ASSEMBLY DEVICE FOR USE IN REINFORCED SOIL CONSTRUCTION

Abstract: An assembly device (1) for the connection between a panel unit (2) used in the soil retaining wall (3) construction, and at least one stabilising element (5) for the said panel (2). This assembly comprising: an anchoring end (7), made in the shape of a hammerhead, and which retains a stabilising element (5); a cavity (8), which comprises: a first chamber (9), which opens up into one of the two opposite faces (10) of the panel unit (2) has a cross-section such as to allow the introduction of the anchoring end (7) made in the shape of a hammerhead; a second chamber (11), which is contiguous to the first chamber (9) The second chamber (11) has sections complementary to that of the anchoring end (7), so as to retain this end after rotation around an axis (12) orthogonal to the face (10) of the panel unit (2) in a manner of a bayonet assembly.

Description: Assembly Device for Use in Reinforced Soil Construction This invention relates to an assembly device intended for anchoring a stabilising element to a unit panel which is used in the construction of reinforced soil structures. The technique of reinforce soil construction involves the embedding of stabilising elements into a mass of soil material to give the mass a required degree of stability in tension, in addition to the natural stability of compression of the mass. The type of stabilising elements used and the number and disposition of the elements for a particular soil structure depend on the size of the structure and the characteristics of the soil. A wide range of soil materials such as stones, gravels, sands, earth, ashes, slags, shales, etc. are known for possible use in reinforced soil structures. In many cases, where a reinforced soil structure is produced, it is necessary to provide a facing or revetment for an exposed lateral surface of the structure in order to prevent erosion of the surface and also to give a pleasant appearance. Reinforced soil structures having various forms of facing have been described in many documents. The present invention relates to soil structures with a revetment made of a wall comprising a plurality of panel units with which stabilising elements are assembled. The invention relates in particular to a device for anchoring each of the aforementioned panel units with a stabilising element which is made up of an elongated strip, for example a flexible polymeric strip. The German reference of June 15, 1979, published under the number 29.24.310, refers to panel units used in soil retaining wall constructions and to stabilising elements for these panel units. The reference shows, namely, a device for assembling the aforementioned panel units and elements. This assembly device comprises : - on each stabilising element, one anchoring end made in the shape of a hammerhead, - in each panel unit, a cavity comprising: • a first chamber, which opens into one of the two opposite faces of the unit panel, beyond which the stabilising element must extend, has a cross- section such as to allow the introduction of the anchoring end made in the shape of a hammerhead, and this in a direction perpendicular to the panel unit, • a second chamber, which is contiguous to the first chamber and has, in a transverse plane, a section complementary to that of the anchoring end, so as to retain this end, after translation in a direction parallel to the face of the panel unit in which the cavity opens up. One of the problems which is not solved by this prior art assembly device is to achieve a connection between the stabilising element and the panel unit: - which is able to cooperate with existent stabilising elements, - which is able to be fixed on the structural elements of said panel, - which is preferably improved, but not in a limiting way, in that it is built with non-corrosive and/or inoxidizable material, Thus an object of the invention is to obtain an assembly device which overcomes this drawback. To achieve this object, the invention has as its subject matter an assembly device of the aforementioned type, in particular characterised in that : - the second chamber has sections complementary to that of the anchoring end, so as to retain this end after rotation around an orthogonal axis to the face of the panel unit in which the cavity opens up, in a manner of a bayonet assembly, - the first chamber has sections shaped so as to allow the rotation of the stabilising element in order to obtain the bayonet assembly. The invention will be better understood from reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference of the attached drawings which comprise : Figure 1 is a transversal and vertical section of a reinforced soil structure, Figure 2 is a local view of the face of the panel unit represented in Figure 1 , which face is intended to receive the soil, Figure 3 is a transversal and vertical section of the detail "A" of Figure 1 , Figure 4 is a transversal and horizontal section of the part of the panel unit which is represented in Figure 2, Figure 5 is a top view of the part of the anchoring end of a stabilising element represented in Figure 1 , Figure 6 is a transversal section of an anchoring end of a stabilising element in a second embodiment, Figure 7 is a transversal section of an anchoring end of a stabilising element in a third embodiment, Figure 8 is a lateral view of an anchoring end of a stabilising element, in a fourth embodiment. Referring to the drawings, one sees an assembly device 1 shaped for anchoring at least one stabilising element 5 to at least one of the unit panels 2 which are used in the soil retaining wall 3 construction. Designated by soil retaining wall 3 is particularly, but not exclusively, a wall 3 which is built in order to protect and retain a mass of soil material 4, such as stones, gravels, sands, soils, ashes, etc., which are known for possible use in reinforced soil structures (Figure 1). This assembly device 1 (Figure 2) allows the connection between • a panel unit 2 used in the soil retaining wall 3 construction, in order to protect and retain a mass of soil material 4, and • at least one stabilising element 5 for the said panel 2, this stabilising element 5 consisting of at least a piece of a strip 5 disposed between layers 6 of the mass of soil material 4 which are superposed against the panel unit 2, this assembly device comprising: - on the one hand, an anchoring end 7, made in the shape of a hammerhead, and which retains a stabilising element 5, - on the other hand, a cavity 8, which is made in each panel unit 2 and which comprises: • a first chamber 9, which opens up into one of the two opposite faces 10 of the panel unit 2 beyond which the stabilising element 5 must extend, has a cross-section such as to allow the introduction of the anchoring end 7 made in the shape of a hammerhead, and this in a direction D perpendicular to the panel unit 2, • a second chamber 11 , which is contiguous to the first chamber 9, and has, in a transverse plane, a section complementary to that of the anchoring end 7, so as to retain this end after a movement of the said anchoring end 7 in a plane P1 approximately parallel to a face 10 of the panel unit 2 in which the cavity 8 opens up. Noteworthy is that: - the second chamber 11 , has sections complementary to that of the anchoring end 7, so as to retain this end after rotation around an axis 12 orthogonal to the face 10 of the panel unit 2 in which the cavity 8 opens up, in a manner of a bayonet assembly, - the first chamber 9, has sections shaped so as to allow the rotation of the stabilising element 5 in order to obtain the bayonet assembly . These technical features likewise make it possible to achieve the actual blocking of the anchoring end 7 without any contact on the stabilising element 5. It is to be noted that the anchoring end 7 is made up of an elongated piece 13 which extends transversely with respect to the stabilising element 5, said elongated piece having a longitudinal dimension L1 greater than the transverse dimension L2 of this element 5 in such a way as to substantially extend beyond each side of the said element 5 by predetermined values L3 and L4. For example the predetermined values L3 and L4 are equal. For example, rotation about the orthogonal axis 12 ranges between 30 and 45°. Moreover, it is to be noted that, in a first embodiment, the elongated piece 13, making up the anchoring end 7, is fixed on the stabilising element 5. These technical features make it possible to achieve the anchoring of the anchoring end 7 without negative influence upon the stabilising element 5. For example, the elongated piece 13 can be made out of a polymeric material, or steel or composite material, but one skilled in the art is able to choose an appropriate material with non-corrosive and/or inoxidizable features. Noteworthy is that, in the assembly device according to the invention, the elongated piece 13 is made up of at least two parts 131 , 132, 133 which are put together by means of connection elements 134 in such a way as to pinch the stabilising element 5 along its width and to retain said element 5 firmly. It is to be noted that, in a second embodiment of the assembly device according to the invention (Figures 2 and 3), the elongated piece 13, making up the anchoring end 7, is circumflected loosely by said stabilising element. This allows the use of a continuous strip 5 of unlimited length which is disposed in a zigzag arrangement in such a manner to circumflect the elongated piece 13 of each of a plurality of adjacent assembly devices. In a third embodiment of the assembly device according to the invention (Figure 8), the elongated piece 13, making up the anchoring end 7, is made up of a protuberance 13 of said element 5. In a fourth embodiment of the assembly device according to the invention (Figure 7), the elongated piece 13, making up the anchoring end 7, comprises a longitudinal aperture 135, allowing the passage of the stabilising element 5, and a lateral bearing surface 136 of support for a excrescence 137 formed on the stabilising element 5. This technical feature makes it possible to use, if necessary, one stabilising element fixed on an elongated piece 13, this stabilising element having a limited length. In an advantageous but non-limitative embodiment, the elongated piece 13 has a circular transverse cross-section. Since one skilled in the art is able to define the transversal section of the elongaded piece 13 in order to allow the bayonet assembly, it is to be noted that, in the assembly device according to the invention, the elongated piece 13 making up the anchoring end 7 has, in another embodiment at least at the level of the ends 138 extending beyond each side of the stabilising element 5, a non- circular transverse cross-section. This technical feature allows different advantageous embodiments for the elongated piece 13. In one embodiment of the assembly device according to the invention, the elongated piece 13 making up the anchoring end 7 has, at least locally, a transverse section limited to a portion of a circle and is borne by the stabilising element 5 in such a way as to have a reduced transverse dimension in the direction D of introduction into the cavity 8. In another embodiment of the assembly device according to the invention, the elongated piece 13 making up the anchoring end 7 has, at least locally, an oval transverse section and is borne by the stabilising element 5 in such a way as to have a reduced transverse dimension in the direction D of introduction into the cavity 8. Noteworthy is that the assembly device according to the invention (Figures 3 and 4) comprises bearing surfaces 110 for, at least in an elastic manner, locking of the rotation of the anchoring end 7 about the axis 12 substantially orthogonal to the face 10 of the panel 2. These technical features make it possible to achieve the effective blocking of the anchoring end 7 without any contact on the stabilising element 5. In one embodiment of the assembly device according to the invention, the bearing surfaces 110 for locking are formed by the faces 110 of cavities 111 made in the second chamber 1 1 for receiving the ends 138 of the elongated piece 13 under the effect of traction exerted upon the stabilising element 5 after the rotation of the said anchoring end 7 about an axis 12 substantially orthogonal to the face 10 of the panel 2 into which the cavity 8 opens up. It is to be noted that the assembly device according to the invention comprises a wall 100 which makes up a casing 101 able to reserve the cavity 8 during casting of the panel 2 in a castable material 200. The panel units 2 are made of concrete 200 and are reinforced with structural elements 201. It is also to be noted that, in the assembly device according to the invention, the casing 101 has surfaces 102 of support for, and connection to, structural surfaces 201 belonging to the panel 2 which it must equip. In one embodiment of the assembly device according to the invention, the surfaces 102 of support for, and connection to, structural elements 201 of the panel 2 are disposed so as to allow assembly through simple elastic fitting on the structural elements 201 of the panel 2. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly device of the invention is intended for use in a panel 2 which comprises at least two parallel structural elements 201 disposed with a predetermined spacing value "E". In such an assembly device, the elongated piece 13 has a longitudinal dimension "L1 " greater than the predetermined spacing value "E" of the parallel structural elements 201. In another preferred embodiment, the assembly device of the invention is also intended for use in a panel 2 which comprises at least two parallel structural elements 201 disposed with a predetermined spacing value "E" and : - the elongated piece 13 has a longitudinal dimension "L1 " greater than the predetermined spacing value "E" of the parallel structural elements 201 , - the said assembly device comprises a wall 100 which makes up a casing 101 able to reserve the cavity 8 during casting of the panel 2 in a castable material 200, - the bearing surfaces 110 of the casing 101 are disposed in such a way that each can be placed behind one of the two structural elements 201 disposed with a predetermined spacing value "E". In such a manner the assembly device of the invention allows the elongated piece 13 to be indirectly supported or retained by the structural element of the panel unit. For example, the casing 101 can be made of a polymeric material, but one skilled in the art is able to choose an appropriate material with non- corrosive and/or inoxidizable features.

Claims: Claims 1. An assembly device (1) for the connection between • a panel unit (2) used in the soil retaining wall (3) construction, in order to protect and retain a mass of soil material (4), and • at least one stabilising element (5) for the said panel (2), this stabilising element (5) consisting of at least a piece of a strip (5) disposed between layers (6) of the mass of soil material (4) which are superposed against the panel unit (2), this assembly device comprising: - on the one hand, an anchoring end (7), made in the shape of a hammerhead, and which retains a stabilising element (5), - on the other hand, a cavity (8), which is made in the panel unit (2) and which comprises: • a first chamber (9), which opens up into one of the two opposite faces (10) of the panel unit (2) beyond which the stabilising element (5) must extend, has a cross-section such as to allow the introduction of the anchoring end (7) made in the shape of a hammerhead, and this in a direction (D) perpendicular to the panel unit (2), • a second chamber (11), which is contiguous to the first chamber (9) and has, in a transverse plane, a section complementary to that of the anchoring end (7), so as to retain this end after a movement of the said anchoring end (7) in a plane P1 approximately parallel to a face (10) of the panel unit (2) in which the cavity (8) opens up, this assembly device being characterised in that: - the second chamber (11) has sections complementary to that of the anchoring end (7), so as to retain this end after rotation around an axis (12) orthogonal to the face (10) of the panel unit (2) in which the cavity (8) opens up, in a manner of a bayonet assembly, - the first chamber (9) has sections shaped so as to allow the rotation of the stabilising element (5) in order to obtain the bayonet assembly . 2. Assembly device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the anchoring end (7) is made up of an elongated piece (13) which extends transversely with respect to the stabilising element (5), said elongated piece having a longitudinal dimension (L1) greater than the transverse dimension (L2) of this element (5) in such a way as to substantially extend beyond each side of the said element (5) by values (L3) and (L4). 3. Assembly device according to claim 2, characterised in that the elongated piece (13), making up the anchoring end (7), is fixed on said element (5). 4. Assembly device according to claim 3, characterised in that the elongated piece (13) is made up of at least two parts (131 , 132, 133) which are put together by means of connection elements (134) in such a way as to pinch the stabilising element (5) along its width and to retain said element (5) firmly. 5. Assembly device according to claim 2, characterised in that the elongated piece (13), making up the anchoring end (7), is circumflected loosely by said stabilising element. 6. Assembly device according to claim 2, characterised in that the elongated piece (13), making up the anchoring end (7), is made up of a protuberance (13) of said element (5). 7. Assembly device according to claim 2, characterised in that the elongated piece (13), making up the anchoring end (7), comprises a longitudinal aperture (135), allowing the passage of the stabilising element (5), and a lateral bearing surface (136) of support for a excrescence (137) formed on the stabilising element (5). 8. Assembly device according to one of the claim 2 to 7, characterised in that the elongated piece (13) making up the anchoring end (7) has, at least at the level of the ends (138) extending beyond each side of the stabilising element (5), a non-circular transverse cross-section in such a way as to have a reduced transverse dimension in the direction (D) of introduction into the cavity (8). 9. Assembly device according to claim 8, characterised in that the elongated piece (13) making up the anchoring end (7) has, at least locally, a transverse section limited to a portion of a circle and is borne by the stabilising element (5) in such a way as to have a reduced transverse dimension in the direction (D) of introduction into the cavity (8). 10. Assembly device according to claim 8, characterised in that the elongated piece (13) making up the anchoring end (7) has, at least locally, an oval transverse section and is borne by the stabilising element (5). 11. Assembly device according to one of the claim 1 to 10, characterised in that it comprises bearing surfaces (110) for, at least in an elastic manner, locking of the rotation of the anchoring end (7) about the axis (12) substantially orthogonal to the face (10) of the panel (2). 12. Assembly device according to claim 11 , characterised in that the bearing surfaces (1 10) for locking are formed by the faces (110) of cavities (111) made in the second chamber (11) for receiving the ends (138) of the elongated piece (13) under the effect of traction exerted upon the stabilising element (5) after the rotation of the said anchoring end (7) about an axis (12) substantially orthogonal to the face (10) of the panel (2) into which the cavity (8) opens up. 13. Assembly device according to one of the claim 1 to 12, characterised in that it comprises a wall (100) which makes up a casing (101) able to reserve the cavity (8) during casting of the panel (2) in a castable material (200). 14. Assembly device according to claim 13, characterised in that the casing (101) has surfaces (102) of support for, and connection to, structural surfaces (201) belonging to the panel (2) which it must equip. 15. Assembly device according to claim 14, characterised in that surfaces (102) of support for, and connection to, structural elements (201) of the panel (2) are disposed so as to allow assembly through simple elastic fitting on the structural elements (201 ) of the panel (2). 16. An assembly device according to one of the claims 1 to 15, this assembly device being intended for use in a panel (2) which comprises at least two parallel structural elements (201) disposed with a predetermined spacing value ("E"), the said assembly device being characterised in that - the elongated piece (13) has a longitudinal dimension ("L1 ") greater than the predetermined spacing value ("E") of the parallel structural elements (201). 17. An assembly device according to one of the claims 11 to 15, this assembly device being intended for use in a panel (2) which comprises at least two parallel structural elements (201) disposed with a predetermined spacing value ("E"), the said assembly device being characterised in that - the elongated piece (13) has a longitudinal dimension ("L1 ") greater than the predetermined spacing value ("E") of the parallel structural elements (201), - the said assembly device comprises a wall (100) which makes up a casing (101) able to reserve the cavity (8) during casting of the panel (2) in a castable material (200), - the bearing surfaces (110) of the casing (101 ) are disposed in such a way that each can be placed behind one of the two structural elements (201) disposed with a predetermined spacing value ("E").

Inventors: DOMAGE JEAN-BAPTISTE, MONDON JEAN-YVES, DOMAGE, JEAN-BAPTISTE, MONDON, JEAN-YVES
Applicants: DOMAGE JEAN-BAPTISTE, MONDON JEAN-YVES, VSL INTERNAT AG, DOMAGE, JEAN-BAPTISTE, MONDON, JEAN-YVES, VSL INTERNATIONAL AG
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E02D29
IPC codes: E02D29