US1624712A - Contractible and expansible supporting means suitable for use in the construction of pipes, tunnels, bridges, and other bodies or structures - Google Patents

Description

,712 Ann! 12, 1927. BERRIDGE v I CONTRACTIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE SUPPORTING MEANS SUITABLE FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPES, TUNNELS. BRIDGES, AND OTHER BODIES 0R STRUCTURES Filed May 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ia: 12, 1927. 1,624,712.

H. BERRIDGE CONTRACTIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE SUPPORTING MEANS SUITABLE FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPES, TUNNELS BRIDGES, AND OTHER BODIES 0R STRUCTURES I Filed May 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES rs 'rorFrcE- HAROLD BERRIDGE, OF SOUTH KENSINGTON, LONDON, ENGLAND.

CONTRACTIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE SUPPORTING MEANS SUITABLE FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIPES, TUNNELS, BRIDGES, AND OTHERBQDIES OR STRUCTURES.

Application filed May 29, 1926, Serial No. 112,726, and in Great Britain November 17, 1925.

This invention has reference to means suitable for use inter aha as a core orsupport I in the construction of pipes, tunnels, bridges.

or other bodies or structures made of cement,

concrete, bricks or other material, and it has for its object to provide a hollow core or support suitable for thepurpose mentioned and which, after use-in the construction or building of a-body or structure, such as referred to, can readily be removed therefrom without taking it to -pieces so that it can again readily-be used for a like purpose.

For this purpose, a hoilow core or support according to the invention comprises a cylinder of sheet materialdividedthroughoutits ,lengthby a slit extending along it and partly around it in a helical :manner, and means whereby the material at opposite sides of the slit'can be caused to move longitudinally in opposite directions so that the cylinder will thereby become increased in length and simultaneously reduced in diameter, to admit of itsreadyremoval from the body or structure'in which it has been used, after which it can be allowed to expand and resume its normal length and diameter. H

In 'the accompanying illustrative drawings Figs. 1 and 2 show respectively in side elevation and end elevation, one construction of hollow core or support according to the inventionfin its normal position for use. Fig. 3 is-a'similar view to Fig. 1 but showing the core or support increased in length and reduced in diameter. Fig. 1 shows a mode of using the said core or support. Fig. 5 shows a blankfrom which the core. or support can be formed. Fig. 6 shows in side elevation, amodified construction ofcore or support. .Fig 7 shows in side elevation, part of a still further modified construction of core-or support and Fig. 8. is a cross section thereof on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 7

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the hollow core or support consists oii a cylinder 1 formed from a blank of sheet material of such a nature that it can be bent into a cylindrical formand will .retain that shape naturally and of such shape that when bent, a helical slit 2 will be formed between the adjacent longitudinal edges. The means used for lengthening the cylinder and simultaneously reducing its diameter, may comprise, for example, a screw threaded rod 3 mounted to rotate, but not to move endways, in a lug fixed on the inner side of the cylinder adjacent to one side of thehelical slit 2 therein and near one end thereof and a lug 5, adapted to serve as a nut, fiXed to the inner side of the cylinder at the opposite side of the slit and adj acent, thereto and near the opposite end of the cylinder. rangement is such that the screw can .be turned in a direction to force the lugs Land 5 apartand thereby lengthen the cylinder and simultaneously reduce its diameter, as

The ar shown in. Fig. 8, against the natural-tendency I of thecylinder to retain. its normal length and dlameter, and thus toenableitito be removed readily from a pipe, tunnel, bridge or other body or structure 6, (Fig, i); that has been bullt around or upon it. Afterwards, byt-urning the screw 3 in the opposite direction, thecylinder will be permitted, or

can be caused, to return to its original length and diameter for reuse"; Y i

Means may be provided for maintaining the edges of the material at opposite sides of. the slit in proper relation to each other at all times. strips of.material, 'several are shown at 7 in Fig. 1, may be secured to the inner'side of the cylinderv at oneside of the slit2 and I arranged to extend under the slit and bear 7 against the inner side portion of the cylinder at the opposite side of the slit.

A cylinder such. as described can com veniently be made from a blank of rhomboidal shape, such as shown for. example in Fig. 5. For many purposes, the cylinder will be made ofsheet orplate metal.

In some cases, and as shown in Fig.6, a rod 3 may be fixed at one end, as by nuts 8, to a lug l -secured to the inner side of the cylinder 1 nearone end .there.of and at one side of the slit 2 ,therei-n and-have its other end screw threaded-andextended through (a plain lug 5 secured to the inner side of'thc cylinder near its opposite end and at the opposite side of the slit therein so that by screwing a nut 9 journaled in the lug 5 on the screw threaded end of the rod, the two lugs can be forced apart from each other and For this'purpose, one. or more the cylinder thereby lengthened and simulv with supporting or stifiening means, as for example one or more ribs or rings 12, one is shown, that is or are split adjacent to the slit 2 in the cylinder, as shown at l2 so as to follow the relative movements of the parts of the cylinder when the cylinder is being lengthened and reduced in diameter and afterwards restored to normal dimensions.

Cont-ractible and expansible cylinders such as described, can be used for various purposes other than for making pipes, tunnels, bridges and the like. Thus, they may be used to surround bolts used for holding in place walls or shuttering employed in forming concrete Walls and like structures, the contractible cylinders or tubes protecting the bolts from the concrete or like material and admitting of the bolts being readily removed from the finished wall or like structure, after which they can be contracted in diameter and readily withdrawn from the Wall or other structure for reuse. Or they may be used for forming holesor recesses in concrete or other material capable of being moulded. They may also be used as cores in casting articles 0]": various kinds made of metal or alloy.

What I claim is 1. A contractible and eXpansible device comprising a cylinder formed of sheet material divided throughout its length by a slit extending along and partly around it in a helical manner and means whereby the material at opposite sides of the slit can be caused to move longitudinally in opposite directions and thereby increase the length of the cylinder and reduce its diameter.

2. A contractible and expansible core or support comprising a cylinder formed of sheet material divided throughout its length by a slit extending along it in a helical manner, and means connected to opposite end portions of said cylinder at opposite sidesoi' the slit therein whereby the material at opposite sides of said slit can be moved in opposite directions for the purpose set forth.

3. A contractible and expansible core or support comprising a cylinder formed of resilient sheet material divided throughout its length by a slit extending along it in a helical manner, a rod connected to the inner side of said cylinder near one end thereof and at one side of said slit and adjustable means attached to the inner side of said cylinder near its opposite end and at the opposite side or said slit, whereby the material at opposite sides of said slit can be moved in opposite directions for the purpose set forth. 1

4t. A contractible and expansible core or support comprising a cylinder formed of resilient sheet material divided throughout its length by a slit extending along it in ahelical manner, two lugs secured to the inner side of said cylinder near the opposite ends thereof and at opposite sides of said slit and a rod jointed at one end to one of said lugs so that it can turn therein but cannot move endwise in relation thereto and at the other end portion is in screw thread connection with the second lug and is adapted to be rotated.

5. A contractible and expansible core or support comprising a cylinder formed of sheet material divided throughout its length by a slit extending along it in a helical man ner, internal stifi'ening means at the inner side of said cylinder and means whereby the material at opposite sides of the slit can be caused to move in opposite directions lengthwise of the slit and thereby increase the length and reduce the diameter of the cylinder.

6. A contractible and expansible core or support con'iprising a cylinder formed of sheet material divided throughout its length by a slit extending along it in a helical manner, means connected to opposite end portions of said cylinder at opposite sides of the slit therein whereby the material at opposite sides of said slit can be moved in opposite directions for the purpose set forth and means arranged within said cylinder adapted to maintain the edges of the material at opposite sides of the slitin proper relation to each other at all times.

Signed at London this 13th day of May HAROLD BERRIDGE.

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