US1301024A - Interlocking culvert-block. - Google Patents

Description

F. S. WENDELKEN.

memocxm cuLvERT BLOCK.

AFPLICATION FILED JAN. 30,1918

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2 mf. o7

Afro

F. S. WENDELKEN.

INTERLOCKING CULVERT BLOCK.

APPLICAUUN HLEU IAN. 30. 1918.

Patented Apr. l5, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 NVENTOR. Fig/HM J. wtf/1M ATT N151 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

FREDERICK S. WENDELKEN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

INTERLOCKING CULVEBT-BLOCK.

Application iiled January 30, 1918.

ToaZZ 'whom t may concern Be it kno-wn that I, FREDERICK S. WEN- DELKEN, a citizen of the United States. residing in the cit and county of Denver and State of Colora o, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Interlocking (lul- Vert-Blocks, of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements` in blocks for the construction of culverts or other conduits, and the objects are to provide units that may be made in a permanent plant equipped with suitable machinery or forms in portable sizes, and which may be easily assembled in aI culvert, bridge or other structure. Also to provide blocks that will interlock without the use of bolts or other ties forming a stable and durable conduit with units held in strict alinement, and allow quick and eas repair or extension. Also to provide a cu vert from which the top or upper sections mayT be easily removed if desired without disturbing other units in the culvert. The invention is adapted especially to concrete or other plastic blocks, and the use of such material is preferable, but other material, such as metal, may be used, as will appear.

Forms of construction according to my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view of a section of culvert constructed of reinforced concrete units according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective end v'iew of the culvert looking from the left of Fig. 1.

FFig. 3 is a cross-section on line A-B of Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of the base or bottom series of units of a culvert with the to or upper series removed.

iF 5 is anenlarged perspective view of a unit lock.

Fig. 6 indicates the manner of assembling a culvert, showing in perspective two blocks in place to form the base or bottom portion of a culvert section, and in dotted lines the position of a top section in lace.

Fig is a `l'ierspective view of an assem- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

serial No. 214,437.

bled culvert with end wall blocks. This figure shows the base or bottom units of greater depth than the top sections.

Fig. 8 indicates in perspective the manner ili vhich the units may be lifted and hanc e F ig. 9 suggests the manner of applying the invention to cast iron or other metallic blocks.

Throughout the several figures in the drawings the same reference numerals and letters refer to the same or like parts.

The unit blocks are formed with a base or body l and are substantially U-shaped in cross section, having sides 2 and 3 perpendicular to the body or base 1 and also perpendicular to the ends 10 and 11 of the block.

The edges of the sides 2 and 3 are grooved or mortised as shown to provide the interlocking feature of the units. The grooves or mortises are intermediate of the block ends and are made with floors parallel to the plane of the base of the block and with walls diagonal to the sides and ends of the block. The mortises in the two opposite sides are disposed at opposite diagonals, thus the mortise 4 in side 2 as at a diagonal opposite to that of mortise 5 in the other side 3. 6 and 8 are resulting` tenons or projecting members at the ends of side 2, and 7 and 9 are similar but oppositely faced tenons at the ends of the opposite slde 3. The diagonal faces of the tenons, forming the walls of the mortises, are perpendicular to the base and diagonal to the sides and ends of the block. The two tenons and the mortise at a side of the block are complementary in that the Width of the mortise longitudinally of the block is equal to the combined longitudinalV width of the two resulting tenons. Thus when the units are assembled in reversed and staggered relation as in Fig. 1, two tenons of adjacent units will exactly fit in a mortise of a unit in the reversed series, as will appear hereinafter.

10 and 11 are the respective ends of a unit block.

12 are. recesses or holes in the outside of the blocks for inserting suitable tools, such as tongs 15 or merely a bolt 14, for lifting and handling concrete blocks.

A culvert or other conduit is assembled by placing a series of units in longitudinal alinement with sides turned upward, thc end 10 of one adjoining end 11. of the adjacent block, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. This series forms the abutment or bottom of the culvert,

'and the top is formed by a similar series ot units reversed or havin the sides tui-nod downward. The units o the top are assem bled in staggered relation with reference -to those of the bottoni and overlap and rest upon adjacent blocks of the bottom series, as indicated in Fig. 6, and in Fig. 1. Thus the mortise 5 of a top block fits over tenons 6 and 8 of adjacent blocks in the bottom series, and mortise 4 of a top block locks tenons 7 and 9 of adjacent bottom blocks. The next top block placed fits snugly against the adjacent top block already set, and so on throughout the length of the conduit.

In order to make the ends of a culvert flush half blocks X are provided. And any suitable or desired end block or wall M may be placed at the ends of the culvert.

It will be seen that the dove-tail 'oint thus made between the bottom units an the top or capping units securely interlocks the units in an assembled structure from longitudinal movement or displacement, each block in a series locking two blocks in the opposing or reversed series of blocks. And the opposite diagonal construction or mortise and tenons at opposite sides of the blocks securely nterlocks the units from lateral movement or displacement. And yet, any one or more top or ca ping blocks may be lifted upward out of tliie series without disturbing other units of the culvert.

In the constructions illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the bottom blocks or units and the top blocks or units are identical in size and shape, a top block being turned upside down with reference to the bottom units. It is often desirable, however, to have the bottom blocks deeper than the capping blocks so as to bring the longitudinally staggered joints higher in the culvert and above the usual water line. This is es ecially true in the case of culverts intende to carry large heads of water where the danger of leakage through the joints is considerable. In such case the bottom blocks are constructed the same except that the sides, as shown at .2 in Fig. 7, are wider or deeper, the mortising of the sides beingthe same.

It is apparent that other shapes of blocks than those shown may be provided; and the sizes are determined by the use to which they are to be put. In the case of concrete units, the blocks are molded in forms, laclng any desired reinforcement 13 in the y and walls. Any suitable forms may be used in molding these blocks, although I have special forms which form the subJect matter of another application for Letters Patent.

While the invention is particularly applicable and primarily intended for concrete culverts, it is well adapted to cast iron or other metal. Fig. 9 indicates a construction as applied to cast iron units. The shape of the body l and sides 2 and 3 are similar to the concrete construction. A strengthening rib 16 may be provided to allow strength without excessive weight or cost. To make the interlocking positive the tenons, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are extended outward in form of flanges to provide a wider diagonal interlockin area.

It should be noted that t e removable to or cap is particularly desirable in street ou vert-s or in any place where the conduit is apt to become clogged with debris or ice. In case of Stoppa e any one or more top units may be lifte out, the debris removed, and the unit again set in place. The interstices between units may be lled with cement or other material.

I claim:

1. A block of substantially a U-shaped cross section having the edges of the two sides mortised oppositely diagonal to the block ends and sides and with mortise Hoors parallel to the base of the block, substantially as described.

Q. A block of substantially a U-shaped cross section rovided with interlocln'ng devices at the e ges of the two sides consisting of diagonal mortises intermediate of the block ends and resulting complementary tenons, the diagonal walls of said mortises in the opposite sides being perpendicular to the base of the block and at o posite diagonals to the ends and sides of t e block, substantially as described.

3. A culvert block of substantially U- shaped cross section having the edges of the two sides oppositely diagonally grooved parallel to the plane of the base of the block foi-min diagonal mortises intermediate of the en s of the sides and resulting tenons at each side ot said mortises, the combined longitudinal width of the tenons being equal to the longitudinal width of the intermediate mortise.

4. A block having mortises and tenons adapted to interlock with a series of similar blocks reversed and longitudinally alined, the interlocking faces of said tenons'being disposed perpendicular to the base of the block and diagonal to the ends and sides of the block to prevent lateral or longitudinal displacement of a block in the series, substantiall as described.

5. Cu vert blocks of substantially U- shaped cross section adapted to be'assembled in two longitudinally alined series, one series with Sides extending upward and the other series with sides extending downward and resting upon said first series forming a. conduit7 lthe edges of the sides of said blocks being mortised and tenoned to interlock in dove-tail joints, the interlocking faces of said tenons being disposed perpendioular to the base of the blocks and at opposite diagonals to the sides and ends of the loiockfI to prevent lateral or longitudinal displacement of any block in the series, substantially as described.

FREDERICK S. WENDELKEN.

Witnesses:

HENRY S. ENGLE, W. J. MoPHnRsoN.

Sopies ot this patent my be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents, Washington, Il?` 0.

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