Patent Description:
In tunnels, on rock walls and similar, there is a need for preventing intrusion of water into the tunnel from the surrounding rock formations. Moreover, there is a need for preventing formation of ice on the inner surface of the lining, i.e. the surface facing the tunnel room, and also possibly for provision of fire protection of the tunnel walls and the ceiling.

Water is leaking out of the rock walls, and during winter seasons, this water also tends to freezes, causing ice masses/icicles hazards. For prevention of such hazard, linings or membranes are widely used before covering the lining with a layer of shotcrete or installing concrete elements. Proper water and frost proofing is a cost-efficient way to extend service life of tunnels, but also to ensure safety of the tunnel both due to accumulation of cracks and/or icicles caused by freezing water.

In order to reduce such hazards where bits of concrete and/or ice may fall down, but also to prevent damage on installed equipment, intrusion of water, frozen road surface or fog, it is known to arrange a watertight and possibly insulating lining or protection on tunnel walls and/or ceilings. The lining or membrane is affixed to the wall and ceiling by means of rock anchor bolts, rigidly fixed to the wall and ceiling of tunnels or the rock, the lining being arranged as a continuous lining along the tunnel in lengthwise sections, and crosswise, forming a water tight, continuous barrier. The barrier is carried and supported inter alia by the rock bolts. At pointwise points where lining is threaded onto the anchor bolts, leakages occur due to perforations made in the lining for threading the lining to the rock bolts. Use of plates or discs together with intermediate seals threaded on to the rock bolt, the discs or plates being positioned on each side of the lining at the rear and/or the front of a tunnel lining for sealing purposes and for load bearing purposes, are known. A backing plate with rubber seal at the rear side and a front washer on the opposite side is one example of such use, where the backing plate with rubber seal establishes a sealing between the bolt and plate and the front washer is establishing a sealing by being pressing the front disc onto the lining.

<CIT> describes a prior art support for linings with a seal at the outer side of the construction, securing against traversing water intrusion.

NO <NUM> relates to a disc for fixing insulation mats in a tunnel or the like, configured to be supported by bolts anchored in the surrounding rock formation. The disc is provided with a centrally arranged hole or aperture for receipt of the bolt and where the hole or aperture is provided with a sealing element or bushing of an elastic material, extending through the hole or a radially inwards extending flange with a lip shape which, when compressed in axial direction is pressed inwards against the bolt for sealing.

NO <NUM> discloses a disc system for fixing a membrane or insulation mats to the rock wall for example in a tunnel by bolts anchored in the wall. The system comprises the disc with a concentric aperture in a solution with a washer and a nut for securing the membrane or insulation mats to the rock wall. The disc fixed closest to the wall and on the inner side of the membrane is different to the disc fixed at the opposite side of the membrane. The disc comprises a pressure seal arranged around the periphery of the disc on the side to be pressed against the membrane. The disk further comprises a seal in the concentric aperture of the disk which may have one or two protruding flanges to be pressed against the thread of the bolt.

<CIT> discloses a sealing washer comprising an apertured metal backing member, a sealing member of resilient material abutting one face of the backing member forming a laminate therewith. The sealing member protrudes out of the concave side of the backing member and the part of the sealing member to be pressed against the bolt for sealing protrudes out of the opposite side of the sealing surface. The sealing side of the backing member is also formed with two concentric ribs of rounded cross sections, one located at the periphery of the washer and one located around the inner central aperture of the washer. The ribs will be pressed against a workpiece, such as a roofing sheet, by means of a headed fastener through the aperture, and prevent water intrusion lateral under the washer and seal around the bolt.

<CIT> discloses a sealing device for use in attaching mill linings to mill shells in a grinding mill in order to prevent egress of liquid from the mill interior through the apertures.

<CIT> discloses a sealing assembly for use on equipment employed by the mining and cement industries.

<CIT> discloses a washer assembly used to secure sheeting material to a substrate, such as roof sheeting.

Before threading the lining onto the anchor bolts, which may be threaded bolts, disks used for sealing purposes are threaded onto the bolts and acts as a sealing and an inner barrier and back support of the lining, at the rear side of the lining. The disk stops at a predefined distance from the tunnel/rock wall or ceiling by means of a stopping device that may be a nut. A seal for sealing the bolt is either preinstalled onto the disk or retrofitted outside of the disk, facing outwards towards the lining. A seal, covering the disk surface facing the lining, is thereafter installed. Then the lining is installed and the seal preinstalled or retrofitted the disk is sealing both against the bolt and the surface of the lining. A new disk is threaded onto the anchor bolt on the front side of the lining, with or without an additional seal. A new nut is threaded onto the anchor bolt and is tightened in order to keep lining in place and locked position, but also to press the two disks on both side of the lining against each other and making the disks seal even tighter. Washers are installed between the nut and disk in order to distribute load and thereby prevent damages to the disks and the lining, but more important and necessarily to prevent damages to the seal and sealing properties, during tightening of the nut.

When working up under tunnel ceiling, enhanced handle of objects, reduced weight, and installation procedures are important. In order to keep the weight as low as possible, use of steel as such plates mentioned is not a contribution to such enhanced working environment and health, safety and environment. Another challenge is to keep the objects in place while installing further objects. Further, preventing objects from falling off/down and potentially cause injury to the operators and/or cause additional work are of essence.

Further, the steel disks, if not made of stainless steel, are to be coated with anti-corrosion coating preventing formation of rust. When handled during storing, transporting or mounting, the coating might be damaged, which will shorten the lifetime of the disks due to for example formation of corrosion.

The number of components has an impact both to cost, but also handling of such a number, causing drawbacks in many aspects. As mentioned above, the handling of such number of components in order to keep them in place while installing further objects, but also the aspect of picking the right component at the right time, is time consuming and the probability to make mistakes is high.

The anchor bolts are commonly installed in the tunnel or rock wall and ceiling in a grid pattern at for example a distance of <NUM> x <NUM>. The bolts have several functions. They are keeping the lining threaded outside disks at a correct distance from the tunnel/rock wall or ceiling around the entire tunnel profile and serves also as an attachment for the lining and reinforcement support for the concrete and the concrete itself, installed outside of the lining. A large number of anchor bolts is needed and a corresponding number of disks and thereby many man-hours for installation. The need of anchor bolts can reach a number of several hundred thousands in one single tunnel dependent upon length, width and height of the tunnel.

A disk is normally made of steel with a diameter of approximately <NUM> and a thickness of <NUM>-<NUM>, each with a weight around <NUM> and provides good resistance from load due to clamping forces, air pressure and pulling suction of passing trains, cars and heavy goods vehicles.

The lining used may be thin membrane or linings, but may also be foam plates typically at thicknesses of <NUM>-<NUM>. PE foam is widely used. When nuts are torqued and the disks are pressed against the foam, the foam will yield. Over time this will cause challenges, since PE does not have any "memories" and will not tend to recover its original shape or thickness when the compressive force is removed. Due to this fact there can be a need for periodically tightening the nuts before spraying on shotcrete or installing concrete elements, tension between the disks and the PE foam will gradually be reduced and the sealing properties will gradually cease, and thereby not function as intended.

The principle used in the present invention is to depend on the sealing and flexible properties of the sealing material used while the material used and the shaper or configuration of the disc itself is to secure a sufficient rigidity in the sealing. This means that it is the compression of the sealing material that causes the sealing effect while the compressive forces required to provide the sealing effects are achieved by externally arranged system of nuts on the accessible side of the sheet to be fastened. Common features for the various embodiments of the discs are: a rigid, slightly concave/convex with a central hole; a sealing arrangement associated with the central hole for sealing against the bolt on which the disc is intended to be threaded; and a sealing arrangement arranged around the periphery of the discs on the side intended to face the sheet to be fixed. Another common feature is that the sealing inside the central hole is terminated inside the hole on the side intended to face the nuts, thus avoiding direct contact with the exterior nut or stop on the bolt,.

Another general principle applicable to the various embodiments is the contact between the two discs and the pressure exerted by one disc to the other producing the sealing effect by pressing the end of the sealing surface against the other. The compression of the centrally arranged sealing devices is obtained by arranging the free end of the central sealing device to extend outside the curved arc on the concave side of the disc to come in contact with the corresponding free end surface of the central sealing device on the disc, arranged on the opposite side of the membrane or insulation mat. By forcing the outer disc, i.e. the disc on the free side of the membrane or insulation mat inwards towards the inner disc, a compressive force and effect will be formed in both central sealing devices, securing sealing at least between the inner disc and the corresponding bolt. In case a membrane is used, the contact between the free end of each sealing device will be direct, transferred through the thin membrane. In case of a compressible insulation mat with a certain thickness a hollow tube is arranged on the bolt between the two free ends of sealing devices, transferring the compressive force directly from the outer disc to the inner disc through said hollow tube, without causing an effect on the insulation in the region for the corresponding hole or penetration.

In the following, and throughout the specification, the following terms means:.

An object of the invention is to provide a system for fixing and supporting an element forming a temporary or permanent part of a tunnel wall or roof, preventing debris, water, ice or rock from falling down into a tunnel room or preventing or serving as a fire protection, or serving as an insulation preventing formation of ice on the wall or roof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved disc improving the HSE aspects and eliminating, or at least reducing weight exposure during repeatedly installation work, in particular but not limited to above the head work during installation.

Yet another object of the invention is to reduce the number of elements that has to be handled and assembled in order to obtain a more efficient tunnel lining installation system.

Yet another object of the present invention is to improve in a simple manner the seal associated with the disc, enhancing the sealing effect of the disc both towards the supporting bolt and also towards the lining or insulation as such, preventing intrusion or leaked water through the lining in the bolt penetration regions or sidewise through the joint between the disc and the membrane/mat.

Another object of the invention is to provide elements for such system, such as a disk for mounting a water, frost and fire protecting material, such as a lining, to bolts anchored in rock wall or ceiling, in for example tunnels, and provide a water proof transition between bolts, disk and perforated holes in lining in which the lining is threaded on to the bolts.

Moreover it is an object of the present invention is to provide a disk that provides a robust and efficient sealing of the lining of a wall or ceiling of a tunnel or rock.

Another object of the present invention is to extend the lifetime of the disk with a material that cannot rust and will not be damaged due to handling and mounting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk with an integrated sealing, eliminating separate mounting of the sealing, either in situ or at the supplier's yard.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disk where the need of additional sealing components is eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk with better sealing against anchor bolts and lining.

Similarly, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a disk with better and long lasting sealing to anchor bolts and insulation sheet when installing PE foam.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk where the need of a washer between the disk and the nut is eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk robust to heavy loads and/or a disc where the central sealing between the disc and bolt is prevented from coming in contact with the stop nut and/or the nut producing the compressive force on the joint or to be exposed to rotation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk with reduced weight still maintaining good bending stiffness.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a disk with an integrated sealing, formed by injection moulding in the one and same operation or in a two-step production operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk allowing a more efficient and cost effective production, thereby reducing the production costs for each specimen.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disk allowing a more cost effective installation, also enhancing the health, environment and safety for the operators installing the lining.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system and a method where an insulation mat is not unnecessarily compressed in order to obtain a sealed support.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce labour time and reduce risk of operator while installing lining in walls and ceilings, in for example tunnels, through reduced weight on disks and through integrated component replacing several components and thereby ease handling of components.

The objects of the present invention are achieved by means of a disk as further defined by the independent claims, while embodiments, alternatives, modifications and variants are defined by the dependent claims.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a disk, as described in claim <NUM>, for sealed attachment and support of a lining or insulation plate or mat to a supporting surface, such as wall and/or ceiling in a tunnel, the lining being intended to be fixed to the supporting surface by a number of bolts fixed in the supporting surface, fixed to the bolts by means of one or more discs and a seal each with a through hole, intended to be threaded onto the corresponding bolt and positioned on at least one side of the lining. The seal is characterized in that the seal forms an integrated unit with the disc, wherein the seal only protrude on one side of the disk intended to face towards the lining, where an inner seal for sealing towards the bolt may project, in axial direction, out(side) of an outer peripheral seal.

The seal integrated in the disk with an inner seal placed in the centre of the disk and an outer peripheral seal placed along the outer rim of the disk, where the seals being intended to face against the steel bolt and the lining.

The inner seal protruding out of sealing surface of the disk may be configured to be squeezed towards the surface to be sealed and against the bolt and into the bolt threads when activated, making a water tight transition to the bolt.

The outer peripheral is arranged around the outer rim or circumference of the disk on the surface intended to face towards the lining, and preferably is formed of a number of concentrically arranged ridges.

The outer peripheral seal is arranged around the outer rim or circumference of the disk on the surface intended to face towards the lining, and preferably may be formed of a concentrically arranged, rounded and semi-circular or semi-oval formed, rib at the circumference of the disk.

The outer peripheral seal may be integral with the inner seal and may be radial spreading as ribs from the inner seal towards a rib concentrically arranged around the outer rim of the circumference of the disk.

The outer peripheral seal may be integral with the inner seal and may be spread as radial spreading as ribs from the inner seal with crossing ribs in a crossing pattern like a waffle pattern extending to a rib concentrically arranged around the outer rim of the circumference of the disk.

The outer peripheral seal may be arranged with ribs spread in radial direction from the inner seal towards a concentrically arranged rounded, circular or oval formed, rib around the circumference of the disk, the outer seal further comprising ribs, preferably perpendicular to and at least one per rib in radial direction forming a crossing pattern.

The disk on the side opposite of the sealing surface may have several ridges spread in radial direction from centre hole, locking towards a stopping means, such as a nut when torqued against surface.

The inner seal may be terminated inside the centre hole on the side locking towards the stopping means and/or covered by the disk material to protect the seal from direct contact with the stopping means and/or the rotational motions of the stopping means.

On the side opposite the sealing surface, the disk may comprise ribs established throughout the circular surface of the disk in order to increase bending stiffness of the disk.

The seal may be squeezed into centre hole and deformed when pressed against the opposite seal or lining and sufficiently sealing bolt and into the bolt threads and the perforated hole in the lining in which the anchoring bolt is protruding through when lining is installed.

At the centre hole of the disk, the inner seal may comprise a chamfer on seal, sloped towards the centre hole and the seal surface facing the bolt, and an approximately horizontal surface on the bottom of the inner seal facing the lining.

The disk may be used on both side of the lining, assembled laterally reversed and secured by nuts tightened to press the disks and thereby the seals in the centre of the disk and on the outer rims of the disk on both side of lining toward each other in a water tight manner.

The main body of the disk may have a disk material, preferably of a plastic or a metallic material, while the disc in total, i.e. the disc with the integrated seal, may be made of two different materials/two component material, where disk material may preferably be of polypropylene, PP, high density polyethylene, HDPE, polyvinyl chloride PVC, polyamide/nylon, PA or aluminium and seal may preferably be made of synthetic rubber such as thermoplastic elastomer, TPE, styrene ethylene butylene styrene, SEBS or thermoplastic olefin, TPO.

The seal of the disk may preferably be made of a seal material with a shore preferably of <NUM> A to <NUM> A, preferably <NUM> A, but more preferably of <NUM> A within the shore A hardness scale.

The disk with the integrated seal may be injection moulded in a two-cavity mould for a multi-component injection moulding process.

The disk with the integrated seal may be made in a one-step or a two-step process, where the disk initially may be pressed or moulded in a first step and thereafter placed in an injection moulding machine for injection moulding of the seal onto the metal.

A method for installation of the disk on a lining is characterized in comprising the steps:.

When the disk is installed on a PE-foam lining and wherein a spacer may be installed in perforated hole in the PE-foam lining prior to installation of the disk or it may be pushed through the PE-foam lining by force, where the inner seal of each disk may squeezed toward the end surfaces of the spacer in order to deform the inner seal making a watertight transition to the bolt.

One method for manufacturing of the disk in an injection moulding process by use of at least one injection moulding machine where the main body of the disk is overmoulded by the TPE, SEBS or TPO material. The injection moulding process may be characterized in either a one-step or two-step process.

The method for manufacturing of the disk through a one step injection moulding process which may comprise the use of an injection moulding machine with two injection units where the TPE, SEBS or TPO may be overmoulded directly onto PP, HDPE, PVC or PA later or immediately after PP, HDPE, PVC or PA has been moulded, with the same injection moulding machine where firstly the PP, HDPE, PVS or PA may have been injected into an initial mould and then the TPE, SEBS or TPO may have been injected into a another mould placed on top of the initial mould by rotating a core mould.

The method for manufacturing of the disk in a two-step process may comprise the steps:.

The seal is sufficiently sealing the perforated hole in the material for water and frost protection in which the anchoring bolt is protruding through after installation of water and frost protecting material.

The disk is for securing a water and frost tight barrier at perforation in the lining while fixing a lining to a wall or ceiling of a tunnel where the lining is threaded onto anchor bolts and where disks act as the water and frost tight sealing of the lining and bolt. The disk is installed at a predetermined distance from the tunnel walls or ceilings, and the disks are threaded onto a number of anchor bolt, preferably threaded bolts, which is bolted to the tunnel walls or ceilings, the disks stops at a predefined distance of the tunnel walls or ceilings at a preinstalled stopping means, which can be a nut, the seal turning outwards. The lining is thereafter threaded at perforations in lining onto the anchoring bolts, which is preferably spreading at a distance from each other throughout the tunnel, new disks are threaded onto the bolts, the opposite way of the disks firstly installed, a new stopping mean, which can be a nut, is threaded onto the bolts and tightens the disks on both side of the lining towards each other. The more it is tightened the better sealing effect, the seal in the centre of the disk is being squeezed inwards and embraces the anchoring bolt tighter and tighter and the seal in the disk circumferences gains tighter and tighter contact with the lining with increased pressure on disk from the torqued nut.

According to the present invention, the means for sealing off the lining also serves as a securing element securing the water and frost proofing lining to the tunnel or rock wall or ceiling at a predefined distance to the tunnel or rock wall or ceiling.

According to the present invention, the disk is provided with ribs for stiffening purposes in order for the disk to be able to withstand heavy loads.

The discs and the method according to the present invention provides a lighter disc of a plastic material with integrated sealing, where the integrated sealing is formed in the same moulding operation and by the same tool as the moulding of the disc.

Both costs associated with the manufacture and installation process are reduced, due to the integrated sealing as part of the moulding of the disc and due to elimination of components related to the integrated seal in disk, which leads to easier and more efficient handling at tunnel site.

Due to the integrated sealing, the discs also provide a more reliable sealing effect with reduced exposure for a leakage between the sealing, the disc and the rock bolt.

The disk with the integrated seal is made of two different materials one stiff material to keep the strength and the shape and one material to function as a seal. The stiff material can be thermoformed or compressing moulded of for example polypropylene, PP, high density poly ethylene, HDPE, polyvinyl chloride, PVC or polyamide/nylon PA and the seal material can be synthetic rubber such as thermoplastic elastomer, TPE, styrene ethylene butylene styrene, SEBS, or thermoplastic olefin, TPO. The stiff material can also be a filled material with for example glass to gain extra stiffness. It can also be filled with flame retardant to prevent from burning. The sealing, of for example TPE, SEBS or TPO, has a hardness in the shore A hardness scale within the area of <NUM>-<NUM> A, preferably with a shore <NUM> A, and more preferably with a shore <NUM> A may be preferably. Different shore on inner and outer sealing might be preferred, and then preferably with a lower shore on the inner sealing.

The health, safety and environmental aspect is also improved due to the reduced weight of each disc compared with a steel disc.

The challenge with the PE foam, where the tension between the disk and lining will be loosening, can be solved by applying a spacer in the perforated hole in the PE foam, thereby reducing the compressive effect on the insulation foam in itself. This secures a solid sealing face towards the seal in area of the anchoring bolt, and thereby secure sealing.

The disk can also be applied outside rocky walls where bolts is rigidly fixed in order to secure bits of rocks from falling out either because of unfixed rocks or where water intrusions makes conditions where bits of rocks loosen. Disks are then used to prevent water additional intrusion along the anchoring bolt.

The disk manufactured in either a one step injection moulding process or in a two-step injection moulding process, where the two step injection moulding process is using two injection moulding machines where the disk material is moulded in a first machine and where the component of disk material are transferred into the mould of a second machine and then overmoulded by the seal material. And the one step injection moulding process is using one injection moulding machine with two injection units where the seal material is overmoulded directly onto the disk material (filled and unfilled engineering plastics and thermoplastics/polyolefin and composites) immediately after the disk material has been moulded, in the same mould, and with the same injection moulding machine where firstly the disk material is injected into an initial mould and secondly the seal material is injected into a secondary mould placed on top of the initial mould by rotating a core mould. The one step injection moulding process, also known as <NUM>-Shot-, multi-component-, in-mould-, twin shot- or assembly injection moulding process creates a strong, tight seal without the need for additional components and is a preferred manufacturing method for products where water-tightness is required.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:.

The following description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

<FIG> shows schematically a cross section of an assembly of prior art. A bolt to be anchored to the tunnel wall, a nut at a predefined distance from the tunnel wall which act as a stopping means for the lining, a washer between the nut and a seal preinstalled or retrofitted in the centre hole of the sealing disk, a sealing sheet at least covering the disk area between the disk with the seal and the lining, a new disk, with or without seal outside the lining a washer between the outer disk and the nut which is torqued in order to the disks against the lining and make a water proof transition between the anchoring bolt and lining. The washers are required in order to prevent damages to the seals, and thereby the sealing properties, and disks when torqued against the nut.

<FIG> shows schematically a cross section through a tunnel, prior to further reinforcement and shotcreting or installing concrete elements, indicating a lining <NUM>, a plurality of anchoring bolts <NUM> and disks <NUM> for sealing. As indicated, a plurality of anchoring bolts <NUM> is drilled into the surrounding rock and penetrating the lining <NUM>. In order to secure water tightness, the penetration may be sealed, and conventional sealing material with load distributing disks <NUM> may be used. The lining <NUM> may be of flexible and bendable sheets extending for example as a unit following the entire profile shape of the tunnel. In the longitudinal direction of the tunnel, sections of transversely extending lining <NUM> sheets may be arranged in an overlapping pattern. The lining <NUM> may also be of thick PE foam with thicknesses from <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> shows a cross section of detail A from <FIG>, showing the present invention assembled with the lining in a tunnel wall <NUM>. A bolt <NUM> may be anchored to the tunnel wall <NUM>, a stopping means, which might be a nut <NUM>, may be installed at a predefined distance from the tunnel wall <NUM> which may act as a stopping means keeping the lining <NUM> at a desired distance from the tunnel wall <NUM>, the disk <NUM> with the integrated seal <NUM>, <NUM>', with the seal <NUM>, <NUM>' facing outwards, then the lining <NUM> may be threaded outside the disk <NUM>, a new disk <NUM> may be installed by threading onto the bolt <NUM> outside the lining <NUM>, the opposite way of the disk <NUM> firstly installed, a new nut <NUM> may be threaded onto the bolt <NUM> and may be tightened in order to press the disks <NUM> on both side of the lining <NUM> towards each other, and thereby pressing the seal <NUM>, <NUM>' to squeeze the sealing. An inner seal <NUM> arranged in the centre of the disk <NUM> may be pressed to squeeze against the bolt <NUM>, securing a water proof transition along the bolt <NUM>. And an outer seal <NUM>' arranged around the outer rim of the disk <NUM> may be squeezed towards the lining <NUM> securing a water proof transition in the interfaces exposed to possible and unwanted water.

<FIG> shows a cross section of detail A from <FIG>, showing the present invention assembled with the lining <NUM> in a tunnel wall <NUM>, where the lining may be a thick PE-foam with an optional spacer <NUM> through a perforation in the foam. The principle is the same as indicated in <FIG>, but because the foam is a flexible material, that will yield when being pressurized; a spacer <NUM> installed in the perforation of the lining <NUM> where the lining <NUM> is threaded onto the anchor bolt <NUM>. The spacer <NUM> may function as a resistance for the disk's <NUM> inner sealing <NUM> in order to be able to be squeezed against a solid surface and thereby the inner seal <NUM> may be deformed to squeeze against the bolt <NUM> and bolt threads making a water proof transition. A chamfer on both sides of the spacer <NUM>, inclining towards the centre axis of the thorough hole of the spacer <NUM>, makes the seal <NUM> being squeezed into the spacer <NUM> and towards the bolt <NUM> while being pressurized by the torqued nuts <NUM>, and also seals the thorough hole of the spacer <NUM>. When using PE-foam as lining, the disks (<NUM>) may preferably use a spacer <NUM>, in order to press the seal <NUM> against the bolt <NUM> and thereby the threads of the bolt <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a disk <NUM> of the present invention, the disk <NUM> shown from above, the opposite side of the sealing side of the disk. The disk may comprise ribs <NUM>, which may both stiffen and reduce weight of the disk <NUM>,. The disk may further comprise a number of ridges <NUM> spread in radial direction from centre hole <NUM> as shown to firstly prevent minimum friction to the nut <NUM> when turning the nut <NUM> and may thereafter lock towards the nut <NUM> through deformation of the ridges <NUM> when torqued against surface, and thereby may replace the washers shown in prior art.

<FIG> shows a tilted perspective view of <FIG>, of one embodiment of the disk seen from below, and constitutes the sealing side of the disk. The inner seal <NUM> is shown in centre of the disk, with flow channels <NUM> where which the sealing material may flow during injection moulding from the inner seal <NUM> towards the outer rim of the disk forming the outer seal <NUM>', around the outer rim of the disk. The outer seal <NUM>' which may be spread from the inner seal <NUM> to the outer rim of the disk <NUM> is of importance in order to be able to further secure a water tight transition between lining <NUM> and the disk <NUM>, and also to take water leakages from the perforated hole, because size of perforated hole in lining might vary.

<FIG> shows a cross section A-A of one embodiment of a disk <NUM> of the present invention. The disk <NUM> and the seal <NUM>, <NUM>' which may form an integrated part are separately indicated. The seal <NUM>, <NUM>' is shown in the figure to be continuously from centre hole <NUM> to the outer rim of the disk <NUM>. The seal profile of the part of the outer seal <NUM>' concentrically arranged around the circumference of the disk <NUM> may be semi-circular or semi-oval or may comprise of a number of ridges (not shown). A preferred height difference h, as indicated in <FIG>, between the inner seal <NUM> and outer peripheral seal <NUM>' may be comprised in order to at least secure a watertight sealing between the inner seal <NUM> and the bolt <NUM> independently of sealing between the outer peripheral seal <NUM>' and the lining <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a top view of one embodiment of a disk <NUM> of the present invention indicating the cross section A-A shown in two different embodiments of <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a detail B from <FIG> of the inner seal <NUM>. The inner seal <NUM> shows a chamfer on seal <NUM>, where the chamfer on seal <NUM> is preferably on the outer surface of the inner seal <NUM>, inclining towards the centre hole <NUM> of the disk <NUM>, making it gradually thinner to the bottom of the sealing surface of the disk in order to make it softer and thereby ease the squeezing of the material inwards towards the bolt <NUM> when being pressurized. An approximately horizontal surface on the bottom of the inner seal <NUM> facing the lining <NUM> is also shown; making a bigger contact area for the inner seal <NUM> facing either lining <NUM> or the inner seal <NUM> of the opposite disk <NUM>, dependent on the size of perforated hole in lining <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a side view of two disks <NUM> of the present invention, as it preferably may be placed opposite each other with the lining <NUM> between.

<FIG> shows a tilted perspective view of <FIG> of another embodiment of the disk seen from below, constituting the sealing side of the disk. The inner seal <NUM> is shown in the centre of the disk, The outer peripheral seal <NUM>' is shown as a cross pattern towards a concentrically arranged rib around the circumference of the disk <NUM>, where the concentrically arranged rib around the circumference of the disk <NUM> may be a semi-circular or semi-oval formed continuous rib or the concentrically arranged rib around the circumference of the disk <NUM> may comprise of a number of concentrically arranged ridges. The cross pattern may comprise of ribs spread in radial direction from the inner rib <NUM> towards the concentrically arranged rib at the circumference of the disk <NUM> and may further comprise ribs, preferably perpendicular to and at least one per rib in radial direction forming a crossing pattern between the inner seal <NUM> and the rib arranged around the circumference of the disk <NUM> on the sealing side <NUM> of the disk <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a cross section A-A derived from <FIG> of the embodiment of <FIG>. The disk <NUM> and the seal <NUM>, <NUM>' which may form an integrated part are separately indicated. The seal <NUM>, <NUM>' is shown in the figure to be continuously from centre hole <NUM> to the outer rim of the disk. The seal profile of the part of the outer seal <NUM>' may be spread from the inner seal <NUM> towards a concentrically arranged preferably semi-circular or semi-oval rib or a number of ridges around the circumference of the disk <NUM>. The flow channels <NUM> (not shown) is preferably placed below the ribs of the outer peripheral seal <NUM>' spread in radial direction from the inner seal <NUM>. The outer seal <NUM>' will preferably be in flush over its sealing surface.

<FIG> shows a detail C from <FIG> of the inner seal <NUM>. The inner seal <NUM> shows a chamfer on seal <NUM>, where the chamfer on seal <NUM> is preferably on the outer surface of the inner seal <NUM>, inclining towards the centre hole <NUM> of the disk <NUM>, making it gradually thinner to the bottom of the sealing surface of the disk in order to make it softer and thereby ease the squeezing of the material inwards towards the bolt <NUM> when being pressurized. An approximately horizontal surface on the bottom of the inner seal <NUM> facing the lining <NUM> is also shown; making a bigger contact area for the inner seal <NUM> facing either lining <NUM> or the inner seal <NUM> of the opposite disk <NUM>, dependent on the size of perforated hole in lining <NUM>.

In all embodiments of the present invention the inner seal <NUM>, at the side of the disk to be torqued against the stopping means, the nut <NUM>, on the opposite side of the sealing surface, may be covered by the disk <NUM>, and may preferably not seen from the top of the disk. This is to prevent damage to the seal when disk may be torqued against the stopping means and thus prevent minimum friction to the nut <NUM>. The ridges <NUM>, as described in <FIG>, may further prevent minimum friction and locking towards the nut <NUM>.

In all of the embodiments of the present invention, where the main body of the disk <NUM> is made of disk material and the seal <NUM>, <NUM>' is made of a seal material. The seal material may have a shore within the shore A hardness scale and preferably with a shore 30A, but might also be of shore <NUM> A, and at least within a shore of <NUM>-<NUM> A. Different shore on inner and outer part of sealing might be preferred, and then preferably with a lower shore of the inner sealing than the outer sealing.

In all of the embodiments of the present invention, the inner seal <NUM> may preferably protrude slightly further out of the sealing side of the disk than the outer peripheral seal <NUM>', as indicated as a preferred height difference h in <FIG>, in order to at least secure a watertight sealing between the inner seal <NUM> and the bolt <NUM> independently of the sealing between the outer peripheral seal <NUM>' and the lining <NUM>. The height difference between the inner seal <NUM> and the outer peripheral seal <NUM>' will preferably be in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>, more preferably in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> and most preferably <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Disk (<NUM>) for sealed attachment and support of a lining or insulation plate or mat (<NUM>) to a supporting surface, being a wall and/or ceiling in a tunnel (<NUM>), the lining (<NUM>) being intended to be fixed to the supporting surface by a number of bolts (<NUM>) fixed in the supporting surface, fixed to the bolts (<NUM>) by means of one or more discs (<NUM>) and a seal (<NUM>, <NUM>') providing locking and sealing surface around the bolt (<NUM>) and the perforation of the lining (<NUM>), each with a through hole, intended to be threaded onto the corresponding bolt (<NUM>) and positioned on at least one side of the lining (<NUM>) wherein the seal (<NUM>, <NUM>') faces against the bolt and lining in use and forms an integrated unit with the disc (<NUM>), wherein the seal comprises an outer peripheral seal (<NUM>') arranged along the outer rim of the disc for facing the lining and an inner seal (<NUM>) placed at the center of the disk (<NUM>) for sealing towards the bolt (<NUM>) characterized in that, the seal (<NUM>,<NUM>') only protrudes on one side of the disk (<NUM>) intended to face towards the lining (<NUM>) and in that the inner seal (<NUM>) projects, in an axial direction, out(side) of the outer peripheral seal (<NUM>') and which comprises an approximately horizontal bottom surface configured to press against a facing surface in use.