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US 6,719,492 B1Granted
Top arch overfilled system
AssigneeBEBOTech Corporation
InventorWerner Heierli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An earth overfilled arched structure includes a shallow arch spanning a clear space. The sides of the clear space are formed by curved or straight walls. Solidified zones of earth material (backfill or in situ) against the springs of the arch and/or behind the walls form foundation blocks which are in intimate contact via arch footings with the springs of the arch and/or with the upper part of the sidewalls in such a way that the arched structure delivers most or all of its support forces into the foundation blocks. These, due to their size and weight, transfer and spread the support forces to the subsoil so that displacements, especially in the horizontal directions, are minimal.
Claims32
An arch support system comprising:
- A) a first selected area having first and second side edges;
- B) a second selected area spaced above said first selected area and extending beyond a vertical projection of said first and second side edges of said first selected area;
- C) an arch structure located between said second selected area and said first selected area;
- D) said arch structure including a first sidewall adjacent to said first side edge of said first selected area and a second sidewall adjacent to said second side edge of said first selected area, and an arch element spanning said first selected area, said arch element being located beneath said second selected area;
- E) each of the first and second sidewalls of said arch structure having a bottom end located adjacent to said first selected area and a top end spaced above said first selected area;
- F) the arch element of said arch structure having a first end positioned adjacent to an upper end of said first sidewall and a second end positioned adjacent an upper end of said second sidewall;
- and
- G) a first foundation block positioned near and behind said first sidewall and a second foundation block positioned near and behind said second sidewall, the first foundation block supporting the first end of the arch element and the second foundation block supporting the second end of the arch element, wherein said first and second foundation blocks comprise soil, and wherein the first foundation block supports the first end of the arch element at a location higher than the bottom end of the first sidewall and the second foundation block supports the second end of the arch element at a location higher than the bottom end of the second sidewall.
5 more elements
An arch support system comprising:
- A) soil material;
- B) a void area defined in said soil material;
- C) first and second spaced apart sidewalls located adjacent to said void area;
- D) first and second foundation blocks located in said soil material, the first foundation block near and behind said first sidewall and the second foundation block near and behind said second sidewall;
- E) an arch element spanning said void area and having first and second ends;
- and
- F) the first end of said arch element abutting the first foundation block in a manner which transfers forces associated with the first end of said arch element to said first foundation block and the second end of said arch element abutting the second foundation block in a manner which transfers forces associated with the second end of said arch element to said second foundation block, and wherein the first end of the arch element abuts the first foundation block at a location higher than a bottom end of the first sidewall and the second end of the arch element abuts the second foundation block at a location higher than a bottom end of the second sidewall.
4 more elements
A dome support system comprising:
- A) soil material;
- B) a void area defined in said soil material;
- C) a sidewall located adjacent to said void area;
- D) a foundation block located in said soil material near said sidewall;
- E) a dome structure spanning said void area and having a circumferential end;
- and
- F) the end of said dome structure abutting said foundation block in a manner which transfers forces associated with the end of said dome structure to said foundation block, and wherein the end of the dome structure abuts the foundation block at a location higher than a bottom end of the sidewall.
4 more elements
An arch system comprising:
- A) soil material;
- B) a void area defined in said soil material;
- C) first and second spaced apart sidewalls extending at least upward from said void area;
- D) first and second foundation blocks located in said soil material, the first foundation block near and behind said first sidewall and the second foundation block near and behind said second sidewall;
- E) an arch element spanning said void area and having first and second ends;
- and
- F) the first end of said arch element located to transfer forces associated with the first end of said arch element to said first foundation block and the second end of said arch element located to transfer forces associated with the second end of said arch element to said second foundation block, and wherein the transfer of forces from the first end of the arch element to the first foundation block occurs at a location higher than a bottom end of the first sidewall and the transfer of forces from the second end of the arch element to the second foundation block occurs at a location higher than a bottom end of the second sidewall.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.