IMPROVEMENT IN CEMENT BLOCK WALLS

Abstract: Mortarless cement block wall (24) formed from H-blocks (10) and frame-like plastic inserts (30) engaging single central cells (16) and combined end cells (20) of the blocks (10). Upper and lower insert walls (50, 52) are tapered for ease of insertion and have flattened vertical wall portions (56, 58) for stable seating in the cells. Upper walls (50) have notches (74) for horizontal reinforcing rods (66). Horizontal walls (72) in inserts (30) hold grout around rods (66). Ends (110, 114) of face shell walls (12) have vertical corner recesses (40) and tongues (112, 116) limiting abutting areas. One tongue (116) laps the abutting areas in side view. There is grout space (118) between the tongues (112, 116) and there is grout space (120) between the inner tongue (116) and the facing portion (122) of the opposite end wall (110).

Description: 1 BPROVEMENT IN CEMENT BLOCK WALLS Technical Field The invention pertains to the construction of cement block walls. Background Ar The following prior U.S. patents appear to be the most pertinent known to the applicant: k,091,587 3,325.956 2,681.,589 3,31-*-,208 -.,167,81.0 1.,262,1.63 3,222,830 3,717,967 3,1+79,782 3,86 ) .,885 3,968,615 British patents of like pertinency are 1,385,01.5, printed 1975, and 591,067, printed 19-.7. Patent 1+,091, 87, a previous patent to applicant will be reviewed later. The present and previous inventions concern cement block walls not using mortar between abutting block surfaces. Patent 3,325,956 in¬ cludes inserts interengaging between superposed blocks in mortarless walls. The expression "mortarless" does not exclude the use of mortar to grout in reinforcing bars. The other patents listed deal with mortarless walls, interengag¬ ing means at the ends of face shield walls like tongues and grooves, i.e., grooves 13 in Patent 2,68.,589, inserts interengaging between superposed blocks, i.e., sleeves 18 in Patent 3,-^79,782, grouting of horizontal and vertical reinforcing bars, horizontal and vertical reces ses in mortarless walls to simulate mortar joints, i.e., grooves 26, 27 in Patent 3,31**.,208, knockouts, i.e., elements 8 & 9 in Patent .,262,1.6 and element 17 in British Patent 1,385,01.5- Disclosure of Invention The invention relates to a system for constructing a cement block wall without the use of mortar between the blocks in laying them up int the wall and with the use of interengaging inserts between superposed H-blocks and with interengaging means at the ends of face shell walls. The invention does not exclude vertical grouting of aligned cells, with or without vertical reinforcing rods, or the use of grout in installa- tion of horizontal reinforcing rods in a bond beam manner in a cement block wall. It is the use of mortar to form joints between blocks that -BUREA OMPI Is eliminated. Some of the principal objectives of the invention are: (a) To avoid the work involved in the handling of the morta in making mortar joints. (b) To avoid the work involved in aligning the cement block when mortar joints are used, (c) To avoid the materials cost of the mortar itself. A major concern in the building industry for some time, especiall in locations like California with earthquake potentials, is the strengt of cement block walls especially in earthquake conditions. It has be¬ come realized that most of the strength of cement block walls comes fro grouting, particularly with reinforcing rods. In conventional cement block walls, the block wall portions between grouted areas have quite limited strength properties and are primarily enclosures in terms of th magnitude of physical forces involved in earthquakes or tornadoes for e amples. Those realizations are important to the present invention in that the use of mortar joints is not considered to be necessary for the physical strength of a cement block wall. Another realization is that a non-load bearing structure such as a garden wall or fence does not ne mortar joints for physical strength, which is better provided by spaced areas that are grouted. It is important to the present invention not on that a cement block wall be provided without mortar joints by also that grouting in of reinforcing rods be facilitated or at least not hampered. One common requirement in grouting of vertical reinforcing rods is that mortar droppings be cleaned out of cells to be grouted, and that proble is avoided if mortar isn't used. Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cement block wall, with por¬ tions broken away, showing various features of a specific embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a block interengaging insert. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure k is an enlarged sectional view taken on line k-k of Figur 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken as indicated b line 5-5 in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a perspective view from above a cement block made ac¬ cording to the present invention. Figure 7 is like Figure 6 only taken from below. Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7 and including a knockout wall. Figure 9 is like Figure 8 but with the knockout wall removed. Figure 10 is a perspective view from below of a full-length end block. Figure 11 is a perspective view from below of a half-length end bl Figure 12 is an enlarged detail of the block corner area indicated by line 12-12 in Figure 10. Figure 13 is like Figure 2 except of an insert with a horizontal vail. Figure l is like Figure 3 except of an insert with a horizontal wall. Figure 15 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a wall wit inserts arranged in one pattern with inserts arranged in every other are of abutting upper and lower cells. The inserts are located in the tops of single central cells. Figure lβ is like Figure 15 but with inserts disposed in every area of abutting upper and lower cells, which is a different option. One tim when inserts may be arranged in every cell in a block course is when hor zontal reinforcing rods are to be grouted in above that course and the i serts have horizontal walls as in Figures 13 and 1. to hold grout around those rods. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Particular reference is made to a prior patent of applicant concern ing mortarless walls, U.S. Patent .,091,587, dated May 30, 1978, issued to Charles ¥. Depka, entitled "Cement Block Wall". Reference is made particularly to the version of that patented construction shown in Figur 18-27, in which paired inserts are used which permit blocks to abut. No in Figure 27 of that patent the knockout bottom walls 110 to hold mortar in grouting-in horizontal reinforcing rods. * One of the purposes of Patent s 091 . 587 was to use standard pre¬ cision blocks. Such use of standard precision blocks suffers from the Ukt problem that in a course of blocks the center tie wall were not as wid as the combined widths of two abutted end tie walls. In superposed courses of blocks, cells were not exactly superposed between courses, i.e., Column , lines 3-11, of the patent reads: "There is additional reason for offset between the cells 12 of blocks of upper course 22 and lower course 2_. in Fig. 10 and that Is, due to half-lapping of blocks, center tie wall 1-. of upper course 22 is superposed to two end tie walls 18 of lower course 2k and end tie walls 18 of upper course 22 are superpose to centertie walls l of blocks of lower course 2k. Considerin the upper center tie wall lU in Fig.10, it is roughly half of the width of the two adjacent end tie walls 18 therebelow." In the present invention, it is an objective to get the centers o superposed cells aligned in order to avoid the complications in the co struction of block interengaging members or inserts 8C in the prior pat ent, in which the lack of symmetry in superposed cells resulted in com plicated and -.asymmetrical inserts 80. In the present invention, it has been discovered that such complications in mortarless walls can be avoided by the use of H-blocks 10 in which the face shell walls 12 are tied together by two medial tie walls lU forming a single central cell 16 and forming two end half-cells 18. When an end half-cell 18 in one block is abutted to an end half cell 18 in another block the combined end cell 20 is the same size as the single central cell lβ. When H-bl are half-lapped on successive courses 22 in a wall 2k, combined end ce and single central cells l6 will be superposed and will have common ce ters in plan view (will be concentric). In fact, they would be congru ent in plan view were it not for the vertical tapers of cells l6, 18, required for mold releases in making cement blocks. A multiplicity of frame-like inserts or block interengaging mem- bers 30 are provided. A primary objective of the invention is to pro¬ vide a mortarless cement block wall, i.e., a cement block wall with no mortar between blocks and therefore with no mortar joints. Mortar is used in grouting cells or grouting reinforcing rods in cells but morta isn't used between blocks. They are simply abutted. Members 30 are used to facilitate laying up the cement block walls 2l, i.e., inserts 30 provide the basic guide to the worker who puts inserts 30 into a lower block course 22 and orients blocks 10 in the next upper course 2 merely by engaging them with inserts 30. The inserts 30 have limited strength and may be slightly pliable, which means that the upper block 10 are properly engaged with inserts 30 rather than forced into place too roughly, as inserts 30 might give or break if they were subjected to excessive force. Of course it would be possible to make inserts 30 heavier or to make them of stronger material, to withstand more abusiv treatment, but that is not necessary. Preferably inserts 30 are molde out of plastic, such as polythylene. They could be fabricated from met or molded from a different material. The purpose of inserts 30 is not primarily for sealing of joints and sealing does not have to be a function at all. In a preferred em¬ bodiment of the invention the inserts 30 are used only in alternate cel as shown in Figures 1 and 15, i.e., the inserts preferably are only in- stalled in the upper ends of single central cells 16 and not in the up¬ per ends of combined end cells 20, so inserts 30 inthat configuration would only seal every other cell area. One purpose of sealing would be to confine grout in cells and that function can be taken care of by block abutments if suitable tolerances are maintained in block manufac- ture. However, how many inserts 30 are used is the decision of the builder and some builders may want to use inserts 30 at every cell join for sealing or other purposes. As later will be described, use of in¬ serts 30 in every cell of a course, as in Figure l6, is the preferred construction especially in a bond beam situation when a horizontal rein forcing bar is to be grouted in place. Inserts 30 have a limited function in wall strength, i.e., stren against removal of a block from a wall, although if strength were a pri mary objective, inserts 30 could be used in every cell joint and insert 30 could be made of heavier, stronger material. Blocks 10 are .installed- in a wall in inverted positions to their orientations when made. What is bottom during manufacture is top when installed in a wall. When manufactured, the block is supported on a flat metal plate, which means that edges on the bottom of the block whe manufactured are especially true and sharp. Molds used in molding the cement block descend and abut the flat metal plate, and the molds are raised after molding while shoes strip the blocks from the molds. The blocks remain supported on the plates until sufficiently cured. Horizontal mortar joints are simulated in each block 10 by a hori¬ zontal corner recess 32 extending from end to end of block 10 and from the face of each face shell wall inwardly at the top of the block as made. The inner recess wall should be upwardly tapered at about fif¬ teen degrees to avoid a problem in upward mold release. The top of each block 10 as made (bottom of block in wall) should be radiused at 3k adjacent to each recess 32 to reduce mold suction when the mold move upwardly from the molded block. Radiuses 3k have proven to be import- ant in reducing block imperfections in that area. Horizontal corner recesses 32 are at the bottoms of blocks 10 as they are laid into a wall. vertical mortar joints are simulated in each block 10 by a ver¬ tical corner recess lf-0 extending from top to bottom of block 10 and from the face of each face shell wall inwardly at one end of the block. Each single central cell 16 and each combined end cell 20 have walls tapered from bottom to top in the positions thereof in wall 2k. As before observed, blocks 10 are installed in wall 2k in inverted po¬ sitions to their orientations when made. The upward tapers of the cell when installed is downward tapers of the cells when made which means that the mold portions used to make cells 16, 20 will be released as they move upwardly after making blocks 10. These tapers mean that at the locations of abutment of superposed upper and lower cells the upper cell has larger width and length dimensions and the lower cell has smal ler width and length dimensions forming a generally evenly spaced ledge 1.2 around the lower cell on the lower block between the upper edge of the lower cell and the lower edge of the upper cell. Ledge k2 forms a generally rectangular and symmetrical outline in plan view. Each frame-like insert 30 has end and side portions forming a gen- erally rectangular outline in plan view. Each insert 30 has a larger upper wall 50 fitting in the larger lower portion of the upper cell of superposed cells 16, 20 and each insert 30 has a smaller lower wall 52 fitting in the smaller upper portion of the lower cell. Because of the difference in sizes of larger upper wall 50 and smaller lower wall 52, a lower horizontal medial surface 5k is formed extending generally hori zontally inwardly from the lower margin of upper wall 50 to the upper margin of lower wall 52. Lower horizontal medial surface 5k forms a ge erally rectangular and symmetrical outline in bottom view. Lower hori zontal medial surface 5**- rests on and generally fits ledge 1.2. Insert 30 locate blocks 10 in upper and lower courses 22 of blocks in wall 2k by engaging adjacent superimposed upper and lower cells 20, 16. The exterior surface of larger upper wall 50 of each insert 30 tapers upwardly to provide a wedging, camming action in inserting in the larger lower portion of the upper cell of superposed cells. The exterior surface of smaller lower wall 5 of each insert 30 tapers dow wardly to provide a wedging camming action in inserting in the smaller upper portion of the lower cell of superposed cells. The lower portion 56 of the exterior surface of the larger upper wall 50 adjacent to lower horizontal medial surface 5k is substantiall vertical to form a seat to engage in the larger lower portion of the u per cell of superposed cells. The upper portion 8 of the exterior su face of the smaller lower wall 52 adjacent to lower medial surface 5k is substantially vertical to form a seat to engage in the smaller uppe portion of the lower cell of superposed cells. Flattened vertical por tions 56, 58 adds to the stability of inserts 30 when originally set i the lower cell, during the process of engaging the upper cell on the insert, and after the insert is interengaged in upper and lower cells 2 l6. The importance of this feature was discovered after walls 50, 52 were tapered, which helped in engaging inserts 30 in blocks but also made them more unstable. Figure 1 shows grouting of vertically aligned cells 16, 20 with mortar 6θ and often with vertical reinforcing rods 62. The spacing of vertical grouting 6θ and vertical rods 62 will depend on needed strengt for the particular wall 2k which will vary between load bearing walls and non-load bearing walls and also will vary as to special conditions such as earthquake-prone areas. In some walls, every line of verticall superposed cells 16, 20 will be grouted and reinforced, and, in other walls, grouting or reinforcing may be spaced or even widely spaced. Horizontal grouting and reinforcement likewise will vary depending on needed strength in an application and related building codes. Such bond beam installations require bond beam blocks 10, meaning tie walls * lU must have recesses 6k in their lower portions to permit horizontal reinforcing rods 66 to pass.H-blocks10 can be provided with regular bloc without recesses 6k and bond beam blocks with recesses 6k. Another al¬ ternative is to provide blocks with spaced slots 68 forming recesses 6k when the wall between slots 68 is knocked out as shown in Figure 9. Th wall between slots 68 can be termed "knockout wall". The narrowness of slots 68 and their considerable relative depths will not pas ' s mortar even if slotted blocks are used in place of regular blocks, as the mor¬ tar will plug slots 68. Horizontal grouting 70 is used to embed horizontal rods 66 as sho in Figure k. Although Figures 1 and k show use of two horizontal rods 66_. use of only one horizontal rod 66 is more common. The grouting 70 must be supported in vertically aligned cells 16, 20 in which ver¬ tical grouting 6θ is not used. Such support of grouting 70 could be accomplished in a number of ways, such as use of a sheet of plastic or mesh or other material to hold up the mortar until it Is set. The use of a thin horizontal wall on floor 72 in inserts 30 is illustrated bridging the- space between end portions and side portions of inserts 30. Horizontal- wall 72 is located medially of insert 30 vertically, at near the level of horizontal surface 5**-- Wall 72 is thin enough to be knocke out or otherwise opened to pass vertical rods 62 or inserts 30 without walls 72 could be used. A series of inserts 16 with horizontal walls 72 supporting horizontal grouting 70 is preferred located side by side in the same course in adjacent central cells lβ and combined end cells 20. Whereas inserts 30 may be only set in the tops of single central cells 16 and may not be set in the tops of combined end cells 20 in many insta lations, if horizontal grouting 70 is to be supported then, in that case the inserts 30 must be used in every cell whether central cell 16 or co bined cell 20. Figure 1 shows horizontal rods 66 In a course in which in serts 30 are illustrated only used in the tops of single central cells 1 to demonstrate that condition, but ordinarily a full series of inserts 3 in the tops of both cells l6 and 20 would be used under horizontal rods 66, To support horizontal reinforcing rods 66, the upper end portions of upper walls 50 of inserts 30 have upwardly open notches 7**- under re- cesses 6k forming rests to receive and position horizontal rods 66. Pr ferably each end portion of upper walls 50 of inserts 30 have 'three spac notches to accommodate either two spaced horizontal rods 66 or one cen trally located rod 66. For needed strength or to comply with building codes, a certain minimum amount of grouting must be provided around rods 66 which means the bottom of notches fk must be spaced from the top of horizontal wal 72 a considerable distance. The position of rods 66 in outer notches 7*. must be spaced at least that distance from each other and from ad¬ jacent insert and block surfaces to the sides. As depicted, notches 7**+ are wider than the diameters of rods 66 normally used, so the minimum spacing is from the positions of rods 66 in notches Ik and not from the walls of notches Tk themselves. Hotches lk are made wider than rods 66 so that rods 66 merely can be dropped into notches fk rather than fitted into notches 7**+, in order to save labor. It will be observed in comparing Figures 2, 3, ■*., 13 and Ik that the upper end portions of upper walls 50 of inserts 30 are considera¬ bly higher when a horizontal wall or floor 72 is used in inserts, so ' that rods 66 will be sufficiently spaced from horizontal walls 72, etc. and this extra height of walls 50 may extend above the tapers in the end portions of walls 50. Horizontal wall 72 preferably has a series of drain openings 76. Special blocks are needed where walls end and where walls turn corners. Examples of a wall end include a doorway, a window opening, ■ and the end of a building or garden wall. Blocks 10 normally are half-lapped in adjacent courses 22 in a wall 2k. One way to end a wall 2k is to provide special full-length and half-length closed.end blocks 80, 82. Full-length closed end block 80 and half-lengthclosed-end blocks 82 have one flush end tie wall 8k, which is at the very ends of the blocks and provide generally planar end surfaces on the blocks. If at the end of a wall, full-length closed end blocks 80 and half-length closed end blocks 82 were super¬ imposed, the wall would end with a generally planar surface, as demon¬ strated at the right hand end in Figure 1. Also, the full-length end blocks 80 can be used to form a right-rectangular corner with a first end block 80 on a first level having its flush end tie wall 8 facing one direction and a second block 80 above or below having its flush end tie wall 8. facing in another direction, as demonstrated at t e left hand corner of Figure 1. A question is presented with full-length and half-length end bloc 80, 82 as to what to do with tie walls other than end tie walls 8k, 86 It was decided the blocks 8θ 5 82 would work best if one medial tie wal 90, 92 were provided in each block 8θ, 82 spaced from the ends of the blocks opposite to walls 8k, 86 the same distance as medial tie walls k are spaced from the ends of blocks10 to form like end half cells 9k 96, whereby a combination of an end half-cell 18 with an end half-cell 9k or 96 will form a usual size combined end cell 20. This means that the remaining cellular space 98 on the full-length end block 80 is lon er than an insert 30 and the remaining cellular space 100 on the half- length end block 82 is too small for an insert 30, but that should not be a problem as usually the end or corner superposed cells will be grouted and/or reinforced, so that inserts will not be needed for re- tention. Face shell walls 12 have vertical end walls or surfaces 110, lilt- that are provided with mating surfaces on the abutting vertical end walls of adjacent blocks 10, 80, 82 in the same course 22 in wall 2k, as particularly shown in Figure 5. A first vertical end wall 110 has a tongue 112 outstanding from the remainder 122 of first wall 110 ex¬ tending inwardly from the adjacent face of the block. The second type of vertical end wall Hk of face shell walls 12 has a vertical corner recess ko extending inwardly from the adjacent face of the block, so that when tongue 112 abuts end wall ll they only abut in a relativel narrow area. Tongue 112 extends from the remainder 122 of the first wall 110 and second wall ll has a second tongue 116 spaced inwardly from tongue 112 and extending only part way toward the remainder 122 of the first end surface 110, whereby the plane of abutment between tongue 112 and second end surface 11-. in side view is intersected and shielded by second tongue llβ and whereby there is provided a space ll8 for grout between second tongue 116 and tongue 112 and there is provided a space 120 for grout between second tongue ll6 and theremai der 122 of first wall 110. Grout will flow into spaces ll8 and 120 when the adjacent cellular space is being grouted, i.e., a vertical reinforcing rod 62 or a horizontal reinforcing rod 66 is being grouted in the adjacent space. Industrial Applicability The invention can be used in manufacturing cement blocks and in manufacturing plastic or other block interengaging inserts for cement block walls and the invention can be used in the actual construction of cement block walls. " BURE _C y .Pl

Claims: Claims 1. In a section of a cement block wall formed by a multiplicity of generally right-rectangular cement blocks laid in a series of superposed courses forming a series of upper and lower courses and said blocks being laid in end-to-end series in each course and each block in an upper course having one end portion resting on one block of the next lower course and having its other end portion resting on a different block of the next lower course in a staggered manner, the improvement, comprising: (a) said blocks being of an H-block type, each having two face shell side walls and each having only two tie walls between the side walls forming a single central cell and forming two end half-cells each abutted to another such end half-cell of an abutting block to form a combined end cell of the same size as said single central cell, each single central cell in the wall section being in superposed relationship to a combined end cell formed from two end half-cells of two abutting blocks of a different course, (b) each single central cell and each combined end cell having walls tapering from bottom to top in the positions thereof in the wall section so that at the location of abutment of superposed upper and lower cells the upper cell has larger width and length dimen¬ sions and the lower cell has smaller width and length dimensions forming a generally evenly spaced ledge around the lower cell on the lower block between the upper edge of the lower cell and the lower edge of the upper cell, said ledge forming a generally rec¬ tangular and symmetrical outline in plan view, and a multiplic¬ ity of frame-like inserts separate from said blocks and each insert having end and side portions forming a generally rectan- gular outline in plan view and having a larger upper wall fitting in the larger lower portion of the upper cell of superposed cells and having a smaller lower wall fitting in the smaller upper por¬ tion of the lower cell and having a lower horizontal medial sur¬ face extending generally horizontally inwardly from the lower margin of the upper wall to the upper margin of the lower wall said lower surface resting on said ledge, said lower medial sur- BUR£ 13 face forming a generally rectangular and symmetrical outline in bottom view, whereby said inserts locate blocks in upper and lower courses by engaging in adjacent upper and lower cells, (c) at least part of said inserts having thin horizontal walls bridging the space between said insert end portions and brid¬ ging the space between said insert side portions and a series of said inserts having horizontal walls being located side by side in the same course in adjacent central cells and combined end cells and the lower portions of the walls above said series of inserts having recesses and at least one bond beam horizon¬ tal reinforcing rod disposed in recesses and superposed to that series of inserts and mortar grouting said reinforcing rod in place and said horizontal walls of said series of inserts hold- ing said mortar from falling into said central cells and combined end cells in which said series of inserts are installed. 2. The subject matter of Claim 1 in which said end portions of said upper walls of said inserts have upwardly open notches under the re¬ cesses in said tie walls forming rests receiving and positioning said horizontal reinforcing rod. 3. In a section of a wall formed by a multiplicity of generally right- rectangular cement blocks laid in series of superposed courses form¬ ing a series of upper and lower courses and said blocks being laid in end-to-end series in each course and each block in an upper course having one end portion resting on one block of the next lower course and having its other end portion resting on a different block of the next lower course in a staggered manner, the improvement, comprising: (a) said blocks being of an H-block type, each having two face shell side walls and each having only two tie walls between the side walls forming a single central cell and forming two end half- cells each abutted to another such end half-cell of an abutting block to form a combined end cell of the same size as said single central cell, each single central cell in the wall section being in superposed relationship to a combined end cell formed from two end half-cells of two abutting blocks of a difference ^ course, and O PI (b) each single central cell and each combined end cell having walls tapering from bottom to top in the positions thereof in the wall section so that at the location of abutment of superposed upper and lower cells the upper cell has larger width and length dimensions and the lower cell has smaller width and length dimensions forming a generally evenly spaced ledge around the lower cell on the lower block between the upper edge of the lower cell and the lower edge of the upper cell, said ledge forming a generally rectangular and symmetri- cal outline in plan view, and a multiplicity of frame-like inserts separate from said blocks and each insert having end and side portions forming a generally rectangular outline in plan view which is open between the end and side walls and having a larger upper wall fitting in the larger lower portion of the upper cell of superposed cells and having a smaller lower wall fitting in the smaller upper portion of the lower cell and having a lower horizontal medial surface extending ' generally horizontally inwardly from the lower margin of the upper wall to the upper margin of the lower wall and said lower medial surface resting on said ledge, said lower medial surface form¬ ing a generally rectangular and symmetrical outline in bottom view, whereby said inserts locate blocks in upper and lower courses by engaging in adjacent upper and lower cells. 4. The subject matter of Claim 3 in which the exterior surface of said larger upper wall of each insert includes a portion tapering upwardly to provide a wedging, camming action in inserting in the larger lower portion of the upper cell of superposed cells and in which the exterior surface of said smaller lower wall of each insert includes a portion tapering downwardly to provide a wedging camming action in inserting in the smaller upper portion of the lower cell of superposed cells. 5. The subject matter of Claim 4 in which the lower portion of said exterior surface of said larger upper wall adjacent to said lower horizontal medial surface is substantially vertical to form a seat to engage in the larger lower portion of the upper cell of superposed 15 cells and in which the upper portion of said exterior surface of said smaller lower wall adjacent to said lower horizontal medial surface is substantially vertical to form a seat to engage in the smaller upper portion of the lower cell of superposed cells. 6. Thesubject matter of Claim 3 in which the lower portions of said tie walls have recesses and said end portions of said upper walls of said inserts having upwardly open notches under the re¬ cesses in said tie walls forming rests to receive and position hori¬ zontal reinforcing rods in the room provided by said recesses. 7. The subject matter of Claim 6 in which each end portion of 10 said upper walls of said inserts have three spaced upwardly open notches to accommodate either two spaced horizontal reinforcing rods or one centrally located horizontal reinforcing rod. 8. The subject matter of Claim 6 in which there is a knockout wall disposed between two spaced through slots in each recess to - * - *■* ' retain grout when not removed to accomodate horizontal reinforcing rods. 9. The subject matter of Claim 3 in which vertical end walls on said face shell side walls are disposed with mating surfaces on the abutting vertical end walls of adjacent blocks with a first 20 vertical end wall having a tongue outstanding from the remainder of the first end wall extending from the side of the block part¬ way inwardly, the second vertical end wall having a mortar simu¬ lating corner recess extending from the side of the block part¬ way inwardly so that the end walls only abut in a restricted area 5 inwardly of said corner recess. 10. The subject matter of Claim 9 in which said second end wall has a second tongue spaced inwardly from the first-mentioned tongue and extending only part way toward said remainder of said first end wall whereby the plane of abutment between the first- 0 mentioned tongue and the second end wall is intersected and there¬ by shielded by said second tongue and there is provided space for grout between said second tongue and said first-mentioned tongue and between said second tongue and said remainder of said first end wall. OΛtP 'frA WiP 11. The subject matter of Claim 3 in which there are corner re¬ cesses in said face shell side walls at the bottoms thereof and at one end edge thereof to simulate mortar and the bottoms of each block in the positions thereof in a wall section, which is the top of each block when it is made, is radiused where the bottom meets the corner recesses in order to reduce mold suction which other¬ wise would make more molding imperfections in that area. 12. The subject matter of Claim 3 in which there is at least one end block of half the length of the remainder of the blocks, said end block having half-length face shell walls, having one tie wall and having one end wall at a first end thereof which forms a gener¬ ally planar end surface on the block at the end of a course, said tie wall of said end block being located the same distance from the second end of said end block as tie walls in the remainder of the blocks thereby forming an end half-cell which can join with an end half-cell of one of the other blocks to form a combined cell of the same size as said single central cell. 13. The subject matter of Claim 3 in which there are a series of closed-end blocks, said closed-end blocks having one end wall at a first end thereof which forms a generally planar end surface on the block, said closed end blocks each having one tie wall spaced from a second end thereof which is located the same distance from the second end of said closed-end block as tie walls in the remainder of the blocks thereby forming an end half-cell which can join with an end half-cell of one of the other blocks to form a combined cell of the same size as said single central cell, said closed-end blocks having the same lengths as other blocks, said closed-end blocks forming a corner in said section of said wall by having closed-end blocks one above another alternating degrees in direction and having said end walls at said first ends of said closed end walls forming part of the wall corner surfaces meeting at right angles. 14. In a section of a wall formed by a multiplicity of generally right-rectangular cement blocks laid in a series of superposed course forming a series of upper and lower courses and said blocks being lai in end-to-end series in each course, the improvement, comprising: (a) said blocks being of an H-block type, each having two face shell side walls and each having only two tie walls between the side walls forming a single central cell and forming two end half-cells each abutted to another such half-cell of an abutted block to form a combined end cell similar to said single central cell, (b) said face shell side walls having vertical end walls disposed with mating surfaces on the abutting vertical end walls of adja¬ cent blocks with a first vertical end wall having a tongue out- standing from the remainder of the first end wall extending from the side of the block partway inwardly, the second vertical end wall having a mortar simulating corner recess extending from the side of the block partway inwardly so that the end walls only abut in a restricted area. 15. The subject matter of Claim 14 in which said second vertical end wall has a second tongue spaced inwardly from the first-mentioned tongue and extending only part way toward said remainder of said first end wall whereby the plane of abutment between the first men¬ tioned tongue and the second end wall is intersected and thereby shielded by said second tongue and there is provided space for grout between said second tongue and said first-mentioned tongue and be¬ tween said second tongue and said remainder of said first end wall. 16. An insert for orienting superposed single central cells and com¬ bined end half-cells in a cement block wall made up of superposed and staggered courses of H-block type cement blocks, comprising: (a) a frame-like body having end and side portions forming a gener¬ ally rectangular outline in plan view, (b) said body having a larger upper wall of generally rectangular out¬ line and a smaller lower wall of generally rectangular outline, (c) said body having a lower horizontal medial surface extending gen¬ erally horizontally inwardly from the lower margin of the upper ' wall to the upper margin of the lower wall, said lower medial surface forming a generally rectangular and symmetrical outline in bottom view, whereby said upper wall can fit in the lower portion of an upper cell and said lower wall can fit in the upper portion of a lower cell in superposed cement block courses in a cement block wall and said horizontal medial surface can rest on the lower block course around a lower cell to locate blocks in such cement block wall, (d) the exterior surface of said larger upper wall of each body including a portion tapering upwardly to provide a wedging camming action in inserting in an upper cell and the exterior surface of said smaller lower wall of each body including a portion tapering downwardly to provide a wedging camming action in inserting in a lower cell, (e) the lower portion of said exterior surface of said larger upper wall adjacent to said lower horizontal medial surface being substantially vertical to form a seat to engage in an upper cell and the upper portion of said exterior surface of said smaller lower wall adjacent to said lower horizontal medial surface being substantially vertical to form a seat to engage in a lower cell, (f) * a thin horizontal wall bridging the space between said end por- • tions of said body and bridging the space between said side portions of said body whereby mortar can be supported in grout- ing in a horizontal bond beam reinforcing rod above a cement block course having inserts installed in their cells, and (g) said end portions of said upper wall of said body having up- - wardly open notches forming rests for receiving and positioning a horizontal bond beam reinforcing rod. 17. The subject matter of Claim 16 in which each end portion of said upper wall of said body has three spaced upwardly open notches to accommodateeither two spaced horizontal reinforcing rods or one centrally located horizontal reinforcing rod. 18. An insert for orienting superposed single central cells and com- bined end half-cells -in a cement block wall made up of superposed and staggered courses of H-block type cement blocks, comprising: (a) a frame-like body having end and side portions forming a gen¬ erally rectangular outline in plan view, (b) said body having a larger upper wall of generally rectangular outline and having a smaller lower wall of generally rectangular r outline, "BURE OMPI (c) said body having a lower horizontal medial surface extend¬ ing generally horizontally inwardly from the lower margin of the upper wall to the upper margin of the lower wall, said lower medial surface forming a generally rectangular and symmetrical outline in bottom view, whereby said upper wall can fit in the lower portion of an upper cell and said lower wall can fit in the upper portion of a lower cell in super¬ posed cement block courses in a cement block wall and said horizontal medial surface can rest on the lower block course around a lower cell to locate blocks in such cement block wall, (d) the exterior surface of said larger upper wall of each body including a portion tapering upwardly to provide a wedging cam¬ ming action in inserting in an upper cell and the exterior surface of said smaller lower wall of each body including a portion tapering downwardly to provide a wedging camming ac¬ tion in inserting in a lower cell, and (e) the lower portion of said exterior surface of said larger upper wall adjacent to said lower horizontal medial surface being substantially vertical to form a seat to engage in an upper cell and the upper portion of said exterior surface of said smaller lower wall adjacent to said lower horizontal medial surface being -substantially vertical toform a seat to engage in a lower cell. 19. An insert for orienting superposed single central cells and combined end half-cells in a cement block wall made up of superposed and staggered courses of H-block type cement blocks, comprising: (a) a frame-like body having end and side portions forming a gener¬ ally rectangular outline in plan view, (b) said body having a larger upper wall of generally rectangular outline and smaller lower wall of generally rectangular outline, (c) said body having a lower horizontal medial surface extending gen¬ erally horizontally inwardly from the lower margin of the upper wall to the upper margin of the lower wall, said lower medial surface forming a generally rectangular and symmetrical out- line in bottom view, whereby said upper wall can fit in the _O PI Sλ. lower portion of an upper cell and said lower wall can fit in the upper portion of a lower cell in superposed cement block courses in a cement block wall and said horizontal medial surface can rest on the lower block course around a lower cell to locate blocks in such cement block wall, and (d) the exterior surface of said larger upper wall of each body including a portion tapering upwardly to provide a wedging camming action in inserting in an upper cell and the exterior surface of said smaller lower wall of each body including a portion tapering downwardly to provide a wedging camming ac¬ tion in inserting in a lower cell. 20. An insert for orienting superposed single central cells and combined end half-cells in a cement block wall made up of superposed and staggered courses of H-block type cement blocks, comprising: (a) a frame-like body having end and side portions forming a gen¬ erally rectangular outline in plan view, (b) said body having a larger upper wali of generally rectangular outline and smaller lower wall of generally rectangular out¬ line, and (c) said body having a lower horizontal medial surface extending generally horizontally inwardly from the lower margin of the upper wall to the upper margin of the lower wall, said lower medial surface forming a generally rectangular and symmetri¬ cal outline in bottom view, whereby said upper wall can fit in the lower portion of an upper cell and said lower wall can fit in the upper portion of a lower cell in superposed cement block courses in a cement block wall and said horizontal medial sur¬ face can rest on the lower block course around a lower cell to locate blocks in such cement block wall. 21. The sub ect matter of Claim 20 in which there is a thin hori¬ zontal wallbridging the space between said end portions of said body and bridging the space between said side portions of said body whereby mortar can be supported in grouting in a horizontal bond beam reinforcing rod above a cement block course having inserts installed in the cells of the course. 22. The subject matter of Claim 20 in which said end portions of said upper wall of said body have upwardly open notches forming rests for receiving and positioning a horizontal bond beam rein- _• forcing rod.

Inventors: DEPKA CHARLES WILLIAM, DEPKA, CHARLES, WILLIAM
Applicants: DEPKA CHARLES WILLIAM, DEPKA, CHARLES, WILLIAM
Application year: 1982
Main classification: E04C1
IPC codes: E04B2