SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING A WATERPROOFING SYSTEM TO SHORING FOR AN EXCAVATION WALL

Abstract

System and method for mounting a waterproofing system comprising a waterproof membrane to shoring for an excavation wall. The mounting system comprises an induction disc having a conductive element, a first disc surface coated with an adhesive, and a second disc surface opposite the first disc surface. A target patch is affixed to the first disc surface by induction welding. The target patch has an outer portion which extends beyond the periphery of the induction disc. The outer portion is affixed to the waterproof membrane. A first hydrophilic washer is secured between the waterproof membrane and the second disc surface of the induction disc. A second hydrophilic washer is secured between the target patch and a rigid washer. A mounting fastener, such as a lag bolt screw, screw, bolt or nail, extends through each of the components and is fastened to the shoring.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a waterproofing system comprising a waterproof membrane to shoring within an excavation for a wall of a structure, comprising: an induction disc having a conductive element, a first disc surface coated with an adhesive, and a second disc surface opposite the first disc surface; a target patch having a first patch surface affixed to the first disc surface by an induction weld, and a second patch surface opposite the first patch surface, the target patch having an outer portion which extends beyond the periphery of the induction disc, wherein the outer portion is affixed to the waterproof membrane; a first hydrophilic washer secured between the waterproof membrane and the second disc surface; a second hydrophilic washer secured between the second patch surface and a rigid washer; and a mounting fastener extending through the rigid washer, the second hydrophilic washer, the target patch, the induction disc, the first hydrophilic washer and the waterproof membrane, and fastened to the shoring.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the rigid washer is a metal washer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer portion of the target patch is affixed to the waterproof membrane by a hot air weld.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the target patch is made of polyvinyl chloride material.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the target patch is made of polyvinyl chloride material and the outer portion of the target patch is affixed to the waterproof membrane by a hot air weld.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the waterproofing system further comprises a geotextile mat disposed between the shoring and the waterproof membrane, and the mounting fastener extends through the geotextile mat.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hydrophilic washer and the second hydrophilic washer comprise vulcanized, hydrophilic rubber.

8. A method for mounting a waterproofing system comprising a waterproof membrane to shoring within an excavation for a wall of a structure, comprising: securing a first hydrophilic washer between the waterproof membrane and an induction disc, the induction disc having a conductive element, a first disc surface coated with an adhesive, and a second disc surface opposite the first disc surface, the first hydrophilic washer secured between the waterproof membrane and the second disc surface; affixing a target patch to the induction disc, the target patch having a first patch surface and a second patch surface opposite the first surface, by induction welding the first patch surface to the first disc surface, the target patch having an outer portion which extends beyond the periphery of the induction disc; securing a second hydrophilic washer between the second patch surface and a rigid washer; inserting a mounting fastener through the rigid washer, the second hydrophilic washer, the target patch, the induction disc, the first hydrophilic washer and the waterproof membrane; fastening the mounting fastener into the shoring; and affixing the outer portion of the target patch to the waterproof membrane.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the rigid washer is a metal washer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the outer portion of the target patch is affixed to the waterproof membrane by hot air welding.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the target patch is made of polyvinyl chloride material.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the target patch is made of polyvinyl chloride material and the outer portion of the target patch is affixed to the waterproof membrane by hot air welding.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the waterproofing system further comprises a geotextile mat disposed between the shoring and the waterproof membrane, and the mounting fastener extends through the geotextile mat.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the first hydrophilic washer and the second hydrophilic washer comprise vulcanized, hydrophilic rubber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting system for mounting a waterproofing system to shoring, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation of a waterproofing system comprising a geotextile mat and a waterproof membrane disposed over shoring within an excavation for a wall of a structure, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing certain components in place after the initial steps of a method are completed for using a mounting system to mount the waterproofing system of FIG. 2 to the shoring, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing additional components in place after additional steps of the method are completed for using a mounting system to mount the waterproofing system of FIG. 2 to the shoring, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a mounting system 10 for mounting a waterproofing system 12 according to the present invention is shown. The present invention does not require all of the structure and features of the mounting system 10, but may include only those suitable for the particular installation. Turning to FIG. 2, the waterproofing system 12 is configured for waterproofing a wall 14 of a structure which when installed is at least partially below-grade, i.e. below the surface of the surrounding earth 16. When constructing large buildings, tunnels, mines and other structures having below-grade walls, an excavation is dug creating excavation walls 16 (earthen walls) within which the structure walls 14 and slab/foundation (not shown) of the structure will be constructed. The shoring 18 is constructed around the perimeter of the excavation to support the excavation walls 14. The shoring 18 typically comprises a plurality of beams (typically wood beams) which may be supported by steel piles (not shown) driven into the earth.

[0021] Still referring to FIG. 2, the waterproofing system 12 is installed within the shoring 18 which lines the excavation walls 14. The waterproofing system 12 is typically installed prior to constructing the walls 14 and slab (not shown), although, it may be possible to install the waterproofing system 12 after the slab and walls 14 are constructed. The waterproofing system 12 and mounting system 10 will be described for installation prior to constructing the walls 14 and/or slab, with the understanding that it is also possible to install them after constructing the walls 14 and slab.

[0022] The waterproofing system 12 comprises a backing layer 20 which is placed over the inside surface of the shoring 18, and covers most, or substantially all, of the shoring 18. As used herein, the term “inside surface” refers to the surface facing toward the interior of the structure (i.e. facing toward the wall 14), and “outside surface” refers to the surface facing toward the exterior of the structure (i.e., facing toward the excavation wall 16). The backing layer 20 may be any suitable material, such as a geotextile, for example “HYDRO-ULTRAMAT SERIES™” geotextiles available from Hydro-Gard LLC, in Yorba Linda, Calif. The waterproofing system 12 may comprise additional components between the backing layer 20 and the shoring 18, such as a drain board, and/or other sheet layer(s) and components (not shown).

[0023] The waterproofing system 12 also comprises a waterproof membrane 22 positioned over the inside surface of backing layer 20. The waterproof membrane 22 covers most, or substantially all, of the backing layer 20, and in turn covers most, or substantially all, of the shoring 18 and excavation wall 16. The waterproof membrane 22 may be any suitable waterproofing sheet material, such as HYDRO-PRUFE™ 80 mil available from Hydro-Gard LLC, in Yorba Linda, Calif. Multiple sheets of waterproof membrane 22 may be utilized to cover the entire surface of the backing layer 20. The seam between different sheets may be bonded together with a water-tight seal by heat welding the seam (e.g. using a hot air welder), as is known in the art.

[0024] With the backing layer 20 and the waterproof membrane 22 in place over the shoring 18, the mounting system 10 is then installed to mount the backing layer 20 and waterproof membrane 22 to the shoring 18, i.e., the waterproofing system 12 is mounted to the shoring 18. The mounting system 10 comprises one or more mounting units 10 (one exemplary mounting unit is shown in the figures) spaced apart about the area of the backing layer 20 and waterproof membrane 22 at respective mounting points for each mounting unit 10. For example, the mounting units 10 can be spaced apart in any suitable pattern, such as a rectangular array. For instance, the mounting units 10 may be spaced about 14″-15″ apart from center to center in a rectangular array over the waterproof membrane 22, or other suitable spacing and configurations may be used.

[0025] The backing layer 20 and waterproof membrane 22 may be provided with respective apertures at each of the mounting points for installing the mounting units 10. The apertures may be formed before or after placing the backing layer 20 and waterproof membrane 22, or the apertures can even be pre-formed in the backing layer 20 and/or waterproof membrane 22 by the manufacturer. Alternatively, the apertures can be formed by inserting and/or screwing a mounting fastener, such as a lag bolt screw 24, through the backing layer 20 and waterproof membrane 22, as described herein.

[0026] Each of the mounting units 10 and a method for installing each of the mounting units 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-4. Referring first to FIG. 3, a first hydrophilic washer 26 is positioned at a mounting point on the waterproof membrane 22 and is secured between the waterproof membrane 22 and an induction disc 28 by placing the induction disc 28 over the first hydrophilic washer 26 and compressing the washer 26 against the waterproof membrane 22. The hydrophilic washer 26 is formed of a hydrophilic material, such as vulcanized, hydrophilic expansive rubber, for instance, the SWELLSEAL® joint hydrophilic rubber material available from De Neef Construction Chemicals, Houston, Tex. The hydrophilic washer 26 may be any suitable shape. For example, the hydrophilic washer 26 may be a circular disc with a circular aperture in the middle, or it can be square shaped with an aperture in the middle, etc. The induction disc 28 comprises a circular disc having a first disc surface (the inside surface) facing away from the hydrophilic washer 26 which is coated with an adhesive and a second disc surface (the outside surface) opposite the first disc surface which is facing the hydrophilic washer 26. The induction disc 28 also has a conductive element which can be heated by an induction welder in order to activate the adhesive to bond the first disc surface to another surface. The induction discs 28 may be approximately 3 inch diameter discs, or other suitable size. For example, the induction discs may be the PVC Plate product from Valro Manufacturing Limited, in Knutsford, Cheshire, England, for use with the CENTRIX™ induction welding system. The discs 28 are mounted to the inside surface of the backing layer 20 or waterproof membrane 22 such that the bonding surface is exposed.

[0027] Still referring to FIG. 3, a target patch 30 is affixed to the first disc surface of the induction disc 28 by induction welding. The target patch 30 has a first patch surface (the outside surface) facing the induction disc 28 and a second patch surface (the inside surface) opposite the first patch surface. The first patch surface of the target patch 30 is placed on the first disc surface of the induction disc 28, and an induction welder is then used to induction weld the first patch surface to the first disc surface which activates the adhesive forming a first induction weld 32, thereby affixing the target patch 30 to the induction disc 28. The target patch 30 also has an outer portion 31 which extends beyond the periphery of the induction disc 28 such that the outer portion 31 can be pressed into contact with the waterproof membrane 22 over the induction disc 28 and the first hydrophilic washer 26.

[0028] Turning now to FIG. 4, a second hydrophilic washer 34 is placed against the second patch surface and is secured between the second patch surface and a rigid washer 36. The second hydrophilic washer 34 may be the same or similar in material and shape as the first hydrophilic washer 26, or, depending on the size of the rigid washer 36, it may be smaller or larger in order to fit within the perimeter of the rigid washer 36. The rigid washer 36 may be a metal washer, such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc., and may be any suitable shape, such as a circular disc having a circular aperture in the middle.

[0029] The lag bolt screw 24 is then inserted through each of the rigid washer 36, the second hydrophilic washer 34, the target patch 30, the induction disc 28, the first hydrophilic washer 26, the waterproof membrane 22 and the backing layer 20. The lag bolt screw 24 may be any suitable mounting fastener, such as a screw, a lag bolt screw, a bolt, a nail, or other elongate fastener which can be fastened to the shoring 18. If the waterproof membrane 22 and/or the backing layer 20 have not already been provided with apertures through the layers, then the lag bolt screw 24 is inserted and/or screwed through the waterproof membrane 22 and/or backing layer 20 thereby puncturing the waterproof membrane 22 and/or backing layer 20 and forming aperture(s) through such layers. The lag bolt screw 24 is then screwed into the shoring 18 until the head of the lag bolt screw 24 bears against the rigid washer 36 and a desired bearing force on the mounting unit 10 is established.

[0030] Turning back to FIG. 1, the outer portion 31 of the target patch 30 is affixed to the waterproof membrane 22. The outer portion 31 is pressed against the waterproof membrane 22 and is bonded to the waterproof membrane 22 by any suitable means to form a bond 23. For example, the outer portion 31 may be hot air welded to the waterproof membrane 22 using a hot air welder. Alternatively, the outer portion 31 may be bonded to the waterproof membrane 22 using an adhesive. The bond 23 may form a waterproof seal between the target patch 30 and the waterproof membrane 22 such that moisture cannot pass from between the waterproof membrane 22 and the target patch 30 around the perimeter of the target patch 30.

[0031] Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, after the waterproof system 12 is installed, the structure wall 14 can then be formed adjacent the waterproof membrane 22 and the mounting unit 10. The lag bolt screw 24 may have a threaded head into which a threaded rod (not shown) can be attached and used to construct forms for pouring a concrete wall as the structure wall 14.

[0032] Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it is to be understood that the above description is not intended to limit the scope of these embodiments. While embodiments and variations of the many aspects of the invention have been disclosed and described herein, such disclosure is provided for purposes of explanation and illustration only. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, not all of the components described in the embodiments are necessary, and the invention may include any suitable combinations of the described components, and the general shapes and relative sizes of the components of the invention may be modified. Accordingly, embodiments are intended to exemplify alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may fall within the scope of the claims. The invention, therefore, should not be limited, except to the following claims, and their equivalents.