Technical Field

A modular system of building blocks, especially of construction precast units for buttress or dividing walls, containing a pair of single building parts having unit height of which each building part is furnished with one part of dovetail joint for mutual connection of single building parts by means of dovetail joint while first of the pair of the building parts is a face plate and second of the pair of the building parts is a coupling block.

Backround Art

The building industry uses a complete line of precast means with aim to simplify construction works performed at construction site and at the same time to meet the required quality of the construction. For example considering the construction of residential and similar buildings, or construction of industrial objects, the requirements for used building parts can be correctly set.

The situation related to buildings its purpose are ground shaping and provision of requirements for the statics of them is slightly different. Obtainment of required quality of the construction in respect of its technical parameters, namely the long service life and good appearance is important here while reasonable purchase cost is apparent.

Blocks that after erection make a horizontal cavity are the solution according to CZ 2001-4554 A3. A raglet is in direction of cavity on upper block, a longitudinal projection in direction of cavity matching with section the raglet on upper surface is on the block, lower surface. Layers of blocks are inserted into one another by the longitudinal projection and raglet in direction of constructed wall. Also a continuos strain moulding can be inserted in the raglet under which in a certain length of the constructed wall a reinforcing mesh (for example geotextile) is inserted which is behind the backing side of the wall covered with earth by which the wall is anchored in the earth. Blocks according to CZ 20854 U1 are equipped with raglet in upper surface and with spring in the lower surface in horizontal direction considering the constructed wall. A longitudinal holder of geogrid which is attached to holder noses can be put into the raglet. By upper line of blocks the holder is firmly fixed in the wall, the geogrid is basically horizontally anchored in the earth fill at wall backing side.

The solution according to CZ 229624 B1 suggests blocks in view of Ή" shape with skewed edges running out of the "cross-bar" of the letter "H". There are shape sinkings on the block backing side for attachment of " anchor" formed by band from polyester resin reinforced with fibreglass which are anchored in the earth fill at wall backing side.

Vertically arranged blocks with ground - plan in shape of "H" are designed by CZ 253541 B1. The blocks are coupled together with continuous armature laid vertical channels running through the blocks forming thus pillars. They are arranged in distances from one another and after placement of lathing they are poured by monolithic part of buttress wall which binds the pillars.

Identical shape blocks with horizontal upper and lower surfaces are situated horizontally according to CZ 289 89 B6. There are holes for pins in the upper part its free ends rise from the upper surface, in the lower part there are approximately triangular cavities with inlet port significantly larger that diameter of pins. There are vertical through cavities in the central part of the blocks while the upper layer blocks located on blocks of lower laid layer are mutually situated in a way the pins enter into cavities while the blocks can be moved over one another in a way it is possible to form direct, waved or curved or irregular walls. Large through cavities of blocks of constructed wall form joint, basically vertical cavities over the complete wall height that are later connected with bar shaped armatures and concrete compound.

The blocks with horizontal upper and lower surfaces and same width (distance of face and backing surface of the block) matching thickness of the wall are subject of protection by CZ 300029 B6. Block side walls are uneven which enables to form direct, waved or curved layers from the blocks. Particular layers are bound together with pins inserted in the holes and/or raglets in upper and/or lower surfaces. Some of the blocks have through big cavities to reduce the weight and also they can be used for concrete compound connecting more layers.

CZ-EP 1415053 T3 suggests blocks with horizontal upper and lower surfaces and same width (distance of face and backing surface of the block) matching thickness of the wall. Block side walls are out of parallel, which enables to form direct, waved or curved layers from the blocks. There are alternatives and combination of them when for example direct raglets are created in longitudinal direction of the wall, holes for guide pins in upper surface and in side walls alternatively vertical direct raglets and vertical direct projections. In central part of the block large vertical cavities are formed for placing vertical reinforcing means and/or concrete compound; by reinforcing rods laid in the raglets in upper surfaces of the blocks the lines of blocks can also be bound in one layer of the blocks.

Ashlar shaped monoblocks with large cavity oriented vertically in view of block orientation in the built wall are subject to protection according to FR 2658217 A1. All four or at least two opposed vertical walls are equipped with vertical dovetail raglets and/or matching projections. In one alternative dovetail raglets are formed in two opposed walls of one group of blocks while other groups of blocks have matching projections. A quite large mutual insert play is between the raglets and projections. The blocks are used for construction of outside curved coupled buttress wall, while the tight raglets and matching projections on two other surfaces of other blocks enable assembly of anchoring wall connected with the outside wall. The anchor walls rise from the outside buttress wall radially, the mutual radial gaps are filled with earth.

Relatively flat large blocks with lightening cavities according to FR 2729409 A1 are designed for construction of vertical or skew buttress walls. For this a wedge-shaped raglet in form of equal trapezoid is formed over the block complete height in the central part of the blocks while one block side wall has same falling like the trapezoid side slope of the wedge-shaped raglet. Wedges in shape of this raglet are part of the construction while length of one wedge side is approximately a double of block height. Every two adjacent blocks laying on one another can be coupled by the wedge. If the blocks are oriented with wider part of the raglet up, a vertical wall is constructed using the wedges, if they are oriented with wider part of the raglet down, a skew wall is constructed using the wedges with falling matching the falling of the trapezoid wall.

US 4990032 suggests a buttress wall formed by "left" and "right" blocks with face surface. On the opposed side there are aligned potent anchoring shaped ribs open in direction into earth fill. In an alternative version the open ribs are equipped with horizontal raglets into which horizontal anchors formed by steel reinforcing grids can be fixed after construction of the wall.

Reinforcing means for less sloped fills are designed by US 5174688. The system includes hollow deflection tough blocks with plane face wall, backside is formed by a flat arch which is coupled in the place of arch biggest deflection with face wall centre by means of a cross-bar. Particular block lines located in the longitudinal direction of the fill are coupled with concrete bars oriented into the earth, the single block lines are distant from one another for rod length forming thus "stairs" determining falling of the fill. For more sheer fills the height of single step is formed by two panels placed at each other. The panels are mutually coupled with rods equipped with holes in the ends for placing anchoring vertical pins sunk into the earth.

The solution according to US 5820305 suggests a concrete block with one rib in shape of "T" letter or with two ribs in shape of Greek letter ,,ττ". Surface of block part corresponding to the horizontal part of these letter is a face or backing side of buttress wall, the ribs furnished with raglets are directed inside the wall. In the direction of the wall length horizontal reinforcing rods are placed in the block raglets which are in addition coupled with vertical rods. The highest thickness of the wall is given by two blocks that practically touch one another with ribs, the lowest thickness of the wall is at insertion of blocks "in each other" given by length of the rib and thickness of block face and backing parts. Thickness of the buttress wall can be lowered with direction up in this stated range. In alternative version the wall interior is in addition poured with concrete. In other alternative version the buttress wall is formed by one layer of blocks creating thus a face while by means of ribs, vertical armature and by long anchor rods coupled with it fixed in earth fill at backing side eventually in concrete compound between the earth and blocks.

The solution according to US 5688078 is suitable only for the buttress wall. It contains basically vertical face part formed by layers of face plates that have in their backing side a blind dovetail raglet in which a longitudinal rib is always inserted that has one dovetail spring at each vertical edge. With one spring the rib is coupled with dovetail raglet of the face plate in a way it is put vertically to it, on the second spring other construction elements of the buttress wail can be coupled in direction from the face plate. Number of joints of particular elements reduces toughness of the buttress wall structure and increases number of construction elements. Considering the blind dovetail raglet in face plates the particular layers are not vertically coupled which is one of the signs of the protected solution.

Short coupling parts with dovetail springs for construction element joints especially for dividing walls are known even from the solutions CH 676628 A or FR 2690181 A1. CN 201292599 Y creates by means of dovetail joints cladding sandwiches formed by thin external bearing plates, a thermal insulation board is placed between them.

Disadvantage of the solution according to the state of the art is a single- purposiveness of used one-part building elements. Except the solution according to US 5688078 the described solutions are not suitable for purposes of buttress walls. The particular building elements alone do not have a sufficient stiffness, rather it is relied here upon a reinforcement of the system by concrete poured in cavities of used flanged joints eventually on further reinforcement using steel reinforcing rods and wires.

Goal of the invention is to design a construction precast unit enabling its variable application under different conditions at construction site and in addition it should be technologically less demanding while the tendency is to design such building elements that will provide the required strength even by dry way of construction. Principle of the Invention

Goal of the invention is obtained by modular system of building blocks containing a pair of building elements with unit height whose base is that it contains at least another one face plate and/or at least another coupling block with different height than the unit one while the other face plate and/or coupling block are equipped with relevant part of dovetail joint. Due to mutual coupling the different heights of building blocks enable to join single elements of layers aligned one above another and form thus a stiff structure even in vertical direction of the construction.

It is convenient if two mutually aligned dovetail raglets are formed in the face plate backing side. Face of the wall is then created from face plates of unit length and from face plates of double length that can be coupled together.

Side vertical walls of the face plate have, bevelled side vertical wall in the area turned to the backing side. Thus a buttress wall can be built in ground plan forming a convex arch.

The coupling block is furnished with parallel dovetail springs at two opposed sides which enables to couple together two face plates turned mutually with backing sides. The building blocks units produced in this way are suitable for construction of dividing walls.

The coupling block is formed as a monolith containing two plates concurring one another in shape of letter„T"; while the plate aligned in axis of coupling block symmetry is furnished with dovetail spring on the surface opposed to the plate forming the cross-bar of the letter "T". The construction precast unit is thus formed by joining of the coupling block to the face plate while the diagonal of the "T" coupling block is parallel with the face plate. The construction precast unit is suitable for construction of buttress wall, the crossbar is a mean for anchoring the precast unit in the earth fill.

The plate forming cross-bar of the letter "T" has a dovetail raglet parallel with dovetail spring in the surface reversed from other plate. At the same time it is convenient if the axis of dovetail raglet lies in the level of coupling block symmetry. Therefore the coupling blocks thus can be chained in direction to earth whereby a very good anchoring of the buttress wall in terrain is obtained. The chaining of coupling blocks in "T" shape enables its application even for construction of a wide _^ dividing wall.

At least one of the building elements is made from concrete. Such a construction precast unit has a high strength and durability which is especially suitable for construction of buttress walls. In other version it is convenient if some of the building elements is produced from plastics or wood eventually. Where these materials meets strength requirements a favourable production price can be obtained while considering its weight also handling during transport and very construction is easier.

With steel reinforcements the stiffness and strength of building blocks are conveniently increased.

Thanks to modular setup the building blocks according to the invention provide an easy assembly, variability and high stiffness of final construction. In addition to technical requirements the construction also meets the aesthetic ones.

Description of the Drawing

Example versions using the solution according to the invention are schematically shown in the drawing, where fig. 1 is a diagonal view at face plate with one dovetail raglet, fig. 2 a diagonal view of face plate with two dovetail raglets, fig. 3 a diagonal view of short coupling block in shape of ashlar furnished with two dovetail springs, fig. 4 a diagonal view of closing coupling block in shape of ashlar furnished with two dovetail springs, fig. 5 a diagonal view of coupling block in shape of letter "T" with dovetail raglet and dovetail spring, fig. 6 a construction precast unit assembled from two face plates its backing sides are touching one another while the plates are coupled by higher coupling blocks analogous with the type from fig. 3, fig. 7 a construction precast unit from two face plates according to fig. 2 assembled with a gap, oriented with backing sides to one another and coupled with two higher prolonged coupling blocks analogous with the type from fig. 3, fig. 8 a construction precast unit assembled from two face plates according to fig. 2 assembled with a gap, that are coupled with two coupling blocks according to fig. 4, fig. 9 a construction precast unit assembled from face plate according to fig. 2 and two coupling blocks according to fig, 5, fig. 10 part of buttress wall from the building blocks according to fig. 6, fig. 1 1 part of buttress wall from the building blocks according to fig. 9, fig. 12 part of buttress wall from the building blocks analogous with the type according to fig. 9 with combination of various sizes of face plates and fig. 13 a part of dividing walls from modified building blocks analogous with the type from fig. 6 coupled with post assembled from modified building blocks according to fig. 7.

Examples of the Embodiment

The solution according to the invention designs a system of modular building parts, building ^; blocks namely for construction of buttress walls. Considering the relationship of buttress and dividing walls also a possibility of use of these building elements for dividing walls, sustaining walls, fence posts and etc. is considered;

Especially concrete is a suitable material for production of building blocks. It is clear that at least some elements of the building blocks can be produced from plastics or wood or crushed and bonded wooden materials. They can also be reinforced with suitable steel elements.

In respect of the buttress walls the building blocks assembled from single face building elements and single coupling elements are the solution according to the invention. All elements, building blocks and parts of wall made from them are shown and described in term of position which they take up in built-up condition.

The face plate i is basically the construction face element. In the modular system in pattern versions single face plates are used Λ , (fig. 1 ) and double face plates 2 (fig. 2) and 21. The face plates, Λ , 2 have shape of a flat ashlar with unit height yj, the face plates H, 21 of half height, therefore 0,5 x yj. The single face plate 1 , 1 has unit width sj. The double face plate 2, 21 has double width, therefore 2x j. Thickness of all face plates is in the pattern version the same. The backing side 12 of the face plate 1, H is furnished in the centre with one continuous vertical dovetail raglet 13. The highest width sr of dovetail profile and dovetail profile is unified in the modular system. The double face plate 2, 21 is on the backing side 22 furnished with symmetrically two vertical dovetail raglets 23 with spacing matching the unit width sj. Face surfaces 14, 24 of the face plates 1, H, 2, 21 can be smooth or surface treated by cleaving, grinding, cutting, blasting, bush-hammering and etc. Part of the perimeter or complete perimeter of the face surface 14, 24 can be furnished with chamfer 15, 25, as it is shown in case of the double face plate 2. Further in the pattern version the rear half of the vertical side walls of the face plate 1, 2 is turned to the backing side 12, 22 of the bevelling 16, its plane include an angle approximately 30° with face part of the vertical side wall.

The modular system includes in the pattern version several types of coupling elements.

On fig. 3 there is shown a coupling block 3, its opposed vertical walls are formed by dovetail springs 31. Outside dimensions of the coupling block 3 meet the ashlar its thickness matches the highest width sr of the dovetail section while the part between the dovetail springs 31 forms a constricted neck 32 of length dk. The length d3 is given by a sum dk + 2x hr, where hr is height of the dovetail profile. The length d_3 (res. dk) and height v3 differ in the modular system according to the requirement for its construction. The height v3 is identical with the unit height yj of the modular system or it is for one half bigger or lower, therefore y3 = yj ± 0,5 yj. The coupling blocks 3 with length d_3 shown on fig. 3 are intended for construction of cavity walls, the length dk gives here the width of relevant cavity. The second variant is a separately not shown coupling block 4, its dovetail springs 31. tie practically one another, therefore the coupling block 4 has riot a neck in the sense of the previous case. The length d4 of the coupling block 4 is therefore given by two heights hr of the dovetail section. This variant of the coupling block 4 is intended for construction of dividing walls that have not internal cavity. Walls, which the stated elements are intended for will be described further. The coupling block 3 can be formed even with one dovetail spring 31 when it is applied as a buttress wall element which is by means of the dovetail spring 31 fixed in the dovetail raglet 13, 23 of the face plate Λ , 2, while its surface opposed to the dovetail spring is laid in the earth fill. On fig. 4 there is shown a closing coupling block 5, which is analogous to the coupling block from fig. 3. To one block of the neck 51 connects a closing part 52 concurs, its length du is basically a length between the dovetail springs 53 and thus it is the same like the length dk from fig. 3. It matches the width of the cavity of a wali described below. Complete iength d_5 of coupling block 5 is du + 2x hr. The height 5 of the coupling block 5 is equal to unit height yj of the modular system or it is for one half bigger or smaller, therefore y5 = yj ± 0,5 yj.

On fig. 5 there is shown a coupling block 6 according to the invention in shape of letter„T", its shank 61 is finished with vertical dovetail spring 62. In the cross-bar 63 on the opposed side of the shank 61 there is formed in the axis of block symmetry a vertical continuous dovetail raglet 64. In the pattern version there are in the upper and lower surface of the cross-bar 63 a spring 65 and half raglet 66 made in a way that a shaped joint is created on the coupling block laying on one another 6. Width §6 of the cross - bar 63 of the coupling block 6 is equal to unit width sj of the modular system, height y_6 of the coupling block 6 is equal to unit height yj of the modular system or it is for one half bigger or smaller, therefore y_6 = yj ± 0,5 yj. In the alternate version the width §6 of the cross-bar 63 of the coupling block 6 is approximately for 10 % smaller than unit width §i of the modular system.

The above described face plates 1, V\ , 2, 21 and coupling blocks 3, 4, 5, 6 are part of further mentioned modular building blocks intended especially for construction of buttress walls, eventually of sustaining walls. On fig. 6 there is shown a construction precast unit 10 for building of dividing walls. In the pattern version it includes two double face plates 2 turned to one another with backing sides 22 without a gap while they are coupled with coupling blocks 4 described by means of the coupling block 3 according to fig. 3. Height y_3 of the coupling blocks 4 is selected so that the layers of the building blocks aligned one above another are mutually coupled 0. For this combinations of coupling blocks 4 of above described lengths can be used by which it can be provided that the coupling block 4 of length yj is inserted with one half in the dovetail raglet 22 of the construction precast unit 10 in the lower layer and with second half in the dovetail raglet 22 of the construction precast unit 10 of the adjacent upper layer of built dividing wall: Modification of the construction precast unit 10 is a separately not shown construction precast unit 20, that includes two single face plates 1 turned to each other with backing sides 1_2 without gap while they are coupled with the coupling block 4.

On fig. 7 there is shown a construction precast unit 30 for building of dividing walls. In the pattern version it contains two double face plates 2 turned to one another with backing sides 22 with a gap for cavity wall. The face plates 2 are coupled with dovetail joints with the coupling blocks 3, its length dk determines mutual distance of the backing sides 22 of the face plates 2. Height v3 of the coupling blocks 3 is selected in the same way as with the building blocks 10.

The construction precast unit 40 according to fig. 8 is suitable for construction of the dividing wall, eventually for construction of posts. Its external surface is given by use of closing coupling blocks 5, its closing parts 52 form with vertical sides of the face plates 2 two opposed planar surfaces. The face plates 2 are connected with the closing coupling blocks 5 by dovetail joints. Height v5 of the coupling blocks 5 is selected according to the same aspects as with the previous building blocks 10 and 30.

The construction precast unit 50 shown on fig. 9 is designed for construction of buttress wall. To the face plate 2 using the dovetail joints two coupling blocks 6 are connected by means of the dovetail joints. Shanks 61 of the coupling blocks 6 are connecting face plates 2 with cross-bars 63 of the coupling block 6, that are in respect of their surface a space orientation an efficient anchoring mean in the earth fill. The springs 65 and half raglets 66 in upper and lower edges of the cross-bar 63 of the coupling block 6 contribute to mutual stability of buttress wall adjacent horizontal walls aligned one above another In addition the joint of the spring 65 and half-raglet 66 serves as a mean for attachment of geotextile that can be aligned in direction from the coupling blocks 6 in the earth fill and increases strength of buttress wall anchoring.

On fig. 10 there is shown a part of dividing wall built from the building blocks 10. On fig. there is shown a part of buttress wall built from the building blocks 50.

From analogous building blocks containing the coupling blocks 6 in combination with face plates Λ , H , 2, 21 a buttress wall is built its part is shown on fig. 12. Into the earth fill depth several coupling blocks 6 can be chained in more layers using the dovetail spring 62 at the end of the shank 61 and dovetail raglet 64 in the cross-bar 63 of the particular coupling blocks 6.

The bevelling 16 of rear part of side walls of the face plates 1, 2 and lower width of the cross-bars 63 of the coupling blocks 6 enable to built from the building blocks 50 a buttress wall with convex arch ground plan. For example with unit width si = 25 cm, width §6 = 20 cm of the cross-bar and length d6 =25 cm of the coupling block 6 and using one line of the coupling blocks 6 a convex arch with radius approximately 3,5 m can be formed and using three lines of chained coupling blocks 6 an arch with radius of 6,5 m can be formed. For an arch with even smaller radius it is necessary to shorten the cross- bars with the relevant coupling blocks 6.

The building blocks 50 can be used for constructions of wide dividing walls so that to the dovetail raglet 64 of the precast unit 50 using the dovetail spring 31 the coupling block 3_is coupled and to its second dovetail spring 31 using the dovetail raglet 13, 23 the single or double face plate 1 , 2 is connected. In another variant a wider dividing wall can be built by coupling two building blocks 50 forming both sides of the ^" wall by means of the coupling blocks 3 by inserting dovetail springs 3J. into the dovetail raglets 64 of the building blocks 50.

On fig. 13 there _: is shown a part of the dividing wall with post 7 erected from the building blocks 10 and 20. Two parts of the wall are coupled with the post 7, that is formed by a vertical assembly of building blocks 30, while the coupling block 3 has the length d_3, which is a sum of two bearing heights hr of the dovetail joint section and two thicknesses of the face plates 2. If the post 7 is to overreach the wall upper edge it is possible to use for this overreaching part of the post the building blocks 40, that have planar all four peripheral locations thanks to applied closing coupling blocks 5 of suitable height yj> .

It is clear that in addition to the shown and described alternatives of coupling blocks structures and face plates and structures of walls built from them many other possibilities exist falling within the scope of the protection with following patent claims. Construction structures according to the invention thus can be used as buttress and dividing walls, walled fencings, bearing and other walls, basements, stairs, sustaining walls, garden and park complements.

To built in dry manner (without mortar) is a special benefit. Nevertheless the construction of assembled building blocks enables pouring of vertical cavities and/or its reinforcing as needed. Between individual layers of the building blocks edges of geotextiles, eventually of wired flat reinforcement can be inserted creating then basically horizontal tension anchoring means in the earth fill.

List of relation signs

1 unit single face plate

10 construction precast unit

11 low single face plate

12 backing surface (of the single face plate)

13 dovetail raglet (of the single face plate)

14 face surface (of the single face plate)

15 peripheral edge (of the single face plate)

2 unit double face plate

20 construction precast unit

21 low double face plate

22 backing surface (of the double face plate)

23 dovetail raglet (of the double face plate)

24 face surface (of the double face plate)

25 peripheral edge (of the double face plate)

3 coupling block (with neck)

30 construction precast unit

31 dovetail spring

32 neck (of the coupling block)

4 coupling block (without neck)

40 construction precast unit

5 closing coupling block

50 construction precast unit

51 neck (of the closing coupling block)

52 closing part (of the closing coupling block)

53 dovetail spring (of the closing coupling block)

6 coupling block ("T" shape)

61 shank (of the coupling block)

62 dovetail spring (of the coupling block in "T" shape)

63 cross-bar (of the coupling block in "T" shape)

64 dovetail raglet (of the coupling block in "T" shape)

65 spring (of the cross-bar of the coupling block in "T" shape)

66 half-raglet (of the cross-bar of the coupling block in "T" shape)

7 post

dk length of the neck (of the coupling block)

du length of closing part (of the coupling block)

d3 closing block length

d4 closing block length

d5 closing block length

d6 closing block length

hr bearing height of dovetail section

sj unit width

sr highest width of dovetail section

s6 cross-bar width (of the coupling in "T" shape)

j unit height

v3 coupling block height

v5 coupling block height

v6 coupling block height