Rapid Change Vertical Shore

Abstract

The embodiments described herein include rapid change vertical shore used in the trench safety industry. Particular embodiments facilitate a rapid change between a single cylinder vertical shore and a double cylinder vertical shore.

Claims

1. A rapid change vertical shore comprising: a first shore rail; a second shore rail oriented parallel to the first shore rail; a first hydraulic cylinder coupled perpendicularly between the first shore rail and the second shore rail, the first hydraulic cylinder coupled to the first shore rail via a first cylinder base; and the first cylinder base comprises a hose fitting fluidly coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder, the hose fitting comprising a male quick disconnect connector.

2. The rapid change vertical shore of claim 1, wherein the hose fitting is oriented perpendicular to the first cylinder base.

3. The rapid change vertical shore of claim 1, wherein the hose fitting is positioned a distance away from the hydraulic cylinder to facilitate manual connection/disconnection of a pressure hose to the hose fitting.

4. The rapid change vertical shore of claim 1, further comprising: a second hydraulic cylinder coupled perpendicularly between the first shore rail and the second shore rail, the second hydraulic cylinder coupled to the first shore rail via a second cylinder base; the second cylinder base comprises a hose fitting fluidly coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder, the hose fitting comprising a male quick disconnect connector; and a pressure hose comprising a female quick disconnect connector at both ends coupled to the first cylinder base hose fitting and the second cylinder base hose fitting.

5. A rapid change cylinder base for a hydraulic vertical shore comprising: a threaded base for accepting a hydraulic cylinder; and a hose fitting fluidly coupled to the hydraulic cylinder, the hose fitting comprising a male quick disconnect connector.

6. The rapid change cylinder base of claim 5, wherein the hose fitting is oriented perpendicular to the cylinder base.

7. The rapid change cylinder base of claim 5, wherein the hose fitting is positioned a distance away from the hydraulic cylinder to facilitate manual connection/disconnection of a pressure hose to the hose fitting.

8. A method for converting a single cylinder vertical shore to a double cylinder vertical shore, the single cylinder vertical shore comprising: a first shore rail; a second shore rail oriented parallel to the first shore rail; a first hydraulic cylinder coupled perpendicularly between the first shore rail and the second shore rail, the first hydraulic cylinder coupled to the first shore rail via a first cylinder base; and the first cylinder base comprises a hose fitting fluidly coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder, the hose fitting comprising a male quick disconnect connector; the method comprising: coupling a second hydraulic cylinder perpendicularly between the first shore rail and the second shore rail via a second cylinder base, wherein the second cylinder base comprises a hose fitting fluidly coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder, the hose fitting comprising a male quick disconnect connector; and coupling a pressure hose comprising a female quick disconnect connector at both ends to the first cylinder base hose fitting and the second cylinder base hose fitting.

9. A method for converting a double cylinder vertical shore to a single cylinder vertical shore, the double cylinder vertical shore comprising: a first shore rail; a second shore rail oriented parallel to the first shore rail; a first hydraulic cylinder coupled perpendicularly between the first shore rail and the second shore rail, the first hydraulic cylinder coupled to the first shore rail via a first cylinder base; and the first cylinder base comprises a hose fitting fluidly coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder, the hose fitting comprising a male quick disconnect connector; a second hydraulic cylinder coupled perpendicularly between the first shore rail and the second shore rail, the second hydraulic cylinder coupled to the first shore rail via a second cylinder base; and the second cylinder base comprises a hose fitting fluidly coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder, the hose fitting comprising a male quick disconnect connector; and a pressure hose comprising a female quick disconnect connector at both ends coupled to the first cylinder base hose fitting and the second cylinder base hose fitting; the method comprising: uncoupling the pressure hose from the first cylinder base hose fitting and the second cylinder base hose fitting; and uncoupling the second cylinder base and second hydraulic cylinder from the first shore rail.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] A more complete and thorough understanding of the particular embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of vertical shores installed in a trench;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a double cylinder vertical shore;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the installation/removal of a cylinder of a vertical shore;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rapid change vertical shore, according to a particular embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a close up view of a quick disconnect of a rapid change vertical shore, according to a particular embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic overhead view of a cylinder base of a rapid change vertical shore, according to a particular embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-section view of a cylinder base of a rapid change vertical shore, according to a particular embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for converting a single cylinder vertical shore to a double cylinder vertical shore, according to particular embodiments; and

[0018] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for converting a double cylinder vertical shore to a single cylinder vertical shore, according to particular embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] A hydraulic vertical shore is designed to prevent a cave-in by supporting the side walls of a trench through the use of hydraulic pressure. An example is illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of vertical shores installed in a trench. In the illustrated example, four double cylinder vertical shores 10 are illustrated inside a trench. The vertical shores 10 are lowered into the trench and hydraulic pressure is applied to expand vertical shore 10 to support the side walls of the trench.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a double cylinder vertical shore. Double cylinder vertical shore 10 includes two shore rails 12 parallel to each other and coupled to each other via two hydraulic cylinders 14. Hydraulic cylinders 14 are oriented perpendicular to shore rails 12.

[0022] Hydraulic cylinders 14 are hydraulically coupled to each other via pressure hose 16. Pressure hose 16 facilitates fluid transfer between hydraulic cylinders 14. Hydraulic cylinders 14 expand to apply pressure to shore rails 12 which in turn apply pressure to the trench wall. Hydraulic cylinders 14 contract to relieve pressure from shore rails 12 to facilitate inserting/removing vertical shore 10 to/from the trench.

[0023] Hydraulic cylinders 14 are coupled to shore rails 12 via cylinder base 18. Cylinder base 18 includes plumbing (see FIG. 7) to facilitate fluid transfer between hydraulic cylinder 14 through cylinder base 18 and pressure hose 16.

[0024] Shore rails 12 may comprise aluminum or any other suitable material. Hydraulic cylinders 14 may comprise various lengths, depending on, e.g., trench width.

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a double cylinder vertical shore. A vertical shore is also available as a single cylinder vertical shore, which is similar to vertical shore 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, except that shore rails 12 are coupled via a single hydraulic cylinder 14 and pressure hose 16 is not needed.

[0026] A vertical shore may be converted from a single cylinder to a double cylinder and vice versa. A problem with existing vertical shores is that converting an existing hydraulic vertical shore between a single cylinder and a double cylinder requires tools for connecting/disconnecting the hydraulic cylinder to/from the shore rails. An example is illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the installation/removal of a cylinder of a vertical shore. In the illustrated example, pressure hose 16 is coupled to a threaded hose fitting on cylinder base 18 and an operator uses a wrench to disconnect/connect pressure hose 16 from the hose fitting of cylinder base 18. For equipment rental companies, for example, that may perform a large number of cylinder conversions, the conversion time can be costly. In addition, existing hydraulic vertical shores need to be pressure tested after adding or removing hydraulic cylinders.

[0028] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. For example, particular embodiments include a universal hydraulic cylinder for a hydraulic vertical shore in the trench safety industry. Particular embodiments negate the need for re-testing pressure holding ability after reconfiguring a hydraulic vertical shore. Thus, as on example, particular embodiments save rental companies time when converting vertical shores between single cylinder and double cylinders. The time savings is a multiple of the number of vertical shore conversions. In the trench safety industry, end users expect the rental companies to be nimble and fast. The embodiments described herein facilitate cylinder conversion much faster than traditional hydraulic vertical shores, which have been in use for approximately 40 years.

[0029] Particular embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to FIGS. 4 through 9, wherein like reference numbers indicate like features.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rapid change vertical shore, according to a particular embodiment. Rapid change vertical shore 40 includes shore rails 12 and hydraulic cylinders 14 as described with respect to vertical shore 10 illustrated in FIG. 2. Rapid change vertical shore 40, however, is improved so that hydraulic cylinder 14 may be added or removed quickly without tools and without leakage of hydraulic fluid.

[0031] Cylinder base 46 comprises a hose fitting fluidly coupled to hydraulic cylinder 14 with male quick disconnect connector 42. Each cylinder base 46 may be coupled to the other via pressure hose 48. Pressure hose 48 comprises female quick disconnect connectors 44 at each end.

[0032] To prevent fluid leakage, male quick disconnect connector 42 is self-sealing when female quick disconnect connector 44 is removed. To prevent accidental disconnects, male quick disconnect connector 42 and female quick disconnect connector 44 may comprise a lock, such as a ball lock, or any other suitable lock. Male quick disconnect connector 42 and female quick disconnect connector 44 may comprise brass fittings, or any other suitable material.

[0033] Because of the self-sealing feature, particular embodiments negate the need for re-testing pressure holding ability after reconfiguring a hydraulic vertical shore.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a close up view of a quick disconnect of a rapid change vertical shore, according to a particular embodiment. In the illustrated example, an operator manually connects/disconnects male quick disconnect connector 42 and female quick disconnect connector 44. Male quick disconnect connector 42 is positioned far enough away from hydraulic cylinder 14 so that an operator may have unobstructed access to male quick disconnect connector 42 and female quick disconnect connector 44. Thus, in some embodiments, cylinder base 46 may be wider than a conventional cylinder base to provide adequate distance between male quick disconnect connector 42 and hydraulic cylinder 14.

[0035] In particular embodiments, male quick disconnect connector 42 is oriented perpendicular to the surface of cylinder base 46 to facilitate ease of connection/disconnection.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a schematic overhead view of a cylinder base of a rapid change vertical shore, according to a particular embodiment. The illustrated example illustrates male quick disconnect connector 42 and a threaded base 50 for accepting a hydraulic cylinder. For example, during conversion between single and double cylinders, hydraulic cylinder 14 may coupled to cylinder base 46 via twisting on/off threaded base 50. Thus, particular embodiments also facilitate rapid change of different cylinder lengths.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-section view of a cylinder base of a rapid change vertical shore, according to a particular embodiment. FIG. 7 illustrates a cross section of male quick disconnect connector 42, female quick disconnect connector 44, and thread base 50 described above.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for converting a single cylinder vertical shore to a double cylinder vertical shore, according to particular embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps of FIG. 8 may be performed with respect to rapid change vertical shore 40 described with respect to FIGS. 4-7.

[0039] At step 812, an operator couples a second hydraulic cylinder (e.g., hydraulic cylinder 14) perpendicularly between the first shore rail and the second shore rail (e.g., shore rails 12) via a second cylinder base (e.g., cylinder base 46). The second cylinder base comprises a hose fitting fluidly coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder. The hose fitting comprises a male quick disconnect connector (e.g., male quick disconnect connector 42).

[0040] At step 814, the operator couples a pressure hose (e.g., pressure hose 48) comprising a female quick disconnect connector (e.g., female quick disconnect connector 44) at both ends to the first cylinder base hose fitting and the second cylinder base hose fitting.

[0041] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 800 of FIG. 8. Additionally, one or more steps in the method of FIG. 8 may be performed in parallel or in any suitable order.

[0042] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for converting a double cylinder vertical shore to a single cylinder vertical shore, according to particular embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps of FIG. 9 may be performed with respect to rapid change vertical shore 40 described with respect to FIGS. 4-7.

[0043] At step 912, an operator uncouples the pressure hose (e.g., pressure hose 48) from the first cylinder base (e.g., cylinder base 46) hose fitting and the second cylinder base (e.g., cylinder base 46) hose fitting.

[0044] At step 914, the operator uncouples the second cylinder base (e.g., cylinder base 46) and second hydraulic cylinder (e.g. hydraulic cylinder 14) from the first shore rail (e.g., shore rail 12).

[0045] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 900 of FIG. 9. Additionally, one or more steps in the method of FIG. 9 may be performed in parallel or in any suitable order.

[0046] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, or other components.

[0047] Although embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alternations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following example embodiments.