METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR AN ANCHOR ROD CAP

• US 20070022703A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Wolf, Alan, Wolf, Theodore
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/698
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/4157 Longitudinally-externally threaded elements extending from the concrete or masonry, e.g. anchoring bolt with embedded head
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/161 Protective caps for the ends of reinforcing bars
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/22 Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/00 Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/912 on a tower
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/301 Retaining bolts or nuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/14 Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

An anchor rod cap and method for protecting an anchor rod/bolt/lower flange assembly are provided. An anchor rod is provided having upper and lower tubular elements connected by a shoulder. The upper element is disposed about the anchor rod threads and has an interior surface defined on a radius smaller than an anchor rod thread outer radius. The lower tubular element has an interior radius larger than an anchor rod bolt outer dimension and is configured to define an air gap between the lower tubular element inner surface and an anchor nut encompassed thereby. A lower tubular element bottom edge is configured to form a physical barrier interface with the anchor rod base flange. At least one of the upper tubular element interior surface and the lower tubular element bottom edge are configured to form a sealing interface with anchor rod thread outer surfaces or an upper flange surface.

Claims

1. An anchor rod cap configured to engage an anchor rod/bolt/lower flange assembly, comprising:

an upper tubular element having an upper end and a lower end, the upper tubular element having an interior generally cylindrical surface defined on an interior upper tubular element radius;

a shoulder having an upper end connected to the upper tubular element lower end and defined on a shoulder upper end radius and a second lower end defined on a shoulder lower end radius, the shoulder upper end radius smaller than the shoulder lower end radius; and

a lower tubular element having an upper end connected to the shoulder lower end and a bottom edge, the lower tubular element having an interior generally cylindrical surface defined on an interior lower tubular element radius;

wherein the upper tubular element interior radius is smaller than an anchor rod thread outer radius;

wherein the lower tubular element interior radius is larger than an anchor rod bolt outer dimension and thereby configured to define an air gap between the lower tubular element inner surface and an anchor nut encompassed thereby; and

wherein the lower tubular element bottom edge is configured to form a physical barrier interface with the anchor rod base flange.

2. The anchor rod cap of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper tubular element interior surface, the shoulder and the lower tubular element bottom edge are formed from a resilient material.

3. The anchor rod cap of claim 1 wherein the upper tubular element further defines a ventilation aperture.

4. The anchor rod cap of claim 1 wherein the shoulder is generally conical.

5. The anchor rod cap of claim 4 wherein the shoulder is defined on a shoulder angle of about 30 degrees from a central axis common to the upper and lower tubular elements.

6. The anchor rod cap of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper tubular element interior surface and the lower tubular element bottom edge are configured to form a sealing interface with anchor rod thread outer surfaces or an upper flange surface.

7. The anchor rod cap of claim 1, wherein the lower tubular element interior radius is smaller than an outside radius of an anchor rod/bolt/lower flange assembly washer.

8. The anchor rod cap of claim 7, wherein the lower tubular element interior surface is configured to form a sealing interface with a washer outside edge surface.

9. An anchor rod assembly, comprising:

an anchor bolt tightened about an anchor rod onto an anchor bolt washer;

the washer compelled by the anchor bolt against an anchor flange;

a protective film disposed about outer surfaces of the anchor bolt, anchor rod and anchor bolt washer;

an anchor rod cap upper tubular element having an upper end and a lower end, the upper tubular element having an interior generally cylindrical surface defined on an interior upper tubular element radius smaller than an anchor rod thread outer radius;

an anchor rod cap shoulder having an upper end connected to the upper tubular element lower end and defined on a shoulder upper end radius and a second lower end defined on a shoulder lower end radius, the shoulder upper end radius smaller than the shoulder lower end radius; and

an anchor rod cap lower tubular element having an upper end connected to the shoulder lower end and a bottom edge, the lower tubular element having an interior generally cylindrical surface defined on an interior lower tubular element radius;

wherein the upper tubular element interior radius is disposed about and configured to firmly engage anchor rod thread outer surfaces;

wherein the lower tubular element interior radius is larger than an anchor rod bolt outer dimension and thereby configured to define an air gap between the lower tubular element inner surface and the anchor nut; and

wherein the lower tubular element bottom edge is configured to form a physical barrier interface with the anchor rod base flange.

10. A method for protecting an anchor rod assembly, comprising the steps of:

disposing a protective film about outer surfaces of an anchor bolt/anchor rod/anchor bolt washer/anchor flange assembly;

disposing an anchor cap upper tubular element about the protective film and anchor rod thread outer surfaces, the upper tubular element having an upper end, a lower end, and an interior generally cylindrical surface defined on an interior upper tubular element radius smaller than an anchor rod thread outer radius;

connecting an anchor rod cap shoulder upper end defined on a shoulder upper end radius to the upper tubular element lower end, the shoulder further having a lower end defined on a shoulder lower end radius, the shoulder upper end radius smaller than the shoulder lower end radius;

disposing an anchor rod cap lower tubular element about the anchor nut and washer, an anchor rod cap lower tubular element upper end connected to the shoulder lower end, the lower tubular element having an interior generally cylindrical surface defined on an interior lower tubular element radius larger than an anchor rod bolt outer dimension and thereby configured to define an air gap between the lower tubular element inner surface and the anchor nut; and

an anchor rod cap lower tubular element bottom edge engaging the anchor rod base flange and forming a physical barrier interface therewith.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of forming at least one of the upper tubular element interior surface, the shoulder and the lower tubular element bottom edge from a resilient material.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of forming a ventilation aperture in the upper tubular element.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the shoulder is generally conical.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of defining the shoulder on a shoulder angle of about 30 degrees from a central axis common to the upper and lower tubular elements.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of at least one of the upper tubular element interior surface and the lower tubular element bottom edge forming a sealing interface with anchor rod thread outer surfaces or an upper flange surface.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of selecting a lower tubular element interior radius smaller than an outside radius of an anchor washer.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of the lower tubular element interior surface forming a sealing interface with a washer outside edge surface.