Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
W 095/14141 215 ~ 0 6 S PCT~L94100285
Method of constructing a tunnel-shaped cover or screen over a traffic
route, such as a road or railway.
The invention relates to a method of constructing a screen over
a traffic route which ensures as much as possible and to the required
extent that the traffic causes no visual or audible nuisance.
The increase of traffic on roads and railways has, in many
places, led to noise pollution.
For many years, sound-insulating walls have been placed between
the traffic route and the built-up area, which is generally intended for
housing, in order to alleviate the problem, and a plurality of proposals
in this respect is known. In this context, the guideline used is that if
the traffic route is hidden from view of the inhabitants of the ~uilt-up
area, the noise pollution emanating from the traffic has been reduced to
a sufficient degree.
Meanwhile, experience has shown that this form of controlling
the noise emanating from traffic, in particular motorized traffic, is not
sufficient, which, in some places, has caused the design of the screen to
be changed to the form of a cover which partly extends over the traffic
route. However, the last-mentioned solution can only be implemented in
the case of a traffic route to be newly constructed, such as a motorway,
but cannot be implemented once this route is in use, as traffic would be
seriously impeded by the construction work, if not be made impossible.
It is knowr from Laid-Open International Patent Applications
WO 93/02264 and WO 93/04246 to cover completely a traffic route, such as
a motorway, by fitting a tunnel-shaped cover over said traffic route,
which cover can easily be constructed according to the methods described
in these publications by inflating a canopy and spraying the inner wall
of the canopy with hardenable material, such as plastic foam and
concrete, thus creating, as it were, an aboveground tunnel which may be
provided, where desired, with apertures for ventilation or light which
are directed away from the built-up area, and which furthermore protects
the covered route to a reasonable degree from weather influences.
However, in this case the problem that there can be no movement
of traffic during construction also occurs, so that there is a problem in
relation to an existing traffic facility which causes noise pollution,
which problem the invention aims to solve.
The invention achieves said aim by providing the traffic route
(road and/or railway) with a temporary covering, over a distance which is
W 095/14141 21 S ~ 0 6 5 PCTA~L94/00285
essentially equal to the length of the screen section to be constructed,
of such width and height that the traffic can move under the covering and
of such construction that the traffic is protected with respect to the
work being undertaken outside the temporary covering for producing the
screen or screen section.
In this manner, it is possible to cover a road with four lanes
or six lanes completely either by means of one cover or by means of two
parallel covers with respect to the environment while the traffic can
pass through during the construction, albeit to a smaller extent, i.e. on
a smaller number of lanes.
Which method is employed for constructing the permanent cover
outside the temporary covering and thus over the latter is irrelevant.
However, it will be obvious that for this purpose, it is
preferable to use a method which makes economic sense and in respect of
which there is sufficient know-how in order to achieve the result without
problems.
This is possible, in particular, if a method for the
construction of the screen in the form of a tunnel-shaped cover can be
used in which an inflatable form is placed over a specific length of the
traffic route for constructing the cover, which form, in its inflated
state, determines the cross section of the cover and is fastened by the
lower edges to a foundation which is to be produced beforehand along both
sides of the route. Said inflatable form is provided with seals on the
ends transverse to the traffic route which seal with respect to the route
on the ground. After the form, which is accessible via an air lock, has
been inflated, the inner wall of the form is sprayed with hardening
material, such as plastic foam and concrete, the concrete being
reinforced, all this as disclosed in International Patent Applications
W0 93/02264, W0 93/04246 and based on the principle disclosed in European
Patent 0 357 151, respectively.
According to the invention, the temporary covering is sealed
with respect to the traffic space located under the latter and with
respect to the end seal in such a manner that the pressurized work space
of the inflated form is delimited on the outside by the inflatable form,
on the inside by the temporary covering and on the ends by sealing
screens between the form and the temporary covering.
Thus, the pressurized work space is limited to a relatively
narrow space on both sides of the temporary covering and on top of the
roof of the temporary covering.
215 1065
W O95/14141 PCTn~L94/00285
This also means that the space which is to be kept filled with
air by slight excess pressure is smaller than if the temporary covering
were not present, while the traffic under the temporary covering can move
along llni "cded and without risk of any damage.
Preferably, the temporary covering has sufficient supporting
strength so that the equipment for spraying the plastic foam and concrete
and for fitting the reinforcing rods, if required, can be placed on the
roof of the temporary covering.
Special equipment having lifting arms, as customary in the
production of dome-shaped bodies according to the method disclosed in
EP-B-0 357 151, is then not required. From the floor or a small scaffold
in the narrow work space on both sides of the side walls of the temporary
covering, the side walls can be sprayed up to and including the height of
the roof of the temporary covering, following which the uppermost section
can be sprayed from the temporary covering.
The temporary covering is preferably displaceable, in
particular rollable, so that the temporary covering, after removal of the
end seals, can be shifted over a part of the route once a part section
having a length of, for example, 50 meters of the permanent cover has
been constructed, following which a further canopy is attached to the
previously constructed part, the seals are put back in place and the
space between the temporary covering and the inflatable form is brought
back to its required form by blowing air in, following which the process
of spraying and reinforcing can be repeated.
Of course, in that case, i.e. when employing a spraying method
in an inflatable form which maintains its shape by excess pressure, the
temporary covering has to be and remain relatively air-tight, also along
the lower edge, where it joins the floor.
Of course, this can be achieved in a simple manner using
suitable materials and sealing strips, but the invention provides for a
simple possibility by coating the temporary covering with sealing film on
the side facing the work space, which film is durable or is protected
against damage. The temporary covering itself is thus also coated or
sealed with film along the side walls and the roof, which film is kept in
contact with the temporary covering by the excess pressure and ensures a
sealing action on the floor or the road surface, respectively, at the
location of the lower edge.
The end seals can be quarter-sphere sections which are fastened
so as to be detachable, all this as described in the abovementioned
2 ~ 5 4 0 6 5 4 PCTnYL94/0028~
Patent Application WO 93/02264.
The invention will now be explained in greater detail with
reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a cross section of the device according to the
invention for applying the method according to the invention;
Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 a~d~shows another stage of the
method; -
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the inflatable form with the
temporary covering for a part section;
Figure 4 schematically shows the result;
Figure 5 is a side view of the covering shown in Figure 4,
viewed from left to right in Figure 4;
Figure 6 schematically shows a further step of the method, and
Figure 7 schematically shows how the method can be applied with
an existing railway.
Figure 1 shows a road surface 1 having three lanes, being one
half of a motorway, the second half of which is located to the left of
Figure 1 and is not shown.
On both sides of these three lanes, foundations 2 and 3
ext~n~;ng in the longitudinal direction have been produced which are
intended for bearing the screen to be constructed and for attaching the
inflatable form still to be discussed.
A temporary covering, consisting of side walls 6 and 7 and a
roof 8, has been placed over the three lanes to be used by the traffic
and delimited by the crash barriers 4 and 5.
An inflatable form 9 is attached to the foundations 2 and 3,
said form consisting of a strong UV-resistant cloth of, for example,
polyvinylchloride, which can have a suitable colour and is connected to
end seals 10 and 11, as shown in Figure 3 and by means of a broken line
in Figure 6. These end seals are connected to the form 9 so as to be
detachable at 12 and are connected in a sealing manner to the ends of the
side walls 6 and 7, respectively, and the roof 8.
Therefore, there is a work space between the inflatable form 9,
as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the temporary covering 6, 7 and 8, which
work space is designated generally by 13 in the section above the roof 8
of the temporary covering, and by 14 and 15, respectively, on the two
sides of the temporary covering.
The foam and concrete can be sprayed on, respectively, in the
form of a layer of foam 16 and a layer of concrete 17 from the work
2154065
W O95/14141 PCT~L94/00285
spaces 14 and 15, respectively, if necessary using a scaffold 18, as well
as from the roof 8 of the work space.
In Figure 1, supplies of reinforcing rods are deposited at l9a,
l9b and l9c, which can be fastened in the manner described in one of the
abovementioned publications during the construction process and be
incorporated in the shotcrete.
Figure 3 shows an air lock at 20. This can be installed at
various locations and is known per se from the so-called inflatable
canopies and from the method of the abovementioned European Patent
O 357 151.
Figures 4 and 5 show the result in the form of a cover 21 over
a three-lane motorway, which cover may have apertures 22 for air and
light on the side remote from the built-up area 23.
Obviously, the second half of the motorway for traffic
travelling in the opposite direction and designated by 24 can be provided
with a covering in the same manner, but in many cases, this will no
longer be necessary.
Furthermore, it will be clear that the covering can be provided
with various forms of windows or apertures, depending on the desired
light distribution and ventilation facilities, provided that the location
of the apertures is chosen such that no sound can penetrate to the
outside in the direction of the built-up area.
The inflatable form remains behind as permanent formwork. It
can have a suitable colour and is UV-resistant. It protects the
underlying foam and concrete, respectively, from weather influences. If
desired, the cover can be hidden from view by earthing up and covering
with vegetation. At the locations where apertures are to be provided, no
hardenable material is sprayed and the film of the form is subsequently
cut away in those locations.
The temporary covering has obviously been removed from the
constructed section.
Figure 6 schematically shows how, in a constructed section 21
having apertures 22 of the kind as shown in Figures 4 and 5, after
removal of the end seals lO and 11, the temporary covering 8 is displaced
in the direction of the arrow 25, for example by placing the covering on
rollers which can indeed roll over the existing carriageway. In Figure 6,
the temporary covering has been partly moved out of the already
constructed part section 21 of the cover. As soon as the left-hand end
comes near the right-hand end of the already constructed cover, another
W 0 95/14141 ~ 2 15 ~ 0 6 5 PCT~L94tO028~
inflatable form can be fitted which, in addition to being attached to the
foundation, is also attached to the already constructed section 21 of the
cover, while furthermore, at that location, a seal is provided which is
detachable but which does not have to be the same shape as the quarter-
sphere seal designated by 10.
At 26 and 27, partly rolled-up seals are shown, which provide a
seal at the location of the ends between the inflatable form and the end
edges of the local covering, after the temporary covering has been
removed.
The seal of the local covering with respect to the floor 1 can
be effected in many ways which are known per se.
A simple and effective seal is achieved if a sealing film 28 is
applied over the entire temporary covering, i.e. along the outside of the
side walls 6 and 7 and over the roof 8, and extending over the entire
length of the temporary covering, as indicated in Figure 1 by broken
lines, which film also extends over a part or over the entire width of
the floor section 29 of the work spaces 14 and 15.
Figure 7 shows a dual-track railway 30 having catenary supports
31 and overhead wire 32. Over these, the temporary covering 33 is
provided and over the latter, the inflatable form 34 having end seals 35
and 36 and adjoining an already constructed cover 37.
**lt**~*
