Railway arch linings and mezzanine floors

Abstract

A system for lining arched structures, particularly railway arches ( 1 ), provides a plurality of elongate, flexible frame elements ( 70 ), each protected by a flexible shield ( 149 ) and engaged frictionally against the curved soffit ( 5 ) by hoop stress applied at either end, preferably by a pair of installation tools ( 300 ) mounted on stanchions ( 40 ). Each tool includes a pivoting ratchet which allows the flexible frame element ( 70 ) to be formed into an arched shape on the ground and then raised into a vertical plane prior to installation. Each frame element ( 70 ) may comprise a unitary “top-hat” profile with deformable hinges, each hinge having an associated deformation structure which distributes bending forces evenly during installation. The frame elements ( 70 ) are fixed to the stanchions ( 40 ) to support them at either end in their installed position, providing a self-supporting, arched framework which relies upon the masonry soffit ( 5 ) for its shape and stability. Alternatively, each frame element may comprise joints which are remotely locked in the installed position, allowing the frame element to be decoupled from the soffit. The framework is installed from ground level, and the stanchions support a temporary mezzanine floor made from modular interlocking panels, which provides access to the soffit for installation of cooperating, flat lining panels, each panel comprising a foamed plastics body with downwardly directed channels and interlocking upper and lower edges which cooperate to form an angularly adjustable joint. A column mounting assembly comprises a base element ( 1050 ) adapted for attachment to an upwardly facing support surface ( 7 ′) of a concrete slab ( 7 ), and having a mounting structure for supporting the column ( 1000 ). The base element may form a cantilever which overhangs an edge of the support surface, with part of the vertical load being transferred from the column to a flat plate ( 1070 ) arranged on the ground surface ( 16 ′) beneath the mounting structure. The mounting structure may comprise a central support ( 1064″, 1068 ) on which the column is pivotably balanced, and which is vertically adjustable so as to adjust the overall height of the column, with a plurality of independently adjustable lateral supports ( 1065″, 1069, 1069′; 1066″, 1069, 1069 ′) arranged around it to support the column in a vertical orientation. Conveniently, the mounting structure comprises a set of threaded rods ( 1064, 1065, 1066 ) which are advanced downwardly through the overhanging portion ( 1057 ) so as to transfer the vertical load from the column to the plate. The assembly may be used in supporting columns above a soakaway ( 10 ″) in a railway arch. A roll-formed stanchion generally of “top-hat” form and defining a stiffening tubular section is also disclosed.

1 . A system for lining an arched structure;
 the structure having a floor and a soffit,   the soffit curving upwardly and inwardly from opposite, first and second sides of the structure to a crown line;   the system including a framework for installation within the structure,   the framework including a plurality of elongate frame elements   and a plurality of support elements,   each frame element having first and second ends;   wherein each frame element comprises a plurality of rigid portions joined in series by hinge portions,   and first and second said support elements are provided respectively at the first and second sides of the structure,   the frame element and the first and second support elements cooperating to define a range of positional adjustment between the frame element and the first and second support elements,   the frame element being attachable proximate each of its first and second ends respectively to the first and second support elements at a selectable position within the range of positional adjustment;   such that the frame element may be raised pressingly against the soffit into an installed position   in which the frame element conforms flexibly to the curvature of the soffit so as to form a self supporting arched configuration,   and then attached to the support elements so as to support it in the installed position.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the support elements comprise first and second stanchions,
 the stanchions extending upwardly from the floor respectively at the first and second sides of the structure.   
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein each stanchion and each rigid portion comprises an elongate profile having a central recess portion with oppositely directed lateral flanges,
 such that the central recess portion of the rigid portion is adapted to be received in the central recess portion of the stanchion.   
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein each frame element is provided with a first series of first apertures
 and each stanchion is provided with a second series of second apertures,   the apertures of one of the series being spaced apart by a distance x,   and the apertures of the other series being spaced apart by a distance (x±y),   such that corresponding ones of the first and second apertures are brought consecutively into alignment to define fixing holes for attachment of the frame element to the stanchion as the frame element is displaced axially along the stanchion through the incremental distance y.   
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one installation tool is provided for installing the frame element;
 the tool including a stanchion engagement mechanism for releasably mounting the tool in sliding engagement with one said stanchion,   a frame element attachment mechanism for attaching one end of a frame element to the tool,   and a movement mechanism for controlling the movement of the tool up and down the respective stanchion.   
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the tool includes a pivot mechanism which permits the frame element to be raised from a substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation after attachment to the tool. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the tool includes a separation adjustment mechanism for moving the respective end of the frame element towards and away from the respective stanchion. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein a flexible, elongate, waterproof shield is provided,
 the shield being adapted for attachment to the frame element   such that after installation the shield extends between the frame element and the soffit.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of panels are provided,
 each panel having a front surface,   and an opposite rear, water shedding surface,   the panels being adapted for attachment to the frame elements   so as to support the panels in an installed position in which each panel is inclined downwardly from an upper edge of the panel to a lower edge of the panel,   and in which the rear surface of each panel faces in an outward direction towards the soffit   and the front surface faces in an inward direction away from the soffit   such that the respective rear surfaces of the panels cooperate to form an effectively continuous water shedding surface.   
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the support elements comprise first and second stanchions,
 the stanchions extending upwardly from the floor respectively at the first and second sides of the structure;   and the panels are adapted for attachment to the stanchions   so as to support the panels in an installed position in which the rear surface of each panel faces in an outward direction towards an adjacent inner vertical surface of the arched structure   and the front surface of each panel faces in an inward direction away from the inner vertical surface of the arched structure,   such that the respective front surfaces of the panels are substantially vertically aligned   and the respective rear surfaces cooperate to form an effectively continuous water shedding surface.   
     
     
         11 . An elongate frame element for installation in an installed position beneath a soffit of an arched structure,
 the soffit curving upwardly and inwardly from opposite, first and second sides of the structure to a crown line;   the frame element having first and second ends,   an outer side which faces towards the soffit in the installed position,   an opposite, inner side which faces away from the soffit in the installed position,   and panel attachment structure for supporting a plurality of panels;   wherein the frame element includes mounting structure,   the mounting structure being adapted to attach the frame element proximate its first and second ends to respective support elements   so as to support the frame element in the installed position;   and the frame element comprises a plurality of rigid portions joined in series by hinge portions,   each rigid portion being pivotable during installation, independently of the other said rigid portions, about a respective hinge portion through a limited range of movement   so as to define an obtuse angle with respect to a respective adjacent rigid portion on the inner side of the frame element,   such that the rigid portions may form a different angle at each hinge portion in the installed position,   such that the frame element may be raised into its installed position beneath the soffit and upon contacting the soffit may conform to the curvature thereof.   
     
     
         12 . An elongate frame element according to  claim 11 , wherein the range of pivotal movement at each hinge portion is limited to prevent the formation of a reflex angle between respective adjacent rigid portions on the inner side of the frame element. 
     
     
         13 . An elongate frame element according to  claim 12 , wherein the range of pivotal movement at each hinge portion is limited to define a maximum angle of 180° between respective adjacent rigid portions on the inner side of the frame element. 
     
     
         14 . An elongate frame element according to  claim 11 , wherein each rigid portion comprises an elongate profile having a central recess portion with oppositely directed lateral flanges. 
     
     
         15 . An elongate frame element according to  claim 11 , wherein the rigid portions are defined in at least one unitary length of material
 such that each hinge portion comprises a plastically deformable region of the material.   
     
     
         16 . An elongate frame element according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein a plastic deformation element is arranged adjacent each respective hinge portion,   each plastic deformation element being spaced apart from the respective hinge portion   such that the plastic deformation element is progressively plastically deformed during installation as the obtuse angle between the respective adjacent rigid portions reduces.   
     
     
         17 . An elongate frame element according to  claim 11 , wherein the frame element is assembled from a plurality of individual rigid portions joined by pivots. 
     
     
         18 . An elongate frame element according to  claim 17 , wherein a resilient deformation element is arranged adjacent each respective hinge portion,
 such that each resilient deformation element is progressively resiliently deformed during installation as the respective adjacent rigid portions pivot about the respective hinge portion.   
     
     
         19 . An elongate frame element according to  claim 11 , wherein each hinge portion is formed on the inner side of the frame element. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a framework within an arched structure;
 the structure having a floor and a soffit,   the soffit curving upwardly and inwardly from opposite, first and second sides of the structure to a crown line;   characterised by the steps of   A) providing a plurality of flexible, elongate frame elements, each frame element having first and second ends;   B) providing support elements;   C) raising each frame element into an installed position in which the frame element is pressingly engaged against the soffit,   such that the frame element flexibly conforms to the curvature of the soffit; and   D) attaching the first and second ends of the frame element to the support elements   so as to support the frame element in the installed position.