Improved strip soil reinforcing and method of manufacturing
AssigneeThe Taylor IP Group LLC
InventorTHOMAS P. TAYLOR
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A soil reinforcing element and method of manufacturing for use in a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure. A smooth metal strip is fabricated into a soil reinforcing element that is manufactured from stock pulled from a coil, the surface of the strip surface is manipulated using the technique of cold forming. Where the manipulated surface is optimized to consist of a peak and a valley to increase the pullout resistance when embedded in an earthen formation involving a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure.
Claims14
A strip soil reinforcing element, for use in a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure, comprising:
- a stock member consisting of a strip wherein all surfaces on said strip are smooth, where the surface of the strip is manipulated using a cold forming process by passing said strip through opposing surfaces of two profile dies imparting a resistance profile on said strip;
- said resistance profile includes at least one first peak member on a first side of said strip having said first side and an opposite second side, and extending between respective at least a first flat section and a second flat section of said strip;
- each of said first and said second flat sections extending along a common plane;
- a first flat side and a second flat side on opposing sides of said at least one peak member having equal lengths and defining an obtuse medial angle therebetween;
- a first obtuse angle defined from said first flat side of said at least one first peak relative to said first flat section and a second obtuse angle defined from said second flat side of said at least one first peak relative to said second flat section;
- and
- said first obtuse angle and said second obtuse angle being between 160-140 degrees and said obtuse medial angle between said first and said second flat sides is between 120-100 degrees;
- whereby said resistance profile optimizes a pullout resistance of said strip soil reinforcing member from said mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure during a use thereof.
A system, for constructing a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure, comprising:
- a strip soil reinforcing element consisting of a metal strip fabricated with cold formed profiled resistance profile having at least a plurality of peaks along a flat surface and a through bore at a proximal end;
- a facing panel element having a facing panel anker with a coupling device extending from a back face of a facing panel element and adjustably accepting said proximal end of said strip soil reinforcing element and said strip soil reinforcing element;
- a coupling device extending through said proximal end and said facing panel anker to secure said strip soil reinforcing member to said facing panel anker wherein the combined coupling device and said strip soil reinforcing element capable of swiveling along a common plane.
A method manufacturing a strip soil reinforcing element using coiled metal comprising the steps of:
- a. placing the coiled metal on an unwinding pedestal and unwinding the coiled metal as a strip;
- b. passing the strip through a first straightening station forming an initially straightened strip;
- c. passing the initially straightened strip through a cold pressing profiling station and imparting a resistance profile consisting of at least a plurality of cold formed peaks along a surface of said strip;
- wherein said cold pressing profiling station contains a fixed dye and a movable dye each having complementary profiles so that during said step of imparting said resistance profile a final straightened portion is formed between respective said peaks and valleys along said surface of said strip;
- d. passing the strip through a punch station;
- e. passing the strip through a guillotine and cutting said strip to a predetermined length;
- f. placing the finished strip in a stack;
- and
- g. banding the finished stack of strips.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.