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US 9,315,992 B2Granted
Convex structural block for constructing parabolic walls
AssigneeGeovent LLC
InventorLeslie John Carey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cementitious, convex structural block for forming parabolic walls is disclosed. The block utilizes a key and the keyway to facilitate placement and to add strength to the wall. The parabolic shape of the wall increases its compressive strength and when used underground as a seal or stopping in mining applications channels force from blast waves and dammed water into the mine shaft ribs. When constructed from a geopolymer, the block is lighter and has a smaller carbon footprint than cement.
Claims11
A structural block system for constructing arcuate walls comprising:
- a wall-block comprising:
- a. a wall-block body cast from a cementitious product, said block body having a height, a convex anterior face, a concave posterior face, a length from said convex anterior face to said concave posterior face, a top face, a bottom face, a height from said top face to said bottom face, a right lateral face, a left lateral face, and a width from said left lateral face to said right lateral face wherein said width decreases from said anterior face to said posterior face;
- b. at least one vertical support groove in said left lateral face of said wall-block body and at least one vertical support groove in said right lateral face of said block body, configured to form a vertical support aperture along a lateral face joint between two said structural blocks laid side-by-side wherein said vertical support grooves lie at the same arc radius across said width of said wall-block body;
- c. a lateral groove forming an arc across said top face of said width of said wall-block, wherein said arcuate lateral groove possesses the same angle measure as the anterior face and passes across said vertical grooves in said lateral faces;
- and
- d. means to mechanically mate a plurality of said wall-block bodies together in a friction fit arrangement comprising at least one male connector and at least one female receiver configured to receive said male connector further comprising a large-wall-block comprising:
- a. a large-wall-block body cast from a cementitious product, said large-wall-block body having height, a convex anterior face, a concave posterior face, a length, from said convex anterior face to said concave posterior face, a top face, a bottom face, a height from said top face to said bottom face, a left lateral face, a right lateral face, a width from said left lateral face to said right lateral face wherein said width is substantially twice the width of said wall-block and decreases from said anterior face to said posterior face;
- b. at least one vertical support groove in said left lateral face of said large-wall-block body and at least one vertical support groove in said right lateral face of said block body, configured to form a vertical aperture along a lateral face joint between two said structural blocks laid side-by-side wherein said vertical support grooves lie at the same arc radius across said width of said wall-block body;
- and
- c. means to mechanically mate a plurality of said large-wall block bodies together in a friction fit arrangement comprising at least one male connector and at least one female receiver configured to receive said male connector;
- d. a central aperture from said top face through said bottom face which lies along the same arc radius as said vertical grooves in said lateral faces;
- further comprising a roof-block having less compressive strength than said large-wall-block and said wall-block wherein said roof block is laid between a top layer of said wall-blocks assembled as a wall and a mine roof in an underground wall assembly.
9 more elements
A structural block system for constructing arcuate walls comprising:
- a wall-block formed of a geopolymer comprising:
- a. a wall-block body cast from a cementitious product, said block body having a height, a convex anterior face, a concave posterior face, a length from said convex anterior face to said concave posterior face, a top face, a bottom face, a height from said top face to said bottom face, a right lateral face, a left lateral face, and a width from said left lateral face to said right lateral face wherein said width decreases from said anterior face to said posterior face;
- b. at least one vertical support groove in said left lateral face of said wall-block body and at least one vertical support groove in said right lateral face of said block body, configured to form a vertical aperture along a lateral face joint between two said structural blocks laid side-by-side wherein said vertical support grooves lie at the same arc radius across said width of said wall-block body;
- c. a lateral groove forming an arc across said top face of said width of said wall-block, wherein said arcuate lateral groove possesses the same angle measure as the anterior face and passes across said vertical grooves in said lateral faces;
- and
- d. means to mechanically mate a plurality of said wall-block bodies together in a friction fit arrangement comprising at least one male connector and at least one female receiver configured to receive said male connector further comprising a roof-block having less compressive strength than said wall block, wherein said roof block is laid between a top layer of said wall-blocks assembled as a wall and a mine roof in an underground wall assembly.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.