Method of reinforcing concrete made construction and fixture used therefor

• US 5,678,374 A
• Filed: 06/05/1996
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Company Incorporated (Energy Transfer Operating, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Kyouryou Hozen Inc.
• Inventors: Fukuoka, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, WILLIAM GLENN
• Application Number:
  US08/658,567
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 52/514, 52/514.5, 52/597, 52/600, 52/741.3, 14/73, 14/74, 403/384, 403/386, 403/388, 411/923, 411/487, 411/492, 411/484, 411/169, 411/973, 411/435, 411/427, 411/400
• US Class Current: 52/514
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 22/00 Methods or apparatus for repairing or strengthening existing bridges electrochemical desalination or re-alkalisation C04B41/00; Methods or apparatus for dismantling bridges
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2023/0251 by using fiber reinforced plastic elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2023/0255 whereby the fiber reinforced plastic elements are stressed
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2023/0259 Devices specifically adapted to stress the fiber reinforced plastic elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2023/0262 Devices specifically adapted for anchoring the fiber reinforced plastic elements, e.g. to avoid peeling off
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 23/0218 Increasing or restoring the load-bearing capacity of building construction elements E04G23/0203 and E04G23/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/71 Rod side to plate or side
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7111 Shackle is integral with or independently attached to proximate side of plate or other side
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7123 Traversed by connector

Abstract

A method of reinforcing a concrete made construction comprising the steps of provisionally disposing a reinforcement member onto a lower surface of a concrete made construction, forming holes at the lower surface of a concrete made construction, and inserting fixtures into the holes to fixate the reinforcement member onto the lower surface of a concrete made construction so that the fixture imparts tension force to the reinforcement member in a plane of the reinforcement member. For instance, a fixture includes a device for applying tension force to the reinforcement member in a plane thereof by moving at least a part of the fixture in a direction perpendicular to the reinforcement member. The invention ensures fixation of a reinforcement member onto a lower surface of a concrete made construction such as a bridge to which repeated live loads are always applied.

Claims

1. A method of reinforcing a concrete made construction comprising the steps of:

disposing a reinforcement member onto a lower surface of the concrete made construction;

forming holes at said lower surface of the concrete made construction; and

inserting fixtures having an inclined surface into said holes to fix said reinforcement member onto said lower surface of a concrete made construction,

wherein the inclined surface is in contact with the reinforcement member and the fixture imparts a tension force to said reinforcement member in a plane of said reinforcement member.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said concrete construction is a bridge.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of covering said reinforcement member with a covering layer.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said covering layer is applied by direct application thereof onto said lower surface of the concrete made construction.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said covering layer is applied by positioning a frame onto said lower surface of the concrete made construction and introducing covering material into said frame.

6. The method as act forth in claim 3, wherein said covering layer is applied by spraying.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of surface-treating said lower surface of the concrete made construction with high-pressure water-washing surface preparation or sand blast before said reinforcement member is fixated onto said lower surface of a concrete made construction.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said step of inserting fixtures further comprises the steps of:

(1) providing a plurality of fixtures each including an anchor and a pin, said anchor including a head portion, a shaft portion extending from said head portion, an expanding slot formed at a tip of the anchor distal to the head portion, and a through hole extending axially through the head portion and the shaft;

wherein said inclined surface is formed on the shaft between the head portion and an intermediate portion between the head and the tip; and

said pin constructed to fit in the through hole and expand the expanding slot when driven into the through hole; and

(2) inserting said anchors into said holes at the lower surface of the concrete construction and driving said pins into said through holes of said anchors to thereby fix said reinforcement member.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said anchor further comprises a resin layer covering said inclined surface.

8. A combination of a fixture and a reinforcement member both of which are to be used in a method of reinforcing a concrete made construction including the step of fixing a reinforcement member onto a lower surface of a concrete made construction with tension force being applied to said reinforcement member in a plane thereof by means of said fixture, said reinforcement member being formed with an inclined guide surface for imparting tension force to said reinforcement member, said fixture including an inclined surface which makes contact with said inclined guide surface of said reinforcement member when said fixture is inserted into the concrete made construction, to impart tension force to said reinforcement member in said plane thereof.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reinforcement member is a mesh-type reinforcing steel formed by welding steel in a grid.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reinforcement member is a grating member made of fiber-reinforced resin.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said reinforcement member comprises portions extending in a first direction and portions extending in a second direction, wherein the first and second directions lie in a common plane.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 10, wherein said reinforcement member comprises portions extending in a first direction and portions extending in a second direction, wherein the first and second directions lie in a common plane.