EP1334237B1 - Building component and retaining wall comprising same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a building component (1) for making a retaining wall. The invention also concerns a retaining wall consisting of a plurality of said building components (1). The invention is characterised in that the component comprises a central part (2) and two lateral elements (3, 4). This arrangement may be modulated to produce several structural configurations. The invention is characterised in that the central part (2) and the lateral elements (3, 4) have side walls with a specific profile which is either concave or convex. The walls with concave and convex profile are complementary to ensure co-operation between several identical building components (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a building element for the construction of retaining wall.

It also relates to a retaining wall composed from a plurality of construction elements.

The invention will find its application particularly in the field of building for the realization of various works. In particular, it will allow construction of retaining walls constituting vertical screens, in particular anti-phonic and possibly vegetable.

In general, any realization of vertical walls associating several unitary elements is an integral part of the scope of the invention.

It is indeed known to combine several superimposable elements and juxtaposed in order to constitute walls.

It is advantageous to be able to cooperate in a modular manner the elements to adapt the configuration of the structure as necessary or customer wishes.

In this area, we know from document FR-A-2,589,910 a set of three distinct and separate elements, one central and two lateral cylindrical reported around the central element.

Several combinations of arrangement of these three elements are possible according to their arrangement.

However, the technique proposed in the aforementioned document is very different from that of the present invention and has many disadvantages.

Thus, the number of possible forms by association of the three elements is limited because the central element is entirely concave.

What is more, the three constituent elements of the whole are distinct and the structure must be completed with reinforcement (concrete reinforcement).

The superposition of these sets also poses various drawbacks.

Thus, the concrete-to-concrete contact surface of the elements is low.

Consequently, the forces taken up vertically by the elements are on a small surface which makes stress concentrations particularly important.

What is more, the minimum fruit authorized by this type of construction is high. which is likely to generate movements of the embankment which supports it.

The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the techniques current as mentioned above.

One of its first objects is to offer a very large modularity of elements.

Thus, multiple configurations are particularly authorized by the complementarity of concave and convex walls which can be combined with multiple ways.

For example, we can associate a convex wall of the central part with a concave wall of a lateral element or even associate the convex part of a lateral element with that concave of another lateral element.

These examples are not limiting but show the multiplicity of possible cooperation between several elements according to the invention.

This association of elements and their superposition does not require Systematic use of reinforcements.

It is therefore understood that the invention makes it possible to produce walls of support faster and less costly than using techniques current.

Another advantage of the invention is to allow the production of elements all in one piece, but scalable as it is made up of several parts scored.

What is more, the concrete-to-concrete contact surface of several elements superimposed is important which limits the stress concentrations.

Another advantage of the invention is to allow the revegetation of certain parts of the element in order to improve the external appearance of the wall produced.

Other objects and advantages will emerge during the description which follows which presents a preferred embodiment of the invention without, however, being limiting.

1° la partie centrale comporte quatre parois latérales dont deux, adjacentes, ont un même profil concave et les deux autres ont un même profil convexe complémentaire dudit profil concave ;

2° un premier élément latéral borde l'une des parois à profil convexe de la partie centrale et présente une paroi opposée à la partie centrale avec le même profil convexe ;

3° le second élément latéral borde la paroi à profil concave de la partie .centrale située à l'opposé du premier élément latéral et présente une paroi opposée à la partie centrale avec le même profil concave;

4° la partie centrale et les éléments latéraux sont constitués d'un seul tenant et que les éléments latéraux sont sécables par rapport à la partie centrale.

The present invention relates to a construction element for the production of retaining walls, comprising a central part and two lateral elements and the arrangement of which can be modulated to achieve several configurations of work, characterized in that

1 ° the central part has four side walls, two of which are adjacent, have the same concave profile and the other two have the same convex profile complementary to said concave profile;

2 ° a first lateral element borders one of the walls with a convex profile of the central part and has a wall opposite the central part with the same convex profile;

3 ° the second lateral element borders the wall with concave profile of the central part situated opposite the first lateral element and has a wall opposite to the central part with the same concave profile;

(4) the central part and the lateral elements are made in one piece and that the lateral elements are separable from the central part.

• les premier et second éléments latéraux ont une même longueur, égale à la moitié de celle de la partie centrale,
• la partie centrale comporte une cloison la divisant en deux alvéoles ;
• la cloison est orientée transversalement à la longueur de l'élément de construction ;
• la cloison divise la partie centrale en deux alvéoles de même longueur ;
• les parois longitudinales des éléments latéraux ont un profil rectiligne ;
• il présente, sur au moins une partie de son pourtour, des rainures verticales ;

This element could be presented according to the variants set out below:

• the first and second lateral elements have the same length, equal to half that of the central part,
• the central part comprises a partition dividing it into two cells;
• the partition is oriented transversely to the length of the building element;
• the partition divides the central part into two cells of the same length;
• the longitudinal walls of the side elements have a straight profile;
• it has, on at least part of its periphery, vertical grooves;

The invention also relates to a retaining wall composed from of a plurality of construction elements, characterized in that it is composed of construction elements according to the invention, said elements being organized in several levels overlapping, and that the components of the same level are juxtaposed by cooperation of a concave profile wall of an element with a convex profile wall of the adjacent element.

The attached drawings are given as indicative examples and not limiting. They represent preferred embodiments according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building element according the invention in a preferred embodiment.

Figure 2 is a top view of such a building element.

Figure 3 shows a possible embodiment with parts scored.

Figures 4 to 9 illustrate a top view or bottom view of different modes assembly of building elements according to the invention to produce a wall of Retaining.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate two retaining walls in perspective according to two preferred embodiments.

Referring to Figure 1, the building element 1 has a part central marked 2 and two lateral elements 3, 4 located on either side of the central part 2.

For the remainder of the description, longitudinal direction or length of the construction element 1 the direction defined by the longitudinal axis 14 in FIG. 2.

It is according to this direction that orient, on both sides of the part central 2, the side elements 3, 4.

Preferably and commonly, the building element is made of concrete.

The central part 2 and the lateral elements 3, 4 comprise a plurality vertical walls but not necessarily bottom.

This way you can use the building element in one direction or returned, allowing multiple configurations.

The vertical direction is understood by that given in figure 1 by the arrow 15.

Of course, the terms longitudinal and vertical are used to identify the three dimensions of the building element according to the invention with reference to the drawings without being limiting of their final arrangement during use.

Referring to Figure 2, we see that the central part 2 has four side walls, two of which have a convex profile and two of which have a concave profile an example is shown in top view of FIG. 2.

According to the invention, the concave and convex profiles are complementary so to allow the cooperation of walls with complementary profiles.

Furthermore, the four side walls are such that the two with a profile concave are adjacent just like the two with convex profile.

As shown to the right of the central part 2 in FIG. 2, a first lateral element 3 borders one of the walls with a convex profile marked 5 of the part central 2.

On the side opposite the border formed by the wall 5, the lateral element 3 has a wall 7 with the same convex profile.

Correspondingly to the left of the central part 2, a second side element 4 borders a wall with a concave profile 6 and has a wall 8 opposite the wall 6 of concave shape.

Advantageously and as it emerges from the different figures, the part central 2 has a length equal to twice that of each of the elements side 3, 4 which themselves have an identical length.

This example of particular choice of length L1, L2, L3 is identified in the figure 3 which also shows a characteristic of the invention according to which the lateral elements 3, 4 are breakable with respect to the central part 2.

By this is meant that the central part 2 and the lateral elements 3, 4 are made in one piece but it is possible, in particular through a vertical linear weakness formed at the junction of the central part and side elements (for example by a groove reducing the thickness of the wall to this level) to divide building element 1 into two or three separate parts.

As shown in Figure 2, the central part 2 also includes preferably a partition 9 dividing it into two cells 10a, 10b.

Therefore, the building element as a whole includes in this configuration four compartments.

This allows in particular to increase the contact surface concrete on concrete of two superimposed elements 1.

Preferably, the partition 9 is located in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction 14 and cuts the central part 2 in the middle.

Still preferably, the longitudinal walls 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b of the side elements 3, 4 have a straight profile.

Furthermore, as also visible in the various figures and in particular in Figure 1, at least part of the periphery of the construction element 1 has vertical grooves 13.

There are shown in Figures 4 to 11, different possibilities of assembly of construction elements 1 according to the invention in order to constitute a wall of Retaining.

Figure 4 shows an assembly of the elements 1 by one of their wall longitudinal, a concave profile wall of an element 1 cooperating with a wall convex profile of the adjacent element.

Figure 5 shows a similar cooperation but with an orientation different from the building components.

This orientation is possible by turning the elements of construction.

In this way, we can modify the external appearance of the wall to be built which can appear either in the form of juxtaposed curved elements, or in the form re-entrant elements juxtaposed. An example of a wall shape with the elements domed spring of figure 10.

Conversely, Figure 12 shows a wall whose external face is made by association of recessed surfaces made up of walls with concave profile.

Figure 6 shows that it is possible to make the construction elements 1 in their long sense.

To this end, the convex profile wall 7 of the first lateral element 3 of a element 1 cooperates with the concave wall 8 of a second lateral element of the adjacent building element 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates the case where the breakable character of the elements is exploited side 3, 4.

For this purpose, the second lateral element 4 has been removed from one of the building components 1.

Furthermore, this construction element 1 has been assembled with an element of adjacent construction so that a convex side wall of the first construction element 1 cooperates with the concave wall 8 of the second element side of the adjacent building element.

We understand that this mode of cooperation uses the dimension ratio advantageous of the invention in which the central part 2 is configured so as to that its concave and convex adjacent walls all have the same dimension.

Still in this figure, a third construction element has been represented. 1 for which the two side elements 3, 4 have been removed. This last building element 1 is added to building element 1 above through its concave wall 6.

In the case of Figure 8, a building element 1 is positioned so that its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of two construction elements 1 which are adjacent to it.

In this way, the central building element 1 can constitute a protrusion on the retaining wall and possibly allows a revegetation as shown in Figure 11.

This figure shows indeed, that one of the alveoli constituted by the volume interior of one of the side elements 3, 4 can serve as a receptacle for plants.

Figure 9 shows yet another possibility of cooperation of various construction elements 1 according to the invention.

In this context, the curved parts are alternated on one of the faces of the wall (constituted by walls with convex profile) and hollow parts (constituted by concave profile walls).

Of course, the different illustrated book variants are not given as an indication taking into account that the construction element 1 according to the invention allows to consider many variations also part of the invention.

REFERENCES

1.

Construction element

2.

Central part

3.

First side element

4.

Second side element

5.

Convex wall of the central part

6.

Concave wall of the central part

7.

Convex wall of the first side element

8.

Concave wall of the second lateral element

9.

Partition

10a, 10b.

alveoli

11a, 11b.

Longitudinal wall of the first lateral element

12a, 12b.

Longitudinal wall of the second lateral element

13.

Vertical groove

14.

Longitudinal axis

15.

Vertical direction

L1.

Length of the central part

L2.

Length of first side element

L3.

Length of second side element

Claims (8)

1. Construction element (1) for building retaining walls, comprising a central part (2) and two side elements (3, 4) whose arrangement can be modulated to create several structural configurations, characterized in that

   1° central part (2) comprises four side walls, including two adjacent ones with the same concave profile and two other ones with the same convex profile mirroring the aforesaid concave profile;

   2° a first side element (3) borders one (5) of the central walls with convex profile and presents a wall (7) opposite the central part (2) with the same convex profile;

   3° second side element (4) borders the concave wall (6) of central part (2) located opposite the first side element (3) and presents a wall (8) with the same concave profile opposite central part (2);

   4° central part (2) and side elements (3, 4) constitute a single length with side elements (3, 4) are divisible relative to central part (2).
2. Construction element (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that
      the first and second side elements (3 and 4 respectively) have the same length (L2, L3), equal to half of the length (L1) of central part (2).
3. Construction element (1) according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that
      central part (2) includes a partition (9) dividing it into two cells (10a, 10b).
4. Construction element (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that
      partition (9) is oriented crossways relative to the length of the construction element (1).
5. Construction element (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that
      partition (9) divides central part (2) into two cells (10a, 10b) of the same length.
6. Construction element (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that
      longitudinal walls (11a, 11b; 12a, 12b) of side elements (3, 4) have a straight profile.
7. Construction element (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that
      it has vertical grooves (13) on at least part of its circumference.
8. Retaining wall made up from a series of construction elements, characterized in that
      it consists of construction elements (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, the aforementioned elements (1) being organized in several levels one laid on the other,
      that elements (1) constituting a same level are juxtaposed by the wall with concave profile of element (1) co-acting with a wall with convex profile of adjacent element (1).

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