The present disclosure relates generally to post-tension anchorage systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to anchors used in a post-tension anchorage system.
Many structures are built using concrete, including, for instance, buildings, parking structures, apartments, condominiums, hotels, mixed-use structures, casinos, hospitals, medical buildings, government buildings, research/academic institutions, industrial buildings, malls, bridges, pavement, tanks, reservoirs, silos, foundations, sports courts, and other structures.
Prestressed concrete is structural concrete in which internal stresses are introduced to reduce potential tensile stresses in the concrete resulting from applied loads; prestressing may be accomplished by post-tensioned prestressing or pre-tensioned prestressing. In post-tensioned prestressing, a tension member is tensioned after the concrete has attained a specified strength by use of a post-tensioning tendon. The post-tensioning tendon may include for example and without limitation, anchorages, the tension member, and sheathes or ducts. Traditionally, a tension member is constructed of a suitable material exhibiting tensile strength which can be elongated including, for example, reinforcing steel, single or multi-strand cable. Typically, the tension member may be formed from a metal or composite material. The post-tensioning tendon generally includes an anchorage at each end. The cable is fixedly coupled to a fixed anchorage positioned at one end of the post-tensioning tendon, the so-called “fixed-end”, and stressed at the other anchor, the “stressing-end” of the post-tensioning tendon.
The concrete may be poured into a concrete form. The concrete form may be a form or mold into which concrete is poured or otherwise introduced to give shape to the concrete as it sets or hardens thus forming the concrete member.
The present disclosure provides for an encapsulated anchor. The encapsulated anchor may include an anchor core including one or more detents formed thereon. The encapsulated anchor may include an encapsulation, the encapsulating molded onto the anchor core.
The present disclosure also provides for a system for forming an encapsulated anchor for a post-tensioned concrete member. The system for forming an encapsulated anchor may include a first and second mold portion. The first and second mold portion each may have a mold portion surface corresponding to a portion of the outer surface of an encapsulated anchor wherein the first mold portion includes one or more keys. The system for forming an encapsulated anchor may include an anchor core which is to be encapsulated, the anchor core having a detent positioned to correspond and mate with one or more of the keys.
The present disclosure also provides for a method for forming an encapsulated anchor. The method may include providing an anchor core, the anchor core including one or more detents formed thereon. The method may include positioning the anchor core within an encapsulating mold. The encapsulating mold may include a first and second mold portion. The first and second mold portion each may have a mold portion surface corresponding to a portion of the outer surface of the encapsulated anchor wherein the first mold portion includes one or more keys corresponding with one or more of the detents of the anchor core. The method may include engaging one or more of the keys with one or more of the detents of the anchor core. The method may include closing the encapsulating mold. The method may include pouring polymer into the encapsulating mold about the anchor core. The method may include forming an encapsulated anchor.
The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
In some embodiments, as depicted in
In some embodiments, as depicted in
In some embodiments, one or both of first mold portion 141 and second mold portion 143 may include one or more keys 147 positioned to correspond with one or more detents 105 of anchor core 101. Anchor core 101 may be inserted into encapsulating mold 140 such that one or more detents 105 align with one or more keys 147. Detents 105 and keys 147 may, for example and without limitation, retain anchor core 101 in proper orientation within encapsulating mold 140 as encapsulation 103 is placed into encapsulating mold 140 around anchor core 101. Retaining anchor core 101 in proper orientation may, for example and without limitation, reduce the possibility of misalignment between anchor core 101 and encapsulating mold 140 and therefore misalignment between anchor core 101 and encapsulation 103. In addition, detents 105 and keys 147 may, for example and without limitation, restrict anchor core 101 from rotating or otherwise moving within encapsulating mold 140 as encapsulation 103 is formed, such as when the polymer is poured or injected into encapsulating mold 140, thereby potentially misaligning anchor core 101 and encapsulation 103. In light of such restriction of rotation, in some embodiments, key 147 and detent 105 are referred to as an “indexing key” and an “indexing detent.” Misalignment between anchor core 101 and encapsulation 103 may, result in problems during use of encapsulated anchor 100, including exposure of anchor core 101 to the surrounding environment, weakening of encapsulation 103, or misalignment between certain features of anchor core 101 and encapsulation 103 such as positioning of holes 113.
In some embodiments, keys 147 may correspond to and mate with the arrangement and shape of detents 105 when anchor core 101 is positioned within encapsulating mold 140. For example, where detents 105 are grooves, keys 147 may be corresponding bosses or ribs as depicted in
To encapsulate anchor core 101, anchor core 101 may be positioned within encapsulating mold 140 such that one or more detents 105 engage with one or more keys 147 of encapsulating mold 140. Encapsulating mold 140 may be closed, such as, for example and without limitation, by moving first mold portion 141 and second mold portion 143 into contact about anchor core 101. Polymer may be poured into encapsulating mold 140 about anchor core 101 and allowed to harden. Encapsulating mold 140 may be opened, releasing encapsulated anchor 100 therefrom.
Although described herein such that detents 105 are formed in anchor core 101 and keys 147 are formed in encapsulating mold 140, detents 105 may be formed on encapsulating mold 140 and keys 147 formed on anchor core 101 without deviating from the scope of this disclosure.
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that a person of ordinary skill in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Such features may be replaced by any one of numerous equivalent alternatives, only some of which are disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
This application is a nonprovisional application that claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 62/334,241, filed May 10, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62334241 | May 2016 | US |