Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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"A RETAINING WAhh SYSTEM"
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a retaining
wall system, and more particularly to a kit of molded
concrete blocks, having different dimensions, for
assembling a retaining wall.
Background Art
There are many patents which relate to retain-
ing walls made of molded concrete blocks and some are
described, for instance, in U.S. Patent 4,193,718
Wahrendorf et al and Canadian Patent 1,324,266 Ratte et
al issued November 16, 1993.
All of these prior art retaining walls are
made up of molded blocks having constant thicknesses.
Thus, even though the longitudinal dimensions of a
block might vary, as shown in the Ratte et al patent,
the thicknesses of such blocks are generally constant
in order to have an orderly progression of rows of
blocks .~
Disclosure of the Invention
It is an aim of the present invention to allow
a ,sloped retaining wall to be constructed with blocks
of different thicknesses, thereby giving the retaining
wall a more natural appearance. Since such retaining
walls are made to simulate stone retaining walls, such
appearance is enhanced by having molded blocks of dif-
ferent longitudinal and vertical dimensions.
It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a kit for a retaining wall and a method for
manufacturing such a kit.
It is a further aim of the present- invention
to provide an improved method of assembling a retaining
wall utilizing blocks of different sizes.
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A construction in accordance with the present
invention comprises a kit for assembling a retaining
wall wherein the kit is made up of a predetermined
number of blocks. Each block has the form of a right
rectilinear prism having an X axis in the longitudinal
direction, a Y axis in the width direction, and a
Z axis perpendicular to the X and Y axes. At least two
blocks of the kit have different dimensions in the X
axis. The dimensions in the Z axis of the first and
second blocks may also be different. The dimension in
the Y axis is constant.
A method in accordance with the present inven-
tion comprises the steps of first providing a mold
having a mold area defined by the mold sufficiently
large to mold a concrete slab representing a plurality
of--block modules pouring concrete into said mold
curing the concrete slabs fractionating the slab along
predetermined longitudinal fractionating lines to form
individual block modules having right prism shapes and
different dimensions at least in the longitudinal axis
of some block modules.
In a further more specific version of the
method, block modules of one slab having a predeter-
mined thickness are mixed with block modules of another
slab having a different thickness in order to form a
kit for assembling a retaining wall.
Another aspect of the present invention
includes a concrete slab for forming concrete blocks
for a retaining wall comprising a right rectilinear
prism having parallel top and bottom surfaces, opposed
end walls and opposed parallel side walls, a first ,
fractionating line extending parallel to the longitudi-
nal axis of the prism from one end wall to the other
and bisecting the prism. At least one second fraction
ating line extends, parallel to the transverse axis of
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the prism, from the first fractionating line to one of
the opposite side walls.
More specifically, a third fractionating
groove extends between one of the side walls on the
same side of the first fractionating groove and one of
the end walls to form the base of a right angled trian-
gle with the one end wall and the one side wall.
At least four concrete blocks can be formed by
fractionating the slab along the first and second frac-
tionating lines and one of the four blocks, containing
the third fractionating line can be converted into a
block having an angled end wall for the purpose of
forming a curved retaining wall, by fractionating the
block along the third fractionating groove.
Reference to the term slab in the present
specification refers to the formation of the multiple
block module in a single molding operation and in a
single mold, whether or not formed as one piece or in
several parts corresponding to the block modules.
A construction in accordance with another
aspect of the present invention comprises a kit for
forming a sloped retaining wall, the kit including at
least two blocks, each block having top and bottom
parallel planar faces and front, rear, and end faces,
each block having at least one opening extending from
at least one of the bottom, end or top surface and at
right angles to the surface from which it extends . The
opening is near the rear face. A retaining member is
included in the kit and has a first portion adapted to
fit in the opening, and a second portion adapted to
extend from the one opening and projects beyond one of
the top and bottom surfaces when the retaining member
is inserted in the opening so that the second portion
engages the rear face of the other block vertically
adjacent one of the top or bottom surfaces.
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In a more specific embodiment of the present
invention, the opening is defined in the block as a
through passage in the form of a keyhole-slot having a
cylindrical bore and a neck portion opening to the rear
face of the block. The retaining member includes a
cylindrical portion adapted to fit in the head of the
keyhole and a shank portion adapted to fit in the
narrow neck portion and project from one of the top and
bottom surfaces of the block, such shank including an
abutment surface at right angle to the top and bottom
surfaces of the block.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent
from the following description and the accompanying
drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Having thus generally described the nature of
the invention, reference will now be made to the accom-
panying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a
preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of
a retaining wall erected in accordance with the kit of
the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken
through a retaining wall;
Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing different
thicknesses of a molded block in accordance with the
present invention;
Figs. 4a and 4b are front and rear elevations,
respectively, of a partially assembled retaining wall
showing a different arrangement from Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-
section of a feature of the present invention;
Figs. 6a, 6b, and 6c are perspective views of
different embodiments of the retaining member of the
present invention;
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Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a
detail shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 8a is a vertical cross-section showing
another array of molded blocks forming a sloped
retaining wall with the retaining devices;
Fig. 8b is a vertical cross-section showing
an array of molded blocks forming a sloped retaining
wall according to a further embodiment;
Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a molded con-
Crete block cast forming two molded blocks face to face
in one piece;
Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section taken
along lines 10-10 of Fig. 9;
Fig. l0a is a fragmentary enlarged vertical
cross section of a detail in Fig. 10;
Fig. 11 is a still further embodiment of the
retaining member;
Fig. 12 is yet another embodiment of the
retaining member;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-
section view showing yet another embodiment of the kit
in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the
retaining member showing yet another embodiment
thereof;
Fig_ 15 is a top plan view thereof;
Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-
section showing another embodiment of a molded block in
accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the fragment of
the block shown in Fig. 16;
Fig. 18 shows still a further embodiment of a
r kit in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 19 is an exploded perspective view show-
ing an element useful for a capping member of a
retaining wall;
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Fig. 20 is an exploded perspective view show-
ing another embodiment of the feature shown in Fig. 19;
Fig. 21 is a side elevation partly in cross
section of a detail shown in Fig. 14 in another opera
s tive position;
Fig. 22 is a side elevation partly in cross-
section showing the detail in Fig. 20 in association
with a crown block;
Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a slab in
accordance with one embodiment of the present inven
tion;
Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal
cross-section taken through a detail of an anchor slot
and an anchor member according to a still different
embodiment thereof;
Fig. 25 is a top plan view of a slab in accor
dance with another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the slab
shown in Fig. 25;
Fig. 27 is a top plan view of another embodi-
ment of the slab in accordance with the present inven-
tion;
Fig. 28 is a fragmentary top plan view of a
row of a retaining wall showing blocks whose end walls
have been angled and the special retaining member used
therewith shown in dotted lines; and
Fig. 29 is a perspective view of a retaining
member for use with the embodiment of Fig. 28.
Modes For Carrying Out The Invention
Referring now to the drawings, and in particu- ,
lar to Figs. 1 and 2, a retaining wall 10 is shown made
up of molded concrete blocks 12 of a predetermined ,
thickness with blocks 14 being of a greater thickness
and blocks 16 having still a further greater thickness.
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Each block 12, 14, or 16 has a front face 18,
a rear face 20, .a top surface 22, and a bottom sur-
e
face 24. The block includes end surfaces 26. Each of
the blocks 12, 14, 16 includes one or more keyhole-
s slots 30. Each keyhole-slot 30, as shown in Fig. 9 for
instance, includes a circular cylindrical bore 32 and a
neck portion 34.
A retaining member 36, as shown in Fig. 6a,
includes a stem portion 38 of circular cylindrical
outline, and a shank portion 40 depending from the stem
portion 38. In the embodiment of Fig. 6a the shank por-
tion includes an extension of a segment of the cylin-
drical stem portion forming an abutment surface 41.
This abutment surface is at right angle to the bottom
surface 24 of the block when installed. As shown in
Fig. 2 the retaining member 36 fits into the keyhole-
slot 30 and projects below the bottom surface 24 as
shown. The shank member 40 including abutment sur-
face 41 abuts against the rear surface of an adjacent
lower block 12 or 14. The retaining member acts both as
a spacer and a retainer for the laying of the molded
blocks 12, 14, and 16, in constructing the retaining
wall 10.
As seen in Fig. 3, the molded blocks 13, 15,
and 17 have different thicknesses. In this example
three categories of thickness have been illustrated as
exemplified by block 13 which measures 65 mm., block 15
which measures 86.7 mm., and block 17 has a thickness
of 130 mm.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8a, the retaining
wall should have a slope in order to retain the back-
fill behind the retaining wall. This is especially true
when laying such molded blocks without mortar. In order
that the retaining wall be topped off with a crown, the
slope must be constant even though different
thicknesses of blocks are being used. By aligning the
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corners at the intersections of the front face 18 and
the top face 22, so that they are in the same sloped
plane, the retaining wall will have a consistency such
that the top surface of the retaining wall can be
aligned longitudinally and in the same plane in order
to receive a crown.
In order to achieve this alignment, it is
necessary to configure the keyhole-slots 30 such that
the keyhole-slots extend further inwardly of the block
from the rear wall 20, then.in a shallower block 12.
For example, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the extent
of the keyhole-slots 30 measured from the rear face 20
is twice as great in molded block 14 as it-is in molded
block 12. The keyhole-slot 30 in molded block 16 has an
inward dimension which is proportionally greater than
that shown in molded blocks 14 or 12.
The retaining members 36 are identical and are
placed with a cylindrical portion snugly fitted into
the bore 32 with a shank partly within the slotted neck
portion 34, and projecting downwardly so that it will
engage the rear face 20 of an adjacent block.
Fig. 8b shows an array of blocks 612 and 616
forming a retaining wall 610. In this embodiment the
retaining members 636 are integrally molded as part of
the block near the rear wall 620 projecting from the
bottom wall with an abutment surface 641 spaced from
the rear wall proportionally to the thickness of the
block.
Figs. 4a and 4b show an arrangement were one
of the molded blocks 14 is placed in a vertical orien-
tation as a jumper 14a. As seen in these figures the ,
jumper 14a should have a length in the X axis (the
length is shown in the vertical orientation in the case
of Figures 4a and 4b) such that the length is a multi
ple of the thickness of certain of the blocks used in
the arrangement (along the Z axis). In certain cases
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where several thicknesses are utilized it would be
sufficient for the length of the jumper block 14a to be
equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the other
blocks. Thus a jumper 14a can be utilized, in the
present embodiment, with a combination of two molded
blocks 16 laid one on top of the other, or a
combination of blocks 12 and 14. In lower profile
walls, the jumper 14a may be useful in ensuring that
the crown blocks 70 are in a common plane. Since
jumper 14a is selected from a block 14, which would be
supplied in the kit of blocks for building the
retaining wall, it is obvious that the keyhole-slots 30
will no longer have a vertical orientation.
Accordingly, in order to provide the proper slope or
stagger for the retaining wall and the position of the
jumper 14a in the retaining wall only the keyhole-slots
in the lower portion of the jumper 14a, as shown in
Fig. 4b, would be utilized while the other slots 30, in
the upper portion of the jumper 14a, would remain
empty. Thus retaining members 36 having abutment
extensions 40 can extend from the lower portion of the
jumper 14a to engage the rear surfaces of adjacent
blocks, thereby staggering the jumper 14a from the
bottom thereof so that it is properly aligned at the
top portion of the blocks.
Figs. 9 and 10 show a pair of blocks which are
molded in one piece. Rear faces 20 of these blocks 12
are formed with keyhole-slots 30, each having a bore 32
and a slotted neck 34. In Fig. 9 different sizes of
keyhole-slots 30 have been shown for purposes of illus-
- tration only. The blocks may have one or more keyhole-
slots 30. The molded pair is fractured along fraction-
- ating groove 31 in order to form two blocks.
In order to properly fractionate the slab, the
groove must form a V angle of less than 90 degrees. On
the other hand a narrow groove leaves a less than
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attractive beveled surface on the block formed by
fractionating the slab.
It is therefore desirable to provide a groove
having an angle of 90 degrees or more. However such a
groove will not provide a guarantee that, the split by
means of fractionating, will occur in the groove, in
view of the relative shallowness of the resulting
groove. The slab may be split in an erratic manner
unless the slab is fractionated with a special tool,
set in the groove.
It has been found that, in accordance with the
present invention, a sub groove may be located within
the groove to insure that the slab will always be
split along the desired fractionating line. As shown
in Fig. 10a, the groove 31 is provided with a sub
groove 31a at the apex thereof. Thus the groove 31 may
have an angle of more than 90 degrees while the sub
groove 31a will have an angle of less than 90 degrees.
It has been found that the slab might merely be struck
anywhere with a hammer blow and the fractionating line
or split will occur consistently along the sub
groove 31a.
Fig. 6b shows another embodiment of the pre-
sent invention wherein the retaining member 136 is
provided with a shoulder 137 formed on the cylindrical
stem 138. The shank 140 includes a downward portion
which is spaced from the tubular member 138 as shown
at 143. The retaining member 138 is illustrated in
Fig. 5 wherein the keyhole-slot has been altered to
receive the particular retaining member 136. The key-
hole-slot 130 includes a bore 132 and a frusto-conical
shoulder 133 with the lower portion of the bore 132
being of smaller diameter. The retaining member 136
will sit in the bore 132 with the shoulder 137 sitting
on the frusto-conical shoulder 133. This configuration
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1)
insures that the retaining member is properly located
in the keyhole-slot 130.
Fig. 6c shows a further embodiment of the
retaining member 36 which can be used in the keyhole-
slots 30. In this case, the retaining member has a
first circular cylindrical stem 38, a web 39, and a
further circular cylindrical abutment member 40 which
projects beyond the web. In installation it is this
extension of the circular cylindrical abutment mem-
ber 40 which will extend beyond the block.
In Fig. 14, the retaining member 236 includes
wings 235 which are slightly deformed when the cylin-
drical portion 238 is inserted in the corresponding
bore 32 of the keyhole-slot 30, so as to reduce the
chances of accidental displacement of the retaining
member.
Figs. 11 and 12 show two versions of the
retaining member to which anchor ties can be accommo-
dated. In Fig. 11 the retaining member 336 includes an
opening 337 in the shank 349.
In Fig. 12 the retaining member 436 includes a
hook-shaped shank 449.
Fig. 13 shows a still further embodiment of a
retaining member adapted to be used with a molded
block having a locking groove. In this case the
stem 536 includes a shank 540 with a short
projection 549 adapted to engage the groove in the
adjacent block.
Figs. 17 and 18 show a molded block to be used
as a crown in which the keyhole-slot 50 extends only
part-way through the block so that the top surface of
the block 22 is uniform and uninterrupted.
Fig. 18 shows a keyhole that extends longitu-
dinally of the block 612. The keyhole-slot 630 is
parallel to the top surface 622. The retaining mem-
ber 636 shown in Fig. 18 has a cylindrical bead mem-
ber 638, a web portion 639, and a shank 640 which is
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adapted to project below the bottom surface 624 of the
molded block.
Figs. 19 and 20 show different types of cap
devices which could be used in the event a typical
block 12, 14 or 16 is used as the capping member, so as '
to cover the keyhole-slot. The capping member includes
a plug 56 with a cap portion 58 that is offset. Fig. 20
shows a similar device with a circular cap portion 60
and a stem portion 62.
Referring now to Fig. 21, a retaining mem-
ber 236, as shown in Fig. 14, is utilized with the
stem 238 inserted into the bore 230 of block 12 from
the top surface 222 thereof. Thus, the shank 240
extends upwardly from the top surface of the block. A
crown 70 can then be set on the top of the retaining
wall where the block 12 in Fig. 21 is in the uppermost
row. Crown block 70 is provided with a longitudinal
groove 72 as is conventional, and thus the shank 240
can protrude within the groove 72 in order to retain
the crown block 70.
Likewise, as shown in Fig..22, the plug 62
with cap 60 can be utilized in relation to a crown
block 70 to protrude within the groove 72, and thereby
retain the crown block 70 against lateral movement.
It is also contemplated that, as shown in
Fig. 22, the plug and cap 60 could replace the retain-
ing member. In other words each block 12 would have a
groove 72 on the bottom surface and a bore could be
located in the block at a distance from the rear
wall 20 proportional to the thickness of the block. The
plug and cap 60 is then inserted into the bore and the .
cap extends into the groove, thereby locating and
retaining the adjacent blocks.
It is also contemplated that for low retaining
walls, that is for 500 mm. or less, it would not be
necessary to have the retaining members as described
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above. However it would be considered part of the pre-
sent invention to provide a kit for a retaining wall
which would include a number of concrete blocks having
different sizes to provide a more natural stone look to
the retaining wall. It is contemplated that several
concrete blocks of different lengths and thicknesses
but with relatively constant width could be provided to
build a retaining wall in the same manner as described
above but without the connecting elements.
A process for preparing a kit for building a
retaining wall has also been contemplated wherein the
process includes molding a slab of concrete 310
(Fig. 23). The slab 310 can be molded as a one-piece
slab in a typical concrete block molding unit which
might include a platform and removable side walls. It
can also be molded by using intermediate mold plates in
the mold to separate the mold modules. Thus the slab
may consist of several blocks separated one from the
other but molded in one mold cycle. The slab 310 has a
rectangular outline in one embodiment measuring
610 mm. x 460 mm. The slab 310 has side walls 312
and 314 and end walls 316 and 318. The slab may be
provided with through keyhole-slots 320 and blind
keyhole-slots 321 along the longitudinal edges and
extending inwardly from the side wall 312 and 314. For
instance in slab 310 the block module 328 would have
through keyhole-slots 320 and blocks 324, 326 and 330
would have blind keyhole-slots 321. Thus block
modules 324, 326 can be used as capping members by
inverting the blocks.
- A linear fractionating line 322 bisects the
slab into two halves 310a and 310b. The fractionating
line 322 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis X of
the slab 310 from end wall 316 to end wall 318. In the
present embodiment each slab half portion measures
230 mm. in width. The line 322 is imaginary since in
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most cases the slab will be fractionated at the plant
by suitable cutting tools.
Each slab half 310a and 310b is then sub-
divided into concrete block modules 324, 326, 328
and 330. For instance slab half 310a is subdivided into '
blocks 324 and 326 by means of fractionating line 332
while slab half 310b is separated into two block
modules 328 and 330 by means of fractionating line 334.
Fractionating lines 332 and 334 are parallel to trans-
verse axis Y and extend from fractionating line 322 to
the end walls 310 and 314 respectively. Fractionating
lines 332 and 334 are at right angles to the fraction-
ating lines 322.
At least one surface of the slab, in this case
the top surface, could be provided with fractionating
lines in the form of grooves 322, 332 and 334.
On the other hand the slab 310 could be molded
with a mold plate along fractionating line 332 and once
out of the mold, a fractionating blade could be used,
at the factory, to separate the block modules along
fractionating lines 332 and 334.
In the present embodiment block 324 now meas-
ures 360 mm. in length by 230 mm. in width. Block 326
measures 250 mm. x 230 mm. Block 328 measures 460 mm. x
230 mm., while block 330 measures 150 mm. in length and
230 mm. in width.
The keyholes 320 are located such that once
the slab has been fractionated each resulting
block 324, 326; 328 and 330 is provided with keyholes
which will be useful in the case of using the retaining
members. -
The block 324, in the present embodiment, may
be provided with a fractionating groove 336 while -
block 326 is provided with a fractionating groove 338.
Fractionating groove 336 extends from the end wall 318
to the side wall 312 at an obtuse angle to the axis X
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and in fact can be seen to form a right angle triangle
between side walls 312, end wall 318, and the base of
the triangle formed by a fractional groove 336. The
block would not normally be separated at fractionating
groove 336 unless it is required to form a curved
radius in the retaining wall, in which case a number of
blocks would be fractionated on site along a fractional
line such as fractional groove 336, in order to provide
an end face with an angle so that when merged with
other blocks a radius or curve can be defined.
The block modules 326 and 328 could be frac-
tionated along lines 338 and 340 respectively, as part
of the mold cycle. Thus blocks 326 and 328 would be
predetermined on the pallet-as blocks to form convex
curves in the retaining wall.
Slab 310 has a constant thickness, yet the
kit may be made with blocks of different thicknesses.
Accordingly a kit may be made up by blocks from
selected slabs of different thicknesses.
Fig. 24 shows another embodiment of a key-hole
slot wherein the openings 520 in a typical block 12
have an accordion configuration while the stem 538 of
retaining member 536 has a similar but shorter configu-
ration so that the retaining member can be adjusted to
adapt within the keyhole-slot 520.
Figs. 25 and 26 show another embodiment of a
slab, in this case identified 410. The block
modules 424 and 428 are already preformed with angular
end walls 436 and 440 respectively. These blocks 424
and 428 can be utilized to form a curve in the retain
- ,ing wall or could be used as any block 12, 14 or 16.
The keyhole-slots 420 which pass through the thickness
- of the block module 430 and blind keyhole-slot 421 are
shown with double bores. These double bore keyhole
slots permit the retaining member to be adjusted in
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terms of slope or stagger, either for a vertical wall
or for a staggered wall.
It should be noted that in respect of the
slabs 310 and 410, one of the block modules would pref-
erably be selected such that the X axis dimension of '
that block module would be a multiple of the thickness
of the block module. This enables any of the so formed
block modules to be utilized as a jumper 14a.
Another embodiment of the slab 710 is shown in
Fig. 27. In this embodiment the .blocks 724, 726, 728,
and 730 have slots such as slots 732 and 734 instead of
dividing lines. The slots 732 and 734 intersect the
groove 733 which is paral-lel to the X axis and bisects
the slab 710. Thus, after the slab 710 has been molded
it can be separated into four block modules immediately
upon fractionating the slab along the groove 733. Slabs
726 and 728 have further grooves 731 and 735 which can
be fractured on site by the installer in order to pro-
vide a block with an end surface at right angles to the
front or rear surfaces.
The process further includes the step of
preparing pallets on which the blocks are arranged in
the pattern that should be utilized in building a
retaining wall. Thus, assembling the retaining wall is
rendered much easier, when the blocks have been predis-
posed on the shipping pallets. Many variations could be
obtained from different predisposed arrangements on the
pallets, including the provision of blocks of the same
thickness, thus a slab could be fractionated and the
block modules merely placed on a pallet. However it is
to be noted that a retaining wall may be assembled by
mixing blocks from any number of pallets.
In a construction of a retaining wall, vari- ,
ous pieces might be necessary including a block which
could act as a crown for the retaining wall, a crown
which can act as an end or corner piece, etc.
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The following is a table showing a selection
of various blocks as they might be utilized in the
constructions of a retaining wall.
wall arc left right straightCorner step
and dumper
block hand hand cappingcappingblock
capping
corner cornerblock
arc
424
426
428
' 430
Referring to the slab in Figs. 25 and 26 the
following observations have been made in this
particular embodiment:
At least two of the block modules have a
length relationship where one block is 10~ longer than
the other block. For instance, if block 426 has a
dimension in the longitudinal axis which is A, then
block 430 has a length dimension in the longitudinal
axis which is A + A
If block 424 is selected as the jumper, then
the length h of block 424 must be a multiple the
height T of the slab in the Z axis. In other words,
block 424 must have an L dimension equal to 2T,
3T....nT.
At least one of the blocks such as blocks 426
or 430 has a right angle corner and a length 1 equal to
a width w + L
5
The width Y is constant for all of the blocks
in the slab. At least one of the blocks in each slab
must have an angle to the Y axis between 5° and 30°.
Each block in a slab has accommodation for
retaining members.
Figs. 28 and 29 show a typical row of
blocks 726 for instance. Since the end walls 734 may be
at an angle a special retaining member 36 can be
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utilized as shown in Fig. 29. The retaining member 36
has a stem 38, a shank 39, and a flat abutment
plate 40. The abutment plate 40 should be large enough
to bridge the gap formed by the diverting-end walls 734
of adjacent blocks 726. Of course retaining member 36
shown in Fig. 28 extends downwardly from the row above.
Moreover, the description and illustration of
the invention is by way of example, and the scope of
the invention is not limited to the exact details shown
or described.