Dual purpose modular block for construction of retaining walls
AssigneeSociete Civile des Brevets Henri Vidal
InventorsPeter L. Anderson, Michael J. Cowell, Dan J. Hotek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular block wall includes dry cast, unreinforced modular wall blocks with anchor type, or frictional type or composite type soil stabilizing elements recessed therein and attached thereto by vertical rods which also connect the blocks together. The soil stabilizing elements are positioned in counterbores or slots in the blocks and project into the compacted soil behind the courses of modular wall blocks. The soil stabilizing elements may also comprise hollow core precast blocks connected to the facing blocks.
Claims30
An improved retaining wall construction comprising, in combination:
- a plurality of facing block members arrayed in overlapping courses one upon the other, each block member having a generally planar front face, a back face, opposite side faces connecting the front face to the back face, and generally parallel top and bottom surfaces;
- each block member also including at least two generally parallel rod receiving throughbores extending from the top surface through the bottom surface, each throughbore including a counterbore in one of the parallel top and bottom surfaces, surrounding the throughbore and extending from adjacent the front face through the back face to define a channel with side walls in the block, and a cross throughbore connecting the parallel counterbores;
- a stabilizing element comprising a pair of tension arms in the parallel counterbores of selected block members, each pair of said tension arms of each stabilizing element being generally parallel;
- the stabilizing elements including soil engaging means extending therefrom projecting away from the back face of each block into compacted soil;
- and
- compacted soil adjacent the back face engaging the stabilizing elements.
An improved block member for construction of a retaining wall structure comprising in combination, a cast member having a front face defining parallel side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge connecting the side edges, said cast member also having a back face, side walls extending from the front face and connected with the back face;
- a top surface and a generally parallel bottom surface;
- first and second parallel rod receiving throughbores from the top surface through the bottom surface, said rod receiving throughbores generally parallel to the side edges, each of said rod receiving throughbores having a centerline axis, each of said rod receiving throughbores defining a profile for receipt of a straight rod therethrough;
- a counterbore surrounding each throughbore in at least one of the top or bottom surfaces, each counterbore further defining a channel in said top or bottom surface extending through the back face, said channel defining channel sidewalls;
- a cross throughbore in the block extending from the top surface through the bottom surface of the block, said cross throughbore also connecting the channels;
- and
- an additional channel from the cross throughbore through the back face of the block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.