DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a containment gabion as defined in the preamble of claim 1 for containment and transport of inert material, in particular a containment gabion comprising metal mesh walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INTENTION

In the field of building and civil works, particular baskets or gabions, mainly made of metal, and adapted to be filled with substantially inert materials, such as bricks, rocks, stones and/or pebbles, are known to be used to form retaining bases/walls, embankments or means for retaining unstable banks.

These gabions are installed after having been filled, on site, with inert materials, to create a permeable and monolithic structure.

Typically, these gabions are identified by flat perimeter walls, each consisting of a metal mesh, which are connected together to form a container that identifies therein an empty volume designed in use to be filled with the inert material. These gabions have an opening at their top for filling it with the inert material.

Generally, the structure of the aforementioned gabions has the shape of a parallelepiped with a quadrilateral support base and four vertical walls, such vertical walls being connected both laterally to each other and to the support base, to thereby define the aforementioned internal volume open at its top.

Various methods of connecting the aforementioned vertical walls to the support base are known in the art.

For example, welding methods are known for constraining the surfaces at their adjacent sides, or elements such as ropes/cables can be used to engage and constrain together peripheral portions of the walls and/or support bases to be constrained together.

Alternatively, jointing methods have been suggested in which one or more of the horizontal/vertical rods of each metal mesh wall are bent to various shapes, for the bends to be anchored to the closest rods of the adjacent wall.

This jointing method is quite simple and can ensure the holding ability of the structure of the containment gabion even without the addition of external elements.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the above methods of connecting the vertical walls to the support base do not ensure adequate stability of the structure of the containment gabion as a whole, as the inert material is being unloaded, loaded and transported.

For example, EP 1505211 discloses a Z-shaped hook for connecting the vertical wall and the support base, such that the first two horizontal rods of the support base are both encircled.

EP 3073017 Al discloses a containment gabion for containment and transport of inert material substantially as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and provides J-shaped hooks which, nevertheless, do not ensure optimum structural strength of the gabion in certain conditions of use, during loading, transport and unloading operations.

Nevertheless, this arrangement does not achieve proper stability of the gabions during unloading or assembly, and makes it difficult to stack the gabions when forming retaining walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above considerations, the need is apparently felt by the manufacturers of inert material- containing gabions to be able to construct and provide gabions with a structure that can address the above discussed issues.

Furthermore, the need is strongly felt for a containment gabion that can ensure the stability of its structure during loading, unloading and transport, without causing deformation or warping of the structure due to unstable or not perfectly coplanar ground support.

Thus, the present invention is based on the technical problem of designing and providing gabions for containing inert materials that can meet the above mentioned needs, while obviating the above described prior art drawbacks.

According to the present invention, this object is fulfilled by a containment gabion for containing inert material as defined in the features of claim 1.

A critical aspect in this object is the specific and peculiar shape of the hooks provided at the ends of the vertical rods of the vertical walls, i.e. the hooks designed to ensure fixation of the vertical walls of the containment gabion to the support base of the containment gabion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Further features and advantages of the improved containment gabion for containment and transport of inert material of the present invention will result from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of illustration and without limitation with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the containment gabion of the present invention, filled with inert material;

- Figure 2 shows in detail a hook used for connecting the vertical walls to the support base of the containment gabion as defined in claim 1;

- Figure 3 shows a possible embodiment of a hook designed to allow transport of the containment gabion of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the hook of Figure 3, and

- Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a detail of a short vertical wall of the containing gabion of Figure 1 only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 generally designates a containment gabion of the invention, specifically a gabion for containment and transport of inert material.

The containment gabion 1 comprises a hollow body identified by a plurality of side walls having a metal mesh structure comprising a support base 2 from which vertical walls 3 project.

Preferably, the aforementioned metal mesh structure is formed with perpendicular metal rods in crisscrossed arrangement, joined together to form rectangular or square metal mesh.

As used herein, "rod" refers to a strong member, such as a reinforcing rod, bar or shaft or any rigid member mainly extending in an axial direction, having a substantially constant cross-section, e.g. a circular, elliptical or square cross section and a diameter ranging from 1 mm tol5 mm.

The rods used to form the aforementioned containment gabion 1 are preferably made of a metal zinc-aluminum alloy to ensure adequate galvanic corrosion resistance.

In the illustrated example, the containment gabion 1 is in the form of a parallelepiped comprising a substantially rectangular support base 2 and four vertical walls 3.

It shall be understood that the shape of the containment gabion may also differ from the above, namely in terms of the shape of the support base which can also have a different configuration, such as a square shape or a different shape, for the purpose of fulfilling particular requirements.

The vertical walls 3 comprise a mesh structure formed by vertical rods 4 and horizontal rods 6 joined together to form the aforementioned metal mesh structure.

The support base 2 identifies a ground support plane of the gabion 1 and comprises a mesh structure formed by a first order of first horizontal rods 2o parallel to a first side 3 of the containment gabion 1 and by a second order of second horizontal rods 2v orthogonal to said first horizontal rods 2o.

Each vertical wall 3 is connected to the support base 2 at a lower end 3a thereof and to the two adjacent vertical walls at respective lateral ends 3b.

As mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiment, the support base 2 has a substantially rectangular shape, with two long sides and two short sides being thus identified therein. Accordingly the vertical walls 3 do not have equal extents, as long walls 3c and short walls 3d are provided, which are designed to be arranged and engaged with the aforementioned long and short sides of the rectangular support base 2, respectively

According to the illustrated embodiment, the aforementioned first order of first horizontal rods 2o extends parallel to the aforementioned long sides of the rectangular support base 2. It should be noted that the aforementioned horizontal rods 2v are welded to the first horizontal rods 2o and are placed both above and below the first horizontal rods 2o to impart strength to the support base 2. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2, the first horizontal rods 2o of the support base 2 are parallel to the long sides of the base and are sandwiched between two orders of second horizontal rods 2v parallel to the short sides of the support base 2.

Due to the above described structure, the containment gabion 1 defines an internal volume that is or can be filled with inert material, such containment gabion having for this purpose a top opening through which the internal volume of the containment gabion can be filled with the internal material.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment, the connection between the lower end 3a of the vertical walls 3 and the support base 2 is ensured by the provision of hooks 5, namely first hooks 5b or second hooks 5a, which are preferably provided at the lower ends of the vertical rods 4 of each vertical wall 3.

These hooks 5 may have different shapes depending on the relevant vertical wall.

In particular, for the above discussed short vertical walls 3d, such connection is conveniently provided by means of a U-shaped second hook 5a, provided at the lower ends of the vertical rods 4, such U-shaped second hook 5a being able to fasten the vertical rods 4 of the vertical wall 3 to the rod of said second order of second horizontal rods 2v of the support base 2 that is closest to the respective vertical rod 4 of the wall to be connected, as shown in Figure 5.

The aforementioned fastening system with the U- shaped second hook 5a can be conveniently used also to constrain the vertical walls 3 to each other at the adjacent lateral ends.

That is, as shown in Figure 1, the U-shaped second hooks 5a are provided at the ends of the horizontal rods of the long vertical walls 3c, to fasten each horizontal rod 4 of a long vertical wall 3c to the first vertical rod 6 of each adjacent short vertical wall 3c.

On the other hand, in order to ensure connection of the vertical rods 4 of the long vertical walls 3c to the structure of the support base 2, first hooks 5b with a J-like shape are conveniently used.

More in detail, as shown in Figure 2, each J-shaped first hook 5b comprises, at the lower end of its respective vertical rod 4 of the long vertical walls 3c:

- a vertical portion 5c substantially perpendicular to the ground support plane identified by the support base 2;

- a first bending point 5d extending as a continuation of said vertical portion 5c around a first horizontal rod 2b of the support base 2, said first horizontal rod 2b being the horizontal rod of said first order of first horizontal rods 2o which is closest to said vertical portion 5c, whereby the aforementioned first horizontal rod 2b is the outermost horizontal rod 2b and close to the relevant long vertical wall 3c;

- a first portion 5e extending as a continuation of said first bending point 5d parallel to and below the ground support plane identified by the support base 2, until it surpasses a second horizontal rod 2c of said first order of first horizontal rods 2o of said support base 2, said second horizontal rod 2c being more spaced from said vertical portion 5c than said first horizontal rod 2b;

- a second portion 5f extending between opposite ends as a continuation of the first portion 5e with a direction of development inclined with respect to the ground support plane identified by the support base 2, so as to extend towards the inside of the containment gabion 1 until it surpasses a third horizontal rod 2d of the aforementioned first order of first horizontal rods 2o of said support base 2, said third horizontal rod 2d being more spaced from said vertical portion 5c than said second horizontal rod 2c;

- a second bending point 5g extending as a continuation of the aforementioned second portion 5f to hook the aforementioned third horizontal rod 2d, and

- a third portion 5h extending as a continuation of the second bending point 5g and having a direction of development incident to the ground support plane identified by the support base 2.

At said first bending point 5d, the first hook 5b engages the aforementioned first horizontal rod 2b by defining a substantially 90° curve around said first horizontal rod 2b.

Preferably, the aforementioned first straight portion 5e is a straight portion and is substantially parallel to the ground support plane identified by the support base 2.

This first straight portion 5e is useful to impart proper stability to the containment gabion 1 during unloading and assembly, i.e. when no load of inert material is present. Also, the first straight portion 5e facilitates stacking of a plurality of gabions for creating complex structures.

As mentioned above, the aforementioned second portion 5f extends downstream of the first straight portion 5e, to above the third horizontal rod 2d.

The aforementioned second bending point 5g can hook and anchor the structure of the first hook 5b to hook said third horizontal rod 2d, the subsequent third portion 5h being also useful for this purpose.

That is, the second bending point 5g encircles the aforementioned third horizontal rod 2d through substantially 180°, whereas the subsequent third portion 5h ensures that this bending point will not be released from the aforementioned third horizontal rod 2d.

Advantageously, the aforementioned second portion 5f of the first hook 5b:

- extends between opposite ends from an end portion of the first portion 5e to the aforementioned second bending point 5g and

- comprises an intermediate portion which is more displaced towards the inside of said containment gabion (1), and hence is more distant from the lower support plane of the containment gabion 1, with respect to an ideal straight line I passing through said opposite ends of said second portion 5f.

According to the embodiment of Figure 2, the aforementioned second portion 5f of the first hook 5b comprises two inclined portions f', f" converging in a vertex (50).

With respect to an ideal straight line I passing through the aforementioned opposite ends of the second portion 5f (as shown in Figure 2 by a broken line), the aforementioned vertex 50 is more displaced towards the inside of the containment gabion 1.

Preferably, the aforementioned ideal straight line I passing through the opposite ends of the second portion 5f is inclined by an angle a of 12° to 70°, more preferably an angle of 18° to 40°, with respect to the aforementioned ground support plane identified by the support base 2.

Preferably, the aforementioned two portions f' and f" converging in the aforementioned vertex 50 are two straight portions.

Preferably the aforementioned vertex subtends an angle X of 110° to 170°, more preferably an angle X of 145° to 165°, for example of 160°.

According to one embodiment, not shown, the aforementioned second portion 5f of the first hook 5b comprises a curvilinear profile whose convexity faces the interior of the containment gabion.

Preferably, the aforementioned second portion 5f of the first hook 5b remains substantially contained in the thickness of the support base 2.

Preferably, the aforementioned third portion 5h extends from said second bending point (5g) for a section of 18 mm to 50 mm, more preferably for a section of 20 mm to 45 mm and even more preferably for a section of 25 mm to 30 mm.

Preferably, the aforementioned third portion 5h is a straight portion, preferably a straight portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to the aforementioned ideal straight line I passing through the opposite ends of the second portion 5f.

Preferably, the aforementioned third straight portion 5h is inclined by an angle p with respect to the ground support plane identified by said support base 2 which is of 8° to 22°, more preferably by an angle p of 10° to 18°.

Preferably, at least most of the aforementioned third straight portion 5h remains contained in the thickness of the support base 2.

It should be noted that the second bending point 5g and the third straight portion 5h are designed to increase the safety of the hook 5b to ensure a firmer constraint and impart a higher structural stability to the containment gabion 1 during loading and transport.

Preferably, each of the opposite vertical walls 3 of said gabion extending along the two long sides of the support base 2 comprises a plurality of said first hooks 5b whereby the vertical rods 4 of the long vertical walls 3c are fastened to the base 2.

Concerning transport of the containment gabion 1, according to the embodiment as shown in Figures 3 and 4, which is also known, for example, from EP 3073017 Al, the containment gabion 1 comprises at least two comblike hooks 7 comprising a substantially flat quadrangular body 7a extending in a longitudinal direction, and having a top edge 7b and a bottom edge 7c.

At the bottom edge, the comb-like hook 7 comprises a plurality of comb teeth 7d, substantially extending the body 7a and bent at least partially into a U shape.

Each comb-like hook 7 also comprises a plurality of holes 7e formed in the body 7a and longitudinally arranged along such body 7a.

Each of the two long vertical walls 3c of the containment gabion 1 comprises, as described above, a plurality of horizontal rods 6, including a top horizontal rod 6a differing from the others by being the farthest rod from the support base 2.

In light of the above, each comb-like hook 7 partially engages the top horizontal rod 6a by the aforementioned U-shaped comb teeth 7d, while the comblike hook 7 is left free of rotating about the top horizontal bar 6a.

During transport, the containment gabion 1 is lifted by hoist means, not shown, which hook the containment gabion 1 at the holes 7e of the two comblike hooks 7, the latter assuming thus a position transverse to the support plane.

Once the containment gabion 1 has been positioned, it is released from the hoist means and the comb-like hooks 7 are rotated to such a position that the body 7a, substantially parallel to the support plane, will rest on the inert material itself or on a closing surface 8, if any.

Therefore, these comb-like hooks afford simple and practical transport, and can assume a position that ensures the lack of bulk transverse to the support surface once transport has been completed, thereby allowing a plurality of gabions to be stacked one above the other to form complex structures such as barriers and/or retaining walls. Concerning stable positioning of the gabion 1 on the ground, it should be noted that parts of the hooks 5 projecting from the lower part of the support plane identified by the support base 2 may be of hindrance as they cause warping or other deformations of the structure of the containment gabion itself before it is filled, which warping and deformation will permanently remain once the structure has been filled with the inert material.

As explained in the introduction hereof, such deformation and warping are undesired as they prevent the upper opening from being properly closed by the upper cover.

The improved containment gabion obviates these problems in that the aforementioned second portion (5f) of the first hooks (5b) is not straight, but comprises two inclined portions (f', f") converging in a vertex (50) so as to be more displaced toward the inside of the containment gabion 1, that is, upwards, thereby increasing the space that can be occupied by the third portion 5h which extends as a continuation of the second bending point 5g.

Therefore, in the improved containment gabion of the present invention, the end portion of the first hooks 5b, i.e. the aforementioned third portion 5h, finds room to be advantageously accommodated in the thickness of the support base in its entirety or for a prevalent part thereof, thus not affecting the coplanarity of the support plane identified by the lower part of the support base 2.

Thus, the improved containment gabion of the present invention is able to ensure stability of the structure during loading, unloading and transport, and can also simplify assembly of the single containment gabion and stacking of a plurality of gabions to form complex monolithic structures.

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the confinement gabion as described hereinbefore to fulfill specific and contingent requirements, without departure from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.