CA2051348A1

CA2051348A1 - Mortarless retaining wall

Info

Publication number: CA2051348A1
Application number: CA002051348A
Authority: CA
Inventors: D. Thomas Borcherdt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-09-13
Filing date: 1991-09-13
Publication date: 1992-03-14
Also published as: US5145288A

Abstract

ABSTRACT The invention provides a simple, economical and effective means of constructing a retaining wall from conventional concrete building blocks. A sheet member is provided, having protrusions which locate in the hollow core portions of the blocks to couple the blocks together. Where a tie-back is desired, the sheet member has an anchoring portion which extends back into the backfill to anchor the wall thereto. In one embodiment, the sheet member is plastic or other non-corrosive substance, with a matrix of dome-like protrusions. In another embodiment, the sheet member can be of a mesh-like construction. In another embodiment, the anchoring portion can be corrugated, with the corrugations running parallel to the wall. In another embodiment, the sheet member can be a sheet of stainless or galvanized steel or the like, or other suitable material, with tab portions stamped therefrom to form the protrusions.

Description

This invention relates to retaining walls, and specifically to structures which facilitate constructing a retaining wall from conventional concrete building blocks.
The permissible height of a concrete block wall without tie-backs depends on the mass of the wall, the backfill material, and other known determinants of similar retaining walls made from similar elements but having different types of interlocks, such as protrusions or grooves cast into the blocks themselves. Usually this type of wall is limited in height 4 to 6 times the depth of the wall element.
With tie-backs, a concrete block wall can usually be built to a height equal to or greater than the length of the tie backs, if the ties and their connection to the face blocks are strong enough.
It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, economical and effective means of constructing a retaining wall from conventional concrete building blocks.
It is a further object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide for adequate tie-backs, i.e. anchoring of the wall to the backfill.
In the invention, a retaining wall interlock sheet member is provided to couple standard concrete building blocks to construct a mortarless retaining wall. The sheet member has protrusions which locate in the hollow core portions of the blocks to couple the blocks together. Where a tie-back is desired, an anchoring portion may extend back into the backfill to anchor the wall thereto.
In one embodiment, the sheet member is of a plastic or other non-corrosive substance, with a matrix of dome-like protrusions.
In another embodiment, the sheet member can be of a mesh-llke constructlon.
In another embodiment, the anchoring portion can be corrugated, with the corrugations running parallel to the wall.
In another embodiment, the sheet member can be a sheet of stainless or galvanized steel or the like, or other : .
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20~348 suitable material, with tab portions stamped therefrom to form the protrusions.
The protrusions need not be dome-shaped as mentioned above, but may be any shape suitable to engage the hollow interior of the blocks.
Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, alternative embodiments thereof will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of a wall constructed using one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the wall;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a wall constructed using an alternative embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a wall constructed using the alternative embodiment of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a top view of a "runner" version of the invention;
Fig. 7 is section A-A from Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a cross-section of a wall using the "runner" version of the invention;
Fig. 9 is a top view of a tie-back version of the invention, similar in principle to the Fig. 6 embodiment;
Fig. 10 is a cross-section of a wall using the Fig.
9 version of the invention;
Fig. ll is a cross-section of a wall using yet another alternative embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 12 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the retaining wall interlock sheet;
Fig. 13 is a view at section B-B of Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a view at section A-A of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a top view of the Fig. 12 sheet superimposed over two standard hollow cored concrete blocks;
Fig. 16 is a cross-section of a wall using the Fig.
12 embodiment; and Fig. 17 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 16, but also including tie-backs of Geogrid (trademark) material.
Fig. 1 shows a mortarless retaining wall 1 constructed from conventional concrete building blocks 2, using a plastic (or other non-corrosive) sheet member 3 to tie the blocks together. As can be seen more clearly in Fig. 2, the sheet member is essentially a relatively thin sheet or substrate 4 having protrusions 5 which engage in the hollow cores of the blocks. The sheet member should not be too thick, since otherwise it would create to large a gap between blocks stacked on top of each other.
Preferably, especially for higher walls, the substrate 4 extends back into the backfill 6 to interlock with the backfill to form a stable mass, thereby anchoring the wall to the backfill. However, as shown in the upper portion of Fig. 2, the sheet member could be used simply to tie the blocks together, i.e. without any portion of the sheet member extending into the backfill, if anchoring to the backfill was not desired or required. That is, it is possible to make the sheet member with a single row of protrusions that run along the wall and perform the function of spacing and interlocking the blocks but without tie-back. This is generally only suitable for low walls, e.g. not higher than about three to ; four times depth.
Fig. 2 shows one preferred configuration for the sheet member, i.e. a sheet having sixteen protrusions (4 x 4), although obviously the configuration could be varied readily.
For example, the sheet member could be provided on a roll which is four protrusions wide. The roll could be cut to provide whatever depth of tie-back is required, which would be a function of sheet member material strength, wall height, and backfill type.

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The shape and size of the individual protrusions 5 is not critical. All that is essential is that the size and shape be sufficient to fit into the hollow core areas 7 with relatively little play. The protrusions should engage both the block below and the block above so as to prevent them from moving fore and aft relative to one another. The spacing of the protrusions obviously must correspond to the spacing of the cores for the particular block being used. The protrusions can be generally circular, either cylindrical or slightly tapered, as shown in Figs. 1-3, or could be any other suitable shape. For example, they could be in the form of pins 8 projecting from the sheet member, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The round shape does somewhat simplify problems of matching different block cores.
As seen in Fig. 3, the anchoring to the backfill need not be provided by protrusions. Instead, the sheet member material could a mesh such that the backfill material would interlock with it to provide stability, or any other suitable shape or material to provide some anchoring. The mesh may be quite economical to produce.
As seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the anchoring or tie-back portion of the sheet member may have corrugations formed therein. Plastic or other non-corrosive material is preferred. Stainless or galvanized steel could be used.
One additional variation, which can be seen in Fig.
1, is that by offsetting the protrusion on the top of the sheet member from the protrusion on the underside of the sheet member, in the direction back into the hill, a wall can be constructed which will automatically be inclined into the hill being retained.
Although intended to provide a means of making a mortarless wall, mortar could be used if desired to fill the cores of those concrete blocks in the face wall which engage the tie back interlocks, to add strength to the face wall.
~5 This mortar could form a bond with the protrusions to further decrease the likelihood of the tie back from pulling out of the ~oint.

2~1348 In the version illustrated in Figs. 6-8, a stamped steel runner lo is provided. Tabs 12 are stamped upwardly and downwardly from the runner to fit into the hollow portions of the blocks. Twenty gauge galvanized or stainless steel is planned.
The version illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is similar, but the tabs 12 are oriented such that the runner is intended to run into the backfill area to provide a tie-back.
The version illustrated in Fig. 11 is another embodiment, having a corrugated shape, the corrugated shape matching the shape of the special block 16.
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show another configuration of retaining wall interlock sheet 10, having tabs 12 stamped therefrom. The sheet is preferably of stainless steel or steel which has been galvinized after the tabs have been stamped.
As seen in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, the tabs 12 fit within the hollow portions of the blocks to prevent the blocks from shifting away from the backfilled area 20. The downwardly projecting tabs engage the inside of the front face of blocks, and the upwardly projecting tabs engage the inside of the back face of the block which is stacked upon the sheet.
These tabs thus prevent forward movement of the upper block relative to the lower block.
As seen in Figs. 16 and 17, the wall may be constructed by stacking the blocks on a foundation block 22, to provide a level base for the first course of blocks, and finishing the top with an aesthetically pleasing wall cap 24.
The foundation block is positioned below the lower grade level 26. The upper grade level 28 preferably abuts the side of the wall cap.
Fig. 17 shows that Geogrid (trademark) sheets 4 may be used as tiebacks. The tabs 12 project through the slots or mesh in the Geogrid material to produce additional anchoring and allow a substantially higher wall to be built.
The sheet fits between industry standard hollow cored modular building blocks, which allows the blocks to be 20~i348 stacked upon one another without mortar, pins, clips, nor any other devices. The alignment of said blocks is maintained so as to form a retaining wall.
Unique to the device is the fact that the sheet forms a spacer which supports equally the front and back of the block block so that the wall so formed stands straight and plumb without the need for special blocks, notchesj recesses, or holes. Nor is there any requirement for pins, clips, bars, or any other devices to prevent movement of the blocks.
It will be appreciated that the above description relates to the preferred embodiment by way of example only.
Many variations on the invention will be obvious to those knowledgeable in the field, and such obvious variations are within the scope of the invention as described and claimed, whether or not expressly described.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A device consisting of a thin flat plate from which projects knobs both upwardly and downwardly to engage the hollow cores of standard concrete building blocks, which knobs fit closely to the hollow cores, and which, when inserted between two such hollow cored concrete building blocks, stacked upon each other, prevents movement of said blocks within the plane of said device.

2. A device, as described above, having a multiple of said projecting knobs, which, when inserted between rows of hollow cored concrete blocks stacked upon each other, prevents the movement of said rows of blocks within the plane of the device.

3. A device as described in claim 1 which has projecting knobs as described in 1 and when inserted between two blocks stacked upon each other, or between two rows of concrete blocks stacked upon each other, prevents the movement of said blocks within the plane of the device, and also has an extended flat portion which projects beyond the perpendicular face of said blocks or rows of blocks and has an attachment hole or other means to attach the device to some other restraining device which may then be attached to other surfaces, or to cables, bars, grids, plates, strips, nets, or other shapes which may then be placed between layers of earth, rock, or other material to prevent movement of the device, and hence prevent movement of the aforementioned blocks or rows of blocks.

4. A device as described in claim 1 which has an extended flat portion which projects beyond the perpendicular face of said blocks or rows of blocks and which directly fastens to other surfaces or which may be placed between layers of earth, rocks, or other material to prevent movement of the device, and hence prevent movement of the aforementioned blocks or rows of blocks.

5. A device as described in claim 1 which may have its upwardly and downwardly projecting knobs offset to one another within the plane of the device, so that when inserted between hollow cored concrete blocks stacked upon each other, or rows of hollow cored concrete blocks stacked upon each other, said offset will cause the upper block or blocks to be offset relative to the perpendicular face of the lower block or blocks.

6. A device as described in claim 1 which when inserted between successive rows of hollow cored concrete blocks, prevents the movement of said blocks or rows of blocks within the plane of the devices. and so form a mortarless wall of said concrete blocks, which may be anchored by said devices to other surfaces or to successively layered earth, stones, or other material to form a retaining wall.

7. A device as described in claim 1 which uses pins instead of knobs, which project upwardly and downwardly as described above, and which pins engage the hollow cores of said building blocks, and prevent the movement of said blocks in the plane of the device in the same manner and fashion as the aforementioned knobs.

8. A device as described in claim 1 which is shaped to fit between successive layers of other types of blocks, bricks, or retaining wall elements and when so inserted, engages the interlocking knobs, channels, or other features, of said blocks, bricks or retaining wall elements and prevents the movement of said blocks, bricks, or retaining wall elements within the plane of the device, and which has an extended flat portion which projects beyond the perpendicular face or said blocks or bricks, and may be attached to, or be anchored to other surfaces or which may be placed between successive layers of earth, rock, or other material, to prevent movement of the blocks, bricks, or retaining wall elements of any wall constructed of said blocks bricks, or retaining wall elements without the necessity of mortar, ties, cribwork, or any other restraining walls to heights limited only to the strength of the materials from which the wall is constructed, the strengths and properties of the surface to which it is attached, and/or the strengths and properties of earth, rock or other material layered upon such device or its attachments.

9. A device for use in building a wall from hollow-core concrete blocks, comprising a thin planar member adapted to fit between horizontal rows of said concrete blocks, and having projections from either side thereof for engaging said hollow cores of said blocks to prevent said blocks from moving laterally with respect to each other.

10. A device as recited in claim 9, further comprising an integral extension of said thin planar member such that said thin planar member may extend into a backfilled area behind said wall to thereby assist in anchoring said wall.

11. A device as recited in claim 10, further comprising projections from said extension of said thin planar member, to assist in anchoring said extension in said backfilled area.

12. A device as recited in claim 9, in which said thin planar member is of metal, and in which said projections therefrom are tabs stamped from said metal planar member.

13. A device as recited in claim 12, in which said thin planar member is arranged as a runner strip adapted to run horizontally between rows of blocks, and in which said tabs are stamped therefrom parallel to the long dimension of said strip.

14. A device as recited in claim 12, in which said thin planar member is arranged as a strip adapted to run from a position between rows of blocks back into a backfilled area behind said wall to thereby assist in anchoring said wall, and in which said tabs are stamped therefrom at right angles to the long dimension of said strip.

15. A device as recited in claim 14, in which said portion of said strip adapted to run into said backfilled area is also provided with said stamped tabs, thereby assisting in anchoring said portion in said backfilled area.