Bell hole box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11021847-B2
Application number	US-201716313745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2017
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A bell hole box with an open bottom for protecting construction workers from wall cave-in when working below a surface of the Earth may utilize two, opposing, generally concave walls with generally straight panels portions. The two walls may be connected using multiple spreaders that are pinned or connected to each of the two, opposing walls. Each longitudinal end of the bell hole box is open to permit passage of a pipeline through it. Numerous vertical guard posts may be connected around a top frame rail and joined together with chains. The bell hole box may be lifted in and out of a hole with mounted lifting hooks.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for protecting workers working on a pipeline down in a bell hole defined below a surface of the Earth, the apparatus comprising:
a first unitary and concave box wall;
a second unitary and concave box wall opposing the first unitary and concave box wall;
wherein the first unitary and concave box wall terminates in two end panels;
wherein the second unitary and concave box wall terminates in two end panels;
wherein the two end panels of the first unitary and concave box wall are parallel to the two end panels of the second unitary and concave box wall;
a first spreader connected between the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall;
a second spreader connected between the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall;
wherein the end panels of the first unitary and concave box wall are coplanar, and the end panels of the second unitary and concave box wall are coplanar;
wherein the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall are mirror images of each other;
wherein the first spreader and the second spreader permit passage of the pipeline thereunder;
wherein a longitudinal direction of both the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall is generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pipeline;
wherein a length of the first spreader and a length of the second spreader are equal, and the length of the first spreader and the second spreader is less than a distance defined between a midpoint of the first unitary and concave box wall and a midpoint of the second unitary and concave box wall;
wherein at least a portion of the first spreader contacts the first unitary and concave box wait and the second unitary and concave box wall;
wherein the first unitary and concave box wall is constructed of three straight panels positioned between and terminating in the two end panels of the first unitary and concave box wall;
wherein the second unitary and concave box wall is constructed of three straight panels positioned between and terminating in the two end panels of the second unitary and concave box wall;
a first spreader receiver assembly defining a hollow cavity, the first spreader receiver assembly attached to the first unitary and concave box wall;
a second spreader receiver assembly defining a hollow cavity, the second spreader receiver assembly attached to the second unitary and concave box wall, wherein at least a portion of the first spreader occupies the hollow cavity of the first spreader receiver assembly and at least a portion of the first spreader occupies the hollow cavity or the second spreader receiver assembly;
a third spreader receiver assembly defining a hollow cavity, the third spreader receiver assembly attached to the first unitary and concave box wall;
a fourth spreader receiver assembly defining a hollow cavity, the fourth spreader receiver assembly attached to the second unitary and concave box wall, wherein at least a portion of the second spreader occupies the hollow cavity of the third spreader receiver assembly and at least a portion of the second spreader occupies the hollow cavity or the fourth spreader receiver assembly;
wherein the first spreader and the second spreader are parallel;
wherein together, the first spreader, the second spreader, the first unitary and concave box wall, and the second unitary and concave box wall form an eight-sided structure;
wherein the eight-sided structure is an octagon;
a first spreader receiver assembly pin that completely passes through the first spreader receiver assembly and the first, spreader;
a second spreader receiver assembly pin that completely passes through the second spreader receiver assembly and the first spreader;
a third spreader receiver assembly pin that completely passes through the third spreader receiver assembly and the second spreader;
a fourth spreader receiver assembly pin that completely passes through the fourth spreader receiver assembly and the second spreader; and
a pointed tip along a bottom surface of the first unitary and concave box wall and the
second unitary and concave box wall for engaging an Earthen surface;
further comprising a first extended working space area defined between a plane of the coplanar end panels of the first unitary and concave box wall and the three straight panels of the first unitary and concave box wall; and
further comprising a second extended working space area defined between a plane of the coplanar end panels of the second unitary and concave box wall and the three straight panels of the second unitary and concave box wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first and said second unitary and concave box wall and said first and second spreaders form a first bell hole box; and
further comprising a second bell hole box stacked on top of said first bell hole box.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ladder in a first position that is not connected to the first or second unitary and concave box wall for protecting workers working below the surface of the Earth;
wherein the ladder in a second position is connectable to an interior surface of the first unitary and concave box wall or the second unitary and concave box wall; and
wherein a bottom of the ladder in the second position is movable to a swung-out position away from the first unitary and concave box wall or the second unitary and concave box wall.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first plurality of guard posts connected to a top surface of the first unitary and concave box wall;
a second plurality of guard posts connected to a top surface of the second unitary and concave box wall;
a first plurality of safety chains connected to the first plurality of guard posts; and
a second plurality of safety chains connected to the second plurality of guard posts.

5. An apparatus for protecting workers working on a pipeline down in a bell hole defined below a surface of the Earth, the apparatus comprising:
a first unitary and concave box wall;
a second unitary and concave box wall opposing the first unitary and concave box wall;
wherein the first unitary and concave box wall terminates in two end panels;
wherein the second unitary and concave box wall terminates in two end panels;
wherein the two end panels of the first unitary and concave box wall are parallel to the two end panels of the second unitary and concave box wall;
a first spreader connected between the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall; and
a second spreader connected between the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall;
wherein the end panels of the first unitary and concave box wall are coplanar, and the end panels of the second unitary and concave box wall are coplanar;
wherein the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall are mirror images of each other;
wherein the first spreader and the seconder spreader permit passage of the pipeline thereunder;
wherein a longitudinal direction of both the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall is generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pipeline;
wherein a length of the first spreader and a length of the second spreader are equal, and the length of the first spreader and the second spreader is less than a distance defined between a midpoint of the first unitary and concave box wall and a midpoint of the second unitary and concave box wall;
wherein at least a portion of the first spreader contacts the first unitary and concave box wall and the second unitary and concave box wall;
wherein the

Assignees

• Quanta Ass Lp
• Quanta Associates Lp

Inventors

• Burleson Michael Todd

Classifications

• E04G21/32

  Safety or protective measures for persons during the construction of buildings (relating to scaffolds E04G5/00; climbing tools, e.g. climbing irons for masts A63B27/00; ropes or belts for life saving A62B1/16, A62B35/00) · CPC title

• E02D29/045

  Underground structures, e.g. tunnels or galleries, built in the open air or by methods involving disturbance of the ground surface all along the location line; Methods of making them · CPC title

• E02D17/08 Primary

  Bordering or stiffening the sides of ditches {trenches} or narrow shafts for foundations · CPC title

• E06C1/34

  Ladders attached to structures, such as windows, cornices, poles, or the like ({E06C9/12 takes precedence}; ladders permanently fastened to buildings E06C9/00, {e.g. climbing irons E06C9/04}) · CPC title

• E02D17/02 Primary

  Foundation pits · CPC title