Method for protecting metal H-piling in underwater environments and protected H-piling

Claim 1

An improved protective corrosion retarding shield assembly for protecting ferrous metal piling having a generally H-shaped cross-section from corrosion in submerged marine environments comprising: a. a plurality of sheet-like plastic resin shield members having a contour conforming to the outer surface configuration of the H-piling for encompassing the surfaces of the pile in a circumferential close fitting layer of said shield members, b. a viscous corrosion resistant material upon the inner surfaces of the shield members and adapted to be sandwiched between the plastic shield members and the surface of the pile to intimately engage the inner surfaces of the shield members and the outer surfaces of the pile, said viscous material serving to exclude passage of water between said pile and said shield members as long as said shield members are securely clamped against the external surfaces of the pile, and c. a plurality of clamping members comprised of interengaging expanded plastic foam resin clamp sections having an internal surface configuration conforming to the outer surface configuration of the shield members, said internal surface configuration including pairs of spaced grooves for receiving the outer surfaces of the shield members which conform to the flanges of the H-pile and an internal contour between said grooves conforming to the outer surfaces of the portions of the shield members which conform on their internal surfaces to the web portion of the H-pile, for circumferential clamping at spaced intervals about the exterior of the shield members assembled about the surface of the pile and serving to maintain said shield members in a sealing relationship against the exterior surfaces of the pile in order to exclude water from passage between said shield members and said pile surface.