Europaisches Patentamt

European Patent Office

© Publication number: 0 390 932 B1
Office europeen des brevets

© EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

© Date of publication of patent specification: 06.07.94 © Int. CI.5: E21 B 17/08, E21B 1 7 / 0 0 ,
E21B 17/10, E21B 7 / 2 0 ,
© Application number: 89911082.9 //F16L1/00

@ Date of filing: 05.10.89

© International application number:

PCT/JP89/01022

© International publication number:

WO 90/04082 (19.04.90 90/09)

AN UNDERGROUND PIPE FOR A THRUST BORING METHOD AND A CONNECTING CONSTRUCTION

OF THE UNDERGROUND PIPE FOR THE SAME.

® Priority: 05.10.88 JP 251631/88 Osaka-shi Osaka 530(JP)

14.04.89 JP 144429/89 U
Proprietor: C.I. KASEI CO., LTD
@ Date of publication of application: 18-1 Kyobashi 1-chome
10.10.90 Bulletin 90/41 Chuo-ku Tokyo 104(JP)

© Publication of the grant of the patent: @ Inventor: SHIBAHARA, Shigeyoshi 223-87,

06.07.94 Bulletin 94/27 Ono Ritto-sho
Kurita-gun
© Designated Contracting States: Shiga 520-30(JP)
DE FR GB NL SE Inventor: MORIMOTO, Takahiro
8-52, Uryu
© References cited: Terado-cho
EP-A- 0 217 995 DE-A- 2 501 273 Muko-shi
DE-U- 8 535 786 GB-A- 200 303 Kyoto 617(JP)
GB-A- 1 517 872 GB-A- 2 141 161
US-A- 1 762 766 US-A- 2 211 223
US-A- 2 424 027 US-A- 3 049 832 © Representative: UEXKULL & STOLBERG Paten-
US-A- 3 981 359 US-A- 4 681 161 tanwalte
00 Beselerstrasse 4
© Proprietor: SEKISUI KAGAKU KOGYO D-22607 Hamburg (DE)
CM KABUSHIKI KAISHA
00
Oi 4-4 Nishitemma 2-chome
Kita-ku

CO
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person
may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition
shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee
has been paid (Art. 99(1) European patent convention).
Rank Xerox (UK) Business Services
(3. 10/3.09/3.3.3)
 EP 0 390 932 B1

Description

An underground pipe for a thrust boring method and a connecting construction of the underground pipe
for the same
5 The present invention relates to an underground pipe for a thrust boring method whereby the
underground pipe is thrust through the ground, one being connected to another, while boring a horizontal
tunnel through the ground, and to a connecting construction of the underground pipe for the thrust boring
method.
Underground pipes such as sewer pipes, water-supply pipes, cable protective pipes, etc., are installed
io using, for example, a thrust boring method. The thrust boring method, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Publication No. 58-120996, is such that a vertical hole is bored into the ground from the wall of
which a pipe having a drilling cutter at the forward end thereof is pushed into the ground to be thrust
through it in the horizontal direction for installation of the pipe while the drilling cutter is boring a horizontal
tunnel of a diameter slightly larger than that of the pipe. To the rear end of the pipe pushed into the ground,
75 a new pipe to be installed is connected and pushed into the ground to be thrust through the horizontal
tunnel.
The thrust boring method disclosed in the above Japanese Publication uses a pipe having a collar on
the end thereof facing opposite to the thrusting direction, the collar being used to connect the next pipe.
In the case of the underground pipe disclosed in the above Japanese Publication, since the collar has a
20 larger diameter than that of the pipe body excluding the collar, a large gap is created between the
horizontal tunnel and the outer surface of the pipe. Therefore, the soil in the tunnel may fall and accumulate
on the bottom of the tunnel while the pipe is being thrust therethrough. If the soil accumulates on the
bottom of the tunnel, the collar of the pipe that is pushed into the tunnel thereafter may override the soil,
causing the thrusting direction of the pipe to turn upward and resulting in a deviation from the desired
25 direction. This may also result in the bending of the pipe being thrust. Also, since a gap of the size
equivalent to the difference between the outer diameter of the collar and the outer diameter of the pipe is
left around the pipe installed underground, the ground may sink by the depth equivalent to the size of the
gap if the ground is not firm enough. In the case of using a pipe joint to join the pipes being thrust through
the tunnel, if the pipe joint has a larger diameter than that of the pipe, the same problem as mentioned
30 above will occur.
As a solution to such a problem, in the case of a thick wall pipe such as a Hume pipe, the outer
circumferential surface of the end portion of the pipe on which the collar is to be fitted may be ground down
to sufficient depth so as not to allow the collar fitted thereon to protrude outwardly beyond the outer surface
of the pipe body. However, in the case of a plastic pipe with a thin wall thickness such as a PVC pipe, the
35 outer circumferential surface of the end portion of the pipe on which the collar is to be fitted can only be
ground down to a maximum of 40% of its wall thickness if the strength of the end portion of the pipe on
which the collar is fitted is to be retained. Therefore, the thickness of the collar to be fitted on the ground
down end portion of the pipe should be, at maximum, approximately 40% of the wall thickness of the pipe if
the collar is not allowed to protrude beyond the outer circumferential surface of the pipe body. If the collar
40 is also made of synthetic resin like the pipe, the collar cannot be made sufficiently strong with this
thickness, and may break when the pipe is thrust into the ground. It can be considered to provide a collar
made of metal, or other material having excellent stiffness, with a separate construction from that of the
pipe. However, when such a metal collar is fitted onto the pipe made of synthetic resin, it is extremely
difficult to quickly bond them together for sufficient water tightness, and therefore, it is not possible to
45 employ such a construction for the underground pipe for the thrust boring method.
EP-A-0 217 995 discloses a device for drilling holes and a method for insertion and stabilization of
reinforcing tubes.
GB-A-200,303 discloses a drill of the percussive type comprising a separable bit and drill rod including
an intermediate member which is provided with bowed ridges forming channels therebetween for reaming
50 out the hole bored, for passing chips and other material and for strengthening the intermediate member.
US-A-2,424,027 discloses a centering device for an oil well casing having rigid projections spaced about
its periphery. This enables positively spacing or centering a casing in a well bore.
In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an underground pipe for a thrust boring method and a connecting construction of the underground
55 pipe for the thrust boring method, wherein there is no possibility of the thrusting direction being altered or
the pipe being bent because of the buildup of soil on the bottom of a horizontal tunnel when the pipe is
thrust through the tunnel, and also, the pipe itself is sufficiently strong so that no breakage will occur.

2
 EP 0 390 932 B1

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention relates to a connecting construction as claimed in claim 1 and to an underground pipe as
claimed in claim 12.
5 In a preferred embodiment, said underground pipe is made of synthetic resin, the difference between
the outer diameter of said underground pipe and the outer diameter of the fitting portion thereof being less
than approximately 40% of the wall thickness of the body of said underground pipe.
In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the portion of said collar where the projecting lines are not
formed is approximately equal to the difference between the outer diameter of the body of said under-
io ground pipe and the outer diameter of the fitting portion thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, each projecting line formed on said collar has a triangularly shaped cross
section.
In a preferred embodiment, the total cross sectional area of all the projecting lines formed on said collar
is within the range of 6 to 20% of the total cross sectional area of said collar.
is In a preferred embodiment, the projecting lines formed on said collar is approximately 50 or less in
number when counted in the circumferential direction of said collar.
In a preferred embodiment, each projecting line formed on said collar has a projecting height gradually
decreasing toward one end thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the projecting lines are formed discontinuously in the axial direction of said
20 collar, the breaks in the neighboring lines being offset from each other when viewed in the circumferential
direction of said collar.
In a preferred embodiment, the projecting lines disposed on said collar are formed in such a cross
sectional shape, when taken along the axial direction of said collar, as slopes down toward the ends with the
middle portion projecting upward.
25 In a preferred embodiment, the axially middle portion of said collar is provided with an inwardly
projecting protrusion against which the fitting portion fitted in said collar abuts.
In a preferred embodiment, the projecting lines are formed only on the lower half portion of said collar,
the outer surface of the upper half portion thereof protruding outwardly beyond the outer circumferential
surface of the pipe body.
30 The underground pipe for the thrust boring method according to the present invention is thrust one after
another through the ground, each connected to another along the thrusting direction, while boring a
horizontal tunnel through the ground, and comprises a plurality of projecting lines which are formed at least
on the lower half portion of the pipe body excluding the end portions to be connected and which extend
continuously or discontinuously in the axial direction of the pipe with suitable spacing provided there-
35 between in the circumferential direction of the pipe.
In a preferred embodiment, one end of said pipe is provided with an inserting section, the other end
thereof with a socket section into which the inserting section is inserted.
In a preferred embodiment, each end of said pipe is provided with a socket section, the socket sections
(of the pipes to be joined together) abutting against each other along the thrusting direction being fastened
40 together with a collar.
In a preferred embodiment, said projecting lines have a triangularly shaped cross section.
In a preferred embodiment, said projecting lines have a circularly shaped cross section.
In a preferred embodiment, said projecting lines are formed on both the upper and lower portions of the
pipe body.
45 In a preferred embodiment, said projecting lines are formed only on the lower half portion of the pipe
body.
In a preferred embodiment, said projecting lines are discontinuously formed in the axial direction of the
pipe, the breaks in the neighboring lines being offset from each other when viewed in the circumferential
direction of the pipe.
50 Thus, with the connecting construction of the underground pipe for the thrust boring method according
to the present invention, when the pipes joined with a collar is pushed through a horizontal tunnel, the soil
accumulated in the horizontal tunnel is caught into the space between the projecting lines formed on the
collar, thereby preventing the thrusting direction of the pipes from being appreciably altered upward.
Furthermore, the collar is provided with excellent flexural and compressive strength because of the
55 projecting lines formed thereon, and there is no possibility of the collar breaking when the pipes are pushed
through the ground.
Also, when the upper half portion of the collar is made thicker, in wall thickness without forming
projecting lines thereon, the collar will have further flexural and compressive strength, which will not only

3
 EP 0 390 932 B1

eliminate the possibility of the collar breaking when the pipes are pushed through the ground, but also
serve to sufficiently resist the bending force acting to cause the installed underground pipes to protrude
upwardly.
Furthermore, the underground pipe for the thrust boring method according to the present invention is so
5 constructed that if soil falls from the inner walls of the horizontal tunnel when the pipe is pushed through the
tunnel, the falling soil will be blocked by the projecting lines from falling down to the bottom of the tunnel,
thereby eliminating the possibility of the thrusting direction of the pipe being altered with the socket portion
or collar overriding the soil accumulated on the bottom of the tunnel. Moreover, since the body of the pipe
has a construction that gives excellent flexural and compressive strength because of the provision of the
io projecting lines, there is no possibility of the pipe breaking while being pushed through the ground.
This invention may be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become
apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings as follows:
Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of one example of the connecting construction of an underground pipe for
a thrust boring method according to the present invention.
is Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a thrust boring method using the connecting construction of the present
invention.
Fig. 4 is a front sectional view showing another example of the collar used in the connecting construction
of the underground pipe according the present invention.
20 Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the main part of still another example of the collar.
Figs. 6 and 7 are cross sectional views respectively illustrating the main parts of yet another different
examples of the collar.
Fig. 8 is a front sectional view of a still further example of the collar used in the connecting construction
of the present invention.
25 Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view showing one example of the underground pipe for the thrust boring
method according to the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a cross section view taken along the line X-X in Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a front sectional view of another example of the underground pipe of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of yet another example of the underground pipe of the present
30 invention.
Description will now be given dealing with the examples of the present invention.
The connecting construction of the underground pipe for the thrust boring method according to the
present invention is constituted of, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each end portion of a pair of underground
pipes 10 and 10 and a collar 20. Each pipe 10 is made, for example, of synthetic resin such as PVC, and
35 comprises fitting portions 11 provided at both ends thereof and a body 12 excluding the fitting portions 11
and having a uniform outer diameter. Each fitting portion 11 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the
pipe body 12. The pair of pipes 10 are joined together with the end faces of their fitting portions 11 abutting
against each other.
The collar 20 is also made of the same synthetic resin as that of the pipe 10, and is fitted around both
40 fitting portions 11 and 11 of the pair of joined pipes 10. Formed on the outer surface of the cylindrically
shaped body 21 of the collar 20 are numerous projecting lines 22, 22, ... projecting outwardly and extending
continuously in the axial direction with suitable spacing provided between them in the circumferential
direction. The wall thickness of the collar body 21 is equal to the difference between the outer diameter of
the pipe body 12 and the outer diameter of the fitting portion 11 so that the outer circumferential surface of
45 the collar body 21 does not protrude outwardly beyond the outer circumferential surface of the body 12 of
the pipe 10. On the other hand, the projecting lines 22 formed on the outer surface of the collar 20 protrude
outwardly beyond the outer circumferential surface of the body 12 of the pipe 10.
Each projecting line 22 has a cross section of a triangular shape gradually thinning toward its tip, and
the end of the projecting line 22 facing the thrusting direction is chamfered in a tapered shape.
50 The longitudinal length of the collar 20 is slightly shorter than the combined longitudinal length of the
two fitting portions 11 so as to allow their end faces to firmly abut against each other when joined together.
The installation of the underground pipes by the thrust boring method proceeds in the following manner.
First, as shown in Fig. 3, a vertical hole 30 is bored at each end of the distance along which the
underground pipes 10 are to be laid, and a driving machine such as a jack is placed in the vertical hole 30
55 at one end. In this situation, a leading pipe 43 with a drilling cutter 41 installed therein is pushed into the
ground from the wall of the vertical hole 30, and the fitting portion 11 at the forward end of the pipe 10 is
then fitted onto the leading pipe 43.
Next, the fitting portion at the rear end of the underground pipe 10 is coupled to the driving machine.

4
 EP 0 390 932 B1

In this situation, the drilling cutter 41 is put into operation, and the whole length of the leading pipe 43 is
pushed into the ground by the force of the driving machine. The drilling cutter 41 drills into the ground to
form a horizontal tunnel, while the driving machine pushes the leading pipe 43 into the thus formed
horizontal tunnel. When the leading pipe 43 is pushed in, the pipe 10 fitted on the leading pipe 43 is also
5 pushed in. The soil excavated by the drilling cutter 41 is discharged into the vertical hole 30 by means of a
screw conveyer 42 installed inside the pipe 10. The outer surface of the body 12 of the pipe 10 that is
being thrust through the horizontal tunnel moves in a sliding way along the inner surface of the horizontal
tunnel.
When the pipe 10 has been pushed into the horizontal tunnel leaving the fitting portion 11 at its rear
io end exposing outside the tunnel, the collar 20 is fitted onto the fitting portion 11. At this time, the collar 20
is fitted onto the fitting portion 11 in such a way that the tapered end of each of the projecting lines 22
formed thereon faces the thrusting direction. Then, the fitting portion 11 at the forward end of the next pipe
10 is fitted into the collar 20 to be joined to the first pipe 10. At this time, the fitting portion 11 of each of the
pipes 10 is bonded to the collar 20 with an adhesive to provide a water-tight seal. The pipe 10 thus joined
is to the first pipe 10 is then pushed into and thrust through the horizontal tunnel by means of the driving
machine. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, pipes 10 are joined together and pushed
through the horizontal tunnel one after another till the pipeline of the specified length is installed.
The connection of the pipes is not limited to the above mentioned procedure. Alternatively, a pipe with
the collar 20 already bonded to its rear end may be pushed into the ground, the next pipe then being fitted
20 into and bonded to the collar 20.
When the pipes 10 joined together with the collar 20 are thrust through the horizontal tunnel, if soil is
accumulated on the bottom of the tunnel, the soil will be caught into the space between the projecting lines
22 formed on the collar 20, thereby preventing the thrusting direction of the collar 20 from being altered
upward.
25 The wall thickness t (see Fig. 2) of the body 21 of the collar 20 should be approximately equal to the
difference between the outer diameter of the body 12 of the pipe 10 and the outer diameter of the fitting
portion 11. The difference should be less than approximately 40% of the wall thickness of the pipe body 12
if the pipe 10 is made of synthetic resin such as PVC. If the difference between the wall thickness of the
pipe body 12 and the wall thickness of the fitting portion 11 becomes greater than that mentioned above,
30 the wall thickness of the fitting portion 11 will not be sufficient and the fitting portion 11 may buckle when
the pipes 10 are thrust through the horizontal tunnel. Therefore, the wall thickness t of the collar body 21
should be approximately 40% of the wall thickness of the body 12 of the pipe 10. For example, in the case
of a PVC pipe VU250, the wall thickness t should be 8.4 mm x 0.4 = 3.5 mm, approximately.
Since the projecting lines 22 formed on the collar 20 serve to enhance the axial strength of the whole
35 construction of the collar 20, there is no possibility of the collar 20 breaking when the pipes 10 with the
collar 20 fitted on the fitting portions thereof are thrust through the horizontal tunnel. The number of the
projecting lines 22, the spacing to be provided therebetween etc., are so determined as to provide sufficient
axial strength to the collar 20.
The total cross sectional area of the projecting lines 22 formed on the collar 20 and having a
40 triangularly shaped cross section should be within the range of 6 to 20% of the total cross sectional area of
the whole construction of the collar 20.
The dimensional ratio of the circumferential spacing (pitch) between the projecting lines to the width of
the base of the projecting lines 22 should be within the range of 1:1 to 3:1. If the base width of the
projecting lines 22 is made narrower and the height higher, synthetic resin shrinkage (distortion caused in
45 the resin when released from the mold) and other problems will result when the collar 20 is injection-
molded. The number of the parallel projecting lines 22 as counted in the circumferential direction of the
collar 20 is so determined as to provide the specified strength to the collar 20, as mentioned above. A
greater number of the projecting lines 22, if provided on the collar 20, may cause its thrusting direction to
be altered upward because of the soil accumulated on the bottom of the horizontal tunnel when the collar
50 20 and the underground pipes 10 joined together are thrust through the tunnel. As a result, the installed
underground pipes 10 will be caused to curve in such a way as to protrude upwardly. The inventors of the
present invention conducted an experiment to examine the relationship between the number of the parallel
projecting lines 22 as counted in the circumferential direction of the collar 20 and the amount of deflection
of the installed underground pipes. In this experiment, PVC pipes VU250 were used as the underground
55 pipes. The projecting lines 22 on the collar 20 were triangular in cross section, the height being
approximately equal to 40% (approximately 3.5 mm) of the wall thickness the body 12 of the underground
pipe 10 and the width approximately D/2 Sin 6° with respect to the outer diameter D of the underground
pipe. The condition of the soil in which the underground pipes were laid was a sandy soil containing

5
 EP 0 390 932 B1

volcanic ashes, the N value being 15 to 20, and the underground pipes were laid with the top surface
thereof positioned 4.5 m below the ground surface. The groundwater level was 1.8 m below the ground
surface. The pipes were installed by the thrust boring method using collars having 60, 40, and 30 projecting
lines, respectively, and the amount of deflection of the installed underground pipes was measured at
5 intervals of 10 m along the length of 50 m. The results obtained are shown in Table 1. As a point of
reference, Table 1 also shows the measured results of the amount of deflection of the pipes which were
installed by the thrust boring method using a cylindrically shaped collar having a larger outer diameter than
that of the installed pipe body as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 58-120966. In the
Table, the sign "-" indicates that the experiment was discontinued.
10
Table 1

Number of projecting lines on collar Thrusting length

10m 20 m 30 m 40 m 50 m
60 20 mm 25 mm 50 mm
40 15 mm 20 mm 20 mm 26 mm
30 5 mm 5 mm 10 mm 10 mm 15 mm
Prior art (Laid-Open Publication 58-120996) 15 mm 45 mm

As is apparent from the above results, the desired number of the projecting lines formed on the collar is
approximately 50 or less.
The spacing between the projecting lines 22 does not have to be equal, and, as shown in Fig. 4, a pair
of projecting lines 22b and 22b each triangular in cross section may be formed closely adjacent to each
other without spacing provided in the circumferential direction of the collar. Furthermore, the projecting lines
22 do not have to be continuously formed in the axial direction of the collar, but may be discontinuously
formed in the axial direction thereof as shown in Fig. 5. In this case, if the projecting lines 22 are disposed
in such a way that the breaks in the neighboring lines are offset from each other when viewed in the
circumferential direction of the collar, the flexural strength of the collar does not drop. Also, as shown in Fig.
6, the projecting lines 22 may be formed in such a cross sectional shape, when taken along the axial
direction of the collar 20, as slopes down toward the ends with the middle portion projecting most
outwardly. Further, as shown in Fig. 7, an annular protrusion 21a against which the end face of the fitting
portion 11 of each of the pipes 10 abuts may be provided on the inner circumferential surface in the middle
part of the collar body 21. In the above embodiment, the cross sectional shape of the projecting lines 22 is
triangular, but the shape is not limited to a triangle, but may be semicircular, semiellipsoidal, rectangular,
etc.
Also, a collar having the construction shown in Fig. 8 may be used in the connecting construction of the
underground pipe of the present invention. The lower half portion 51b of the body 51 of the collar 50 has a
wall thickness equal to the difference between the outer diameter of the body 12 of the pipe 10 and the
outer diameter of the fitting portion 11, as in the case of the collar 20 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is
provided with outwardly projecting and axially extending numerous projecting lines 52, 52, ... with suitable
spacing provided therebetween. The upper half portion 51a of the collar body 51 has a uniform wall
thickness equal to the wall thickness of the lower half portion 51b plus the height of the projecting lines 52
formed on the lower half portion 51b. Therefore, when the collar 50 is fitted on the fitting portion 11 of the
pipe 10, the outer surface of the upper half portion 51a of the collar body 51 protrudes outwardly beyond
the outer surface of the body 12 of the pipe 10. The upper half portion 51a of the collar body 51 is
chamfered in a tapered shape at its end portion facing the thrusting direction.
When the pipes 10 are installed by the thrust boring method using the above mentioned collar 50, the
soil accumulated on the bottom of the horizontal tunnel is caught into the space between the projecting
lines 52 formed on the lower half portion 51b of the body 51 of the collar 50, thereby preventing the
thrusting direction of the underground pipes 10 from being altered upward. Furthermore, the thick wall
thickness in the upper half of the collar 50 provides greater flexural strength to the collar 50. As a result, the
installed underground pipes are prevented from curving in such a way as to protrude upwardly. The number
of the projecting lines 52 formed on the collar 50 should be approximately equal to that of the projecting
lines 22 formed on the lower half of the previously mentioned collar 20. Also, the shape, dimensions, etc., of
the projecting lines 52 should be the same as those described with reference to the foregoing example of

6
 EP 0 390 932 B1

the collar 20.

In the above example, the description has been dealing with the pipes and collars made of plastic, but
the present invention is not restricted to the plastic pipes and collars. Pipes of cast iron, concrete, or other
materials may be connected using a collar of cast iron, concrete, or other materials.
5
Example 2

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the underground pipe 60 for the thrust boring method according to the
present invention is made, for example, of synthetic resin such as PVC and comprises an inserting section
io 62 provided at one end thereof, a socket section 63 provided at the other end, and a pipe body 61
excluding the inserting section 62 and the socket section 63. Formed on the outer surface of the pipe body
61 are a plurality of projecting lines 64 molded integrally with the pipe body 61 and extending in the axial
direction of the pipe with equal spacing provided therebetween in the circumferential direction of the pipe.
Each projecting line 64 has a cross section of a triangular shape gradually thinning toward its tip, and is
is continuously formed on the outer surface of the pipe body 61 along the entire longitudinal direction of the
pipe. The tip of each projecting line 64 is positioned on a circle having a diameter approximately equal to or
slightly larger than the inner diameter of the horizontal tunnel through which the underground pipes 60 are
pushed.
The inner and outer diameters of the inserting section 62 are respectively equal to the inner and outer
20 diameters of the portion of the pipe body 61 between the projecting lines 64, and the inserting section 62 is
provided continuously with the pipe body 61.
The socket section 63 provided at the other end of the pipe body 61 has an outer diameter equal to the
diameter of the circle on which the tip of each projecting line 64 formed on the outer surface of the pipe
body 61 is positioned, and is provided with a tapered surface 63a gradually sloping down toward the pipe
25 body 61 to connect continuously with the outer surface of the pipe body 61. The inner surface of the socket
section 63 is formed so that approximately the entire length of the inserting section 62 at the other end of
the pipe body 61 can be inserted, and at the innermost end of the socket section 63, a step is formed
against which the end face of the inserting section 62 abuts.
The underground pipes of this example are installed by the thrust boring method in the same manner
30 as the underground pipes of the foregoing example. As shown in Fig. 3, a leading pipe 43 with a drilling
cutter 41 installed therein is pushed into the ground horizontally from the wall of a vertical hole 30, and the
inserting section 62 at one end of the underground pipe 60 is fitted into the leading pipe 43.
Then, the socket section 63 provided at the other end of the underground pipe 60 is coupled to a
driving machine (not shown).
35 In this situation, the drilling cutter 41 is put into operation, and the whole length of the leading pipe 43 is
pushed into the ground by the force of the driving machine. The drilling cutter 41 drills into the ground to
form a horizontal tunnel, while the driving machine pushes the leading pipe 43 into the thus formed
horizontal tunnel. When the leading pipe 43 is pushed in, the underground pipe 60 inserted in and fitted to
the leading pipe 43 is also pushed in. The soil excavated by the drilling cutter 41 is discharged into the
40 vertical hole 30 by means of a screw conveyer 42 installed inside the underground pipe 60. The
underground pipe 60 is thrust through the horizontal tunnel, the tip of each projecting line 64 formed on the
outer surface of the pipe body 61 moving in such a way as to slide along the inner surface of the horizontal
tunnel.
When the underground pipe 60 is thrust through the horizontal tunnel, soil falls from the walls of the
45 tunnel into the gap between the walls of the tunnel and the outer surface of the pipe body 61, but the
projecting lines 64 that contact slidingly with the walls of the tunnel serve to block the soil from falling
further down, thereby preventing the soil from accumulating on the bottom of the tunnel.
When the pipe 60 has been inserted into the horizontal tunnel leaving the socket section 63 at its rear
end exposing outside the tunnel, the inserting section 62 of the next underground pipe 60 of the same
50 shape as the first underground pipe 60 already pushed into the tunnel is inserted into the socket section 63
for joining together. At this time, the socket section 63 of the first underground pipe 60 and the inserting
section 62 of the next underground pipe 60 inserted into the socket section 63 are bonded together with an
adhesive to provide a water-tight seal. The pipe 60 thus joined to the first pipe 60 is then pushed into and
thrust through the horizontal tunnel by means of the driving machine. Thereafter, in the same manner as
55 described above, pipes 60 are joined together and pushed through the horizontal tunnel one after another
till the pipeline of the specified length is installed.
The cross sectional shape of each projecting line 64 formed on the outer surface of the body 61 of the
pipe 60 is not limited to a triangle, but may be circular, for example, as shown in Fig. 11. The cross

7
 EP 0 390 932 B1

sectional shape may also be quadrangular, semicircular, hollow circular, etc.

The projecting lines 64 do not have to be disposed on the entire circumferential surface of the pipe
body, but may only be formed at least on the lower half thereof. Further, each projecting line 64 does not
have to be formed continuously along the entire longitudinal length of the pipe body 61, but may be formed
5 discontinuously along the entire longitudinal length of the pipe body 61, for example, with the discontinu-
ously formed lines offset from each other in the middle port of the pipe body 61 when viewed in the
circumferential direction of the pipe. Also, the projecting lines 64 do not have to be molded integrally with
the pipe body 61 from the same material, but projecting lines 64 made of different material from that of the
pipe body 61 may be fixed with an adhesive or the like to the pipe body made, for example, of glass fiber
io reinforced plastic.
Furthermore, the underground pipe of the present invention is not limited to the construction of the
above example in which the pipe body 61 has the inserting section 62 provided at one end thereof and the
socket section 63 at the other end, but may be so constructed as to have the inserting section 62 at each
end thereof as shown in Fig. 12. In this case, as shown in Fig. 12, a cylindrically shaped collar 70 produced
is separately from the underground pipe 60 is used to connect the underground pipes 60 together. The collar
70 has an outer diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the circle on which the tip of each
projecting line 64 formed on the outer surface of the pipe body 61 is positioned, and an inner diameter
approximately equal to or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the inserting section 62 so as to allow
the insertion of the inserting section 62 of the underground pipe 60. The longitudinal length of the collar 70
20 is determined so that the inserting sections 62 are inserted into the collar 70 and abut against each other in
the center of the collar 70 with part of each inserting section 62 exposed from the collar 70.
As in the case of the above example, the underground pipes of such construction are installed in such a
way that the collar 70 is fitted onto the inserting section 62 at the rear end of the first underground pipe 60
already pushed into the horizontal tunnel, the inserting section 62 of the next underground pipe 60 then
25 being inserted for joining together. The collar 70 may be previously fitted onto the rear end of the
underground pipe 60.
In the above example also, the description has been dealing with the underground pipes made of
synthetic resin, but the material to be used is not limited to synthetic resin. For example, cast iron or
concrete may be used for the underground pipes.
30
Claims

1. A connecting construction for connecting underground pipes (10, 60) that are installed by a thrust
boring method by which the underground pipes are thrust one after another through the ground, one
35 being connected to another by means of a collar (20, 50) along the thrusting direction, while boring a
horizontal tunnel for themselves through the ground, said connecting construction being provided on
each end of the underground pipe (10, 60) where it is joined to the end of another underground pipe,
and comprising a fitting portion having an outer diameter smaller than a given outer diameter of the
body of the pipe (10, 60) excluding each end portion thereof, and the collar (20, 50) fitted around the
40 fitting portions of the connected pipes, characterized in that the collar (20, 50) has numerous projecting
lines (22, 52) projecting outwardly beyond the outer circumferential surface of the body (12, 61) of each
pipe (10, 60) and extending continuously or discontinuously in the axial direction of the pipe with
suitable spacing provided therebetween in the circumferential direction of the pipe (10, 60).

45 2. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein said underground pipe (10) is made of
synthetic resin, the difference between the outer diameter of said underground pipe (10) and the outer
diameter of the fitting portion (11) thereof being less than approximately 40% of the wall thickness of
the body of said underground pipe (10).

50 3. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein the thickness (t) of the portion of said collar
(20) where the projecting lines (22) are not formed is approximately equal to the difference between the
outer diameter of the body of said underground pipe (10) and the outer diameter of the fitting portion
(11) thereof.

55 4. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein each projecting line (22) formed on said collar
(20) has a triangularly shaped cross section.

8
 EP 0 390 932 B1

5. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein the total cross sectional are of all the
projecting lines (22) formed on said collar (20) is within the range of 6 to 20% of the total cross
sectional area of said collar.

5 6. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein the projecting lines (22) formed on said collar
(20) is approximately 50 or less in number when counted in the circumferential direction of said collar.

7. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein each projecting line (22) formed on said collar
(20) has a projecting height gradually decreasing toward one end thereof.
10
8. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein the projecting lines (22) are formed discontinu-
ously in the axial direction of said collar (20), the breaks in the neighboring lines being offset from each
other when viewed in the circumferential direction of said collar.

is 9. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein the projecting lines (22) disposed on said
collar (20) are formed in such a cross sectional shape, when taken along the axial direction of said
collar (20), as slopes down toward the ends with the middle portion projecting upward.

10. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein the axially middle portion of said collar (20) is
20 provided with an inwardly projecting protrusion (21a) against which the fitting portion (11) fitted in said
collar abuts.

11. A connecting construction according to claim 1, wherein the projecting lines (52) are formed only on the
lower half portion (51b) of said collar (50), the outer surface of the upper half portion (51a) thereof
25 protruding outwardly beyond the outer circumferential surface of the pipe body (12).

12. An underground pipe for a thrust boring method by which sections of said pipe (60) are thrust one after
another through the ground, each connected to another along the thrusting direction while boring a
horizontal tunnel through the ground, said underground pipe (60) comprising a plurality of projecting
30 lines (64) which are formed at least on the lower half portion of the pipe body (61) excluding the end
portions to be connected and which extend continuously or discontinuously in the axial direction of the
pipe with suitable spacing provided therebetween in the circumferential direction of the pipe, and
wherein one end of each section of said pipe (60) is provided with an inserting section (62), the other
end thereof with a socket section (63) into which the inserting section (62) of an adjacent pipe section is
35 inserted characterized in that the outer diameter of the socket section (63) of each pipe section is equal
to the diameter of the circle on which the tip of each projecting line (64) formed on the outer surface of
the pipe section body (61) is positioned.

13. An underground pipe according to claim 12, wherein each end of said pipe section (60) is provided with
40 an inserting section (62), the sections (of the pipes to be joined together) abutting against each other
along the thrusting direction being fastened together with a collar (70).

14. An underground pipe according to claim 12, wherein said projecting lines (64) have a triangularly
shaped cross section.
45
15. An underground pipe according to claim 12, wherein said projecting lines (64) have a circularly shaped
cross section.

16. An underground pipe according to claim 12, wherein said projecting lines (64) are formed on both the
50 upper and lower portions of the pipe body (61).

17. An underground pipe according to claim 12, wherein said projecting lines (64) are formed only on the
lower half portion of the pipe body.

55 18. An underground pipe according to claim 12, wherein said projecting lines (64) are discontinuously
formed in the axial direction of the pipe (60), the breaks in the neighboring lines being offset from each
other when viewed in the circumferential direction of the pipe (60).

9
 EP 0 390 932 B1

Patentanspruche

1. Verbindungskonstruktion fur das Verbinden unterirdischer Rohre (10, 60), die mit Hilfe eines Vortrieb-
Bohrverfahrens installiert werden, durch welches die Rohre nacheinander durch den Boden vorgetrie-
5 ben werden, wobei sie miteinander mit Hilfe eines Bundes (20, 50) entlang der Vortriebsrichtung
verbunden werden, wahrend ein horizontaler Tunnel fur diese durch die Erde gebohrt wird, wobei diese
Verbindungskonstruktion an jedem Ende des unterirdischen Rohrs (10, 60) vorgesehen ist, wo sie mit
dem Ende eines anderen unterirdischen Rohrs verbunden wird und ein Befestigungsteil umfaBt, das
einen AuBendurchmesser hat, der kleiner als ein gegebener AuBendurchmesser des Korpers des Rohrs
io (10, 60), jedes Endteil davon ausgeschlossen, hat und wobei der Bund (20, 50) urn die Befestigungstei-
le der verbundenen Rohre herum angebaut wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daB der Bund (20, 50)
vorstehende Linien (22, 52) hat, die nach auBen uber die auBere Umfangsflache des Korpers (12, 61)
jedes Rohrs (10, 60) hinaus vorstehen und sich kontinuierlich oder diskontinuierlich in der axialen
Richtung des Rohrs erstrecken, wobei ein geeigneter Abstand dazwischen in der Umfangsrichtung des
is Rohrs (10, 60) vorgesehen ist.

2. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei das unterirdische Rohr (10) aus einem synthetischen
Harz hergestellt ist, wobei die Differenz zwischen dem AuBendurchmesser des unterirdischen Rohrs
(10) und dem AuBendurchmesser des Befestigungsteils (11) davon kleiner als ungefahr 40 % der
20 Wanddicke des Korpers des unterirdischen Rohrs (10) ist.

3. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Dicke (t) des Teils des Bundes (20), wo die
vorstehenden Linien (22) nicht gebildet sind, ungefahr gleich der Differenz zwischen dem AuBendurch-
messer des Korpers des unterirdischen Rohrs (10) und dem AuBendurchmesser des Befestigungsteils
25 (11) davon ist.

4. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei jede vorstehende Linie (22), die an dem Bund (20)
gebildet ist, einen Querschnitt von Dreiecksform hat.

30 5. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Gesamtquerschnittsflache aller vorstehenden

Linien (22), die an dem Bund (20) gebildet sind, innerhalb des Bereichs von 6 bis 20 % der
Gesamtquerschnittsflache des Bundes ist.

6. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei die an dem Bund (20) gebildeten vorstehenden Linien
35 (22) der Zahl nach ungefahr 50 oder kleiner ist, gezahlt in der Umfangsrichtung des Bundes.

7. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei jede an dem Bund (20) gebildete vorstehende Linie
(22) eine vorstehende Hohe hat, die allmahlich zu einen Ende davon hin abnimmt.

40 8. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei die vorstehenden Linien (22) diskontinuierlich in der
axialen Richtung des Bundes (20) gebildet sind, wobei die Unterbrechungen bei den benachbarten
Linien gegeneinander versetzt sind, wenn man in der Umfangsrichtung des Bundes sieht.

9. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei die an jedem Bund (20) angeordneten vorstehenden
45 Linien (22) in einer solchen Querschnittsform entlang der axialen Richtung des Bundes (20) gebildet
sind, daB sie zu den Enden hin abfallen, wobei der mittlere Teil nach oben vorsteht.

10. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei der axial mittlere Teil des Bundes (20) mit einem
nach innen vorstehenden Vorsprung (21a) versehen ist, gegen welchen das Befestigungsteil (11), das in
50 den Bund eingesetzt ist, stumpf stoBt.

11. Verbindungskonstruktion nach Anspruch 1, wobei die vorstehenden Linien (52) nur an der unteren
Halfte (51b) des Bundes (50) ausgebildet sind, wobei die AuBenseite der oberen Halfte (51a) davon
nach auBen uber die auBere Umfangsflache des Rohrkorpers (12) hinaus vorsteht.
55
12. Unterirdisches Rohr fur ein Vortrieb-Bohrverfahren, durch welches Abschnitte des Rohrs (60) nachein-
ander durch die Erde vorgetrieben werden, welche jeweils miteinander entlang der Vortriebrichtung
verbunden werden, wahrend ein horizontaler Tunnel durch die Erde gebohrt wird, wobei dieses

10
 EP 0 390 932 B1

unterirdische Rohr (60) eine Vielzahl vorstehender Linien (64) umfaBt, welche zumindest an der oberen
Halfte des Rohrkorpers (61) ausschlieBlich der zu verbindenden Endteile ausgebildet sind und welche
sich kontinuierlich oder diskontinuierlich in der axialen Richtung des Rohrs erstrecken, wobei ein
geeigneter Abstand dazwischen in der Umfangsrichtung des Rohrs vorgesehen ist und wobei ein Ende
5 jedes Abschnitts des Rohrs (60) mit einem Einsetzabschnitt (62) und das andere Ende davon mit einem
Hulsenabschnitt (63) versehen ist, in welchen der Einsetzabschnitt (62) eines angrenzenden Rohrab-
schnitts eingesetzt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daB der AuBendurchmesser des Hulsenabschnitts
(63) jedes Rohrabschnitts gleich dem Durchmesser des Kreises ist, auf welchem die Spitze jeder
vorstehenden Linie (64), die an der AuBenseite des Rohrabschnittskorpers (61) ausgebildet ist, liegt.
10
13. Unterirdisches Rohr nach Anspruch 12, wobei jedes Ende des Rohrabschnitts (60) mit einem Einsetz-
abschnitt (62) versehen ist, wobei die Abschnitte (der miteinander zu verbindenden Rohre), die stumpf
gegeneinander entlang der Vortriebsrichtung stoBen, mit einem Bund (70) miteinander befestigt werden.

is 14. Unterirdisches Rohr nach Anspruch 12, wobei die vorstehenden Linien (64) einen dreieckigen Quer-
schnitt haben.

15. Unterirdisches Rohr nach Anspruch 12, wobei die vorstehenden Linien (64) einen kreisformigen
Querschnitt haben.
20
16. Unterirdisches Rohr nach Anspruch 12, wobei die vorstehenden Linien (64) sowohl am oberen als auch
am unteren Teil des Rohrkorpers (61) ausgebildet sind.

17. Unterirdisches Rohr nach Anspruch 12, wobei die vorstehenden Linien (64) nur an der unteren Halfte
25 des Rohrkorpers ausgebildet sind.

18. Unterirdisches Rohr nach Anspruch 12, wobei die vorstehenden Linien (64) diskontinuierlich in der
axialen Richtung des Rohrs (60) ausgebildet sind, wobei die Unterbrechungen bei benachbarten Linien,
in der Umfangsrichtung des Rohr (60) gesehen, gegeneinander versetzt sind.
30
Revendicatlons

1. Une structure de raccordement pour raccorder des conduites ou tuyaux souterrains (10, 60) qui sont
installes par un procede de forage par poussee par lequel les tuyaux souterrains sont enfonces I'un
35 apres I'autre a travers le sol, I'un etant raccorde a I'autre au moyen d'un collier (20, 50) dans le sens
de la poussee tout en forant un tunnel horizontal a travers le sol pour eux-memes, la dite structure de
raccordement etant prevue a chaque extremite du tuyau souterrain (10, 60) ou elle est raccordee a
I'extremite d'un autre tuyau souterrain, et comprenant une section d'assemblage ayant un diametre
exterieur plus petit qu'un diametre exterieur du corps du tuyau (10, 60) qui exclut chaque extremite de
40 celui-ci, et le collier (20, 50) ajuste autour des sections d'assemblage des tuyaux raccordes, caracterise
en ce que le collier (20, 50) possede de nombreuses nervures (22, 52) formant saillie vers I'exterieur
au-dessus de la surface circonferentielle exterieure du corps (12, 61) de chaque tuyau (10, 60) et
s'etendant de fagon continue ou discontinue dans la direction axiale du tuyau avec un espace
convenable prevu entre elles dans la direction de la circonference du tuyau (10, 60).
45
2. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le dit tuyau souterrain (10) est
fait de resine synthetique, la difference entre le diametre exterieur du dit tuyau souterrain (10) et le
diametre exterieur de la section d'assemblage (11) de celui-ci etant inferieure a environ 40 % de
I'epaisseur de la paroi du corps du dit tuyau souterrain (10).
50
3. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle I'epaisseur (t) de la partie du dit
collier (20) ou les nervures (22) ne sont pas formees est approximativement egale a la difference entre
le diametre exterieur du corps du dit tuyau souterrain (10) et le diametre exterieur de la section
d'assemblage (11) de celui-ci.
55
4. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle chaque nervure (22) formee sur
le dit collier (20) a une section transversale de forme triangulaire.

11
 EP 0 390 932 B1

5. Une structure de raccordement la revendication 1, dans laquelle la surface totale de la coupe

transversale de toutes les nervures (22) formees sur le dit collier (20) est comprise dans I'intervalle de
6 a 60 % de la surface totale de la section transversale du dit collier.

5 6. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les nervures (22) formees sur le
dit collier (20) sont au nombre de 50 environ ou moins quand on les compte dans la direction de la
circonference du dit collier.

7. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle chaque nervure (22) formee sur
io le dit collier (20) a une hauteur de saillie qui decrolt graduellement vers une extremite de celui-ci.

8. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les nervures (22) sont formees
de fagon discontinue dans la direction de I'axe du dit collier (20), les ruptures de deux nervures
voisines etant decalees I'une par rapport a I'autre quand on les regarde dans la direction de la
is circonference du dit collier.

9. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les nervures (22) disposees sur
le dit collier (20) sont formees de fagon telle que la forme de la section longitudinale, prise dans I'axe
du dit collier (20), a une pente descendante vers les extremites, la partie centrale faisant saillie vers le
20 haut.

10. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la portion mediane axialement
du dit collier (20) est munie d'une nervure saillant vers I'interieur (21a) contre laquelle vient buter la
section d'assemblage (11) assujettie au dit collier.
25
11. Une structure de raccordement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les nervures (52) sont unique-
ment formees sur la moitie inferieure (51b) du dit collier (50), la surface exterieure de la moitie
superieure (51a) de celui-ci depassant vers I'exterieur au-dessus de la surface circonferentielle
exterieure du corps du tuyau (12).
30
12. Une conduite souterraine adaptee a un procede de forage par poussee par lequel des sections de la
dite canalisation (60) sont poussees I'une apres I'autre a travers le sol, chacune etant raccordee a
I'autre dans le sens de la poussee, tout en forant un tunnel horizontal a travers le sol, la dite conduite
souterraine (60) comprenant une pluralite de nervures (64) qui sont formees au moins sur la moitie
35 inferieure du corps du tuyau (61) a I'exception des parties d'extremites qui doivent etre raccordees et
qui s'etendent de fagon continue ou discontinue dans la direction axiale de la conduite, un espace
convenable etant prevu entre elles dans la direction de la circonference de la conduite, et dans laquelle
une extremite de chaque section de la dite conduite (60) est munie d'une section d'assemblage male
(62), I'autre extremite de celle-ci d'une section d'assemblage femelle (63) dans laquelle la section
40 d'assemblage male (62) d'une section adjacente de conduite est introduite, caracterisee en ce que le
diametre exterieur de la section d'assemblage femelle (63) de chaque section de conduite est egal au
diametre du cercle par lequel passe I'extremite de chaque nervure (64) formee sur la surface exterieure
du corps de section de conduite (61).

45 13. Une conduite souterraine selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle chaque extremite de la dite section
de conduite (60) est munie d'une section d'assemblage male (62), les sections (des conduites devant
etre assemblees) qui viennent buter I'une contre I'autre le long de la direction de la poussee etant
assemblees au moyen d'un collier (70).

50 14. Une conduite souterraine selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle les dites nervures (64) ont une
section transversale de forme triangulaire.

15. Une conduite souterraine selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle les dites nervures (64) ont une
section transversale de forme circulaire.
55
16. Une conduite souterraine selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle les dites nervures (64) sont formees a
la fois sur les parties superieure et inferieure du corps de la conduite (61).

12
 EP 0 390 932 B1

17. Une conduite souterraine selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle les dites nervures (64) sont formees
uniquement sur la moitie inferieure du corps de la conduite.

18. Une conduite souterraine selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle les dites nervures (64) sont formees
de fagon discontinue dans la direction axiale de la conduite (60), les ruptures de deux nervures
voisines etant decalees I'une par rapport a I'autre quand on les regarde dans le sens de la
circonference de la conduite (60).

13
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EP 0 390 932 B1

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 EP 0 390 932 B1

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