WO2018189499A1

WO2018189499A1 - Securing arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2018189499A1
Application number: PCT/GB2018/000055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Edward Francis FISHER
Original assignee: Gripple Limited
Priority date: 2017-04-10
Filing date: 2018-03-29
Publication date: 2018-10-18
Also published as: GB201705761D0; GB201804403D0; GB2561979A

Abstract

A securing arrangement (12) can secure a covering (20) over a region of the ground (100). The securing arrangement (12) comprises a carrying member (24) for carrying a clamping device (18) for clamping an elongate article (16), a holding member (26) for holding a sleeve (28), and a hook member for hooking the covering. The clamping device is configured to clamp the elongate article. A ground anchor is securable to the elongate article for anchoring the securing arrangement to the ground.

Description

Securing Arrangement

This invention relates to securing arrangements. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to securing arrangements for holding coverings over ground formations. Embodiments of the invention relate to securing arrangements for holding coverings over upwardly extending earth formations.

It is often necessary to reinforce earth walls by the use of a mesh covering and stones. The earth walls are reinforced by driving a ground anchor into the earth wall. A wire rope is attached to the ground anchor so that, after the anchor has been driven into the ground the wire rope projects therefrom. A mesh covering is then arranged over the earth wall and secured to the wire rope so that a gap of about 15 cm is defined between the covering and the earth wall. A plurality of stones is then arranged between the mesh covering and the earth to provide the reinforcement.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a securing arrangement which can secure a covering over a region of the ground, said securing arrangement comprising a carrying member for carrying a clamping device for clamping an elongate article, a holding member for holding a sleeve through which the elongate article can extend, and a fastener for fastening the securing arrangement to the covering.

The fastener may be insertable through the covering to fasten the securing arrangement thereto. The fastener may comprise a hook member for hooking the covering.

The fastener and the holding member may be provided on respective opposite sides of the carrying member. The clamping device may be separate from the carrying member. The carrying member may define an aperture through which the clamping device can extend. The clamping device may include a housing having a flange to engage the carrying member around the aperture. The clamping device may be configured to clamp the elongate article, such as a wire, cable, wire rope or the like. The clamping device may define a passage through which the elongate article can extend, the passage having inwardly tapering walls. The clamping device may further include a clamping member and an urging member to urge the clamping member onto the clamping member between the tapering walls. The clamping device may be, for example, the securing device disclosed in GB2516533A.

Alternatively, the clamping device may include a housing integrally provided on the carrying member.

The fastener may comprise a receiving portion defining a slot formation in which a portion of the covering can be received. The slot formation may have an opening. The fastener may include a guide member extending to the opening. The guide member has a sloped edge to guide said portion of the covering into the slot formation. The fastener may extend transverse from the carrying member.

The securing arrangement may comprise a pair of the aforesaid fasteners. The fasteners may be disposed opposite each other on the carrying member. Each fastener may extend from a respective opposite edge of the carrying member. The fasteners may extend parallel to each other.

The holding member may extend substantially parallel to the carrying member. A connecting element may extend between the carrying member and the holding member. The connecting element may extend transverse to the carrying member. Desirably, the connecting element extends substantially perpendicular to the carrying member. The holding member may define an aperture for receiving the sleeve. The sleeve may be a tubular member. The elongate article may extend through the sleeve.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a ground reinforcement assembly comprising: a securing arrangement as described above; and a clamping device on the securing arrangement, the clamping device being carried by the carrying member and being configured to clamp an elongate article. The ground reinforcement assembly may include a ground anchor for anchoring the securing arrangement to the ground. The ground anchor may be securable to the elongate article. According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of reinforcing a region of the ground, said method comprising: providing a ground anchor with an elongate article attached thereto; driving the ground anchor into the ground; providing a securing arrangement as described above, the securing arrangement carrying a clamping device; disposing the covering over a region of ground; securing the covering with the securing arrangement; and clamping the elongate article with the clamping device to secure the covering over the region of ground.

The ground reinforcement assembly may further include a sleeve to be held by the sleeve holding member, wherein the elongate article can extend through the sleeve. The method may include disposing the elongate article through the sleeve and disposing the sleeve in the ground. The method may further include disposing the sleeve through the aperture in the holding member. The step of driving the ground anchor into the ground may include using an elongate driver to effect the aforesaid driving of the ground anchor, the driver thereby forming a hole in the ground. The step of disposing the sleeve into the ground may comprise inserting the sleeve into the hole formed by the driver. The ground anchor may be as described in GB2514004A.

The covering may be a mesh covering, and may comprise a lattice of elongate wire members. The step of securing the covering with the securing arrangement may comprise hooking the, or each, fastener over one of said elongate wire members. The, or each, fastener may receive one of said elongate wire members in said slot formation. The, or each, fastener may be hooked onto the covering after the elongate article is clamped by the clamping device. When the covering is secured by the securing arrangement, the covering may be spaced from the ground. The method may further include disposing aggregate between the covering and the ground. The step of clamping the elongate article with the clamping device may comprise inserting the elongate article through the clamping device after the ground anchor has been driven into the ground.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a securing arrangement;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a ground reinforcement assembly incorporating the securing arrangement;

Figure 3 is a close-up view of the region marked III in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top view of the ground reinforcement assembly, showing a mesh covering secured by the ground reinforcement assembly; and

Figures 5 to 10 show steps in a method of reinforcing a region of the ground.

Figures 1 to 3 show a ground reinforcement assembly 10 comprising a securing arrangement 12, a clamping device 18 on the securing arrangement 12, and a ground anchor 14 for anchoring the securing arrangement 12 to the ground 100. An elongate article 16 attaches the ground anchor 14 to the clamping device 18.

The ground reinforcement assembly 10 is used to secure a mesh covering 20 to the ground 100 (see Figures 7 to 9). The mesh covering 20 is formed of a plurality of wire members 22 arranged in lattice of squares.

The securing arrangement 12 comprises a carrying member 24 for carrying the clamping device 18, a holding member 26 for holding a tubular sleeve 27, and a pair of fasteners in the form of hook members 28 for hooking the covering. The hook members 28 and the holding member 26 are provided on respective opposite sides of the carrying member 24. The hook members 28 extend transverse to the carrying member 24. The hook members 28 are disposed opposite each other on the carrying member 24, each hook member 28 extending from a respective opposite edge of the carrying member 24. The hook members 28 are arranged substantially parallel to each other. . The carrying member 24 defines a first aperture 30 for receiving a clamping device 18 for clamping an elongate article 16, such as a wire, cable, wire rope or the like. The clamping device 18 may be, for example, the securing device disclosed in GB2516533A. The clamping device 18 comprises a housing having 19 a flange 19A at one end thereof.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the clamping device 18 is received in the first aperture 30 in the carrying member 24 and the flange 19A engages the region of the carrying member 24 around the first aperture 30, thereby retaining the clamping device 18 on the carrying member 24.

Each of the hook members 28 comprises a receiving portion 38 defining a slot formation 40 in which one of the wire members 22 forming the mesh covering 20 can be received. One of the wire members 22 is represented as broken lines in Figures 2 and 3. The mesh covering 20 is shown more clearly in Figure 4.

The slot formation 40 has an opening 42, and the hook member 28 includes a guide portion 44 having a sloped edge 46 extending to the opening 42. The sloped edge 46 guides the wire member 22 into the slot formation 40 so that the hook member 28 can be hooked onto the mesh covering 20.

The reinforcement assembly 10 further includes the tubular sleeve 27. The sleeve 27 is disposed over the elongate article 16, so that the elongate article 16 extends through the sleeve 27 when the ground anchor 14 is anchored in the ground 100. The holding member 26 defines a second aperture 32 to receive an end region of the sleeve 27, thereby holding the sleeve 27 in its position on the elongate article 16.

The holding member 26 is connected to the carrying member 24 by a connecting element in the form of a connecting web 34, which extends substantially perpendicular to the carrying member 24. The holding member 26 extends substantially parallel to the carrying member 24.

The ground anchor 14 may be any suitable ground anchor 14, for example as disclosed in GB2514004. The ground anchor 14 defines an attachment hole 36 to attach the elongate article 16 to the ground anchor 14. The attachment of the elongate article 16 to the ground anchor 14 is shown in Figure 2.

Figures 5 to 10 illustrate a method of reinforcing a region of the ground 100. In Figure 5, the ground anchor 14, to which the elongate article 16 has been attached, is driven into the ground 100 by a suitable method that would be known by the skilled person.

When the ground anchor 14 has been driven into the ground 100 to a desired depth, as would be determined by the condition of the ground 100, a force is applied to the elongate article 16, in the direction indicated by the arrow A, to pull the ground anchor 14 to its horizontal anchoring position, shown in Figure 6.

Figure 7 shows the sleeve 27 and the securing arrangement 12 ready to be mounted on the elongate article 16. The elongate article 16 is inserted through the sleeve 27, which is pushed into the ground 100 with the elongate article 16 extending therethrough.

The insertion of the ground anchor 14 into the ground 100 and the subsequent pulling of the elongate article 16, to move the ground anchor 14 to its horizontal position, creates a space around the elongate article 16 to allow the sleeve 27 to be inserted into the ground 100 over the elongate article 16. When the sleeve 27 is mounted on the elongate article 16, the securing arrangement 12 is then disposed so that the elongate article 16 is threaded from the sleeve 27 through the clamping device 18 on the securing arrangement 12. The clamping device 18 is clamped onto the elongate article 16 when the securing arrangement 12 is at a desired position along the elongate article 16, as shown in Figure 8. Typically, this position would be at a distance of between 25 and 40 cm from the surface of the ground 100, although any other suitable distance from the surface of the ground 100 could be employed.

The sleeve 27 is then inserted into the second aperture 32 in the holding member 26 so that the sleeve 27 is held thereby, also as shown in Figure 8.

The mesh covering 20 is then disposed on the securing arrangement 12 so that one of the wire members 22 of the mesh covering 20 is disposed in the slot formation 40 of each of the hook members 28, as shown in Figure 9. The mesh covering 20 is thus held by the securing arrangement 12 spaced from the surface of the ground 100. The rigidity of the sleeve 27 maintains the mesh covering 20 in the spaced position and ensures that the elongate article 16 does not collapse.

The gap between the surface of the ground 100 and the mesh covering 20 is then filled with stone aggregate 102, as shown in Figure 10.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A securing arrangement for securing a covering over a region of the ground, said securing arrangement comprising a carrying member for carrying a clamping device, a holding member for holding a sleeve, and a fastener for fastening the securing arrangement to the covering.

2. A securing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener is insertable through the covering to fasten the securing arrangement thereto.

3. A securing arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastener comprises a hook member for hooking the covering.

4. A securing arrangement according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the fastener and the holding member are provided on respective opposite sides of the carrying member, the fastener extending transverse from the carrying member.

5. A securing arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the carrying member defines an aperture through which the clamping device can extend.

6. A securing arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the fastener comprises a receiving portion defining a slot formation in which a portion of the covering can be received, the slot formation having an opening, and the fastener including a guide member extending to the opening.

7. A securing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the guide member has a sloped edge to guide said portion of the covering into the slot formation.

8. A securing arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the securing arrangement comprises a pair of the aforesaid fasteners, the fasteners being disposed opposite each other on the carrying member.

9. A securing arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding member extends substantially parallel to the carrying member, and the securing arrangement further includes a connecting element extending between the carrying member and the holding member.

10. A securing arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding member defines an aperture for receiving the sleeve.

11. A ground reinforcement assembly comprising: a securing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ; a clamping device on the securing arrangement, the clamping device being carried by the carrying member and being configured to clamp an elongate article.

12. A ground reinforcement assembly according to claim 1 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a ground anchor attachable to the elongate article for anchoring the securing arrangement to the ground.

13. A ground reinforcement assembly according to claim 1 or 12, wherein the clamping device includes a housing having a flange to engage the carrying member around the aperture.

14. A ground reinforcement assembly according to claim 13, wherein the clamping device includes a housing integrally provided on the carrying member.

15. A ground reinforcement assembly according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the clamping device defines a passage through which the elongate article can extend, the passage having inwardly tapering walls.

16. A ground reinforcement assembly according to claim 15, wherein the clamping device further includes a clamping member and an urging member to urge the clamping member onto the clamping member between the tapering walls.

17. A ground reinforcement assembly according to any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the ground reinforcement assembly further includes a sleeve to be held by the sleeve holding member, wherein the elongate article extends through the sleeve in use.

18. A method of reinforcing a region of the ground, said method comprising: providing a ground anchor with an elongate article attached thereto; driving the ground anchor into the ground; providing a securing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , the securing arrangement carrying a clamping device; disposing the covering over a region of ground; securing the covering with the securing arrangement; and clamping the elongate article with the clamping device to secure the covering over the region of ground.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises providing a sleeve to be held by the sleeve holding member, and arranging the elongate article to extend through the sleeve.

20. A method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the method includes disposing the elongate article through the sleeve and disposing the sleeve in the ground, and the method further includes disposing the sleeve through the aperture in the holding member.

21. A method according to claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein the step of driving the ground anchor into the ground includes using an elongate driver to effect the aforesaid driving of the ground anchor, the driver thereby forming a hole in the ground, and the step of disposing the sleeve into the ground comprises inserting the sleeve into the hole formed by the driver.

22. A method according to any of claims 18 to 21 , wherein the covering comprises a lattice of elongate wire members, and the step of securing the covering with the securing arrangement comprises hooking the fastener over one of said elongate wire members.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the fastener comprises a receiving portion defining a slot formation in which a portion of the covering can be received, and the fastener receives one of said elongate wire members in said slot formation, the fastener being hooked onto the covering after the elongate article is clamped by the clamping device.

24. A method according to any of claims 18 to 23, wherein the covering is spaced from the ground by the securing arrangement, and the method further includes disposing aggregate between the covering and the ground.

25. A method according to any of claims 18 to 24, wherein the step of clamping the elongate article with the clamping device comprises inserting the elongate article through the clamping device after the ground anchor has been driven into the ground.