Method of forming corrosion protection double coatings on prestressing strand and prestressing strand produced by the method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a method of forming synthetic resin powder paint coating on a prestressing strand used as tensioning members for post-tensioning system or pre-tensioning system of a prestressed concrete structure in a building structure or a civil engineering structure, i.e., a method of forming corrosion protection coating. In particular, it relates to a method of forming double coatings only on a surface layer part in case there is a fear of a damage of corrosion protection coating on a prestressing strand in a special structure, and a prestressing strand obtained by this method.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] Generally, the prestressing strand has a structure in which fine surrounding wires are twisted around a core wire. This is for giving flexibility to the prestressing strand, and for obtaining adhesion strength to a concrete by means of helical groove parts formed by twisting the surrounding wires. Accordingly, also as a method of forming corrosion protection coating on the prestressing strand, there is desired a method which does not hinder the above properties. At present, several methods have become publicly known or well known as the method of forming corrosion protection coating on the prestressing strand.

[0005] As a 1st prior art according to the publicly known or well-known one, there is a prestressing strand whose sectional shape is shown in FIG. 10. A method of forming corrosion protection coating for this prestressing strand is one in which first the prestressing strand is heated, surrounding wires 1b are temporarily untwisted from the circumference of a core wire 1a by a strand opener, the surrounding wires 1b untwisted are constituted to an original twisted state again in a place where untwisted portions of the surrounding wires 1b enter into an electrostatic powder painting machine by 15 inches to 18 inches, a resin 50 during melting and adhering to (during gel time) the core wire 1a and the surrounding wires 1b is moved (flowed) to and filled in void portions between the core wire 1a and the surrounding wires 1b by twisting stresses of the surrounding wires 1b, and additionally, in order to prevent pinholes generated in the helical groove parts formed by twisting the surrounding wires 1b, a thick coating 51 (500-600 μm) is formed to make inner and outer parts monolithic, thereby obtaining a composite body (US-A-5208077).

[0006] Further, as a 2nd prior art according to the publicly known or well-known one, there is a prestressing strand whose sectional shape is shown in FIG. 11. The method of forming corrosion protection coating for this prestressing strand is one in which, after a surface preparation, the surrounding wires 1b of the prestressing strand are temporarily untwisted in order from the circumference of the core wire 1a by a loosening-and-untwisting device, the surrounding wires 1b are kept apart from the core steel wire 1a in a spacing necessary for a next process by a wire expander, the core wire 1a passes through a core-length adjusting device, and a synthetic resin powder paint is individually sprayed to the whole outer peripheral face of each of the core wire 1a and the surrounding wires 1b by an electrostatic painting method and adhered by an electrostatic repulsive force, thereby forming a resin coating 52. It is a method of forming corrosion protection coating in which the powder paint adhered by the electrostatic repulsive force is heated and molten, forms the individual resin coating 52 by cooling after elapses of the gel time and a curing and standing time, and thereafter the untwisted surrounding wires 1b are twisted with respect to the core wire 1a to the original state by a tightening device (US-A-5362326).

[0007] In the prestressing strand formed in this manner, since the coating is individually formed one by one over the whole outer peripheral face of each of the core wire 1a and the surrounding wires 1b differently from the 1st prior art, the properties, such as the flexibility and the adhesion strength to the concrete, demanded as the prestressing strand are not hindered at all and, moreover, a corrosion protection function is sufficient, so that it is evaluated that this corrosion protection method is an ultimate corrosion protection method for the prestressing strand.

[0008] Further, the prestressing strand in which the individual corrosion protection coating is formed on the whole outer peripheral face of each of the core wire 1a and the surrounding wires 1b by the corrosion protection method according to the 2nd prior art is excellent also in its tensile strength, and this excellent property conspicuously appears especially in a case where a stress amplitude is large. One example of test results when it is subjected to tensile fatigue tests under the same conditions as a usual prestressing strand before the corrosion protection working was as shown below.

1TABLE 1Tensile fatigue test results (specification value 2 × 106 times)UpperLower limitlimitstressTest resultsstress(Pu × 0.45 −StressPressure(Pu × 0.45)25)amplitudeFinalNumber ofbondingKind ofσ maxσ minΔσnumber ofrupturedgripprestressingKgf/mm2Kgf/mm2Kgf/mm2repetitionsstrand(s)deformationstrand(tf)(tf)(tf)NPiece(s)ExistencePrestressing186(12)61(8.5)25(8.5)21.0 × 1042nonestrand before286(12)61(8.5)25(8.5)28.3 × 1041nonecorrosion386(12)61(8.5)25(8.5)36.6 × 1043noneprotectiontreatment(15.2 mm)Method of186(12)61(8.5)25(8.5) 400 × 104no rupturenoneUS-A-5362326286(12)61(8.5)25(8.5) 400 × 104no rupturenone(15.2 mm)386(12)61(8.5)25(8.5) 400 × 104no rupturenone

[0009] As apparent from the above test results (Table 1), it is understood that, among the general prestressing strand to which no corrosion protection treatment is applied and the prestressing strand which is described in US-A-5362326 in which the individual corrosion protection coating is formed on the whole outer peripheral face of each of the core wire and the surrounding wires, one in which the corrosion protection coating is formed is remarkably improved with respect to its tensile strength.

[0010] As a main factor of this, the fact is recognized that, by forming the individual coating on the whole outer peripheral face of each of the core wire and the surrounding wires, a portion where a metal-to-metal contact occurs is completely nullified, so that it becomes possible to prevent from occurring fretting corrosion, contact corrosion and the like. Such a corrosion protection method is verifying the fact that not only a corrosion protection function but also the tensile strength are remarkably improved. Accordingly, in this prestressing strand, in the case where the individual coating is formed on the whole outer peripheral face of each of the core wire and the surrounding wires, it is desirable that a thickness of the coating of each of the core wire and the surrounding wires is made about 250 μm of a range in which a helical constitution of the twisted surrounding wires is stably held and a twisted state is sufficiently maintained.

[0011] As a regulation of the thickness of this kind of coating, in the industry it is made as follows in outline. Namely, according to many research results, it is reported that, in order to satisfy a corrosion resistance performance and dynamic performances (impact resistance, bending property, and adhesion ability to concrete), the coating thickness of 200±50 μm is adequate if a powder type epoxy resin painting is adopted. Further, also in experimental results of FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) in U.S.A., it is reported that a range of 170±50 μm is desirable.

[0012] Additionally, an article to be painted in the coating thickness under this regulation is “Steel Bar for Ferroconcrete under JIS G 3112 (Japanese Industrial Standards)” (deformed steel bar), and is one completely different from a round steel bar. And, it is one having protrusions (ribs) on its surface in an axial direction, and having protrusions (nodes) also in a direction other than the axial direction, so that the above regulation of the coating thickness is determined by sufficiently considering the fact that the article to be coated has a structure in which, in the protrusion portions, there are many corner places where the powder paint is difficult to adhere.

[0013] Accordingly, in a case of a simple round steel bar shape like the core wire and the surrounding wires in the prestressing strand, since the powder paint evenly adheres to its outer peripheral face, it is needless to say that there is no problem so long as the coating thickness is 200±50 μm.

[0014] Additionally, as a 3rd prior art according to the publicly known or well-known one, there is a prestressing strand whose sectional shape is shown in FIG. 12. This prestressing strand is made for a case where there is a fear that the corrosion protection coating is damaged by a special structure and thus a maximum coating thickness of 250 μm or more by which the coating can be stably held is demanded, and a double coating corrosion protection working is performed, with respect to the prestressing strand of the 2nd prior art, by additionally forming a thick resin coating 53 on its outer peripheral face (JP-A-11-200267) In the 1st prior art, since it is the prestressing strand made monolithic in which the resin powder is moved (flowed) to and filled in the void portions between the core wire and the surrounding wires by the stresses twisting the surrounding wires during the resin powder is molten and adhered to (during gel time) the core wire and the surrounding wires and the thick coating is formed also in the surface layer part, the flexibility demanded to the prestressing strand cannot be expected at all. Further, since not only it is impossible to expect an improvement in the tensile strength but also the helical groove part due to twisting the surrounding wires becomes shallow, there arises a problem that the adhesion strength to the concrete is reduced.

[0015] Additionally, this prestressing strand is one in which the resin is filled in the internal spaces. However, it has a structure in which basis surfaces still contact each other in contact portions between the core wire and the surrounding wires and between the mutual surrounding wires, so that no corrosion protection coatings are formed between the core wire and the surrounding wires and between the mutual surrounding wires, and thus it cannot say that a problem of so-called internal corrosion is solved.

[0016] Further, in the 2nd prior art, it is a structure in which the individual resin coating is formed in each of the core wire and the surrounding wires of the prestressing strand. It is possible to expect improvements in the flexibility and the tensile strength demanded to the prestressing strand. However, in its corrosion protection coating formation process, the surrounding wires are twisted with respect to the core wire to the original state after the individual resin coating has been formed on each of the core wire and the surrounding wires, and the thickness of the resin coating individually formed is about 250 μm and thus it cannot be made so thickly, there is a problem that it cannot be used in such a situation or place that there is the fear that the corrosion protection coating is damaged by the special structure and thus a thick coating is demanded in order to prevent an exposure of the basis surface by the damage of the coating.

[0017] Additionally, in the 3rd prior art, the thick coating is formed in the outer peripheral face of the prestressing strand by applying the double coating corrosion protection working. However, it has problems that the flexibility demanded to the prestressing strand is hindered by the thick coating formed in the outer peripheral face and not only the tensile strength is hindered to no small extent but also the adhesion strength to the concrete is reduced because the helical groove parts in the outer peripheral face become shallow.

[0018] Accordingly, in the prior arts, there are such problems to be solved that the improvement in the tensile strength should be intended so as not to impair the flexibility and the adhesion strength to the concrete demanded to the prestressing strand, and that the thick coating should be formed in the surface layer part (outer peripheral face) in order to prevent the exposure of the basis surface by the damage of the coating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] As a concrete means solving the above problems of the prior arts, the invention provides a method of forming corrosion protection double coatings on a prestressing strand which comprises: a pre-treatment process of untwisting the prestressing strand and thereby loosening surrounding wires from a core wire and performing a surface preparation of those wires; a primary painting process of tightening and retwisting the surrounding wires about the core wire, applying a synthetic resin powder paint to surface layer parts except helical groove parts due to the retwisting, heating the paint to adhere, and cooling, thereby forming a resin coating only in the surface layer; a secondary painting process of loosening the surrounding wires of the prestressing strand from the core wire, keeping the core wire and the surrounding wire under a loosened state via a core wire adjusting means, applying the synthetic resin powder paint to an outer peripheral face of each of the core wire and the surrounding wire, heating the paint to adhere evenly, and cooling, thereby forming a respectively individual state resin coating whose one part having double coatings in the surrounding wire; and a finishing process of tightening and retwisting the surrounding wires about the core wire to an original state such that each of the double coating portions is located in the surface layer of the prestressing strand.

[0020] The method may include a further process of removing an excessive resin coating formed in the helical groove part after the primary painting process.

[0021] The core wire adjusting means always automatically accumulates and adjusts the core wire becoming excessive during the finishing process after the individual state resin coating has been formed in the core wire and the surrounding wire by the secondary painting process, and gives a constant tension to the core wire during the surrounding wires are retwisted.

[0022] Further, the invention provides a prestressing strand in which a respectively individual state resin coating is formed in an outer peripheral face of each of a core wire and surrounding wires of the prestressing strand and which is formed by twisting the surrounding wires about the core wire, wherein each of the surrounding wires has double coatings only in a surface layer part under a twisted state. This prestressing strand is resulted one produced by using the above method of the invention.

[0023] The surrounding wires in the prestressing strand as a finished product has enough flexibility allowing to untwist the surrounding wires with respect to the core wire and additionally allowing the untwisted surrounding wires to be retwisted to the original twisted state again.

[0024] In the invention, after the resin coating has been formed in the surface layer part except the helical groove part of the prestressing strand in the primary painting process, by loosening and untwisting the surrounding wires from the core wire and forming the individual resin coating in the whole outer peripheral face of each of both the wires, in the surrounding wire the double coatings are formed in its one part, and the double coatings are located in the surface layer part of the finished prestressing strand by retwisting the surrounding wires about the core wire to the original state, so that the surface layer part, of each surrounding wire, except the helical groove parts of the prestressing strand is necessarily coated by the thick resin coating.

[0025] And, also when retwisting the surrounding wires to the original state, the resin coatings formed in the outer surface of the core wire and the surrounding wire contacting with the core wire and facing inside are respectively a single coating and one not hindering the retwisting, so that the surrounding wires can be retwisted to the original state rapidly and under a stable state by a twisted habit remaining in the surrounding wire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026]
FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a working line performing a method according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0027]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a prestressing strand worked by the embodiment;

[0028]
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a loosening device (tightening device) used in the embodiment;

[0029]
FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing a wire expander used in the embodiment;

[0030]
FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing a rotary drawing die of one example used in the embodiment;

[0031]
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the prestressing strand after a primary painting process in the embodiment;

[0032]
FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing a core wire adjusting means of one example used in the embodiment;

[0033]
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the prestressing strand after a secondary painting process in the embodiment;

[0034]
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the prestressing strand in which surrounding wires have been retwisted about a core wire to an original state after the secondary painting process;

[0035]
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a prestressing strand in a first prior art;

[0036]
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a prestressing strand in a second prior art; and

[0037]
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a prestressing strand in a third prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0038] Next, the invention is explained in detail on the basis of an embodiment shown in the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a working line for performing a method of forming corrosion protection double coatings on prestressing strand according to the invention.

[0039] And, as shown in FIG. 2, a prestressing strand 1 of one example used in the invention is a prestressing strand of so-called seven-pieces strand in which the core wire 1a exists in a center and six surrounding wires 1b are twisted around the outer periphery of the core wire.

[0040] Generally, as to the prestressing strand 1 of this kind, long one is wound in a coil state, and a corrosion protection coating formation is performed by setting the coiled prestressing strand 1 to a starting end side of the working line under the coil state intact. In this case, the prestressing strand 1 is supplied to the working line by uncoiling successively from its top side front end, passed through a primary painting process (only a surface layer part) and a secondary painting process (whole outer peripheral face of each of the core wire and the surrounding wires) and, in a terminating end part of the working line, successively rewound to the coil state from the top side front end after the working.

[0041] In an outline of processes of the working line according to the invention, there is provided an uncoiler (stand) 2 to which the prestressing strand 1 is set, and the prestressing strand 1 set to the uncoiler 2 is successively sent out toward a next process for the corrosion protection coating formation-working. Namely, after it is passed through a pre-treatment process A (including a shot blast 5), a primary painting process B (including a pre-heating device 7a, a powder painting device 8a, a post-heating device 7b and a cooling device 10a), a core wire adjusting means 9 and a secondary painting process C (including a pre-heating device 7c, a powder painting device 8b, a post-heating device 7d and a cooling device 10b), and thus returned to its original twisted wires state again, the prestressing strand having been painted is rewound like a coil in a terminating end part side of the working line. Hereunder, it is explained about each process.

[0042] First, on starting a continuous operation, as a preparation work by using a dummy prestressing strand, it is inserted by a manual work from the starting end to the terminating end of the working line while being previously made a state complying with a category or practice in each process. In this case, in each process, the surrounding wires 1b are loosened (untwisted and opened) from the core wire 1a of the prestressing strand 1, the loosened surrounding wires 1b are maintained in a separated state, and additionally the surrounding wires 1b are tightened (helically wound) with respect to the core wire 1a to the original state. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, there are used therefore a loosening device 3a, a wire expander 4a and a tightening device 6a, each of which performs each of the above operations. Incidentally, since the loosening device 3a and the tightening device 6a are substantially the same constitution except only a difference in their attaching directions, a concrete constitution is shown in the drawing only about one of them, and a depiction by the drawing is omitted about the other.

[0043]
FIG. 3 shows the loosening device 3a (corresponding also to the tightening device 6a). In the loosening device 3a, a rotary ring 18 is rotatably disposed through bearings 17. The rotary ring 18 is provided in its center part with a core wire passing hole 19 through which the core wire 1a of the prestressing strand 1 is inserted, and provided with six surrounding wire passing holes 20 through which the surrounding wires 1b are inserted radially with a desired spacing from the core wire passing hole 19.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 4, the wire expander 4a is approximately the same constitution as the loosening device 3a, and it works for maintaining a separation state of the loosened prestressing strand 1. A rotary ring 28 is rotatably disposed through bearings 27. The rotary ring 28 is provided in its center part with a core wire passing hole 29 through which the core wire 1a of the prestressing strand 1 is inserted, and provided with six surrounding wire passing holes 30 through which the surrounding wires 1b are inserted radially with a desired spacing from the core wire passing hole 29. The point different from the loosening device 3a is that a space between the core wire passing hole 29 and the surrounding wire passing hole 30 is wider, and a size of each hole is approximately the same.

[0045] And, in the dummy prestressing strand inserted from the starting end to the terminating end of the working line, when passed through the shot blast device 5, the untwisted surrounding wire 1b is inserted through the surrounding wire passing hole 20 of the loosing device 3a before and after the shot blast device and the core wire 1a is inserted through the core wire passing hole 19. The inserted surrounding wire 1b and core wire 1a are respectively inserted through the surrounding wire passing hole 30 and the core wire passing hole 29 of the wire expander 4a, passed through an inside of the shot blast device 5 while being kept in the separated state intact, next respectively inserted through the surrounding wire passing hole 30 and the core wire passing hole 29 of another wire expander 4b and, after having been additionally inserted through the surrounding wire passing hole 20 and the core wire passing hole 19 of the tightening device 6a, retwisted to the original state when drawn out by a predetermined length (about 500 mm). This twisted state is maintained until after passing through a portion of the primary painting process B.

[0046] After having been passed through the primary painting process B, the dummy prestressing strand is untwisted again just before the core wire adjusting means 9. The untwisted surrounding wire 1b is inserted through the surrounding wire passing hole 20 of a loosening device 3b, and the core wire 1a is inserted through the core wire passing hole 19. The inserted surrounding wire 1b and core wire 1a are respectively inserted through the surrounding wire passing hole 30 and the core wire passing hole 29 of a wire expander 4c, and an adjustment of the core wire 1a is performed by the core wire adjusting means 9. Next, they are passed through the secondary painting process C while keeping a state that the surrounding wire 1b is separated from the core wire 1a intact by a wire expander 4d. After having been passed through the secondary painting process C, they are respectively inserted through the surrounding wire passing hole 30 and the core wire passing hole 29 of a wire expander 4e and, after having been additionally inserted through the surrounding wire passing hole 20 and the core wire passing hole 19 of a tightening device 6b, retwisted to the original state, and it is passed through a coating thickness measuring device 13, a pinhole detecting device 14 and a pulling device 15, and wound by a coiler 16.

[0047] With respect to the dummy prestressing strand having been inserted from the starting end to the terminating end of the working line in this manner, a top side front end of the prestressing strand 1 set to the uncoiler 2 is untwisted by the manual work, and continuously connected by butt welding to the dummy prestressing strand having been previously inserted. In this case, as to the mutual core wires 1a and the mutual surrounding wires 1b, end parts are respectively welded while being made a butt state. Especially, the surrounding wires 1b are welded while being butted under a state of mutually aligned in position such that their “listed habits” with respect to the core wire 1a approximately coincide. And, after the above-mentioned preparation work has been finished, the continuous operation is started.

[0048] First, by continuously operating the working line, the dummy prestressing strand is drawn out to a terminating end side by the pulling device 15 and the coiler 16 in the terminating end side and, with this, the prestressing strand 1 set to the uncoiler 2 is successively drawn out. And, the surrounding wire 1b and the core wire 1a which have been untwisted and separated by the loosening device 3a and the wire expanders 4a, 4b are passed through the inside of the shot blast device 5 in the pre-treatment process A with their separated states being kept intact.

[0049] In this case, the uncoiler 2 accommodates therein a powder brake in order to give a constant tension between it and the pulling device 15 in the terminating end side, and is made into a structure in which a speed drawing out the prestressing strand 1 set to the uncoiler 2 is adjusted by a brake resistance, thereby giving a necessary tension.

[0050] In the shot blast device 5 of the pre-treatment process A, the separated prestressing strand 1 is transferred while being rotated coinciding with a twisting pitch number of the surrounding wire 1b. Abrasive materials (steel balls of about 0.3 mmφ) are projected on the whole outer peripheral faces of the core wire 1a and the surrounding wire 1b, which are under the separation state in the shot blast device 5, by blades (vanes) rotating at high speed to thereby remove foreign matters, such as oil and rust, adhered to the outer peripheral face of each of the core wire 1a and the surrounding wire 1b, and perform the surface preparation, e.g., formation of a satin-like basis material state, of the whole outer peripheral faces, thereby improving an anchor effect (adhesion ability) to the painted film (coating) in the painting process in a next process.

[0051] After finishing the pre-treatment process A, the surrounding wire 1b separated by being untwisted is retwisted about the core wire 1a to the original state by the tightening device 6a, and the prestressing strand 1 thus retwisted is supplied to the primary painting process B as it is. In the primary painting process B, the prestressing strand 1 is heated by the preheating device 7a, and a resin coating 26 of a desired thickness is formed only in a surface layer part except helical groove parts by the powder painting device 8a. Although the resin coating 26 becomes a molten state by the pre-heating, it is made approximately even and smooth as a whole by additionally heating with the post-heating device 7b, and sufficiently cooled by the cooling device 10a after a gelling time of the resin and a standing time required for curing have elapsed, thereby increasing a surface hardness of the resin coating 26. The surface layer part in this case means an arc-like face in section located outside the surrounding wire 1b helically twisted with respect to the core wire 1a. Further, the helical groove part means a vicinity of a place where the twisted surrounding wires 1b mutually contact.

[0052] As to the heating devices 7a, 7b, it is desirable to adopt a high frequency induction heating system by which a temperature adjustment is easy. Further, there is a case where the resin coating 26 can be formed approximately evenly and smoothly by either of the pre-heating or the post-heating in dependence on a kind of the resin, a size of the prestressing strand (thickness of the wire) and the like, so that one heating may suffice in such a case. Additionally, as to the powder painting method, although it may be a gun spray method or a fluidization dip method, in short it is desirable to use an electrostatic powder painting method. This is because there can be applied in a maximum extent such a peculiar phenomenon inherently possessed by the powder painting that the powder paint partides are difficult to enter into a place like the groove shape part. And, the paint is suppressed from entering into the helical groove parts by a heating method, a kind, number and disposing position of the electrostatic gun, additionally an air state, a mixing ratio and supplying method of the powder paint, and the like, so that the coating can be formed only in the so-called surface layer parts by adapting such that the coating is not formed in the helical groove part.

[0053] In the primary painting process B, a thickness of the resin coating 26 formed only in the surface layer part excepting the helical groove part is in a range of about 150-200 μm. In a case where one part of the resin coating 26 is formed in a bottom part side of the helical groove part, i.e., formed excessively to a vicinity of a place where the surrounding wires 1b contact mutually, the excessive resin coating formed in that place is removed before being hardened. In this case, one part of the resin coating 26, i.e., the excessive resin coating formed in the bottom part side of the helical groove part, is removed by passing the prestressing strand 1 through means removing the excessive resin coating, e.g., a desired rotary drawing die 40, just after passing through, for example, the powder painting device 8a or just after passing through the post-heating device 7b.

[0054] As the removing means, i.e., the rotary drawing die 40, in this case, one shown in FIG. 5 is used for instance. In the drawing die 40, a freely rotatable ring 42 is disposed through bearings 41. Blade parts 43a, 43b extending toward a center from the ring 42 and respectively having a shape fitting to each helical groove part of the prestressing strand 1 are protrusively formed in pair inside the ring 42. It suffices if one part of the resin coating formed in each helical groove part, i.e., the coating formed in the bottom part side, is shaved off by the blade parts 43a, 43b. In short, the prestressing strand 1 in which the resin coating 26 is formed only in the surface layer part excepting the helical groove part becomes a sectional shape shown in FIG. 6.

[0055] And, before being supplied to the secondary painting process C, it is passed through the core wire adjusting means 9 shown in FIG. 7. Namely, in the prestressing strand 1, the surrounding wire 1b is successively temporarily untwisted from the circumference of the core wire 1a by the loosening device 3b. The untwisted surrounding wires 1b are separated in a necessary spacing by the wire expander 4c and outer rings 21 of the core wire adjusting means 9, and reach the wire expander 4d while freely rotating correspondingly to a surrounding wire twisting pitch number of the prestressing strand 1. The core wire 1a is passed through the central core wire passing hole 29 in the wire expander 4c, U-turned around a fixed pulley 25 of the core wire adjusting means 9, U-turned around a movable pulley 24 again, and reaches the wire expander 4d.

[0056] An operation distance of the movable pulley 24 or a groove number of the pulley is determined in compliance with an excessive core wire length to be accumulated and absorbed. For example, if the groove number for every pulley is made two, an excessive core wire accumulation absorption amount becomes twice. Since the movable pulley 24 is always pulled under a constant tension to the wire expander 4c side by tension adjusting springs 22, it automatically accumulates and absorbs the core wire 1a becoming excessive during the surrounding wire 1b is retwisted to the original state by the tightening device 6b. Further, the fixed pulley 25 and the movable pulley 24 are adapted so as to be freely rotatable without being given a driving force. However, the core wire adjusting means of the invention is not limited to the pulley system.

[0057] The surrounding wires 1b having passed through the core wire adjusting means 9 are separated in the necessary spacing by the wire expanders 4d, 4e. The core wire 1a is supplied to the secondary painting process C while maintaining the separated state and rotating in the surrounding wire twisting pitch number via the central core wire passing holes 29 in the wire expanders 4d, 4e. In the secondary painting process C, the heating is applied by the preheating device 7c, and a resin coating 31 is formed over the whole outer peripheral face of each of the core wire 1a and the surrounding wires 1b under an independent state by the powder painting device 8b. Although the resin coating 31 becomes the molten state by the pre-heating, it is made approximately even and smooth as a whole by additionally heating by the post-heating device 7d and, as shown in FIG. 8, the resin coating 31 is formed under a state wholly enclosing the resin coating 26 formed in the primary painting process B, and sufficiently cooled by the cooling device 10b after the gelling time of the resin and the standing time required for curing have elapsed, thereby increasing the surface hardness of the resin coating 31.

[0058] In this manner, by forming the resin coating 31 in the secondary painting process C on the resin coating 26 formed in the primary painting process B and a gelation by the heating, double-bond coating is formed. Incidentally, as to the heating device, it is desirable to adopt the high frequency induction heating system by which the temperature adjustment is easy. Further, there is a case where only either heating of the pre-heating or the post-heating may suffice in dependence on the kind and mixing ratio of the resin, the size of the prestressing strand and the like.

[0059] A thickness of the resin coating 31 formed in the secondary painting process C is about 250±50 μm. After the resin coating 31 has been formed in the secondary painting process C, the surrounding wire 1b is retwisted about the core wire 1a to the original state by the tightening device 6b. In this case, the surrounding wire 1b can be rapidly twisted to the original state because the twisted habit remains as it is. A sectional shape of the prestressing strand 1 having been retwisted to the original state is as shown in FIG. 9. The double coatings are located only in the so-called surface layer part protruding outside, except portions corresponding to the helical groove parts of the prestressing strand 1.

[0060] In this case, since the coating thickness of the primary painting is in a range of about 150±50 μm and that of the secondary painting is about 250±50 μm, a thickness of the double-bond coating becomes a range of about 400±100 μm. However, since a thickness of the coating formed on the core wire 1a located inside and a thickness of the coating at a twisted portion of the surrounding wire 1b contacting with the core wire 1a are respectively in the range of 250±50 μm. Since the double coatings are located in an outside deviated from the contacting face due to the twisting, the surrounding wire 1b has a coating thickness by which it can be rapidly and stably retwisted about the core wire 1a under the same pitch.

[0061] As to the prestressing strand after the primary and secondary painting coatings have been formed, its surface film thickness is measured by the coating thickness measuring device 13 as a coating test device. If the film thickness is outside a set allowable value, an alarm for notifying this fact is emitted, and there is emitted a signal about whether it is below the allowable value or beyond the allowable value. Additionally, a state of the coating is tested by the pinhole-detecting device 14. A method of the test is so adapted that, in a case where the pinhole is detected by using a non-contact type, e.g., optical, detecting means which does not give a damage to the coating, a marking is applied to that detected position and an alarm signal is emitted.

[0062] The prestressing strand 1 in which the double coatings have been formed only in the surface layer part tested in this manner is pulled by the pulling device 15 having a structure not to injure the resin coating in which upper and lower endless belts are disposed. Further, the pulling device 15 uses inverter motors capable of freely changing a line speed to function also as a speed-setting device of the working line. And, the coating thickness varies dependent on the line speed, so that an optional thickness of the coating can be formed by selecting the line speed.

[0063] The prestressing strand 1 formed the double coatings and sent out of the pulling device 15 is wound always under a constant tension by a torque motor of the coiler 16, and accordingly, the winding tension does not change even if a coil diameter of the prestressing strand 1 becomes large.

[0064] When the prestressing strand 1 set in the uncoiler 2 performing the continuous operation has become null, a drive of the working line is stopped, the coating formation is once stopped, and a fresh prestressing strand is set to the uncoiler 2. An end side rear end of the previous prestressing strand 1 and a top side front end of the prestressing strand 1 freshly set are connected by performing the butt welding, and the operation is started again.

[0065] In the prestressing strand 1 formed in this manner, since the resin coating 31 is formed on each of the core wire 1a and the surrounding wires 1b under an independent or individual state, not only the flexibility demanded to this kind of prestressing strand is not lost but also corrosion resistance and tensile strength can be improved. Further, the double coating portions are located in the outer peripheral face when the surrounding wire 1b has been retwisted to the original state, and accordingly the helical groove parts due to the retwisting becomes deeper, so that the adhesion strength to the concrete is improved, and it can sufficiently withstand the use in a region or place where there is a fear of the coating damage in the special structure.

[0066] In this embodiment, there has been explained about the example in which the primary coating formation and the secondary coating formation are continuously performed, but it is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to perform the primary coating formation and the secondary coating formation individually and separately Further, it has been explained about the example in which the dummy prestressing strand is used as the preparation stage of the operation starting, but it is not limited to this. The top side front end of the prestressing strand, which is to be treated and set to the uncoiler 2, may be untwisted by the manual work, and it may be inserted through up to the terminating end side in compliance with the category of each process, so that it is a matter of course that there is a case where the dummy prestressing strand is not used.

[0067] According to the method of the invention as explained above, there is brought about excellent advantages that, even after the double coatings have been formed, it is easy to retwist the surrounding wires to the original state again, and moreover that the thick double coatings can be easily formed without hindering at all the properties of the flexibility and the adhesion strength to the concrete, which are deemed to be the largest characteristics of the prestressing strand, in order to protect an outer surface (the surface layer part) exposed to the fear of the coating damage in the special structure.

[0068] Further, according to the prestressing strand of the invention, it has the flexibility demanded as the prestressing strand and has the corrosion resistance and the tensile strength because the core wire and the surrounding wires are individually resin-coated. Also, it can withstand the coating damage in the special structure because the double coatings are formed in the surface layer part of the prestressing strand and, additionally, the adhesion strength to the concrete is more improved because the comparatively deep helical groove parts are formed in the outer surface.

[0069] Especially, the surrounding wires in the prestressing strand as a finished product has enough flexibility and it is possible to untwist the surrounding wires with respect to the core wire and additionally the untwisted surrounding wires can be retwisted to the original twisted state again. Further, excellent properties in both of the corrosion resistance and the tensile strength can be given to the prestressing strand of the invention while maintaining the flexibility.

Method of forming corrosion protection double coatings on prestressing strand and prestressing strand produced by the method

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