Method of formwork of guide walls

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of forming guide walls for producing secant piles in the ground and cylindrical cores for implementing it. The method comprises the following steps: digging excavations on the surface of the ground, said excavations having a bottom and two opposite walls facing each other; providing a plurality of cylindrical cores (28) cut from honeycomb cardboard panels and having two opposite cylindrical surfaces (30, 32) from each other, said two cylindrical surfaces being defined by generatrices G parallel to each other; erecting the cylindrical cores (28) on said bottom of said excavations, in line with each other, substantially equidistant from said two opposite walls; pouring concrete into said excavations on either side of the erected cylindrical cores (28); and, said cylindrical cores (28) are extracted after the concrete has hardened to release two facing guide walls.Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Method of formwork for guide walls

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of formwork of guide walls for producing secant piles in the ground.

[0002] Also, the present invention relates to cylindrical cores making it possible to implement the method according to the invention.

[0003] It is known to produce guide walls in order to be able to install secant pile walls in particular. Such walls, installed vertically in a terrain, can constitute, for example, retaining walls making it possible to retain the earth on one side of the wall, when the other side is excavated.

[0004] Thus, to be able to produce these secant piles, guide walls are used, which firstly guarantee alignment of the wall and also guide drilling tools.

[0005] Usually, excavations are carried out on the surface of the ground where piles are to be installed. In other words, a shallow trench is opened, for example between 0.5 m and 1.50 m. The trench thus opened has a bottom and two facing walls spaced apart from each other.

[0006] Next, a plurality of cylindrical cores made of a polystyrene-type polymer material are placed in a row on the bottom of the trench, substantially equidistant from the facing walls. Each of the cylindrical cores extends longitudinally and has two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces and two opposite ends. The two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces have a succession of pairs of projecting cylindrical surface portions, each having the same axis of revolution.

[0007] In other words, each cylindrical core is cut so as to form, in a single piece, portions of a cylinder with a circular base, aligned and nested within each other. The portions of a cylinder with a circular base have the same radius of curvature.

[0008] Also, one of said two ends has a convex end cylindrical surface portion defining with the first two opposite surface portions a same cylinder of revolution. And the other of the two ends has a concave end cylindrical surface portion. The latter has the same dimensions as the convex end cylindrical surface portion.

[0009] Known cylindrical cores comprise two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces having three pairs of opposite projecting cylindrical surface portions defined respectively by three mutually parallel and aligned axes of revolution. One end of the cylindrical core has a cylindrical surface portion convex end defining with the first two opposite cylindrical surface portions, the same cylinder of revolution. The other end has a concave end cylindrical surface portion whose radius of curvature is equal to the radius of curvature of the opposite cylindrical surface portions and therefore, of the convex end cylindrical surface portion.

[0010] In this way, a plurality of cylindrical cores can be aligned, and nested within each other, on the bottom of the trench, so that their convex end cylindrical surface portion fits into the concave end cylindrical surface portion of the next one.

[0011] Next, concrete is poured into the trench on each side of the aligned cylindrical cores. When the concrete has hardened, the cylindrical cores are removed, revealing the two facing guide walls with their facing circular cylindrical impressions.

[0012] However, cylindrical polystyrene cores are neither reusable nor recyclable. Moreover, they are produced from hydrocarbons.

[0013] Also, a problem which arises and which the present invention aims to resolve is to be able to produce guide walls at more advantageous environmental costs.

[0014] In order to solve this problem, and according to a first object, a method of formwork of guide walls for making secant piles in the ground is proposed, comprising the following steps: excavations are made on the surface of the ground, said excavations having a bottom and two opposite walls facing each other; a plurality of cylindrical cores are provided having two lateral cylindrical surfaces opposite each other, said two lateral cylindrical surfaces being defined by generatrices parallel to each other; the cylindrical cores are erected on said bottom of said excavations, in the extension of each other, substantially equidistant from said two opposite walls; concrete is poured into said excavations on either side of the erected cylindrical cores; and, said cylindrical cores are extracted after the concrete has hardened to release two opposite guide walls.

[0015] According to the method according to the invention, honeycomb cardboard panels are cut to provide said cylindrical cores of said plurality of cylindrical cores.

[0016] Thus, a feature of the invention lies in the use of honeycomb cardboard panels to form the cylindrical cores. Honeycomb cardboard, unlike polystyrene, is made from natural and renewable resources. Furthermore, and as will be explained below, it has satisfactory mechanical characteristics to be able to withstand the pressure of the concrete.

[0017] Furthermore, and contrary to popular belief, the mechanical characteristics of cylindrical cores made of honeycomb cardboard are not affected by the significant migration of the water contained in the concrete. This migration occurs partially on a thin peripheral layer of the cylindrical cores without compromising their mechanical resistance.

[0018] Also, advantageously, each of said honeycomb cardboard panels comprises two layers of solid cardboard and a layer of honeycomb cardboard engaged between said two layers, said layer of honeycomb cardboard comprising cells oriented substantially perpendicular to said two layers of solid cardboard, and said cells are oriented along said generatrices in said cylindrical cores.

[0019] In this way, the honeycomb cardboard panels have mechanical resistance to deformation when forces are applied perpendicular to the layers of solid cardboard.

[0020] Furthermore, according to a preferred characteristic, a plurality of elements of the same shape are cut from said panels, and said elements are stacked to form said cylindrical cores. Thus, the honeycomb cardboard elements are stacked on top of each other, solid cardboard layer against solid cardboard layer. The edges of the elements thus form the two lateral cylindrical surfaces opposite each other. And the edges of the elements reveal axially cut cells. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the elements extend in a longitudinal direction.

[0021] Preferably, a cutting member is used having a cutting blade in the shape of said element. And thus, the panels are cut with a die using a press equipped with said cutting member.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the elements are cut from the panels using a jigsaw.

[0023] Also, the cylindrical cores are erected in the bottom of the trench so that the solid cardboard layer of the last element comes to bear flat on the bottom. In this way, the two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces of the cylindrical cores come respectively opposite the two opposite walls of the trench.

[0024] As a result, when the concrete is poured on either side of the cylindrical cores, it comes into contact with the edge of the honeycomb cardboard elements and exerts pressure on them. And despite the pressure, the stacked elements provide the mechanical resistance necessary to maintain the concrete until it hardens.

[0025] Furthermore, metal reinforcements can be driven into the freshly poured concrete, without the stresses caused by this driving altering the cylindrical cores.

[0026] Furthermore, despite the migration of water from the concrete through the cells on the periphery of the cylindrical cores, the mechanical characteristics of the latter are not impaired.

[0027] Advantageously, between four and ten elements are stacked to form a cylindrical core.

[0028] Preferably, said stacked elements are joined together by gluing. This forms rigid cylindrical cores in one piece. They can then be easily transported, then handled and arranged in the trenches.

[0029] According to a particularly advantageous characteristic, the honeycomb cardboard panels have a thickness of between 100 mm and 200 mm. For example, the honeycomb cardboard panels used to produce said elements have a thickness of 120 mm. This produces cylindrical cores with a thickness of between 48 cm and 120 cm, for example. Such a thickness makes it possible to obtain good transverse mechanical strength of the cylindrical cores.

[0030] Also, each of the cylindrical cores of said plurality of cylindrical cores has a median plane, and said two lateral cylindrical surfaces are symmetrical to each other with respect to said median plane.

[0031] Furthermore, said two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces advantageously have a succession of pairs of opposite surface portions each having the same axis of revolution. In other words, the two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces have a succession of pairs of opposite projecting cylindrical surface portions each having the same axis of revolution.

[0032] Furthermore, each of said cylindrical cores has two opposite ends, and one of said two ends has a convex end cylindrical surface portion having the same axis of revolution as that of two opposite surface portions of one of said pairs, while the other of said two ends has a concave end cylindrical surface portion. Thus, the convex end cylindrical surface portion defines with the first two opposite surface portions a same cylinder of revolution. And the other of the two ends has a concave end cylindrical surface portion having the same radius of curvature as the convex end cylindrical surface portion.

[0033] In this way, two cylindrical cores can be adjusted continuously, so that the convex end cylindrical surface portion of one of them fits inside the concave end cylindrical surface portion of the other. And furthermore, not only can the two cylindrical cores be aligned, but also can be adjusted at right angles to each other while maintaining continuity of the lateral cylindrical surfaces, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0034] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, cylindrical cores are provided, each having an anterior face and an opposite posterior face, substantially perpendicular to said median plane, and each of said cylindrical cores comprises a recess opening into said front face and a projecting portion extending from said rear face, in order to be able to engage respectively one into the other, the projecting portions and the recesses of said cylindrical cores erected in the extension of each other so as to be able to adjust the spacing of said cylindrical cores.

[0035] Thus, according to this embodiment variant, the distance separating the cylindrical cores erected one after the other can be adjusted. Consequently, and as will be explained in more detail in the remainder of the description, such characteristics make it possible to adjust the degree of overlap of the contiguous piles.

[0036] According to the invention and in accordance with this embodiment variant, said projecting part and said recess have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In other words, the projecting part is adapted to fit more or less into the recess in order to adjust the distance between the cylindrical cores. Furthermore, the projecting part has a width equal to the width of the recess, excluding functional clearance, so that it can slide inside the recess. Thus, two contiguous cylindrical cores are movable in translation in a direction parallel to the median planes of the cylindrical cores and perpendicular to the generatrices G of the lateral cylindrical surfaces.

[0037] According to the invention, spacers of a given thickness are further provided and said spacers are inserted respectively between said cylindrical cores to keep them at a distance from each other. In this way, the shims make it possible to define the degree of overlap of the contiguous piles.

[0038] Furthermore, in accordance with the invention and according to said variant embodiment, said two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces have a single axis of revolution.

[0039] Also, according to another object, there is proposed according to the invention, a cylindrical core comprising a plurality of cutouts of elements of the same shape in honeycomb cardboard panels and stacked on top of each other, to implement said method as described above.

[0040] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of particular embodiments of the invention, given for informational but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0041] [Fig.l] is a schematic perspective view of an element of the invention;

[0042] [Fig.2] is a schematic view of a blank cut from the object of [Fig.l], in accordance with the implementation method according to the invention;

[0043] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view showing a cylindrical core obtained in accordance with the method according to the invention;

[0044] [Fig.4] is a schematic top view of the implementation of the object of [Fig.3] , according to a first variant of execution;

[0045] [Fig.5] is a view is a schematic top view of the implementation of the object of [Fig.3], according to a second variant execution;

[0046] [Fig.6] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the in situ implementation of the object of [Fig.3];

[0047] [Fig.7] is a schematic top view of the result of the implementation shown in [Fig.6];

[0048] [Fig.8] is a schematic view of a blank cut from the object of [Fig.l], in accordance with the invention according to an alternative embodiment;

[0049] [Fig.9] is a schematic perspective view showing a cylindrical core obtained in accordance with said alternative embodiment; and,

[0050] [Fig. 10] is a schematic perspective view showing cylindrical cores obtained according to said embodiment variant and cooperating with each other.

[0051] [Fig.l] shows a panel 10 of honeycomb cardboard. It has two opposite layers of solid cardboard 12, 14 and a layer of honeycomb cardboard 16 sandwiched between the two layers of solid cardboard 12, 14. The layer of honeycomb cardboard 16 is made by means of strips of corrugated cardboard joined together by the top of their corrugations by means of glue. The strips thus joined form cells 18 oriented in a direction D perpendicular to the two layers of solid cardboard 12, 14. And the two layers of solid cardboard 12, 14 are in turn glued on each side of the layer of honeycomb cardboard 16.

[0052] The panel 10 has a thickness el of 120 mm. According to another embodiment, the panel has a thickness of 100 mm. According to yet another embodiment, its thickness is 140 mm. Also, the panel 10 has a mass of between 3000 g / m2 and 7000 g / m2, for example, 4500 g / m2.

[0053] Such a structure gives the panel 10 great mechanical resistance in bending.

[0054] [Fig.2] illustrates an element 20 cut from a single piece in a honeycomb cardboard panel as shown in [Fig.l]. The element 20 is defined by three successive discs 22, 24, 26 of the same radius R and interpenetrated into each other. The centers C of the three discs 22, 24, 26 are aligned. And, the radius R is close to 30 cm, while their center distance is close to 50 cm.

[0055] Thus, in the embodiment presented here, five elements 20 of the type shown in [Fig. 2], are glued and superimposed to produce a cylindrical core 28 in a single block as shown in [Fig. 3]. The five stacked elements 20 thus define two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces 30, 32, symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane Pm intersecting the centers of the elements 20.

[0056] From a geometric point of view, the core 28 is cylindrical in that it is defined by generators G parallel to each other and resting on a defined directrix curve by the contours of element 20 shown in [Fig.2]. The generators G are perpendicular to the planes defined by elements 20.

[0057] The cylindrical core 28 also has two opposite ends, a male end 34 and a female end 36. And also, it has two opposite faces parallel to each other, 38, 40 and corresponding to the two layers of solid cardboard of the two extreme elements 20 of the cylindrical core 28.

[0058] Furthermore, the two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces 30, 32 have, successively, a first pair of opposite cylindrical surface portions 42, 44 projecting from the same first axis of revolution A1, a second pair of opposite cylindrical surface portions 46, 48 projecting from the same second axis of revolution A2, and a third pair of opposite cylindrical surface portions 50, 52 projecting from a third axis of revolution A3.

[0059] Also, the male end 34 has a convex cylindrical surface portion 54 which extends respectively the two opposite cylindrical surface portions 42, 44 of the first pair of portions, along the same first axis of revolution AL

[0060] In other words, the first pair of cylindrical surface portions 42, 44 and the convex cylindrical surface portion 54 define the same cylinder of revolution with first axis A1, but truncated at the intersection with the second pair of opposite cylindrical surface portions 46, 48.

[0061] Also, the female end 36 has a portion of concave cylindrical surface 56 whose radius of curvature is equal to the radius R of the three discs 22, 24, 26.

[0062] According to the invention, it is provided to implement cylindrical cores of revolution having a radius R identical to that of the discs 22, 24, 26 of the element 20. Such a cylindrical core is intended to be able to cooperate with the cylindrical core 28 shown in [Fig. 3] as will be explained below.

[0063] Furthermore, according to another non-limiting embodiment, the cylindrical core has not three pairs of successive cylindrical surface portions, but four pairs.

[0064] We will now refer to [Fig.4] showing a first variant of implementation of two cylindrical cores 28, 28' in a right-angled trench 58 made in a ground 60. The trench 58 has a bottom 62 located at an average depth of 50 cm, and two walls 64 opposite each other 66.

[0065] Thus, the two cylindrical cores 28, 28' are also adjusted at right angles and erected on the bottom 62 at an equal distance from the two opposite walls 64, 66, in order to be able to match the shape of the trench 58. Also, one 44 of the cylindrical portions of the first pair of cylindrical surface portions 42, 44, of one 28 of the two cores 28, 28', is engaged in the concave cylindrical surface portion 56' of the other 28' of the two cores 28, 28'.

[0066] Thus, the two cylindrical cores 28, 28' make it possible to define in the right-angled trench 58 two free spaces 68, 70, separated from each other and substantially of the same width.

[0067] According to a second variant, as shown in [Fig. 5], the two cylindrical cores 28, 28' are installed in the extension of one another in a longitudinal trench 72. The latter also has a bottom 62' and two opposite walls, one 64' from the other 66'.

[0068] The two cylindrical cores 28, 28' are then adjusted one in line with the other and erected on the bottom 62' equidistant from the two opposite walls 64', 66'.

[0069] Also, the convex cylindrical surface portion 54 of one 28 of the two cores 28, 28' is engaged in the concave cylindrical surface portion 56' of the other 28' of the two cores 28, 28'. In this way, the two cylindrical cores 28, 28' are partially interpenetrated in one another and aligned in the extension of one another.

[0070] Thus, they make it possible to define in the longitudinal trench 72 two free spaces 68', 70' and parallel, separated from each other and substantially of the same width.

[0071] Of course, other cylindrical cores can be adjusted in the same way in the extension of the cylindrical cores 28, 28' implemented in the two variants presented in [Fig.4] and [Fig.5].

[0072] In [Fig.6], we find the longitudinal trench 72 in cross-section, and the cylindrical core 28 erected on the bottom 62' substantially equidistant from the two opposite walls 64', 66', delimiting the two free spaces 68', 70'.

[0073] Thus, concrete is then poured into the two free spaces 68', 70' on each side of the cylindrical cores 28, 28', over the entire depth of the trench 72. The concrete, which is a mixture of cement, sand, gravel and water, then takes the shape of the two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces 30, 32 of the cylindrical cores 28, 28', and comes to bear opposite against the two opposite walls 64', 66' of the trench 72.

[0074] Contrary to what one might have feared, the concrete is applied against the opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces 30, 32 without the water diffusing significantly into the edge of the honeycomb cardboard elements. Consequently, the mechanical resistance of the elements remains and the concrete is thus contained until it hardens.

[0075] And after the concrete has hardened, the cylindrical cores 28, 28' are then removed, as illustrated from above in [Fig.7] so as to reveal two facing guide walls 74, 76. These guide walls are of course rigid and they define aligned intersecting cylindrical spaces of revolution 78.

[0076] The facing guide walls 74, 76 then allow the guidance of the tools used to create secant piles.

[0077] As for the removed cylindrical core 28, 28', they can be easily recycled for the manufacture of paper pulp.

[0078] According to another alternative embodiment, as illustrated in [Fig.8], an element 80 is cut out in one piece from a honeycomb cardboard panel as shown in [Fig.1].

[0079] The element 80 is defined here by a single disc 82 of radius R' and center C'. The radius R' is close to 30 cm, for example.

[0080] Thus, it has two diametrically opposed arc edges 84, 86 and two equally opposed straight edges 88, 90 and offset by 90° relative to the two arc edges.

[0081] Furthermore, the element 80 has a U-shaped notch 92 opening into one 90 of the straight edges, and a rectangular portion 94 extending projecting from the other 88 of the straight edges. The rectangular portion 94 has dimensions substantially identical to those of the U-shaped notch 92 and they are opposite each other.

[0082] Also, five identical elements 80 of the type as shown in [Fig.8], are glued and superimposed to produce a cylindrical core 96 in a single block as shown in [Fig.9].

[0083] It has a median plane of symmetry Pm' and two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces 98, 100, symmetrical to each other with respect to the median plane Pm' and with an axis of revolution A4.

[0084] Furthermore, the cylindrical core 96 has a front face 102 and a recess 104 opening into the front face 102 and corresponding to the U-shaped notches 92 of the stacked elements 80. It will be observed that the median plane Pm' cuts the recess 104 into two equal parts.

[0085] In addition, the cylindrical core 96 has, on the opposite side, a rear face 106 and a projecting portion 108 extending from the rear face 106.

[0086] The projecting part 108 is of rectangular parallelepiped shape and it has a width equal to that of the recess 104. Furthermore, just like the latter, it is cut into two equal parts by the median plane Pm'.

[0087] Also, it will be observed that the projecting part 108 defines with the rear face 106, two rear shoulders 110, 112, while the recess 104 defines with the front face 102, two front edges 114, 116.

[0088] According to a first embodiment of the cylindrical cores 96 as illustrated in [Fig.9], three first identical cylindrical cores 93 are connected together to form a first row 118. The projecting parts 108 of the cores 93 are then respectively engaged inside the recesses 104 so that the shoulders 110, 112 come into contact with the front edges 114, 116 respectively. The cores 96 are then spaced apart by a first distance DI. It is then possible to align a plurality of cylindrical cores 96 in the bottom of the trench. degree of overlap of the contiguous piles will then be maximum.

[0089] According to a second embodiment, three first cylindrical cores 93 are connected together to form a second row 120. First shims 122 of a first thickness are then placed between the shoulders 110, 112 and respectively the front edges 114, 116. Consequently, the cylindrical cores 96 are spaced apart by a second distance D2 greater than D1.

[0090] And, according to a third embodiment, three first cylindrical cores 93 are connected together to form a third row 124. Second wedges 126 of a second thickness greater than that of the first wedge 122 are then placed between the shoulders 110, 112 and respectively the front edges 114, 116. Consequently, the cylindrical cores 96 are spaced apart by a third distance D3 greater than D2. The degree of overlap of the contiguous piles in the bottom of the trench will then be maximum compared to the other two embodiments.

Claims

Claims

1. Method of formwork of guide walls for producing secant piles in the ground, comprising the following steps: - excavations (58; 72) are made on the surface of the ground, said excavations having a bottom (62) and two opposite facing walls (64, 66); - a plurality of cylindrical cores (28; 28') are provided having two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces (30, 32) from each other, said two lateral cylindrical surfaces being defined by generators G parallel to each other; - the cylindrical cores (28, 28') are erected on said bottom (62) of said excavations, in the extension of each other, substantially equidistant from said two opposite walls (64, 66); - concrete is poured into said excavations (58; 72) on either side of the erected cylindrical cores (28, 28'); and, - said cylindrical cores (28, 28') are extracted after the concrete has hardened to release two guide walls (74, 76) opposite;characterized in that honeycomb cardboard panels (10) are cut to provide said cylindrical cores (28, 28') of said plurality of cylindrical cores.;

2. Formwork method according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said honeycomb cardboard panels (10) comprises two layers of solid cardboard (12, 14) and a layer of honeycomb cardboard (16) engaged between said two layers, said layer of honeycomb cardboard (16) comprising cells (18) oriented substantially perpendicular to said two layers of solid cardboard, and in that said cells (18) are oriented along said generatrices G in said cylindrical cores.

3. Formwork method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of elements (20) of the same shape are cut from said panels (10), and in that said elements (20) are stacked to form said cylindrical cores (28, 28').

4. Formwork method according to claim 3, characterized in that between four and ten elements (20) are stacked to form a cylindrical core (28, 28').

5. Formwork method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said stacked elements (20) are secured by gluing.

6. A formwork method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the honeycomb cardboard panels (10) have a thickness of between 100 mm and 200 mm.

7. Formwork method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of the cylindrical cores (28, 28') of said plurality of cylindrical cores has a median plane Pm, and in that said two lateral cylindrical surfaces (30, 32) are symmetrical to each other with respect to said median plane.

8. Formwork method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces (30, 32) have a succession of pairs of opposite surface portions (42, 44; 46, 48; 50, 52) each having the same axis of revolution A1, A2, A3.

9. Formwork method according to claim 8, characterized in that each of said cylindrical cores (28, 28') has two opposite ends (34, 36), and in that one of said two ends has a convex end cylindrical surface portion (54) having the same axis of revolution as that of two opposite surface portions (42, 44) of one of said pairs, while the other (36) of said two ends has a concave end cylindrical surface portion (56).

10. Formwork method according to claim 7, characterized in that cylindrical cores (96) are provided, each having an opposite front face (102) and rear face (106), substantially perpendicular to said median plane Pm', and in that each of said cylindrical cores comprises a recess (104) opening into said front face (102) and a projecting portion (108) extending from said rear face (106), to be able to engage respectively in one another, the projecting portions and the recesses of said cylindrical cores erected in the extension of each other so as to be able to adjust the spacing of said cylindrical cores.

11. Formwork method according to claim 10, characterized in that said projecting portion (108) and said recess (104) have a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

12. Formwork method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that spacers (122; 126) of a given thickness are further provided and in that said spacers are inserted respectively between said cylindrical cores (96) to keep them at a distance from each other.

13. Formwork method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that said two opposite lateral cylindrical surfaces (98, 100) have a single axis of revolution.

14. Cylindrical core (28, 28') comprising a plurality of cutouts of elements (20) of the same shape in honeycomb cardboard panels (10) and stacked on top of each other, for implementing said method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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