WO2007119899A1

WO2007119899A1 - Stone mesh bag

Info

Publication number: WO2007119899A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/001496
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gyu-Bum Choi
Original assignee: Gyu-Bum Choi
Priority date: 2006-04-18
Filing date: 2006-04-21
Publication date: 2007-10-25
Also published as: JP4921548B2; KR100629155B1; JP2009536699A

Abstract

The present invention provides a gabion. The gabion of the present invention includes a bottom wire net (100), side wire nets (200), which are coupled to respective edges of the bottom wire net (100) to form a box shape, and an upper wire net (300), which is coupled to upper edges of the side wire nets (200). The side wire nets (200) comprise a front wire net (210), a rear wire net (220), a left wire net (230) and a right wire net (240), each of which has fine quadrangular meshes, thus forming a lattice shape. The front wire net (210) and the rear wire net (220) are pulled towards each other using a tension adjustment unit (250), and contact edges between the bottom wire net (100), the side wire nets (200) and the upper wire net (300) are united to each other using respective coupling wires.

Description

Description STONE MESH BAG

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to gabions and, more particularly, to a gabion, which has a structure such that wire nets are coupled to each other using coupling wires, which couples the edges of the wire nets to each other, to have a box shape, and in which a tension adjustment unit is provided, thus preventing a swelling phenomenon from occurring in the gabion when filled with stones, and which is set up on a slope of a shore protection area or a riverbank to prevent floods and the loss of soil. Background Art

[2] Generally, gabions filled with stones are constructed on slopes of shore protection areas or rivers to prevent water from overflowing and prevent the loss of soil attributable to water striking the slopes.

[3] Such a gabion is filled with stones and has a structure such that several gabions are vertically stacked or horizontally arranged. Typically, the gabion is made of a wire net having a cylindrical shape, and an opening is formed at a predetermined position in the gabion such that stones can be inserted into the gabion through the opening, and, after the gabion is filled with stones, the opening is closed with a lid.

[4] However, in the case of the conventional gabion having the above-mentioned structure, it is difficult to fill the gabion with stones because the opening is small. Furthermore, there is a problem in that, after the gabion is filled with stones, a process of fastening the lid to the gabion body using a separate wire to close the opening reduces work efficiency.

[5] In an effort to overcome the problems experienced with the conventional art, a gabion, which has a structure such that a process of filling it with stones can be easily conducted, was proposed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-342331 (date: February 6, 2004). In this gabion, a longitudinal opening slit is formed in a cylindrical wire net from one end thereof to the other end. Furthermore, locking hooks are provided on opposite sides of the opening slit at positions spaced apart from each other, thus making the process of filling the gabion with stones easy. However, because the wire net has a cylindrical shape, it is very difficult to stack the gabions in a vertical direction. Furthermore, when the gabions are stacked in a vertical direction, there is a problem in that a swelling phenomenon occurs, so that the gabions are not level with adjacent gabions.

[6] Furthermore, when it is desired to stack the conventional gabions in a vertical direction, because separate scaffolding, which comprises horizontal pipes and vertical pipes, is required during a construction process, there is a disadvantage in that the scaffolding spoils the appearance of the surroundings during the construction period. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gabion, which has a structure such that wire nets are coupled to each other using coupling wires, which couples the edges of the wire nets to each other to form a box shape, and a tension adjustment unit is provided in the gabion, thus preventing a swelling phenomenon from occurring in the gabion when filled with stones, and which is constructed in a shore protection area or a riverbank to prevent floods and the loss of soil. Technical Solution

[8] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a gabion, comprising a bottom wire net (100), side wire nets (200) coupled to respective edges of the bottom wire net (100) to have a box shape, and an upper wire net (300) coupled to upper edges of the side wire nets (200), wherein the side wire nets (200) comprise a front wire net (210), a rear wire net (220), and a left wire net (230) and a right wire net (240), which are provided between the front wire net (210) and the rear wire net (220), and each of the front wire net (210), the rear wire net (220), the left wire net (230) and the right wire net (240) has fine quadrangular meshes, thus forming a lattice shape, wherein the front wire net (210) and the rear wire net (220) are pulled towards each other by a tension adjustment unit (250), and contact edges between the bottom wire net (100), the side wire nets (200) and the upper wire net (300) are united to each other using respective coupling wires.

[9] Preferably, the tension adjustment unit (250) may include: at least one first seating part (251) formed by bending parts of wires (211) constituting the front wire net (210), such that the first seating part (251) protrudes towards the rear wire net (220) to have a curved shape; at least one second seating part (251') formed by bending parts of wires (221) constituting the second wire net (220), such that the second seating part (251') protrudes towards the front wire net (210) to have a curved shape; reinforcing rods (252) and (252') respectively seated into the first seating part (251) and the second seating part (251'); tightening wires (253) coupled at opposite ends thereof between the reinforcing rods (252) and (252'), the tightening wires (253) being twisted at medial positions thereof several times to pull the reinforcing rods (252) and (252') inwards.

[10] Furthermore, the first seating part (251) of the front wire net (210) may have a plurality of first seating parts (251) formed at upper, lower and medial positions in the front wire net (210) in horizontal directions, and the second seating part (251') of the rear wire net (220) may have a plurality of second seating parts (251'), which are symmetrical with the respective first sating parts (251).

[11] In addition, each of the coupling wires may have a spiral spring shape.

[12] As well, each of the coupling wires may have a pitch (P) corresponding to a pitch

(P) of the wires of the corresponding wire nets, to which the coupling wire is coupled, and a lower end of the coupling wire may have a shape which is bent outwards.

Advantageous Effects

[13] In the gabion according to the present invention, wire nets are coupled to each other using coupling wires, which couple the edges of the wire nets to each other to form a box shape, and a tension adjustment unit is provided in the gabion. Therefore, when the gabions are filled with stones and constructed in a shore protection area or on a slope, a swelling phenomenon is prevented from occurring in the gabion that has been filled with stones. Furthermore, the present invention can be constructed such that several gabions are set flush with each other using reinforcing rods, thus preventing some gabions from being undesirably protruded or recessed relative to adjacent gabions. In addition, the gabions of the present invention, which are constructed on a shore protection area or a riverbank, can efficiently prevent floods and the loss of soil. Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gabion according to the present invention;

[15] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the gabion according to the present invention;

[16] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a gabion from which a left wire net has been removed, according to the present invention;

[17] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gabion according to the present invention;

[18] FIG. 5 is a view showing the gabion filled with stones according to the present invention;

[19] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the usage of the gabion according to the present invention;

[20] FIG. 7 is a view showing gabions constructed on a slope having a relatively large inclination angle according to the present invention;

[21] FIG. 8 is a view showing gabions, which are vertically stacked with each other, according to the present invention; and

[22] FIG. 9 is a view showing a gabion constructed on a slope having a relatively small inclination angle according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[24] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, a gabion A according to the present invention includes a bottom wire net 100, side wire nets 200, an upper wire net 300 and coupling wires 400.

[25] The bottom wire net 100 serves to support thereon stones (broken stones), which will be explained later herein, and is coupled at edges thereof to the side wire nets 200. The bottom wire net 100 is manufactured by coupling several wires, each of which has a predetermined length, to form a quadrangular rim shape and by coupling other wires to the rim-shaped wires by spot-welding such that they cross each other in the rim- shaped wires, thus generally forming a lattice shape having fine quadrangular meshes.

[26] Of the wires, which are provided in the quadrangular rim of the bottom wire net 100 such that they cross each other, the distance between some of the adjacent wires is less than that between other adjacent wires, thus slightly increasing the strength of the bottom wire net.

[27] The side wire nets 200 are coupled at lower ends thereof to the respective edges of the bottom wire net 100 and are placed upright. The adjacent edges of the side wire nets 200, which are oriented upright, are coupled to each other using the coupling wire 400, thus forming a box shape, the upper end of which is open. The side wire nets 200 are classified into a front wire net 210, a rear wire net 220, a left wire net 230 and a right wire net 240, on the basis of the front, rear, left and right edges of the bottom wire net 100.

[28] The front wire net 210 has the same shape as that of the bottom wire net 100, and includes at least one first seating part 251, which constitutes a tension adjustment unit 250, which will be explained later herein.

[29] The first seating part 251 is formed by bending parts of wires 211, which constitute the front wire net 210, such that they protrude towards the rear wire net 220 to have curved shapes, so that a reinforcing rod 252, which will be explained later herein, is seated into the first seating part 251 from the outside of the gabion.

[30] It is preferable that the first seating part 251 be bent into a 'c' shape. Rather than bending every wire 211 into a 'c' shape through an independent process so that the wires 211 form the front wire net 210, preferably, the front wire net 210 is manufactured to have the same shape as the bottom wire net 100 and to have a length sufficient to form the 'c' shape of the first seating part and, subsequently, the first seating part is formed by pressing part of the front wire net 210 in one direction using a press through a single process. [31] More preferably, first seating parts 251 are respectively formed at an upper position, a lower position and a medial position in the front wire net such that they are parallel to each other.

[32] Furthermore, the front wire net 210 is preferably constructed such that the distance between some adjacent wires of the wires, which cross each other, is less than that between other adjacent wires, thus increasing the strength thereof, in the same manner as that of the bottom wire net 100.

[33] The rear wire net 220 has the same shape as the front wire net 210. In the same manner, at least one second seating part 251', which protrudes towards the front wire net 210 to have a curved shape, is formed in wires 221, which constitute the rear wire net 220.

[34] Furthermore, the rear wire net 220, which has the same shape as the front wire net

210, is also constructed such that the distance between some adjacent wires of the wires, which constitute the rear wire net 220, is less than that between other adjacent wires, thus increasing the strength thereof.

[35] The left wire net 230 and the right wire net 240 are provided on the bottom wire net

100 and between the front wire net 210 and the rear wire net 220 using the coupling wires 400. Each of the left wire net 230 and the right wire net 240 has the same shape as the bottom wire net 100. To increase the strength in the same manner as described above, each of the left wire net 230 and the right wire net 240 is also constructed such that the distance between some adjacent wires of the wires, which constitute the left wire net 230 or the right wire net 240, is less than that between other adjacent wires.

[36] The tension adjustment unit 250 serves to always apply appropriate tensile force to the front wire net 210 and the rear wire net 220, which are perpendicularly coupled to the corresponding edges of the bottom wire net 100 in upward directions, thus preventing the gabion from excessively swelling outwards when it is filled with stones. In addition, in the case where the gabions are stacked in a vertical direction or are constructed in a horizontal direction, the tension adjustment unit 250 serves to maintain the positions of the adjacent gabions in the same direction, that is, in a vertical or horizontal direction.

[37] To achieve the above-mentioned purposes, the tension adjustment unit 250 includes the first seating part 251, the second seating part 251', reinforcing rods 252 and 252', and tightening wires 253.

[38] Here, as described above, the first seating part 251 has a shape such that part of the inner surface of the front wire net 210, that is, the surface facing the rear wire net 220, protrudes to have a curved shape, so that the reinforcing rod 252 having a predetermined length is inserted into the first seating part 251 from the outside of the gabion. [39] The second seating part 251' has the same shape as the first seating part 251, and is disposed symmetrically relative to the first seating part 251. In the same manner, the second seating part 251' is constructed such that another reinforcing rod 252' can be easily inserted thereinto from the outside of the gabion.

[40] The reinforcing rods 252 and 252' have predetermined diameters and lengths corresponding to the lengths of the respective first and second seating parts 251 and 251'. According to the circumstances, the reinforcing rods 252 and 252' may be lengthened such that they can also be inserted into first and second seating parts formed in an adjacent gabion A', thus maintaining the positions of the adjacent gabions A' in a horizontal or vertical direction.

[41] The tightening wires 253 pull the reinforcing rods 252 and 252', to which the respective opposite ends of the tightening wires 253 are coupled or wound, inwards, that is, towards the center of the gabion A, using the compression tensile force of the tightening wires 253, thus preventing a swelling phenomenon, in which the front wire net 210 or the rear wire net 220 swells outwards due to the pressure of the stones with which the gabion A is filled.

[42] For this, the opposite ends of the tightening wires 253 are tied to the respective reinforcing rods 252 and 252', which are respectively seated into the first seating part

251 and the second seating part 251'. Preferably, the opposite ends of the tightening wires 253 are tied to the respective reinforcing rods 252 and 252' at positions adjacent to the wires of the front wire net 210 and the rear wire net 220 where the distance between them is reduced.

[43] Here, the remaining parts of the reinforcing rods 252 and 252' are respectively fastened to the first seating part 251 and the second seating part 251' using separate tying wires 254, each of which is relatively short, thus preventing the reinforcing rods

252 and 252' from coming loose.

[44] Furthermore, in the state in which the tightening wires 253 are tied to the reinforcing rods to have elliptical or closed curve shapes, a screwdriver, a small rod or the like may be placed at medial portions of the tightening wires 253 and be rotated such that the tightening wires 253 are twisted, thus further pulling the reinforcing rods 252 and 252', which are coupled to the tightening wires 253, towards the center of the gabion.

[45] In the above description, although a single tension adjustment unit 250 has been illustrated as being used, several tension adjustment units 250 may be used, the number corresponding to the number of first seating parts 251 of the front wire net 210 or the number of second seating parts 251' of the rear wire net 220.

[46] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, although the first seating part 251 of the front wire net 210 and the second seating part 251' of the rear wire net 220 have been illustrated as being oriented in horizontal directions, the first seating part 251 and the second seating part 251' may be oriented in vertical directions by rotating the front wire net 210 and the rear wire net 220 at angles of 90°.

[47] The upper wire net 300 serves to closes the open upper end of the box-shaped body, which is constructed by coupling the side wire nets 200 to the bottom wire net 100 using the coupling wires 400, and is filled with stones 500, thus preventing the stones 500 from being undesirably removed from the gabion. The upper wire net 300 has the same shape as the bottom wire net 100. The edges of the upper wire net 300 contact the upper ends of the respective side wire nets 200, and thereafter, the upper wire net 300 is fastened to the side wire nets 200 using several coupling wires 400.

[48] The coupling wires 400 couple the edges of the bottom wire net 100, the side wire nets 200 and the upper wire net 300, which form the gabion, to each other. Each coupling wire 400 has a spiral spring shape. To use the coupling wire 400, after the desired edges of the wire nets to be coupled, for example, the edge of the front wire net 210 and the corresponding edge of the left wire net 230, are brought into contact with each other, the lower end of the coupling wire 400 is inserted into one quadrangular mesh of the wire nets, which is disposed at an upper position. Thereafter, when the coupling wire 400, which has been held in the hand of a user, is released, the coupling wire 400 is moved downwards by its own weight and rotates in a spiral direction. Thus, the coupling wire 400 is threaded through the meshes of the wire nets, which vertically contact each other, in a manner similar to sewing the wire nets with a thread, thus reliably coupling the wire nets to each other.

[49] For this, each coupling wire 400 has a pitch P corresponding to the pitch P of the wires of the corresponding wire nets, to which the coupling wire is coupled. The lower end of the coupling wire 400 has a shape, in which an end point thereof is bent outwards.

[50] If the lower end point of the coupling wire 400 is not bent outwards, while the coupling wire 400 is moved downwards by its own weight, the lower end thereof may interfere with the wires, which are oriented in vertical or horizontal directions, so that the coupling wire 400 is moved in an incorrect direction, with the result that the coupling wire 400 is not threaded through the wire nets. To prevent this, the lower end point of the coupling wire 400 is bent outwards. In other words, during a process in which the coupling wire 400 is moved downwards with a predetermined tolerance, even if some parts of the edges of the wire nets to be inserted into the coupling wire 400 are slightly out of the correct positions thereof, the incorrectly placed parts are pulled and guided towards the central axis of the coupling wire by the end point of the coupling wire which is bent outwards, thus making the coupling process easy.

[51] To assemble the gabion having the above-mentioned construction, the front wire net 210, which is one of the side wire nets 200, is placed upright, and the bottom wire net 100 is thereafter placed upright such that one edge of the bottom wire net 100 is brought into contact with the corresponding edge of the front wire net 210. Subsequently, the lower end of the coupling wire 400 is inserted into the upper ends of the junction edges of the wire nets, and the coupling wire 400 is thereafter released. Then, the coupling wire 400 moves downwards due to its own weight and is simultaneously threaded through the meshes of the wire nets along the spiral shape thereof in a manner similar to sewing the wire nets with a thread, thus reliably coupling the wire nets to each other.

[52] After the lower end of the coupling wire 400 is brought into contact with the support surface so that the coupling wire 400 is stopped, the upper end of the coupling wire 400 is pinched to prevent the coupling wire 400 from being removed in a reverse direction if the bottom wire net 100 and the front wire net 210 are turned upside down.

[53] Thereafter, the rear wire net 220, the left wire net 230 and the right wire net 240 are coupled to the bottom wire net 100 through the same method as that of the above- mentioned process.

[54] Subsequently, the reinforcing rod 252 is inserted into the first seating part 251, which is formed in the front wire net 210 such that it is recessed rearwards. The reinforcing rod 252 is thereafter fastened, using the tying wires 252, to all wires that contact the reinforcing rod 252, other than wires the distance between which is relatively short. Subsequently, the reinforcing rod 252' is seated into the second seating part 251' of the rear wire net 220 and is fastened to the rear wire net 220 using the tying wire 254.

[55] Thereafter, the tightening wires 253 are placed between the reinforcing rods 252 and 252', which are fastened to the corresponding wire nets using the typing wires 254, and the opposite ends of the tightening wires 253 are coupled to the respective reinforcing rods 252 and 252'. Subsequently, the screwdriver or the like is inserted into the medial portions of the tightening wires 253 and is rotated to twist the tightening wires 253, thus sufficiently pulling the opposite reinforcing rods 252 and 252' inwards.

[56] After the reinforcing rods 252 and 252' are pulled inwards by the tightening wires

253, stones 500 are loaded into the box-shaped body. Thereafter, the upper wire net 300 is placed on the upper ends of the side wire nets 200 of the box-shaped body filled with stones 500. Subsequently, the edges of the upper wire net 300 are fastened to the upper edges of the side wire nets 200 using the coupling wires 400, thus completing a single gabion A.

[57] In the embodiment of the present invention, although the process of manufacturing a single gabion A has been illustrated, several gabions may be united into a single body. In detail, in the case where gabions A are continuously constructed in a horizontal direction in a shore protection area or on riverbank, as shown in FIG. 6, each reinforcing rod 252, 252', which is longer than that of the above-mentioned embodiment, is seated into two corresponding seating parts, which are formed in two respective front wire nets or two respective rear wire nets, thus preventing another gabion A' from being undesirably protruded forwards or recessed rearwards relative to the gabion A.

[58] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, in the case where the gabions A are stacked in a shore protection area or on a slope 600 which is almost vertical, the gabions A are placed such that the seating parts of the front wire nets and the seating parts of the rear wire nets are oriented in vertical directions. Thereafter, in the same manner, the gabions A are united with each other using longer reinforcing rods to prevent some gabions from being displaced from the original positions thereof.

[59] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8, the gabions A may be constructed such that they are vertically stacked to form a retaining wall. In this case, preferably, the lengths of the gabions are reduced from the gabion that is disposed at the lowermost position to the gabion that is disposed at the uppermost position, thus increasing the stability of the structure.

[60] In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, although the bottom wire net 100, the front wire net 210, the rear wire net 220, the left wire net 230, the right wire net 240 and the upper wire net 300, which constitute the gabion, have been illustrated as having quadrangular shapes, as shown in FIG. 9, the front wire net 210 and the rear wire net 220 may have rectangular shapes, which are relatively long, and the bottom wire net 100, the left wire net 230, the right wire net 240 and the upper wire net 300, which are coupled to the front wire net 210 and the rear wire net 220, may have shapes corresponding to those of the front wire net 210 and the rear wire net 220. In this case, the gabion has a mattress shape, so that it can be easily constructed on a shore protection area or a slope 700, having a relatively small inclination angle, and can be efficiently used to prevent the loss of soil.

Claims

[1] A gabion, comprising a bottom wire net (100), side wire nets (200) coupled to respective edges of the bottom wire net (100) to have a box shape, and an upper wire net (300) coupled to upper edges of the side wire nets (200), wherein the side wire nets (200) comprise a front wire net (210), a rear wire net (220), and a left wire net (230) and a right wire net (240), which are provided between the front wire net (210) and the rear wire net (220), and each of the front wire net (210), the rear wire net (220), the left wire net (230) and the right wire net (240) has fine quadrangular meshes, thus forming a lattice shape, wherein the front wire net (210) and the rear wire net (220) are pulled towards each other by a tension adjustment unit (250), and contact edges between the bottom wire net (100), the side wire nets (200) and the upper wire net (300) are united to each other using respective coupling wires.

[2] The gabion according to claim 1, wherein the tension adjustment unit (250) comprises: at least one first seating part (251) formed by bending parts of wires (211) constituting the front wire net (210), such that the first seating part (251) protrudes towards the rear wire net (220) to have a curved shape; at least one second seating part (251') formed by bending parts of wires (221) constituting the second wire net (220), such that the second seating part (251') protrudes towards the front wire net (210) to have a curved shape; reinforcing rods (252) and (252') respectively seated into the first seating part (251) and the second seating part (251'); tightening wires (253) coupled at opposite ends thereof between the reinforcing rods (252) and (252'), the tightening wires (253) being twisted at medial positions thereof several times to pull the reinforcing rods (252) and (252') inwards.

[3] The gabion according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first seating part (251) of the front wire net (210) comprises a plurality of first seating parts (251) formed at upper, lower and medial positions in the front wire net (210) in horizontal directions, and the second seating part (251') of the rear wire net (220) comprises a plurality of second seating parts (251') which are symmetrical with the respective first sating parts (251).

[4] The gabion according to claim 1, wherein each of the coupling wires has a spiral spring shape.

[5] The gabion according to claim 4, wherein each of the coupling wires has a pitch

(P) corresponding to a pitch (P) of the wires of the corresponding wire nets, to which the coupling wire is coupled, and a lower end of the coupling wire has a shape which is bent outwards.