WO2005035902A1

WO2005035902A1 - Interconnection pin between concrete blocks for building retaining walls and relevant block

Info

Publication number: WO2005035902A1
Application number: PCT/IT2003/000635
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca Vezzoli; Pietro Rimoldi
Original assignee: La Cementifera Di Vezzoli Geom.Michele & C.S.N.C
Priority date: 2003-10-13
Filing date: 2003-10-16
Publication date: 2005-04-21
Also published as: ITBS20030097A1; AU2003279559A1

Abstract

An interconnection pin for constraining blocks, for example made of concrete, to one another, superimposed in rows or layers for building retaining walls, where each block exhibits at least one hole (8) intended to receive and lock at least one end portion of said pin (9) and at least one aperture (10) intended to receive at least one portion of pin protruding from the hole of at least one block belonging to an underlying and/or top row. The end portion for fitting and locking the pin into the hole is shaped as a 'flute beak' (9'), so as to favour the forced insertion of said pin into said hole.

Description

"Interconnection pin between concrete blocks for building retaining walls and relevant block"

The present invention relates to blocks, for example blocks made of vibratory-rolled concrete, adapted for being superimposed in rows or layers for building retaining walls, such as counterscarp walls, decorative walls, anti-erosion slope coatings, soundproofing barriers, garden fencing and partitions, channel coatings, protective coatings for riversides and the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a pin intended to be constrained two superimposed rows of blocks to one another, as well as a block intended to receive said pin. Retaining walls consisting of a plurality of blocks arranged in superimposed rows and locked by pins are already known, for example from patents US 4 914 876, US 5 865 006 and US 5 913 790. In all of the known embodiments, each block exhibits at least one pair of holes intended to receive and lock respective pins, and a recess wherein the pins of an adjacent upper or lower block engage. In order to offer a high resistance to cut to the blocks, that is, prevent any longitudinal movement of a row of blocks relative to an adjacent one, the pins must be firmly locked into the respective holes. This implies the utmost interference between the outside surface of the pin and the inside one of the hole, with the disadvantage of making the fitting of the pins into the respective holes expensive and burdensome, since this operation is carried out manually when the blocks are laid and in some of the blocks applications, it can also be carried out by a non-skilled person. An object of the present invention therefore is that of proposing a pin for the use mentioned above configured for obviating the disadvantage of the prior art while at the same time meeting the requirement of exhibiting a high interference with the hole of the concrete blocks wherein it is intended to be fitted and blocked. Another object of the finding is that of providing a concrete block of the type mentioned above, adapted for receiving the interconnection pins according to the invention and having such structural features as to ensure a high stability of the wall, allow the preservation of the aesthetic appearance of the fagade over time, and at the same time offering the possibility of housing an easy and cheap mechanical connection system of the block with an anchoring grid to the underlying ground, or an electric wiring, such as a lighting system, or a watering pipe. Such objects are achieved according to the invention by a pin and a concrete block conforming with the following claims. Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a concrete block according to the present invention; - Figure 2 shows a plan view of the block of figure 1; - Figures 2a and 2b show the block of figures 1 and 2 in transversal section according to lines A-A and B-B in figure 2, respectively; - Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an alternative shape of the concrete block; - Figure 3a shows a plan view of the block of figure 3; - Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an interconnection pin for the blocks of the previous figures; - Figure 4a shows a transversal section of the pin; - Figures 5, 5a and 5b show plan views of two superimposed rows of the blocks shown in figures 1 and 2 for a rectilinear, convex and concave wall, respectively; - Figure 6 shows a plan view of the blocks of figures 3 and 3a, superimposed; - Figure 7 shows an exploded perspective view of blocks, pins, geo-grid and connection bar; and - Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the elements of figure 7, assembled. The concrete blocks shown in the drawings are intended to form walls by their arrangement in superimposed rows . In forming a wall, after laying a first lower row of blocks, one at the side of another, a second upper row of blocks is laid out of phase, that is, so that each block of the upper row rests on two adjacent halves of two blocks of the lower row. According to an embodiment, the blocks exhibit a vertical symmetry plane. Block 1 shown in figures 1 and 2 exhibits a substantially rectangular shape and comprises upper 2 and lower 3 parallel surfaces, a front faςade 4, a back facade 5 and two opposed side walls 6. The front faςade 4 is substantially plane; the back fagade 5 is substantially parallel to the front one 4 and can exhibit a recessed central portion 7 for an optional coupling of the block under discussion to a block at the back, for example of the type described in a former patent application EP 1 022 394 Al by the same applicant. The side walls 6 are recessed and converging towards the back facade 5 so that both the latter and the front facade 4 exhibit protruding side ends 4', 5' useful for defining an external rectangular shape that facilitates the block packaging operations. The rear side ends 5' are configured to be easily removed in case of use of the blocks to realise convex walls, that is, walls facing inwards (figure 5a) . Holes 8 are obtained in the rear portion of block 1, in the proximity of the corners between the back faςade 5 and the side walls 6, intended to receive and lock corresponding interconnection pins 9 between adjacent superimposed blocks. Preferably, said holes 8 have an orthogonal axis relative to the rest surfaces 2 and 3 of the block, and pass through the latter for all of its length. The lock of pins 9 into the respective holes 8 is required to oppose as much resistance as possible to a shift of the blocks onto one another caused by the thrust of the ground at the back. Such lock is realised by a strength coupling, that is, sizing and geometrically configuring hole and pin so that their coupling occurs with a suitable interference. In other words, the external dimensions of pin 9 are larger than the diameter of hole 8. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such strength coupling is not given by the entire outside surface of the pins, but only by the more protruding portions of it. This is obtained making the outside surface of the pin corrugated, for example bearing radial projections. According to an embodiment, said radial projections are small longitudinal tabs 11 that impart a star shape to the perimeter of the longitudinal section. Moreover, the presence of said radial projections allows the compensation of any dimensional differences or distortions of the diameter of holes 8. To this purpose, pins 9 preferably exhibit a hollow body, with a wall of thickness adjustable to the shape of the seat realised by holes 8 into the blocks. According to the invention, in order to allow the manual fitting of pins 9 into holes 8 also in the presence of the required strength coupling mentioned above between the two elements, each pin 9 exhibits at least one end 9' provided with a tapered portion. According to an embodiment, said tapered portion is shaped as "flute beak", for example obtained by cutting a cylindrical bar obliquely relative to the main axis of said bar. In this way, the pin has a tip suitable for being fitted into hole 8. Pin 9 can be made of a plastic material, preferably shock-proof PVC+. In a central position relative to the side walls 6 and slightly backed towards the back faςade 5, block 1 exhibits an aperture 10 wherein there are engaged pins 9 of the blocks of a lower row on which it rests. Such aperture 10, preferably orthogonal to the rest surfaces 2 and 3 of the block and extending for its entire height, exhibits an elongated shape in the direction parallel to the front and back faςades 4 and 5 so as to receive pins 9 of two underlying blocks. Aperture 10 is sized to maximise the resistance of the block and at the same time minimise its weight. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the central aperture 10 exhibits a trapezoidal shape with rounder corners, the bases parallel to the front and back faςades, and the smaller base facing the back facade 5. As it can be seen in figures 5, 5a and 5b, the central aperture 10 thus configured acts as sliding track to arrange blocks 1 both along rectilinear rows (figure 5) , and along inward curved rows (figure 5a) , as well as along outward curved rows (figure 5b) , the distance between pins 9 engaged into a central aperture 10 being susceptible of varying according to the desired bending radius . Moreover, it should be noted that the positioning of holes 8 relative to aperture 10 determines the wall inclination. In particular, the more the tangent of holes 8 parallel to facades 4, 5 of the block is back relative to the back surface of aperture 10, the more the wall will be inclined. Between the central aperture 10 receiving pins 9 and the front facade 4, into block 1, there is obtained at least one front chamber 12 that extends for the entire length of the block, from the upper surface 2 to the lower one 3. Preferably, as shown in the drawings, block 1 exhibits three front sided chambers 12, each with an elongated shape in the direction parallel to the front 4 and back 5 fagades. Such chambers allow ventilating the front of the wall, avoiding the formation of humidity and consequent spots on the front fagade 4 of the blocks and preserving the aesthetic appearance of the faςade. Moreover, the front chambers 12 have also a thermal insulation function to protect the inside of the wall, and in particular the anchoring nets or grids, from excessive temperatures increases caused by the wall exposure to the sun. Advantageously, the front chambers 12 offer the possibility of fixing the wall facade in case of damages without affecting the structural features of the wall itself . Thanks to the provision of at least two series of chambers, at least a front one 12 and at least a back one 10, the first suitable to thermally insulate and the second suitable to abut and guide the block on the pin portions protruding from the adjacent blocks, it is possible to avoid movements of the pins and therefore of the pin/block coupling during use. Moreover, coupling is ensured also in case of partial damages to the front side of the block. Finally, a channel 13 is obtained in the upper surface 2 of block 1, which extends transversally from a side wall 6 to the other, in parallel with the front 4 and back 5 faςades. As it is clear from figures 7 and 8, once a row of blocks 1 has been laid, channel 13 of each block is aligned with the channels of the adjacent blocks, forming a continuous channel adapted for housing a bar 14 around which there is wound the end of a net or grid 15 laid between superimposed rows of blocks to anchor them to the ground at the back. The method of installation and operation of an anchoring net or grid is described, for example, in patent US 6,338,597, in particular from column 4, line 52, to column 5, line 19, herein reported for reference. It should be noted that the net or grid 15 can be constrained to blocks 1 by the same pins 9, but bar 14 allows the even distribution of the load along the entire width of the net or grid 15. Preferably, channel 13 intersects the front chambers 12, that is, it is obtained in the walls delimiting said chambers. Channel 13, in combination with the front chambers 12, therefore defines a passage grid behind the wall faςade which, besides acting as drainage system for the faςade itself, allows housing, for example, electric wirings for lighting systems, watering pipes or other devices . Figures 3, 3a and 6 show a variant of embodiment of the concrete block, globally indicated with reference numeral 16. Block 16 differs from block 1 substantially in that it is provided for forming a recess and projection wall, as shown in figure 6, and for allowing renewal. To this purpose, block 16 comprises a front facade 17 exhibiting a central portion 17' protruding forward and joined to the side portions 17" by inclined planes 17' ' ' .

Claims

CLAIMS l.An interconnection pin for blocks, for example made of concrete, for constraining to one another a first lower row of blocks resting on the first one, wherein the blocks of each row are arranged adjacent to one another to build walls, and wherein each block exhibits at least one hole (8) intended to receive and lock at least one end portion of said pin (9) and at least one aperture

(10) intended to receive at least one portion of pin protruding from the hole of at least one block belonging to an underlying and/or top row, wherein the pin extends longitudinally from a fitting and locking end to a coupling end to an adjacent block, and wherein said fitting and locking end exhibits a tapered portion (9') so as to favour the forced fitting of said pin into said hole.

2. Pin according to claim 1, comprising a hollow body with a wall of thickness adjustable to the shape of the hole of the block wherein it is intended to be fitted.

3. Pin according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said fitting and locking end (9') is shaped as a flute beak.

4. Pin according to claim 3, wherein said end is obtained by sectioning a bar obliquely relative to its longitudinal axis, by one or more oblique cuts.

5. Pin according to any one of the previous claims, having an outside surface bearing a plurality of projections (11) so as to realise a coupling with interference with the hole of the block wherein it is intended to be fitted.

6. Pin according to claim 5, wherein said outside surface is corrugated.

7. Pin according to claim 6, wherein said outside surface exhibits a star-shaped transversal section.

8. Pin according to any one of claims from 5 to 7, wherein said coupling with interference is ensured by the extension of the material defining said projections.

9. Pin according to any one of the previous claims, made of a plastic material .

10. Pin according to claim 9, made of PVC.

11. Block, for example of concrete, comprising a front facade (4) , a back faςade (5) substantially parallel to the front faςade, two side walls (6) and at least one hole (8) adapted for receiving a pin (9) according to the previous claims, wherein said hole exhibits such dimensions as to ensure a fitting of said pin with interference.

12. Block according to claim 11, comprising at least a first front chamber (12) for ventilation and thermal insulation and at least a second back chamber (10) adapted for receiving the free end of at least one pin (9) protruding from an adjacent block.

13. Block according to claim 11 or 12, comprising two holes intended to receive and lock respective pins, said holes being obtained in the proximity of the corners formed by the side walls (6) with the front facade (5) .

14. Block according to claim 12 or 13 , wherein the rear chamber (10) has an elongated shape in the direction parallel to the front and back faςades.

15. Block according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said rear chamber is obtained in a central position of the block, between said two holes.

16. Block according to any one of claims from 12 to 15, wherein said rear chamber (10) has a trapezoidal shape, with the smaller base facing the back facade.

17. Block according to any one of claims from 11 to 16, comprising an upper rest surface (2) for at least one block of an upper row of blocks, wherein a transversal channel (13) is obtained into said upper surface, having an axis parallel to the front and back facades, forming with the channels of the adjacent blocks of the same row a continuous channel intended to receive a locking bar the ground at the back.

18. Block according to claims 12 and 17, wherein the front channel intersects the at least one other front chamber.

19. Block according to any one of claims from 11 to

18, wherein the at least one hole intended to receive and lock a corresponding pin extends for the entire height of the block.

20. Block according to any one of claims from 12 to

19, wherein the at least one front chamber extends for the entire height of the block.

21. Block according to any one of claims from 12 to

20, wherein the at least one rear chamber extends for the entire height of the block.

22. Wall comprising a plurality of blocks according to any one of claims from 11 to 21 arranged into superimposed rows, where adjacent rows are constrained to one another by interconnection pins according to any one of claims from 1 to 10, wherein between at least two adjacent rows of blocks there is arranged at least one grid or net for anchoring to the ground at the back, said net or grid being constrained to the blocks by said pins.

23. Wall comprising a plurality of blocks according to any one of claims from 17 to 21 arranged into superimposed rows, where between at least two adjacent rows of blocks there is arranged at least one grid or net for anchoring to the ground at the back, the front end of said net or grid being constrained to a bar housed in the transversal channel by a row of blocks.

24. Wall comprising a plurality of blocks according to claims 18 and 20 arranged into superimposed rows, wherein the front chambers and the transversal channels define a grid of intercommunicating passages that allow housing various devices, such as electric wirings for lighting systems and/or watering pipes.