Patent Description:
The present application belongs to the technical field of cross-sea tunnel construction technology, and in particular relates to a water stopping device of suspension and sliding type and an application thereof.

Closure joint construction of submarine immersed tunnel projects is a key process of the overall immersed tunnel construction and is also the last segment for the tunnel closure and whole through, and its installation accuracy and water stopping effect will directly affect the success of the entire immersed tunnel construction. The closure joint construction of an immersed tunnel with push-out segment is applied for the first time in China, and there is no previous experience available for the construction of water stopping devices. In the stretching motion of a push-out segment, the water stopping devices in between the push-out segment and an enlarged segment should move synchronously with the push-out segment, and the water stopping effect of the water stopping devices should be ensured during and after the construction.

However, the closure joint construction is carried out underwater in poor operating conditions and harsh environment. If a water stop of the water stopping device is directly wrapped on the surface of the push-out segment, it will cling to the surface of the push-out segment under the action of hydraulic pressure difference, which will hinder the stretching motion of the water stop and cause the water stop to tear in severe cases. Therefore, during construction, it is particularly important to ensure the water stopping effect of the water stopping devices in motion.

<CIT> discloses a final joint water stop device, which comprises a telescopic water stop, wherein the telescopic water stop is provided with a telescopic part, and a first fixing part and a second fixing part located at two ends of the telescopic part respectively; the first fixing part is fixedly connected to an outer end face of an expanding section, and the second fixing part is fixedly connected to a peripheral face of a jacking section.

An objective of the present application is to provide a water stopping device of suspension and sliding type, which can be applied in the joint construction of an immersed tunnel and can effectively reduce the adhesion between a water stop and a push-out joint.

Optionally, the first rod is located outside the water stopping cavity; the water stopping device of suspension and sliding type further includes at least one second rod located in the water stopping cavity and provided on the first joint segment, and at least one second hanging structure is slidably provided on the second rod and connected with the water stop within the water stopping cavity.

Optionally, the second hanging structure is elastically connected with the water stop.

Optionally, the water stop is with an M-shaped cross section and includes flat portions and folded portions, where one folded portion is formed between every two adjacent flat portions.

Optionally, a tension rope is provided between the adjacent flat portions.

Optionally, the folded portion is provided with a support member, and the support member is preferably a curved plate fitted to the folded portion.

Optionally, the water stop is annular, and the curved plates adopt one or a combination of the following five ways:.

Optionally, the first rod is L-shaped, with a first edge connected with the first joint segment and a second edge movably connected with a limit device on the second joint segment, and the first hanging structure is provided on the second edge. Optionally, the second rod is linear; and the first joint segment is provided with a groove, and the second rod is installed in the groove.

Optionally, a first hole is axially formed at the limit device, and the second edge of the first rod runs through the first hole to move with the first joint segment. Or optionally, a second long hole is axially formed on the second edge of the first rod, the limit device is located in the second long hole, and a head is provided on the limit device for avoiding the limit device dropping out of the second long hole.

Optionally, a third hole for the first rod to run through is formed at the first hanging structure, and a first end of the first hanging structure is connected with the water stop through the support member; and a fourth hole for the second rod to run through is formed at the second hanging structure, and a first end of the second hanging structure is elastically connected with the support member installed on the water stop. Optionally, the support member is the curved plate, the first end of the first hanging structure and the first end of the second hanging structure are connected with an outer surface of the corresponding curved plate respectively, and an inner surface of the curved plate is connected with the folded portion of the water stop. Optionally, the first hanging structure is integrated with or rigidly connected with the curved plate.

Optionally, a plurality of the first rods are spaced and arranged at least on an upper surface of the first joint segment, and a plurality of the first hanging structures are spaced and arranged on the same first rod; a plurality of the second rods are spaced and arranged at the bottom of the first joint segment, and a plurality of the second hanging structures are spaced and arranged on the same second rod; and each hanging structure is connected with the corresponding folded portion of the water stop.

In a second aspect of the present application, an application of a water stopping device of suspension and sliding type in the joint construction of an immersed tunnel is provided. The water stopping device of suspension and sliding type is the water stopping device described in any of the preceding embodiments.

Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present application are:
The water stopping device provided by at least one embodiment of the present application can be applied to the closure joint construction process of the push-out immersed tunnel, and can telescopically move along with the push-out segment (i.e., the first joint segment) during the stretch out and draw back process. The water stopping device can play a supporting role and is not affected by the water pressure, so as to ensure the water stop effect of the whole process in the moving state of the closure joint construction.

in which <NUM> first joint segment; <NUM> second joint segment; <NUM> water stop; <NUM> first end of water stop; <NUM> second end of water stop; <NUM> flat portion; <NUM> folded portion; <NUM> first folded portion; <NUM> second folded portion; <NUM> convex portion; <NUM> concave portion; <NUM> water stopping cavity, <NUM> tension rope; <NUM> curved plate; <NUM> inner surface of curved plate; <NUM> outer surface of curved plate; <NUM> restraint strap; <NUM> first rod; <NUM> first end of first rod; <NUM> second end of first rod; <NUM> first edge; <NUM> second edge; <NUM> second long hole; <NUM> limit device; <NUM> first hole; <NUM> head; <NUM> hanging structure; <NUM> first hanging structure; <NUM> second hanging structure; <NUM> third hole; <NUM> second rod; and <NUM> groove.

The technical solutions of the present application will be described in detail below in combination with specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that elements, structures and features in one embodiment may also be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments without further description.

In the description of the present application, it should be noted that terms such as "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of these features.

In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "up", "down", "inner", "bottom" and the like indicate the positional or positional relationship according to the positional relationship shown in <FIG> merely for the convenience of describing the present application and the simplified description, but do not indicate or imply a devices or an element referred to must be of a particular orientation, constructed and operated in a particular orientation and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present application.

In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "connect", "connecting" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense unless otherwise clearly specified and limited. For example, they might be fixed connection, detachable connection, or integrated connection; might be direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and might be internal connection of two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the present application can be understood under specific circumstances.

A conventional immersed tunnel is provided with a first joint segment <NUM> and a second joint segment <NUM> during joint construction, wherein the first joint segment <NUM> is a push-out segment, which can stretch out and draw back in the axial direction X, and the second joint segment <NUM> is an enlarged segment relatively fixed. As shown in <FIG>, the first joint segment <NUM> is partially located inside the second joint segment <NUM> and can move axially relative to the second joint segment <NUM>.

In a first embodiment of the present application, a water stopping device of suspension and sliding type (hereinafter referred to as the water stopping device) is provided, which can be used for waterproofing during the joint construction of an immersed tunnel.

As shown in <FIG>, the water stopping device includes a water stop <NUM>, a first end <NUM> of the water stop is in sealed connection with the first joint segment <NUM> and a second end <NUM> of the water stop is in sealed connection with the second joint segment <NUM>, so as to form a water stopping cavity <NUM> to prevent the entry of external water. The water stop <NUM> may be made of rubber with certain flexibility and strength, and may also adopt an existing water stop in the prior art.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the water stop <NUM> can be an annular structure arranged around the first joint segment <NUM>, with an M-shaped cross section, so as to stretch out and draw back along with the moving of the first joint segment <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the water stop <NUM> includes flat portions <NUM> and folded portions <NUM>, wherein one folded portion <NUM> is formed between every two adjacent flat portions <NUM> to allow the water stop <NUM> to stretch out and draw back. In the present embodiment, the flat portion <NUM> is flat relative to the folded portion <NUM>, is not necessarily a strict flat surface, and mainly refers to a portion not folded significantly.

As shown in <FIG>, a tension rope <NUM> for limiting overstretching of the water stop <NUM> may be provided between adjacent flat portions <NUM>. The fixed-length tension rope is tightened as the water stop stretches, so as to limit the distance between the folded portions spaced apart and prevent the water stop from being damaged by traction due to overstretching.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the folded portions away from the water stopping cavity <NUM> (or the first joint segment <NUM>) are first folded portions <NUM>, and the folded portions close to the water stopping cavity <NUM> (or the first joint segment <NUM>) are second folded portions <NUM>. Each folded portion <NUM> is provided with a convex portion <NUM> protruding outward and a concave portion <NUM> sinking inward. A support member can be provided at each folded portion <NUM>, which may be a curved plate <NUM> fitted to the folded portion <NUM>, e.g., adhered to the folded portion <NUM>, so as to support and stabilize the water stop <NUM>. Specifically, at the convex portion <NUM> of the folded portion, an inner surface <NUM> of the curved plate is fitted to the convex portion <NUM>, while at the concave portion <NUM> of the folded portion, an outer surface <NUM> of the curved plate is fitted to the concave portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The support members may be provided on both inner and outer sides of the same folded portion <NUM>, and may also be provided at one of the convex portion <NUM> and the concave portion <NUM>. The support members can enhance the support strength of the folded portions and the stability of the water stopping cavity.

Optionally, the water stop <NUM> is annular, and the curved plates <NUM> may adopt one or more ways in the following embodiments.

As shown in <FIG>, the water stopping device further includes a first rod <NUM> located outside the water stopping cavity <NUM>. One or more first hanging structures <NUM> are connected to the first rod <NUM> and the water stop <NUM>, respectively, and are slidably arranged on the first rod <NUM>, to allow the water stop <NUM> to stretch out and draw back along with the first hanging structures <NUM> and the first rod <NUM>.

A first end <NUM> of the first rod is installed on the first joint segment <NUM> and can move with the first joint segment <NUM>, while a second end <NUM> thereof is movably installed on the second joint segment <NUM>. Preferably, as shown in <FIG>, the first rod <NUM> is L-shaped, with a first edge <NUM> fixedly connected to the first joint segment <NUM> while a second edge <NUM> movably connected to a limit device <NUM> on the second joint segment <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the first edge <NUM> is a short edge and the second edge <NUM> is a long edge. However, the present application is not be limited thereto.

In an optional embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, a first hole <NUM> is formed at the limit device <NUM> along the axial direction X, the second end <NUM> or the second edge <NUM> of the first rod runs through the first hole <NUM> to move in the axial direction X. The first rod <NUM>, in particular its second edge <NUM>, may be long enough to avoid from dropping out from the first hole <NUM>. As an alternative embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, a second long hole <NUM> is formed on the second edge <NUM> of the first rod along the axial direction X, which may be a rectangular hole or an elliptical hole. The limit device <NUM> is provided with a head <NUM> to confine the second long hole <NUM> between the head <NUM> and the second joint segment <NUM>. The second long hole <NUM> moves as the water stop <NUM> and the first rod <NUM> move, but can move only in the axial direction X due to being confined by the limit device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a third hole <NUM> through which the first rod <NUM> runs is formed at each first hanging structure <NUM>, so that the first hanging structures <NUM> are installed on the first rod <NUM> through the third holes <NUM> and can slide on the first rod <NUM> along the axial direction X.

Optionally, a first end of the first hanging structure <NUM> is connected to the water stop <NUM> through the support member. Specifically, when the support member is the curved plate <NUM>, the first end of the first hanging structure <NUM> can be connected to the outer surface <NUM> of the curved plate, and the inner surface <NUM> of the curved plate is connected to the first folded portion <NUM> of the water stop, so that the first hanging structure <NUM> is connected to the first folded portion <NUM> of the water stop, specifically to the convex portion <NUM> of the first folded portion. Optionally, the first hanging structure <NUM> may also be integrated with or rigidly connected to the curved plate <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, to facilitate production and installation on the first rod <NUM>.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, a plurality of first rods <NUM> are spaced arranged between the first joint segment <NUM> and the second joint segment <NUM>; and preferably provided on an upper surface and side faces of the first joint segment <NUM>. A plurality of first hanging structures <NUM> are spaced arranged on the same first rod <NUM> and connected to the corresponding folded portions (the first folded portions) respectively. In <FIG>, five first rods <NUM> are spaced arranged on the upper surface of the first joint segment <NUM>, and four first hanging structures are provided on each first rod. It can be understood that the present application is not limited thereto and that a greater or lesser number may be provided as desired. Under the combined action of the first rods <NUM> and the first hanging structures <NUM>, the water stop <NUM> can slide in suspension, so that the water stop <NUM> is less likely to adhere to the surface of the first joint segment <NUM>, and the first joint segment <NUM> can be stretched more freely to facilitate construction.

As shown in <FIG>, the water stopping device further includes a second rod <NUM> located in the water stopping cavity <NUM>. A groove <NUM> for installing the second rod <NUM> is provided at the bottom of the first joint segment <NUM>. The second rod <NUM> can be linear, and one or more second hanging structures <NUM> are provided thereon. The second hanging structures can slide axially on the second rod <NUM> through a fourth hole of each second hanging structure <NUM>. A first end of each second hanging structure <NUM> is elastically connected to the water stop <NUM>. For example, an elastic member (not shown), such as a spring or an elastic rope, is provided between the second hanging structure <NUM> and the water stop <NUM>, which can allow the second hanging structures <NUM> and the water stop <NUM> to move together and also keep the water stop folded. Specifically, the first end of the second hanging structure <NUM> is elastically connected to the outer surface <NUM> of the curved plate, and the inner surface <NUM> of the curved plate is connected to the second folded portion <NUM> of the water stop, specifically to the convex portion <NUM> of the second folded portion. Preferably, the second rod <NUM> is provided at the bottom of the first joint segment <NUM>, and can support the folded water stop <NUM> from the inside, so as to reduce or avoid the water stop <NUM> from adhering to the first joint segment <NUM> or falling off to the waterbed. Optionally, similar to the first rod <NUM>, a plurality of the second rods <NUM> can be spaced arranged, and a plurality of second hanging structures <NUM> respectively connected to the water stop <NUM> are spaced arranged on each second rod <NUM>, so as to form a firmer bottom-supported structure.

The first hanging structure <NUM> and the second hanging structure <NUM> is of the same structure or have certain similarities, which can be collectively referred to as the hanging structure <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the first hanging structure <NUM> is mainly connected outside the water stopping cavity to the first rod <NUM> and the water stop <NUM>, especially to the first folded portions <NUM> of the water stop, and the second hanging structure <NUM> is mainly connected within the water stopping cavity to the second rod <NUM> and the water stop <NUM>, especially to the second folded portions <NUM> of the water stop.

When the first joint segment <NUM> is pushed out, both the first rods <NUM> and the second rods <NUM> can move synchronously with the first joint segment <NUM>, and the water stop <NUM> can slide in suspension on the first rods <NUM> and the second rods <NUM> while moving, so as to keep away from the first joint segment <NUM>.

In a second embodiment of the present application, an application of a water stopping device of suspension and sliding type is provided, and the water stopping device can be used for waterproofing during the joint construction of immersed tunnel. The water stopping device of suspension and sliding type is the water stopping device described in any of the preceding embodiments.

Claim 1:
A water stopping device of suspension and sliding type for use in an immersed tunnel, comprising
a water stop (<NUM>), having a first end (<NUM>) connected with a first joint segment (<NUM>) of the immersed tunnel and able to move axially with the first joint segment (<NUM>); and the water stop (<NUM>) further having a second end (<NUM>) connected with a second joint segment (<NUM>); so as to form a water stopping cavity (<NUM>);
characterised in that, the water stopping device further comprises
at least one first rod (<NUM>); a first end (<NUM>) of the first rod (<NUM>) connected with the first joint segment (<NUM>) and able to move with the first joint segment (<NUM>); and a second end (<NUM>) of the first rod (<NUM>) being movably connected with the second joint segment (<NUM>); and also comprising
at least one first hanging structure (<NUM>) connected with the water stop (<NUM>) and the corresponding first rod (<NUM>), and slidably provided on the corresponding first rod (<NUM>).