Wall surface structure of reinforced earth structure

• US 5,533,839 A
• Filed: 10/31/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyokado Engineering Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kyokado Engineering Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimada, Shunsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William P.
• Application Number:
  US08/332,358
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 405/284, 405/285, 405/286, 52/610
• US Class Current: 405/284
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/02 Retaining or protecting walls piers or quay walls E02B3/06
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/0233 the retention means being anchors details of anchors E02D5/80
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/0241 the retention means being reinforced earth elements

Abstract

A revetment comprised of nesting, interlocking, building blocks and means to adjust each block between backfilling operations. Identical T-shaped building blocks nest vertically and horizontally, and locking pins which interlock the opposite sides of the T-caps of the blocks hold the blocks in place. Channel-shaped brackets are secured to the back faces of the blocks and adjustable anchor members are secured to the channel-shaped brackets. Adjusting the length of each anchor member alters inclination to the vertical of each block as required. After proper alignment of the blocks by anchor member adjustment, the anchor members are embedded and secured in place by backfill, which is then compacted, such as by rolling or by other state-of-the-art means.

Claims

1. An improvement in revetments comprising identical interlocking building blocks aligned in horizontal rows and vertical columns, each building block having a front face and a back face, and means to secure adjustable anchor means to each said back face of each said building block, wherein said means to secure said adjustable anchor means to the back face of said building block comprises:

a U-shaped bracket having leg portions and a connecting web portion, said leg portions being integrally secured to said back face of said building block, and said web portion having formed therein a vertical slot;

said leg portions, said web portion, and said back face forming an enclosure having open ends sufficient to permit a tool therein;

said adjustable anchor means having a first threaded end which is received in and which passes through said vertical slot;

a load distribution washer plate received over said first threaded end; and

a first threaded nut threaded over said first threaded end to complete a lost motion coupling between said U-shaped bracket and said adjustable anchor means.

2. The improvement in revetments of claim 1 wherein said identical interlocking building blocks are vertically aligned, T-shaped, and dimensioned to nest both horizontally and vertically with adjacent building blocks.

3. The improvement in revetments of claim 2, wherein each said identical interlocking T-shaped building block comprises a vertical rectangular body having vertical side walls and a horizontal rectangular T-cap having end portions extending laterally equally beyond respective side walls of said vertical body, and means to interlock said end portions of said adjacent T-caps.

4. The improvement in revetments of claim 3, wherein each said T-cap end portion has cast therein a vertical cylindrical hole adapted to receive therein a pin and a portion thereof to project therefrom to be received in a like concentric hole in an adjacent T-cap.

5. The improvement in revetments of claim 1, including a second threaded end of said adjustable anchor means;

an anchor plate having an aperture;

said second threaded end projecting through said aperture; and

a second threaded nut threaded onto said second threaded end of said adjustable anchor means, whereby said second threaded nut prevents said anchor plate from escaping said second threaded end of said adjustable anchor means.

6. The improvement in revetments of claim 1, including a cross member, said first threaded end of said adjustable anchor means comprising a threaded stud having a first end secured to said U-shaped bracket and a second end secured to said cross member, a plurality of parallel spaced-apart anchor rods having first ends secured to said cross member, and a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart cross rods, normal to and secured to said anchor rods.

7. The improvement in revetments of claim 1, including a cross member, said first threaded end of said adjustable anchor means comprising:

a first threaded stud bolt;

a second threaded stud bolt;

first and second horizontally spaced-apart U-shaped brackets secured to said back face of said building block;

said first threaded stud bolt being secured to said first U-shaped bracket;

said second threaded stud bolt being secured to said second U-shaped bracket; and

flexible rectangular mesh having a free end and an anchored end, said free end being wrapped around said cross member to lap the portion of said rectangular mesh between said cross member and said anchored end.