System for supporting trench walls

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for shielding a trench (100), which comprises poles (2), cross-members (7 to 11) supported by the poles, which to this end each comprise means for receiving said cross-member, shielding parts (12 to 14) adjacent to one another and positioned in a space that is left between the lateral side of the trench and the cross-members, struts (15) extending transversely and configured to come into abutment against the cross-members or against the poles arranged opposite on the two lateral sides of the trench.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of systems for shielding a trench carried out during excavation or digging work on a construction site, such a system for shielding a trench making it possible to protect against the risks of collapse and burial, in order to ensure the safety of operators working in the trench.

[0002] The main objective of the present invention is to facilitate the installation of the shielding system in the trench, both in a clear trench and in a trench cluttered by existing networks. State of the art

[0003] A trench shielding system, as commonly used, comprises large metal plates arranged vertically and end to end along the length of the trench, on each of the two lateral sides of said trench. The metal plates are arranged facing each other on said lateral sides and are kept apart by means of braces arranged at different heights between said facing plates.

[0004] Such a trench shielding system has many disadvantages.

[0005] Indeed, metal plates are bulky and very heavy; this requires the use of a trailer truck for their transport to the site and a machine equipped with a handling arm (crane, etc.) for their loading and unloading from the truck and for their installation in the trench that has just been dug. As a result, a large number of metal plates and struts are generally delivered to the site at once and stored there to avoid significant transport costs.

[0006] The installation of metal plates in the trench is also very difficult when this trench is cluttered by existing networks since it is necessary to place said plates on each side of the existing networks and sometimes between these existing networks.

[0007] Furthermore, these metal plates are difficult to install when the trench has a difference in level.

[0008] Furthermore, once the metal plates and struts are in position in the trench, the operator's workspace is heavily cluttered by the struts, which complicates the operator's movements and the laying of conduits, pipes, ducts or other items in this trench.

[0009] The following prior art documents disclosing trench shielding systems are known: EP3103925A1; EP2246480A1; FR2594865A1; JPS5152507U; US7258511B1; EP0030622A1; and FR2393889A1. Among these prior art documents, European patent applications EP3103925A1 and EP2246480A1 and French patent application FR2594865A1 are particularly noteworthy.

[0010] European patent application EP3103925A1 discloses a shielding system with two shoring panels on each of said lateral sides of the trench. Each shoring panel comprises two uprights at its lateral ends, each upright comprising a first profile and a second profile. Each shoring panel comprises planks arranged horizontally one below the other and fixed to the first two profiles of the two uprights. The second profiles of the uprights receive the ends of braces for pressing the shoring panels against the side walls of the trench. The shielding system according to EP3103925A1 can be used as described above when the trench is not too deep.On the contrary, for deeper trenches, the shielding system additionally provides on each of the shoring panels two crosspieces spaced from each other and pivotally mounted with respect to the two second profiles on the two uprights, so as to pivot them either into a storage position where said crosspieces are retracted into the planks on the shoring panel - in the case of use with a shallow trench - or into a use position where said crosspieces are spaced with respect to the planks so that said spacing allows the introduction of shielding pieces inside said shoring panel - in the case of use with a deep trench. The shoring panels have a sharp edge at their lower edge in order to facilitate their descent into the bottom of the trench by scraping the side walls of this trench against which said shoring panels are pressed.The shoring panels are placed in the bottom of the trench.

[0011] European patent application EP2246480A1 discloses a trench shielding system which comprises two trays arranged respectively on the side walls of the trench and held in abutment against said side walls by means of braces. Each tray comprises two longitudinally extending boards, the first of which bears against the side wall of the trench and the second of which is spaced apart from the first, said spacing allowing the introduction of blades in the vertical direction.

[0012] French patent application FR2594865A1 discloses panels each consisting of uprights arranged vertically and spaced regularly from each other, these uprights being secured to each other by means of two crosspieces welded to said uprights. The end uprights each have a telescopic foot which can be partially pushed into the bottom of the trench. Braces rest on the end uprights to hold the panels. Shielding pieces are arranged between the uprights in the spaces left between the side wall of the trench and the crosspieces. The insertion of the uprights between the shielding pieces reveals gaps between these shielding pieces in the lower part of the shielding system, the side walls of the trench being liable to collapse at the level of said gaps.

[0013] These shielding systems described in EP3103925A1, EP2246480A1 and FR2594865A1 remain imposing and impossible to transport and handle by an operator, without a transport truck and without handling equipment. It is also impossible to easily adapt them to the length of the trench. Summary of the invention

[0014] The present invention overcomes these various aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0015] A first objective is to enable the transport of the shielding system in a van and its handling and assembly in the trench, manually.

[0016] A second objective is to ensure easy installation of the shielding system in a trench cluttered by existing networks and which may have uneven surfaces.

[0017] A third objective is to facilitate the implementation of a guardrail around the trench to prevent people from falling into it.

[0018] A fourth objective is to allow its adaptation to different trench heights.

[0019] The invention relates to a system for shielding a trench, the trench comprising in particular two lateral sides and a bottom. The shielding system comprises: a) on each lateral side of the trench, at least two piles each provided with a body, a lower end portion of which is configured to be driven into the bottom of the trench so as to hold said pile vertically and adjacent to said lateral side, the two piles being spaced apart from each other on said lateral side. b) on each lateral side of the trench, at least two sleepers arranged with a spacing between them at two different heights in the trench, each sleeper being held by the two piles which each comprise means for receiving this sleeper for this purpose, said sleepers being held with a spacing relative to the lateral side of the trench, c) on each lateral side of the trench, shielding pieces extending vertically over a length greater than the spacing between the two sleepers,said shielding pieces being adjacent to each other and positioned in the space left between the lateral side of the trench and the two sleepers, d) at least one brace extending transversely and configured to bear against the sleepers or against the piles arranged opposite on the two lateral sides of the trench, said brace being placed in the upper parts of the lateral sides of the trench, so as to keep these sleepers or piles apart.

[0020] The number of piles on each side of the trench will depend on the length of the trench, with at least two sleepers being arranged between each pair of neighboring piles. The number of sleepers will depend in particular on the height of the trench and / or whether existing utilities may pass through the trench. The type of ground (stable or unstable) may also influence the number of sleepers.

[0021] Preferably, the number of struts corresponds to the number of piles arranged opposite each other on each of the lateral sides of the trench, so that these struts are arranged to bear either directly against these piles arranged opposite each other or against the upper sleepers at the level of said piles arranged opposite each other.

[0022] The person skilled in the art will understand that thanks to this implementation, the shielding system is composed of piles, sleepers, shielding pieces and struts which are all independent of each other and assembled together in a removable manner, said shielding system thus having no heavy and bulky parts, which facilitates its transport in a small van-type vehicle and its manual handling by an operator. In addition, the lengths of the sleepers and the widths of the shielding pieces can advantageously be determined to optimize such transport in a van and manually.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the shielding system comprises on each lateral side of the trench, an upper crossbar, a lower crossbar and at least one intermediate crossbar. This will be the case in particular for deeper trenches or those blocked by existing networks. This will also be the case for trenches dug in unstable terrain.

[0024] According to one embodiment, particularly suitable for trenches blocked in their upper or lower part by existing networks, the shielding system comprises: a) an upper crosspiece, a lower crosspiece and an intermediate crosspiece, b) first shielding pieces which extend vertically over a length greater than the spacing between the upper and lower crosspieces and, c) second shielding pieces which extend vertically over a length greater than the spacing between the upper and intermediate crosspieces, when the existing networks are arranged in the lower part of the trench, or between the intermediate and lower crosspieces, when the existing networks are arranged in the upper part of the trench.

[0025] According to another embodiment, adapted in particular to trenches blocked in their intermediate part by existing networks, the shielding system comprises: a) an upper sleeper, a lower sleeper, an upper intermediate sleeper and a lower intermediate sleeper, b) first shielding pieces which extend vertically over a length greater than the spacing between the upper sleeper and the upper intermediate sleeper, c) second shielding pieces which extend vertically over a length greater than the spacing between the lower intermediate sleeper and the lower sleeper, d) and possibly, depending on the spacing between the two piles and the size of the existing networks, third shielding pieces which extend vertically over a length greater than the spacing between the upper sleeper and the lower sleeper.

[0026] Those skilled in the art will understand that the presence of existing networks is no longer a constraint on the implementation of the shielding system, unlike the prior art which uses large metal plates.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the shielding system, the at least one strut is positioned at the level of the piles arranged opposite each other on the two lateral sides of the trench. In addition, these piles comprise passage means configured to allow said strut to bear against the sleepers opposite each other on the two lateral sides of the trench.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the shielding system includes as many struts as piles arranged on each lateral side of the trench.

[0029] Depending on the implementation of the shielding system, the shielding parts are in the form of blades and / or plates. Blades will be preferred, particularly to limit weight and for areas of the trench cluttered by existing networks; however, plates of limited width and weight can be considered for transporting them manually and in a van.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the shielding system, the piles comprise first means for adjusting their length. This makes it possible to adjust the length of the piles according to the height of the trench. Of course, the piles may all be adjusted to the same length or to different lengths according to variations in the depth of the trench or possibly according to the existence of unevenness. Preferably, these adjustment means are of the telescopic type; in other words, the body is composed of at least two parts mounted to slide together and capable of being locked in at least two length adjustment positions by means of a locking system. One or more complementary parts could be provided designed to be successively fitted onto the body in order to modify the length of the pile.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the shielding system, each pile has a reinforced head at its upper end. This makes it easier to drive the pile using a sledgehammer or construction machinery.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the shielding system, the piles each comprise a support bar configured to constitute an extension of the body outside the trench, once the pile is driven into the trench. In addition, the shielding system comprises guardrail bars, assembly means being arranged between the support bars on the piles and the ends of the guardrail bars. Thus, the shielding system allows simple and rapid implementation of guardrail equipment linked to the piles.

[0033] Preferably, according to this aforementioned embodiment, the support bar is mounted telescopically in the body, which allows it to be kept permanently on the pile, in a retracted position, then to be taken out into a position of use when installing the guardrail equipment. In a variant, it could be provided to attach the support bar by fitting it onto the upper end of the body, when installing the guardrail equipment.

[0034] Preferably, according to this aforementioned embodiment, the guardrail bars comprise second means for adjusting their length, which makes it possible to adjust their lengths according to the position in which the piles are placed in the trench. These adjustment means may be of the telescopic type, the guardrail bar being in this case composed of at least two parts mounted to slide between them and possibly being able to be blocked in at least two length adjustment positions by means of a locking system. One or more complementary guardrail tubes could be provided, designed to fit successively into each other in order to modify the length of the guardrail bar.

[0035] According to a first embodiment of the shielding system, the receiving means on the piles consist of square tabs arranged on a front face of the body and configured to receive a portion of a sleeper. Preferably, the shape of the square tab is adapted to the thickness of the sleeper, so as to allow the sleeper to slide in a plane perpendicular to the front face of the pile, while maintaining sufficient play of the sleeper housed in the square tab, which will facilitate the installation, removal and movement of the sleeper while ensuring that it is properly held in position in the square tab, despite any defects in the flatness of the walls on the lateral sides of the trench.

[0036] According to a second embodiment of the shielding system, the receiving means on the piles are constituted by a slot arranged along the length of the body and configured to allow the passage of a sleeper in the body and by stop pieces passing through the slot and ensuring that the sleeper is held in height in the slot. The slot passes through the body in the lateral direction and comprises a thickness adapted to the thickness of the sleepers, which allows the sleepers to slide into the body, inside the slot, while maintaining sufficient clearance to compensate for the flatness defects of the walls on the lateral sides of the trench. In addition, the stop pieces, for example pins or axles, which are arranged at different heights along the slot, ensure that the sleeper is held at the height of its engagement in the body.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the shielding system comprises at least one wedge arranged transversely in the bottom of the trench and configured to bear against the lower end portions of two piles arranged opposite each other on each of the lateral sides of the trench. These wedges participate in shoring up the piles without cluttering the trench, given their positioning in the bottom of this trench. These wedges will be particularly used when the trenches are made on unstable ground.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the crosspieces also include means for adjusting their length which may be of the telescopic type or of the fitting type, as previously for the body of the pile or for the guardrail bar.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the shielding system comprises square receiving means configured to be removably placed on two piles arranged opposite each other on the lateral sides of the trench, at a longitudinal end of said trench, and to receive at least two crosspieces arranged transversely in the trench while maintaining a spacing relative to said longitudinal end in order to allow the placement of shielding pieces in said spacing and their maintenance by said at least two transverse crosspieces. Alternatively, it would be possible to implement the shielding system on the longitudinal ends of the trench, in a manner identical to the implementation on the lateral sides of this trench, that is to say by driving two piles spaced apart from each other and bearing against the longitudinal end of the trench, these two piles receiving said at least two transverse crosspieces. Brief description of the figures

[0040] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description based on figures, among which: There figure 1 illustrates, in cross-section, a shielding system implemented in a trench; The figure 2 illustrates one side of the armor system installed on one lateral side of a trench; The figure 3 illustrates an early design of a pile; The figure 4 illustrates a second design of a length-adjustable pile; The figures 5 to 7 illustrate a third design of a pile adjustable in length and incorporating a support bar for a guardrail bar; The figure 8 illustrates a crossbar adjustable in length; The figure 9 illustrates a length-adjustable guardrail bar; The Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a fourth design of a pile provided with a light and abutment pieces; The figure 12illustrates a variant of one side of the shielding system installed on a lateral side of a trench and using piles according to the Figures 10 and 11 ; There figure 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a shielding system implemented in a trench, the shielding system also being arranged at the longitudinal ends of the trench, The figures 14 to 17 highlight a preferential design of square reception means on the shielding system. Detailed description

[0041] In the remainder of the description, the same references are used to designate the same characteristics or their equivalents, according to the various design variants.

[0042] In the following description, the terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "lateral", transverse", "longitudinal", "vertical", "horizontal" ... will be used in consideration of the location of each of the elements in the trench.

[0043] On the figure 1 , the shielding system 1 is placed in a trench 100 which extends lengthwise and comprises a first lateral side 101, a second lateral side 102, a bottom 103 and two longitudinal ends of which only one 104 (the one in the background) is shown in figure 1 The shielding system 1 is arranged between at least the two lateral sides 101, 102 of the trench 100.

[0044] As illustrated opposite the Figures 1 and 2, on each of the lateral sides 101, 102 of the trench 100, the shielding system 1 comprises piles 2 each having a body 3 of longitudinal shape extending vertically and of which a lower part 3a is driven into the bottom 103 of the trench 100; the rear faces 4 of the piles 2 bear against the lateral sides 101, 102. For this, as shown in figures 3 to 7 , 10 and 11 , the lower part 3a comprises a sharpened part 5, for example a spade or a point, facilitating its insertion into the bottom 103 of the trench 100 by driving it in using a sledgehammer or a construction machine used to dig said trench 100. To carry out this driving in, the body 3 comprises in the upper part 3b a reinforced head 6 intended to be struck by the sledgehammer or pushed with the bucket of the construction machine.

[0045] As illustrated on the Figures 1 and 2, the shielding system 1 comprises crosspieces 7 to 11 which extend in the direction of the length of the lateral sides 101, 102 of the trench 100, between two neighboring piles 2, while maintaining a slight spacing (not shown) between the crosspieces 7 to 11 and said lateral sides 101, 102 which are adjoining them. This spacing allows the passage of shielding pieces 12 to 14 which make it possible to consolidate said lateral sides 101, 102 in order to prevent their possible collapse. The piles 2 are used to hold the crosspieces 7 to 11, as will be detailed later.

[0046] As shown in the figure 2, only a lower crosspiece 7 and an upper crosspiece 8 can be arranged between two neighboring piles 2, which will generally be the case in areas of the trench 100 not encumbered by existing networks 200. In this case, the shielding pieces 12 extend in length over the entire height of the trench 100 to be held only by the lower crosspiece 7 and the upper crosspiece 8. As shown in figure 1 , it will also be possible to install a lower crossbar 7, an upper crossbar 8 and an intermediate crossbar 11, when the trench 100 is deeper or when the ground is soft. The armor pieces 12 have a blade shape, but it would be possible to provide plates, wider than the blades, while taking care to limit their weight and width in order to be able to handle them manually and transport them in a van.

[0047] As shown in the figure 2, in the areas of the trench 100 cluttered by existing networks 200, a lower crossbar 7, an upper crossbar 8, a lower intermediate crossbar 9 and an upper intermediate crossbar 10 are arranged between the two neighboring piles 2. These two neighboring piles 2 are each arranged on one side of the existing networks 200. The lower intermediate crossbar 9 is arranged just below the existing networks 200 and the upper intermediate crossbar 10 is arranged just above said existing networks 200. In addition, blades 12 extend over the entire height of the trench 100 and are arranged on the lateral sides of the existing networks 200, lower blades 13 extend in height, from the bottom 103 of the trench 100 to the existing networks 200 and upper blades 14 extend in height, from the existing networks 200 to the top of trench 100.

[0048] As illustrated in figure 1, struts 15 are arranged in the upper part of the trench 100 so as not to hinder the movements of the operator 300 in the trench 100. These struts 15 bear on the two parts 1a, 1b of the shielding system 1 which are arranged opposite each other. Preferably, the struts 15 bear on the ends 8a or 8b of the upper crosspiece 8 at the locations corresponding to the positions of the piles 2, as will appear in more detail below. However, these struts 15 could be placed at other locations against the upper crosspieces 8 or directly against the piles 2.

[0049] As illustrated in figure 1, it is also possible to provide a wedge 16 whose ends 16a, 16b bear against the lower parts 3a of the bodies 3 of the piles 2 arranged opposite each other in the trench 100. This wedge 16 is buried in the bottom 103 of the trench and intended to remain there when the trench 100 is filled in; the wedge 16 could also be placed on the bottom 103 of the trench 100, as a variant, in order to recover it before filling in.

[0050] According to a first variant of pile 2, illustrated in Figure 3 to 7 , this comprises hook- or bracket-shaped legs 17 which extend forward from the front face 18 of the body 3 and upwards. This hook- or bracket-shaped shape is adapted to the thickness of the crosspieces 7 to 11, as illustrated by the Figures 3 and 4, so as to allow the crosspieces 7 to 11 to slide in a plane parallel to the front face 18 of the body 3, with a slight play of the crosspieces 7 to 11 housed in said brackets 17, this play making it possible to compensate for the flatness defects of the walls on the lateral sides 101, 102 of the trench 100. As illustrated with reference to figures 6 , 16 and 17 , the square part 19 of each leg 17 comprises a notch 20 which is sized to allow the passage of the ends 15a, 15b of the braces 15 in order to press them against the ends 8a, 8b of the upper crosspiece 8, as explained previously.

[0051] On the figure 4, the body 3 of the pile 2 comprises two parts 21, 22 which are slidably mounted between them in order to allow an extension in height of the pile 2 to adapt it to the height of the trench 100. This avoids having different lengths of piles 2 with a body 3 in a single piece. These two parts 21, 22 will be locked in position once the adjustment has been carried out, by means of a locking key 23 shown diagrammatically in figure 4 . Various locking keys 23 are possible, for example a locking pin, or an ovalized axis or a pressure screw exerting a tightening force against the nested part 22, or even an axis provided with a bolt engaging in a striker on the nested part 22. Preferably, the piles 2 extend over a variable length of between one meter and three meters (1m and 3m).

[0052] On the figures 5 to 7 , the pile 2 comprises a body 3 adjustable in length, as previously described for the figure 4, with in addition a support bar 24 which is telescopically mounted in the upper part 22 of the body 3. This support bar 24 can slide in the part 22 from a retracted position, illustrated in figure 7 , at a position of use, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 In the position of use, the support bar 24 is positioned outside the trench 100. One or more positions of use may be provided; in the case of several positions of use, the support bar 24 will be adjustable in height and a locking key (comparable to the locking key 23 described previously) will be implemented between said part 22 and the support bar 24. This support bar 24 allows the reception and maintenance of a guardrail bar 25, illustrated in figure 9, in a horizontal position, the two ends 25a, 25b of this guardrail bar 25 being fixed respectively between two support bars 24 extending from two neighboring piles 2. The fixing of the guardrail bars 25 on the support bars 24 is carried out by means of an assembly member 26, for example an eyelet 27 on the support bar 24, in which is housed a complementary anchoring head (not illustrated) arranged on the guardrail bar 25.

[0053] On the Figures 10 and 11 , the pile 2 comprises a body 3 which has a light 28 which extends longitudinally and is arranged between the rear face 4 and the front face 18 of the body 3. This light 28 opens onto the lateral sides 2a, 2b of the pile 2 and has a width slightly greater than the thickness of the sleepers 7 to 11, which makes it possible to introduce the sleepers 7 to 11 into the thickness of the body 3, as shown in the figure 12 . On the figure 10, the pile 2 comprises axes 29 arranged at different heights on the body 3 with a regular spacing greater than the width of the crosspieces 7 to 11, which makes it possible to introduce said crosspieces 7 to 11 between two neighboring axes 29. On the figure 11 , the pile 2 comprises pins 30 which are housed in holes 31 arranged in the thickness of the body 3. The holes 31 are spaced regularly apart, as for the aforementioned axes 29. This makes it possible to position only pins 30 in the holes 31 at the desired positioning heights of the sleepers 7 to 11. This implementation of the pile 2 facilitates the installation of the shielding system 1 in trenches 100 having a difference in level, as shown in figure 12 , since it is possible to tilt the sleepers 7 to 11 while maintaining them properly on the piles 2.

[0054] The front face 18 on the body 3 of the pile 2 of the Figures 10 and 11will preferably include a second light (not shown) which opens onto light 28 and the width of which will allow the ends 15a, 15b of the struts 15 to pass through the front face 18 of the body 3, to come directly into contact with the crosspieces 7 to 11.

[0055] On the figure 12 , it can be seen that networks 400 can be arranged directly between a lower crosspiece 7 and an upper crosspiece 8. It is also possible to arrange blades 12 above networks 500, the lower crosspiece 7 being arranged above said networks 500. It is also possible to provide only an upper crosspiece 8 above the existing network 200 and no upper intermediate crosspiece 10, unlike the illustration of the figure 2, while a lower intermediate crosspiece 9 is provided, the blades 14 being short and held only by the upper crosspiece 8 and the blades 13 being held by the lower crosspiece 7 and the lower intermediate crosspiece 9. It is also possible to provide crosspieces 7 to 10 without having blades 13 or 14 below and above the networks 600 when these networks 600 are very bulky, in which case these crosspieces 7 to 10 will participate directly in the reinforcement of the walls on the lateral sides 101, 102 of the trench 100.

[0056] Other characteristics are conceivable within the framework of the invention.

[0057] On the figure 8, the sleepers 7 to 11 consist of a main part 32 and an extension part 33 which can fit onto the main part 32 in order to increase its length. It would also be possible to provide a sliding assembly, of the telescopic type, between the main part 32 and the extension part 33 to adjust the length of the sleepers 7 to 11 to the spacing between the two neighboring piles 2 receiving said sleepers 7 to 11.

[0058] On the figure 9 , the guardrail bar 25 consists of a main bar 34 and an extension bar 35 between which is arranged a sliding assembly, of the telescopic type, in order to adjust its length to the spacing between the two support bars 24 receiving the ends 25a, 25b of the guardrail bar 25. It would also be possible to provide a fitting between the main bar 34 and the extension bar 35, as a variant.

[0059] On the figure 13illustrated is a shielding system 1 in a trench 100, as in figure 1 . This figure 13 illustrates, in addition, blades 12' and lower 7' and upper 8' crosspieces which are arranged at the end 104 of the trench 10. Thus, the trench 100 is also reinforced at its longitudinal ends 104. The implementation of the shielding system 1 at this end 104 of the trench 100 can be done on the same principle as previously, for the lateral sides 101, 102 of this trench 100. However, according to a preferred implementation illustrated with regard to figures 14 to 17, the shielding system 1 comprises assembly parts 36 participating in the reception at right angles of the lower 7' and upper 8' crosspieces which extend transversely in the trench 100 at its end 104. These lower 7' and upper 8' crosspieces are held at right angles with respect to the lower 7 and upper 8 crosspieces arranged on the lateral sides 101, 102 of the trench 100.

[0060] As illustrated opposite the figures 14 to 16 , the assembly part 36 comprises a body 37 which extends longitudinally over a length corresponding substantially to the length of the body 3 of the pile 2. The assembly part 36 is fixed to one of the lateral sides 2a, 2b of the pile 2; for this, the assembly part 36 comprises on its front face 38 two anchoring heads 39 which engage respectively in eyelets 40 arranged on the upper and lower parts of the lateral sides 2a, 2b of the pile 2, as also appears on the Figures 4 and 5. Only the eyelets 40 on the lateral side 2b of the pile 2 are illustrated, but identical eyelets are provided on the other lateral side 2a. The eyelets 27 on the support bar 24 and the anchor heads (not illustrated) on the guardrail bar 25, as mentioned above, will preferably be of similar designs to these eyelets 40 and anchor heads 39 on the body 3 of the pile 2 and on the assembly part 36.

[0061] As illustrated opposite the figures 16 and 17, once the assembly part 36 is anchored on the pile 2, the body 37 of the anchoring part 36 is spaced from the body 3 of the pile 2, which makes it possible to accommodate the lower 7' and upper 8' crosspieces between the piles 2 arranged opposite each other near the end 104 of the trench 100 and the assembly parts 36 anchored respectively on these two piles 2. In addition, these lower 7' and upper 8' crosspieces are arranged transversely in the trench 100 and they rest respectively on the ends 7b, 8b of the lower 7 and upper 8 crosspieces which are arranged longitudinally in said trench 100 and which are supported by the piles 2. The lower 7' and upper 8' crosspieces are held transversely with a spacing 41 relative to the end 104 of the trench 100, which makes it possible to accommodate therein the 12' blades.

[0062] Variants of the assembly part 36 are conceivable; for example, it would be possible to provide on the front face 38 of the body 37 square legs of a design similar to the square legs 17 arranged on the body 3 of the pile 2, according to the variants of the figures 3 to 7 . We could also provide a light similar to light 28 on the body 3 of the pile 2, according to the variants of the Figures 10 and 11 .

[0063] Preferably, the piles 2, the support bars 24 and the assembly parts 36 are made of materials chosen from aluminum, steel or resins. Preferably, the crosspieces 7 to 11 and the blades 12 to 14 are made of materials chosen from aluminum, steel, wood or polymers. Preferably, the guardrail bars 25 are made of a material chosen from wood, polymers or aluminum. Of course, these choices of materials are not limiting.

Claims

1. Sheeting system (1) of a trench (100), the trench comprising in particular two lateral sides (101, 102) and a bottom (103), said sheeting system comprising: on each lateral side of the trench, at least two piles (2) each provided with a body (3) a lower end portion (3a) of which is configured to be pressed into the bottom of the trench so as to hold said pile vertically and in an adjacent manner to said lateral side, the two piles being spaced apart from one another on said lateral side, on each lateral side of the trench, at least two cross members (7 to 11), each cross member being held by the two piles which each include means for receiving this cross member for this purpose, said cross members being held with a spacing with respect to the lateral side of the trench, on each lateral side of the trench, sheeting parts (12 to 14), said sheeting parts being adjacent to each other and positioned in the spacing left between the lateral side of the trench and the two cross members, at least one brace (15) extending transversely and configured to bear against the cross members or against the piles arranged facing on both lateral sides of the trench, said cross brace being placed in upper parts of the lateral sides of the trench, so as to keep these cross members or piles apart, characterised in that the at least two cross members are arranged with a spacing between them at two different heights in the trench and in that the sheeting parts extend vertically over a length greater than the spacing between the two cross members.

2. Sheeting system (1) according to claim 1, which comprises on each lateral side (101, 102) of the trench (100), an upper cross member (8), a lower cross member (7) and at least one intermediate cross member (9 to 11).

3. Sheeting system (1) according to claim 2, which comprises: a) an upper cross member (8), a lower cross member (7) and an intermediate cross member (9), b) first sheeting parts (12) which extend vertically over a length greater than the distance between the upper (8) and lower (7) cross members and, c) second sheeting parts (13, 14) which extend vertically over a length greater than the distance between the upper (8) and intermediate (10) cross members or between the intermediate (9) and lower (7) cross members.

4. Sheeting system (1) according to claim 2, which comprises: a) an upper cross member (8), a lower cross member (7), an upper intermediate cross member (10) and a lower intermediate cross member (9), b) first sheeting parts (14) which extend vertically over a length greater than the distance between the upper cross member (8) and the upper intermediate cross member (10), c) second sheeting parts (13) which extend vertically over a length greater than the distance between the lower intermediate cross member (9) and the lower cross member (7).

5. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one brace (15) is positioned at the piles (2) arranged facing on both lateral sides (101, 102) of the trench (100), said piles comprising passage means (20) configured to allow said yoke to bear against the cross members (8) facing on both lateral sides of the trench.

6. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which comprises as many braces (15) as piles (2) arranged on each lateral side (101, 102) of the trench (100).

7. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheeting parts (12 to 14) are in the form of blades and / or plates.

8. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the piles (2) comprise first means for adjusting their length, preferably of the telescopic type.

9. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each pile (2) comprises at its upper end a reinforced head (6).

10. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the piles (2) each comprise a support bar (24) telescopically mounted in the body (3) and configured to constitute an extension of the body (3) outside the trench (100), said sheeting system comprising guardrail bars (25), assembly means being arranged between the pile support bars and the ends (25a, 25b) of the guardrail bars.

11. Sheeting system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the guardrail bars (25) comprise second means (34, 35) for adjusting their length.

12. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the receiving means on the piles (2) consist of angled tabs (17) arranged on a front face (18) of the body (3) and configured to receive a portion of a cross member (7 to 11).

13. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the reception means on the piles (2) are formed by an aperture (28) arranged over the length of the body (3) and configured to allow the passage of a cross member (7 to 11) and by stop pieces (29, 30) passing through the aperture and ensuring a height holding of the cross member in the lumen.

14. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which comprises at least one shim (16) arranged transversely in the bottom (104) of the trench (100) and configured to bear against the lower end portions (3a) of two piles (2) arranged opposite each of the lateral sides (101, 102) of the trench (100).

15. Sheeting system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising angled receiving means (36) configured to be removably placed on two piles (2) arranged opposite on the lateral sides (101, 102) of the trench (100), at a longitudinal end (104) of said trench, and to receive at least two cross members (7', 8') arranged transversely in the trench while retaining a spacing (41) with respect to said end (104) in order to allow placing sheeting parts (12') in said spacing and holding them by said at least two transverse cross members (7', 8').

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