Method and assembly for soldier pile retaining wall leveling and erosion control

Abstract

A method and assembly are disclosed for building a soldier pile shore wall or soldier pile retaining wall. The method and assembly are designed to permit the shore wall to be leveled along the bed of a body of water, whether the bed of the body of water is level or not level. Simultaneously, the method and assembly prevent erosion of the bed of the body of water in the vicinity of the assembly, extending the life-span of the shore wall, and enabling maintenance of the shore wall to be performed by permitting the assembly to be re-embedded in the bed of the body of water and re-leveled at the time when erosion eventually does occur.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of building a level shore wall, wherein the completed shore wall will have an upper horizontal surface that is elevated above and parallel to the surface of the body of water, comprising these steps:
 Embedding a plurality of vertical soldier pilings in the bed of the body of water, wherein the spacing between the vertical soldier pilings is uniform;   Embedding fully the lowermost edge of a plurality of shore wall base elements into the bed of the body of water, wherein said shore wall base elements are inserted between adjacent soldier pilings;   Leveling each shore wall base element in the horizontal plane.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step of inserting one or more lagging panels atop each shore wall base element wherein the top most horizontal surface of each lagging panel is level with the top most horizontal surface of any adjacent lagging panel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vertical soldier pilings are I-beams. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the vertical soldier pilings are I-beams. 
     
     
         5 . A method of building a level retaining wall, wherein the completed retaining wall will have an upper horizontal surface that is level and above ground, comprising these steps:
 Embedding a plurality of vertical soldier pilings in the ground, wherein the spacing between the vertical soldier pilings is uniform;   Embedding fully the lowermost edge of a plurality of retaining wall base elements into the ground, wherein said retaining wall base elements are inserted between adjacent soldier pilings;   Leveling each retaining wall base element in the horizontal plane.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  comprising the further step of inserting one or more lagging panels atop each retaining wall base element wherein the top most horizontal surface of each lagging panel is level with the top most horizontal surface of any adjacent lagging panel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the vertical soldier pilings are I-beams. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the vertical soldier pilings are I-beams. 
     
     
         9 . A level shore wall comprising:
 At least one shore wall base element wherein the said shore wall base element includes a rectangular metal wall panel having an opposing upper edge and lower edge, and opposing transverse side edges, wherein said upper edge and said transverse side edges are supported by a framing element, wherein said lower edge is fully embedded in the bed of a body of water, wherein said upper edge is level in the horizontal plane;   Means of leveling said upper edge;   A plurality of reinforcing gussets perpendicular to the said upper edge framing element and said rectangular metal wall panel wherein said reinforcing gussets are wedge-shaped;   Means of connecting the said reinforcing gussets to the rectangular metal wall panel and said upper edge framing element;   A plurality of vertical soldier pilings having a longitudinal centerline and spaced uniformly, each of which includes opposing transverse slots for receiving one of said transverse side framing elements.   
     
     
         10 . The level shore wall of  claim 9  wherein said vertical soldier pilings are I-beams. 
     
     
         11 . The level shore wall of  claim 9  wherein said rectangular metal wall panel is ¼″ plate steel. 
     
     
         12 . A level retaining wall comprising:
 At least one retaining wall base element wherein the said retaining wall base element includes a rectangular metal wall panel having an opposing upper edge and lower edge, and opposing transverse side edges, wherein said upper edge and said transverse side edges are supported by a framing element, wherein said lower edge is fully embedded in the ground, wherein said upper end is level in the horizontal plane;   Means of leveling said upper edge;   A plurality of reinforcing gussets perpendicular to the said upper edge framing element and said rectangular metal wall panel wherein said reinforcing gussets are wedge-shaped;   Means of connecting the said reinforcing gussets to the rectangular metal wall panel and said upper edge framing element;   A plurality of vertical soldier pilings having a longitudinal centerline and spaced uniformly, each of which includes opposing transverse slots for receiving one of said transverse side edge framing elements.   
     
     
         13 . The level retaining wall of  claim 12  wherein said vertical soldier pilings are I-beams. 
     
     
         14 . The level retaining wall of  claim 12  wherein said rectangular metal wall panel is ¼″ plate steel. 
     
     
         15 . A soldier pile retaining wall leveling and erosion control base plate assembly comprising:
 A rectangular metal wall panel having an opposing upper edge and lower edge, and opposing transverse side edges;   A frame element placed along the said upper edge of the said rectangular metal wall panel;   A frame element placed along each said transverse side edge of the said rectangular metal wall panel;   Means of connecting the said frame elements to the said rectangular metal wall panel;   A plurality of vertical reinforcing gussets perpendicular to the said upper edge framing element;   Means of connecting the said reinforcing gussets to the rectangular metal wall panel and said upper edge framing element.   
     
     
         16 . The soldier pile retaining wall leveling and erosion control base plate assembly of  claim 15  wherein said rectangular metal wall panel is ¼″ plate steel.