Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of shoring a trench. The apparatus includes two vertical posts which are adapted to be disposed at the borders of the trench in an opposite relation and a rigid frame which is locatable at and vertically movable along the posts and which is secured within the posts. Laterally, the posts have receptacles for shoring plates adapted to be disposed in the longitudinal direction of the trench. The posts with the shoring plates and the frame can be lowered successively to the corresponding working depth by the reinsertion of bolts at the posts which serve for holding the frame.

Abstract: Modular trench box sheeting panels for use in wall supporting during the excavation of trenches or the like. A rectangular support frame is formed by a pair of sheeting support members secured to one another by pairs of spreader members at oppositely disposed ends thereof. The box sheeting panels of the invention are formed of modular interdependent structural shapes that are assembled in a modular fabrication method to form interengageable adjustable wall sheeting panel members with reinforced pounding plates and ground engaging knife edges.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting pipe main repair tools in an excavation while repairs are being made requires only exposure of the top surface of a buried main and utilizes an anchoring system installed in or above the excavation and an elongate support member that spans the excavation in a generally horizontal position above the pipe main and supports an elongate tubular seal tube against the exposed surface of the pipe main. The elongate support member is secured and supported at opposite ends on the ground surface on opposed sides of the excavation by a pair of parallel laterally spaced shoring members firmly engaged on opposed sides of the excavation, or by a pair of parallel laterally spaced anchor plates firmly engaged on the ground surface on opposed sides of the excavation.

Abstract: In the process for the construction of trenches in ground containing water and/or gas wherein a trench is due in said ground, support media is introduced in said trench to support the walls formed by the treching, vapor or water conduit means are placed in the trench and the trench with this support media is back-filled with particular material to dispose and remove the support media from the trench, the improvement comprising employing as said support media a hydrated cross linked acrylic polymer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing modular trench box sheeting panels for use in wall supporting during the excavation of trenches or the like. A rectangular support frame is formed by a pair of sheeting support members secured to one another by pairs of spreader members at oppositely disposed ends thereof. The box sheeting panels of the invention are formed of modular interdependent structural shapes that are assembled in a modular fabrication method to form interengageable adjustable wall sheeting panel members with reinforced pounding plates and ground engaging knife edges.

Abstract: An improvement for use with protective panels that buttress the walls of an excavation is in the form of a knife structure that is releasably connected to the bottom edge of a protective panel by means of a plurality of cooperative connectors. The knife structure includes first and second knife walls attached at an acute angle to form a vertex edge. When secured by the connectors, the knife structure extends coextensively along the bottom edge of the panel. The knife structure preferably includes a top wall attached between the first and second knife walls, and the top wall and the first knife wall may be at a ninety degree angle to one another. Triangularly-shaped end plates and gusset plates may be included in the knife structure. Parallel guide walls may be mounted on the top wall to form a channel adapted to receive the bottom edge of the panel, and guide posts are located in the channel to mate with holes in the lower edge of the panel, if desired.

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 system of reinforcement panels and braces comprising a plurality of panels. Each panel is formed in a generally rectangular configuration of a rigid plastic material. Each of the panels has a parallel upper and lower edge and parallel vertical side edges. The upper edge is formed with projections in a box-like configuration extending upwardly therefrom. Each of the lower edges is formed with a plurality of box-like recesses positioned in alignment with the projections for the coupling of like panels one to another in a vertical orientation. Each of the panels has one side edge with a projection along the length thereof with the other side edge formed with a recess along he entire side edge thereof. Each of the panels has a front surface and a rear surface with a plurality of reinforcement projections to add rigidity to the panel.

Abstract: A quick-release cam lock for selectively locking the relative position of a hydraulic cylinder and a piston. The quick-release cam lock permits speedy unlocking and repositioning of the hydraulic cylinder and its accompanying piston, thus allowing for speed in repositioning, assembly or disassembly while also providing a secure positive positioning lock between the hydraulic cylinder and the piston while the quick-release cam lock is engaged. A locking pin selectively locks the cam lock in an opened position.

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: There is disclosed a shoring device for holding shoring boards against the walls of a trench. The shoring device is equipped with a locking mechanism to lock the device in an extended position in order to prevent the trench walls from collapsing. The shoring device includes a cylinder, a piston, and a piston rod with a rectangular cross-sectional geometry. The cylinder has an inlet for introducing a hydraulic fluid which upon entry into the cylinder causes the piston to slide within the cylinder, and the elongated piston rod to extend radially outwardly from the cylinder. In this extended position, the shoring device holds the shoring boards tightly against the walls of the trench. Upon retraction of the piston rod back into the cylinder, a cylinder end cap acts as a scraper, removing dirt and other particles from the surface of the rectangular piston rod.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shutting off fluid flow in a pipe main while repairs are being made requires only exposure of the top surface of a buried main and utilizes an anchor system installed in or above the excavation which supports an elongate tubular seal tube against the exposed surface of the main to extend radially therefrom. A jack mechanism compresses the lower end of the seal tube containing a seal member against the exterior surface of the main. A tubular cutting tool installed inside the seal tube is rotated by an air motor to cut a hole in the side wall of the main. A tubular sealant application tool installed inside the seal tube has a nozzle at its bottom end that sprays liquid sealant material onto the interior surface of the main and is then removed. A tubular bladder deployment tool installed inside the seal tube carries a pair of deflated bladders.

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 connector for a shoring system comprises a housing adapted to be mounted on a frame which is to be connected to legs which define the plurality of axially extending channels. The housing slidable receives a bolt. The bolt has a head shaped and dimensioned so that in one orientation axial movement of the bolt may introduce the head through the slot into the channel, and in an alternate orientation the bolt may not be withdrawn from the channel by axial movement. The bolt is associated with means adapted to rotate the bolt and to move the bolt axially relative to the housing.

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: A protective panel may be used alone or paired to form a protective structure to provide a protected space in an excavation by buttressing the upright walls of the excavation. The protective panel is constructed of a corrugated aluminum sheet that has alternating, oppositely opening, longitudinal channels. The end edges and the lateral edges of the sheet are rigidified respectively by a transverse and longitudinal rigidifying members. Mounting stations are located on one side of the protective panel and are formed by transverse support plates that extend across the top of a selected channel and that are reinforced by gusset webs to create a beam section. A brace assembly may mount to the mounting station and may support the protective panel against an upright excavation wall; preferably, however, a pair of opposed protective panels are interconnected and retained apart by a plurality of spreader beams extending between opposed mounting stations to create a protective structure in the form of a trench box.

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: A carriage assembly for suspending and supporting trench shields in an excavated trench has an axle member that spans the trench, a wheel assembly on each end of the axle member, a pair of bracket elements on the axle member and a support member depending from each bracket element for connection to a trench shield. The wheel assemblies have wheels that rotate with respect to the bracket elements and engage the surface of the ground laterally adjacent the trench. Adjustments are provided to selectively vary the spacing of the wheels and the bracket elements.

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 finger guard for attachment to a shoring device made from a flexible material. The guard has a shield to protect the user's fingers and is held in place by a removable hinge pin which inserts into the shoring device.

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: The present invention comprises a lightweight, portable, adjustable, reusable, preassembled, hydraulic expandable shoring shield for providing safety to personnel working in below-grade excavations. The Shoring shield comprises specially designed solid aluminum extruded sheeting sections forming the walls, each mounted with a top cap and lower skid, the walls are provided with a static expandable telescoping structural framework for holding the walls opposed, and also are provided with hydraulic cylinders for expanding the space enclosed between the walls, the framework and cylinders thus cooperate in combination with an armored manifold for routing fluid to the cylinders.

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: Apparatus for laying flexible pipe within a trench and for embedding the flexible pipe within a bed of gravel in a single operation. The apparatus includes a gravel hopper and a guide sleeve for guiding a pipe to be laid within the trench. The hopper includes a skid or sled arrangement to permit it to be pulled along the trench bottom, and has a width to permit it to be completely positioned within the trench and thereby accommodate a wide variety of trench depths. A feed guide support stanchion extends from the front portion of the hopper for facilitating the feeding of a flexible pipe into a pipe guide inlet positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the front wall of the hopper. The hopper interior is divided into a main, narrow portion, and a rear, enlarged portion, the side walls of which are adapted to engage the side walls of the trench. The hopper rear portion side walls have a small surface area to minimize sliding friction with the trench walls.

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: The present invention comprises a lightweight, portable, adjustable, reusable, preassembled, hydraulic expandable shoring shield for providing safety to personnel working in below-grade excavations. The Shoring shield comprises specially designed solid aluminum extruded sheeting sections forming the walls, each mounted with a top cap and lower skid, the walls are provided with a static expandable telescoping structural framework for holding the walls opposed, and also are provided with hydraulic cylinders for expanding the space enclosed between the walls, the framework and cylinders thus cooperate in combination with an armored manifold for routing fluid to the cylinders.

Abstract: The safety shield of the invention consists of a plurality of vertical columns having horizontally disposed steps extending therefrom. The vertical columns are arranged in pairs along opposite walls of the trench. Horizontal sidewall members extend parallel to the walls of the trench and are located between the steps extending from the columns. Transverse bracing members are located between and supported by the columns of each opposed pair of columns. The transverse bracing members are pivoted at their midpoint and include pivotable clevises on opposite ends thereof to facilitate assembly and disassembly. Oversized holes formed on the steps of the vertical columns, horizontal sidewall members and transverse bracing members align with one another such that a single latchpin can be used to connect all three members together. Thus, the safety shield of the invention can be assembled quickly and easily.

Abstract: An excavation wall retaining assembly for use during repairs of damaged, earth ground-embedded fluid pipes, comprising: a first series of lowermost walls, vertically installed at the periphery of the lower section of an excavation made in the ground about the fluid pipes; feet releasably supporting the first series of walls spacedly above the flooring defined by the excavation; at least a second series of upper walls, vertically installed edgewisely over the first series of walls, supportingly by the latter. Jacks provide releasable, adjustable, compressive biasing forces against the walls so as to retain the latter in vertical position against caving in of surrounding earth. The wall retaining assembly is dismantleable and all of its structural elements are fully retrievable after use, from the bottom up or from top to bottom.

Abstract: The trench assembly comprises shoring plates supporting the side walls of the trench, vertical posts holding the shoring plates and at least one spindle or shore for the support of two oppositely located posts, the plates, include respective front sides pressed against the associated posts and curved in the vertical plane so that they can roll on the posts when the assembly is lowered.

Abstract: A method for constructing underground garage parking units comprises a step of excavating two parallel trenches into which are subsequently sunk preformed reinforced concrete frames each composed of two vertical pillars with an "H"-shaped cross-section and upper and lower horizontal connecting beams disposed between them. The vertical grooves forming the "H" sections being opposed and constituting a guide for the insertion of a plurality of sheet piles so as to form continuous retaining walls in said trenches. The lower of the plurality of sheet piles being subsequently removable with a sideways movement, after excavation of a corridor by removal of the earth between said two walls, for insertion of prefabricated garages at an oblique or right angle into the vertical portions of earth thus uncovered.

Abstract: A device for forming a trench having a pair of frame members each having a first adjustment slot therethrough, a form pan having sidewalls, the sidewalls having an adjustment slot in registration with the first adjustment slot of the frame members, and means for adjustably securing the form pan to the frames through the first and second adjustment slots to allow positioning of the form pan relative to the frames.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing a grate or solid covered trench is provided, having a "Z" type frame made positionally adjustable by an adjustment slot and fastening means combination, and a trench-form construction achieving stability by means of a number of box-shaped bracings positioned along the trench-form sidewalls. The positions of the bracings are staggered to provide both a supporting surface to the frame and stability to the lower regions of the sidewalls.

Abstract: A device for forming a trench having a pair of frame members, connecting rods disposed between the frame members to maintain the frame members in a fixed position relative to each other, anchoring means attached to the frame members for positioning the frame members relative to the ground and a form removably held in a fixed position between the frame members having an upper surface and a shaped lower surface, the shaped lower surface providing means for molding a moldable trench composition into the shape.

Abstract: A trench-box panel (200, 202) comprises an array of horizontal elongate "C-section" members (210) one on top of another and welded together at w continuously along their lengths. The members (210) are longitudinally staggered to leave spaces (234) between the ends of alternate members (210) at each side edge (200C, 202C) of the panel (200, 202). Robust vertical angle-members (236) and flat members (238) are welded to the ends of the horizontal members (210) to seal the ends of cavities (220) inside the horizontal members (210).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for propping or supporting the vertical support walls of deep ditches.After having freely constructed the ditch, to a depth compatible with the resistance of the support walls (1), a ring-shaped plate (3) is provided at the bottom of the ditch, which bears at its periphery against the vertical support walls (1), and which rests on the bottom of the ditch; after the setting of this ring-shaped plate (3), it is attached to the upper part of the support walls (1) for being supported, by means of braces (5); and then, the ditchs is continued, through the orifice (4) of the ring-shaped plate (3), down to the bottom of the work.

Abstract: A main frame carries top and bottom shoring plates, with the top plates supported on pivoted brackets so that they can be tilted for leveling purposes. These brackets also can move transversely on vertically adjustable carrier bars to match the spacing between plates to the trench width. The shoring plates overlap each other when in raised position and are supported by cables connected to the bottom plates, which support the carrier bars. When the bottom plates are lowered, the top plates also can drop until the carrier bars strike a stop. Then the bottom plates continue to be lowered until striking a further stop. The main frame is supported on driven, independently steered wheels that can be shifted between various lateral spacings to keep weight away from the sides of a trench.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for shoring the side walls of a trench or the like which includes a pair of elongate rails and a pair of parallel, hydraulically extendible and contractible actuators connected at opposite ends to the rails for lowering with the rails into and out of positions between the walls of the trench, and adapted, when extended, to hold the rails tightly against the walls.

Abstract: A trench shoring box unit having hollow partition walls and internal support webs. The partition walls positioned spaced apart and facing each other and connected together by adjustable length braces. The partition walls are constructed of aluminum and have a tongue-and-groove joint formed on the longitudinal edges for interlocking with adjacent partition walls. The transverse edges of each partition wall tightly engages a recess formed on one side of shoe bars. A flange is formed on the other side of the shoe bar and projects outwardly beyond the surface of the partition wall along the transverse edge. The adjustable length braces are connected to the flanges.

Abstract: A trench shore consisting of longitudinal panels which cover the walls of the trench and are supported by movable frames, the panels being moved forward by jacks connecting the panels to the frames which are held in place by the friction between the walls and other panels, the shore comprising a central chamber where permanent structure is installed, with a front section with sides sloping to conform to the natural slope of the ground, and a rear section with similar sloping sides to allow for tamping and consolidating backfill material around the structure installed and with bracing arranged to allow the shore to pass completed sections of manholes; the shore being also suitable for laying pipe or tunnels under water.

Abstract: A multi-sided portable trench and pit form system having at least two panels forming each side, each panel releasably interconnectable along the vertical margins of each adjacent panel and side. Elongated rigid braces are also provided which releasably interconnect to and against the sides and spanning the interconnected panels to rigidize the sides. Additionally, the elongated braces also interconnect at their ends to rigidize the preselected relative angular positioning of the sides one to another. The entire assembly forms a barrier or perimeter wall as required within which a user may safely function when working below ground level. An opening may be provided in one panel or between adjacent panels forming a side and having a slideable closure panel to provide working access outside of the enclosure. This modular system is adaptable to variation in the number of sides required, as well as variation in both side width and height.

Abstract: A cribbing device for trenches which includes a pair of opposing supports spaced apart by a spreader, each support having a plurality of guide profiles and a crosspiece. The crosspiece is disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the trench, and the guide profiles are arranged adjacent each other on said crosspiece. The guide profiles include a plurality of legs disposed vertically and extending outward from the crosspiece, and a plurality of flanges disposed vertically and secured to the legs at the ends of the legs opposite the crosspiece. The flanges project beyond both sides of the legs. A plurality of cribbing boards each having a guide bar which supports a guide head is provided. The guide head is in the form of a slotted hollow box section and extends vertically beyond the board at its vertical face side. The width of each guide profile flange is slightly smaller than the inside width of the guide heads.

Abstract: A plug of an expansion beam for shoring up sand guards is equipped with a second non-return valve. If it should happen that the head of the plug is broken off owing to, for example, a falling rock, the second non-return valve works as a safety device to prevent the expansion and contraction of the expansion beam. Thus, the shoring up function is able to be maintained.

Abstract: The invention refers to means of shoring trench excavation.It provides a trench shoring apparatus which supports the walls of the trench and can travel by its own power or be pulled behind an excavator and consists of panels which line the walls of the trench and have braces across the trench between them, each panel comprising a frame that supports a vertical tread endless crawler track which travels longitudinally around the frame, the panel being enclosed to prevent the entry of earth, and of a construction and size suitable for being easily joined to others and cross braced to form an assembly for various depths of trenches.The apparatus may be used for underwater pipelaying.