supporting profile (30) to a lining (28), for example arranged on a tunnel wall or roof surface, the chair (10) comprising a base (12) member configured to be attached with a first side to the lining (28); at least a stem (14) extending out from a second opposing side of the base (12)

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the chair (10) further comprising at least one fin (24) extending sideways out from the stem (14) for locking of the supporting profile (30) between the base (12) and the fin (24) of the chair (10)by threading of the stem (14) and the at least one fin (24) of the chair (10) through an aperture (32) of the profile (30).

2. Chair (10) according to claim 1, wherein the supporting profile (30) is an elongated profile with a number of apertures (32), preferably an U-shaped profile with a series of apertures distributed along its length.

3. Chair (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one fin (24) is flexible or provided with at least a flexible tip.

4. Chair (10) according to one of the claims 2 or 3, wherein the tip of the at least one fin (24) is pointed towards the base (12) of the chair (10).

5. Chair (10) according to one of the claims 2 or 3, wherein the tip of the at least one fin (24) is pointed away from the base (12) of the chair (10).

6. Chair (10) according to one of the claims 2 or 3, wherein the at least one fin (24) is triangularly shaped, the flexible tip pointing orthogonally out of the stem (14).

7. Chair (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one fin (24) is provided with at least one side surface, inclined outwards and downwards toward the base (12) member.

8. Chair (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one fin (24) is extending bent out from the stem (14).

9. Chair (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one fin (24) is provided with a surface, facing the base (12) member and arranged at a distance apart from a surface of the base (12) member.

10. Chair (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fin (24) is continuous and extends 360 degrees around the stem (14), or the stem is provided with two fins (24) arranged on opposing sides of the stem (14).

11. Chair (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the chair (10) further comprises a reinforcement bar locking device (16) for fixing reinforcement bar or net (26) to the lining (28), the locking device (16) being arranged on a distant end of the stem (14)

12. Chair (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lining (28) is a membrane or a foil.

13. Method for fixing an supporting profile (30) to a lining (28), such as a supporting membrane or foil surface to be reinforced and subsequently covered with concrete, using a chair (10) as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 10,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y the steps of threading the supporting profile (30) onto the chair (10) by insertion and/or snapping of the stem (14) and the fin (24) through an aperture (32) of the supporting profile (30) and attaching the chair (10) with its base (12) on the lining (28).

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the supporting profile (30) is threaded onto and fixed the chair (10) by subsequent steps of

(i) aligning the at least one fin (24) arranged on at least one side of the stem (14) of the chair (10) with an aperture of the elongated profile (30), having a dimension at least suitable to thread the fin (24) and the stem (14) through it,

(ii) inserting and/or snapping the stem (14) and the fin (24) through said aperture (iii) turning the supporting profile (30) or the chair (10) to lock the elongated profile (30) between the fin (24) and the base (12) of the chair (10).

15. Method according to claim 13, wherein the supporting profile (30) is threaded onto and fixed to the chair (10) wherein the fin (24) is at least partially flexible and the aperture of the profile is smaller than the dimension of the fin (24) and stem (14), comprising the steps of;

(i) pressing or snapping the aperture (32) of the elongated profile (30) and the chair (10) towards each other, thereby at least partially and temporarily deflecting the fin (24) when passing through the aperture (32),

(ii) locking the supporting profile (30) between the fin (24) and the base (12) of the chair (10) after the shape of the fin (24) is recovered.

16. Method according to one of the claims 13-15, wherein the chair (10) is fixed to the lining (28) before securing the supporting profile (30) to the chair (10)

17. Method according to one of the claim 13-15, wherein the supporting profile (30) is secured to the chair (10) before the chair (10) is affixed to the lining (28).

18. Method according to claim 13, wherein the supporting profile (30) is fixed by using one or more chairs (10) that are fixed to the lining (28) whereupon the supporting profile (30) is threaded and snapped onto the at least one chair (10).

19. Method for reinforcing a lining (28) arranged on a tunnel wall and/or roof using a chair (10) according to claim 11 comprising the following steps

(i) fixing the lining (28) to the tunnel wall and/or roof by anchors;

(ii) attaching a number of chairs (10) with its base (12) on the lining (28);

(iii) attaching a number of profiles (30) to a number of chairs (10) according to any of the method of claims 13-18;

(iv) attaching a reinforcement bar or net (26) on the chair (10) and anchors;

(v) optionally covering the lining (28) and reinforcement by shotcreting.

Drawings

Priority

08.05.2018 NO 20180659

Patent classes

IPC classes

E04C 5/16

E04C 5/20

E21D 11/10

E21D 11/12

CPC classes

E04C 5/16

E04C 5/167

E04C 5/20

E04C 5/206

E21D 11/10

E21D 11/107

E21D 11/12

Citations

NO 341919 B1 (B1)

AU 8713082 A (A)

US 2068932 A (A)

GB 1169783 A (A)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Applicants

CHEETHAM JOHN OLDROYD

Hasselstien 2

3924 PORSGRUNN

NO (PORSGRUNN Municipality, Telemark county)

Org. number: 995349078

Inventors

John Oldroyd Cheetham

Hasselstien 2

3924 PORSGRUNN

NO (PORSGRUNN Municipality, Telemark county)

Agent

ACAPO AS

Edvard Griegs vei 1

5059 BERGEN

NO (BERGEN Municipality, Vestland county)

Org. number: 915113737

Reference: P17253NO01

Status history

Payment history

Oppositions and appeals

No oppositions or appeals

Administrative limitation

No administrative limitation

Liens and licences

No liens or licenses registered

Gazette entries

No Gazette entries found

Only events from 2024.03.04 and onwards are shown.

Chair and method for fixing supportive profiles to a lining.