DK2851469T3 - Improved self-locking concrete paving stone - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to the field of the industry of road and similar coatings, in particular concrete paving blocks and has for object a self-locking concrete paving block.

Currently, there are different types of concrete paving blocks for the creating of surfaces intended for the circulation of vehicles or simple surfaces intended for the passing, only periodical, of vehicles or for the purposes of parking. Such paving blocks are generally provided with means of nesting allowing them to be blocked according to two directions in the horizontal plane, with these means often being of geometrical shapes provided on the edge of said paving blocks and having a reverse symmetry between the parallel edges of the paving blocks.

Furthermore, known paving blocks are provided with distancing elements also provided on their edges and which make it possible to ensure the formation of a separation joint intended to be filled in via a filling with sand.

Known paving blocks make it possible to respond in a relatively correct manner to the requirements of blocking and of anti-dislocation outside of a surface laid in the cases where very strict circulation criteria can be filled, namely relatively low displacement speeds that generate very low vibrations.

Indeed, the currently existing paving blocks, whether or not of the self-locking type, have edges that are perfectly vertical, the same as the spacers with which they are provided, in such a way that the sand for pointing only makes it possible to carry out, by vibration, an effective blocking, according to the two directions in the horizontal plane.

It is also known, by DE-U-202 01 877 a block provided with spacers that have a decreasing cross section from the base to the apparent face and which do not have any punctual contact of their base with that of the adjacent blocks. Furthermore, there subsists a longitudinal and transversal play which does not make it possible to obtain an effective blocking of the blocks. In addition, the shoulder provided in this document does not allow for a closing of the joint on the laying bed, in such a way that the joint sand can be poured into this laying bed during vibrations. Finally, the spacers are in no way in contact over their entire height.

Moreover, EP-A-1036 882 describes a paving block of the type similar to that described in the preceding document and gives rise to the same remarks. This paving block also does not make it possible to obtain an "anti-pulling off" resistance, with the spacers being solely intended to ensure the positioning during the laying and are destroyed during the vibration of the laid surface. DE-U-297 21 360 describes a paving block provided with means for locking, but without interpenetration, wherein the distancing elements are provided only on a part of the height starting from the base, as such guaranteeing an apparent joint that is uniform that does not allow said spacers to appear.

However, in the case a substantial circulation and at a relatively high speed on such paving blocks, the vibrations induced tend to successively cause cracks of a very small width on the parallel edges, in such a way that at each passage said paving blocks carry out a corresponding micro displacement. This results in that after a more or less long service life, the sand for pointing between the paving blocks tends to shift partially under the latter allowing for the obtaining of a play with the adjacent paving blocks. Furthermore, this play can be increased due to an upward erosion of the paving blocks due to the stresses of a mechanical and meteorological natures, which results, when a vehicle passes, in a lifting of said paving blocks via a suction effect of the tyres of said vehicles on the outside surface of said paving blocks. A rapid deterioration then follows of the square surface and the formation of noise due to the colliding consecutive to the vibrations and to the colliding, and even to the ravelling of said paving blocks, which is particularly stressful for the residents.

Finally, it is known, by WO-A-0009808 a paving block having on two consecutive sides spacers that can be mutually nested in order to guarantee an "anti-pulling off". However, such paving blocks are produced by moulding which is extremely difficult and require a specific laying via nesting via the sides, which is practically impracticable wit laying machines and result in a problem of sliding on the sand bed, without driving the latter, during a manual laying. Finally, the manufacture and the laying of such paving blocks have a cost price that is incompatible with an industrial implementation.

Moreover, it has been proposed, by EP-A-1 705 289, a self-locking concrete paving block, provided on its longitudinal and transverse edges with distancing means in the form of a truncated pyramid or of a truncated cone portion, wherein said distancing means are arranged on either side of semi-cylindrical spacers and join in pairs, by their base, the generating line of the corresponding spacer that is the farthest from the paving block, with each distancing means being, during interpenetration of the paving blocks in the laid position, in contact via a point with the longitudinal or transverse edge of the adjacent paving block and via a point with a corresponding spacer of the adjacent paving block, with the spacers being in contact over their entire height with the corresponding edge of the adjacent paving block by a line.

Such a paving block makes it possible to largely counter most of the disadvantages of the paving blocks that exist today, but cannot guarantee over a long period of time an absolute locking against a pulling off, due to a possible wearing of the spacers at their points of contact resulting in a migration of the sand for pointing towards the laying bed and as such play between adjacent paving blocks.

Finally, it is known, by EP-A-2 527 533 a self-locking concrete paving block, provided on its longitudinal and transverse edges with distancing means, arranged on either side of spacers. This paving block has distancing means in the form of a truncated pyramid with a base which is polygonal which cooperate, by shape, with the base of distancing means of the adjacent paving blocks, during interpenetration of the paving blocks in the laid position, and the spacers are arranged in the median vertical axis of the distancing means, have a form of a half-truncated cone or of a half-truncated pyramid, of which the large base extends on the polygonal base of the corresponding distancing means, partially protruding in relation to the latter, with each spacer cooperating with a corresponding vertical recess, provided in the edge of the adjacent paving block and of which the cross section is equal to that of the large base of the spacer and constant over the entire height of the paving block.

Such a self-locking concrete paving block makes it possible to ensure a self-blocking in position, whether in the plane of the surface of the laying as well as perpendicularly to this plane, i.e. preventing any pulling off in conditions of traffic.

However, the visible presence of the spacers on joints is not compatible with certain aesthetic requirements, in particular the linear continuity of the joints.

This invention has for object a self-locking concrete paving block that makes it possible, just as the paving block according to EP-A-2 527 533, on the one hand, to simultaneously ensure a self-locking in both directions of the horizontal laying plane, as well as a locking in position against pulling off, by suppression of any play between paving blocks and, on the other hand, to create a linear continuity of the joints, while still being of simple manufacture and implementation.

To this effect, the self-locking concrete paving block, provided on its longitudinal and transverse edges with distancing means, arranged on either side of spacers said spacers being arranged between the distancing means and cooperating, by shape, with the said distancing means of the adjacent paving blocks, during interpenetration of the paving blocks in the laid position, is characterised in that the distancing means are constituted, each, by a pair of vertical tongues with a base which is polygonal or in the form of a portion of a circle, projecting from the edge of the paving block and of which the top is in the form of a truncated pyramid or of a truncated cone portion, and in that said vertical tongues delimit between them, on the edge of the paving block, a vertical recess of constant cross section for receiving a corresponding spacer projecting from the edge of the adjacent paving block.

The invention shall be better understood, thanks to the description hereinafter, which relates to a preferred embodiment, provided as a non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the annexed diagrammatical drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a perspective view of a paving block in accordance with the invention; figure 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of the paving block; figure 3 is an elevational view of the paving block according to figure 2; figure 4 is a plan view of a set of laid paving blocks, with two partial enlargements on the junction of adjacent paving blocks; and figure 5 is an elevational view on a larger scale showing the joint between two laid paving blocks, as a cross section.

Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings show a self-locking concrete paving block 1 intended to be laid on traffic routes, parking areas or others. This paving block 1 is provided on its longitudinal 2 and transverse 3 edges with distancing means 4, arranged on either side of spacers 5, arranged between the distancing means 4 and cooperating, by shape, with said distancing means 4 of the adjacent paving blocks, during interpenetration of the paving blocks in the laid position (figure 4).

In accordance with the invention, the distancing means 4 are constituted, each, by a pair of vertical tongues 41 with a base which is polygonal or in the form of a portion of a circle, projecting from the edge of the paving block and of which the top is in the form of a truncated pyramid or of a truncated cone portion, and in that said vertical tongues 41 delimit between them, on the edge of the paving block 1, a vertical recess 42 with a constant cross section and receiving a corresponding spacer 5, projecting from the edge of the adjacent paving block (figures 1 to 4).

The distancing means 4 and the spacers 5 are arranged on said longitudinal 2 and transverse 3 edges according to an inverted symmetry, respectively in relation to the transverse median axis and to the longitudinal median axis. As such, it is possible to obtain a fitting of paving blocks 1 through which the transverse edges and the longitudinal edges of adjacent paving blocks 1 via their longitudinal edges and via their transverse edges are perfectly aligned (figure 4). Furthermore, this arrangement also allows for a staggered laying, with a longitudinal offset of the paving blocks 1, as well as laying at a right angle, with one paving block 1 being arranged perpendicularly to another paving block 1, with an alignment of the longitudinal edge of one with the transverse edge of the other.

This arrangement of the paving blocks 1 is provided by the cooperation of the spacers 5 with the corresponding vertical recesses 42 delimited between the vertical tongues 41 constituting the distancing means 4 of the adjacent paving blocks, as shown in figure 4 of the annexed drawings. It results from this interpenetration that each distancing means 4 is in contact, by the vertical tongues 41, on the one hand, with a spacer 5 and, on the other hand, with a longitudinal 2 or transverse 3 edge of an adjacent paving block 1. This arrangement of the distancing means 4 and of the spacers 5, protruding on the transverse edges 3 and the longitudinal edges 2 of the paving blocks 1 allows for the obtaining of a linear continuity of the joints between the paving blocks 1, said distancing means 4 and spacers 5 extending entirely in the space for pointing between the paving blocks 1.

In addition, the gap 7 delimited between the tops in the form of a truncated pyramid or of a truncated cone portion of the tongues 41 delimits a corner filled with sand for pointing which prevents any pulling off of the paving blocks 1 laid.

In accordance with a characteristic of the invention, the distancing means 4 and the spacers 5 advantageously have a height which is less than that of the paving block 1, their top preferably extending below the level of the upper edge of the said paving block 1. As such, in the laid position and after sandblasting of the joints, said distancing means 4 and the spacers 5 are entirely covered and therefore invisible, which contributes to a notable improvement in the visual aspect, through the creation of perfectly linear joints.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, at least one spacer 5 of each longitudinal 2 and transversal 3 edge has a cross section which is digressive from the base of the paving block 1 towards the upper end of the spacer 5, thus determining, with the vertical recess 42 delimited between the vertical tongues 41 of the corresponding distancing means 4, a vertical gap 6' forming a space for pointing with sand, which space has a cross section which is progressive from the lower face of the paving blocks 1 towards their upper face, producing auto-compression under a pullout or settlement force. As such, the filling with sand for pointing creates not only a stabilisation of the paving blocks in the horizontal plane, but also forms a means of self-locking means in cooperation with the distancing means 4 and the spacers 5.

The formation of this means of self-locking results from the fact that an attempt to pull off a paving block has for effect to induce a displacement of the sand for pointing on the spacers 5 and distancing means 4, which has for effect a simultaneous compression of the sand for pointing, with this compression being carried out, in fact, in cascade and resulting in a total blocking which prevents any pulling off.

Due to the conformation of the distancing means 4 and of the spacers 5 the paving blocks 1 laid are entirely in mutual contact via their base resting on the laying bed, the vertical gaps 6, between the distancing means 4 and the spacers 5 of a constant cross section (and/or width), filled with sand for pointing which makes it possible to improve the resistance of the paving blocks against any risk of slipping or of tilting, which could result in a destabilisation of all of the paving blocks laid.

Furthermore, due to the contact of the bases of the paving blocks 1 over practically their entire length and their entire width and of the penetration of the spacers 5 in the distancing means 4, an initial tilting of the paving blocks, which would be due to an initial play on said bases is rendered impossible, in such a way that a pulling off or a loosening of a paving block, via an additional clamping effect on one side during an attempt to pull off or following a suction effect provoked by a tyre tread displaced at high speed on a surface paved as such, is entirely avoided. Indeed, not only can the paved blocks 1 not be displaced in a horizontal plane, due to the fact, on the one hand, of the interpenetration of the distancing means 4 and of the spacers 5 and, on the other hand, due to the filling of the vertical gaps 6 with the sand for pointing, which prevents a pivoting of the paving blocks 1 in relation to one another and, in this way, any pulling off or subsiding, in particular mechanically.

In order to perfect resistance to subsiding, in particular in the case of intense traffic, it is provided, according to another characteristic of the invention and as shown in figures 1, 3 and 5 of the annexed drawings, that the paving block 1 be provided, on at least two faces opposite the longitudinal 2 and/or transverse 3 edges, with at least one distancing means 4', of which at least one vertical tongue 41' is shorter than the vertical tongues 41 of the distancing means 4 and of which the top extends at a lower level than that of the vertical tongues 41, determining a corresponding vertical gap 7' between the vertical tongue 41 of the preceding distancing means 4 and that (tongue) 41', of the distancing means 4'.

Preferably, a distancing means 4' of lesser height is advantageously provided at an end of each longitudinal 2 and transversal 3 edge, with the corresponding end of the transverse 3 and longitudinal 2 edge being provided with a succession of spacers 5 and with distancing means 4 (figures 1, 3 and 5). In order to facilitate comprehension, figure 5 shows, with hatching, the distancing means 4 and 4', as well as the stiffeners 5 of a paving block, while the distancing means 4 and 4' and the stiffeners 5 of the other paving block are represented with a squared marking. The difference in height between the tongue 41' of the distancing means 4' and that of the adjacent tongue 41 is as such very clearly visible.

In other words, and as can be seen clearly in figure 5, at least one tongue 41' of a paving block cooperates with a tongue 41 of the associated adjacent paving block.

In order to obtain a flow of sand that is more advantageous, it is therefore provided to carry out a tongue 41' with an acute angle at the top that is sharper or less than that of the opposite tongue 41. The top of the tongue 41' therefore descends lower before reaching a portion where the cross section or width of the rectangular base of the tongue 41' is constant.

As the top of the tongue 41 stops at a level that is higher than that of the tongue 41' and which therefore has a larger rectangular base, a sort of asymmetric funnel is formed for the flow of the sand for pointing.

Thanks to the elements 41 and 41' of different geometries (in the form of rectangular trapezes), once the pointing is carried out (cf. figure. 5), a sort of corridor or channel is obtained that narrows downwards and which prevents the paving block from subsiding, with the sand flowing therein filling the space between said elements 41 and 41' by locking the element 41' in a direction upwards and the element 41 in a direction downwards.

The providing of at least one such distancing means 4' on at least two opposite edges of the paving block 1 makes it possible to obtain an offset in height between a vertical tongue 41 and a vertical tongue 41' resulting in the forming of a truncated cone or pyramid portion or offset downwards in relation to the distancing means 4 and therefore the possibility of a faster bottlenecking of the sand for pointing in the corresponding vertical gap 7' (figure 5). Due to the very arrangement of the distancing means 4' each time at a corner of the paving block, it is possible to create quasi-instantly a preventing of the flow of the sand for pointing at the ends of the paving block and, as such, to entirely prevent the risk of subsiding of the latter under a strong stress, with a subsiding of the end subjected to the stress being prevented by the wedging of the filling sand in the corresponding vertical gap 7 between the vertical tongue 41 of the preceding distancing means 4 and that, 41', of the distancing means 4'.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to carry out a self-locking concrete paving block that makes it possible to ensure a self-locking in position, in the plane of the laying surface as well as perpendicularly to this plane, i.e. preventing any pulling off and any subsiding in traffic conditions, while still allowing for the draining of runoff water in the foundation.

Furthermore, this paving block can be carried out by implementing the normal moulding techniques, i.e. with the use of a simple mono-block mould, and the laying can also be carried out simply and quickly.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the annexed drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular concerning the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of equivalent techniques, without however leaving the field of protection of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. Concrete self-locking paving stone (1) provided on its longitudinal (2) and transverse (3) edges with spacers (4) disposed on each side of spacers (5), with spacers (5) disposed between spacers (4). ) and cooperatively form with the spacers (4) of the adjacent paving stones during mutual penetration of the paving stones in the laid position, characterized in that the spacers (4) each consist of a pair of vertical tongues (41) with a base which is polygonal or in the form of a portion of a circle in which the tongues protrude from the edge of the paving stone and the top thereof is in the form of a cone stub or of a cone stub, and by the vertical tongues (41) defining between them, on the edge of the paving stone (1), a vertical constant cross section recess (42) to receive a corresponding spacer (5) projecting from the edge of the adjacent paving stone, and by coating the stone is provided on at least two opposite faces of the longitudinal (2) and / or transverse (3) edges, with at least one spacer (4 ') of which at least one vertical tongue (41') is shorter than the vertical tongues (41) ) of the spacers (4) and of which the top extends at a lower level than that of the vertical tongues (41), determining a corresponding vertical gap (7 ') between the vertical tongue (41) of the preceding spacer (4) and that (41 ') of the spacer means (4'). Paving stone according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacers (4) and spacers (5) have a height less than that of the paving stone (1), their top preferably extending below the level of the upper edge of the paving stone (1). . Paving stone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one spacer (5) of each longitudinal (2) and transverse (3) edge has a cross-section which is degressive from the base of the paving stone (1) towards the upper end of the spacer ( 5), thereby determining, with the vertical recess (42) bounded between the vertical tongues (41) of the corresponding spacer (4), a vertical space (6 ') forming a space for filling with sand, said space having a cross sections which are progressive from the lower surface of the paving stones (1) to their upper surface, producing autocompression under a pull-out or application force. 4th Paving stone according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a smaller height spacer (4 ') is provided at one end of each longitudinal (2) and transverse (3) edge, the corresponding end of the transverse ( 3) and longitudinal (2) edge are provided with a series of spacers (5) and spacer (4).