Method and apparatus for sealing an intermediate anchorage of a post-tension system

• US 6,098,356 A
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Felix L. Sorkin
• Original Assignee: Felix L. Sorkin
• Inventors: Sorkin, Felix L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavez, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US09/185,132
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 52/223.13
• US Class Current: 52/223.13
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/12 Anchoring devices tools or methods for tensioning in situ E04G21/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3909 Plural-strand cord or rope
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44034 Dissociable gripping members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44077 having inserted and receiving interlocking members connected by bendable, nonbiasing strap

Abstract

An apparatus for sealing an intermediate anchorage of a post-tension anchor system having a cap with an attachment section thereon. The attachment section is adapted to allow the cap to be connected to an end of the anchor body. The cap has a tubular member extending outwardly from the attachment section. The tubular member has an opening at an end opposite the attachment section. The cap has a grease fitting formed thereon. The grease fitting is adapted so as to allow grease to be introduced into the interior passageway of the tubular member. The attachment section and the tubular member are integrally formed together of a polymeric material. A seal is affixed to the open end of the tubular member so as to form a liquid-tight seal over the sheathed portion of a tendon extending therethrough.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sealing an intermediate anchorage of a post-tension anchor system comprising:

a cap having an attachment section at one end thereof, said attachment section adapted to allow said cap to be connected to an end of an anchor body, said cap having a tubular member extending outwardly from said attachment section, said tubular member having an open end opposite said attachment section, said tubular member having a grease fitting formed thereon away from said open end, said grease fitting adapted to allow grease to be introduced into an interior passageway of said tubular member, said attachment section and said tubular member being integrally formed together of a polymeric material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said attachment section being of an annular configuration, said attachment section being coaxial with said tubular member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said grease fitting extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of said tubular member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, said grease fitting being a grease zerk.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said tubular member having means at said end for forming a liquid-tight seal with a sheathing of a tendon extending therethrough.

6. A post-tension anchor system comprising:

an anchor body;

a tendon affixed to said anchor body, said tendon having an unsheathed portion extending outwardly from said anchor body, said tendon having a sheathed portion at an end of said unsheathed portion opposite said anchor body; and

a cap affixed to said anchor body, said cap having an integral tubular member extending outwardly from said anchor body, said tubular member of said cap extending entirely over said unsheathed portion, said tubular member having an open end opposite said anchor body, said open end positioned over said sheathed portion of said tendon, said tubular member having a grease fitting formed thereon, said grease fitting adapted so as to allow grease to be placed within said tubular member and over said unsheathed portion.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a sealing means affixed to said open end, said sealing means for forming a liquid-tight seal between said open end and said sheathed portion of said tendon.

8. The system of claim 6, said anchor body comprising:

an anchor member having a wedge-receiving cavity formed therein, said wedge-receiving cavity being tapered so as to have a wide end adjacent said cap said tendon extending through and affixed within said wedge-receiving cavity; and

a polymeric encapsulation affixed over said anchor member, said polymeric encapsulation having a cylindrical opening formed thereon at said wide end of said wedge-receiving cavity, said cap having an attachment section in engagement with said cylindrical opening.

9. The system of claim 8, said attachment section being in snap-fit relationship with said cylindrical opening.

10. The system of claim 8, said attachment section having a greater diameter than a diameter of said tubular member.

11. The system of claim 10, said attachment section being coaxial with said tubular member.

12. The system of claim 8, said tubular member and said attachment section being integrally formed together of a polymeric material.

13. The system of claim 6, said grease fitting being a grease zerk affixed to said tubular member.

14. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a grease filling a volume between a wall of said tubular member and an exterior surface of said unsheathed portion.

15. A method of encapsulating an unsheathed portion of a tendon in an intermediate anchorage of a post-tension anchor system comprising:

forming the intermediate anchorage with a polymeric encapsulation surrounding a steel anchor member, said anchor member having a tapered wedge-receiving cavity formed therein, said cavity having a wide end at one end of said anchor member, said polymeric encapsulation having a cylindrical opening extending outwardly of said one end from said anchor member;

affixing the tendon within said wedge-receiving cavity of the intermediate anchorage such that the unsheathed portion extends outwardly of said one end of said anchor member;

attaching a cap to said cylindrical opening such that the cap has a tubular member extending over the unsheathed portion, said tubular member having an open end opposite said cylindrical opening, said tendon having a sheathed portion extending through said open end;

sealing said open end onto said sheathed portion of the tendon; and

injecting grease into said cap through a wall of said tubular member to fill a space between said wall of said tubular member and an exterior surface of said unsheathed portion of the tendon.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

forming the cap so as to have an attachment section integrally connected to said tubular member, said attachment section and said tubular member being of a polymeric material; and

attaching a grease zerk to said tubular member.