FRAME FOR FORMING PAVING SLABS

Abstract: This invention relates to a frame for forming paving slabs, having a frame body, a plurality of bot­ tomed compartments, drip holes made in the bottom walls of the compartments, and a plurality of vertical bores which are provided in the partition walls de­ fining the compartments, and which are opened at their lower ends and closed openably at their upper ends. The upper ends of these vertical bores are closed openably with a thin film which is formed in­ tegrally with the frame body, or adhesive tapes att­ ached to the upper ends of the partition walls. In this frame body, concrete or mortar is placed in the com­ partments. After the concrete or mortar has been hardened, the upper end portions of the partition walls are cut off slightly or the adhesive tapes att­ ached to the upper ends of the partition walls are re­ moved, to open the upper ends of the vertical bores. As a result water-permeable paving slabs consisting mainly of concrete or mortar are produced. This frame body is thus used to produce such paving slabs. The water-permeability of the paving slabs is secured by the vertical bores mentioned above.

Description: The invention relates to a frame for a pavement board divided into several sections for lost moulds to be filled with concrete or mortar, comprising section walls separating the sections from each other and forming the outsides of the frame. A pavement board of such a type is known from FR-A-2 447 997 which discloses elements of burnt clay in the form of a grid, wherein these elements are intended to be placed side by side in order to form a pattern. All the elements have hollow spaces between the separating walls, which hollow spaces are provided to be filled with liquid concrete which is hardened in situ. The structure according to FR-A-2 447 997 is provided in order to obtain a nice aesthetic appearance wherein the burnt clay forming the frame will surround the filling of concrete which may have any desired colour. From the publication FR-A-2 534 301, a pavement structure is known comprising a plurality of pavement elements which are rectangular in shape and are provided to be filled with concrete or mortar. In the bottom of the respective pavement elements, through holes for draining purposes are provided so that water can be drained from the liquid concrete or mortar which has been filled into the respective hollow spaces of the pavement elements. These through holes are only effective for water contained in the liquid concrete or mortar, thereafter these through holes will be closed by the mortar or concrete itself when the hollow pavement elements have been filled and are hardened. In the structure according to the publication FR-A-2 534 301, section walls are provided which are arranged side by side in order to form the complete pavement structure. When the arrangement of pavement elements has been filled with concrete or mortar, a continuous surface results forming a pavement of a desired configuration. GB-A-1386591 discloses a concrete pavement-like site including through holes formed after installation of the site for drainage purposes. the object underlying the present invention is to provide a light and stable frame for a pavement board which is ready for installation and ensures a reliable function in operation for draining water therefrom. According to the present invention, a frame for a pavement board of the type specified above is provided which is characterized in that the sections have a bottom provided with a plurality of first holes for draining water; in that the section walls have a plurality of second holes extending from the respective top to bottom; in that the bottoms of the second holes are permanently open; and in that the tops of the second holes are closed by means of a removable cover. According to a further development of the frame according to the invention, the holes are oblong or oval in cross section. In one specific embodiment of the frame according to the invention, the removable cover comprises a thin film which is integrally formed with the frame and which is ready for removal by cutting, grinding or melting. In another specific embodiment of the frame according to the invention, the removable cover comprises an adhesive tape which is applied on the top sides of the respective section walls in the frame and which is ready for removal by stripping or tearing off. According to a further development of the frame according to the present invention, the frame including the section walls provided with the second holes is integrally formed of plastics comprising polypropylene and a weathering agent. A pavement board can easily be formed on the ground by using the frames according to the invention and arranging the frames with their sections side by side both in longitudinal and in lateral directions. Filling of the sections with concrete or mortar can be carried out without paying any attention to the draining openings of the respective sections. In particular, these draining openings cannot be spoiled or damaged during the normal installation of the pavement board. However, when the sections of the frames forming the pavement board have been filled with concrete or mortar and when these filling materials have been hardened, then there is no problem to open the hidden second holes in the respective section walls forming draining holes so that draining can easily be carried out in practice. The plane configuration, the size of length and width, the arrangement of each of the above sections and the like can be freely determined. The suitable height of the frames is nearly the same as the height of common pavement boards. The suitable width of the above section walls is nearly the same or a little wider than the joint width of the pavement which is formed by common pavement boards. The section configuration of the above second holes can be freely determined. Though it is described later, the section configuration of said holes is preferably short or has an oval shape having a minor axis which is short enough so as to prevent soil and stones of roads from entering into the above-mentioned holes when the pavement boards which are constituted by the frames are installed in a fixed pavement zone. Otherwise, the section configuration of these holes is suitably rectangular. The upper edge of the second holes can be closed by a closing means having a strength in which the upper edge is not easy to break when the mortar or the concrete is poured into the sections. Accordingly, for instance, the upper sides of said holes are closed by a thin film which is unitedly formed with the frames. Otherwise, the upper sides of these holes are closed by applying an adhesion tape which can freely be stripped off or stuck on so as to open the upper sides In any case, the closing of the upper sides of the second holes may be conducted by means which can open the upper sides by using simple operations. It is important to use a closing means which is easily openable by a way such as cutting with a file or a knife, melting by heating or tearing off so as to open the upper sides easily. Preferably, a holding projection which keeps the packed mortar or the concrete after its hardening is provided near the center of the bottom of each of the above sections. The upper part of the holding projection is spread out like a disk. Furthermore, at the bottom of each section wall of the above sections, ribs which extend radially from the center are preferably standing upright so as to reinforce the walls. Moreover, it is preferable to form male connection parts and female connection parts which are to be connected with the male connection parts of the frames at the outer side of the frames. Further, the frames and each of the constitution elements which are constituted in the frames are preferably formed in one united body by suitable plastics. So, the frames for constructing pavement boards of the present invention are used as follows. Firstly, as described later, it is possible to produce permeable pavement boards which are mainly made of concrete or mortar. In a first process, the above frames are upwardly arranged in a suitable place, and mortar or concrete are fully charged from the upper side into each section. Then, for example, a long ruler plate or the like is put on the top of the respective section wall so as to level between the walls, and the plate is moved so that the mortar or the concrete sitting on the top of the section walls is removed. Thus, the upper surface of the mortar or the concrete charged in the sections of the frames is levelled. At the bottom of each section, as described above, many first holes for draining water are open, so that water contained in the mortar or the concrete flows out through the holes to the outside of the frames. Thus, the mortar or the concrete becomes dry and hardens well. Furthermore, when the mortar or the concrete has hardened, as described above, and when the holding projections are provided at the center of the bottom, the mortar or the concrete is compactly fixed thereby and it becomes difficult to separate it from the sections. Next, the upper sides of the second holes which are formed in each section wall are opened before the mortar or the concrete hardens thoroughly. When the upper edges of the second holes are closed by a thin film which is unitedly formed with the respective frame, the upper sides are opened by cutting with a grinder and the like or by heating so as to melt the film. When the upper sides of said holes are closed by an adhesion tape which is applied to the upper sides of the section walls, they are opened by stripping off the tape. In this case, at the same time or subsequently, it is preferable to cut with a grinder and the like so as to round the corners of the mortar or the concrete which are in contact with the section walls. Namely, it is preferable to mold the edges. Furthermore, when the molding process with the grinder is omitted, or when the molding of the closing means of the upper edges of the second holes is unnecessary, the opening process of the upper edges of these holes and the subsequent processes can be conducted when the mortar or the concrete has hardened thoroughly. Then, the mortar or the concrete hardens through a sufficiently long curing process, and the permeable pavement boards the main material of which is mortar or concrete are obtained. Thus, the permeable pavement boards are formed by the frames for constructing pavement board, and a precise size and configuration can be given very easily. The permeable pavement boards, which are mainly made of mortar or concrete and constituted as described above, can be used by installing them on a pavement and the like by the same method as common boards are used. The following description illustrates the method more briefly. The ground is properly prepared by permeable materials. Suitable materials are gravel and the like. For instance, a construction area is dug down a little, gravel is thrown into the area and rolled, and then sand for leveling the ground is thrown on top thereof. Then, the ground is rolled again to level the surface. One of the above pavement boards which are mainly made of mortar or concrete is installed on the gravel ground as described above. Subsequently, a next pavement board is installed by connecting it with the previously installed pavement board at the outer sides of these boards. As described above, when connection male parts and connection female parts are formed at the outer sides of the frames, the connection female part of the next pavement board to be installed is connected with the connection male part which is formed at the outer side of the previously installed pavement board, and a plurality of pavement boards are arranged side by side in all directions on the above gravel ground. In this way, the pavement boards are installed all over the construction area. Thus, by using the pavement boards of the present invention, the pavement is completed. When roads and the like are paved by the pavement boards, an excellent permeable pavement is obtaind because the holes which are formed in the section walls of the pavement boards act as permeable holes or draining holes. Figs. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a portion broken plan view showing the frame for constructing pavement boards of the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pavement boards which are constructed by pouring and hardening concrete in each section, and by opening the holes in the section walls. Fig. 4 is a portion broken sectional view showing a condition in which the pavement boards are installed on the gravel ground. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a condition in which the second holes are shown by tearing off partially the adhesion tape of the frames for constructing pavement boards of the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a section taken on line VI-VI in Fig. 5. For describing the present invention more specifically, embodiments based on the attached drawings will be explained. At first, the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, nine sections 2, 2 ... having bottom parts are constructed in the directions of length and width in a plane square frame 1. In a section wall 3 which constitutes each of the above sections 2, 2 ..., holes 4, 4 ... having an oval section configuration are formed. These holes 4 are formed perpendicularly, and only their upper side is closed by a thin film 14 which is integrally formed with the frame 1. At the bottom 5 of each section 2, 2 ..., a holding projection 6 stands in the center. The holding projection 6 is constituted by a pillar 16 which is vertically provided in the center of the bottom 5 and a holding disk 7 which is arranged at the upper side of the pillar 16. Moreover, at the bottom 5 of each section 2, 2 ..., four ribs 8, 8 ... which extend radially from the lower part of the pillar 16 of the above holding projection 6 and are connected with the lower part of the section wall 3 are constructed. The above ribs 8, 8 ..., as shown in Fig. 2, are vertically formed at the bottom 5. Furthermore, at the bottom 5, many drain holes 9, 9 which penetrate from the external surface to the inner surface through the bottom wall are provided uniformly. Then, as shown in Fig. 1, two projecting connection parts 10, 10 are constituted at two adjacent sides which include one angle 15 of the frame 1, respectively. Two complementary hollow connection parts 11, 11 are constituted at two other adjacent sides, respectively. The above projecting connection parts 10, 10 are arranged at the outside of the sides of the above frame 1 corresponding to the sections 2, 2 which include angles 15, 15, respectively. More particularly, the above projecting connection parts 10, 10 are arranged at the lower parts of the outside of the sides corresponding to the center of each section 2, 2, and these connection parts 10 take the form of a small projection having a square point. The hollow connection parts 11, 11 are arranged at the outside of the other sides corresponding to the sections 2, 2 which include angles 15, 15, respectively, at a position having a similar relation to the above projecting connection parts 10, 10. More particularly, the hollow connection parts 11, 11 are arranged at the lower parts of the outside of the sides corresponding to the center of each section 2, 2, the section of these connection parts 11 take the form of a little larger square than the square point of the projecting connection parts 10, and the connection parts 11 take the form of a hole which is a little deeper than the height of the projecting connection parts 10, 10. Moreover, the frame 1 and each constitution element which is formed with the frame 1 are integrally formed by plastics in which polypropylene is contained as a main component and a weathering agent and the like are added. When the frame 1 is constituted as described above, it is used as construction material for producing pavement boards which are made of concrete or mortar, and a pavement having water permeability can be formed by the produced pavement boards. Next, the production method of the pavement boards made of concrete is exemplified. The production method of the pavement boards made of mortar is mainly the same. Many frames 1, 1 ... are placed in an upright position in a working zone and concrete is poured from above into the sections 2, 2 .... The concrete is fully charged into the sections 2, 2 ..., if necessary, the concrete is vibrated by a vibrator so that the concrete is fully spread in the sections 2, 2 .... The concrete pressed out from the section wall 3 is removed by the movement of a long ruler plate and the like which is put on the top of each section wall 3 so as to level between the walls 3. In this way, the upper surface of the concrete charged into the sections 2, 2 ... is smoothly and very easily levelled and the height can be determined precisely. The above process can be carried out by automation. For example, when a suitable conveyer equipment is used, the frames 1, 1 ... are put on the conveyer in order, concrete is fully poured into the sections 2, 2 ... on the way of conveyance; further, on the way of progress, the surface is levelled by removing the concrete pressed out over the section wall 3 by the same method as described above. Furthermore, as many drain holes 9, 9 ... are arranged in the bottom 5 of the sections 2, 2 ..., water is easily removed by the drain holes 9, 9 ... to the outside of the sections 2, 2 ... in the course of the above process, and the subsequent hardening process is proceeding well. Moreover, as the holding projection 6 is provided in the center of the bottom 5, the hardened concrete is securely held in the respective section 2, in particular by the action of the holding disk 7. When the concrete is hardened a little, the thin film 14 on the upper surface of the section wall 3 is removed with a grinder, and the upper sides of the second holes 4, 4 ... are opened as shown in Fig. 3. At the same time, as shown in Fig. 3 and 4, the edges of concrete pieces 12, 12 ... which have a plane square configuration and stand at the both sides of the section wall 3 are chamfered by grinding a little. Then, the concrete pieces 12, 12 ... are left as they are, or these pieces 12 are cured while sprinkling water or steam on them at intervals, and the finished pavement boards 17, 17 ... made of concrete in which the concrete pieces 12, 12 ... are fully hardened and have water permeability are obtained. In such a process, the formed pavement boards 17, 17 ... made of concrete can be used for a pavement installed on a ground and the like by the same method as common boards, and permeable pavements can be formed. The process is described in the following. At first, a permeable ground is formed. In this case, a gravel ground 13 is formed. In the beginning, the construction zone is dug down a little, gravel is thrown into the zone and rolled on the gravel by a roller, and sand for levelling the ground is arranged on top thereof. Then, the ground is rolled again to level the surface with the roller. In such a manner, the gravel ground 13 is formed. Then, the pavement boards 17, 17 ... made of concrete, as shown in Fig. 4, are arranged side by side in all directions on the above gravel ground 13 while the projecting connection parts 10, 10 and the hollow connection parts 11, 11 which are formed at the sides of the boards 17 are connected. When the pavement boards 17 have been installed all over the construction zone, a permeable pavement road is completed. In such a permeable pavement road, rainwater and the like flow down through the holes 4, 4 ... which are opened in the upper side of the section wall 3 to the gravel ground 13, and permeate through the gravel ground 13 and go underground. Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be briefly explained. In this example, the construction is the same as in the first embodiment except that the upper sides of many of the second holes 24, 24 ... are closed by an adhesion tape 34 which is applied on the upper surface of the section walls 23. Accordingly, the constitution and the action of the frames 21 for constructing pavement boards of this example are explained in brief. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, nine sections 22, 22 ... are constructed in the directions of length and width in a plane square frame 21. In a section wall 23 which constitutes all of the sections 22, 22 ..., many holes 24, 24 ... having an oval section configuration are formed in a direction from top to bottom at regular intervals. Then, at the upper sides of the section walls 23, the adhesion tape 34 is applied which has the same plane configuration as that of the upper sides and can freely be stripped off or stuck on, so that the upper sides of the holes 24, 24 are closed so as to be easily openable. At the bottom 25 of each section 22, 22 ..., a holding projection 26 stands in the center. The holding projection 26 is constituted by a pillar 36 and a holding disk 27. Moreover, at the bottom 25 of each section 22, 22 ..., four ribs 28, 28 ... are connected radially to the lower side of the section wall 23 by extending from the lower side of the pillar 36 of the holding projection 26. Furthermore, in the bottom 25, many first drain holes 29, 29 penetrate from the external surface to the inner surface through the bottom wall. As shown in Fig. 5, two projecting connection parts 30, 30 are constituted at two adjacent sides which include one angle 35 of the frame 21, respectively, and two hollow connection parts 31, 31 are constituted at the other two adjacent sides, respectively. Moreover, the frame 21 and each constitution element which is formed with the frame 21 are integrally formed by plastics in which polypropylene is contained as a main component and a weathering agent and the like are added. As the frame 21 is constituted as described above, the construction is the same as in the first embodiment except that the tops of the second holes 24, 24 are closed by the adhesive tape 34. Accordingly, this example is mainly the same as the first embodiment except that a part of the process in which the pavement boards made of concrete with the frame 21 are formed is different. Next, the usage of the frame 21 which is different from the first embodiment is explained. This concerns a process for producing pavement boards made of concrete with the frame 21. As described in the first embodiment, concrete is charged into the sections 22, 22 ... of the frames 21, 21 ..., and the surface is levelled by removing the concrete pressed out over the upper sides of the section walls 23. Then, when the concrete is hardened a little, the adhesion tape 34 which is applied on the surface of the section walls 23 is stripped off, and the tops of all the holes 24, 24 ... are opened. The above adhesion tape 34 can be stripped off in a later process, and it can easily be stripped off in this process because the concrete is not completely hardened. The process for stripping off the adhesion tape 34 is a characteristic process in the second embodiment, and it corresponds to the process of grinding the thin film 14 of the upper surfaces of the section walls 3 with the grinder in the first embodiment. As the next process and the process for providing the permeable pavement of the pavement boards made by these processes are the same as in the above first embodiments, their description is omitted here. The permeable pavement boards comprising frames according to the present invention are mainly made of concrete or mortar and can easily and precisely be formed for preparing pavements. According to the construction of the pavement boards, pavements having a good water permeability can very easily be prepared.

Claims: A frame (1;21) for a pavement board divided into several sections (2; 22) for lost moulds to be filled with concrete or mortar, comprising section walls (3; 23) separating the sections (2; 22) from each other and forming the outsides of the frame, characterized in that the sections (2; 22) have a bottom (5; 25) provided with a plurality of first holes (9; 29) for draining water, in that the section walls (3; 23) have a plurality of second holes (4; 24) extending from the respective top to bottom, in that the bottoms of the second holes (4; 24) are permanently open, and in that the tops of the second holes (4; 24) are closed by means of a removable cover (14; 34). The frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the second holes (4; 24) are oblong or oval in cross section. The frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the removable cover (14; 34) comprises a thin film (14) which is integrally formed with the frame (1) and which is ready for removal by cutting, grinding or melting. The frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the removable cover (14; 34) comprises an adhesive tape (34) which is applied on the top sides of the respective section walls (22) in the frame (21) and which is ready for removal by stripping or tearing off. The frame according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the frame (1; 21) including the section walls (3; 23) provided with the second holes (4; 24) is integrally formed of plastics comprising polypropylene and a weathering agent.

Inventors: HAYASHI ISAO, HAYASHI, ISAO
Applicants: HAYASHI ISAO, HAYASHI, ISAO
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E01C5
IPC codes: E01C9, E01C5, E01C11, E01C15