Patent ID: 6431797
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: E02D

Abstract:
A soil retaining system for a body of soil having an upper grade level at its surface and a lower grade level beneath its surface, said system comprising:a footer positioned at or below the lower grade level of the soil; a plurality of vertically extending post-tensioning rods having one end of each anchored in said footer; a plurality of courses of masonry blocks having voids therein passing around the respective vertically extending post-tensioning rods; a plurality of clamping plates, one each positioned to permit a corresponding one of said vertically extending post-tensioning rods to extend therethrough and positioned to bridge the void in a corresponding masonry block; a plurality of nuts, each threaded on a different one of said post-tensioning rods to apply force to said clamping plate and to post-tension said rods; the soil being in contact with one face of substantially all of the courses of masonry block; said post-tensioning rods being offset within said courses of masonry blocks toward the face of the blocks in contact with the soil.