Cast-in tunnel gasket and joining method

Abstract

A tunnel segment gasket and a method for making and using a tunnel segment gasket ( 1, 1 ′) comprising a shaped profile ( 3, 3 ′) having at least two anchoring legs ( 5, 5 ′) for casting in to a tunnel segment ( 6, 6 ′); a plurality of longitudinally extending bores ( 7, 7 ′); a shot film joint ( 43 ′) and a strengthening element ( 11, 4 ′) at the base ( 9 ) of the gasket ( 1, 1 ′).

1 . A tunnel segment gasket comprising:
 a shaped profile having at least two anchoring legs for casting in to a tunnel segment;   a plurality of longitudinally extending bores;   a shot film joint ( 43 ′) and a strengthening element at a base of the tunnel segment gasket.   
     
     
         2 . The tunnel segment gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the strengthening element is a rhombus shape having a centre line parallel to the shot film joint. 
     
     
         3 . The tunnel segment gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the strengthening element is integral with the shot film joint. 
     
     
         4 . The tunnel segment gasket according to  claim 3 , wherein the shot film joint is concealed within the tunnel segment gasket and the strengthening element is exposed at the base of the tunnel segment gasket. 
     
     
         5 . The tunnel segment gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sections of the plurality of longitudinally extending bores are circular or semi-circular. 
     
     
         6 . The tunnel segment gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the tunnel segment gasket comprises at least two curved protrusions on the base of the tunnel segment gasket. 
     
     
         7 . The tunnel segment gasket according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least two curved protrusion are positioned between the two anchoring legs. 
     
     
         8 . The tunnel segment gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the tunnel segment gasket further comprises at least two shaped transverse protrusions. 
     
     
         9 . A method of forming a tunnel segment gasket joint comprising:
 extruding a first tunnel segment gasket through a first cutting guide;   extruding a second tunnel segment gasket through a second cutting guide;   cutting an angled end of both the first and second tunnel segment gaskets;   providing a thin elastomeric film between the angled ends of the first and second tunnel segment gaskets to form a joint.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising providing a strengthening element integral with the joint. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising providing an integral strengthening element wherein the integral strengthening element is exposed at the base of the first tunnel segment gasket. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the thin elastomeric film is a rubber film. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the thin elastomeric film has a thickness of between about 0.2 mm and about 2 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the thin elastomeric or rubber film is provided by injecting the thin elastomeric or rubber film between the angled ends of the first and second tunnel segment gaskets to form a joint. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: clamping at least one end of both the first and second tunnel segment gaskets. 
     
     
         16 . A tunnel segment gasket joint produced by a method comprising:
 extruding a first tunnel segment gasket through a first cutting guide;   extruding a second tunnel segment gasket through a second cutting guide;   cutting an angled end of both the first and second tunnel segment gaskets;   providing a thin elastomeric film between the angled ends of the first and second tunnel segment gaskets to form a joint, wherein the thin elastomeric film is a rubber film that has a thickness of between about 0.2 mm and about 2 mm provided by injecting the thin elastomeric or rubber film between the angled ends of the first and second tunnel segment gaskets to form a joint;   providing a strengthening element integral with the joint, wherein the integral strengthening element is exposed at the base of the first tunnel segment gasket; and   clamping at least one end of both the first and second tunnel segment gaskets.