Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connection
assembly between a cross-sectionally U-shaped guide profile of
a retaining wall support element and a spreader flexibly
mounted in the guide profile.
A connection assembly of this type is known from DE
3,909,110 Al. With this connection assembly it may happen
that due to the high force of pressure applied by the dredger
or pile driver that forces the retaining wall slabs into the
soil, the compression spring unit loaded at the given moment
is too weak, and the spring connection is thereby
disconnected. The dredger operator often fails to notice that
the spring is overloaded, which may lead to undesirable
failure as well as leading to deformations and distortions
which are also undesirable.
The known prior art offers no other effective
possibilities for reinforcing the compression spring units.
In case of overload of the compression spring unit, there is
no provision made for a rigid stop of the lateral legs on the
guide profile. Another prior art drawback is that the
attaching bolts, which are required for connecting the support
shoe with the guide profile, are relatively expensive in terms
of manufacture and installation, and frequently are lost in
the soil. Furthermore, they are highly exposed to corrosion.
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SUMMARY OF ~HE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a connection assembly for increasing the spring force acting
on the support plate without substantially enlarging the
construction of the support shoe, and for permitting the
support shoe to be extended as far as possible within the
elastic range.
The above object is accomplished according by
providing a connection assembly between a cross-sectionally U-
shaped guide profile having a longitudinal axis of a retaining
wall support element and a spreader having a free end flexibly
mounted in the guide profile having a bridge comprising a
support shoe comprising an oblong support profile with an H-
shaped cross section. The oblong support profile has a
longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the
guide profile and projecting into the axis. The H-shaped
cross section of the support profile is an H-shaped bridge and
forms a support plate. The support plate has an upper side
facing the spreader and the upper side supports a receiving
device for the free end of the spreader. The support plate
has a bottom side facing the guide profile and the bottom side
supports each side of a longitudinal center plane of the
spreader, the longitudinal center plane vertically crossing
the longitudinal axis of the support plate. A lower
compression spring unit supports itself on the bridge of the
guide profile, and the lower compression spring unit has a
length greater than the height of the lower lateral leg parts
of the H-shaped support profile. The lower lateral leg parts
are formed by flanges of the I-beam or H-bridge of the support
profile and extend from the bottom side of the support plate.
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The lower lateral leg parts are a spaced distance from the
guide profile so as to provide a clearance space, the guide
profile forming a box-shaped pocket for receiving the support
shoe. The box-shaped pocket is formed by an upper pair of
walls and by a lower pair of walls formed by walls disposed in
each case on the bridge with a small spacing between each wall
of the pair of walls and on flanges of the guide profile. The
guide profile has~on its bridge in the center plane of the
pocket the plate extending perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis of the pocket. A bearing bushing is rigidly joined to
the bridge and has a longitudinal axis being directed
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide profile.
A cylinder is received in the bearing bushing and engages the
bearing bushing on the bottom side of the support plate of the
support profile. An upper compression spring unit for each
lower compression spring unit is mounted on the top side of
the support plate in alignment with the lower compression
spring unit. The upper compression spring unit has a length
greater than the height of upper lateral leg parts of the
support profile. The upper lateral leg parts extend from the
top side of the support plate and are formed by the H-flanges
of the support profile. A holding angle has two legs, with
one leg of the holding angle being detachably connected with
the respective pair of walls, the leg positioned in the
spacing between the walls of each pair of walls. The other
leg of the holding angle is an overlapping abutment for
gripping the respective upper compression spring unit
positioned on the top side of the support plate.
The connection assembly no longer necessitates using
a bolt bearing for the support shoe on the guide profile, but
makes use of a box-shaped pocket for receiving the support
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shoe. In this way, guide profiles that project beyond the
inner surface of the retaining wall support elements and
attaching bolts as well as complicated recesses for inserting
the attaching bolts are avoided in these retaining wall
support elements where the guide profile is already integrated
into the body of the retaining wall element.
However, the important advantage of the invention is
that when the support shoe is stressed, two compression spring
units loadable in each case with pressure diagonally relative
to each other will act via corresponding lever arms of the
support plate. These spring units will elastically absorb the
motion of the support plate, permitting the absorption of a
considerable impact force. Contrary to the prior art devices,
the lateral legs of the support profile in the present
invention provide lateral support for the compression spring
units, and no longer function as a stop means. No provision
need be made for a rigid stop means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which
discloses an embodiment of the present invention. It should
be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the
purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the
limits of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference
characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views:
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FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section view through a
connection assembly according to line I-I in FIG. 2;
FIG. 2 shows a cross section according to line II-II
in FIG. l; and
FIG. 3 shows a cross section according to line III-
III in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now in detail to the drawings, when a ditch
is blocked, two retaining wall support elements 1 are
positioned opposite to each other in each case and are kept
spaced apart by the spreaders 4. The retaining wall support
elements 1 are alternately driven into the soil by means of a
pile driver or a power shovel. In this connection, the
spreaders assume relative to the retaining wall support
element an inclined angular position deviating from a right
angle. This angular position may not exceed a defined angular
amount, e.g., 7, as the retaining wall geometry is changed
otherwise.
The drawing shows a retaining wall element 1, for
example a retaining wall slab or a support in which a U-shaped
guide profile 2 is integrated, and this profile is arranged
perpendicular to the bottom of the ditch. A support shoe 3 is
supported in guide profile 2 and fastened on the respective
end of a spreader 4. The guide profile 2 does not project
beyond inner surface 5 of the retaining wall element 1. A
box-shaped pocket 10 is formed by means of an upper and a
lower pair of walls 6, 7 disposed vertically on bridge 8 and
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transversely to flanges 9 of the guide profile 2. Each pair
of walls 6 and 7 are spaced a small distance from each other
to form a pocket therebetween. The pockets receive the
support shoe 3. In the vertical center plane transversely to
the pocket 10, a bearing bushing 11 is fastened on the bridge
8 of guide profile 2.
Support shoe 3 substantially comprises a support
profile 12 having an H-shaped cross section; the bridge of
this profile forms a support plate 13 and its flanges form the
upper and lower lateral leg parts 14 and 15, respectively.
The outside dimensions of support profile 12 are selected in
such a way that lower lateral leg parts 15 are positioned a
spaced distance from guide profile 2 to provide a clearance.
On the underside 16 of support plate 13, a cylinder
17 (e.g., a tube) is fastened transversely to the longitudinal
direction of this plate. The cylinder corresponds to bearing
bushing 11 and is held within the bearing bushing. The
bearing bushing does not require any special surface coating
or treatment.
on the top side 18 of support plate 13, a receiving
device 19 in the form of a sleeve is fastened to the free end
of spreader 4. Spreader 4 is locked on receiving device 19 by
means of a locking bolt 20 or the like, as shown in FIG. 3.
On both sides of the longitudinal center plane of
spreader 4, extending through the axis of cylinder 17, are
disposed lower compression spring means 21 spaced from each
other on the underside 16 of the support plate. Spring means
21 is supported on bridge 8 of guide profile 2.
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Upper compression spring means 22 is mounted in each
case on the top side 18 of support plate 13. Upper
compression spring means 22 are aligned with each respective
lower ¢ompression spring means 21. The upper compression
spring means are supported in each case on a leg 23 of a
holding angle member 24. The other leg 25 of angle member 24
is inserted into the space between the pairs of walls 6 and 7,
respectively, and detachably connected with these walls by
means of a bolt 26 or the like. Each compression spring unit
21 or 22 preferably includes oppositely wound screw
compression springs arranged concentrically within each other.
In each case the inner compression spring 27 supports an outer
compression spring 28. In this connection, the inner
compression spring 27 is in each case shorter in length than
the length of the outer compression spring 28 surrounding it.
However, the inner spring i8 longer in length than the height
of the lateral leg part 14 or 15 of the support profile 12,
with this part being directed away from the support plate 13.
The uppermost coil of each outer compression spring
28 resting against support plate 13 is drawn into the
clearance space limited by the inside diameter of compression
spring 28. The uppermost coil of each inner compression
spring 27, at the end resting against support plate 13, is
bent by 90 into the longitudinal center plane of the
compression spring 27, forming the bow or spring anchor 30.
Spring 27 projects through a slot (not shown) in support plate
13, and is detachably fastened onto this plate by means of a
clamping plate member 31 or the like.
In a practical method of application of the
invention, holding angle members 24 are loosened, and support
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shoe 3 is inserted into pocket lO so that cylinder 17 i6
received and held by bearing bushing 11. Subsequently,
holding angle members 24 are plugged in against the force of
upper compression spring means 22 and then locked into place.
During the reciprocal driving of the retaining wall
elements 1 into the ground, support shoe 3 pivots around the
axis of its cylinder 17. Simultaneously, support plate 13
supports itself on guide profile 2 by means of lower
compression spring unit 21 and by means of upper compression
spring means 22 (by means of holding angle member 24). Upper
spring means 22 is arranged diagonally relative to lower
spring means 21. This double arrangement of compression
spring means 21, 22 simultaneously supporting themselves
provides an elastic resistance or force counteracting the
driving force of the dredger. This unique resistance force is
also noticeable by the operator of the dredger.
The novel connection assembly of the invention does
not require any critical tolerances or expensive surface
treatments. All fastening means can be easily mounted and
detached, and secured on the retaining wall parts by means of
chains or the like in such a way that they will not be lost in
the soil. The simple support of the support plate replaces
the costly support used heretofore, with bearing bolts
inserted in the guide profile, and is of greater overall
strength.
While only a single embodiment of the present
invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood
that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto
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without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
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