HK1074663B - Protective device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to protective devices suitable for use with elongated articles such as for example, cables including stay cables for bridges, steel hangers for bridges, telecommunication cables, power cables and piles supporting structures.

German patent DE4319888 disclose a tubular sheath (1) for a tension member, in particular for a stay cable for a cable-stayed bridge, for protection against corrosion, which comprises two dished elements (2) which can be interconnected at the longitudinal edges (3, 4) by mutually corresponding connecting parts (6, 7) designed in the manner of tongue and groove. In this arrangement, the tongue (6) arranged on one longitudinal edge (3) possesses on a web (9) a thickened head (10) with, on both sides, a line of symmetry (X-X) running at right angles to the radius (R). The groove (7) arranged on the other longitudinal edge (4) corresponds to the tongue (6) in shape and size, so that by axial insertion of the tongue (6) into the groove (7) or vice versa a connection, positive in the circumferential direction, of neighbouring elements (2) can be achieved.

Articles of the type described exemplified above can deteriorate significantly if they are subject to adverse conditions such as fire, explosion, impact or environmental conditions.

It is an object according to one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved protective device which can provide at least some protection against one or more of the aforementioned conditions.

It is an object according to another aspect of the present invention to provide an improved method of installing a protective device.

According to the present invention there is provided a protective device according to claim 1.

The main body may be open at one or both ends and may be in the form of a tubular member. In some applications the chamber may be filled, after installation with a material such as insulation or cement grout. The two parts are formed as separable sections of the tubular member, the side edge portions extending from one end of the tubular member to the other. The inner surface of the tubular member forms the inner side wall of the chamber.

It will be appreciated that the first and second parts may be of any other suitable cross-sectional shape. For example, in the assembled position, they may form a square, rectangle, hexagon or the like.

One of the ends of the main body may be belled for receiving the other end of an adjacent device.

Thermal insulation may be provided on the internal surface of one or both parts of the main body. A locating element may be provided which projects from the inner wall of one of the two parts.

The main body may be formed from any suitable material. One preferred form of material is known as reactive powder concrete or ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete. An example of such a preferred type of material is DUCTAL^™. DUCTAL is a cementitious material which is used in a wide variety of structural applications. Various forms of the material are the subject of Australian Patent Specifications Numbers 678271 , 682198 , 750873 , 748678 and 2001235632 .

The device in its preferred form has several advantages. For example, it can provide for fire protection of the part being protected. It can also provide mechanical protection against impact and explosion, caused by vandalism, accident, terrorism and similar action. It requires little maintenance, is extremely durable and will never need replacing. Is easy to install and can be installed during or after construction and without dismantling the existing elongated articles. It can be dismantled and removed then reinstalled, if required for the inspection of the structure or facility. It has concealed connections. It has a clean appearance, with no external projections.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in those drawings:

• Figure 1 is a schematic end view of a protective device according to a first embodiment in an installed position;
• Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a series of protective devices in an installed position;
• Figure 3 is a detail schematic partial view o a junction between adjacent devices;
• Figure 4 is a similar view as Figure 1 of a second embodiment; and
• Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 3 of the second embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a protective device 10 in an installed position on a cable stay 50. The device 10 includes a main body 12 in the form of a tubular body having an internal chamber 14 therein, the tubular body being open at both ends. The main body 12 includes two parts 22 and 27 each having respective side edge portions 23 and 28 which are adapted to cooperate with one another to connect the two parts together in an assembled position. The two parts 22 and 27 are formed by segments of circle, the first part being a major segment and the second part being a minor segment.

The side edge portions 23 of the first part are in essence a continuation of the side wall of the body although in the embodiment of Figure 2, a small recess 24 is provided in the inner wall surface 16 so as to form a locating shoulder 31. The side edge portions 28 of the second part include an inwardly stepped section 29 forming a recess 30 and shoulder 31. A locating flange 34 is provided on the inner wall surface 16 of the first part. It will be appreciated that the connecting parts could be oppositely disposed so that the inner wall surface is smooth with the overlapping sections being on the outside of the outer wall surface.

In the second embodiment insulating material 38 is secured to the inner wall surface of the main body.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 5, one end of the main body has a bell end flange 41 thereon to enable fitted connection of adjacent devices. Figure 2 illustrates a number of devices fitted together on a cable stay 50.

The two parts of the main body can be fitted together by sliding movement of the two parts relative to one another in the axial direction. To fit the device in position one part is located in the stay. Thereafter the second part is positioned on the opposite side of the stay and then slid into the final interlocked position. If desired the space between the article being protected and the main body of the device may be filled with material such as insulation or cement grout.

Claims (8)

1. A protective device (10) for use in the protection of at least a portion of an elongated particle (50), the protective device (10) including a main body (12), which includes first and second parts (22, 27) which are connectible together such that, in an assembled position the main body (12) has a chamber (14) therein with opposed ends and a central longitudinal axis extending between the opposed ends, the first and second parts (22, 27) each having two longitudinal extending side edge portions (23, 28), the respective side edge portions (23) of the first part (22) being adapted to cooperate with respective side edge portions (28) of the second part (27) to connect the two parts together in the assembled position, wherein said first and second parts (22, 27) overlap when in the assembled position and are connected together by relative movement in the axial direction so as to adopt the assembled position said first and second parts (22, 27) being partially circular when viewed in cross-section, characterised in that the first part (22) comprises a major segment of a circle and the second part (27) forming a minor segment of a circle, and said side edge portions (28) of the one part (22, 27) includes an inwardly stepped side edge section (29) forming a recessed section (30) and a shoulder (31) which substantially extends from one end thereof to the other for receiving the side edge portion of the other part (22, 27) so that in the assembled position, there is a space between an inner wall surface of the main body (12) and the elongated article (50).
2. A protective device according to claim 1 wherein said inwardly stepped side edge section (29) is on the second part (27).
3. A protective device according to claim 1 wherein when in the assembled position the main body (12) is open at at least one end.
4. A protective device according to claim 1 wherein when in the assembled position the main body (12) is open at both ends.
5. A protective device according to any preceding claim wherein one of the ends of the main body (12) is belled for receiving the other end of an adjacent device.
6. A protective device according to any preceding claim further including insulation (38) on the internal surface of one or both parts of the main body (12).
7. A protective device according to any preceding claim further including a locating element (34) which projects from the inner wall of one of the two parts.
8. A protective device according to any preceding claim wherein the main body of the device is formed from material known as reactive powder concrete or ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete.