AU2022300757B2

AU2022300757B2 - A method and apparatus for sleeper retaining wall post installation

Info

Publication number: AU2022300757B2
Application number: AU2022300757A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joshua Wilkinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-06-30
Filing date: 2022-06-29
Publication date: 2024-02-29
Anticipated expiration: 2042-06-29
Also published as: AU2022300757A1; WO2023272350A1

Abstract

A method for sleeper retaining wall installation involves attaching installation apparatus between vertical posts with lowermost ends of the posts inserted into respective pier holes in a ground surface. The installation apparatus may comprise brackets removably attachable to respective posts and horizontal beams extending between adjacent brackets. Furthermore, the bracket may have a clamp mechanism attachable to a flange of the respective post for vertical positioning thereof. The installation apparatus correctly holds the posts upright whereafter the holes may then be filled to bed the posts whereafter the installation apparatus may be removed prior stacking of sleepers between the correctly spaced and aligned posts.

Description

A method and apparatus for sleeper retaining wall post installation

Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for sleeper retaining wall post installation and, more particularly, to installation apparatus for the accurate installation of vertical posts thereof.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Sleeper retaining wall typically comprises a plurality of spaced apart vertical universal beams embedded in concrete piers and horizontal sleepers stacked therebetween.

[0003] However, the correct spacing camber and alignment of the vertical posts is difficult and therefore the present invention seeks to provide a way, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[0004] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0005] There is provided herein a method for sleeper retaining wall installation, the method comprising attaching installation apparatus between vertical posts with lowermost ends of the posts inserted into respective pier holes in a ground surface. [0006] The installation apparatus may comprise brackets removably attachable to respective posts and horizontal beams extending between adjacent brackets.

[0007] Furthermore, the bracket may be configured for removable attachment of at least one respective beam by way of a clamp mechanism attachable to a flange of the respective post.

[0008] The installation apparatus correctly holds the posts upright.

[0009] The holes may then be filled to bed the posts whereafter the installation apparatus may be removed.

[0010] Sleepers can then be stacked between the correctly spaced and aligned posts. [0011 ] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] Figure 1 shows a rear perspective view of a bracket of installation apparatus in accordance with an embodiment;

[0014] Figure 2 shows an underside perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1 ; and [0015] Figure 3 shows sleeper retaining wall installation using installation apparatus comprising the bracket of Figure 1 .

Description of Embodiments

[0016] A method for sleeper retaining wall installation involves attaching installation apparatus between posts 101 with lowermost ends 102 thereof inserted into respective holes 103 in a ground surface. The installation apparatus correctly spaces the posts 101 apart and holds the posts upright. The installation apparatus may hold the posts 101 vertical and/or parallel with respect to each other.

[0017] Thereafter, the holes 103 may be filled (such as with concrete) to bed the posts 101 whereafter the installation apparatus may be removed.

[0018] Thereafter, sleepers (not shown) may be stacked between adjacent posts 101. [0019] In the embodiment shown, the posts 101 are metallic and have FI-cross sections (i.e. comprising a pair of parallel flanges 1 17 spaced apart by an orthogonal central web therebetween).

[0020] The installation apparatus may comprise brackets 104 removably attachable to respective posts 101 and horizontal beams 105 extending between adjacent brackets 104.

[0021 ] A bracket 104 may be configured for removable attachment of at least one respective beam 105. In this regard, the bracket 1 04 may form a channel 106 within which a distal end of the respective beam 105 inserts. In the embodiment shown, the channel 106 is an open-sided channel comprising, in cross-section, sides 107 and one end 108.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the sides 107 may comprise fastener apertures 109 therethrough through which fasteners (such as Tek™ screws) can engage the beams 105. The beams 105 may be wooden and may comprise laminated veneer lumber. [0023] As shown in Figure 3, the brackets 104 may be attached substantially at ground level.

[0024] The bracket 104 is configured for holding a respective post 104 orthogonal to a respective beam 105. In this regard, the bracket 104 comprises a post engagement 110. Referencing Figure 1 , the post engagement 110 may comprise a clamping mechanism which may comprise a backing plate 1 11 and a quadrant of clamp members 1 12 attached thereto. As shown in Figure 2, each clamp member 1 12 may be L-shaped comprising a bolt 1 13 through a stem 114 thereof and wherein arms 115 thereof form a channel 116 therebetween which slidably engages a flange 1 17 of the respective post 101 .

[0025] The bracket 104 may allow for vertical adjustment of each post 101. Specifically, the clamp mechanism may be released to slide the respective post 101 therethrough to adjust the offset of the respective post 101 with respect to the bracket 104 whereafter the clamp mechanism may be retightened when the respective post 101 is at a desirous offset with respect to the bracket 104. As such, the brackets 104 may be used to vertically adjust at least one post 101 so the tops of the posts are substantially collinear.

[0026] The bracket 104 may be configured for holding a respective post 105 at a set offset therefrom.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, the channel 106 may comprise a depth to hold the respective beam 105 at a set offset therefrom. The installation apparatus may comprise beams 105 of set length, which, in combination with the brackets 104 hold the respective beams 105 at a set offset therefrom, allow for relatively exact spacing apart of the posts 101 . [0028] As shown in Figure 2, the channel 106 may comprise an end wall 118 at a terminus thereof which bears against an end of the respective beam 105 to hold the beam 105 a set offset from the bracket 104.

[0029] In embodiment shown in Figure 2, the bracket 104 may define two channels 106 for holding a pair of respective beams 105 either side thereof in the manner shown in Figure 3. Flowever, in embodiments, an end-type bracket 104 (not shown) may be provided with just one channel 106 extending from one side thereof. An end- type bracket 104 may be used for an end post 101 at an end of the wall where space is tight.

[0030] Exemplary installation of a sleeper retaining wall will now be described with reference to a specific example for which it should be understood is not necessarily limiting on the scope of the invention but merely provided for exemplary purposes. [0031] The installation may comprise setting a string line along a back of a proposed sleeper retaining wall and marking locations for digging of respective pier holes therealong. The pier holes may be marked with centroids being half the width of the beam away from the string line (i.e. so that each beam/sleeper is directly above the pier hole post installation).

[0032] The holes may be excavated 2010 mm apart from centres thereof to allow for 2000 mm sleepers with 5 mm of tolerance either side.

[0033] Thereafter, post 101 may be inserted into each respective hole 103.

[0034] Each hole should be excavated no less than 1100 mm deep for a 1000 mm high wall.

[0035] The first bracket 104 may be attached to a flange 117 of a first post 101 using the post engagement 110. The clamp mechanism may not be fully tightened at this stage.

[0036] Brackets 104 may be installed to the other posts 101 in this way.

[0037] Thereafter, the beams 105 may be installed between adjacent brackets 104. As alluded to above, the beams 105 may be wooden and engaged to each respective bracket 104 by inserting an end thereof into the channel 106 of the brackets 104 and securing Tek™ screws through the fastener apertures 109 thereof. The beams 105 should be installed tightly and plumb to each bracket 104. The channels 106 comprise sufficient length so that the beams 105 extending either side of the bracket 104 are held substantially in alignment.

[0038] The uppermost edge of each bracket 104 may be installed 800 mm from the top of the respective post 101.

[0039] Thereafter, packers may be installed underneath the beams 105 so that the beams 105 are horizontal and barriers (such as star droppers) installed either side of the beams 105 to ensure that the beams 105 a straight. Packers may be required to be installed between the barriers and side edges of the beams 105.

[0040] Once the beams 105 are set level and straight, a laser level may be used to lift each post 101 5 mm above the finished wall height. The clamp members 112 may be released by loosening the bolts 1 13 thereof using a ratchet gun and retightened once the post 105 is at the desirous offset. The bolts 1 13 may be retightened to a specific torque setting, such as 80NM. An adjustable aero prop may be used to adjust camber on the beam 105 and hold firm.

[0041 ] The lower ends of each post 101 may be checked to ensure that at least 100 mm of clearance is achieved to the bottom of each hole 103 to ensure good embedding within concrete.

[0042] Thereafter, concrete may be poured into the holes 103. The concrete may be poured to 30 mm below the bottom of each bracket 104, thereby allowing 10 mm for packers.

[0043] The concrete may be allowed to cure for 24 hours prior to disassembly and the brackets 104.

[0044] Thereafter, pad heights may be set at the bottom of the wall using laser levels and packers whereafter sleepers may be installed.

[0045] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[0046] The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

Claims

1. A method for sleeper retaining wall installation, the method comprising: attaching installation apparatus between vertical posts with lowermost ends of the posts inserted into respective pier holes in a ground surface, wherein the installation apparatus correctly spaces the posts apart and holds the posts upright; filling the holes to bed the posts; removing the installation apparatus; and stacking sleepers between adjacent posts.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the installation apparatus comprises brackets removably attachable to respective posts and horizontal beams extending between adjacent brackets.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein each bracket is configured for removable attachment of at least one respective beam.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein each bracket comprises a clamp mechanism attachable to a respective post.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the clamp mechanism is attachable to a flange of the respective post.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the clamp mechanism comprises a backing plate and a quadrant of clamp members attached thereto.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the clamp members are L-shaped comprising stems through which respective bolts engage the backing plate and arms which form a channel for a flange of the respective post.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein each bracket has a beam engagement which comprises at least one channel within which the at least one respective beam inserts.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the channel has a depth configured to hold the respective beam at a set offset therefrom.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the channel comprises an end wall which abuts against an end of the respective beam.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the channel is an open sided channel formed by sides and a top in longitudinal cross-section.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bracket is configured for removable attachment to two respective beams either side thereof.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bracket comprises two oppositely orientated channels, each having a depth to hold each of the two respective beams at a set offset therefrom.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two oppositely orientated channels comprise a common end wall therebetween.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brackets are attached substantially at ground level.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each bracket holds a respective post orthogonal to a respective beam.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein each bracket has a post engagement and a beam engagement and wherein the post engagement and the beam engagement are configured to hold the respective post orthogonal with respect to the respective beam.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the post engagement comprises a clamp mechanism.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the beam engagement comprises a channel.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein a bracket holds a respective beam at a set offset therefrom.

21 . The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the channel holds a respective beam at a set offset therefrom.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein each beam has a set length.

23. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the installation apparatus allows for vertical adjustment of each post.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the method further comprises vertically adjusting at least one post with respect to a respective bracket.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the method comprises vertically adjusting at least one post so that tops of the posts are substantially collinear.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein each bracket comprises a clamp mechanism attachable to a respective post and wherein the clamp mechanism allows for vertical adjustment of a respective post.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein vertical adjustment comprises releasing the clamp mechanism, sliding the respective post with respect to the bracket and tightening the clamp mechanism.

29. Installation apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 27.