Patent Abstract:
A corner connection used to secure I-beams together at corners within the excavation site is provided with a reinforcing assembly that allows for greater loads. Typically, four I-beams are connected together to form a rectangular frame that is suspended within the excavation for bracing the shoring walls thereof, however, any polygonal shape may be used. The corner connection itself comprises mating socket or connecting members that are placed over the ends of I-beams to be fastened together. One of the connecting members includes an outwardly extended tab while the other includes a pair of outwardly extended tabs. The first outwardly extending tab fits between the two extending tabs of the corresponding connecting member. All of the tabs are provided with apertures that are placed in alignment when the connection is made so that a bolt or pin can be passed through the apertures to secure the two connectors together. An additional set of tabs is provided on the connecting members that is also provide with apertures. A reinforcing assembly is provided and includes a reinforcing bar with tabs. A first spacer bar is attached to the reinforcing bar and one connecting member and a second spacer bar is attached to the reinforcing bar and an adjacent connecting member. The spacer bars, the reinforcing bar and the connection members are all connected with tab/pin connections. Advantageously the reinforcing assembly can use the existing second set of tabs located on the prior art connectors. Such an arrangement provides much greater support for the sidewalls of the excavation site.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is generally directed to a system for temporarily shoring up an excavation site. More particularly the invention is directed to a reinforcing assembly for a corner connection used in a reinforcing arrangement that supports sheet piling in an excavation site.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     In a typical excavation site, workers are exposed to numerous hazards. The most common hazard is having the walls of the excavation site cave in on the workers, thus causing serious injury. Often due to soil conditions and wetness, the sides of a construction site will simply collapse. Water is a particularly dangerous hazard because it is so heavy and can destroy shoring, which has not been properly reinforced. Realizing this problem the government, at both the federal and state level, has set up specific requirements for all excavation sites to avoid the problem of cave-ins. For example the United States Department of Labor and, more specifically, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that excavation sites be prepared with some type of shoring. Additionally many companies are now aware of the problems involved in a typical excavation site and have developed internal policies requiring shoring for any excavations they contract to have completed.  
         [0005]     A good example of a typical excavation project is found in replacing underground storage tanks for a gasoline station. Typically, in such an operation, sheet piling is pounded into the ground in a generally rectangular configuration around the work site. The piling has to be driven extremely deeply into the ground and arranged to provide sufficient support against potential cave-ins. Typically the sheet piling has to be driven so deep that half its total height remains underground after the excavation has been completed. Use of such large amounts of material is quite expensive. After the sheet piling has been installed, the workmen then remove the dirt and fill material from within the rectangular shoring. During the work of removing the old storage tanks and replacing them with new storage tanks the shoring provides protection to the workmen against potential cave-ins. Once the storage tank replacement operation has been completed the shoring can either be completely removed or simply cut down We to a safe distance below ground and then left in place. Such a method of shoring an excavation site is extremely expensive.  
         [0006]     Various solutions have been proposed in an attempt to cut down on the costs of shoring an excavation site. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,541 discloses a modular earth support system. Specifically, the patent teaches using panels placed around an excavation site and interlocked with one another to form a generally rectangular shoring configuration. Once the panels are in place, reinforcing beams are placed behind the panels to ensure the weight and force of the dirt behind the panels does not cause the panels to fail. The main drawback of using such a system is that standard I-beams cannot be used. Rather, special beams that are cut exactly to size and additionally have a customized end configuration must be used. Such beams are particularly expensive; especially considering a large number of beams of varying sizes would have to be kept available for differently sized excavation sites.  
         [0007]     Another proposed solution to reducing the high cost of shoring excavation sites is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,837. This patent proposes using panels as shoring members in an excavation site and uses laterally extending braces to reinforce the panels. The braces are connected to one another by a bracket. Alternatively, the braces maybe connected to each other by means of a connection in which one brace has a pair of tabs welded thereto with each tab having an aperture formed therein. The apertures align with a hole in a second brace and a pin is placed though the apertures to complete the connection. In either case there is no provision to adjust the length of the braces and connectors and they must be custom made for each different sized excavation site.  
         [0008]     Numerous other proposed solutions are available including using wooden shoring which is a custom made to a particular excavation site. Such shoring is used only at the designated site and then disposed of. As a result this approach is prohibitively expensive. Also wooden shoring is not as durable as its metal counterparts. Often water along with regular wear and tear at the construction site can destroy the shoring during the construction job.  
         [0009]     Perhaps the best solution proposed so far is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,259 which is incorporated herein by reference. In that patent a corner connection for temporary shoring is shown as being used in an excavation site. Specifically, the corner connection is used to secure I-beams together at corners within the excavation site. Typically, four I-beams are connected together to form a rectangular frame that is suspended within the excavation for bracing the shoring walls thereof. The corner connection itself comprises mating socket or connecting members that are placed over the ends of I-beams to be fastened together. Some portions of this prior patent are summarized below in the discussion of  FIGS. 4 and 5  labeled “Prior Art”.  
         [0010]     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a close-up view of a corner connection  11  located at the ends of two I-beams  20 ,  21 , including two meeting connectors  29 ,  30 . Each connector  29 ,  30  has a similar overall shape. However, one type of connector  29  has a single tab  32  while the other type of connector  30  has a double tab  34 ,  36 . A single tab type connector  29  shown in  FIG. 4  includes a box-like main body portion  40  having an opening  45  therein for receiving an I-beam  21 . The box-like main body portion  40  comprises five major panels to form the open box shape. Opposing top  50  and bottom  51  panels are connected with opposing side panels  55 ,  56  to form the square or rectangular opening  45  designed to receive the I-beam  21 . An end panel  57  also preferably square or rectangular in shape closes off one end of the box type main body  40 . These five pieces  50 ,  51 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  are all made of heavy steel and are welded together. The end panel  57  and one of the side panels  56  have the single tab  32  welded thereto. The tab  32  is a flat plate like member that extends laterally from the box-like main body portion  40  of the connector  29  and has an aperture  60  formed therein. The tab  32  is made of a similar material as the panels of the box-like main body  40 . The tab  32  is preferably welded to the side  56  and end  57  panels.  
         [0011]     A double tab type connector  30  shown in  FIG. 4  includes a box-like main body portion  70  having an opening  75  therein for receiving an I-beam  20 . The box-like main body portion  70  comprises five major panels to form the open box shape. Opposing top  80  and bottom  81  panels are connected with opposing side panels  85 ,  86  to form the square or rectangular opening  75  designed to receive the I-beam  20 . An end panel  87  also preferably square or rectangular in shape closes off one end of the box type main body  70 . These five pieces  80 ,  81 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  are all made of heavy steel and are welded together. The end panel  87  and one of the side panels  86  have top and bottom tabs  34 ,  36  welded thereto. The tabs  34 ,  36  are flat members which extend laterally from the box-like main body portion  70  of the connector  30  and each have an aperture  90 ,  91  formed therein. The tabs  34 ,  36  are made of a similar material as the panels of the box-like main body  70 . The tabs  34 ,  36  are preferably welded to the side  86  and end  87  panels. While other methods may be used to attach the tabs  34 ,  36  it is important that the tabs  34 ,  36  be able to withstand the tremendous hydraulic pressures which may be transmitted by sheet piling  219  (seen in  FIG. 1 ) as it starts to buckle.  
         [0012]     As can clearly be seen in  FIG. 4 , connectors  29 ,  30  may easily be joined together by placing the tab  32  of the single tab connector  29  within the two tabs  34 ,  36  of the double tab connector  30 . Ideally, the single tab aperture  60  aligns with the apertures  90 ,  91  formed in each of the two tabs  34 ,  36  of the double tab connector  30 . A securing bolt or pin  100  is placed through the aligned apertures  60 ,  90 ,  91  in order to pivotably secure the connectors  29 ,  30  together.  
         [0013]     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the invention. Specifically, the box like connectors  29 ,  30  of the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  now are shown with modifications to support an added reinforcing member. Since the connectors  29 ′,  30 ′ shown in  FIG. 5  are based on the connectors  29 ,  30  shown in  FIG. 4  only a discussion of the modifications will be provided here.  
         [0014]     Essentially each box type connector  29 ′,  30 ′ has a box-like main body  40 ′,  70 ′ that has been lengthened along with its corresponding panels  50 ′,  51 ′,  55 ′,  56 ′,  80 ′,  81 ′,  85 ′,  86 ′ to provide room to support a pair of extra tabs  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  104  each tab has an aperture (only two shown)  106 ,  108  formed therein. A reinforcing bar  120  having a tab  130 ,  131  located at each end is provided to reinforce the two box type connectors  29 ′,  30 ′. The tabs  130 ,  131  located at the end of reinforcing bar  120  each have an aperture (not shown) located therein which will cooperate and align with the apertures  106 ,  108 , formed in the extra tabs  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  104  of each box type connector  29 ′,  30 ′. A pin  100  may then be placed in the respective apertures once they are in proper alignment to hold the reinforcing bar  120  in place.  
         [0015]     However even with this reinforcing bar  120  in place the maximum permissible load may be insufficient and the expense of using heavier materials is always a factor.  
         [0016]     Based on the above, therefore there exists a need in the prior art of excavation shoring to provide a system wherein shoring can be provided at an excavation site in an inexpensive and reusable manner that does not suffer the disadvantages of the prior art discussed above. More specifically there exists in the art a need to provide a connector for interconnecting various beams used to reinforce shoring in a manner which may allow much greater loading than previously has been available but still uses the same parts as used in previous shoring systems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Specifically, a corner connection used to secure I-beams together at corners within the excavation site is provided with a reinforcing assembly that allows for greater loads. Typically, four I-beams are connected together to form a rectangular frame that is suspended within the excavation for bracing the shoring walls thereof however; any polygonal shape may be used. The corner connection itself comprises mating socket or connecting members that are placed over the ends of I-beams to be fastened together.  
         [0018]     One of the connecting members includes an outwardly extended tab while the other includes a pair of outwardly extended tabs. The first outwardly extending tab fits between the two extending tabs of the corresponding connecting member. All of the tabs are provided with apertures that are placed in alignment when the connection is made so that a bolt or pin can be passed through the apertures to secure the two connectors together. An additional set of tabs is provided on the connecting members that is also provided with apertures. A reinforcing assembly is provided and includes a reinforcing bar with tabs. A first spacer bar is attached to the reinforcing bar and one connecting member and a second spacer bar is attached to the reinforcing bar and an adjacent connecting member. The spacer bars, the reinforcing bar and the connection members are all connected with tab/pin connections. Advantageously the reinforcing assembly can use the existing second set of tabs located on the prior art connectors.  
         [0019]     The socket members also include a large eyelet for receiving a chain or other elongated supporting member that is typically used to suspend the resulting I-beam frame at a desired height within the shoring walls.  
         [0020]     Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will more readily be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in connection with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to correspond parts in the several views.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a prospective view of a corner connection, a reinforcing assembly and associated shoring beams for temporary shoring according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention as it would be seen in use in a typical excavation site;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a close-up perspective view of a corner connection including two corner connectors and a reinforcing assembly shown in their engaged condition connecting two shoring beams according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a prospective view of a corner connection including two corner connectors shown in their engaged condition according to the prior art and;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a corner connection including two corner connectors and a reinforcing bar shown in their engaged condition according the prior art. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 1  there is shown a typical excavation site  205  with an excavation hole  206  incorporating corner connections  211 - 214  for temporary shoring  218  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The temporary shoring  218  actually comprises three major elements: interlocking sheet piling  219 , reinforcing I-beams or shoring beams  220 - 223  and corner connections  211 - 214 , each connection including two connectors for the I-beams  220 - 223 . Although shown here as I-beams, beams of different shapes could be used so long as the connector and beam have mating shapes. For example, round, L-shaped and U-shaped beams could be used, as could a beam of almost any cross section. Interlocking sheet piling  219  is shown placed along the walls of the excavation hole  206 . Such interlocking sheet piling  219 , which in the embodiment shown is formed by interconnecting two types of side wall panels and corner panels (not separately labeled), is usually driven into the ground prior to any digging. Typically a driving machine  225 , which is essentially a pile driver, is used to drive each section of piling  219  to a desired depth within the ground. As mentioned above, typically such sheet piling  219  was driven two to three times the depth of the excavated hole  206 . In this preferred embodiment however, because of the I-beams  220 - 223  and the corner connections  211 - 214 , the sheet piling  219  need only be driven slightly deeper than the desired depth of the excavation hole  206 . In either case the sheet piling  219  is driven into the ground one panel at a time each panel becoming an upstanding wall portion.  
         [0027]     The panels of piling  219  have interlocking edges and thus can provide support for each other once they are in place. Also the panels  219  are formed in an undulating pattern for added strength. Typically such panels  219  are made of relatively thick and expensive sheet metal. It is important to note that using large quantities of such a sheet metal is extremely expensive. Furthermore, using prior shoring methods, the sheet metal was often left at the excavation site  205  at the conclusion of the construction job. As will be discussed more fully below, with the subject method, the amount of sheet piling  219  used is not only reduced, but less sheet piling  219  is required initially because the sheet piling  219  only has to extend as deep as the excavation hole  206 .  
         [0028]     A reinforcing structure  226  is provided behind the interlocking sheet piling  219 . The reinforcing structure  226  includes the set of I-beams  220 - 223  that interact with the set of corner connections  211 - 214 . Such a structure  226  is needed in order to prevent the sheet piling  219  from buckling under the weight of the earth surrounding the sheet piling  219 . This is particularly true when the earth is wet or particularly loose. The corner connections  211 - 214  are designed to receive the ends of the I-beams  220 - 223  to form a rectangular structure. While a rectangular shape is shown here and is probably the most common configuration used it should be kept in mind that any polygonal configuration of three or more sides could be used and not depart from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0029]     Under normal conditions the reinforcing structure  226  would simply be suspended by a chain or other mechanism (not shown) at a desired height within the excavation hole  206 . If however, the sheet piling  219  starts to buckle under the weight of wet earth it will immediately engage with the reinforcing structure  226 . As pressure is placed on the I-beams  220 - 223  and corner connections  211 - 214  they will only give a small distance before applying an enormous normal force that will stop the sheet piling  219  from any further buckling.  
         [0030]     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a close-up view of a corner connection  211  including two meeting connectors  229 ,  230  and the ends of two I-beams  220 ,  221 . Each connector  229 ,  230  has a similar overall shape. However, one type of connector  229  has a single tab  232  while the other type of connector  230  has a double tab  234 ,  236 . A single tab type connector  229  shown in  FIG. 2  includes a box-like main body portion  240  having an opening  245  therein for receiving an I-beam  221 . The box-like main body portion  240  comprises five major panels to form the open box shape. Opposing top  250  and bottom  251  panels are connected with opposing side panels  255 ,  256  to form the square or rectangular opening  245  designed to receive the I-beam  221 . An end panel  257  also preferably square or rectangular in shape closes off one end of the box type main body  240 . These five pieces  250 ,  251 ,  255 ,  256 ,  257  are all made of heavy steel and are welded together. The end panel  257  and one of the side panels  256  have the single tab  232  welded thereto. The tab  232  is a flat plate-like member that extends laterally from the box-like main body portion  240  of the connector  229  and has an aperture  260  formed therein. The tab  232  is made of a similar material as the panels of the box-like main body  240 . The tab  232  is preferably welded to the side  256  and end  257  panels. While other methods may be used to attach the tab  232 , it is important that the tab  232  be able to withstand the tremendous hydraulic pressures that may be transmitted by the sheet piling  219  as it starts to buckle.  
         [0031]     Optionally a gusset  262  is formed between the side panel  256  and the tab  232  for added strength. An additional gusset (not shown) may be formed between the tab  232  and the end panel  257 . Preferably an eyelet  269  is formed on the top panel  250 . The eyelet  269  is designed to receive a chain or other elongated supporting member (not shown) used to support the I-beams  220 - 223  and corner connections  211 - 214  at a desired height within the excavation hole  206 . The eyelet  269  is completely optional as the chain could simply be placed around one of the I-beams  220 - 223  to provide support.  
         [0032]     A double tab type connector  230  shown in  FIG. 2  includes a box-like main body portion  270  having an opening  275  therein for receiving an I-beam  220 . The box-like main body portion  270  comprises five major panels to form the open box shape. Opposing top  280  and bottom  281  panels are connected with opposing side panels  285 ,  286  to form the square or rectangular opening  275  designed to receive the I-beam  220 . An end panel  287  also preferably square or rectangular in shape closes off one end of the box type main body  270 . These five pieces  280 ,  281 ,  285 ,  286 ,  287  are all made of heavy steel and are welded together. The end panel  287  and one of the side panels  286  have top and bottom tabs  234 ,  236  welded thereto. The tabs  234 ,  236  are flat members that extend laterally from the box-like main body portion  270  of the connector  230  and each have an aperture  290 ,  291  formed therein. The tabs  234 ,  236  are made of a similar material as the panels of the box-like main body  270 . The tabs  234 ,  236  are preferably welded to the side  286  and end  287  panels. While other methods may be used to attach the tabs  234 ,  236  it is important that the tabs  234 ,  236  be able to withstand the tremendous hydraulic pressures which may be transmitted by the sheet piling  219  as it starts to buckle.  
         [0033]     Optionally a gusset  292  is formed between the side panel  286  and the top tab  234  for added strength. Webs (not shown) may be formed between the two tabs  234 ,  236  in order to further increase their strength. An additional gusset (not shown) may be formed between the top tab  234  and the end panel  287 . Preferably an eyelet  295  is formed on the top panel  280 . The eyelet  295  is designed to receive a chain or other elongated supporting member (not shown) used to support the I-beams  220 - 223  and corner connections  211 - 214  at a desired height with the excavation site  205 . The eyelet  295  is completely optional as the chain could simply be placed around the I-beams  220 - 223  to provide support.  
         [0034]     As can clearly be seen in  FIG. 2 , connectors  229 ,  230  may easily be joined together by placing the tab  232  of the single tab connector  229  within the two tabs  234 ,  236  of the double tab connector  230 . Ideally, the single tab aperture  260  aligns with the apertures  290 ,  291  formed in each of the two tabs  234 ,  236  of the double tab connector  230 . A securing bolt or pin  300  is placed through the aligned apertures  260 ,  290 ,  291  in order to pivotably secure the connectors  229 ,  230  together. The bolt or pin  300  previously supported all the forces transmitted between the two connected I-beams  220 ,  221  and was subject to failure. However as discussed more fully below, the temporary shoring  218  has been modified with an improved reinforcing assembly  300   330 .  
         [0035]     As can best be seen in  FIG. 3  each box type connector  229 ,  230  also supports a pair of extra tabs  301 ,  302 ,  303 ,  304  and each tab has an aperture  306 ,  307 ,  308 ,  309  formed therein. While the box connectors  229 ,  230  are shown with pairs of extra tabs  301 ,  302 ,  303 ,  304  only a single extra tab  302 ,  304  on each connector  229 ,  230  is required. The box type connectors  229 ,  230  described so far are known in the art and are substantially identical to the box type connectors  29 ′  30 ′ described above with reference to  FIG. 5 .  
         [0036]     The reinforcing assembly  330  includes a reinforcing bar  320 , a first spacer bar  322  attached to the reinforcing bar  320  and the first shoring beam connector  229  and a second spacer bar  324  attached to the reinforcing bar  320  and the second shoring beam connector  230 . The reinforcing bar  320  is formed of a standard I-beam that has had its ends cut at 45 degrees so as to form the overall temporary shoring  218  into a square configuration. As mentioned above other shapes and angles could be used. The reinforcing bar  320  will preferably be 8 feet or 12 feet long but other sizes may be used as desired. The spacer bars  322 ,  324  are simply rectangular flat pieces of steel. The spacer bars must be sized based on the length of the reinforcing bar  320  and the angle of the corner connection. As such this length is set by the geometry of the temporary shoring  218 .  
         [0037]     A first fastening assembly  335  includes the first tab  301  that extends laterally from the main body portion  240  of the first shoring connector  229 . The first tab  301  has an aperture  306  located therein adapted to receive a first connecting pin  336 . Optionally the first fastening assembly may also include the second tab  302  having aperture  307  aligned with aperture  306  and adapted to receive the first connecting pin  336 . A second fastening assembly  340  includes the first tab  303  extending laterally from said main body portion  270  of the second shoring beam connector  230 , and has aperture  309  located therein adapted to receive a second connecting pin  346 . Optionally the second fastening assembly  340  may also include a second tab  304  having an aperture  309  aligned with the aperture  308  and adapted to receive second connecting the pin  346 .  
         [0038]     The reinforcing bar  320  further comprises a first tab  350  with an aperture  351  adapted to receive a third connecting pin  352  located at a first end  353  and a second tab  354  with an aperture  355  adapted to receive a fourth pin  356  located at a second end  357 . Optionally third and fourth tabs  358 ,  359  may be added to the reinforcing bar  320  and be aligned with first and second tabs  350 ,  354  respectively.  
         [0039]     The first spacer bar  322  further comprises an end  360  with an aperture  361  located therein adapted to receive the first connecting pin  336 , a second end  363  with an aperture  364  located therein is adapted to receive the third pin  352 . When the optional tabs  302 ,  358  of the first corner connector  229  and the reinforcing bar  320  are used, the ends  360 ,  363  of the spacer bar  332  will fit between the tabs  301 ,  302  of the first corner connector  229  and the tabs  350 ,  358  of the reinforcing bar  320 .  
         [0040]     The second spacer bar  324  further comprises a first end  370  with an aperture  371  located therein adapted to receive the second connecting pin  346 . A second end  373  with an aperture  374  located therein is adapted to receive the fourth pin  356 . When the optional tabs  304 ,  359  of the second corner connector  230  and the reinforcing bar  320  are used the respective ends  370 ,  373  of the spacer bar  324  will fit between the tabs  303 ,  304  of the second corner connector  230  and the tabs  354 ,  359  of the reinforcing bar  320 .  
         [0041]     The reinforcing bar  320  has a hook  380 ,  382  attached to each end  384 ,  386  and each said hook  380 ,  382  is adapted to be connected to a respective shoring beam  221 ,  220 . The hooks  380 ,  382  are formed of a main plate  390 ,  391  welded to each end  384 ,  386  of the reinforcing bar  320  and an additional two smaller plates  394 ,  395 ,  396 ,  397  are welded to the main plates  390 ,  391  to form a hook configuration. The hooks  380 ,  382  mate with the top web of the respective I-beam shaped shoring beams  221 ,  220 . Additional lower hooks  398 ,  399  may be mounted to the main plates  390 ,  391  but they are completely optional because the weight of the reinforcing bar  320  is sufficient to keep it in place.  
         [0042]     In operation, typically the entire temporary shoring assembly  218  arrives on a truck. Initially the I-beams  220 - 223  are arranged in a rectangular or other polygonal shape around the perspective excavation site. Next the connectors  229 ,  230  such as shown in  FIG. 2  are placed on the ends of the I-beams  220 - 223  forming corner connections  211 - 214 . It is important to note that the connectors  229 ,  230  may simply be slipped onto the ends of the I-beams  220 - 223  and that they do not need to be welded thereto. Essentially the main body portion  240  of the connector  229  is adapted to slidably receive the end of an I-beam  221  until it hits an abutment such as the end wall  257 . Of course, any abutment will do so long as it transfers force from the I-beam  221  to the connector  229 . As such, the connections  211 - 214  and I-beams  220 - 223  may be easily assembled on excavation site  205 . Next the apertures  260 ,  290 ,  291  in the tabs  232 ,  234 ,  236  of each single and double tab connector  229 ,  230  are aligned and a pin  300  is placed therethrough. After the connections  211 - 214  and beams  220 - 223  are in place, the reinforcing assembly  330  may be added.  
         [0043]     First the reinforcing bar  320  is placed on the shoring beams  221 ,  220  so that the hooks  380 ,  382  seat on the top web (not separately labeled) of each shoring beam  221 ,  220 . Next the spacer bars  322 ,  324  are placed so that the apertures  361 ,  364 ,  371 ,  374  on the first and second ends  360 ,  363 ;  370 ,  373  of each bar  322 ,  324  align with the appropriate apertures  306 - 309 ,  351 ,  355 , of the corner connectors  229 ,  230  and reinforcing bar  320 . At this point the optional lower hooks  398 ,  399  may be installed. The reinforcing structure  226  formed of the I-beams  220 - 223  and corner connections  211 - 214  now defines the edge of the excavation site  205 . The sheet piling  219  is driven into the ground around the reinforcing structure  226 .  
         [0044]     Previously, the sheet piling  219  would have to be driven 2 ft. into the ground for every 1 ft. deep into the ground the excavation site  205  would extend. The cost of using so much sheet piling  219  is extremely expensive. With this new invention the sheet piling  219  need only extend slightly below the bottom of the excavation site  205 .  
         [0045]     Once the sheet piling  219  is in place, the dirt and other material within the excavation site&#39;s perimeter is then removed. The reinforcing structure  226  is then lowered to an appropriate height. The reinforcing structure  226  is held at that height by chains that extend to the eyelet on each box connector. It should be noted that the reinforcing structure  226  would not actually be under load until and if the sheet piling  219  starts to buckle under the load of dirt or water located behind a sheet piling  219 . If the sheet piling  219  starts to buckle the corner connections  211 - 214  will take that load and be forced tighter unto their respective I-beams  220 - 223 . Once any tolerance between the I-beams  220 - 223  and corner connections  211 - 214  is taken up the reinforcing structure  226  will then prevent any further movement of the sheet piling  219  and also prevent a cave in. When pressure is applied to the main I-beams  220 - 223  from the walls of the excavation hole  205  as they try to collapse the spacer bars  322 ,  324  keep the reinforcing bar  320  in place and stop it from moving away from the corner connection  211 . The reinforcing bar  320  then takes most of the load, much more of a load than could be handled by the corner connection  211  on its own. Workers can then move about the excavation site  205  and safely perform whatever task is necessary. For example, the workers could remove old storage tanks (not shown) that may need removing and replace them with a new set of storage tanks (not shown). Additionally, other structures may be formed within the excavation site  205 . For example a slab of concrete may be poured at the bottom of the excavation site  205  to aid in supporting storage tanks. Additionally, gravel or other fill material may be placed around the tanks as is needed. All the while, the workers will be safe from any potential cave in.  
         [0046]     Once the excavation site  205  is ready to be refilled, typically a corner sheet of piling  219  is removed so as to enable the workers to remove the corner connections  211 - 214 . Once one set of corner connectors is removed, the rest of the reinforcing structure  226  can easily be removed from the excavation site  205  and used again. One of the great benefits of the instant invention is that a much greater load can be supported by the overall temporary shoring  218 . Additionally, with the use of the reinforcing assembly  330  even larger holes may be shored. Indeed holes with sides of up to 60 feet per side may be shored which much greater than can be shored without the reinforcement assembly  330 .  
         [0047]     Although described with respect to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that various changes and/or modifications could be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Therefore, the specific embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Instead, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4