GB2361253A

GB2361253A - Reinforcing element

Info

Publication number: GB2361253A
Application number: GB0101374A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Ernest Kemp
Original assignee: CHESHUNT ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: CHESHUNT ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 2000-03-09
Filing date: 2001-01-19
Publication date: 2001-10-17
Also published as: GB0005552D0; GB0101374D0

Abstract

The reinforcing element 10, primarily for use with thin-joint walls, is formed from a strip of material which is preferably imperforate. The element may be metallic, preferably stainless steel or aluminium, is preferably corrosion resistant and may be worked e.g. profiled etc. so as to improve its interaction with its surrounding environment. The element may also have indicia 11 at its ends to indicate the correct overlap of adjacent elements. Also described is a method for using the reinforcing element, where it is placed in the mortar 8 between two rows of blocks 2, and an alignment aid for correctly locating the reinforcing element relative to the blocks.

Description

2361253 REINFORCING ELEMENT

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a reinforcing element and specifically a reinforcing element which may be utilised in the reinforcement of structures.

Conventionally, when a builder constructs a structure he or she may make walls out of blocks, for example concrete blocks, as such walls can be built quickly due to the size of the blocks. It is conventional, when building such structures, to use 10 - 12mm mortar joints. However, because blockwork masonry is susceptible to shrinkage cracking it is often necessary to reinforce the joints to reduce the amount of cracking and, in some cases, to increase the resistance to lateral or other loads placed upon the wall.

Such reinforcement has usually been achieved by the provision of so called ladder systems, which comprise a pair of parallel reinforcing elements, each of which is usually formed by partially flattened wire to form an ellipse in cross-section, connected by thinner transverse wires which are welded to the elements. The ladder is laid upon a course of blocks, within the mortar, and a further course of blocks is placed thereon to so reinforce the wall.

This reinforcement is usually positioned by eye as the blockwork is constructed. Whilst this can prove to be satisfactory, there is no certainty for the builder that the position of the reinforcing ladder will lead to accurate enhancement of the flexural resistance of the reinforced masonry.

Recent developments in block manufacture have allowed the production of new masonry blocks; structures comprising which only require mortar joints of 2 - 3mm. The mortar used is normally cement based and contains little or no sand.

However, these new masonry blocks, with their corresponding thin joints, severely restrict the type of reinforcing element which can be used. For example, conventional ladder-type systems may have limited use due to their size with respect to the new joints. Consequently, it has only been possible to introduce small areas of reinforcing in a structure comprising such new blocks and joints, the reinforcing being suitable only for crack control and not sufficient to significantly enhance the resistance of the wall to lateral or other loads imposed thereon.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a reinforcing element which can be used in new and conventional block-work and a method of installing such elements quickly, efficiently and accurately.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a reinforcing element for thin-joint blockwork, as hereinbefore defined, comprising a strip of material arranged to reinforce adjacent courses of blocks when retained therebetween.

The strip may be imperforate and may comprise a metal, such as stainless steel or aluminium.

Preferably, the strip is corrosion resistant and may be profiled, scored, shaped, worked, coated or altered in any way to improve the mechanical characteristics of the element and to improve or modify its interaction with its immediate environment.

The element, or indeed the strip, may comprise indicia at one or more points along its length which indicates the correct lap length to facilitate continuous reinforcement. The indicia are preferably located 200 mm from either end of the element or strip. The indicia may comprise a transverse line, a sign or notch at the required position(s).

A second aspect of the invention resides in a method of reinforcing thin-joint blockwork comprising aligning a reinforcing element on a course of blocks and locating a further course of blocks on the element.

The element may be located upon a layer of mortar placed or spread on to the first course of blocks. Preferably, the element is imperforate and may comprise a metal, such as stainless steel or aluminium.

Also the element may be corrosion resistant and may be profiled, scored, shaped, worked, coated or altered in any way to improve the mechanical characteristics of the element and to improve or modify its interaction with its immediate environment.

Preferably, indicia are provided at one or more points along the length of the element, to indicate the correct lap length to facilitate continuous reinforcement with the indicia preferably being located 200 min from either end of the element. Also the indicia may comprise a transverse line, a sign or notch at the required position(s).

In an embodiment, the element comprises a strip of material.

A third aspect of the invention provides alignment means for locating a thin-joint blockwork reinforcing element on a course of blocks, comprising a guide arranged to locate an element at a defined position in relation to the course of blocks.

The guide may comprise a notch situated along an edge of said means and arranged to locate a reinforcing element therein and may further comprise at least one arm, preferably two, the or each arm being arranged to abut or lie in close proximity to, in use, an edge of a block, to locate the notch at the desired position with respect to the block.

The alignment means may include a plurality of guides situated along respective edges thereof One or more notches may be arranged to locate reinforcing elements therein.

Each edge may further comprise at least one arm, preferably two, the or each arm being arranged to abut or at least lie in close proximity to, in use, an edge of a block, to locate the notch(es) at the desired position(s) with respect to the block.

In an embodiment, the alignment means comprises a plate each edge of which comprises a guide including at least one notch and at least one arm.

Also, the means may further comprise a scoop, with the guide comprising one or more notches through which mortar is depositable upon the course of bricks, a reinforcing element being locatable adjacent the sopositioned mortar such that it is in the so-defined position, as well as at least one arm, preferably two of which the or each is arranged to abut or lie in close proximity to, in use, an edge of a block to locate the or each, notch at the desired position with respect to the block.

A fourth aspect of the invention resides in a reinforcing kit for thinjoint blockwork comprising a reinforcing element, preferably comprising a strip of material, arranged to reinforce adjacent courses of blocks and a guide arranged to locate the element at a defined position in relation to the course of blocks.

1 Further, there is provided a reinforcing kit for thin-joint blockwork comprising a reinforcing element according to the first aspect of the invention or any modifications thereof and alignment means according to the third 5 aspect of the invention or any modifications thereof In order to understand more fully the various aspects of the invention, they will now be explained by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a course of bricks with reinforcing elements during installation; Figure 2 shows an alignment means; Figure 3 shows an elevation of the alignment means of Figure 2 in use., Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the alignment means of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of alignment means; Figure 6 shows a plan view of an alternative embodiment of alignment means;and Figure 7 shows the alignment means of Figure 6 in use.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a part-built wall generally indicated at 1, comprising a plurality of blocks 2 and reinforcing elements 10 30 each comprising a flat strip of material, such as mild steel, galvanized steel, austenitic stainless steel Type 304 or alternatively Type 306 for particularly corrosive or aggressive conditions. Mortar 8 is laid onto the blocks in the conventional manner and the elements 10, which may be provided in any convenient length, are laid onto the mortar joint materials 8 such that at least one element 10 is aligned with and on at least one block and normally on adjacent blocks 2.

In order to ensure that a wall 1 is sufficiently reinforced, elements 10 may be overlapped to promote continuity of reinforcement. As shown in Figure 1, each element 10 comprises indicia such as a line 11 to indicate the amount of overlap required. The arrow F indicates typical lateral forces applied to the wall 1 which are resisted by the inclusion of the elements 10 within the wall 1, although the wall actually resists forces from many directions which are applied thereto. Figure 1 shows two elements 10 overlapping another element 10, however, the number of overlapping elements 10 will be determined by the local conditions, such as the forces exerted or imposed upon the wall or structure; thus, one or two overlapping elements 10 are usually used.

The wall 1 is completed by locating another course of blocks on top of the elements 10, leaving the mortar to go-off or set.

Figure 2 shows alignment means 20 comprising a square plate 21, each edge of which comprises a guide 22 and a pair of arms 23, the guide having at least one notch 25 formed therein. Each guide 22 is of sufficient size that a block 2 can be located between opposed arms 23, and each notch 25 is of sufficient size such that an element 10 if placed therein would be flush with the edge of the plate 21.

Figure 3 shows the alignment means 20 means in use. The notches 25 are spaced such that the elements 10 are accurately located in position on the block 2. Each end of an element 10 may be located using the alignment means thereby ensuring the accurate location of the entire element 10 upon the blocks 2.

For example, with a standard 100 mm wide block 2 and using two 10 mm wide elements 10, a template with 11 mm wide notches and with a guide width of 105 mm, which is the distance between opposed arms 23, the overall tolerance will be 5 mm.

A further guide 22' may be provided on the alignment means 20, as shown in Figure 4, in which a further series of notches 27 are provided in the guide 22' to ensure the even distribution of the mortar joint materials 28.

Figure 5 shows alternate alignment means 2C provided with a guide 22" which may be used to locate reinforcing elements 10' in conventional blockwork, that is those with standard 10 - 12 mm joints. The guide 22" is provided with a notch 2Y' in which an element 10', such as a helical metallic strip, is locatable to ensure the accurate alignment of the element 10' with the block 2. The guide 22" may also comprise a serrated edge 26 to assist the template's penetration into the mortar. Any suitable reinforcing element 10' may be utilised, in any suitably sized notch 25 ".

Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown an alternate alignment means 40 comprising a mortar scoop 41 of generally rectangular cross section with a base wall 42, a pair of opposed upstanding side walls 43 and a back wall 44 to which a handle 45 is attached. The base wall 42 comprises a guide 46, in which a series of notches 47 are situated, and extended arms 49 project from the side walls 43.

In use, as shown in Figure 7, the alignment means 40, containing mortar 50 therein, is presented to a block 2 such that the guide 46 is presented thereto and the arms 49 abut, or at least lie in close proximity to the opposed vertical faces of the block. The alignment means 40 is then rotated in the direction of the arrow R and drawn along the block 2 in the direction of the arrow S.

Drawing said means 40 in the direction of the arrow S causes substantially parallel longitudinal trails of mortar 51 to be deposited upon the block 2. A reinforcing element can then be positioned on the block between a pair of longitudinal trails 5 1, or indeed within a single trail 5 1. The position of the notches 47 thereby determines the position at which an element may be located. Obviously, various arrangements and shapes of notches will be used depending upon the local conditions and scoops 41 with a variety of shapes may be considered. Furthermore, the scoop 41 may be provided with a single arm 49 for alignment purposes. Once the trails of mortar 51 have been deposited and the elements positioned upon the block 2 a further course of blocks is laid thereon and the mortar 51 allowed to set.

The alignment means 20, 2C, 40 may comprise metal, plastic or any other suitable material.

Therefore, it should be appreciated that this invention relates to the provision of reinforcing elements 10 in small joint blockwork, that is blockwork with joints which range from, for example, 2 - 3mm, and to a method of accurately locating such elements 10 within those joints. The alignment means 20, 40 used to locate the elements 10 may be of any shape, as long as it allows location of the element 10 at a pre-determined position, in alignment with the course of blocks 2 upon which it has been laid. The element 10 described herein is an elongate strip of material of generally rectangular form, although an element may be of sinusoidal, zigzag, curvilinear or other form as is required by the conditions at the particular location.

It is to be appreciated that certain features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Claims

1. A reinforcing element for thin-joint blockwork, as hereinbefore defined, comprising a strip of material arranged to reinforce adjacent courses of blocks when retained therebetween.

2. An element according to claim 1, wherein the strip is imperforate..

3. 10 metal.

An element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strip comprises a

4. An element according to claim 3, wherein the metal comprises stainless steel or aluminium.

5. An element according to any preceding claim, wherein the strip is corrosion resistant.

6. An element according to any preceding claim, wherein the strip is profiled, scored, shaped, worked, coated or altered in any way to improve the mechanical characteristics of the element and to improve or modify its interaction with its immediate environment.

7. An element according to any preceding claim further comprising indicia at one or more points along its length which indicates the correct lap length to facilitate continuous reinforcement.

8. An element according to claim 7, wherein the indicia are located 200 mm from either end of the element.

9. An element according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the indicia comprises a transverse line, a sign or notch at the required position(s).

10. A reinforcing element for thin-joint blockwork substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of reinforcing thin-joint blockwork comprising aligning a reinforcing element on a course of blocks and locating a further course of blocks on the element.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the element is located upon a 10 layer of mortar placed or spread on to the first course of blocks,

13.

imperforate.

A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the element is is

14. A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the element comprises a metal.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the metal comprises stainless steel or aluminium.

16. A method according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the element is corrosion resistant.

17. A method according to any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the element is profiled, scored, shaped, worked, coated or altered in any way to improve the mechanical characteristics of the element and to improve or modify its interaction with its immediate environment.

18. A method according to any of claims 11 to 17, wherein indicia are provided at one or more points along the length of the element, to indicate the correct lap length to facilitate continuous reinforcement.

19, A method according to claim 18, wherein the indicia are located 200 mm from either end of the element.

20. A method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the indicia comprises a transverse line, a sign or notch at the required position(s).

21. A method according to any of claims 11 to 20, wherein the element comprises a strip of material.

22. Mignment means for locating a thin-joint blockwork reinforcing element on a course of blocks, comprising a guide arranged to locate an element at a defined position in relation to the course of blocks.

23. Means according to claim 22, wherein the guide comprises a notch situated along an edge of said means and arranged to locate a reinforcing element therein.

24. Means according to claim 23, wherein the guide further comprises at least one arm, preferably two, the or each arm being arranged to abut or lie in close proximity to, in use, an edge of a block, to locate the notch at the desired position with respect to the block.

25. Means according to claim 22, 23 or 24 comprising a plurality of said guides situated along respective edges of said means.

26. Means according to claim 25 comprising one or more notches arranged to locate reinforcing elements therein.

27. Means according to claim 25 or 26, wherein each edge further comprises at least one arm, preferably two, the or each arm being arranged to abut or at least lie in close proximity to, in use, an edge of a block, to locate the notch(es) at the desired position(s) with respect to the block.

Means according to any of claims 22 to 27 comprising a plate each edge of which comprises a guide including at least one notch and at least one arm.

29. Means according to any of claims 22 to 27 comprising a scoop, with the guide comprising one or more notches through which mortar is depositable upon the course of bricks, a reinforcing element being locatable adjacent the so-positioned mortar such that it is in the so- defined position.

30. Means according to claim 29 further comprising at least one arm, preferably two, the or each arm being arranged to abut or lie in close proximity to, in use, an edge of a block, to locate the or each notch at the desired position with respect to the block.

31. A reinforcing kit for thin-joint blockwork comprising a reinforcing element arranged to reinforce adjacent courses of blocks and a guide arranged to locate the element at a defined position in relation to the course of blocks.

32. A reinforcing element for thin-joint blockwork substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

33. Alignment means for locating a thin-joint blockwork reinforcing element on a course of blocks, substantially as hereinbefore described with 30 reference to the accompanying drawings.

34. A reinforcing kit for thin-joint blockwork comprising a reinforcing element according to any of claims 1 to 10 and 32 and alignment means according to any of claims 22 to 30 and 33.

35. A method of reinforcing thin-joint blockwork, substantially as hereinbefore described.