Modular assembly for draining water inflows from a joint or from a crack

Abstract

Drainage tile for water leaking from a joint or crack. The drain tile 2 comprises a longitudinal channel 7 between a first and second end 2a 2b, two wings 8 9 for fastening the tile to a structure suc

Description

TITLE: Modular assembly for draining water inflows from a joint or from a crack The present invention generally relates to water infiltrations in a joint or in a crack, particularly a joint or a crack present in a tunnel or another underground space and in particular relates to the drainage of water inflows of a joint or of such a crack. More precisely, the invention relates to a modular drainage assembly for a joint or a crack, such as a joint or a crack present in a tunnel or an underground space. The construction of a road or railway tunnel, or another underground space, requires the assembly of a plurality of curved segments for example made of prefabricated concrete or of cast, reinforced or not, concrete. A joint separates each pair of adjacent curved segments. Some cracks may also appear over time. These joints or cracks are subject to water infiltrations, such as rainwater, water coming from the water table, or also leaking sewers, such that the installation of a sealing system is required. Conventionally, a sealing device may be applied at the extrados, that is to say on the outside of the structure, covering the entire surface of the concrete and of the joints. In most cases, when water infiltrations occur, these pass through the concrete lining, as well as a possible fault of the sealing device if this is present, causing water leaks in the enclosure of the tunnel, at the joints or the crack. This results in a degradation of the material and equipment, such as the electrical and electronic devices, the rails, the ventilation, etc., and involves an inconvenience for users. Therefore, it is necessary to collect and channel the water running along the vaults and side walls of the tunnels or other underground spaces and divert it away from sensitive materials and users. Some existing drainage solutions, such as flexible bypass systems need to be glued. Their application requires a setting time. Other drainage devices consisting of profiles, are embedded in the concrete. Given the presence of various residues such as for example limestone in water, the drainage devices may block and clog. A maintenance operation must be carried out so that the drainage device performs its function again and eliminates the water leaks. It is not possible to assess their level of clogging without removing them, and removing them is cumbersome. In the case of embedded devices, their removal also particularly involves breaking the concrete structure. 10 CXI 15 20 Therefore, the aim of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and propose a drainage solution for diverting water leaks coming from a joint or from a crack positioned on a structure, particularly of a tunnel or another underground space, facilitating the inspection of the state of the joint or of the crack and that is easy to apply and remove. It is therefore proposed a drain tile for water inflows from a joint or from a crack positioned on a structure, comprising a longitudinal channel extending between first and second ends of the drain tile and intended to be positioned facing the joint or the crack, two fastening wings disposed on either side of the longitudinal channel for positioning and fastening the drainage tile on the structure, and an area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack made of transparent material covering all or part of the longitudinal channel, wherein the longitudinal channel includes a section of increasing width and / or of depth between the first and second ends of the drain tile. Preferably, the longitudinal channel and the fastening wings form a one-piece structure formed by the transparent material. Advantageously, the drain tile may comprise a material having fire resistance properties. Preferably, the drain tile has a reaction to fire class Ml according to the standard NF EN 13-501-1 on fire resistance and classification. Advantageously, the drain tile may comprise a material having corrosion resistance properties. 25 Advantageously, the drain tile may comprise a material having electrical insulation properties. Preferably, the transparent material is made of plastic. According to one embodiment, the transparent material may be polycarbonate. In one embodiment, the drain tile may comprise a generally parallelepiped shape 30 including two corners on the first end and two comers on the second end, the drain tile comprising an angle-cut of the two comers of the first end. The invention also relates to a modular assembly for draining water inflows from a joint or from a crack positioned on a stmcture, comprising: assembling a plurality of drain tiles as described above, the drain tiles being positioned one after another and assembled by partial overlap between two adjacent drain tiles, the assembly of longitudinal channels of the plurality of drain tiles forming a water runoff path, and removable means for fastening the fastening wings on the structure. In one embodiment, the first end of each drain tile may overlap at least partially the second end of an adjacent drain tile, each drain tile being positioned on top of the next drain tile. Other aims, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given purely by way of illustrative example and made with reference to the appended drawings wherein: [Fig. 1] illustrates a modular assembly for draining water inflows from a joint or from a crack according to one embodiment of the invention. [Fig. 2] illustrates a drain tile of a modular assembly for draining water inflows from a joint or from a crack according to one embodiment of the invention. Moreover, the expressions "at least one" used in the present description is equivalent to the expression "one or more". Figure 1 illustrates a modular assembly 1 for draining water inflows from a joint or from a crack, the joint or the crack being positioned on a structure. In the example illustrated, the modular assembly 1 is intended to be applied to the intrados of a lining of a tunnel or of an underground space in order to drain the water leaks coming from a joint or from a crack. The modular assembly 1 comprises assembling a plurality of drain tiles 2 positioned one after another. The drain tiles 2 are assembled by partial overlap, such that each drain tile is partially overlapped by an adjacent drain tile. In the example illustrated, each drain tile 2, a detailed view of which is shown in Figure 2, comprises a generally rectangular shape including a first end 2a and a second end 2b opposite the first end 2a. Of course, it may be provided that the drain tile 2 comprises a generally parallelepiped shape different from a rectangle, or a shape different from a parallelepiped. Each drain tile 2 may include two comers 3 and 4 on the first end 2a and two comers 5 and 6 on the second end 2b. Each drain tile 2 comprises a longitudinal channel 7 extending from the first end 2a to the second end 2b of the drain tile 2. The longitudinal channel 7 is formed on an inner face of the drain tile 2 intended to be positioned facing a joint or a crack subject to water infiltrations. The longitudinal channel 7 opens onto the first end 2a and the second end 2b of the drain tile 2, and is open along the length of the drain tile 2 so as to be able to be positioned facing the joint or the crack and form a gutter to collect the water inflows that escape therefrom. In addition, the drain tile 2 includes two fastening wings 8 and 9 disposed on either side of the longitudinal channel 7 for positioning and fastening the drain tile 2 on the structure. Furthermore, the drain tile 2 comprises an area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack covering all or part of the longitudinal channel. The area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack is made of transparent material so that a visual inspection of the joint or of the crack can be performed through the drain tile 2, without removing it. Transparent material means a material having a light transmission coefficient greater than or equal to 75%. Preferably, the thickness of the visual inspection area is between 1 mm and 1 cm, more preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm. The area for visually inspecting the state makes it possible to assess the infiltration rate of the joint or of the crack, or to diagnose future pathologies. The transparency of the area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack makes it possible to detect clogging or scaling of the longitudinal channel 7 of the drain tile 2 and determine a potential need for maintenance. The visual inspection area makes it possible to consider the need for cleaning, for example by hydro-cleaning, the drain tiles 2 of the modular assembly 1 and by checking its effectiveness. It also makes it possible to consider the replacement of a drain tile 2. Preferably, the drain tile 2 comprises a material having fire resistance properties. Preferably, the drain tile 2 comprises a material having a reaction to fire class Ml according to the standard NF EN 13-501-1 on fire resistance and classification. This makes it possible for the modular assembly 1 to meet the regulations provided in terms of safety for underground structures. Preferably, the drain tile 2 comprises a material having corrosion resistance properties so that the modular assembly 1 can withstand salts or other corrosive conditions of the environment surrounding the underground structure. Preferably, the drain tile 2 comprises a material having electrical insulation properties in order to prevent the creation of electric arcs. According to one example of embodiment, the transparent material of the area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack may be made of plastic. According to one example of embodiment, the plastic of the area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack may be selected from polycarbonate or poly(vinyl chloride). Preferably, the poly(vinyl chloride) is a poly(vinyl chloride) modified to be fireproof, of reaction to fire Ml, for example by a method for fireproofing in the mass. Advantageously, the longitudinal channel 7 and the fastening wings 8 and 9 form a one-piece structure formed by the transparent material of the area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack. This makes it possible to facilitate the manufacture of the drain tile 2 while forming a visual inspection area. In addition, the transparency of the entire longitudinal channel 7 facilitates the visual inspection of the state of the joint or of the crack. The one-piece structure may be made of plastic, which facilitates the manufacture of the drain tile 2 and reduces the cost thereof. In addition, a drain tile 2 made of plastic has particularly advantageous mechanical resistance and corrosion resistance properties for an application in an underground space. A drain tile 2 made of plastic also has particularly advantageous electrical insulation properties for preventing the formation of electric arcs. According to one example, the drain tile 2 may be made of polycarbonate, particularly advantageous for its transparent character, as well as its mechanical resistance, corrosion resistance and reaction to fire Ml properties compatible with an application in an underground space. In addition, the polycarbonate can be deformed slightly to adapt to the convex surface of a tunnel or another underground space. The application of the modular assembly 1 is performed by installing a plurality of drain tiles 2 facing a joint or a crack of a structure, one after another. The number of drain tiles 2 can be adapted depending on the length of the joint or of the crack. In assembled position, the drain tiles form the modular assembly 1. In the example illustrated, the first end 2a of each drain tile 2 overlaps the second end 2b of an adjacent drain tile 2. Each drain tile is advantageously positioned on top of the next adjacent drain tile 2, partially overlapping it. So as to enable a partial overlap between adjacent drain tiles 2, the longitudinal channel 7 may include a section of increasing width between the first and second ends 2a and 2b of the drain tile 2. According to one alternative embodiment, the longitudinal channel 7 may include a section of increasing depth between the first and second ends 2a, 2b of the drain tile 2. According to another alternative embodiment, the longitudinal channel 7 may include a section of increasing width and / or of depth between the first and second ends 2a, 2b of the drain tile 2. In the example illustrated in Figure 2, the drain tile 2 is a one-piece structure and the longitudinal channel 7 has a U-section the ends of which open onto fastening wings 8 and 9. The modular assembly 1 further includes means for removably fastening the fastening wings 8 and 9 on the structure so as to fasten each drain tile 2 on either side of the joint or of the crack. The removable fastening means make it possible to remove a drain tile, a plurality of drain tiles 2, or even the entire modular assembly 1, in order to be able to rapidly and easily perform a maintenance step. Advantageously, means for removably fastening the fastening wings 8 and 9 on the structure comprise mechanical fastening means, such as for example screws or nails propelled by gas or powder. Such mechanical fastening means withstand the suction caused by the passage of a train in a tunnel. Advantageously, each drain tile 2 may comprise a set of holes for receiving the removable fastening means. In the example illustrated, each fastening wing 8, 9 includes two fastening holes 10,11 and 12,13. The modular assembly 1 can be applied rapidly on the structure and in a single phase, without needing setting time. It is therefore compatible with very restrictive applications in terms of time and organisation. When the drain tiles 2 are assembled and fastened to the structure, the plurality of longitudinal channels 7 positioned one after another form a water runoff path, channelling and diverting the water leaks from the joint or from the crack. Advantageously, the longitudinal channel 7 of each drain tile 2 opens onto the first end 2a and the second end 2b of the drain tile 2, such that when the drain tiles 2 are assembled, particularly according to an end-to-end configuration, the longitudinal channels 7 form a single continuous channel that forms the water runoff path. 5 In the example illustrated, two comers 5 and 6 of the second end 2b are right angles, and two comers 3 and 4 of the first end 2a each comprise an angle-cut. According to one example, the two comers 3 and 4 of the first end 2a comprise an angle-cut at 45°. Cutting the angles of the comers 3 and 4 of the first end 2a makes it possible to 10 remove each drain tile 2 by sliding, without affecting or damaging the adjacent drain tiles 2. Once the modular assembly 1 has been applied, the area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack makes it possible to rapidly inspect the joint or the crack without removing it. 15 A drain tile 2 of the modular assembly 1 may be easily removed in order to insert a hydro-cleaning nozzle in the runoff path formed by the assembly of longitudinal channels 7 so as to clean it in the event of clogging. 10 CXI 15 20 25 30

Claims

1. Drain tile for water inflows from a joint or from a crack positioned on a structure, comprising a longitudinal channel (7) extending between first and second ends (2a, 2b) of the drain tile (2) and intended to be positioned facing the joint or the crack, two fastening wings (8, 9) disposed on either side of the longitudinal channel (7) for positioning and fastening the drain tile (2) on the structure, and an area for visually inspecting the state of the joint or of the crack made of transparent material covering all or part of the longitudinal channel (7); wherein the longitudinal channel (7) includes a section of increasing width and / or of depth between the first and second ends (2a, 2b) of the drain tile (2).

2. Tile according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal channel (7) and the fastening wings (8, 9) form a one-piece structure formed by the transparent material.

3. Tile according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a material having fire resistance properties, preferably having a reaction to fire class Ml according to the standard NF EN 13-501-1 on fire resistance and classification.

4. Tile according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a material having corrosion resistance properties.

5. Tile according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transparent material is made of plastic.

6. Tile according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transparent material is polycarbonate.

7. Tile according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a generally parallelepiped shape including two corners (3, 4) on the first end (2a) and two corners (5, 6) on the second end (2b), the drain tile (2) comprising an angle-cut of the two comers (3, 4) of the first end (2b).

8. Modular assembly for draining water inflows from a joint or from a crack positioned on a structure, comprising:assembling a plurality of drain tiles (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, the drain tiles (2) being positioned one after another and assembled by partial overlap between two adjacent drain tiles (2), the assembly of longitudinal channels (7) of the plurality of drain tiles (2) forming a water runoff path, andremovable means for fastening the fastening wings (8, 9) on the structure.LO CXI9. Modular assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first end (2a) of each drain tile (2) overlaps at least partially the second end (2b) of an adjacent drain tile (2), each drain tile (2) being positioned on top of the next drain tile (2).

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