GB2303155A

GB2303155A - Paving system

Info

Publication number: GB2303155A
Application number: GB9514153A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Victor Cross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-11
Filing date: 1995-07-11
Publication date: 1997-02-12
Also published as: GB9514153D0

Abstract

A paving system in which a plurality of pavement blocks can be inter-engaged by means of grooves and projections formed on their edge surfaces. The grooves and projections may be of either triangular or trapeziform section. Edging blocks may be provided having some edge faces which are flat. Because the paving blocks can inter-engage at their edges, loads placed on one block are spread to neighbouring blocks.

Description

Improvements in or Relating to Paving svstems The present invention relates to a paving block system having enhanced load bearing properties, paving blocks for use with such a system, and apparatus for laying a paved surface such as a pavement, or patio.

It is known to construct paved surfaces, such as patios and pavements (herein collectively referred to as pavements) from masonry blocks of varying configuration.

Such blocks may have a variety of shapes, and may be arranged to form a variety of tiled patterns. Such blocks have generally plane vertical sides so that there is no interaction between adjacent blocks. Each block is free to move in a vertical direction independently of other blocks in the pavement. Such paving systems have poor load spreading characteristics. This means that the base on which such pavements are laid, the sub-base, must be of a thickness which adequately supports the blocks and reduces relative movement of the blocks. The precise determination of sub-base thickness depends on a number of factors including: inherent strength of the paving blocks, type of block, load to be carried by the pavement, load bearing capability of the sub-base area.

Such pavements have poor bridging properties, i.e.

cannot effectively bridge localised faults in the subbase area. The surface of a conventionally paved area is sensitive to ground movement and settlement, which can destroy the integrity of the surface, a phenomenon that can be observed on many paved city streets.

The present invention seeks to overcome, at least in part, the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional paving block systems by providing a paving block system in which load spreading is achieved between adjacent blocks.

The present invention provides a paving system in which a plurality of pavement blocks can be interengaged by means of grooves and projections formed on their edge surfaces. The grooves and projections may be of either triangular or trapeziform section. Edging blocks may be provided having some edge faces which are flat. Because the paving blocks can inter-engage at their edges, loads placed on one block are spread to neighbouring blocks.

The present invention has the following advantages: - loads are spread between adjacent blocks; - pressure on the sub-base for a pavement is reduced; - the invention can be realised using existing manufacturing and installation techniques; - pavements may be easily lifted and relaid to facilitate repairs and access to buried services; - pavements, using the present invention, have reduced whole life costs, achieved through reduced sub-base preparation costs, lower maintenance costs, improved structural integrity and increased life; - the paving system, according to the invention, can be interfaced with conventional paving systems; - ornamental patterns of paving stones can be produced, e.g. herring bone; and - resistance to local ground settlement.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paving system, comprising a plurality of paving blocks, each paving block having an upper surface, a lower surface and at least three edge surfaces, the upper surfaces of a plurality of said paving blocks arranged, in use, to form a pavement surface, in which an edge surface of a first paving block has a surface configuration, in a direction substantially normal to said upper and lower surfaces, arranged to interlock with an edge surface of a second, adjacent, paving block so that relative movement of said first and second blocks along an axis substantially normal to said upper and lower surfaces is inhibited and so that loads applied to said upper surface of said first block are spread to said second block.

Preferably each paving block has at least four edge surfaces.

Each paving block may have a substantially rectangular upper surface.

Preferably the vertical configuration of the edge surface of said first paving block includes a triangular groove, forming a female edge surface, and the edge surface of said second paving block includes a triangular projection, complementary to said triangular groove, forming a male edge surface, said male and female edges arranged, in use, to mate with each other.

Alternatively the vertical configuration of the edge surface of said first paving block includes a trapeziform groove forming a female edge surface and the edge surface of said second paving block includes a trapeziform projection, complementary to said trapeziform groove, forming a male edge surface, said male and female edges arranged, in use, to mate with each other.

Said first and second paving blocks may be substantially identical and said plurality of paving blocks may include a first plurality of paving blocks each of which is identical to said first and second paving blocks.

Said plurality of paving blocks may include a second plurality of paving blocks, each block of which is arranged as an edge block for a pavement constructed from said paving system and has at least one flat edge surface, and at least one edge surface with a surface configuration arranged to interlock with an adjacent paving block.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a paving block, for use with a paving system as set out above, said paving block having an upper surface, a lower surface and at least three edge surfaces, in which an edge surface of said paving block has a surface configuration, in a direction substantially normal to said upper and lower surfaces, arranged to interlock with an edge surface of a similar, adjacent, paving block.

Said paving block may have a substantially rectangular upper surface.

Preferably, the vertical configuration of one edge surface of said paving block includes a triangular groove forming a female edge surface, and in which another edge surface of said paving block includes a triangular projection, complementary to said triangular groove, forming a male edge surface.

Alternatively, the vertical configuration of one edge surface of said paving block includes a trapeziform groove forming a female edge surface and another edge surface of said second paving block includes a trapeziform projection, complementary to said trapeziform groove, forming a male edge surface.

Opposite edge surfaces of said paving block may be of opposite gender.

At least one edge surface of said paving block may be configured as a flat surface.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a machine for laying a pavement constructed using the paving system, as set out above, comprising a block reservoir, arranged to store a plurality of paving blocks, said block reservoir having conveying means formed in a bottom wall thereof, feed means for removing a layer of blocks adjacent said bottom wall of said block reservoir and a delivery shute for positioning blocks on a sub-base to form a pavement.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a machine for laying a pavement constructed using the paving system, as set out above, comprising a block reservoir, arranged to store a plurality of paving blocks, said block reservoir having a vertically moveable bottom wall, feed means for removing an upper layer of blocks from said block reservoir and a delivery means for positioning blocks on a sub-base to form a pavement.

Said machine may include sanding means.

Said machine may include compacting means for compacting said pavement onto said sub-base.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a portion of pavement constructed using the paving block system of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an front elevation of the portion of pavement shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the portion of pavement shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a first isometric projection of a paving block used in the pavement illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a second isometric projection of a paving block used in the pavement illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the paving block illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the paving block illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is an isometric view of a portion of pavement constructed using the paving block system of the present invention and illustrating the manner in which adjacent blocks interlock.

Figure 9 is a plan of the portion of pavement illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an end elevation of the portion of pavement illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a first isometric view of an interface block according to the present invention.

Figure 12 is a second isometric view of the interface block shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the second interface block illustrated in Figures 11 and 12.

Figure 14 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a paving block according to the present invention.

Figure 15 is an end elevation of the paving block illustrated in Figure 14.

The present invention provides a paving block system, i.e. a set of paving blocks which can be assembled to form a paved surface, herein referred to as a pavement. The paving blocks of the present system can be made from a variety of materials including: natural stone, concrete, composites, plastics etc. The choice of material from which such blocks can be made is large and is well known to those skilled in the art. The choice of material does not form part of the present invention which is concerned with the configuration of the paving blocks comprising the paving system and a machine for the automated laying of such blocks.

A section of pavement1 constructed using the paving block system of the present invention, is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings. The pavement is constructed from a plurality of interlocking blocks. Each block has an upper surface 1, and a lower, or under, surface, not shown in the drawings. As can be seen, the upper surface of each block is substantially rectangular in shape. In addition, each block has four edge surfaces, 2, 3, 4, and 5, (marked on different blocks in the drawings). In two of these edge surfaces there is formed a triangular groove, extending from the upper surface to the lower surface. These edge surfaces can be described as female surfaces. On the remaining two edge surfaces is formed a complementary triangular projection. These edge surfaces can be described as male edge surfaces.It will be observed that opposite edge surfaces of a paving block are of opposite gender, i.e. one is male while the other is female. It will also be observed that edge surfaces of the same gender form adjacent pairs of each paving block.

In use, a pavement is assembled from paving blocks so that male edges inter-engage with female edges.

Thus, neighbouring blocks are held in mutual engagement so that vertical movement of the blocks, relative to one another, is inhibited. This means that the load on one block is spread to adjacent blocks.

When laying pavements, it is normal practice to prepare a sub-base on which the blocks are placed. Such a sub-base may include a levelled earth surface on which is laid a concrete screed. A sand layer may be placed on the concrete screed. The object of the sub-base is to provide a stable support surface for the paving blocks and to inhibit relative movement of the blocks.

The present invention permits a simplified and "lighter" sub-base to be employed in the construction of a pavement because of the load spreading qualities of the paving system.

An individual block, according to the present invention, is illustrated in Figures 4 to 7. It will be seen that the block is identical to the blocks described with reference to Figure 1 to 3. The block has a rectangular upper surface 6, and a parallel rectangular lower surface 15. Two female edge surfaces have a triangular groove formed therein with surfaces 14, 15, 7 and 8. Two male edge surfaces comprise triangular projections with surfaces 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Figures 8 to 10 are a further illustration of the way in which blocks, as described above, can be assembled to form a pavement.

As described so far, paving blocks inter-engage to form the body of a pavement. However, there is a need to provide an edge to a pavement, or even to interface a pavement constructed from the paving block system of the present invention with pavements constructed from a more conventional system. Figures 11 to 13 illustrate an edge block for use with the present invention. It will be seen that the edge block has a single female edge and three flat edges substantially normal to the upper and lower surfaces of the block. It will, of course be appreciated that paving blocks of the type illustrated in Figures 11 to 13 must also be provided with male edges. Edging blocks with one, two, or three, flat surfaces may be provided, with an appropriate distribution of male and female edge surfaces.

As described above, the configuration of the male and female edge surfaces are triangular with the triangular grooves/projections extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the paving blocks. It will, of course, be appreciated that many variations of the groove/projection configuration can be made within the scope of the present invention, for example, the triangular grooves/projections may not extend over the entire height of the edge surface, and may extend over a portion of the length of the edge surface. In addition, the grooves/projections may have a form other than triangular. Figures 14 and 15 illustrate an alternative design of interlocking male and female edge surfaces for paving blocks. In this case the grooves/projections are trapeziform, and do not extend over the entire vertical height of the edge surface.

Other forms of edge surface can also be envisaged, the only requirement is that the inter-engagement between the edges must be capable of spreading the load on one paving block to adjacent paving blocks.

The shape of the upper surface of the paving blocks, described above, is rectangular. The precise dimensions of the blocks can be varied to suit different applications. Other shapes can be used, within the scope of the present invention, including triangular square and hexagonal. In fact, the edges of the blocks do not need to be rectilinear. All that is necessary is that the blocks be capable of being assembled in a repeating, or non-repeating, tile pattern. The formation of such patterns from a sets of identical blocks, or tiles, is well known and does not form part of the present invention. It should, however, be noted that a tile pattern can be formed using a few, differently shaped tiles, e.g. octagonal tiles and square tiles, the present invention can readily be adapted for use with such patterns.

The paving block system of the present invention is readily adapted for use with an automated tile laying machine. Such a machine can be self propelled and will include a reservoir for holding the blocks to be laid.

Typically, the reservoir may have a set of rollers on its bottom wall over which paving blocks can readily move. Paving blocks, including edge blocks, can be loaded into the reservoir in the configuration in which they are to be laid, and can be arranged in layers, each layer being lubricated with sand. A hydraulic ram can be used to force the lowest layer out of the reservoir in synchronism with forward movement of the machine, onto a laying shute. In an alternative arrangement, the upper layer of paving blocks in the reservoir can be shunted forward onto a feeding table, and thence by a conveyor to a feeding shute. In this case, the bottom wall of the reservoir can be raised so that the position of the top layer of tiles is maintained in the same position. The machine can readily be adapted to provide other functions used in laying pavement blocks, for example, wetting, sanding and compacting.

Claims

1. A paving system, comprising a plurality of paving blocks, each paving block having an upper surface, a lower surface and at least three edge surfaces, the upper surfaces of a plurality of said paving blocks being arranged, in use, to form a pavement surface, in which an edge surface of a first paving block has a surface configuration, in a direction substantially normal to said upper and lower surfaces, arranged to interlock with an edge surface of a second, adjacent, paving block so that relative movement of said first and second blocks along an axis substantially normal to said upper and lower surfaces is inhibited and so that loads applied to said upper surface of said first block are spread to said second block.

2. A paving system as claimed in claim 1, in which each paving block has at least four edge surfaces.

3. A paving system as claimed in claim 2, in which each paving block has a substantially polygonal upper surface.

4. A paving system as claimed in claim 3, in which each paving block has a substantially rectangular upper surface.

5. A paving system as claimed in any previous claim in which the vertical configuration of the edge surface of said first paving block includes a triangular groove forming a female edge surface, and in which the edge surface of said second paving block includes a triangular projection, complementary to said triangular groove, forming a male edge surface, said male and female edges being arranged, in use, to mate with each other.

6. A paving system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the vertical configuration of the edge surface of said first paving block includes a trapeziform groove forming a female edge surface, and in which the edge surface of said second paving block includes a trapeziform projection, complementary to said trapeziform groove, forming a male edge surface, said male and female edges being arranged, in use, to mate with each other.

7. A paving system as claimed in either claim 5, or 6, in which opposite edge surfaces of each of said first and second paving blocks are of opposite gender.

8. A paving system as claimed in any previous claim in which both said first and second paving blocks have a pair of adjacent edge surfaces having a configuration of the same gender.

9. A paving system as claimed in any previous claim in which said first and second paving blocks are substantially identical and said plurality of paving blocks includes a first plurality of paving blocks each of which is identical to said first and second paving blocks.

10. A paving system as claimed in any previous claim in which said plurality of paving blocks includes a second plurality of paving blocks, each block of which is arranged as an edge block for a pavement constructed from said paving system and has at least one flat edge surface, and at least one edge surface with a surface configuration arranged to interlock with an adjacent paving block.

11. A paving block, for use with a paving system as claimed in any previous claim, said paving block having an upper surface, a lower surface and at least three edge surfaces, in which an edge surface of said paving block has a surface configuration, in a direction substantially normal to said upper and lower surfaces, arranged to interlock with an edge surface of a similar, adjacent, paving block.

12. A paving block as claimed in claim 11, having at least four edge surfaces.

13. A paving block as claimed in claim 12, having a substantially polygonal upper surface.

14. A paving block as claimed in claim 13, having a substantially rectangular upper surface.

15. A paving block as claimed in any of claims 11 to 14, in which the vertical configuration of one edge surface of said paving block includes a triangular groove forming a female edge surface, and in which another edge surface of said paving block includes a triangular projection, complementary to said triangular groove, forming a male edge surface.

16. A paving block as claimed in any of claims 11 to 14, in which the vertical configuration of one edge surface of said paving block includes a trapeziform groove forming a female edge surface, and in which another edge surface of said second paving block includes a trapeziform projection, complementary to said trapeziform groove, forming a male edge surface.

17. A paving block as claimed in either claim 15, or 16, in which opposite edge surfaces of said paving block are of opposite gender.

18. A paving block as claimed in any of claims 11 to 17 having a pair of adjacent edge surfaces with a configuration of the same gender.

19. A paving block as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15, having at least on edge surface configured as a flat surface.

20. A paving block, as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15, having at least two edge surfaces configured as a flat surface.

21. A paving block, as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15, having at least three edge surfaces configured as a flat surface.

22. A machine for laying a pavement constructed using the paving system claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, comprising a block reservoir, arranged to store a plurality of paving blocks, said block reservoir having conveying means formed in a bottom wall thereof, feed means for removing a layer of blocks adjacent said bottom wall of said block reservoir and a delivery shute for positioning blocks on a sub-base to form a pavement.

23. A machine for laying a pavement constructed using the paving system claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, comprising a block reservoir, arranged to store a plurality of paving blocks, said block reservoir having a vertically moveable bottom wall, feed means for removing an upper layer of blocks from said block reservoir and a delivery means for positioning blocks on a sub-base to form a pavement.

24. A machine as claimed in either claim 22, or 23, including sanding means.

25. A machine as claimed in any of claims 22 to 24, including compacting means for compacting said pavement onto said sub-base.

26. A paving system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A paving system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.

28. A paving block substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

29. A paving block substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 11 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

30. A paving block substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.

31. A machine for laying a pavement constructed from a paving system as claimed in any previous claim, substantially as hereinbefore described.