Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of sealing seams in concrete casting joints. More particularly, the invention relates to a multi-cavity sleeve element for sealing concrete casting joints or seams in concrete casting joints, and a method therefor.

Background of the Invention

Nowadays, there are many structures (for example, basements and shelters) that are built underground. In many cases, there is water penetration (for example, rainwater or underground water) into these structures, since the soil absorbs water and cecomes wet, and the water enters the structure through casting joints/gaps between the various parts of the structure (such as ceiling, floor and walls). For example, when it rains, the rain seeps into the soil, the soil absorbs water until the soil reaches a maximum absorption threshold (since the soil in this state is saturated with water). The water of the rain that continues to fall flows and reaches the floor/wall or ceiling/wall casting joints of the structure. Usually, the walls of the building are thick concrete walls that are watertight, unlike a block wall, into which water can penetrate. Therefore, in a structure made of concrete, the water is not absorbed in the watertight concrete but penetrates into the casting joints between the floor and the walls of the structure, between the walls themselves, and between the walls and the ceiling of the structure. Therefore, the problem of water infiltration into the building is in the seam line between the different parts of the structure: floor, walls, and ceiling.

When building the structure, the concrete of the floor is usually poured first, after it dries the concrete of the walls are poured and after the walls dry, the concrete of the ceiling is poured, so that the walls are sufficiently stiff to carry the weight of the ceiling and so that the floor is sufficiently stiff to carry the weight of the walls and the ceiling connected to the walls at the top. In conventional methods of building structures, the concrete that is used to build various parts of the structure is not poured at the same time as one casting, but in parts. Casting basement floor and walls together is a very complex process and rarely applied.

There are conventional methods for sealing casting joints (in concrete structures, for example). In the process using the stages described above, fresh (wet) concrete is poured on top of dried concrete For example: casting fresh concrete of the walls of a structure on dry concrete of the floor of the structure that was previously cast. Therefore, this casting method has unsealed seams between the fresh and dry concrete (this is the seam line), seams that can only be avoided if all the concrete is cast as one casting, which requires a complex and complicated process that is not performed in conventional methods. These kinds of unsealed seams may cross the entire thickness of the wall. Water can penetrate the structure through these seams along the entire seam lines of the various parts of the structure and causes moisture and fluidity in the structure. For example, a cube-shaped structure has at least 8 sides in a structure that have spaces and seams, and this in case that the walls of the cube-shaped structure are cast in only one casting. Otherwise, unsealed spaces are created even between the walls of the cube themselves, (through which water penetrates).

Therefore, it is necessary to hermetically seal the above seams which can be very long, in order to prevent water penetration into the structure.

In the conventional methods available nowadays for sealing casting joints, water stops of several kinds are used (most of them are made of swelling polymers or/and bentonite). However, their swelling ability is limited, and in case there are segregations in the concrete in the casting joint, they do not sufficiently swell in order to seal the joint. There is additional technology of special capsules of a material that inflates when it comes in contact with water and are mixed with the fresh concrete before casting (for example, resin made from certain polymers that swell upon contact with water). In locations where there are seams and cracks, the water seeps and penetrates the seams and cracks, dissolving the capsule shell over time (this process can take even several weeks). As a result, the substance inside the capsule breaks out (for example, foam made of various polymers), mixes with the water, and inflates. The inflated foam fills the seams in the structure, stops the water from entering the structure and prevents water leakage in the structure.

Using those capsules is ineffective in cases of long casting joints with segregations in the concrete which is casted above the joint line, as only a small portion of the capsules inside the concrete (those at the edges of the casting joints) become in contact with water and this is not enough to seal and prevent water penetration into the casting joints. Therefore, the disadvantage of the conventional sealing methods is that it is effective only near the capsule and the capsule cannot inflate sufficiently to seal all casting joints (and segregations above them) in the structure, which can be very long. For this reason, there is a need for a solution that enables to inflate to a very high volume (more than 20 times) and seal the long casting joints with segregations above them in buildings, rather than local and small cracks and seams.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for hermetically sealing various kinds of casting joints and segregations above them, by enabling a very high swelling liquid or gel material, which fills the capsules, to be located between different parts of a structure, to hermetically seal them and prevent water penetration to the structure and water leakage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

A system for sealing aqueous grooves, comprising: a) elongated elements with holes that allow water penetration, configured to be used as a case, the elongated elements made of reinforced flexible material; b) a plurality of capsules with liquid/gel material with sufficient swelling ability when becoming in contact with water, located inside the elongated element, the capsules are made of material that dissolves upon being in contact with water, but do not dissolve upon being in contact with cement-water; and c) fastening means, for anchoring the sleeve elements in seam lines between various parts of a structure, wherein the sleeves are positioned in advance throughout an expected seam of the casting joints, before a concrete used to build the structure is poured, such as the capsules are not mixed with the concrete.

The elongated elements may be tubular elongated sleeves and may be made from reinforced rubber, hard thick rubber mesh or rigid steel mesh;

The capsules may have a shape of long tubular cavities with spaces between them or of capsule sections with spaces between them.

The inflatable material in contact with water inside the capsules may be resin, made from polymers.

The fastening means may be selected from a group comprising: hooks, clips, screws, clasps.

The elongated elements may further comprise an external reinforcement cage that is worn on the elongated elements, for protecting them from breaking pressure.

A method for sealing casting joints in concrete, comprising: a) pouring concrete of first part of a structure (e.g., floor) into suitable cast mold; b) following hardening of the poured concrete, locating elongated sleeve elements in seam lines between the structure's parts; c) anchoring the sleeve elements to the concrete of the first part of the structure; d) locating a suitable cast mold above the sleeve elements; e) pouring concrete on the other parts of a structure into suitable cast mold; f) locating another the sleeve elements in seam lines of other parts of the structure; g) anchoring the another sleeve elements in seamlines of other parts of the structure; h) locating a suitable cast mold above the sleeve elements; and i) pouring concrete on other parts of a structure into suitable cast mold, and repeating until the structure is completed.

The method may be used to hermetically seal casting joints in a building.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a tubular multi-cavity sleeve element, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. IB shows several views of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element of Fig. 1A;

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a tubular multi-cavity sleeve element, according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2B shows several views of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element of Fig. 2A;

Fig. 3 is an example illustration of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element of the present invention, located in the seam line of a building, between the floor and the wall of the building;

Fig. 4 shows an example schematic illustration of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element of the present invention, located in the seam line of a building, between the floor and the wall of the building and fixed to the floor with fixation rings; and

Fig. 5 shows an example schematic illustration of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element of the present invention, located in the seam line of a building, between the walls of the building and the ceiling and fixed to the upper side of the walls with fixation rings.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention provides multi-cavity sleeve elements (each being a tubular encapsulated element) for sealing casting joints or other types of aqueous grooves, and a method thereof.

The sleeve elements serve as a long tubular case containing capsules with an inflatable material (such as liquid or gel material) when being in contact with water (a resin or foam, for example) used to seal casting joints in a structure. The capsules are arranged inside the sleeve element which is strong (or semi-rigid), long and flexible. The sleeve element has, for example, a shape of a long tube that can reach lengths of dozens of meters, to be fixed in the casting joints in the structure. These sleeves are positioned in advance, throughout the expected interval of the casting joints, before the concrete used to build the walls is poured (i.e., the capsules are not mixed with the concrete, unlike the conventional methods). The capsules are made of a material that dissolves when being in contact with tap water, but do not dissolve in cement water. The sleeve elements are made of a strong (or semi-rigid) flexible material with holes (for example, reinforced rubber, hard thick rubber mesh or rigid steel mesh) for allowing water penetration and enables passage of the material inside the capsules out. The sleeve elements are sufficiently strong to carry the weight of the concrete that is poured on them without being crushed (if the sleeve elements break, the material inside the capsules will disperse out). After the concrete of the basement wall is hardened, when ground water penetrates into the casting joint, the inflatable material inside the capsules inflates and seals the casting joint (including the segregated concrete above the casting joint) in the structure.

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a tubular multi-cavity sleeve element 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The long tubular element 1 contains capsules 2 with an inflatable material in contact with water (a foam, for example, made of polymers) used to seal casting joints in a structure. The capsules 2 are arranged inside sleeve element 1 which is long and made of strong flexible material (such as hard thick rubber mesh or rigid steel mesh) that is able to carry the weight of the concrete without breaking. The capsules 2 have a shape of long tubular cavities (long tubes), for example, that can reach lengths of several meters, depending on the length of the casting joints in the structure.

Fig. IB shows several views of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element 1 of Fig. 1A: a front section view, a side view and a perspective view. The capsules 2 have a shape of long tubular cavities that are arranged inside the sleeve element 1 with spaces between them. Each capsule 2 contains an inflatable material that becomes in contact with water, which is used to seal the casting joints the structure.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a tubular multi-cavity sleeve element 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The long tubular element 1 contains capsules 2 with an inflatable material in contact with water (a resin or foam, for example, made of polymers) used to seal casting joints in a structure. The capsules 2 are arranged inside sleeve element 1 which is long and made of strong flexible material (such as hard thick rubber mesh or rigid steel mesh) that is able to carry the weight of the concrete without breaking. The capsules 2 which have a shape of short capsule sections with spaces between them are arranged inside the sleeve element 1.

Fig. 2B shows several views of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element of Fig. 2A: a front section D-D view, a side section view, and a perspective view. The capsules 2 which have a shape of short capsule sections with spaces between them are arranged inside the sleeve element 1. Each capsule 2 contains an inflatable material in contact with water, which is used to seal the casting joints in the structure.

Fig. 3 is an example illustration of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element 1 of the present invention, located in the seam line of a structure (a building, for example) between the floor 3 and the external wall 4 of the structure. This seam line is a casting joint that needs to be hermetically sealed. The sleeve element 1 is positioned in advance throughout the expected interval of the casting joint, before the concrete used to build the wall is poured (the capsules 2 are not mixed with the concrete). The capsules 2 are made of a material that dissolves when becoming in contact with underground water. The sleeves 1 are made of a strong flexible material with holes (for example, rigid steel mesh or a hard thick rubber mesh) that allows water penetration and enables passage of the material inside the capsules 2 out. The sleeve elements 1 are sufficiently strong to carry the weight of the concrete that is poured on them without breaking. Upon becoming in contact with water, the inflatable material inside the capsules 2 inflates (to a very large volume, typically more than 20 times) and seals the casting joints and segregations in the concrete along them.

Fig. 4 shows an example schematic illustration of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element of the present invention, located in the seam line of a building, between the floor 3 and the side-wall 4 of the building and fixed to the floor with fixation rings. As mentioned before, the sleeve elements 1 are positioned in advance throughout the expected seam or interval of the casting joint, before the concrete used to build the structure is poured. In this example, the floor 3 of the building is poured first, the sleeve element 1 is positioned on the concrete of the floor 3 in the center of the seam line between the floor 3 and the side-wall 4. The sleeve element 1 is then anchored to the concrete floor 3 using fastening means la (for example hooks, clips, screws, clasps, etc.), and a wall- concrete casting mold 4a is placed above the sleeve element 1. The next part of the building (in this example - the walls 4 of the structure) is poured into the casting mold 4a.

Fig. 5 shows an example of the tubular multi-cavity sleeve element 1 of the present invention, located in the seam line of a building, between the external -walls 4 of the building and the ceiling 5.

In this example, after the floor 3 and the building side-walls 4 are poured with the sleeve elements 1 located in the middle of the joints between them (i.e., in the middle of the seam lines), four additional sleeve elements 1 are positioned in the center of each external wall 4, and a ceiling concrete casting mold 4a is placed above the sleeve elements 1. The next part of the building (in this example - the ceiling 5 of the building) is poured into the casting mold 5a.

As various embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated, it should be understood that variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the principles herein. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments described and illustrated in the drawings.