EP0507846B1 - Building block for cement-free assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The building block is of the kind which has a generally parallelepiped shape and therefore has six sides, four of which are vertical and two horizontal. The building block further comprises male and female elements which interlock when several blocks are placed next to each other and one on top of the other so that they can be assembled without cement, mortar or any other anchoring substance. The building block is characterized in that at least two vertical sides (110, 111) intended to form the exposed parts of a structure both have the same finished appearance and require no surface coating, and in that at least two vertical sides (112, 113) include male (114, 115) and female (116, 117) elements which, assuming said two faces (112, 113) are opposite each other, are arranged in polar symmetry with respect to a virtual vertical axis X half way between these faces (112, 113).

Description

The present invention relates to a building block according to the first part of claim 1. Such blocks are known from document DE-A-2 756 863.

The object of the invention is to improve the flow of water in structures constructed with this type of block.

This is achieved by a block according to claims 1-28.

• le brevet FR-A-2 467 929 qui décrit un bloc dont deux faces opposées devant être verticales sont munies respectivement d'un élément mâle et d'un élément femelle. Lors de la juxtaposition de blocs identiques, par exemple pour réaliser un mur, l'élément mâle d'un bloc doit être engagé dans l'élément femelle du bloc voisin. Cette structure oblige à orienter les blocs les uns par rapport aux autres puisqu'ils ne sont pas réversibles.
• le brevet FR-A-2 574 450 qui décrit un bloc dont deux faces opposées devant être verticales sont munies à la fois d'un élément mâle et d'un élément femelle mais les blocs ne sont pas non plus réversibles du fait qu'une paroi devant être verticale et qui est adjacente aux deux précédentes possède un parement de façade décalé vers le bas par rapport à la face supérieure du bloc.
• le certificat d'utilité FR-A-2 568 612 décrit un bloc devant être maintenu en place au moyen de béton et comprenant un isolant situé de manière asymétrique, de sorte que les blocs ne sont pas non plus réversibles.
• le brevet FR-A-2 606 056 qui décrit un bloc du même type que celui du brevet FR-A-2 574 450 mais qui présente, en plus, une cloison intérieure, de sorte que les blocs ne sont pas réversibles.
• la demande EP-A-0 048 932 qui décrit un bloc devant être maintenu en place au moyen d'un liant de collage, aucun encastrement ne permettant d'immobiliser horizontalement les blocs les uns par rapport aux autres. En outre, en observant les coins opposés en diagonale dans le plan horizontal (figure 1), on voit qu'il ne sont pas identiques deux à deux, ce qui signifie que les blocs ne sont pas réversibles : il n'est pas possible de placer indistinctement un about ou l'autre, ce qui est un but essentiel de la présente invention. Enfin, le bloc décrit ne présente pas des grandes faces finies mais, au contraire, des stries dont l'utilité bien connue de l'homme de métier est de permettre un bon accrochage d'un revêtement de type plâtre. D'ailleurs, le bloc est en terre, profilé par pression dans une filière, ce qui exclut son usage à nu et exige un revêtement.
• le brevet FR-A-1 312 989 qui décrit un bloc devant être maintenu en place au moyen d'un mortier de liaison et qui n'est pas réversible puisque ses deux abouts sont radicalement différents : l'un porte deux rainures 2 et l'autre deux saillies 4. La nécessité d'un mortier rend pratiquement impossible la présence de deux grandes faces ayant un aspect de dernière finition, en raison des souillures inévitables résultant de la mise en place de ce mortier.

We also know the following documents:

• Patent FR-A-2 467 929 which describes a block of which two opposite faces which must be vertical are provided with a male element and a female element respectively. When juxtaposing identical blocks, for example to make a wall, the male element of a block must be engaged in the female element of the neighboring block. This structure forces the blocks to be oriented relative to each other since they are not reversible.
• Patent FR-A-2,574,450 which describes a block of which two opposite faces which must be vertical are provided with both a male element and a female element, but the blocks are not reversible either because a wall to be vertical and adjacent to both previous has a facade facing offset downward from the upper face of the block.
• the utility certificate FR-A-2 568 612 describes a block to be held in place by means of concrete and comprising an insulator located asymmetrically, so that the blocks are not reversible either.
• FR-A-2 606 056 which describes a block of the same type as that of FR-A-2 574 450 but which also has an internal partition, so that the blocks are not reversible.
• EP-A-0 048 932 which describes a block to be held in place by means of a bonding binder, no embedding allowing the blocks to be immobilized horizontally with respect to each other. In addition, by observing the opposite diagonal corners in the horizontal plane (Figure 1), we see that they are not identical two by two, which means that the blocks are not reversible: it is not possible to indistinctly place one end or the other, which is an essential aim of the present invention. Finally, the block described does not have large finished faces but, on the contrary, streaks whose utility well known to those skilled in the art is to allow good attachment of a plaster type coating. Moreover, the block is made of earth, profiled by pressure in a die, which excludes its bare use and requires a coating.
• FR-A-1 312 989 which describes a block to be held in place by means of a bonding mortar and which is not reversible since its two ends are radically different: one has two grooves 2 and 1 'other two projections 4. The need for a mortar makes practically impossible the presence of two large faces having an appearance of last finish, because of the inevitable stains resulting from the installation of this mortar.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description below made with reference to the accompanying drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of an indicative and nonlimiting example.

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a block according to the invention, of "standard" length.

Figure 2 is a schematic profile view of the same block.

Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of the same block and showing means for handling the block, in particular for its establishment.

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of blocks of the type of that of Figures 1 to 3, assembled by superposition and by juxtaposition, for example to constitute a wall.

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevation view of the same assembly as that of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic profile view of the same assembly as that of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a block according to the invention, half as long as the standard block of FIG. 1.

Figure 8 is a partial schematic plan view showing the juxtaposition of two blocks according to the invention, one of which is designed to achieve an angle.

Figure 9 is a partial schematic plan view showing the juxtaposition and superposition of blocks according to the invention, two of which are designed to achieve an angle.

Figure 10 is a schematic plan view of a block according to the invention produced according to a variant.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view in vertical section made along the line XI - XI of FIG. 13, of two so-called "standard" blocks and illustrating the means specific to the invention for sealing a wall produced with such blocks.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view in vertical section made along the line XII - XII of FIG. 13, of two so-called "standard" blocks and also illustrating the means specific to the invention for sealing a wall produced with such blocks.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of two so-called "standard" blocks of the same type as those of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view in vertical section, taken along the line XIV - XIV of FIG. 16, of a block called "chaining" and placed on a standard block of FIGS. 11 to 13.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view in vertical section, taken along the line XV - XV of FIG. 16, and also showing a so-called "chaining" block put in place on a standard block in FIGS. 11 to 13.

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of two so-called "chaining" blocks, of the same type as that of FIGS. 14 and 15.

Figure 17 is a partial schematic view showing the arrangement of a block according to the invention located at the base of a wall, resting on a slab itself according to the invention, to illustrate the evacuation in the rainwater floor having reached the wall.

Referring to Figures 1 to 10 of the drawing, it can be seen that a block 100 according to the invention is of generally parallelepipedal shape and therefore has six faces.

Two large opposite vertical faces 110 and 111 have an external appearance of complete finish and are identical because, as will be seen later, the block must be reversible, so that the large faces 110 and 111 must be able to be arranged indifferently, block by block, either towards the outside of the structure, or towards the inside.

This means, in particular, that if the blocks according to the invention are made by molding architectural concrete to have a rough-looking facade, the same must be true for the two large faces.

This arrangement is quite different from certain known blocks and panels which have a facing intended for the exterior of a structure and rather granular, as well as a facing intended for the interior of the structure and which is rather smooth and white, in imitation of traditional plaster.

The two other opposite and vertical faces 112 and 113 are provided with alternating male (or "reliefs") and female (or "hollow") elements.

On each of these faces 112 and 113, there is a vertical relief 114 with an isosceles trapezoidal section and a vertical relief 115 with a rectangular trapezoidal section which represents one half of the section of the relief 114.

These two reliefs 114 and 115 determine two vertical recesses 116 and 117. The relief 114 and the recess 117 are located in full face, while the relief 115 and the recess 116 are each adjacent to one of the two vertical edges 118 and 119 of block 100.

Note that the two faces 112 and 113 are strictly identical when viewed from the front. On the other hand, for the same block 100 they are opposite and the male and female elements are arranged in polar symmetry with respect to the vertical geometric axis X of the block 100 and over the entire height of said block 100.

Thanks to these provisions, several blocks 100 can be placed by juxtaposing them by any of their faces 112 or 113, on the one hand because of the particular geometry of these faces 112 and 113 and on the other hand because of the presence of the two big faces 110 and 111 which, because they are identical, can be placed indifferently on one side or the other of the structure, outside and inside.

The block 100 has at least one recess, here two: 120 and 121 separated by a central partition 123 whose "bayonet" shape is adapted to offer good support to the partition having the face 112 or the face 113 of a block 100 placed on the first.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, we see that the faces to be horizontal 125 and 126 also have male elements and female elements.

The upper face 125 has a relief 127 which covers the entire periphery of the recesses 120 and 121 and which determines two longitudinal zones 128 and 129.

The lower face 126 has a recess 130 which covers its entire central part and which determines two longitudinal pads 131 and 132.

By superposition, the upper blocks rest on the lower blocks by the recess 130 which covers the relief 127. In principle, the pads 131 and 132 of the upper blocks can also rest on the zones 128 and 129 of the lower block which then form supports ( figure 6). But this plurality of supports located in different planes can make manufacturing more difficult and one can then provide a small clearance between the upper pads 131-132 and the zones 128-129 because, then, one is assured of a good block stability even if the dimensions are imprecise.

The sides of the relief 127 and the sides of the hollow 130 are oblique, which facilitates the demolding of the blocks during their manufacture and which ensures automatic self-centering during the superposition of the blocks.

It can be seen that the zones 128 and 129 as well as the pads 131 and 132 are horizontal, flat, smooth and continuous. It is therefore possible to place a block on a other by taking advantage of the lateral self-centering, then sliding it horizontally to obtain the mutual blocking of the two blocks by interpenetration of the reliefs 114-115 in the hollows 116-117, whether the pads 131-132 are in contact with or not zones 128-129.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, the most projecting parts of the reliefs 114 and 115 of the faces 112 and 113 are respectively in the same virtual plane P1 for the face 112 and P2 for the face 113, these two planes P1 and P2 being parallel and perpendicular to the large faces 110 and 111.

The two reliefs 114 and 115 on the same face constitute very stable support zones, in particular thanks to their relative spacing, for handling machines such as forklifts which have, as is well known in themselves, variable spacing forks, as shown in F1 and F2 in Figure 3.

Thus, it is possible to take the blocks 100 one by one from an existing stock, or as soon as they leave a molding press, to place them on blocks already in place and this with great simplicity since the moving block is perfectly perpendicular to the forks F1 and F2, that is to say that the operator does not necessarily have to be very skilled and trained.

On the contrary, with the known blocks, it cannot be done in this way because of their opposite faces which have reliefs not aligned in a plane and they would necessarily be placed in an oblique and precarious position if they had to be handled with forks acting as indicated in F1 and F2.

Unlike known methods which are long and difficult, this handling method is convenient and rapid because, as can be seen in the drawing, and in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3, the block 100 placed on a plane P3 offers neither taken nor passage to be raised from below. In addition, the pads 131 and 132 can rest on the entire length of the zones 128 and 129 of already placed blocks (or, in any case, be very close to it), so that no mechanism can be used whose elements assets should be placed under the block.

In the longitudinal direction, the block 100 does indeed have a passage formed by the hollow 130 but the width of the latter, measured between the pads 131 and 132, is too small to place the forks of a forklift there because the block, relatively heavy, would not be stable under the handling and transport conditions found on an often chaotic construction site.

The establishment of a block 100 is therefore done by pinching it by its two opposite faces 112 and 113 and by placing it on the blocks already placed, a short distance from the block which will be adjacent to it because it is necessary to spare the place of the fork F1 or F2. Then, the forks being removed, the block 100 is slid until its male and female elements are nested in those of the adjacent block.

This maneuver is possible on the one hand because the superimposed blocks are self centered and laterally stable and on the other hand thanks to the continuity of the zones 128-129 and the pads 131-132.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, we see blocks 100, 101, 102 and 103 superimposed and juxtaposed with crossed joints, that is to say by shifting them so that their faces 112 and 113 are not aligned vertically, as well as this is well known in itself.

The first row of blocks 100, 101 and 102 can, for example, be placed on a sill 133 established in any suitable manner: directly on leveled ground, on a structure, on a raft 134 etc. The sill 133 is calibrated and profiled so that it forms the equivalent of a relief 127, in order to be perfectly capped by the hollows 130 of the blocks of the first row and that these are placed on it while being centered and wedged (figure 6).

We have only described a block 100 of "standard" length and having two opposite faces 112 and 113 provided with male and female elements. However, for the realization of a work, it is necessary to have blocks of the same design but more specialized.

So, for example, for a wall to have continuous vertical edges while the blocks are staggered with cross joints, blocks of length equal to half that of standard blocks must be used.

Such a block 200 is shown in FIG. 7 but it will not be described in detail since it has the same characteristics as the block 100 in FIG. 1, except for its length. This is the reason why it has only one recess 220 and no transverse partition 123.

Due to its identical design to that of the standard element, the element 200 has its opposite projecting elements aligned in the planes P1 and P2 for its handling with a forklift F1 and F2, as has been described above. .

In Figure 8, we see another block 300 of identical design to that of blocks 100 and 200 but specially designed to achieve the corners of a structure: load-bearing walls of a building, for example. The references used for block 300 are the same as those for block 100 to designate identical parts, but starting with the third hundred instead of the first.

The element 300 has a face 313 identical to the face 113 of the element 100 but the opposite face 340 is a flat face having an appearance of last finish, that is to say identical to the large faces 310 and 311.

Here again, it can be seen that the block fits between two planes P1 and P2 allowing it to be handled by means of a forklift.

On the other hand, the face 311 is not continuous over the entire length of the block because it comprises male and female elements identically designed and arranged as those of the faces 112, 113 and 313 and designated, for this reason, by the general reference 341 meaning that the face 311 of the block 300 comprises an assembly face.

The face 341 is provided near one end of the block 300 since its relief 315 is adjacent to the vertical edge 319 of the planar face 340.

Thus, a block 100 assembled on the face 341 has its large face 129 perfectly aligned with the face 340.

To ensure the continuity of the facade located on the side of the faces 111 and 340, it is necessary that all the angle blocks identical to the block 300 fit vertically according to the same principle as that illustrated in FIG. 6. This is why the block 300 not only has two longitudinal zones 328 and 329, but also a zone 342 perpendicular to the previous ones. Naturally, the block 300 also includes pads (not visible in the drawing) similar to the pads 131 and 132 and, in addition, a transverse pad corresponding to the area 342 on which it rests or not, as was indicated above at About zones 128-129 and skates 131-132.

The block 300 therefore also has an upper relief 327 but, here, it has a rectilinear branch 327 a .

The block 300 to be placed on the one below covers the relief 327 on three sides and, consequently, a locking is obtained in the two orthogonal directions of the plane for all the corner blocks.

Naturally, you have to be able to make both "right" and "left" angles. This is why there is a block 400 which is represented on the FIG. 9, the same elements bearing the same references but of the order of the fourth hundred and no longer of the third.

The block 400 is identical to the block 300 but its planar face 440 is located in place of the assembly face 313, the lateral assembly face 441 then being close to the other end of the block, but always adjacent to the face plane 440.

The detailed description of this assembly is not necessary since it is the same as that of FIG. 8, except for symmetry, mutatis mutandis.

It should, however, be observed that in order to counteract the joints not only on the facade with the blocks 100 and 200 but also in the corners, a block 300 and a block 400 are alternately superimposed, extending perpendicularly to one another. 'other.

This arrangement is visible in FIG. 9: a block 300 extends from the bottom to the top of the drawing and is partially covered by a block 400 which extends from left to right of the drawing, the dotted lines representing the hidden outline of the block 300.

With corner blocks, whether "right" or "left", there is the same polar symmetry between the two assembly faces. However, it is necessary to consider these faces as opposite and to note the existence of a structure in accordance with the invention, it is necessary to imagine a geometrical rotation at 90 degrees of one of the two faces to reconstruct the structure in symmetry with respect to a virtual vertical axis located between these faces and in the middle of the distance between them.

If it is desired to make cross walls, an assembly face of the same type as the face 341-441 is provided, but located in the middle of a large flat face of a block which itself has two assembly faces. opposite, of the same type as the faces 112 and 113.

In other words, a block ensuring the connection between two perpendicular walls comprises three assembly faces: two opposite and located at the ends of the block and one in the middle of a large flat face. It may prove necessary to use longer blocks for this purpose than standard blocks, for example of double length to keep a construction module coherent.

Note that such blocks can also be handled by "pinching" between the forks of a carriage since they always have opposite elements aligned in two parallel planes.

It is also possible to make crossed walls by providing blocks having substantially the shape of a cross, that is to say having four opposite assembly faces two by two. Thanks to the perfect reversibility of the assembly faces, these blocks can be arranged according to any of the four possible orientations. Likewise, these blocks can be handled by means of forks clamped laterally against any of the two pairs of opposite faces.

FIG. 10 represents a variant of the invention according to which a block 500 has assembly faces having a relief 514 and a hollow 517 of rounded shape recalling a phase of a sinusoid. On the other hand, to ensure the continuity of the facades which are necessarily flat and not curved, the relief 515 and the recess 516 are planes in their part respectively 515a and 516a perpendicular to the large faces 510 and 511.

Block 500 has three recesses 520, 521 and 522 because it is assumed to be larger than block 100.

The recesses 520, 521 and 522 are separated by transverse partitions 523 and 524 which are not in the form of a broken line as is the case of the partition 123 but simply rectilinear.

At equal dimensions, a block thus produced would be heavier, if it were made of the same material, than block 100. We can choose the solution of block 500 when, for example, we use lightweight concrete if we want to avoid weight-related problems.

It is noted that despite the rounded shape of the relief 514 on each assembly face, the most salient parts of these opposite faces are aligned in the parallel planes P1 and P2 and still allow handling by pinching the block by means of forks. a carriage.

Of course, a block can be produced with an odd number (greater than one) of recesses, whether its assembly faces are of the type of FIGS. 1 to 9 or of the type of FIG. 10 and, in this case, the faces for assembling the upper blocks are plumb not with a transverse partition but with the central recess if the blocks are offset by half a length, which is the case in FIG. 5.

This assembly is less good than that which provides for the support of the assembly faces of the upper blocks on a transverse partition.

This is why it is better to adapt the offset to the layout of the transverse partitions.

In the case of FIG. 10, for example, there is an offset by thirds: on a block 500, two identical blocks are placed which join plumb with the partition 524 for example, one rests by two-thirds of its length on a block adjacent to block 500 and the other rests by a third of its length on the other block adjacent to the same block 500 and so on.

To carry out a complete construction, specific blocks must be available, in particular to constitute lintels and to ensure chaining, that is to say the horizontal cohesion of the walls.

These blocks are identical to those which have been described and shown except for the transverse parts (external walls or partitions 123) which must allow passage to a reinforcement (reinforcement) to be embedded in a binder such as concrete.

So that it remains in place, the chaining blocks and lintels then have a bottom which closes the recesses (120, 121, 220, 320, 321, 420, 421, 520, 521, 522).

If one wishes to create vertical posts, one uses some of the recesses plumb with each other to pour there a binder such as a concrete, with or without reinforcement, as that is known in itself.

Furthermore, it is known that one of the major problems of construction lies in the greater or lesser capacity of the materials used to adequately insulate the interior and exterior of a building. The first of the insulation sought is wind and rain tightness.

Now, if this problem is well solved with construction elements assembled by a binder such as cement, it is only very imperfectly with dry-assembled construction blocks, that is to say without any binder, which is precisely the case of those according to the present invention.

Furthermore, the watertightness of a building is only real if at least one of its faces, interior and / or exterior, is completely covered with a coating: plaster, plaster, etc. Since the blocks in accordance with the invention must be assembled without a binder and having two finished faces which must not receive any coating, the problem of the building's sealing made with such blocks becomes crucial.

Referring to Figures 11 to 15, we see how the invention ensures the sealing of a wall made with blocks assembled without binder and should not receive any coating.

Each block is of the type comprising reliefs on its upper face to form a convex assembly (or "male") while its lower face has housings to form a concave assembly (or "female"), the reliefs of a lower block having to be capped by the housings of a block placed on the previous one.

Here, in particular in FIG. 13, we observe on the upper face of each block two continuous longitudinal reliefs 1 and 2 and on the lower face of each block two continuous longitudinal housings 3 and 4, the former being placed in the latter during the overlapping of the blocks.

In FIG. 12, it can be seen that each of the blocks has vertical recesses, here two, 5 and 6, determining a median transverse partition 7 and two transverse end partitions 8 and 9, which externally have reliefs 10 and 11 alternated with recesses 12 and 13 for their lateral assembly.

It is not necessary, for what is described here, that the reliefs 10-11 and the recesses 12-13 are in polar symmetry, nor that the external faces of the reliefs 10-11 are in the same plane.

The heights of the reliefs 1 and 2, of the housings 3 and 4 and of the partitions 7, 8 and 9 are established so that during the superposition of the blocks, the reliefs 1 and 2 may only be approximately engaged until the bottom of the housings 3 and 4 but, on the other hand, the upper transverse partitions must rest on the lower transverse partitions, practically without play.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, it can be seen that the internal edges 15 and 16 of the reliefs 1 and 2 are steep, vertical, and extend lower than the upper edge 17 of the transverse partitions, so that each block has, along of its longitudinal reliefs 1 and 2, endless channels 18 and 19 determined by the internal edges 15-16, by bottoms 20-21 and, in line with the transverse partitions only, by the front faces 22 and 23 of said transverse partitions.

It is observed that the internal upper edge of the reliefs 1 and 2 is connected to the corresponding steep edge 15-16 by an inclined plane 25 and 26 respectively. Here, an inclined plane 27 and 28 is provided, symmetrical to the plane 25 and to the plane 26, which gives the reliefs 1 and 2 a trapezoidal section, the planes 27 and 28 connecting to the large faces of the block by other planes 29 and 30 respectively.

The lower housings 3 and 4, for their part, have a section coordinated with that of the reliefs 1 and 2 which they are called upon to cover. They include a bottom 31-32 and two inclined walls 33-34 and 35-36.

The walls 33 and 34 are connected directly to the underside of the block, while the walls 35 and 36 stop a little higher, in steps 41 and 42 each formed of two walls 43-45 and 44-46, the second 45-46 ending at the lower face of the block which here has only two relatively narrow longitudinal supports (between the transverse partitions 7, 8 and 9) respectively 47 and 48 located between the wall 45 and the recesses 5 and 6 of on the one hand, between the wall 46 and the same recesses 5 and 6 on the other hand.

From this description, it can be seen that when two blocks are superposed, the steps 41 and 42 are located directly above the channels 18 and 19 and each of these two pairs of opposite concavities constitutes a continuous cavity over the entire length of a structure since they are located opposite one another from block to block.

This essential arrangement of the invention makes it possible to ensure the watertightness of the structure as will now be explained.

It is assumed that the outer face of a structure produced with the blocks of the invention is on the left, observing Figures 11 and 12. It is therefore against this face that it can rain. The most unfavorable conditions are met when it occurs at the same time heavy rain and a strong wind because it pushes the water into the narrowest interstices.
The water flows along the outside faces of the blocks and strikes them at all points and reaches in particular the plane 29 of each block. Pushed by the wind, the rainwater rises and passes between the plane 27 and the face 33 as well as between the top of the relief 1 and the face 31. It then flows between the plane 25 and the face 35 .
Initially, it is assumed that the plane 25 and the face 35 are exactly one against the other. The water then reaches the cavity 18-41 and naturally falls on the bottom 20, either by flowing on the plane 29, or by dripping from the face 43 of the step 41.
To the right of the transverse partitions 7, 8 and 9, the bottom 20 is bordered by the front face 22 (FIG. 11) but the water can flow freely in the channel 18, along this front face 22 as is schematized in Figure 13 by the arrows F1, and exceed it to reach the next recess 5 or 6 in which it pours, as shown schematically in Figure 12 by the arrows F2.

Vertically, the blocks are superimposed with alternating joints, that is to say that a vertical gap between two juxtaposed blocks is plumb with the middle of a lower block. On a median partition 7, therefore rest two end partitions 8 and 9, the recess 5 then being located opposite the recess 6, which means that the vertical recesses are continuous over the entire height of the structure, subject to the chaining blocks which will be described later.

Consequently, the water flowing in a recess will necessarily trickle down to the base of the structure.
It should now be emphasized that the face 35 can advantageously be less inclined than the plane 25 so that the water has a more marked tendency to fall towards the bottom 20 than to flow along the face 43.

Assuming that the water, always under the influence of a horizontal air pressure born of the strong external wind, reaches the upper edge 17 of the transverse partitions, it can only progress by capillarity between the two lower and upper faces transverse partitions, and again, in very small quantities.
The obstacle thus opposed to the transverse progression of the water may prove to be sufficient and, in this hypothesis, it is sufficient for the blocks to have a single cavity 41-18, on the side of the block which must constitute the external face of the structure. .

However, it is safer to provide a second obstacle, on the inner side, as shown, this also has the very great advantage of making the block reversible because, then, it is symmetrical with respect to its median longitudinal plane PL .

If water thus travels the entire width of the superimposed transverse partitions, it reaches the second cavity 19-42 which constitutes a practically insurmountable obstacle.
Indeed, water which would, against all likelihood, on the support 48 located overhang, would reach the edge determined by the support 48 and the face 46, and would certainly be entrained to drip towards the bottom 21 because the air pressure here is practically canceled due to the considerable pressure losses occurring from the outside.

Assuming that the water exceeds the edge between 48 and 46, it could only reach the inside of the structure if it crossed from inside to outside the obstacle constituted by the relief 2 and housing 4 which is improbable in reason for the upward path required to cross planes 30 and 26.

As for the water located on the upper edge 17, it necessarily flows along the front face 23 and reaches the bottom 21 before falling into the recess 5 or 6.

One cannot imagine that water located on the bottom 21 could rise along the plane 30.

Experience shows, moreover, that all of the infiltrated water flows into the vertical recesses, without even reaching the second cavity 19-42 despite a test planning to expose a wall made of blocks conforming to the invention of a continuous flow of water combined with a flow of forced air perpendicular to the wall at a constant pressure of 200 megapascals for twenty four consecutive hours.
At the end of this test, no drop of water had reached the face of the unexposed wall.

It should be noted that such an event has greater constraints than those of cyclones which never last twenty-four consecutive hours at their maximum power.

It is deduced therefrom that the invention makes it possible to produce secure and watertight constructions under the harshest weather conditions in inhabited areas of the globe and all the more so in more hospitable regions.

In FIG. 12, it can be seen that, at the level of the recesses 5 or 6, the progression of the water is radically impossible beyond the edge of the bottom 20 since there is no transverse physical connection here, so that the water flows, or flows, necessarily in the recesses 5 or 6.

Referring now to Figures 14 to 16, we see a building block called "chaining block" because it has a bottom and no transverse partitions, to serve as a horizontal channel for poured reinforced concrete, in view of the horizontal "chaining". This is a classic phase of construction, which consists in reinforcing the resistance of the structure by joining the blocks horizontally at critical levels: above the doors and windows and at the top of the walls, essentially.

In these figures, the same elements have the same references.

Each chaining block comprises a continuous bottom 50 and vertical channels 51 and 52 which pass right through the block and which create external walls 53 and 54 as well as internal walls 55 and 56, the latter being integral with the bottom 50.

The face of the vertical channels 51 and 52 closest to the large external faces of the block is formed by the extension of the internal edge 15-16 of the reliefs 1 and 2.

For the reasons explained above, the block is here again symmetrical with respect to its average longitudinal plane PL but if one is satisfied with the cavity 18-41, it is clear that it suffices to provide the channels 51 because they are intended for the evacuation of water towards the bottom of the structure. The channels 52 would then be useless.

Thus, each block is analyzed as having a central trough 57 and external walls 53 and 54. The central trough 57 and the external walls 53 and 54 are made integral by vertical partitions 58 and 59 which extend respectively between the outer 53 and inner 55 walls for the partitions 58 and between the outer 54 and inner 56 walls for the partitions 59, these partitions determining the vertical channels 51 and 52.

These provisions are intended to ensure the flow of water continuously, from the top of the walls to their base, despite the presence of chaining blocks whose bottom 50 is opposed to this flow in the manner described with reference to Figures 11 to 13 for standard blocks.

We will now describe how water can flow by assuming, which is the most common case, that a row of chaining blocks is laid on a row of standard blocks, as is shown schematically in Figures 14 to 16.

To simplify the drawing and the description, it has been assumed that the chaining blocks themselves do not support any upper block but it will be seen that the explanations given also apply to the case where the chaining blocks are themselves covered by other blocks, both standard and chained elsewhere.

Water, therefore, is supposed to pass over the relief 1, in particular as already described, pushed from the outside by the wind.

This water flows according to the arrows F3 along the inclined plane 25 and reaches the steep edge 15 which also constitutes the interior of the vertical channels 51. The water, therefore, flows according to the arrows F4 through these channels 51 which are found directly above the endless channel 18 of the standard block on which the chaining block is placed.

When the water reaches this channel 18, it behaves as already described, that is to say it flows in the vertical recesses 5-6 according to the arrow F2 (FIG. 15).

As mentioned above, it is unlikely that water will pass through the entire width of the blocks, but if this happened, it would be discharged through channels 52, channel 19 and the recess 5.

It is noted that the top of the partitions 58 and 59 is less high than the upper edge of the interior walls 55 and 56 and, a fortiori, less high than the reliefs 1 and 2.

In this way, the water which travels along the arrows F3 necessarily falls into the vertical channels 51-52 and cannot reach the upper edge of the interior walls 55 and 56, even opposite the vertical partitions 58 and 59.

The gauge 57 receives a reinforcement and is filled with concrete up to the level of the upper edges of the walls 55 and 56, so that if water reaches these edges, it could progress, by capillarity, as indicated about the transverse partitions 7, 8 and 9 of the standard blocks.

It is now understood that if a chaining block is surmounted by another block, the water which reaches from top to bottom this chaining block is discharged in the same manner as that which has just been described: or else said other block is a standard block and its steps 41 and 42 are above the vertical channels 51 and 52, or it is a chaining block and its vertical channels 51 and 52 are exactly above those of the block lower chaining and, again, the water flows down without obstacle.

Referring now to Figure 17, we see a standard block located at the base of a construction, according to the invention.

We have shown how the water located in a wall constructed according to the invention is automatically evacuated down the wall, without having been able to pass through it.

In order to prevent water from accumulating at the bottom of the structure, it is planned to drain it into the ground.

To do this, a slab 60 is put in place by pouring concrete, generally in the bottom of a trench, then the first row of standard blocks is laid.

These blocks can be simply placed on the raft 60, as shown in FIG. 17 or else be sealed in concrete over a certain height.

In one case as in the other, the invention provides that under the first row blocks is a continuous longitudinal channel 61 with which communicate perpendicular channels 62 which open out from the raft 60, on the outside of the structure, in terrain T.

With these provisions, the infiltrated water trickles, flows, from the top of the structure and crosses all the blocks, whether standard or chained, and reaches the raft 60. It flows on the raft 60 and is collected by the longitudinal channel 61, then finally flows through the channels 62 to be absorbed by the terrain T.

It emerges from the above description that the invention makes it possible to produce constructions by means of assembled blocks without any binder while ensuring excellent sealing, even under difficult conditions, thanks to the particular profile of the lower and upper faces which are interpenetrate into baffles and have upper elements favoring the dripping of water above lower elements favoring them, the flow and / or the runoff towards the blocks located lower.

We thus manage to easily build, using only a low-skilled workforce, good quality works and easily resistant to the most aggressive weather.

Claims (28)

1. A building block for the construction of walls, of generally parallelpiped shape and therefore with six sides, four vertical and the other two horizontal, furthermore comprising male and female elements designed to interlock when several blocks are juxtaposed and superposed for assembly without cement-mortar or any other binder-characterised in that the said horizontal sides, of wich one is by convention called « lower » and the over by convention called « upper », comprise a particular profile contituting at least partially the said male and female elements which interlock, the profile of the underside forming the so-called « upper » elements which assist water to drip above the lower elements associated with the profile of the upper side of the lower block which assits the flow and/or running of water towards lower blocks, the upper and lower elements being placed so as to allow two of the said superposed blocks to carry out into effect at least one continuous horizontal cavity at the junction of the said upper and lower sides of the said blocks.
2. A block in accordance with claim 1, caracterised in that the said continuous horizontal cavity is carried out into effect by protrusion on the upper side and o hollow on the lower side of the block, the protrusion and the hollow constitute the said upper and lower elements.
3. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the continuous longitudinal cavity consists at least partially of an undercut placed near to the longitudinal hollow cut in the lower side of the block.
4. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the continuous horizontal cavity consist at least partially of an undercut in the upper side of the block, near to the protrusion extending throughout the length of the block.
5. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the continuous cavity is formed by a pair of opposite concavities cut respectively in the upper surface of one lower element and in the lower surface of one upper element.
6. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the continuous horizontal cavity (41-18) is nearer to the side of the block which is to form part of the outside surface of the wall.
7. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it possesses two continuous horizontal cavities (41-18 and 42-19) which are symmetrical in relation to the mean vertical plane (PL) of the block.
8. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it possesses transversal partitios (7,8 and 9) of which the summit is higher than the bottom surface (20-21) of the concavity (18-19) of the upper side of the block.
9. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it possesses at least one continuous protrusion (1-2) on the upper side and least on the upper side and least one continuous longitudinal hollow (3-4) on the lower side, vertically above the protrusion (1-2) so that when identical blocks are superposed the recess (3-4) of the lower side of one of the blocks covers the protrusion (1-2) of the upper side of the other, with the continuous horizontal cavity (41-18, 42-19) near to the said protrusion (1-2) and the said recess (3-4) placed one in the other and more inside the block when measured from its outer surface, than the said protrusion (1-2) and recesses (3-4).
10. A block in accordance with claim 9, characterised in that the continuous longitudinal protrusion (1-2) of the upper side comprises an inner side (25-26) which is inclined towards the mean plane (P) of the block.
11. A block in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that the continuous longitudinal recess (3-4) of the lower side comprises one surface (35-36) that is inclined towards the mean plane (PL) of the block
12. A block in accordance with claims 10 and 11, characterised in that the inclination of the lower side (25-26) is more marked than that of the side (35-36) so that they are not against the other when the recess (3-4) of one block is placed on the protrusion (1-2) in order to assist dripping.
13. A block in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that the inclined surface (25, 26) of the continuous longitudinal protrusion (1-2) is joined to a steep side (15-16).
14. A block in accordance with claim 13, characterised in that the steep side (15-16) is joined to a horizontal bottom surface (20-21) which borders at least one internal vertical hollow (5-6).
15. A block in accordance with claim 14, characterised in that each internal vertical cutout (5-6) is delimited by transversal partitions (7-8-9) which are higher than the horizontal bottom surface (20-21).
16. A block in accordance with claim 13, characterised in that the steep side (15-16) extends as far as the lower surface of the block.
17. A block in accordance with claims 1 to 9, 9 to 14 and 16 characterised in that it comprises a central trough (57) with a continuous bottom surface and joined to least one outside surface (53-54) by vertical partitions (58-59) forming vertical channels that end on the lower surface of the block.
18. A block in accordance with claim 17, characterised in that the trough (57) is delimited by longitudinal surfaces (55 and 56) which are higher than the vertical partitions (58-59) forming vertical channels (51-52).
19. A block in accordance with claims 11 to 18, characterised in that the inclined surface (35-36) of the recess (3-4) joins a surface (45-46) which is little or not inclined and itself joins a surface (45-46) which is steeper even vertical, these two surfaces (43-44 and 45-46) form an undercut (41-42) which constitutes the upper concavity of the continuous longitudinal cavity.
20. A block in accordance with claims 1 to 19, characterised in that the at least two vertical surfaces (112-113, 212-213, 313-341, 413-441, 512-513) comprise male elements (114-115, 214-215, 314-315, 414-415, 514-515) and female elements (116-l17, 216-217, 316-317, 416-417, 516-517) which assuming that the said two surfaces are opposite (112 and 113, 212 and 213, 313 and 341, 413 and 441, 512 and 513), are placed in polar symmetry in regard to vertical virtual axis (X) imagined between these surfaces (112 and 113, 212 and 213, 313 and 341, 413 and 441, 512 and 513) and halfway between them.
21. A block in accordance with claim 20, characterised in that two opposites surfaces (112 and 113, 212 and 213, 512 and 513) of the block (100-200-500) comprise male elements (114-115, 214-215, 514-515) and female elements (116-117, 216-217, 516-517) which are placed in polard symmetry in regard to the vertical geometric axis (X) of the block (100-200-500) and to its full height.
22. A block in accordance with claim 20, characterised in that male elements (314-315, 414-415) and female elements (316-317, 416-417) are placed on two adjacent sides (313 and 311, 413 and 411).
23. A block in accordance with claim 20, characterised in that at least one of the vertical sides (313, 413) comprise at least two male elements (314 and 315, 414 and 415) of which the most salient parts are aligned in the same virtual plane (P2) perpendicular to the other opposite sides (310 and 311, 410 and 411).
24. A block in accordance with claim 23, characterised in that two opposite sides (112 and 113, 212 and 213, 512 and 513) comprise at least two male elements (114 and 115, 214 and 215, 514 and 515) of which the most salient parts are aligned in the same virtual plane (P1-P2) for each side (112, 113, 212, 213, 512 and 513) so that the most salients parts of the male elements (114-115, 214-215, 514-515) of the two opposite sides (112 and 113, 212 and 213, 512 and 513) lie in two virtual planes (P1 and P2) parallel and perpendicular to the other two opposite sides (110-111, 210-211, 510-511).
25. A block in accordance with claim 23, characterised in that the side (340, 440) opposite the side (313, 413) which comprises male elements (314 and 315, 414 and 415) is flat and parallel to the virtual plane (P2) of the most salient parts of the other side (313, 413), with the finish surface.
26. A block in accordance with claim 20, characterised in that the male elements (114-115, 214-215, 314-315, 414-415, 514-515) and female elements (116-117, 216-217, 316-317, 416-417, 516-517) are asymmetrical with regard tothe median virtual plane of the block (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and perpendicular tothe side (112, 212, 213, 313, 341, 441, 512 and 513) which comprises elements (114-115-116-117, 214-215-216-217, 314-315-316-317, 414-415-416-417, 514-515-516-517).
27. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 26, characterised in that one of the male elements (115-215-316-415-515) is adjacent to one of the vertical sides (118-218-318-418-518) of the block (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and one of the female elements (116-216-316-416-516) is adjacent to the other vertical side (119-219-319-419-519) of the block (100, 200, 300, 400, 500).
28. A block in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 27, characterised in that at least two vertical sides (110-111, 210-211, 310-311-340, 410-411-400, 510-511) designed to form part of the finished surface of a wall, are all fully finished and require no surface coating.

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