Supporting srw with counterforting and inverted cantilevering forces

Abstract

Disclosed is a metallic cage (to create inverted cantilevered and counterfort forces) for supporting a retaining wall of hollow-cored blocks, having (a) first vertical (stem, post) insertable into such cores, a base member extending into the retained soil and a diagonal strut member securely connecting the top of first stem with the distal end of the base member embedded in the retained soil, where the base member has a platform on which to locate a suitable weight.

1 . A method for providing a force for inverted cantilevering and a force for counterforting to (the construction of) a retaining wall, comprising the steps of:
 a) assembling blocks, each block having a front wall, an opposed rear wall and two side walls that define a hollow core therebetween, in a first course and a superjacent second course, each course having an inter-block cavity between two blocks thereof, and in one location thereof, in a half-bond configuration so that in that one location, a vertically extending column-like hole is created by an inter-block cavity of one course and a block hollow core of a block of the other course;   b) assembling a reinforcing cage about one said first course block block's rear wall through its core, the cage being roughly wedge shaped, with its longer base perpendicular to the wall when finally assembled longitudinally in final form, having a longitudinal base/beam member with a front end and a rear end, thereof, a vertical stem/post member depending perpendicularly vertically/rising from said first beam front end, a diagonal brace/strut extending, rising from base member rear/end to the top of said vertical stem/post member of the base member front part, with said vertical post member inserted within said column-like hole;   the length of said base member being greater than the height of said vertical stem/post member (i.e. the base is the major cathetus and the stem is the minor cathetus)=right scalene triangle where the height of said stem member being sufficient, relative to the height of the rear edge of block rear wall portion to be supported (at least the height of one course of blocks, often two courses), so that when the strut is connected from top of cage first, front stem to the top of the second, distal stem, the strut clears the clears the rear edge of any block rear wall and so the cage envelopes a portion of the rear wall through its core about its rear wall; and   c) filling said column-like hole with particulate/concrete to secure the cage to the wall blocks.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said base member has a second, vertical/minor member to which said strut is attached (i.e. a truncated wedge). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step b) of assembling the cage includes the sub-steps of having diagonal strut unconnected to the stem, inserting the cage vertical stem into the block hollow core and then connecting front end of diagonal strut to top of vertical stem, thus forming a triangular assembly, where the base member has an anchoring component on which a relatively heavy component, such as a concrete square paver can rest, said anchoring component being a 2-dimension frame in the geometric shape of a quadrilateral (square, bicentric quadrilateral such as a kite), octagonal) or a curved shape, such as a circle. 
     
     
         4 . A cage (to create inverted cantilevered and counterfort forces) for supporting a retaining wall, comprising:
 (a) first vertical (stem, post) member with top and bottom ends   (b) longitudinal (base, beam) member with first, front end, and opposed, second, rear end;   (c) said first vertical member bottom end connected securely to said longitudinal base member first end;   
       (d) a longitudinal member (strut, brace) with opposed first and second opposed ends that are securely connectable to, respectively, said first vertical member top end and said longitudinal base member rear end. 
     
     
         5 . The cage of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 (e) second vertical member with top and bottom ends, the bottom end being securely connected/connectable to said longitudinal base member rear end;   (f) first elevated eye extending vertically from said first vertical member top end and second elevated eye extending vertically from said second vertical member top end whose elevation is lower than the elevation of said first elevated eye;   (g) a longitudinal member (strut, brace) with opposed first and second opposed ends that are connectable to, respectively, said first elevated eye and said second elevated eye;   said longitudinal base member has (towards said second end) a 2-D plinth-like support, substructure, for supporting a concrete, anchoring slab, and wherein said support substructure is a bending of said longitudinal base member into a square or kite geometry.   
     
     
         6 . The cage of  claim 5 , wherein said longitudinal (strut) member first end has J-hook for a hook-eye, swivel connection with said first elevated eye. 
     
     
         7 . The cage of  claim 6 , wherein said longitudinal (strut) member second end is a J-hook pre-crimped in a swivel connection with said second elevated eye.