Splice chuck for use in a post-tension anchor system

• US 6,176,051 B1
• Filed: 05/23/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Felix L. Sorkin
• Original Assignee: Felix L. Sorkin
• Inventors: Sorkin, Felix L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Beth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Application Number:
  US09/317,096
• Time in Patent Office: 611 Days
• Field of Search: 522/231, 522/236, 522/231.1, 522/231.3, 522/231.4, 525/831, 527/261, 403/374.1, 403/305, 403/308
• US Class Current: 52/223.13
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/08 Members specially adapted to be used in prestressed constructions production of reinforced objects in general B28B23/00; prestressed structures produced in situ E04G21/12
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/122 the tensile members are anchored by wedge-action
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/165 Coaxial connection by means of sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/12 Mounting of reinforcing inserts; Prestressing shell tubes for prestressing members E04C5/10; anchoring means E04C5/12; connections of reinforcing elements and spacers E04C5/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5733 Plural opposed sockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7064 by wedge or cam

Abstract

A splice chuck having a body with a first end and a second end and a passage extending therethrough, a first collar received within the first end of the body and having a tapered interior, a second collar received within the second end of the body and having a tapered interior, a first wedge received within the tapered interior of the first collar, a second wedge received within the tapered interior of the second collar, a cap member having a surface abutting an end of the first wedge within the passageway of the body, and a resilient member having one end exerting a compressive force onto the second wedge and an opposite end exerting a compressive force onto the cap member. The cap member includes a tubular section having an interior area and an annular section extending radially outwardly from an end of the tubular section. A cover extends over the opposite end of the tubular section. The annular surface contacts an end of the first wedge. The interior area of the tubular section opens to the tapered interior of the first collar.

Claims

1. A splice chuck comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end, said body having a passageway extending therethrough;

a first collar received within said first end of said body, said first collar having a tapered interior;

a second collar received within said second end of said body, said second collar having a tapered interior;

a first wedge received within said tapered interior of said first collar;

a second wedge received within said tapered interior of said second collar;

a cap member having a surface abutting an end of said first wedge within said passageway of said body; and

a resilient member having one end exerting a compressive force onto said second wedge and an opposite end exerting a compressive force onto said cap member.

2. The splice chuck of claim 1, said cap member comprising:

a tubular section having an interior area; and

an annular section extending radially outwardly from an end of said tubular section.

3. The splice chuck of claim 2, further comprising:

a cover extending over said interior area of said tubular section at an opposite end of said tubular section.

4. The splice chuck of claim 2, said annular surface contacting an end of said first wedge, said interior area of said tubular section opening to said tapered interior of said first collar.

5. The splice chuck of claim 2, said resilient member comprising:

a coil spring positioned in said passageway of said body, said coil spring having said one end abutting an end of said second wedge so as to urge said second wedge into said tapered interior of said second collar, said coil spring having said opposite end abutting said annular surface of said cap member, said tubular section extending into an interior of said coil spring.

6. The splice chuck of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover extending over said body, said cover adapted to prevent liquid from entering said passageway.

7. The splice chuck of claim 6, said cover comprising:

a polymeric encapsulation formed over an exterior surface of said body, said polymeric encapsulation having a cap-receiving receptacle formed at an end extending beyond said body; and

a cap removably received within said cap-receiving receptacle, and opening at an end opposite said body.

8. The splice chuck of claim 6, said cover comprising:

a polymeric section formed onto one end of said body and extending outwardly therefrom; and

an elastomeric section affixed over an opposite end of said body and arranged in liquid-tight relationship with said polymeric section, said elastomeric section extending beyond an end of said body.

9. A post-tension anchor system comprising:

a first tendon;

a second tendon;

an anchor receiving said first tendon therein, said first tendon having an end extending outwardly of said anchor; and

a splice chuck receiving said first tendon in one end thereof and said second tendon in an opposite end thereof, said splice chuck having a first wedge at said one end in compressive engagement with said first tendon, said splice chuck having a second wedge at said opposite end in compressive engagement with said second tendon, said splice chuck having a cap member with a surface abutting an end of said first wedge, said splice chuck having a resilient member exerting a compressive force onto said second wedge and a compressive force onto said cap member.

10. The system of claim 9, said cap member comprising:

a tubular section having an interior area; and

an annular section extending radially outwardly from an end of said tubular section.

11. The system of claim 10, said cap member further comprising:

a cover extending over said interior area at said opposite end of said tubular section.

12. The system of claim 10, said annular surface contacting an end of said first wedge, said first tendon having an end extending into said tubular section.

13. The system of claim 10, said resilient member comprising:

a coil spring positioned within said splice chuck, said coil spring having one end abutting an end of said second wedge so as to urge said second wedge into the compressive engagement with said second tendon, said coil spring having an opposite end abutting said annular surface of said cap member, said tubular section of said cap member extending into an interior of said coil spring.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a cover extending over said splice chuck, said cover having one end in liquid-tight engagement with said first tendon, said cover having an opposite end in liquid-tight engagement with said second tendon.

15. The system of claim 14, said first tendon having a sheathed portion and an unsheathed portion, said second tendon having a sheathed portion and an unsheathed portion, said unsheathed portion of said first tendon received in said one end of said splice chuck, said one end of said cover being in liquid-tight engagement with said sheathed portion of said first tendon, said unsheathed portion of said second tendon received within said opposite end of said splice chuck, said opposite end of said cover being in liquid-tight engagement with said sheathed portion of said second tendon.

16. The system of claim 14, said second tendon having a sheathed portion and an unsheathed portion, said cover having said one end in liquid-tight engagement with said anchor, said cover having an opposite end in liquid-tight engagement with said sheathed portion of said second tendon.

17. The system of claim 14, said cover comprising:

a polymeric encapsulation formed over an exterior surface of said splice chuck, said polymeric encapsulation having a cap-receiving receptacle formed at an end extending beyond said splice chuck; and

a cap removably received within said cap-receiving receptacle, said cap having an opening at an end opposite said splice chuck.

18. The system of claim 14, said cover comprising:

a polymeric section formed onto one end of said splice chuck and extending outwardly therefrom; and

an elastomeric section affixed over an opposite end of said splice chuck and arranged in liquid-tight relationship with said polymeric section, said elastomeric section extending outwardly beyond an end of said splice chuck.

19. An improvement in a splice chuck having a body with a passageway extending therethrough, a first collar having a tapered interior and received within a first end of the body, a second collar having a tapered interior and received in a second end of the body, a first wedge received in the tapered interior of the first collar, a second wedge received within the tapered interior of the second collar, the improvement comprising:

a cap member having a surface abutting an end of said first wedge; and

a resilient member having one end exerting a compressive force onto the second wedge and an opposite end exerting a compressive force onto said cap member.

20. The improvement of claim 19, said cap member comprising:

a tubular section having an interior area; and

an annular section extending radially outwardly from an end of said tubular section.

21. The improvement of claim 20, said cap member further comprising:

a cover extending over said interior area at an opposite end of said tubular section.

22. The improvement of claim 20, said annular surface contacting an end of the first wedge, said interior area of said tubular section opening to the tapered interior of the first collar.

23. The improvement of claim 20, said resilient member comprising:

a coil spring positioned in the passageway of the body, said coil spring having one end abutting an end of the second wedge so as to urge the second wedge into the tapered interior of the second collar, said coil spring having said opposite end abutting said annular surface of said cap member, said tubular section extending into an interior of said coil spring.

24. The improvement of claim 19, further comprising:

a cover extending over the body, said cover being adapted to prevent liquid from entering the passageway of the body.

25. The improvement of claim 24, said cover comprising:

a polymeric encapsulation formed over an exterior surface of the body, said polymeric encapsulation having a cap-receiving receptacle formed at an end extending beyond the body; and

a cap removably received within said cap-receiving receptacle, said cap having an open end at an end opposite the body.

26. The improvement of claim 24, said cover comprising:

a polymeric section formed onto one end of the body and extending outwardly therefrom; and

an elastomeric section affixed over an opposite end of the body and arranged in liquid-tight relationship with the polymeric section, said elastomeric section extending beyond an end of the body.