EP0574233A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method for forming vegetated slopes in strengthened ground and a product obtained by such method
Assignee: GEA System SRL
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Filing: 1993-06-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for forming steep slopes covered with a mantle of vegetation constructed of strengthened and reinforced earth comprising the following operations: (a) levelling the ground, (b) laying a substantially horizontal layer of geocomposite material (12), (c) forming a reinforcing cage for a first layer of earth (10), with a plurality of uprights (14) spaced apart and with a grid (11) anchored to said uprights (14), (d) laying a layer of material to allow root penetration and growth on the rear surface of said grid (11), (e) filling the space between the geocomposite material (12) and the material covering the grid (11) with earth (10), compacting said earth (10) and forming a new flat surface at a level which allows the upper ends of said uprights (14) to project thereabove, (f) laying another substantially horizontal layer of geocomposite material (12), (g) installing a second set of uprights (14), connecting them slidably to the projecting ends of the uprights (14) of the underlying layer, and forming a further reinforcing cage for the subsequent layer of earth (10) by attaching grids (11) to the uprights, (h) repeating operations (d) and (e) to complete a new layer of compacted earth, (i) repeating operations (f), (g) and (h) so as to reach the predetermined height of the slope, (j) making provision for shoots to grow on the slope.
Inventors
- 👤 Dino G. Roncolato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:44
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D29/00; E02D29/02; E02D29/0225; E02D29/0241
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A method for forming steep slopes covered with a mantle of vegetation constructed of strengthened and reinforced earth comprising the following operations: (a) levelling the ground, (b) laying a substantially horizontal layer of geocomposite material, (c) forming a reinforcing cage for a first layer of earth, with a plurality of uprights spaced apart and with a grid anchored to said uprights, (d) laying a layer of material to allow root penetration and growth on the rear surface of said grid, (e) filling the space between the geocomposite material and the material covering the grid with earth, compacting said earth and forming a new flat surface at a level which allows the upper ends of said uprights to project thereabove, (f) laying another substantially horizontal layer of geocomposite material, (g) installing a second set of uprights, connecting them slidably to the projecting ends of the uprights of the underlying layer, and forming a further reinforcing cage for the subsequent layer of earth by attaching grids to the uprights, (h) repeating operations (d) and (e) to complete a new layer of compacted earth, (i) repeating operations (f), (g) and (h) so as to reach the predetermined height of the slope, (j) making provision for shoots to grow on the slope
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 1, in which operation (c) comprises: forming a reinforcing cage for a first layer of earth by means of a plurality of uprights spaced apart and a grid anchored to the said uprights, and fixing reinforcing strips which extend horizontally and perpendicular to the surface of the slope to the said uprights in the ground between one layer of earth and another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the laying of a layer of finishing material at the top of the slope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
A structure for a slope of strengthened and reinforced earth obtained by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of layers of compacted earth, each layer being retained by a reinforcing cage comprising two substantially horizontal layers of geocomposite material, a plurality of uprights which are spaced apart and a plurality of curtain panels in a portion of the side surface of the slope, each panel being formed of a lattice grid and a sheet of material which will allow root penetration and growth and which is held fixedly by the said uprights, which are anchored in the corresponding layers of earth, and in which the uprights of the upper layers are slidably linked with those beneath, one sliding upon the other along its own axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
A structure according to claim 4, in which each upright is L-shaped with, in use, one horizontal arm and one arm which extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the slope orientated upwards in such a way that the two arms form an angle of not more than 90° between them, in which two or more superimposed uprights are slidably connected together by engaging and guide means, and in which the said uprights are provided with means to anchor tie bars and members connecting the consecutive uprights in a given layer to render the said reinforcing cage rigid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
A structure according to claim 5, in which each upright has adjacent to the free end of its horizontal arm at least one hole suitable for the insertion of a fixing pin, while said guidance and sliding means comprising a through opening is provided at the other end, and in which the said second arm has a first portion of a width corresponding to the width of the horizontal arm and a second terminal portion which is appreciably less wide than the said first portion and is laid in a plane parallel to but set back from the plane in which the said first portion lies in such a way as to permit the said terminal end of the second arm to slide through the said opening of an upper upright slidably fitted from above.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
A structure for a slope of strengthened and reinforced earth according to claim 5, in which each upright comprises two pieces which can be attached together in a removable manner, the first piece being substantially L-shaped with a longer arm located horizontally and the short upward arm parallel to the face of the slope, while the second piece is substantially straight, in which both the short arm of the first piece and the second piece have in use their upper terminal ends of a constant width which is substantially less than the width of the remaining portion of the piece, said end being capable of sliding between said guide means comprising an ear constructed on the outside of the lower end of the said second piece of upright, said ear bounding a rectangular opening of a width slightly greater than the width of said terminal upper ends and a height which is equal to a little more than the sum of the thicknesses of said two ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
A structure for a slope of strengthened and reinforced earth according to claim 7, in which the first and second pieces of each upright are coupled by fitting the upper end of the short arm of the first piece into the said ear provided in said second piece, while two superimposed uprights are coupled by slidably fitting the upper end of the second piece of an upright from an underlying layer into said ear of said second piece of the overlying upright in such a way as to maintain the outer surfaces of the arms of the two superimposed uprights parallel to the face of the slope substantially in the same plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A structure for a slope of strengthened and reinforced earth according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which said uprights are constructed from a rectangular strip of material of constant thickness and width, in which said anchoring means comprise a plurality of hooks provided on both sides of the upright obtained by bending tongues which have been cut out along each arm and which are orientated parallel to the said arm, and in which one of the said hooks is located close to the terminal end of each of the two arms of each upright.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A structure for a slope of strengthened and reinforced earth according to any one of claims 4 to 9, in which the upwardly pointing arm of each upright has a series of slots or holes to allow roots to penetrate the ground behind, distributed uniformly along the entire portion of said visible arm on the outside of said structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A structure for a slope of strengthened and reinforced earth according to any one of claims 4 to 10, in which said layer of geocomposite material is a biocomponent obtained by combining a set of high strength monofilament polyester fibres interlaced with a structural part of woven fabric and a layer of non-woven polyester material capable of allowing water to drain, in which said geocomposite material can achieve tensile strengths in excess of 60 kN/m.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A structure for a slope of strengthened and reinforced earth according to any one of claims 4 to 11, in which said reinforcing strips are anchored at the terminal ends of the horizontal arms of each of said uprights and are such as to improve the strength characteristics of the ground, and in which said reinforcing strips consist of strips of steel, or grids, or electrically welded metal lattices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A structure for a slope of strengthened and reinforced earth according to any one of claims 4 to 12, in which said material allowing root penetration and growth comprises an inset wooden mat and synthetic fibre which is secured to the lattice grid by the mere pressure of the earth behind.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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