Embankment reinforcing structures

Claim 1

In an interlocking facing block for a gravity retaining wall derived from like facing blocks to be stacked in interlocked and overlapped relation in horizontal courses and wherein such gravity retaining wall is adapted to be anchored against dislodgement by securing one or more appropriate suitably tensioned lengths of a selected soil reinforcing grid thereto to extend rearwardly therefrom into the embankment to be contained thereby, said facing block having a body portion with an axis terminating in opposed end surfaces and bounded by front and rear facings and by generally parallel upper and lower surfaces, said body portion including first recess means extending axially thereof and opening to one of said upper and lower surfaces and presenting projection means extending axially thereof and upstanding from the other of said upper and lower surfaces, said first recess means and said projection means having an overall configuration and extent so as to establish an interlock therebetween in axial sliding fit when respective upper and lower surfaces of like facing blocks are disposed in contiguous relation for stacking in overlapped relation in horizontal courses, said projection means including means for interengaging with a grid edge section of a selected soil reinforcing grid to be presented thereto, and a further recess means included within at least one of said upper and lower surfaces and opening to at least said rear facing thereof, said further recess means having an extent such that when like facing blocks are stacked in interlocked and overlapped relation with respective upper and lower surfaces thereof in contiguous relation an interengaged grid edge section is accommodated therewithin.

Claim 26

A method for constructing an embankment reinforcing gravity facing wall derived from like facing blocks interlocked and overlapped in sliding fit and tied to and anchored by a soil reinforcing grid extending rearwardly therefrom into the embankment so contained, which method comprises the steps of: a) excavating the soil to a selected depth and providing a generally horizontally extending base suitable to support the gravity facing wall; b) laying upon the base one or more courses of like interlocking facing wall blocks used in constructing the gravity facing wall at least some of which present upstanding grid interengaging formations and associated recess formations for the reception of a grid edge section of a selected length of reinforcing grid to be secured thereto; c) securing to a selected upstanding grid interengaging formation presented by certain of the blocks an edge section of a selected length of soil reinforcing grid in one or more regions of the course where the soil reinforcing grid is to extend into the embankment; d) laying a superior course of like interlocking facing wall blocks in contiguous relation upon the facing wall blocks of the lower course with the blocks in the superior course arranged so that they overlap the blocks in the inferior course and in interlocking sliding fit therewith and confine the respective secured edge section within the aforementioned associated recess formations; e) laying out the respective length of soil reinforcing grid so secured to extend rearwardly therefrom and upon backfill delivered to that region and compacting same; and f) repeating the aforementioned steps in sequence so as to establish an anchored gravity facing wall structure up to a selected height and to thereby reinforce the compacted soil embankment contained thereby.

Claim 27

A method for constructing an embankment reinforcing gravity facing wall derived from like facing blocks interlocked and overlapped in sliding fit and tied to and anchored by a soil reinforcing grid extending rearwardly therefrom into the embankment so contained, which method comprises the steps of: a) excavating the soil to a selected depth and providing a generally horizontally extending base suitable to support the gravity facing wall; b) laying upon the base one or more courses of like interlocking facing wall blocks used in constructing the gravity facing wall at least some of which present upstanding grid interengaging formations and associated recess formations for the reception of a grid edge section of a selected length of reinforcing grid to be secured thereto; c) securing to a selected upstanding grid interengaging formation presented by certain of the blocks an edge section of a selected length of soil reinforcing grid in one or more regions of the course where the soil reinforcing grid is to extend into the embankment; d) laying a superior course of like interlocking facing wall blocks in contiguous relation upon the facing wall blocks of the lower course with the blocks in the superior course arranged so that they overlap the blocks in the inferior course and in interlocking sliding fit therewith and confine the respective secured edge section within the aforementioned associated recess formations; e) laying out the respective length of soil reinforcing grid so secured to extend rearwardly therefrom and upon backfill delivered to that region and compacting same; and f) repeating the aforementioned steps in sequence so as to establish an anchored gravity facing wall structure up to a selected height and to thereby reinforce the compacted soil embankment contained thereby.