The present disclosure relates generally to construction couplings and, in particular, to construction couplings for coupling pre-cast construction segments such as ring segments together and construction segments having such couplings.
Various structures such as tunnels, walls, floor plates, roads, etc., can be manufactured and assembled using pre-cast building materials. Tunnels, specifically, can be built by assembling and securing a plurality of pre-cast rings adjacent one another along an axis of the tunnel to be formed. Depending on the size of the tunnel being built, such pre-cast rings can each include a plurality of pre-cast arcuate-shaped ring segments coupled together. Each ring segment includes opposite radial end surfaces that engage corresponding radial end surfaces of adjoining ring segments to define radial joints. Conventionally, the ring segments must be coupled together at the radial joints with bolts or other means to prevent relative movement between the ring segments. The process of bolting the ring segments together is relatively labor intensive and the bolts may be susceptible to corrosion.
In accordance with a first example, a construction coupling for connecting prefabricated segments includes a pair of anchors. Each anchor includes a central portion and a pair of legs. The central portion defines an elongated bore. The pair of legs extend from opposite sides of the central portion. Each leg extends in a direction generally transverse to the elongated bore and has a proximal end attached to the central portion and a free distal portion disposed away from the central portion. The construction coupling also includes a pin adapted to be received in the elongated bores of the pair of the anchors to connect the pair of the anchors together.
In accordance with a second example, a ring of a tunnel includes a plurality of ring segments including radial end surfaces. Each radial end surface carries a pair of anchors and defines corresponding recesses. Each anchor defines an elongate bore. The ring includes a plurality of pins. Each pin is adapted to be received in the elongated bores of corresponding ones of the anchors to connect the pair of anchors together.
In accordance with a third example, a method of forming a pre-cast concrete segment carrying an omega-shaped anchor having legs and a central portion defining an elongated bore, the method includes fixing the anchor to a tool. The tool has a semi-cylindrical portion facing the elongated bore of the anchor. The method includes coupling the tool to or adjacent to a casting form. The method includes pouring concrete into the casting form to form the concrete segment. The concrete segment includes a recess formed by the semi-cylindrical portion of the tool. The method includes uncoupling the tool from the anchor. The elongated bore of the anchor opens into the recess.
In further accordance with the foregoing first, second and/or third examples, an apparatus and/or method may further include any one or more of the following:
In accordance with one example, each leg of each anchor includes a generally planar structure extending generally transverse to the elongated bore.
In accordance with another example, the pair of legs of each anchor extends at an angle relative to each other. The angle is in the range of approximately 0 degrees to approximately 90 degrees.
In accordance with another example, the free distal portion of each leg includes a tongue extending transversely away from the remainder of the leg.
In accordance with another example, each leg of the anchors includes a plurality of ribs forming a skeleton and a panel.
In accordance with another example, one or more of the anchors includes a flange that extends around at least a portion of the central portion of the anchor.
In accordance with another example, the legs have a first side and a second side and the central portion includes a protrusion. The protrusion of the central portion extends beyond the second side of the legs.
In accordance with another example, the elongated bore of each anchor includes a blind bore with an opening having a first diameter and a closed end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter.
In accordance with another example, the pin includes a third diameter portion, a tapered portion, and a fourth diameter portion. The tapered portion is positioned between the third diameter portion and the fourth diameter portion. The third diameter portion of the pin is sized to be received within the opening of the blind bore and the fourth diameter portion of the pin being sized to be received within the closed end of the blind bore.
In accordance with another example, each anchor includes a generally omega-shaped anchor.
In accordance with another example, each of the anchors includes a central portion and when the radial end surfaces of two of the ring segments abut one, the central portion of the anchor carried by a first one of the ring segments is positioned within the recess of a second one of the ring segments.
In accordance with another example, each of the recesses has a semi-cylindrical shape.
In accordance with another example, each anchor includes a central portion and a pair of legs. The central portion defines an elongated bore and the pair of legs extends from opposite sides of the central portion. Each leg extends in a direction generally transverse to the elongated bore and has a proximal end attached to the central portion and a free distal portion disposed away from the central portion.
In accordance with another example, when the radial end surfaces of the ring segments are adjacent one another and the ring segments are coupled together, the anchor of one of the ring segments is positioned in the recess of another one of the ring segments.
In accordance with another example, fixing the anchor to the tool includes positioning the central portion of the anchor within an aperture of the tool and clamping the central portion within the aperture.
In accordance with another example, fixing the anchor to the tool includes positioning breakaway segments extending from a flange of the anchor within a space defined by the tool.
Although the following text discloses a detailed description of example methods, apparatus and/or articles of manufacture, it should be understood that the legal scope of the property right is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. Accordingly, the following detailed description is to be construed as examples only and does not describe every possible example, as describing every possible example would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative examples could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent. It is envisioned that such alternative examples would still fall within the scope of the claims.
The examples disclosed herein relate to couplings for joining segments together. The segments can be ring segments, tunnel segments, building segments, etc. The couplings provide a hinge-like structure and are relatively easy to align when coupling the segments together. As a result, the segments can be assembled in less time with less man power as compared to conventional methods. Additionally, the couplings provide a relatively high pull-out resistance and a relatively high shear resistance. Having a higher pull-out resistance and/or a higher shear resistance may be advantageous when the couplings are used in environments in which the internal pressure of the structure (e.g., the tunnel) formed by the segments is higher than the external pressure of the structure and/or when the environment poses seismic-event risks.
Referring now to the common ring segments 102 and the key ring segment 104, in the example shown, the common ring segments 102 are similar or the same to one another and the key ring segment 104 has a shorter radial dimension than the common ring segments 102. Where the radial end surfaces 110 of the common ring segments 102 and the key ring segment 104 abut, radial joints 113 are formed. In the example shown, the radial joints 113 are defined along or are otherwise associated with a radial vector 114 of the ring 100. Alternatively, the radial joints 113 between the common ring segments 102 and the key ring segment 104 may be defined at an angle different than an angle defined at the radial joints 113 between the radial end surfaces 110 of two adjacent common ring segments 102.
In the example shown, the segments 102, 104 are coupled together at the radial end surfaces 110, 112 via a plurality of radial couplings 116. Two radial couplings 116 couple the ring segments 102, 104 together at the radial joints 113. However, in other versions, a different number of the radial couplings 116 may be included instead. For example, each of the radial joints 113 may include one, three, four, five, etc., radial couplings 116.
Referring back to
Referring back to the radial end surfaces 110, in the example shown in
In the example shown and with specific reference to
The anchors 120 include the central portion 124 and the pair of legs 128 (the legs 128 are most clearly shown in
Referring back to
The lateral ribs 138 extend between sides 140, 142 of the legs 128. The lateral ribs 138 also extend between the longitudinal ribs 136. While three longitudinal ribs 136 and five lateral ribs 138 are included in the anchors 120 illustrated (see,
A first portion 143 of the central portion 124 includes a flange 144 (the flange is most clearly shown in
Referring back to the anchor 120, a second portion 148 of the central portion 124 of the anchor 120 extends from the ring segments 102. A plane defined by and/or between the radial end surfaces 110 bisects the first and second portions 143, 148 of the anchor 120. Thus, in the example shown, approximately half of the central portion 124 is within a dimensional envelope of the ring segment 102 and approximately half of the central portion 124 extends out of the dimensional envelope of the ring segment 102. Positioning the second portion 148 to extend from the ring segments 102 allows the second portion 148 of the anchor 120 to be received within the recess 130 of the adjacent ring segments 102 during the coupling process. As a result, when the radial end surfaces 110 are adjacent one another and the ring segments 102 are coupled as shown in
Referring back to
In the example shown, the pin 122 has a central portion 152, a plurality of tapered portions 153 and a plurality of distal portions 154. The tapered portions 153 are positioned between the central portion 124 and the associated distal portions 154. The central portion 124 has a larger diameter than the distal portions 154 and the distal portions 154 have rounded ends and/or edges. The pin 122 is sized to be received within a plurality of diameter portions 156, 158 of the bores 126 of the anchor 120 (the diameter portions 156, 158 of the bore 126 are most clearly shown in
Referring to the anchors 120 shown in
In the example shown, an interior surface 170 that defines the bore 126 of the anchor 120 is tapered. The interior surface 170 may be engaged by the pin 122 to guide the distal portion 154 of the pin 122 within the second diameter portion 158. A seal formed between the pin 122 and the interior surface 170 deters the ingress of fluid (e.g., water) within the coupling and/or the anchor 120 that may cause damage (e.g., erosion, etc.).
To actuate the lever assembly 1910, the handle 194 is moved in a direction generally indicated by arrow 208, causing the handle 194 to pivot relative to the rod 200 and the link 196 and for the rod 200 and the engagement surface 202 to move in a direction generally indicated by arrow 210. As shown, the lever assembly 190 is in an open position and the anchor 120 is spaced from a front edge/surface 212 of the base 188 that defines the aperture 192. In the open position of the lever assembly 190, the engagement surface 202 of the lever assembly 190 is spaced from the anchor 120.
While the couplings of the present disclosure have thus far been described as “radial” couplings used in connection with coupling radial end faces of ring segments for use in tunnel building applications, in other versions, the same couplings could be used to couple other prefabricated or pre-cast building materials. For example, the couplings could be used to couple adjacently positioned side faces of vertically arranged pre-cast concrete wall sections for retaining walls or building foundations, or side faces of horizontally arranged pre-cast concrete slabs for floor or road construction, for example. Other applications are possible.
Further, while several examples have been disclosed herein, any features from any examples may be combined with or replaced by other features from other examples. Moreover, while several examples have been disclosed herein, changes may be made to the disclosed examples without departing from the scope of the claims.
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