Abstract: A masonry retaining wall is constructed using a footer placed at or beneath a lower grade level with vertically extending post-tensioning rods extending therefrom. The post-tensioning rods are provided with upset ends and flange members close to a right angle bend to provide appropriate anchoring in the footer and to increase the pull out strength of the rod. A plurality of courses of masonry block are positioned on the footer with the vertically extending post-tensioning rods threaded through voids in the block. Flange members are positioned on the ends of the respective post-tensioning rods and nuts are used on the threaded ends thereof to apply a predetermined tensioning force to each of the post-tensioning rods.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining at least two or more wales of a shoring system including a first substantially rigid end-cap adapted to enclose an end of a first horizontally disposed wale, the first end-cap having a horizontally extending flange with a first vertically disposed aperture cut there through, a second substantially rigid end-cap adapted to enclose an end of a second horizontally disposed wale, the second end-cap having a horizontally extending flange with a second vertically disposed aperture cut there through of substantially the same diameter of the first vertically disposed aperture, a locking pin dimensioned to be slideably received by the first and second vertically disposed apertures when the first and second vertically disposed apertures are in substantial alignment with one another wherein a leading end of the first horizontally disposed wale and a leading end of the second horizontally disposed wale are oriented in substantially perpendicular fashion to one another and in relative proximity so

Abstract: An apparatus for use in erosion control comprising a primary member and a secondary member pivotally connectable to the primary member to form a unit. The unit can be connected to another like unit to form a protective network of such units.

Abstract: The modular wall includes a sheet pile wall (12) with support brackets (20) that provide cantilever support to a facade of interlocking rows of blocks (30-34). The support member (20) includes vertical members that extend from the top of the sheet piling part way down the length of the sheet piling. Base members (24) extend from the vertical members and are supported by angled braces (22). Horizontally extending key members rest on the base members and are affixed thereto. The key members provide a key for connecting to a slot of a first row of modular blocks. The modular blocks are stabilized by geogrid (28) that is captured in the key and slot interconnection of the modular blocks and is affixed to the sheet piling or embedded in concrete fill (12).

Abstract: A trench shoring system using panels as shoring walls to prevent possible collapse of natural ground walls of trenches in trenches such as for burying pipes underground, having a sliding panels type trench shoring system that offers increased safety during the job, and higher job efficiency.

Abstract: An earth retaining wall formed by a plurality of panels which are matingly stacked together in jigsaw puzzle like fashion against an earth embankment. The panels are arranged one above another and are held together by vertical bars which pass through hollow pipes formed at peripheral portions of each panel. Each bar is formed at a terminal end with a ball foot formation which rests in a matingly engageable ball foot formation plate or footing positioned in the embankment. The upper terminal end of the wall is capped by a plate member. Wave breakers can be installed on the faces of the panels when the wall is employed as a sea wall. Two walls also can be installed in cooperative fashion to function as a water dam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for installing a mine support (pillar, or pillar and grout bag) in a mine. The following are practiced: Locating a form in the mine where it is desired to provide support, the form being composed of a plurality of engaging parts shaped to produce a pillar when filled with a settable material, and the parts being disengageable to permit subsequent removal. Filling the form with a settable cementitous material and allowing the material to set to produce a pillar in the mine which is cuttable with a coal shearer. And, removing the form. When there is a gap between the top of the pillar and the roof of the mine a bag of yieldable grout is inserted in the gap. After use the support may be removed by cutting through the pillar and the bag of yieldable material, and the form may be reused to make a second pillar.

Abstract: A shoring leg is provided with a latch for use in maintaining an end plate of the shoring leg and a jack collar in a predetermined position relative to each another. The latch comprises a latch member having a slot to receive a mounting bracket which mounts the latch member for pivotal movement relative to the mounting means from a latching position to a release position. The latch member defines a recess adapted, when in the latching position, to receive part of the leg end plate and a corresponding part of an adjacent collar of the jack to retain the end plate and collar in the predetermined position. The latch member is biased into the latching position by a coil spring acting between the leg and the latching member.

Abstract: A soil cement bank lining system is provided for substantially reducing or eliminating erosion along the banks of a waterway such as a flood conveyance facility. The system includes at least two soil cement linings arranged at spaced apart locations. One or more over-bank grade control structures are interposed between the first and second linings. The respective linings preferably extend parallel to the body of water, with one lining being disposed farther from the body of water and at a higher elevation than the other lining.

Abstract: A trench shield includes a pair of shielding panels for protecting opposite side walls of a trench excavation, two side frames are provided for restively adjustably securing the two shielding panels on the two side frames, and have a plurality of brace members spaced between the two side frames for retaining the two side frames and the two shielding panels, and two rolling devices respectively are mounted on a front bottom portion and a rear bottom portion of the trench shield for carrying the trench shield to be ridable and movable on a pipe under construction in the trench excavation. Upon rolling of the rolling devices on the constructing pipe, the trench shield will be conveniently moved on the pipe without any obstruction.

Abstract: A trench shield includes: a pair of shielding wheels rotatably mounted on a pair of retaining plates; a plurality of brace members passing through two retaining plates for retaining the two shielding wheels, each shielding wheel formed as a protective circular panel for shielding a side wall of a trench excavation for preventing collapse of the trench walls; and two control devices each provided for locking or unlocking each shielding wheel on each retaining plate; whereby upon unlocking of the wheels from the retaining plates and upon rolling of the wheels in the trench, the trench shield will be forwardly moved conveniently and smoothly.

Abstract: A pneumatic/hydraulic shoring strut is disclosed for bracing walls in various situations. The shoring strut is provided with features that allow it to be infinitely adjustable and self-locking. In a preferred embodiment, the strut contains an internal biasing member that urges contraction when pneumatic pressure is released. More particularly, the pneumatic/hydraulic shoring strut of the present invention is composed of an inner and outer cylinder which form an annular recess therebetween. The cylinders are mounted in first and second caps and an annular drive piston is positioned within the annular recess, creating first and second chambers. A port for injecting air into the first chamber is mounted on the outer cylinder and hydraulic fluid is sealed in the second chamber. A channel is provided in one of the caps providing fluid communication between the second chamber and an interior cavity located within the inner cylinder where a working piston is reciprocatingly mounted.

Abstract: An excavation support structure has a vertical face and includes an array of two or more soil-cement columns positioned internal to the vertical face. The columns are positioned within the array so that each of the columns is not connected by soil-cement to any other column. Soil surrounds the soil-cement columns except where the soil-cement columns meet the vertical surface. The soil-cement columns are distributed within the support structure so as to form a composite structure with the soil.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for lining a trench, hole, tunnel or other excavation, said lining device comprising vertical supports arranged in pairs opposite one another on both sides along the trench, wherein the supports have first guide channels for receiving the lining plates on both of their sides and second guide channels located on the inside of said supports for guiding a bracing frame, wherein said second guide channels define a gap formed by two flanges and have roller tracks on both sides thereof against which are supported rollers of the bracing frame capable of taking up compressive forces; at least one bracing frame disposed between two opposite supports, which bracing frame can be guided in a vertically displaceable manner by means of parts engaging in the second guide channels; and lining plates which can be guided in a vertically displaceable manner in the first guide channels of two adjacent supports; wherein at least one pulley assembly is mounted in the upper region of the bracing fram

Abstract: The invention concerns a housing (18), in a trench falsework panel, designed to hold the support shoe for a strut (17) so that the strut is secured in place at a spring joint. The housing permits the support shoe, which is directly associated with the strut, to be mounted simply in place by virtue of the fact that the longitudinal ends of the housing have a collar (21) projecting out from the surface of the panel, at a certain distance from the strut, with a bore running at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the support shoe has a collar, matching that on the housing, with a bore, aligned with that in the housing collar, into which a bolt (25) can be inserted to hold the shoe in place.

Abstract: A lining plate intended for employment in connection with trench lining in below-grade construction becomes assembly- and removal-friendly and simultaneously resistant to flexural buckling even against forces acting during driving in by means of the excavator bucket, if a hollow profile plate structure, which forms the plate frame and is welded together with the remaining plate part, is provided, and if at least one suspension eye is cut into the plate surface a distance apart from the circumferential hollow profile frame elements, which contains a fastening means for a lifting means of the crane.

Abstract: A trench shield or manhole shield which has tapered side shields. The walls of each side shield are tapered. The outer walls are tapered inwardly from front to rear (in the case of the trench shield) or from top to bottom (in the case of a manhole shield). This taper allows the shield to be pulled out of an excavated hole by reducing friction because the trailing portion of the shield is tapered inwardly and does not contact the sides of the hole. The inner wall of each side shield of the trench shield is tapered outwardly from front to rear, further reducing friction. In different embodiments either the outer or the inner walls or both are tapered.

Abstract: A rotatable trench shield handling assembly provided with upwardly extending excavator hook-engaging means. The rotatable trench shield handling assembly provided with rear downwardly extending trench shield wall engaging means and with an opposed forward transversely positioned horizontally oriented trench shield wall engaging guide stabilizer bar means which cooperates with the rear spaced apart trench shield wall engaging means to positively and easily engage the trench shield so as to enable the excavator operator to have positive control of the trench shield while lifting, handling, lowering, and selectively stacking the trench shield into its operative use position within a trench and subsequently removing the trench shield therefrom.

Abstract: An earthen work bulk form construction has a wire mesh facing and granular compactable fill with stabilizing members projecting horizontally into the fill from the front facing. The front facing is comprised of modular shaped panels which form a mosaic pattern that enables construction of the wall with non-adjacent panels serving to facilitate and support adjacent panels. Connection of the stabilizing members to the front panels is effected through a quick engagement and locking handle bar connector.

Abstract: A hole shoring device that includes a support frame, a first hollow octagonal shaped sleeve, a frame linkage, a hollow second octagonal shaped sleeve, a first linkage, a second hollow octagonal shaped sleeve, a second linkage, a third hollow octagonal shaped sleeve, a third linkage, and a fourth hollow octagonal shaped sleeve. The support frame is positioned on an area around a hole in which a tank is to be buried. The first hollow octagonal shaped sleeve is disposed below the support frame and is positioned in the hole. The frame linkage removably connects the first hollow octagonal shaped sleeve and the support frame. The hollow second octagonal shaped sleeve is removably mounted within and extends below the hollow first octagonal shaped sleeve and is positioned in the hole. The first linkage removably connects the hollow second octagonal shaped sleeve and the hollow first octagonal shaped sleeve.

Abstract: An earthen work bulk form construction has a wire mesh facing and granular compactable fill with stabilizing members projecting horizontally into the fill from the front facing. The front facing is comprised of modular shaped panels which form a mosaic pattern that enables construction of the wall with non-adjacent panels serving to facilitate and support adjacent panels. Connection of the stabilizing members to the front panels is effected through a quick engagement and locking handle bar connector.

Abstract: A connector for use in constructing an earth stabilizing structure with the capability of yielding horizontally to excessive impact loads. The connector comprises a slotted metal plate which may be used to form connections along a horizontal reinforcing member or between the reinforcing member and a facing element. The slot has a larger transverse dimension at one end and narrows toward its opposite end. A bolt, pin or connecting arm having a cross-sectional dimension which allows for insertion into the widest end of the slot, but which provides resistance upon movement toward the opposite end of the slot, is inserted through the slot, providing a connection between the metal plate and another component of the earth stabilizing structure. As the bolt, pin or connecting arm is moved toward the narrow end of the slot, it engages the edges of the slot and provides full design strength by mechanical interference.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of forming a ground anchor to spread evenly the loads produced during, for example, pipe lining. The ground anchors comprise a frame and means for clamping the frame to upper ends of a series of ground engaging piles such that the frame and piles define a substantially rigid assembly. The frame may comprise first and second frame portions through which the piles may be driven, the frame portions being held in spaced apart relationship during pile driving by temporary coupling means.

Abstract: A sheeting device having large-size sheeting panels (2,4) supported against vertical supports (1,3) which are arranged in pairs facing each other and are spaced-apart by at least one spreader frame (5). The side walls (15,15') of the supports (1,3) having a C-shaped cross-section are provided with legs (16,16') which are bent in parallel to the base wall (12), are opposing each other, and leave a wide gap between them. The spreader frame (5) is guided in the supports (1,3) in a vertically movable manner. The spreader frame is provided with rollers (11,11') transmitting pressure forces and running on the base wall (12) of the supports (1,3) and with rollers (17,17') running on the inner sides of the two legs (16,16') of a support (1,3) and transmitting the traction of the spreader frame.

Abstract: A shoring system consists of a number of vertical legs, with a ledger frame between each pair of adjacent legs. The ledger frame comprises an upper horizontally extending member and a lower horizontally extending member. There are vertical side members adjacent the sides of the frame. The horizontal members extend beyond the vertical side members and each horizontal member is provided with terminal connectors adapted to connect the horizontal members to the vertical legs. Consequently the vertical members on the ledger frame are spaced away from the vertical legs.

Abstract: A support column for underground mining has a hollow lower column component and a hollow upper column component. The upper column component is slidingly mounted in the lower column component. The bottom of the upper column component is a plate member. The circumferential outer surface of the plate member and the inner surface of the lower column component form an annular gap through which air and water can penetrate, while a non-hardening filler introduced into the interior space of the lower column component through a filling unit cannot penetrate through the gap. The filler accumulating in the interior space of the lower column component causes the upper column component to be moved relative to the lower column component and the support column is clamped between the abutments. The support column can be removed by discharging filler through an outlet opening in the lower column component.

Abstract: An excavation shield apparatus (10) and method prevent the collapse, or cave-in, of soil about a hole in the ground having one or more utility apparatus. The excavation shield apparatus (10) comprises a longitudinal body (11) having a lateral perimeter wall (12) surrounding a longitudinal throughway (13) adapted to be placed substantially vertically within the hole. A bottom end (11a) of the longitudinal body (11) is placed below the ground level and a top end (11b) is placed in close proximity to the ground level. The longitudinal throughway (13) is of sufficient size to permit passage of a person therethrough and has sufficient strength to endure forces imposed by the surrounding soil without substantial deformation. One or more apertures (16a-16d) are situated in the lateral perimeter wall (12) approximately at the bottom end (11a) for receiving utility apparatus therethrough so that a worker can operate upon the utility apparatus within the longitudinal throughway (13).

Abstract: A self-locking elongated lagging strip having a dovetail-shaped groove running along the length of the strip and in which groove there is mounted a slide fastener having a first, tongue portion of dovetail section slidable in the groove in the strip, and a second portion of generally rectangular shape disposed above the tongue portion and projecting beyond the tongue portion so as to engage a surface of a vertical beam to hold the strip against the beam pending placement of a backfill material.

Abstract: A plastic sheath for wood bulkheads and the like which includes an elongated plastic sleeve configured and dimensioned to cover at least three sides of a generally rectangular wood board and at least the marginal edge of the remaining side thereof. The sleeve has a front panel covering a front side of the wood board, two side panels each joined to the front panel for covering opposite side edges of the wood board and at least two rear flaps each joined to an opposite one of the opposite side panels for covering at least the marginal edge of a rear side of the wood board. One of the side panels has a generally centrally disposed tongue and the other of the side panels has a generally centrally disposed groove for joining a multiplicity of so-sheathed boards together in a tongue-and-groove manner.

Abstract: A method of abandoning an underground storage tank including the steps of: removing residuals, if any, from the tank and filling the tank with a mixture which includes water, sand, a binding agent and a material for promoting uniform mixing of said mixture. In one embodiment of the invention, a surfactant is added to reduce the amount of water required by the mixture.

Abstract: An interlocking retaining wall apparatus includes a collection of plural, annular structures which frictionally interlock with one another to form a wall. The structures making up the wall have a generally truncated, right conical exterior surface and a generally right, cylindrical interior surface. The structures are stacked, one atop the other, to form a wall of desired height. A variety of sizes of structures are provided to meet the needs of the individual wall which is being constructed.

Abstract: A shoring leg comprises an extrusion of aluminum or the like. The leg has a plurality of axially extending slots in its exterior at substantially equi-angularly spaced positions. The wall of the leg defines a substantially circular outer periphery and a hollow interior. The wall is interrupted by slot formations at substantially equi-angularly spaced positions, each slot formation comprising a pair of inwardly directed lips defining a slot therebetween and an inwardly directed web of substantially semi-circular form extending between the points where the lips, on each side of the slot, extend from the said circular wall.

Abstract: The yieldable load support comprises a compressible support member in the form of an elongate timber pole. The load support or pole is asymmetrically modified at or near one end thereof in a manner to positively induce sideways brushing of the pole at the modified end, in a preferential direction transverse to the length of the pole, when the support member is placed under longitudinal compressive load of sufficient magnitude.

Abstract: An apparatus for sheeting a deep trench, including pairs of vertical support rails arranged along the trench so that the support rails of each pair of support rails are opposite each other at an equal distance, the support rails having guide channels, a rigid strut frame holding the support rails of a pair of rails at a distance from each other and being formlockingly displaceable on the support rails, and large-surfaced outer sheeting plates and inner sheeting plates having vertical edges that are vertically displaceable in the guide channels of the support rails, the support rails having two side walls spaced from each other which, together with an outer wall and an inner wall, form an at least partially closed box beam, and the guide channels being formed, at least partially, on outer sides of the side walls by guide flanges, which lay in the plane of the outer wall, and support flanges which are spaced from the guide flanges, the side walls of the support rails being extended inward past the inner wall, t

Abstract: An excavation hole shoring system is disclosed which employs a plurality of shoring panels positioned between adjacent vertical soldier beams around the periphery of an excavation hole. A plurality of horizontal reinforcing members form a box frame around the hole's periphery at grade level, and each of the soldier beams is attached to an adjacent one of the reinforcing members with a metal strap. Each of the soldier beams includes a pair of longitudinal guide beams which form front and back channels for reception of front and back shoring panels. The front shoring panel is employed to shore the lower portion of an excavation hole, while the back shoring panel is employed to shore the upper portion of the hole. The two panels are therefore vertically staggered in an overlapping fashion so that holes of varying depths can be shored with the same shoring system.

Abstract: A trench shield assembly (12) having first and second shield walls (14, 16) maintained spaced apart by a plurality of spacer struts (30) at the front end of the shield walls and an archway (32) secured at the rear end of the shield walls. Each shield wall is constructed from a plurality of beams (18) that are stacked on top of each other and secured together. Each beam includes a central web (20) and first and second face flanges (22, 24). When stacked and secured, the first face flanges define a first exterior skin (26) of the shield wall and the second face flanges define a second exterior skin (28) of the shield wall. The ends of the spacer struts project through transverse passages (44) defined in the shield walls. Stops (46) formed on the spacer struts, at a location spaced from the ends of the struts, limit the degree of insertion of the struts into the transverse passages. A locking plate (50) is secured to each projecting end of the struts to prevent withdrawal of the struts from the passages.

Abstract: A trench shield has a pair of upright shields laterally spaced from each other with spreaders. Each shield has a frame supporting side walls and a horizontal earth penetrating blade. A pounding rail is releasably mounted on a channel top member of the frame. The pounding rail is an inverted channel member located in the channel of the top member. Rods secured to opposite sides of the pounding rail cooperate with the top member to retain the pounding rail on the top member and allow removal of the pounding unit from the top member. Collars secured to opposite ends of the frame accommodate the spreaders.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in retaining wall structures derived from a plurality of like structural blocks stacked end-to-end one upon the other in generally horizontally axially extending courses in overlapped wall defining relation. The blocks have a body portion with an axis terminating in opposed end surfaces, and are bounded by front and rear facings and by generally parallel upper and lower surfaces, with the upper and lower surfaces including therewithin respective opposed axially extending recess formations. More particularly, this invention relates to a connector for selectively positioning and interlocking against transverse displacement the blocks used in constructing the retaining wall structure.

Abstract: A method of abandoning an underground storage tank including the steps of: removing residuals, if any, from the tank; washing the tank with a detergent solution; removing the washing solution; and filling the tank with a mixture which includes water, sand, a binding agent and a material for enhancing the flowability of the mixture.

Abstract: A shoring device for supporting a trench. The device has opposite shields of non-conductive material such as fiberglass. Hydraulic actuators extend between the shields. A spring return assembly also extends between the shields and is enclosed in a tube. A positive locking device may be secured to either the actuator or spring return assembly. In an alternate embodiment, the shields may have removable sections to accommodate obstructions in the trench.

Abstract: A system for the construction of cribbing and retaining walls includes a series of precast reinforced concrete blocks, the blocks each having a longitudinal ridge along the bottom surface and longitudinal and lateral channels on the upper surface. A number of courses of the blocks may be built up with the longitudinal channels of an underlying course mating with the ridges of the next overlying course to interlock for greater strength. Additionally, positive horizontally and vertically interlocking corners may be formed by mating the underlying lateral channel of one block with the overlying longitudinal ridge. The blocks may be formed using only two molds having two different lengths with all other dimensions the same, so that one longer length block plus the width of another block are equal to the combined length of two shorter blocks. In this way, the various blocks may be overlapped to interlock and form a variety of various structures for retaining and cribbing walls.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing measurement by a resistivity method in order to detect the thickness of a sludge layer on the outer periphery of a shield machine. A Wenner electrode row (14) on the outer periphery of the machine is used to measure reference resistivities to thereby detect certain resistivities in the depth direction of the natural ground and the sludge layer thickness. At the same time, a dipole electrode row (16) is used to measure voltage distributions in the depth direction of the natural ground and in the direction of the arrangement of the electrodes. The ratios of the values measured by the measurement dipole electrodes to those measured by the reference Wenner electrodes are calculated, and their distribution is charted. When mutually equal values in the distribution map are connected together by continuous curves, a contour-pattern image is obtained, which enables a configuration of the collapse of natural ground to be determined.

Abstract: An excavation shoring system comprised of a modular support frame having longitudinal and lateral beam members provided with collar sleeve openings adapted to slidably receive vertical support pipes which in turn are provided with regularly spaced vertical openings for insertably receiving stop pins in setting vertical height adjustment retention of the longitudinal and lateral beam members of the support frame to accommodate an excavation pit depth when assembling the support frame for placement use in vertically holding shoring grids to retain the exposed earthen walls of an open pit, which shoring grids are in turn adapted to receive slidably inserted planks within the grid slot structure thereof in further providing additional retentive support for unstable soils.

Abstract: A support device for lining ditches having braces for extending across the ditch and vertically extending guiding uprights which are supported by the braces. The guiding uprights include a U-shaped rail with leg members and parallel guide ridges extending in vertical direction located on each of the leg members on the inner portion of the U-shaped rail. Lining plates are provided with vertically-extending end faces, including a plurality of axles with guide rollers rotatably mounted thereon. The axles project outwardly from the end faces, and are alternately displaced on either side of a vertically extending line disposed along the center of the end faces. The lining plates are guided by alternating contact of the guide rollers with the parallel guide ridges of each of the leg members.

Abstract: A trench shoring apparatus braces the substantially vertical walls of an earthen excavation. Telescoping wall support legs permit the apparatus to be easily adjusted for use in trenches of various depths. Horizontal wall support arms joined to the wall support legs retain and stabilize trench wall soils and provide a mechanism for mounting additional soil retaining components. Flexible anchor support arms transfer the load produced by the shifting trench walls to a location remote from the trench. The trench shoring apparatus, additionally, may be partially folded and disassembled for ease in transportation and storage.

Abstract: A framing module for quickly assembling frames of rectangular towers suitable for supporting protective shields within excavations comprises a horizontal wale connected by hinge to a vertical leg and a locking brace to hold the hinged members in the right angle position. The wale has a tenon and set-back at each end. The hinged end of the leg is adjacent a set-back in the wale and that set-back becomes a mortise when the leg is set at right angle to the wale. The tenon of one module is inserted in the mortise of another module to interlock the modules. A rectangular frame is easily formed with at least four interlocked modules, and duplicate frames can be stacked to reach a desired tower height.

Abstract: A support device for lining a ditch which is supported by braces. The support device has an inner plate and an outer plate parallel to and facing the inner plate. A frame is provided which has an upper cross bar, a lower cross bar and side bars placed between and in contact with the plates at their periphery. The side bars include brace connection means for releasably engaging the braces. Longitudinally extending trapezoidal-shaped webs are provided on each plate. The webs each have two sides and a top which is parallel to each plate. The distance between adjacent webs along each plate is approximately equal to the width of the top. The webs on the inner plate are offset from the webs on the outer plate so that the webs on the plates matingly interconnect. The tops are in contact with the facing sheet plate and the sides of adjacent webs are parallel and in contact with each other.

Abstract: In order to support the walls of an excavation and prevent a cave-in of such walls, a preliminary trench is dug and its walls shored up by means of a trench box or trench shield placed therein. A series of soldier piles are driven into the soil below the trench box or trench shield and the excavation is made deeper. Reinforcement plates are moved between and along pairs of soldier piles to a depth below the trench box or trench shield to shore up the walls of the excavation below. By the use of multi-channel soldier piles a plurality of reinforcement plates set to differing depths can be used to shore the walls of the excavation as it is dug deeper in stages.

Abstract: An apparatus for shoring an excavation site includes a plurality of interlocking panels. Each panel includes inner and outer plates spaced apart from one another by beam supports. The panels have a bottom cutting edge for anchoring in the soil forming the bottom of the excavation site. Ball or socket joints are disposed, one each, along opposed vertical edges of each panel so that adjacent panels can be interlocked. A plurality of wales are provided for additional support. A method for shoring an excavation site includes the steps of interlocking a set of panels to enclose a space corresponding to the excavation site and installing the interlocked panels in the site. Sets of wales are then installed adjacent the inner plates of the panels for additional support.

Abstract: A rotatable cage for protecting a worker in a trench is disclosed. This cage is comprised of two walls which are substantially congruent with each other, at least three cross-members joining said walls, and a cover for the exterior surface of each of said walls. The cross-members and the walls define, in combination, at least three open spaces on the perimeter of the rotatable cage.