FR3026117A1 - MATERIAL RETENTION DEVICE AND MATERIAL RETENTION SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A RETENTION DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

This material holding device (3) comprises holding arms (7) on which the retaining net (4) is intended to be fixed, a support bar (5) intended to be retained at an anchoring point, the holding arms (7) being connected to the support bar (5), and reinforcing elements (11) configured to reinforce the holding arms (7), each reinforcing element (11) being rigid and comprising a first end portion (11a) connected to a respective holding arm (7) and a second end portion (11b) connected to the support bar (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a material retaining device and a material retaining system comprising such a retaining device. EP 1 728 924 discloses a system for retaining solid materials, such as snow or earth, comprising: - a retaining net for retaining solid materials, and - a retaining device comprising a support bar intended to be retained at an anchor point, holding arms fixed on the support bar and on which the retaining net is fixed, and a plurality of metal connecting cables, each connecting cable comprising a first end fixed on a respective holding arm and a second end fixed to the support bar. Given the significant forces applied to the retaining net by the materials retained and successively transmitted to the holding arms and the connecting cables, it is necessary to use connecting cables of large section to ensure a satisfactory mechanical strength at restraint system described in EP 1 728 924. Such a configuration of the connecting cables makes it difficult to tension and therefore the installation of such a restraint system. The present invention aims to remedy these disadvantages. The technical problem underlying the invention is therefore to provide a material retaining device which is simple in structure, economical and reliable, while allowing easy installation. For this purpose, the present invention relates to a device for retaining materials, for example solid materials such as earth, snow, ice, gravel, rocks or a mixture of these materials, intended to be equipped 25 of a retaining net, the retaining device comprising: - holding arms on which is fixed the retaining net, - a support bar intended to be retained at an anchor point, the arms of holding being connected to the support bar, and reinforcement elements configured to reinforce the holding arms, each reinforcing element being rigid and comprising a first end portion connected to a respective holding arm and a second portion of end connected to the support bar. Such a configuration of the reinforcing elements makes it possible to ensure a high mechanical strength of the retaining device according to the invention, while allowing easy mounting and installation of the retaining device according to the invention.

The retaining device according to the invention may for example be used as an avalanche protection device or as a retaining device. The retainer may further have one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination. According to one embodiment of the invention, the support bar comprises a first end portion on which the holding arms are mounted, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion and intended to be retained. at the anchor point.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing elements are configured to form a pyramidal structure whose apex is oriented toward the second end portion of the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining device comprises a fixing element mounted on the support bar and intended to be fixed to the anchoring point. The fixing element is advantageously mounted on the second end portion of the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding arms are fixedly mounted relative to the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding arms are mounted movable relative to the support bar between a retracted position and an extended position in which, in use conditions, the retaining net is able to retain the materials. Such a configuration of the retainer allows easy storage and transport of the retainer. Advantageously, the holding arms are configured to extend, in the retracted position, substantially along the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, each holding arm is pivotally mounted relative to the support bar about a respective pivot axis extending transversely to the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, each support arm is connected to the support bar by a pivot connection. According to one embodiment of the invention, the material retaining device comprises a slider to which is connected the second end portion of each reinforcing element, the slider being configured to slide along the support bar between a first position in which the holding arms 35 are in the retracted position and a second position in which the holding arms are in the deployed position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the slider is tubular and extends around the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, the first end portion of each reinforcing member is pivotally mounted on the respective holding arm around a respective pivot axis extending transversely to the support bar, and the second end portion of each reinforcing member is pivotally mounted on the slider about a respective pivot axis extending transversely to the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, the material retaining device comprises at least one immobilization member configured to immobilize the slide in its second position. Advantageously, the at least one immobilizer is configured to immobilize the slide on the support bar. For example, the at least one immobilizing member is configured to extend through at least one through hole provided on the slider and at least one through hole provided on the support bar. According to another embodiment of the invention, the material retaining device comprises an abutment member movably mounted on the support bar between an abutment position in which the slider is able to bear against the abutment member. so as to maintain the holding arms in the deployed position, and a release position in which the holding arms are able to be moved to their retracted position. According to one embodiment of the invention, each connection zone between the first end portion of a reinforcing element and the respective holding arm is disposed at a distance from the free end of said holding arm.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding arms are configured to extend substantially in a deployment plane extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding arms are configured to form a cross in the deployed position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining device is a mono-anchor retaining device. According to one embodiment of the invention, each holding arm comprises a first end portion connected to the support bar and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each holding arm comprises at least one holding element on which is intended to be fixed the retaining net. Each holding member could be disposed near the free end of the respective holding arm. According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding arms, the reinforcing elements and the support bar are made of metal.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fastener may be a thread provided on the outer surface of the support bar. According to one embodiment of the invention, each holding arm and / or each reinforcing element has a circular or polygonal section, such as rectangular or square.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each holding arm and / or each reinforcing element may be formed at least in part by a tubular section. According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining device comprises two bearing elements mounted respectively on two adjacent holding arms and configured to bear on the ground in conditions of use of the retaining device. According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding arms are regularly distributed around the support bar. The present invention further relates to a material retaining system, comprising: - a material retaining device according to the invention, and - a retaining net attached to the holding arms and for retaining materials. According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining net has a quadrangular shape, and the holding arms are arranged substantially along the diagonals of the retaining net. According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining net is metallic. According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining net is configured to extend transversely to the support bar in the extended position of the holding arms. According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining net is configured to be centered with respect to the support bar in the extended position of the holding arms.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining net is disposed on the side of the second end portion of the support bar relative to the holding arms. In any case the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this material retention system. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a material retention system according to the invention in the deployed position. Figure 2 is a side view of the material holding system of Figure 1 in the deployed position. Figure 3 is a front view of the material holding system of Figure 1 in the deployed position. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a material holding device in the deployed position belonging to the holding system of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the material retainer of Figure 4 in the retracted position. Figure 6 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of the material retainer of Figure 4 in the deployed position. Figures 1 to 3 show a retaining system 2 configured to retain solid materials, such as soil, snow and gravel. The retaining system 2 more particularly comprises a retaining device 3 and a retaining net 4 fixed on the retaining device 3. The retaining net 4 may for example be metallic. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining net 4 has a quadrangular, and more particularly rectangular, shape under conditions of use of the retaining system 2. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the retaining device 3 comprises a support bar 5 comprising a first end portion 5a and a second end portion 5b opposite the first end portion 5a. The second end portion 5b is intended to be retained at an anchor point. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining device 3 comprises a fixing element 6 mounted on the second end portion 5b and intended to be fixed to the anchoring point. The fastener 6 may for example be pivotally mounted relative to the support bar 5 about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the support bar 5, and may define a retaining passage. However, according to an alternative embodiment of the retaining device 3, the second end portion 5b could have, on its outer surface, an anchor thread intended to be anchored in the ground or in a concrete or cement structure. The support bar 5 may for example be metallic. In addition, the support bar 5 may for example have a circular or polygonal section, such as square. The retaining device 3 further comprises a plurality of holding arms 7 regularly distributed around the support bar 5 and on which is fixed the retaining net 4. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the 10 holding arms 7 are four in number. Each holding arm 7 may for example be metallic, and for example have a circular section. However, each holding arm 7 could have a section of another shape, for example square, H, T, I or L. Each holding arm 7 could also be formed at least in part by a profile tubular. Each holding arm 7 comprises a first end portion 7a connected to the first end portion 5a of the support bar 5, and a second end portion 7b opposite to the respective first end portion 7a. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the second end portion 7b of each holding arm 7 advantageously comprises a holding element 8 on which a portion of the retaining net 4 is able to be fixed, and more particularly a portion of the peripheral edge of the retaining net 4. A portion of the retaining net 4 could for example be fixed on each holding member 8 by means of a clamping or fixing member, for example of the Rilsan type. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first end portion 7a of each holding arm 7 is connected to the first end portion 5a of the support bar 5 by a pivot pin connection 9. extending substantially perpendicularly to the support bar S. Thus, the holding arms 7 are movably mounted relative to the support bar 5 between an extended position (see in particular Figures 1 and 3) in which the holding arms 7 form a cross and define a deployment plane, and wherein the retaining net 4 extends transversely to the support bar 5 and parallel to the deployment plane and is adapted to retain solid materials, and a retracted position in which the holding arms 7 extend along the support bar 5 and the retaining net 4 is folded.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the holding arms 7 are configured to extend substantially along the diagonals of the retaining net 4 when in the deployed position. In addition, according to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining net 4 is inclined at an angle between 70 and 1100 relative to the longitudinal axis of the support bar 5, when the holding arms are in position. deployed position. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining net 4 is disposed on the side of the second end portion 5b of the support bar 5 relative to the holding arm 7 when the latter are in the deployed position.

The retaining device 3 further comprises two bearing elements 10 secured respectively to two holding arms 7 adjacent and configured to bear on the ground under conditions of use of the retaining system 2. Each bearing element 10 may example be formed by a pad or a footing. The retaining device 3 also comprises reinforcing elements 11 configured to reinforce the holding arms 7. Each reinforcing element 11 is rigid and comprises a first end portion 11a connected to a respective holding arm 7 and a second portion 11b end member connected to the support bar 5. Each reinforcing element 11 may for example be metallic, and for example have a circular section. However, each reinforcing element 11 could have a section of another shape, for example square, H, T, I or L. Each reinforcing element 11 could also be formed at least in part by a tubular profile. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining device 3 comprises a tubular slider 12 extending around the support bar 5 and configured to slide along the support bar 5 between a first position (shown in FIG. FIG. 5) corresponding to a retracted position of the holding arms 7 and a second position (shown in FIG. 2) corresponding to an extended position of the holding arms 7. The first end portion 11 a of each reinforcing element 11 is connected to the respective holding arm 7 by a pivot connection 13 and the second end portion 11b of each reinforcing element 11 is connected to the slider 12 also by a pivot connection 14. Thus, a displacement of the slider 12 in the direction of the second end portion 5b of the support bar 5 causes a displacement of the holding arms to their retracted position, while a movement of the slide at 12 in the direction of the first end portion 5a of the support bar 5 causes the holding arms to move to their deployed position.

As shown in FIG. 4, each pivot connection 13 is advantageously arranged at a distance from the free end of the respective holding arm 7, and the reinforcing elements 11 are preferably configured to form a pyramidal structure whose apex is oriented in the direction of the second end portion 5b of the support bar 5, when the holding arms 7 are in the deployed position. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the retaining device 3 comprises two immobilizing members 15 (shown in FIG. 6) configured to immobilize the slider 12 on the support bar 5 when the slider 12 is in its second position, so as to maintain the holding arms 7 in their deployed position. Each immobilizing member 15 is, for example, configured to extend through a first pair of respective diametrically opposed through-holes provided on the slider 12, and a second pair of respective diametrically opposed through-holes provided on the support bar 5. Each immobilizing member 15 may for example be formed by a bolt. According to one embodiment of the retaining device 3 not shown in the figures, the holding arms 7 could be mounted fixed with respect to the support bar 5. A retaining device 3 according to such an embodiment would differ from that shown on FIG. Figures 1 to 5 essentially in that it would be devoid of slider and in that the holding arms 7 and the reinforcing elements 11 would be integral with the support bar 5 and extend in accordance with the deployed position shown on the Figures 1 to 3. It should be noted that the support bar 5 could be fixed to the anchor point so that the support bar 5 and the reinforcing elements 11 are able to be embedded in the solid materials retained by the retaining net 4, or on the contrary so that only the holding arms 7 are adapted to be embedded in the solid materials retained by the retaining net. As goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the embodiments of this restraint system, described above as examples, it encompasses all the variants.

Claims (4)

REVENDICATIONS1. Material retaining device (3) to be equipped with a retaining net (4), the retaining device (3) comprising: - holding arms (7) on which the retaining net is to be fixed (4), - a support bar (5) intended to be retained at an anchor point, the holding arms (7) being connected to the support bar (5), and - reinforcing elements (11) configured to reinforce the holding arms (7), each reinforcing member (11) being rigid and comprising a first end portion (11a) connected to a respective holding arm (7) and a second end portion ( 11b) connected to the support bar (5). The material holding device (3) according to claim 1, wherein the support bar (5) has a first end portion (5a) on which the holding arms are mounted, and a second portion of end (5b) opposite the first end portion (5a) and intended to be retained at the anchor point. 20 Material retaining device (3) according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements (11) are configured to form a pyramidal structure whose apex is oriented towards the second end portion (5b) of the support bar (5). 25 Material retaining device (3) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second end portion (5b) of the support bar (5) comprises at least one fastening element (6) to be fixed at the anchor point. A material retainer (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding arms (7) are fixedly mounted relative to the support bar (5). 6. A material retainer (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding arms (7) are movably mounted relative to the support bar (5) between a retracted position and a deployedposition in which, under conditions of use, the retaining net (4) is able to retain the materials. The material retainer (3) according to claim 6, wherein each holding arm (7) is pivotally mounted relative to the support bar (5) about a respective transversely extending pivot axis. to the support bar (5). 8. Material retaining device (3) according to claim 6 or 7, which comprises a slide (12) to which is connected the second end portion (11b) of each reinforcing element (11), the slide (12). ) being configured to slide along the support bar (5) between a first position in which the holding arms (7) are in the retracted position and a second position in which the holding arms (7) are in the extended position. The material retainer (3) according to claim 8, wherein the slider (12) is tubular and extends around the support bar (5). A material retainer (3) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first end portion (11a) of each reinforcing member (11) is pivotally mounted on the respective holding arm (7) and the second end portion (11b) of each reinforcing element (11) is pivotally mounted on the slider (11). The material holding device (3) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, which comprises at least one immobilizing member configured to immobilize the slider (12) in its second position. 12. material retaining device (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises two support elements (10) respectively mounted on two holding arms (7) adjacent and configured to bear on the ground in conditions of use of the restraint. The material retainer (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding arms are configured to extend substantially in a deployment plane extending transversely to the support bar. 14. Material retaining system (2), comprising: - a material retaining device (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and - a retaining net (4) fixed on the holding arms ( 7) and for holding materials.