Shoring box system and method

Abstract

A shoring box system ( 10 ) for use in a ground trench ( 60 ) includes a pair of shoring panels ( 12 ) and a number of elongate props ( 22 ). The props are attached to the two shoring panels to maintain the panels in an erected position in which they are spaced apart, with an open zone ( 19 ) between the panels. The props can be detached from the shoring panels while the shoring panels are in the erected position. In an embodiment each panel is hollow and has a lower opening ( 36 ) with a closure flap ( 38 ) for closing the opening, to enable filling material in the hollow to pour from the panel as it is removed from the trench. Also in an embodiment, each shoring panel is tapered in a downward direction.

1 . A shoring box system including:
 a pair of shoring panels; and   a plurality of elongate props, each adapted for releasable attachment to the two shoring panels by prop connectors, so as to maintain the shoring panels in an erected position in which the shoring panels are spaced apart from each other with an interior zone between the panels,   wherein the prop connectors are adapted to enable the props, when connected to the shoring panels, to be individually detached from the shoring panels while the shoring panels are in said erected position.   
     
     
         2 . A shoring box system according to  claim 1 , wherein the prop connectors are adapted to enable the props to be detached from the shoring panels by movement of each prop at least partially laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction in which the prop extends. 
     
     
         3 . A shoring box system according to  claim 2 , wherein each prop connector includes a first connector portion on a respective prop and a second connector portion on a shoring panel, the first and second connector portions being releasably attachable to each other by means of being superposed on each other and a locking element adapted for releasably interlocking the first and second connector portions. 
     
     
         4 . A shoring box system according to  claim 1  wherein each shoring panel has an upright operational orientation and includes a plurality of reinforcement elements each substantially traversing the height of the panel. 
     
     
         5 . A shoring box system according to  claim 4  wherein each reinforcement element includes an I-beam. 
     
     
         6 . A shoring box system according to  claim 4  wherein each shoring panel includes shoring panel walls, the walls of each shoring panel at least partly defining an interior space of that shoring panel, wherein the reinforcement elements are disposed in the interior space. 
     
     
         7 . A shoring box system according to  claim 6 , wherein each wall has a first face and a second face, the first faces facing into said interior space, the system further including a plurality of spaced apart, substantially horizontal reinforcement beams secured to the second face of each shoring panel wall. 
     
     
         8 . A shoring box system according to  claim 1  wherein each shoring panel includes shoring panel walls, and is configured such that, when the shoring panels are in said erected position, a wall of each shoring panel facing into said interior zone is non-vertical so that an upper end of the wall is disposed more inwardly relative to the interior zone than a lower end of the wall. 
     
     
         9 . A shoring box system according to  claim 6  wherein each shoring panel is configured such that, when the shoring panels are in said erected position, a wall of each shoring panel facing into said interior zone is non-vertical so that an upper end of the wall is disposed more inwardly relative to the interior zone than a lower end of the wall. 
     
     
         10 . A shoring box system according to  claim 8  wherein each shoring panel tapers in a downward direction. 
     
     
         11 . A shoring box system according to  claim 6  wherein each shoring panel has an opening to said interior space at or adjacent to a bottom extremity of the shoring panel, and includes a closure component which is movable between a closed position in which it is attached to at least one shoring panel wall of the respective shoring panel and extends over, and thereby substantially closes, the opening to the interior space of that panel, and an open position in which the opening is substantially uncovered by the closure component. 
     
     
         12 . A shoring box system according to  claim 11 , wherein the closure component is rotatably attached to the at least one shoring panel wall so as to be movable between said closed and open positions by rotation relative to the at least one panel wall. 
     
     
         13 . A shoring box system according to  claim 12 , wherein the closure component is adapted to fall from its closed position to its open position under the effect of gravity. 
     
     
         14 . A shoring box system according to  claim 6  wherein each shoring panel includes a first panel wall, and a second panel wall spaced from, and opposed to, the first panel wall, one of the first and second panel walls having a lower edge which is lower than a lower edge of the other of the first and second panel walls such that the bottom of the panel is substantially wedge-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . A shoring box system according to  claim 14 , wherein said other panel wall is on the same side of the panel as said interior zone. 
     
     
         16 . A shoring box system according to  claim 1  wherein the pair of shoring panels and the props attached thereto together constitute a shoring panel unit, the unit being adapted for releasable connection to an adjacent said unit. 
     
     
         17 . A shoring box system according to  claim 16 , wherein each unit is adapted for such releasable connection to two adjacent units, one on each of two opposite sides thereof, so that said units together constitute a series of units. 
     
     
         18 . A shoring box system according to  claim 16 , wherein the adjacent units are adapted for said releasable connection by means of a connection element which is slidably engageable with at least one of the adjacent units. 
     
     
         19 . A shoring box system according to  claim 18 , wherein said at least one of the adjacent units defines an upwardly extending slot, the connection element being slidably receivable in the slot. 
     
     
         20 . A shoring box system according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said adjacent units defines an upwardly extending slot, the connection element being slidably receivable in the slots. 
     
     
         21 . A method of using a shoring box system according to  claim 1 , to reinforce a ground cavity having opposing cavity walls, the method including:
   21 . 1  disposing, in the cavity, shoring panels of the shoring box system such that the shoring panels abut two respective said opposing cavity walls; and     21 . 2  attaching said props to the shoring panels to maintain the panels in said erected position.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein step  21 . 2  includes attaching said props such that there is a lowermost level of props, and at least one level of props above the lowermost level, the method further including:
   22 . 1  after the props are so attached, pouring a concrete floor in the cavity; 
   22 . 2  allowing the poured floor to set; 
   22 . 3  after the poured floor has set, detaching the props in said lowermost level from the shoring panels. 
 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22  including, after step  22 . 3 , building at least one wall on the floor, the wall extending above the level at which the lowermost level of props were disposed prior to said detachment. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21  including:
 detaching, from the shoring panels, each prop that is attached to the shoring panels, such that the shoring panels are not connected to each other; and 
 then removing, from the ground cavity, each shoring panel. 
 
     
     
         25 . A method of using a shoring box system to reinforce a ground cavity having opposing cavity walls, the method including:
 disposing, in the cavity, shoring panel units according to any one of  claim 18  such that the shoring panels of each unit abut two respective said opposing cavity walls, wherein each pair of adjacent panels of adjacent units are interconnected to each other by a said connection element.   
     
     
         26 . A shoring box system including:
 a pair of shoring panels each having shoring panel walls, wherein   each shoring panel has an upright operational orientation and includes a plurality of reinforcement elements spaced apart from each other along the horizontal length of the panel, each element substantially traversing the height of the panel, and   the walls and each pair of successive reinforcement elements define between them, respective portions of an interior space of the shoring panel each portion substantially traversing the height of the panel, and define, to each portion of the interior space, an opening at or adjacent to a bottom extremity of the shoring panel such that the opening of each portion is substantially of the same horizontal breadth and length as that portion; and   a plurality of elongate props attached to the two shoring panels so as to maintain the shoring panels in an erected position in which the shoring panels are spaced apart from each other with an interior zone between the panels.   
     
     
         27 . A shoring box system according to  claim 26  wherein each reinforcement element includes an I-beam. 
     
     
         28 . A shoring box system according to  claim 26  wherein each shoring panel further includes a closure component which is movable between a closed position in which it is attached to at least one shoring panel wall of the respective shoring panel, and extends over, and thereby substantially closes, the opening to the interior space of that panel, and an open position in which the opening is substantially uncovered by the closure component. 
     
     
         29 . A shoring box system according to  claim 26  wherein, when the shoring panels are in an erected position, a wall of each shoring panel facing into said interior zone is non-vertical so that an upper end of the wall is disposed more inwardly relative to the interior zone than a lower end of the wall. 
     
     
         30 . A shoring box system according to  claim 26 , wherein each wall has a first face and a second face, the first faces facing into said interior space, the system further including a plurality of spaced apart, substantially horizontal reinforcement beams secured to the second face of each shoring panel wall.