Cellular honeycomb type reinforcing structure, and a method and apparatus for forming the structure

Abstract

A cellular reinforcing structure ( 1 ) for preventing soil erosion comprises a plurality of lattice type sheets ( 5 ) of plastics material having longitudinal members ( 9 ) joined by transverse members ( 8 ) which define openings ( 13 ). The sheets ( 5 ) are bent to form first and second locations ( 11, 12 ), and the first locations ( 11 ) of each sheet ( 5 ) engage first locations ( 11 ) of the adjacent sheet ( 5 ) on one side thereof, and the second locations ( 12 ) of each sheet ( 5 ) engage the second locations ( 12 ) of an adjacent sheet ( 5 ) on the other side thereof. The sheets ( 5 ) inter-engage at their first and second locations to define retaining bores ( 14 ), and retaining bars ( 15 ) are inserted through the retaining bores ( 14 ) for retaining the first and second locations of the respective sheets inter-engaged with each other. The cellular reinforcing structure ( 1 ) is then placed on the soil the erosion of which is to be prevented or in a cutting on the soil, and cells ( 3 ) formed between the adjacent sheets ( 5 ) are back-filled with suitable in-fill material, such as soil, aggregate or the like.

1 - 64 . (canceled)  
   
   
       65 . A cellular honeycomb type reinforcing structure characterized in that the reinforcing structure comprises a plurality of elongated sheets, each sheet being joined to its adjacent sheet on one side thereof at a plurality of first locations spaced apart along the length of the sheets, and to its adjacent sheet on the other side thereof at a plurality of second locations spaced apart along the length of the sheets, each second location being located intermediate an adjacent pair of first locations, the first locations of each pair of adjacent sheets defining unconnected portions extending therebetween where the sheets are unconnected, and the second locations of each pair of adjacent sheets defining unconnected portions extending therebetween where the sheets are unconnected, the cellular honeycomb type reinforcing structure being formed by urging the unconnected portions of adjacent sheets apart from each other for defining a matrix of cells.  
   
   
       66 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that the first and second locations alternate along the length of each sheet, and preferably, adjacent sheets at their respective first and second locations define retaining bores extending parallel to the planes of the sheets, and transversely of the length thereof,  
   
   
       67 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that each sheet is of lattice structure material defining a plurality of openings therethrough, and being joined to its adjacent sheets at the respective first and second locations by inter-engaging portions of the sheet with corresponding openings in the adjacent sheets, and retaining the respective portions inter-engaged.  
   
   
       68 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 67  characterized in that the cells defined by urging the unconnected portions of adjacent sheets apart from each other are interconnected through the openings in the sheets, and advantageously, the respective sheets are of regular lattice structure with the openings arranged in the form of a matrix, and preferably, each sheet is formed by a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal members and a plurality of spaced apart transverse members extending transversely of the longitudinal members and being joined to the longitudinal members, the longitudinal and transverse members defining the matrix of the openings, and ideally, the longitudinal members extend in a generally longitudinal direction along the length of each sheet, and advantageously, the longitudinal members extend parallel to each other, and the transverse members extend parallel to each other, and preferably, the inter-engaging portions of the adjacent sheets at the first and second locations define the retaining bores, and ideally, a retaining means is located in each retaining bore for retaining the portions inter-engaged, and advantageously, each retaining means comprises an elongated retaining bar for engaging a corresponding one of the retaining bores, and preferably, each retaining means comprises a receiving means.  
   
   
       69 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that a securing means is provided for securing one of a top panel and a bottom panel to the reinforcing structure adjacent a corresponding one of a top and a bottom thereof, and preferably, a plurality of securing means are provided, and each securing means is adapted for engaging a corresponding one of the retaining bores or the receiving means for securing the one of the top panel and the bottom panel to the reinforcing structure, and preferably, each securing means is releasably securable to a corresponding one of the retaining bores or the receiving means, and advantageously, the receiving means of each retaining means comprises an axially extending receiving bore extending into the retaining means for receiving a corresponding one of the securing means, and ideally, each securing means comprises a spigot engageable with a corresponding one of the receiving bores of the retaining means, and advantageously, the spigot of each securing means terminates in a pan head for abutting and retaining the one of the top panel and the bottom panel in engagement with the reinforcing structure when the spigot is engaged in the receiving bore of the corresponding retaining means, and preferably, a pair of the receiving bores extends into each retaining means from respective axially opposite ends thereof for receiving corresponding ones of the securing means for securing the respective top and bottom panels to the reinforcing structure, and ideally, the top and bottom panels are of lattice type material defining a plurality of openings therethrough, and advantageously, each top and bottom panel is of regular lattice structure defining a matrix of openings, and preferably, each top and bottom panel is of a semi-rigid material, and ideally, each top and bottom panel is of a plastics material.  
   
   
       70 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that each sheet forming the cellular reinforcing structure is of a semi-rigid material, and preferably, each sheet forming the cellular reinforcing structure is of a plastics material.  
   
   
       71 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that the sheets are secured at each first and second location at a pair of spaced apart locations for defining the retaining bores, and preferably, the cells defined by urging the unconnected portions of adjacent sheets apart from each other are adapted for receiving in-fill.  
   
   
       72 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that the reinforcing structure is located on the ground for minimizing soil erosion, and the cells formed by urging the unconnected portions of adjacent sheets apart contain in-fill, and preferably, the in-fill is soil, and additionally or alternatively, the in-fill is aggregate, and additionally or alternatively, the in-fill is hard-core, and additionally or alternatively, the in-fill is concrete.  
   
   
       73 . A land erosion preventative device comprising the reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that the reinforcing structure is located in the ground and the cells formed by urging the non-engaging portions of adjacent sheets apart from each other contain in-fill, and additionally or alternatively, the in-fill is soil, and additionally or alternatively, the in-fill is aggregate, and additionally or alternatively, the in-fill is hard-core, and additionally or alternatively, the in-fill is concrete, and advantageously, the land erosion preventative device is adapted for preventing coastal erosion, and is located on or adjacent the sea shore, and additionally or alternatively, the land erosion preventative device is adapted for preventing river erosion, and is located on or adjacent a riverbank.  
   
   
       74 . A method for preventing soil erosion, the method comprising the steps of placing the reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  in or on the soil, and back-filling the reinforcing structure with in-fill material into cells formed in the reinforcing structure by urging the unconnected portions of adjacent sheets apart from each other.  
   
   
       75 . A method for forming a cellular honeycomb type reinforcing structure characterized in that the method comprises locating a plurality of sheets extending substantially parallel to each other, gripping each sheet at a plurality of locations spaced apart along the length of the sheet by respective gripping means, so that each sheet is clamped at locations intermediate respective alternate first and second locations spaced apart along the length of the sheet, urging the gripping means of each sheet towards a mid-point of the sheet intermediate the respective longitudinal ends thereof for causing the sheets to bend adjacent the first and second locations along transversely extending bends, with the first locations of alternate sheets being displaced out of the plane of the corresponding sheet in a first direction, and the first locations of the other sheets being displaced out of the plane of the corresponding sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction for engaging the first locations of an adjacent one of the sheets on one side thereof, the second locations of each sheet being displaced out of the plane of the sheet in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first locations of that sheet are being displaced for engaging the second locations of an adjacent one of the sheets on the other side thereof.  
   
   
       76 . A method as claimed in  claim 75  characterized in that adjacent pairs of sheets are secured at their respective first and second locations.  
   
   
       77 . A method as claimed in  claim 75  characterized in that the bends at the first and second locations are induced into the sheets by the gripping means as the gripping means commence to move towards the mid-points of the respective sheets, and advantageously, each gripping means comprises a clamping means for clamping the corresponding sheet therebetween, and preferably, the sheets are of lattice structure material defining a plurality of openings therethrough, and the gripping means are urged towards the midpoints of the sheets until portions of the first locations and portions of the second locations of adjacent pairs of sheets inter-engage for defining respective retaining bores, and ideally, the sheets are secured at the first and second locations by a retaining means for retaining the inter-engaged portions of the respective first and second locations inter-engaged, and preferably, the method further comprises the step of inserting the retaining means into the respective retaining bores at the first and second locations for retaining the respective inter-engaged portions engaged with each other, and preferably, each retaining means comprises an elongated retaining bar, and the respective elongated retaining bars are inserted into the corresponding retaining bores, the retaining bores extending substantially transversely of the length of the sheets.  
   
   
       78 . A method as claimed in  claim 75  characterized in that the sheets are secured at each one of the first and second locations at two spaced apart locations for defining the retaining bores.  
   
   
       79 . A method for forming a cellular honeycomb type reinforcing structure characterized in that the method comprises sequentially securing a plurality of sheets to their adjacent sheets by supporting the sheet to which the next sheet is to be secured, displacing ones of first and second locations of the supported sheet out of a plane containing the others of the first and second locations of the supported sheet for engaging the corresponding ones of the first and second locations of the next sheet, securing portions of the supported sheet to the said next sheet at the ones of the first and second locations which have been displaced from the plane containing the others of the first and second locations.  
   
   
       80 . A method as claimed in  claim 79  characterized in that adjacent pairs of sheets are secured at their respective first and second locations, and preferably, the sheets are of lattice structure material defining a plurality of openings therethrough, and the supported sheet and the said next sheet are secured at the ones of the first and second locations by inter-engaging portions of the supported sheet and the said next sheet at the ones of the first and second locations, and advantageously, the sheets are secured at the first and second locations by retaining the inter-engaged portions of the supported sheet and the said next sheet at the first and second locations inter-engaged with respective retaining means, and preferably, the sheets are secured at each one of the first and second locations at two spaced apart locations for defining the retaining bores, and ideally, prior to each said next sheet being secured at the corresponding one of the first or second locations, each said next sheet is bent along its respective first and second locations, so that the first locations are displaced to one side of the plane of the sheet, and the second locations are displaced to the opposite side of the sheet, and advantageously, each supported sheet is supported at spaced apart locations by respective ones of spaced apart first engaging means and second engaging means, and is engaged by the other ones of the respective first and second engaging means at spaced apart locations intermediate the locations at which the supported sheet is supported for holding the supported sheet, so that by moving the ones of the first and second engaging means which are supporting the sheet relative to the others of the first and second engaging means, the supported sheet is bent at its respective first and second locations.  
   
   
       81 . Apparatus for forming a reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that the apparatus comprises a plurality of sets of clamps defining respective parallel clamping planes, each set of clamps being provided for gripping a corresponding one of the sheets at a plurality of gripping locations spaced apart along the length of the sheet, the clamps of the respective sets being moveable in their respective clamping planes in a direction towards a mid-point of the corresponding sheet intermediate the longitudinal ends thereof for causing alternate portions of the sheets to be displaced on opposite sides of the planes of the corresponding sheets for forming the first and second locations, so that the first locations of each sheet engages the first locations of the adjacent sheet to one side thereof, and the second locations of each sheet engage the second locations of the sheet on the other side thereof.  
   
   
       82 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 81  characterized in that a means for applying respective retaining means to the engaged first and second locations of the respective sheets is provided for retaining the engaged first and second locations secured, and advantageously, the means for applying the respective retaining means comprises a means for inserting respective retaining bars into corresponding retaining bores defined by the engaged portions of the respective first and second locations of adjacent sheets.  
   
   
       83 . Apparatus for forming a reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 65  characterized in that the apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced apart first engaging means and a plurality of spaced apart second engaging means located intermediate the first engaging means, the first and second engaging means being provided for alternately supporting and engaging alternate sheets sequentially on respective opposite sides thereof at spaced apart locations along the length of the sheet, the first engaging means defining a first plane, and the second engaging means defining a second plane, the first and second engaging means being moveable relative to the other for spacing the first and second planes apart for displacing alternate portions of the sheet being supported on the ones of the first and second engaging means on respective opposite sides of the plane of the sheet for forming the first locations on one side of the plane of the sheet, and the second locations on the other side of the plane of the sheet, so that the next sheet to be assembled engages portions of the ones of the first or second locations of the supported sheet.  
   
   
       84 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 83  characterized in that a means is provided for bending each said next sheet to be assembled for forming respective first and second locations in the said next sheet for engaging the corresponding ones of the first and second locations in the supported sheet, and advantageously, a means is provided for bringing each said next sheet into engagement with the supported sheet, and preferably, the sheets are of lattice type structure defining a plurality of openings therethrough, and portions of the ones of the first and second locations of the supported sheet and the said next sheet are inter-engaged adjacent the said ones of the first and second locations.