Releasable coupling device for use with reinforcing tendons and method of using the same
First Claim
1. A coupling device for attaching a protruding tendon disposed in a concrete structure to an extension strand, the coupling device comprising:
- a barrel having a first end and a second end;
a first conical bore disposed adjacent the first end having a first pair of wedges, the first conical bore sized to receive the protruding tendon such that the protruding tendon is grippable by the first pair of wedges when the first pair of edges are shifted to an engaged position;
a second conical bore disposed adjacent the second end and having a second pair of wedges, the second conical bore sized to receive the extension strand such that the extension strand is grippable by the second pair of wedges when the second pair of wedges are shifted to an engaged position; and
a release bushing, the release bushing adapted for placement adjacent the first end of the barrel and having an aperture sized to receive the protruding tendon, the release bushing including a contact surface positioned to contact the first pair of wedges, the contact surface of the release bushing arranged to shift the first pair of wedges to a disengaged position in response to shifting the first end of the barrel toward the release bushing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling device for attaching a protruding tendon disposed in a concrete structure to an extension strand comprises a barrel having a first end and a second end, a first conical bore disposed adjacent the first end having a first pair of wedges and sized to receive and grip the protruding tendon, a second conical bore disposed adjacent the second end and having a second pair of wedges and sized to receive and grip the extension strand, and a release bushing adapted for placement adjacent the first end of the barrel and having an aperture sized to receive the protruding tendon. The release bushing includes a contact surface positioned to contact the first pair of wedges and arranged to shift the first pair of wedges to a disengaged position in response to shifting the first end of the barrel toward the release bushing.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A coupling device for attaching a protruding tendon disposed in a concrete structure to an extension strand, the coupling device comprising:
-
a barrel having a first end and a second end;
a first conical bore disposed adjacent the first end having a first pair of wedges, the first conical bore sized to receive the protruding tendon such that the protruding tendon is grippable by the first pair of wedges when the first pair of edges are shifted to an engaged position;
a second conical bore disposed adjacent the second end and having a second pair of wedges, the second conical bore sized to receive the extension strand such that the extension strand is grippable by the second pair of wedges when the second pair of wedges are shifted to an engaged position; and
a release bushing, the release bushing adapted for placement adjacent the first end of the barrel and having an aperture sized to receive the protruding tendon, the release bushing including a contact surface positioned to contact the first pair of wedges, the contact surface of the release bushing arranged to shift the first pair of wedges to a disengaged position in response to shifting the first end of the barrel toward the release bushing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A coupling device for operatively connecting a protruding tendon disposed in a concrete structure to an extension strand, the coupling device comprising:
-
a main body having a first end and a second end;
a first bore disposed adjacent the first end and arranged to receive the protruding tendon;
a first pair of wedges disposed within the main body adjacent the first end, the first pair of wedges shiftable between a disengaged position in which the protruding tendon is moveable within the first bore and an engaged position in which the protruding tendon is secured within the first bore;
a second bore disposed adjacent the second end and arranged to receive the extension strand;
a second pair of wedges disposed within the main body adjacent the second end, the second pair of wedges shiftable between a disengaged position in which the extension strand is moveable within the second bore and an engaged position in which the extension strand is secured within the second bore; and
a release bushing, the release bushing adapted for placement adjacent the first end of the main body and having an aperture sized to receive the protruding tendon, the release bushing positioned to contact the first pair of wedges, the release bushing arranged to shift the first pair of wedges to the disengaged position in response to shifting the main body toward the release bushing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A coupling device for operatively connecting a protruding tendon disposed in a concrete structure to an extension strand, the coupling device comprising:
-
a main body having a first end and a second end;
first and second oppositely facing conical bores, the first bore arranged to receive the protruding tendon;
a first pair of wedges disposed within the first bore and shiftable between a disengaged position in which the protruding tendon is axially moveable within the first bore and an engaged position in which the protruding tendon is secured within the first bore;
a second pair of wedges disposed within the second bore and shiftable between a disengaged position in which the second pair of wedges are positioned to permit an extension strand to move axially within the second bore and an engaged position in which the second pair of wedges are positioned to grip an extension strand disposed within the second bore; and
a release bushing, the release bushing adapted for placement adjacent the first bore and having an aperture sized to receive the protruding tendon, the release bushing including a first surface positioned to contact the first pair of wedges when the release bushing and the main body are brought toward each other to thereby shift the first pair of wedges to the disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method of releasing the tension on a tendon protruding from a concrete structure comprising the steps of:
-
providing a chair sized to fit over a wedge plate;
positioning the chair over the wedge plate;
providing a coupling device having first and second pairs of oppositely facing wedges;
providing a release bushing over the protruding tendon and positioned to engage the first pair of wedges;
securing the first pair of wedges to the protruding tendon;
positioned an extension strand in the second pair of wedges;
using a tensioning ram to grasp the extension strand and to apply a greater tension to the tendon to thereby displace the tendon away from a first position in a first direction;
removing an original pair of wedges from adjacent the displaced tendon;
using the tensioning ram to displace the tendon in a second direction opposite the first direction to a second position; and
displacing the tendon in the second direction a distance sufficient to cause the release bushing to shift the first pair of wedges out of engagement with the protruding tendon.
-
Specification