Barrier system for sheet piling

Abstract

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Description

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian provisional patent application No 2025900348 entitled barrier system for sheet piling the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to a barrier system for use with sheet piling. Background

[0003] Sheet piling are sections of sheet steel which have a particular cross-section and interlocking ends. The steel is shaped to define the top and sides of a trapezium and the ends define interlocking means either at the base of the sides, or spaced from the ends. The piles are installed so as to create an undulating wall. The sheets range in thickness from 3mm to 25mm, but in the construction industry, typically range between 6mm to 10mm in thickness.

[0004] Sheet piles are installed in sequence along a planned excavation perimeter or seawall alignment. Vibratory hammers are often used to install sheet piles, although if soils are too hard / dense, impact hammers can be used. The interlocked sheet piles form a wall for permanent or temporary lateral earth support. When the sheet piles are initially installed the ground on either side of the sheet piling will be roughly the same height. However, once excavation has commenced, the ground is removed / excavated on one side of the sheet piling and a health and safety issue arises due to the possibility of workers falling into the excavated side from the non-excavated side. Sheet piles can be installed to significant depths and drops of 4 to 6m or more are possible, in some cases.

[0005] To address this problem, it is known to place safety barriers adjacent to the sheet piles. While these can in some cases be satisfactory, and are easy to install, often there is insufficient space to install such a barrier where the sheet piling is near the edge of a construction site. 2026200920   09 Feb 2026

[0006] There are designs of barrier that attach to the sheet piles themselves, however these are very slow and laborious to install and are not typically suited to being installed by non-specialist ordinary workers. So, companies supplying barriers also often also have to supply specialists to install the barriers, and those specialists may be in short supply. Further, if the specialists are inexperienced, installation can be very time-consuming and sometimes flawed.

[0007] The present disclosure aims to present a barrier system that is reliable and may be more easily installed by less experienced workers.

[0008] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims. Summary

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a barrier system for attachment to sheet piling including a. a post including a sleeve slidably mounted on the post, the sleeve defining a clamping means for clamping the sleeve on the post, and a protrusion extending from the sleeve, the protrusion being configured to locate in an aperture in a sheet pile, the post further defining a support for a panel and a clamping means for clamping the panel to the post whilst supported on the support, and a recess, hook or the like, for attaching the post to a top edge of the sheet piling; and b. one or more panels; and optionally c. brackets for connecting two adjacent panels.

[0010] The barrier has a number of significant advantages over existing systems. Sheet piles typically have at least one 25mm diameter hole that is used for lifting the sheet pile e.g. during installation. The hole is typically provided 320mm from the top edge of the sheet pile near the centre of the sheet. The slidable sleeve allows the post to be adjusted to 2026200920   09 Feb 2026 locate the protrusion in the hole that which typically provided 320mm below the top edge of the sheet pile, but in practice may not be located in that position.

[0011] Typically, the support extends from a front face of the post and defines a slot and the clamping means is a wedge located in the slot and configured to clamp a panel between the wedge and the post, in use.

[0012] Using a wedge as the clamping means provides strength and reliability and can be tightened with a simple hammer or mallet and does not require specialist tools.

[0013] Typically, the sleeve has a front face and a rear face, and the front face defines the clamping means, and the rear face defines the protrusion.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the post is annular having a square cross section, and the sleeve also has a square cross-section and the clamping means includes an aperture in the front face of the sleeve, a nut mounted over the aperture and a bolt threaded in the nut so that turning the bolt head can move the tip of the bolt towards or away from the aperture, to clamp or release the sleeve on the post.

[0015] Typically, the protrusion is an externally threaded rod mounted on the rear face of the sleeve and a nut and washer are mounted on the threaded rod for attaching the sleeve to the sheet pile using the threaded rod.

[0016] The panels typically include an external frame, and the brackets comprise opposed concave plates and means for drawing the plates together such as a threaded rod extending through and between the plates and a nut disposed on the convex side of each plate.

[0017] The barrier system may further include an extension post configured to locate in and attach to the top of the post, the extension post further defining a support for a panel, and a clamping means for clamping the panel to the post whilst supported on the support.

[0018] In a related aspect, the invention provides a barrier located on sheet piling comprising: 2026200920   09 Feb 2026 a plurality of posts attached to the sheeting piling with a spacing therebetween, typically 1 to 3 metres, most preferably about 2 metres, each post including a sleeve slidably mounted on the post when not clamped, the sleeve defining a clamping means for clamping the sleeve on the post and a protrusion extending from the sleeve the protrusion extending through an aperture in the sheet piling and being secured to the sheet piling and a recess, hook or the like attaching the post to a top edge of the sheet piling; wherein the posts define a support for a panel and a clamping means for clamping the panel to the post and a series of panels mounted on the support means and clamped to the posts to define a barrier and including one or more brackets connecting two adjacent panels.

[0019] The invention also provides method of installing a barrier system comprising the steps of: providing a first post, the post including a sleeve slidably mounted on the post, the sleeve defining a clamping means for clamping the sleeve on the post and a protrusion extending from the sleeve, the protrusion being configured to locate in an aperture in a sheet pile, the post further defining a support for a panel and a clamping means for clamping the panel to the post whilst supported on the support, and a recess, hook or the like for attaching the post to a top edge of the sheet piling; inserting and securing the protrusion in an aperture in the sheet pile and locating and securing the recess, hook or the like on the top edge of the sheet piling and clamping the sleeve in position of the post thereby securing the post to the sheet piling; attaching one or more additional posts to the sheet piling, spaced apart from the first post; and locating one or more panels on the supports, and clamping the panels to the posts.

[0020] The advantages described above may allow the barrier to be inserted by nonspecialists. The only tools required are a hammer and a spanner / wrench. No specialist tools are needed, and there are no loose parts to go missing. 2026200920   09 Feb 2026

[0021] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. Brief Description of Drawings

[0022] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a barrier embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pole used in the barrier system; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a connector bracket; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sleeve; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the sleeve of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the sleeve of Figure 4 with a bolt in an extended position; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pole attached to a sheet pile; Figure 8 is a side view of the pole attached to a sheet pile; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a 1.5m barrier embodying the present invention; and Figure 10 is a side view of the 1.5m barrier of Figure 5. Description of Embodiments

[0023] Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a barrier system 10 established on top of sheet piling 12A formed from a plurality of individual sheet piles 12. The system 2026200920   09 Feb 2026 includes support posts 14, panels 16 and panel connector brackets 18. In the described embodiment, the panels are 2m long by 1m high, although the dimensions may be varied. In the described embodiment, the panels are made from perforated metal sheet or mesh with a rectangular metal exterior frame. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the barrier system is 1 metre high, which is typically sufficient for most barrier applications.

[0024] The posts attach to a hole in the centre of the sheet pile 12. Sheet piles are typically sold with one or more circular apertures formed in them and most have at least one 25 mm diameter aperture spaced about 320 mm below the top edge of the sheet pile in the middle of the sheet, for use in lifting the sheet during installation, and often a further hole closer to the top edge. However, in practice inaccuracies in manufacturing and installation result in these holes not always being present where they should be, or sometimes not even present at all.

[0025] The post 14 is shown in Figure 2. The post is 1m long. Each post includes a steel tube 20 having a square cross-section. The post has a front face 22 against which a panel is fixed in use, and a rear face, facing the opposite direction to the front face. A square sleeve 30, shown separately in Figures 4 to 6, is slidably mounted to the exterior of the tube.

[0026] As is best seen in Figures 4 to 6, one front side 32 of the sleeve defines a clamp in the form of a bolt 34 which is threaded into a nut 36 welded or otherwise fixed to the sleeve in front of an aperture 38 in the sleeve. The end 40 of the bolt distal from the head 38 can pass through the aperture 38 and in use can be tightened against the front of the post which is inside the sleeve in use, to lock the sleeve at a particular location on the post. Figure 6 shows the end of the bolt retracted, to allow the sleeve to slide relative to the tube / post. Figure 5 shows the bolt 34 extended into the sleeve where the end 40 would engage against the tube 20 and inhibit relative movement.

[0027] A threaded rod 50 is welded or otherwise fixed to and projects outwards from the opposite (rear) side 52 of the sleeve, and a washer 54 and nut 56 are mounted on the threaded rod 50.

[0028] In use, as is described in more detail below, and as shown in Figure 8, the rod 50 is inserted in and through an aperture in the sheet pile 12 and the sleeve is secured 2026200920   09 Feb 2026 against the sheet pile with the washer 54 and nut 56. The post 14 can be slid up and down the sleeve as required to locate the rod in the aperture and be secured in place using the clamp bolt 34.

[0029] With reference to Figures 2 and 8, in particular, locking / clamping means in the form of a wedge in a slot are provided on the post above the sleeve. As oriented in Figure 1, the wedge 60 on the right side of the post above the rod attaches the post to the top of the piling. The wedges 62, 64 on the left side of the post above the clamp are for attaching a panel / screen to the post.

[0030] With reference to Figure 2, two supports 66, 68 project from the front face of the post. The supports each define a narrow rectangular slot which receives a tapered element in the form of the wedge 62, 64 respectively. Each wedge also includes rounded projections 70 (refer to Figure 8) extending either side of the sleeve at opposed ends of the wedge to prevent the wedge from disengaging from the slot.

[0031] Only one support 72 projects from the rear face of the post, and this support is undercut to define a recess 74 between the sleeve and the rear of the post into which the top of the sheet pile can locate. The support may thus be hooked over the top of the sheet pile 12, as shown in Figure 8.

[0032] The panel connector bracket is shown in Figure 3. It comprises two curved plates 80 which define a central hole through which a threaded rod 82 extends. The concave faces of the panels face each other. Wing nuts 84 are mounted on each end of the threaded rod, and can be used to close the gap between the plates

[0033] In use, with reference to Figures 7 and 8, to attach the post to a sheet pile, in a first step the post is located in the centre of the sheet pile above the aperture. The hook / recess 72 is hooked over the top edge of the sheet pile 12 and the rod 50 is inserted through the aperture in the sheet pile. The sleeve 30 may slide relative to the post 14 to achieve this. Once the rod 50 has been inserted through the hole and loosely secured, the wedge 70 can then be hit with a hammer to clamp the sheet pile 12 between the wedge 70 and the post 14. 2026200920   09 Feb 2026

[0034] Next, the nut 56 is tightened on the rod to clamp the base of the post to the sheet pile. Finally, the clamp 34 is tightened to fix the sleeve in position on the post. The post is then secured to the sheet pile. All these actions are straightforward and can be carried out by ordinary workers using basic tools, i.e. a simple spanner and hammer. Specialist installers are not required, and no holes need to be drilled in the sheet piling.

[0035] With reference to Figure 1, additional posts are mounted to the sheet piling, in the same way, typically positioned spaced about 2m apart commensurate with the length of the panels 16. The panels 16 can then be slid between the wedges resting on the lower supports 66 and connected together using one or more (typically two) of the connector brackets 80 which engage over the edges of the frames of the adjacent panels. Typically, the lower wedge will be tightened first using a hammer, the connector 18 will be tightened and finally the top wedge is tightened with a hammer. The panels rest on the lower supports 66 and the top and bottom wedges prevent movement of the panels 16 away from the posts 14. The barrier shown in Figure 1 is one metre high. For some applications, it may be desirable to have a higher barrier.

[0036] Figures 9 and 10 show a variant of the invention showing a 1.5m high barrier 100 which includes an extension. The barrier is identical to barrier 10 except that each of the posts 14 has an extension post mounted on top of it and further panels 116 (0.5m by 2m) are mounted on extension posts 114.

[0037] With reference to figure 10 in particular, the extension post 114 has a main section having the same cross-section as post 14 but has a lower end with a reduced diameter (not shown) that slots into the open top of the post 14. The post defines a support 122 defining a slot and wedge 124 on the rear face of the post at the lower end of the main section. The post also defines a support defining a slot 126 and wedge 128 on the front face of the post neat the top of the main section.

[0038] In use, again with reference to Figure 10, the extension post 114 is inserted into the open top end of the post 14 and the wedge 112 is struck with a hammer or the like to secure the posts together. Extension posts are added to all posts in the same way. Panels 116 may be inserted between the sleeves 68 and 126 resting on the supports 68 on the top of the post 14. Adjacent panels may be connected together loosely using connector brackets 18. Once connected loosely, the wedge 64 is tightened with a hammer, the 2026200920   09 Feb 2026 connectors 18 are tightened and the final top wedge 128 at the top of the extension post is tightened using a hammer.

[0039] Advantageously, the barrier system is simple to install and may be inserted by ordinary workers on site rather than a specialist team. There are few loose parts and the only tools required are a hammer and a spanner / wrench. No specialist tools are needed and there are few loose parts to go missing. Installation is quick and simple and requires no specialist training or tools. The installation takes advantage of the existing hole in the sheet pile which is used for lifting the sheet pile during installation of the piling and allows the hole to perform an additional function.

[0040] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and / or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A barrier system for attachment to sheet piling including:a post, a sleeve slidably mounted on the post, the sleeve defining a clamping means for clamping the sleeve onto the post and a protrusion extending from the sleeve, the protrusion being configured to locate in an aperture in a sheet pile, the post further defining a panel support and a clamping means for clamping the panel to the post whilst the panel is supported on the panel support, and a recess, hook or the like for attaching the post to a top edge of the sheet piling; andone or more panels for attachment to the posts to form a barrier.

2. A barrier system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the panel support extends from a front face of the post and defines a slot and the clamping means is a wedge located in the slot and configured to clamp a panel between the wedge and the post, in use.

3. A barrier system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sleeve has a front face and a rear face, and the front face defines the clamping means, and the rear face defines the protrusion.

4. A barrier system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the post in annular having a square cross section and the sleeve also has a square cross-section and the clamping means includes an aperture in the front face of the sleeve, a nut mounted over the aperture and a bolt threaded in the nut so that turning the bolt head can move the distal end of the bolt towards or away from the aperture.

5. A barrier system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the protrusion is an externally threaded rod mounted on the rear face of the sleeve and a nut and washer are mounted on the threaded rod.

6. A barrier system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the panels include an external frame, and the system includes brackets for connecting two panels together which brackets comprise opposed concave plates and means for drawing the plates together such2026200920   09 Feb 2026as a threaded rod extending through and between the plates and a nut disposed on the convex side of each plate.

7. A barrier system as claimed in any preceding claim further including an extension post configured to locate in and attach to the top of the post, the extension post further defining a support for a panel and a clamping means for clamping the panel to the post whilst supported on the support.

8. A barrier located on sheet piling comprising:a plurality of posts attached to the sheeting piling with a spacing therebetween, , each post including a sleeve slidably mounted on the post when not clamped, the sleeve defining a clamping means for clamping the sleeve on the post and a protrusion extending from the sleeve the protrusion extending through an aperture in the sheet piling and being secured to the sheet piling and a recess, hook or the like attaching the post to a top edge of the sheet piling; whereinthe posts define a panel support for supporting a panel and a clamping means for clamping the panel to the post and a series of panels mounted on the panel supports and clamped to the posts to define a barrier and including one or more brackets connecting two adjacent panels.

9. A barrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein the posts are separated by a distance of from 1 to 3 metres.

10. A method of installing a barrier system comprising the steps of:providing a first post, the post including a sleeve slidably mounted on the post, the sleeve defining a clamping means for clamping the sleeve on the post and a protrusion extending from the sleeve the protrusion being configured to locate in an aperture in a sheet pile, the post further defining a panel support and a clamping means for clamping the panel to the post whilst supported on the panel support, and a recess, hook or the like for attaching the post to a top edge of the sheet piling;2026200920   09 Feb 2026inserting and securing the protrusion in an aperture in the sheet pile and locating and securing the recess hook or the like on the top edge of the sheet piling and clamping the sleeve in position of the post thereby securing the post to the sheet piling;attaching one or more additional posts to the sheet piling spaced apart from the first post;locating one or more panels on the supports and clamping the panels to the posts.

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