FR2872529A1 - Soil stabilization device, has upper layer with slits distributed in staggered rows, and extended along elongation direction having component orthogonal to direction of slits to form foldable retention pockets - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has an upper layer with slits distributed in staggered rows along a predetermined direction, and extended along an elongation direction having a component orthogonal to the direction of the slits to form open retention pockets (2) which are foldable. A support layer (10) is connected to the upper layer by a connection unit. The upper layer has zones (25) for connection with the layer (10). Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a method for manufacturing a soil stabilization device (B) an installation for manufacturing a soil stabilization device (C) an utilization of a soil stabilization device.

Description

Ground holding bag equipment and method of manufacturing a

  The present invention relates to the field of soil stabilization on slopes. The invention more particularly relates to an equipment with earth retention pockets and the method of manufacturing this equipment.

  Many products provide equipment with a coating to prevent slippage of the top layer of soil. In general, such known coatings achieve a limited retention of the earth which is a function of the cohesion of this earth. Effective restraint is observed only over 10 cm of maximum earth thickness. It is also known honeycomb products (honeycomb) that allow to extend the hold up to 15 cm of soil, or more. However, such products are not simple to install in situ and do not protect the geomembrane on which they are laid. The cellular products must imperatively be connected to a support (usually a reinforcing geotextile) because they do not hold the earth by themselves. Many disadvantages are then encountered when connecting these products in situ to a support.

  There is therefore a need for slope stabilization products that are effective and easy to implement.

  The present invention therefore aims to overcome one or more of the drawbacks of the prior art by defining a simple earth-retaining bag equipment to install and to prevent landslide, especially for the retention of land in embankments sealed or not by geomembrane.

  This objective is achieved by an equipment with earth-retaining pockets, comprising at least one support layer integral with a so-called upper layer including a flexible material, characterized in that the upper layer comprises slots distributed in a staggered configuration in at least one direction. determined and widened in a so-called elongation direction having a component orthogonal to the direction of the slots to form open retaining pockets, the support layer being connected to the upper layer by connecting means.

  According to another particularity, the upper layer comprises staggered connection zones with the support layer, each of the connecting zones being adjacent to three retaining pockets.

  According to another feature, the support layer comprises drainage means integral with a geotextile.

  According to another feature, the upper layer is composed of a resistant polymeric material.

  In another feature, the height of the opening of the pockets is of the order of 10 cm relative to the support layer, each of the pockets being foldable.

  Thus, it is permitted to deploy the equipment according to the invention by simple unwinding, the retaining pockets being folded in the wound state and is deployed naturally in the unwound state.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple manufacturing method for providing equipment for effectively retaining the earth.

  This object is achieved by a method of manufacturing an equipment with earth-retaining pockets according to the invention, from a support layer and a so-called upper layer including a flexible material, characterized in that it comprises a cutting step according to at least one determined direction in the upper layer of staggered slits; a step of elongation of the upper layer in a so-called elongation direction having a component orthogonal to the direction of the slots to form open retention pockets; a step of bonding the upper layer to the support layer.

  According to another particularity, each of the slots is made during the cutting step according to a curved cutout, the cutting plot having an axis of symmetry substantially orthogonal to said cutting direction.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing facility specifically adapted for producing equipment for effectively retaining the earth.

  This objective is achieved by a plant for manufacturing equipment with earth-retaining pockets according to the invention, comprising drive means for scrolling a so-called upper layer including a flexible material on a so-called work plane plane, characterized in that it comprises: - a cutting device arranged to cut with a distribution io staggered in the upper layer of the slots in a direction determined in the work plane; elongation means for widening the slots in a direction substantially orthogonal to their cutting; connecting means for adhering the upper layer to a support layer.

  According to another feature, the connecting means are associated with localized holding means arranged to maintain so-called connection zones of the upper layer on the support layer.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an advantageous use of the earth-retaining bag equipment for protecting the sealing layers.

  This objective is achieved by using the equipment with earth-retaining pockets according to the invention, characterized in that said equipment covers a geomembrane.

  The invention, with its features and advantages, will emerge more clearly on reading the description given with reference to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples in which: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from above of a product according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a product according to the invention arranged on a geomembrane for an embankment land application; FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show schematically the distribution of the slots in three different embodiments of the invention; - Figures 4A and 4B show a top view of the upper layer of the equipment corresponding to the embodiment of Figure 3A, respectively before and after elongation; Fig. 5 shows a top view corresponding to the result of the assembly of the upper layer of Fig. 4B with the support layer; Fig. 6 shows a photograph of the unrolled equipment; FIG. 7 represents the block diagram of a manufacturing facility for carrying out the method according to the invention; - Figure 8 shows a sectional view showing a mode of bonding zones of the upper layer on the support layer.

  The invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, B and 6.

  The equipment (1) according to the invention has retaining pockets (2) for preventing landslide phenomena, in particular in sloped soil retention applications. As illustrated in Figure 1, the equipment (1) comprises a support layer (10), for example consisting of a geotextile web secured to a plurality of holding pockets (2). With reference to FIG. 4, the retaining pockets (2) are each connected to four adjacent pockets (2) in a staggered arrangement. Empty intervals (23) alternate with said pockets (2) to form a so-called upper layer (20).

  The support layer (10) is connected to this upper layer (20) by connecting means. The connection mode is for example and not limited to welding, sewing or staple type. The fixing is performed in discontinuous areas (25) corresponding to the contact areas between the two layers (10, 20). In one embodiment of the invention, the fastening results from a bonding made by high-frequency welding or by any known heat-bonding technique. The upper layer (20) has a flexible material and may be made of a strong polymeric material. As represented in FIG. 1, the height (h) of the opening (40) of the pockets (2) can be between 5 and 20 cm, and for example of the order of 10 cm with respect to the support layer ( 10). Each of the pockets (2) can be folded down, as shown in FIG. 6, the height (h) of opening being able to vary between a maximum, for example of the order of 10 cm, and a minimum corresponding to a plane or quasi-position. plane of the pocket (2) retaining.

  The invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3A, 3C, 4A and 4B.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper layer (20) is previously incised or cut in a curved manner so that it comprises a plurality of slots (4) distributed in a staggered manner in at least one determined direction (fi). . A predetermined cutting plane makes it possible to obtain the desired distribution. The staggered arrangement of the slots (4) according to the pattern (5) of FIG. 3A is illustrated by way of nonlimiting example. These slots (4) are stretched in a direction (f4) substantially orthogonal to the direction of the slots (4) to form open pockets (2) retaining. The staggered distribution makes it possible to easily achieve an elongation of the order of 200% in the direction of elongation (f4) of the slots (4). This elongation is accompanied by a lateral withdrawal, for example of the order of 20-25%. The deformation experienced by the upper layer (20) is illustrated with FIGS. 4A and 4B, the elongation of the slots (4) in the direction of elongation (f4) leading to very substantially lengthening the upper layer (20). In preferred embodiments, the slots (4) may be curved, as shown in Figures 3C and 4A. The slots (4) superposed in pairs can be separated from each other by a distance (h1) of the order of 10 cm to 30 cm, each of the slots extending over a length of the order of 30 to 110 cm . In variants, the dimensions of the slots (4) can of course be smaller, as can the gaps between the slots (4). With reference to FIG. 4A, the upper layer (20) comprises connection zones (25) with the support layer (10) distributed in a staggered manner. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4B, each of the connection zones (25) is adjacent to three retaining pockets (2). The bonding areas (25) have a much smaller area than the surface of a holding bag (2).

  In the example of Figure 2, the equipment (1) according to the invention is used to cover a geomembrane (3) which it provides protection. For some applications, it may be envisaged to have drainage means between the geomembrane (3) and the support layer (10). These drainage means consist for example of drainage pipes, which also provide protection of the geomembrane (3). In an alternative embodiment, the support layer (10) comprises drainage means integral with a geotextile, which facilitates the flow along the geomembrane. These drainage means may consist for example of a drainage composite integrated in the support layer (10) or ducts fixed to the support layer (10).

  The invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3B, 4A, 4B, 5 and 6.

  The equipment (1) can be rolled up easily, which facilitates the storage of large areas and facilitates the deployment of equipment on the ground to equip. Indeed, as shown in Figure 6, the equipment (1) may be in the form of a roll that the operator unrolls, the retaining pockets (2) opening during deployment. When placed on the slope of an embankment (30), the retaining pockets (2) open all the more clearly that they support the weight of the earth covering the equipment (1) .

  Referring to Figure 3B, there is shown an alternative embodiment having different directions (f2, f3) for the slots (4). The upper layer (20) is formed of several sub-parts (21, 22) for which the slit cuts (4) are made in different directions (f2, f3). The staggered distribution is maintained for each of the subparts (21, 22). In such an embodiment, the elongation in a direction orthogonal component relative to the slots (4) provides the retaining pockets (2). In practice, the holding pockets (2) must be arranged in the upward direction of the slope to optimize the earth retention.

  The equipment (1) according to the invention, as represented in FIG. 5, can therefore be obtained in particular from a first support layer (10) and the upper layer (20) including a flexible material, illustrated in FIG. Figure 4B.

  The steps of the manufacturing process of the equipment (1) can be summarized as follows: - a step of cutting, in the upper layer (20) of slots (4) distributed in a staggered manner, in at least one determined direction (f 1, 5 f1 '); a step of elongating the upper layer (20) in a direction (f4) substantially orthogonal to the direction (fi) of the slots (4) to form open retention pockets (2); a step of connecting the upper layer (20) to the support layer i0 (1 0).

  As shown in FIG. 3C, each of the slots (4) can be made during the cutting step according to a curved cutout. The cutting path comprises for example an axis of symmetry (A) substantially orthogonal to the cutting direction (f1 ').

  The manufacturing facility of the equipment according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

  The upper layer (20) may consist of a web, for example initially wound on a roll (200), and driven by rollers (61, 62, 16, 17) of an installation for carrying out the method according to the invention. These drive means (61, 62, 16, 17) make it possible to scroll this upper layer (20) on a plane called a work plane. This upper layer (20) is cut along the predetermined cutting plane by a cutting device (41) for example associated with first drive means (16, 17). Alternatively, a cutting device can be positioned downstream of these first drive means (16, 17). The slots (4) obtained are widened by means of elongation (42) in the direction (f4) orthogonal to the direction of the slots (4) to form the pockets (2) retaining. The elongation is carried out for example in the direction of the length of the upper layer (20) during manufacture, the slots (4) being obtained by a rectilinear or curved type transverse cut. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, second drive means (61, 62) are set at a speed greater than the speed of the first drive means (16, 17) so as to carry out longitudinal elongation of the slick forming the upper layer (20). The speed may for example be doubled for the second drive means (61, 62) with respect to the speed of the first drive means (16, 17).

  In one embodiment of the invention, connecting means are associated with localized holding means, arranged to maintain the connection zones (25) of the upper layer (20) on the support layer (10). With reference to the example of FIG. 8, the localized holding means may comprise lugs (612) arranged on a driving wheel (61) of the second driving means (61, 62). The cleats are for example each associated with a bucket (611) for driving the pockets (2) formed during the elongation step. The drive wheel (61) comprises a plurality of holding devices formed by the bucket-cleat assembly, staggered so that the cleats (612) have an abutment surface for the bucket-driven pockets (2). (611) of the drive wheel (61). The cleats (612) may be rotatable and disengage relative to the buckets (611) to allow driving and then releasing the pockets (2). As illustrated in FIG. 8, the cleat (612) enters the pocket (2) and has a bearing surface for the connection zones (25) of the upper layer (20) when these zones (25) pass over a heating system (250) such as a heating blade or equivalent welding system.

  Simultaneously, a web constituting the future support layer (10) is for example initially wound on a roll (300), and driven by rollers (60, 62) of the installation in the same direction as the upper layer (20). In the example of FIG. 7, the upper layer (20) is superimposed on the support layer (10) and the adhesion is effected via the connection zones (25) which have just been heated by the heating system (250). ). It is understood that any type of similar localized bonding means can be envisaged to adhere the two layers (10, 20).

  The finished product can correspond to the equipment (1) according to the invention. As illustrated in Figure 7, the retaining pockets (2) of the upper layer (20) are foldable, which allows to wind the equipment (1) according to the invention.

  One of the advantages of the invention is to offer a resistant and effective equipment for stabilizing the reported layers of soil, which moreover can be presented to the user in the form of simple rolls to deploy on the surface to be covered.

  It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered by way of illustration, but may be modified within the scope defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.

Claims (10)

  Equipment (1) with earth-retaining pockets, comprising at least one support layer (10) integral with a so-called upper layer (20) including a flexible material, characterized in that the upper layer (20) comprises slits (4) staggered in at least one predetermined direction and widened in a so-called elongation direction (f4) having a component orthogonal to the direction of the slots to form open retention pockets (2), the support layer (10) being connected to the upper layer (20) by connecting means.   2. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer (20) comprises bonding zones (25) with the support layer (10) distributed in staggered rows, each of the connecting zones (25) being adjacent to three retaining pockets (2).   3. Equipment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support layer (10) comprises drainage means integral with a geotextile.   4. Equipment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper layer (20) is composed of a resistant polymeric material.   5. Equipment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the height (h) of the opening (40) of the pockets (2) is of the order of 10 cm relative to the support layer ( 10), each of the pockets (2) being foldable.   6. A method of manufacturing equipment (1) with earth-retaining pockets according to one of claims 1 to 5, from a support layer (10) and a so-called upper layer (20) including a flexible material, characterized in that it comprises: - a cutting step in at least one determined direction (fi, f1 ') in the upper layer (20) of slots (4) distributed in staggered rows; There is a step of elongation of the upper layer (20) in a so-called elongation direction (f4) having a component orthogonal to the direction (f1) of the slots (4) to form open pockets (2) retaining; a step of bonding the upper layer (20) to the support layer (10).   7. Method according to claim 6, wherein each of the slots (4) is made during the cutting step in a curved cut, the cutting plot having an axis of symmetry substantially orthogonal to the direction (f1 ') of cutting .   io 8. Installation for manufacturing the equipment (1) with earth retention pockets according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising drive means (61, 62, 16, 17) for scrolling a so-called layer upper part (20) including a flexible material on a so-called working plane, characterized in that it comprises: - a cutting device (41) arranged for cutting with a staggered distribution in the upper layer (20) of the slots ( 4) in a certain direction (fi) in the work plan; elongation means (42) for widening the slots (4) in a so-called elongation direction (f4) substantially orthogonal to their cutting; - Binding means for adhering the upper layer (20) to a support layer (10).   9. Installation according to claim 8, wherein the connecting means are associated with localized holding means (611, 612) arranged to maintain so-called connection zones (25) of the upper layer (20) on the support layer. (10).   10. Use of the equipment with earth retention pockets according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said equipment covers a geomembrane.