Method of forming a dead-end anchorage of a post-tension system

• US 7,841,061 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Felix L. Sorkin
• Original Assignee: Felix L. Sorkin
• Inventors: Sorkin, Felix L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cozart; Jermie E
• Application Number:
  US11/862,636
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 294/52, 295/25, 295/250.1, 241/226, 241/15.R, 241/36.R, 241/15.M, 241/223, 522/231.3
• US Class Current: 29/452
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/122 the tensile members are anchored by wedge-action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3907 Sheathed strand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3909 Plural-strand cord or rope
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49874 Prestressing rod, filament or strand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A method of forming a dead-end anchorage of a post-tension anchor system includes the steps of positioning a tendon within a cavity of an anchor body such that an unsheathed end of the tendon extends outwardly of the cavity such that a sheathed portion of the tendon is positioned within the cavity, mechanically inserting a fixing element into the cavity, mechanically inserting wedges into the cavity between the unsheathed end of the tendon and a wall of the cavity, and applying pressure onto an end of the tendon such that the fixing element engages the sheathed portion and such that the tendon and the wedges are in interference-fit relationship within the cavity. The fixing element includes a pair of fixing members positioned adjacent an end of the wedges.

Claims

1. A method of forming a dead-end anchorage of a post-tension anchor system comprising:

positioning a tendon within a cavity of an anchor body such that an unsheathed end of said tendon extends outwardly of said cavity, said tendon having a sheathing extending at least partially therearound, said tendon having a sheathed portion positioned within said cavity;

mechanically inserting a fixing element into said cavity;

mechanically inserting wedges into said cavity between said unsheathed end of said tendon and a wall of said cavity; and

applying pressure onto an end of said tendon such that said fixing element engages said sheathed portion and such that said tendon and said wedges are in interference-fit relationship within said cavity.

2. The method of claim 1, the step of mechanically inserting a fixing element comprising:

positioning said fixing element adjacent an end of said wedges within said cavity.

3. The method of claim 1, said step of applying comprising:

drawing said fixing element and said wedges into said cavity by the pressure applied onto said end of said tendon.

4. The method of claim 1, said cavity having a tapered portion with a wide end opening at one end of said anchor body and a narrow end interior of said cavity, said cavity having a passageway extending from said narrow end to an opposite end of said anchor body, said step of positioning comprising:

positioning said sheathed portion within said passageway.

5. The method of claim 4, said step of applying pressure comprising:

applying pressure onto said end of said tendon such that said fixing element engages said sheathed portion within said passageway.

6. The method of claim 5, said fixing element being a pair of clip members, said step of applying pressure comprising:

applying pressure onto said end of said tendon such that said pair of clip members are interposed between an exterior of said sheathed portion and a wall of said passageway.

7. The method of claim 6, each of said pair of clip members having a pointed end, said step of applying pressure comprising:

applying pressure onto said end of said tendon such that said pointed end of said pair of clip members bite into said sheathing of said sheathed portion of said tendon.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

forming said wedges such that said fixing element is at an end of said wedges.

9. The method of claim 8, said step of forming said wedges comprising:

forming said wedges such that said fixing element is integral with said wedges.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming a compression mechanism having a cylindrical member and a plunger interior of said cylindrical member, said plunger being axially movable through an interior space of said cylindrical member.

11. The method of claim 10, said step of applying pressure comprising:

moving said cylindrical member toward said cavity such that said end of said tendon resides within said interior space of said cylindrical member; and

moving said plunger toward said end of said tendon such that an end of said plunger applies pressure onto said end of said tendon within said interior space.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

affixing said anchor body within a fixture such that a wide end of said cavity faces said wedges.

13. A method of forming a dead-end anchorage of a post-tension system comprising:

positioning a tendon within a cavity of an anchor body such that an unsheathed end of said tendon extends outwardly of said cavity, said tendon having a sheathing extending at least partially therearound, said tendon having a sheathed portion positioned within said cavity;

mechanically inserting a fixing element into said cavity;

mechanically inserting wedges into said cavity between said unsheathed end of said tendon and a wall of said cavity; and

applying pressure onto said wedges such that said wedges urge said fixing element onto engagement with an end of said sheathed portion such that said wedges are in interference-fit relationship within said cavity.

14. The method of claim 13, said step of applying pressure comprising:

applying pressure onto an end of said tendon such that said fixing element and said wedges are urged into said cavity by the pressure applied onto said end of said tendon.

15. The method of claim 13, said cavity having a tapered portion with a wide end opening at one end of said anchor body and a narrow end interior of said cavity, said cavity having a passageway extending from said narrow end to an opposite end of said anchor body, said step of positioning comprising:

positioning said sheathed portion within said passageway.

16. The method of claim 15, said step of applying pressure comprising:

applying pressure onto an end of said tendon such that said fixing element engages said sheathed portion within said passageway.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

forming said wedges such that said fixing element is at an end of said wedges.

18. The method of claim 17, said step of forming comprising:

forming said wedges such that said fixing element is integral with said wedges.

19. The method of claim 16, said fixing element being a pair of clip members, said step of applying pressure comprising:

applying pressure onto an end of said tendon such that said pair of clip members are interposed between an exterior of said sheathed portion and a wall of said passageway.

20. The method of claim 19, each of said pair of clip members having a pointed end, said step of applying pressure comprising:

applying pressure onto said end of said tendon, such that said pointed end of said pair of clip members bite into said sheathing of said sheathed portion of said tendon.