# US 11,078,668 B2 · Apparatus for repairing a tension member

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- Number: US 11,078,668 B2
- Document ID: US11078668B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/876,005
- Filed: 2020-05-16
- Published: 2020-12-03
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-28
- Applicants: Felix Sorkin
- Inventors: Felix Sorkin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078668B2

## CPC

- E04C 5/125: {the tensile members are profiled to ensure the anchorage, e.g. when provided with screw-thread, bulges, corrugations}
- 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)
- E04C 5/10: Ducts
- E04C 5/122: {the tensile members are anchored by wedge-action}
- E04G 21/185: {for anchoring elements or elements to be incorporated in the structure}
- E04G 23/02: Repairing, e.g. filling cracks; Restoring; Altering; Enlarging {(compositions of filling material C04B; strengthening, widening, repairing of bridges E01D22/00; drying damp layers by temporary mechanical ventilation E04B1/7092)}
- E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S)
- E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS

## Abstract

An assembly for use with a post-tensioning tension member may comprise an anchor body; an anchor encapsulation including rear and front encapsulation extensions; a rear nut coupled to the rear encapsulation extension; a cap coupled to the front encapsulation extension and including a cap extension; a cover extending around a portion of the tension member, the cover being tubular and having proximal and remote end portions; a coupler coupled to both the cap extension and the proximal end portion; and a remote nut coupled to the remote end portion. The assembly may further include a rear seal positioned between the rear encapsulation extension and the tension member; a front seal positioned between the cap extension and the tension member; a proximal seal positioned between the proximal end portion and the tension member; and a remote seal positioned between the remote end portion and the tension member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly for use with a tension member for post-tensioning concrete, comprising:
an anchor body;
an encapsulation, wherein the encapsulation at least partially encapsulates the anchor body and wherein the encapsulation includes a rear encapsulation extension and a front encapsulation extension;
a rear nut mechanically coupled to the rear encapsulation extension;
a cap mechanically coupled to the front encapsulation extension, the cap including a cap extension;
a cover extending around a portion of the tension member, the cover having a proximal end portion and a remote end portion;
a coupler mechanically coupled to both the cap extension and the proximal end portion; and
a remote nut mechanically coupled to the remote end portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further including:
a rear seal positioned between the rear encapsulation extension and the tension member;
a front seal positioned between the cap extension and the tension member;
a proximal seal positioned between the proximal end portion and the tension member; and
a remote seal positioned between the remote end portion and the tension member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The assembly of claim 2 wherein the rear, front, proximal, and remote seals are each a split seal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The assembly of claim 2 wherein the rear, front, proximal, and remote seals are sized such that tightening the rear nut, coupler, and remote nut deforms the rear, front, proximal, and remote seals.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further including a rear seal positioned between the rear extension and the tension member, wherein the rear seal includes a head compressed in an axial direction between the rear nut and rear encapsulation extension.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further including a front seal positioned between the cap extension and the tension member, a proximal seal positioned between the proximal end portion and the tension member, and a tubular long seal positioned between the tension member and the cover, wherein the front seal and the proximal seal each include a head compressed in an axial direction between the cap extension and the tubular long seal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The assembly of claim 6, further including an inner tube positioned between the long seal and the cover.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further including a remote seal positioned between the remote end portion and the tension member, wherein the remote seal includes a head compressed in an axial direction between the remote nut and the remote end portion of the cover.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupler mechanically couples to the cap extension at a first threaded interface and mechanically couples to the proximal end portion at a second threaded interface and wherein the second threaded interface is reversed with respect to the first threaded interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further including a cap seal disposed in an annular groove formed in the cap, wherein the cap seal engages at least one of the anchor body or the encapsulation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is adapted for use when the tension member extends among three anchors.

### Claim 12

A method, comprising the steps of:
a) positioning an assembly on a portion of a tension member, the assembly comprising:
an intermediate anchor, the intermediate anchor comprising:
an anchor body; and
an encapsulation, wherein the encapsulation at least partially encapsulates the anchor body and wherein the encapsulation includes a rear encapsulation extension and a front encapsulation extension;
a rear nut;
a cap, wherein the cap includes a cap extension;
a cover, wherein the cover is tubular and has a proximal end portion and a remote end portion;
a coupler; and
a remote nut;
b) mechanically coupling the cap to the front encapsulation extension;
c) positioning a rear seal between the rear encapsulation extension and the tension member and mechanically coupling the rear nut to the rear encapsulation extension;
d) positioning a front seal between the cap extension and the tension member;
e) positioning a tubular long seal on the tension member;
f) positioning the cover around the tubular long seal;
g) positioning a proximal seal between the proximal end portion and the tension member;
h) mechanically coupling the coupler to the cap extension and the proximal end portion; and
i) positioning a remote seal between the remote end portion and the tension member and mechanically coupling the remote nut to the remote end portion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein at least two of the components are mechanically coupled during step a).

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein none of the components are mechanically coupled during step a).

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the rear seal includes a head and wherein step c) compresses the rear seal head in the axial direction between the rear nut and rear encapsulation extension, wherein the front seal and the proximal seal each include a head and wherein step i) compresses the front seal head and the proximal seal head in the axial direction between the cap extension and the tubular long seal, and wherein the remote seal includes a head and wherein step h) compresses the remote seal head in the axial direction between the remote nut and the remote end portion of the cover.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein step e) includes positioning the tubular long seal so as to span an unsheathed portion of the tension member.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the assembly defines a longitudinal passage that is adapted to receive a tension member and to sealingly engage the outer surface thereof, further including the step of sheathing the portion of the tension member.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the coupler mechanically couples to the cap extension at a first threaded interface and mechanically couples to the proximal end portion at a second threaded interface, wherein the second threaded interface is reversed with respect to the first threaded interface, and wherein step h) comprises rotating the coupler about the tension member.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the cap includes a cap seal disposed in an annular groove formed in the cap and wherein step b) causes the cap seal to sealingly engage at least one of the anchor body or the encapsulation.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further including the step of positioning an inner tube between the tubular long seal and the cover before step f).

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further including the step of removing the inner tube from between the tubular long seal and the outer tube before step i).

### Claim 22 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the tension member extends among three anchors.

### Claim 23

A kit for assembling an assembly for use with a tension member for post-tensioning concrete, comprising:
an anchor body;
an encapsulation, the encapsulation at least partially encapsulating the anchor body and including a rear encapsulation extension and a front encapsulation extension;
a rear nut adapted to mechanically couple to the rear encapsulation extension;
a cap adapted to mechanically couple to the front encapsulation extension, the cap including a cap extension;
a cover adapted to extend around a portion of the tension member, the cover being tubular and having a proximal end portion and a remote end portion;
a coupler adapted to mechanically couple to both the cap extension and the proximal end portion; and
a remote nut adapted to mechanically couple to the remote end portion.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The kit of claim 23, further including:
a rear seal adapted to fit between the rear encapsulation extension and the tension member;
a front seal adapted to fit between the cap extension and the tension member;
a proximal seal adapted to fit between the proximal end portion and the tension member; and
a remote seal adapted to fit between the remote end portion and the tension member.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The kit of claim 23 wherein the rear, front, proximal, and remote seals are each a split seal.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The kit of claim 23 wherein the rear, front, proximal, and remote seals are each sized such that tightening the rear nut, coupler and remote nut to a desired degree deforms the rear, front, proximal, and remote seals such that there are substantially no internal voids in the assembly.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The kit of claim 23, further including a rear seal adapted to fit between the rear extension and the tension member, wherein the rear seal includes a head adapted to be compressed in an axial direction between the rear nut and rear encapsulation extension.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The kit of claim 23, further including a front seal adapted to fit between the cap extension and the tension member, a proximal seal adapted to fit between the proximal end portion and the tension member, and a tubular long seal adapted to fit between the tension member and the cover, wherein the front seal and the proximal seal each include a head adapted to be compressed in an axial direction between the cap extension and the tubular long seal.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The kit of claim 23, further including a remote seal adapted to fit between the remote end portion and the tension member, wherein the rear seal includes a head adapted to be compressed in an axial direction between the remote nut and the remote end portion of the cover.

### Claim 30 (depends on 23)

The kit of claim 23 wherein the coupler mechanically couples to the cap extension at a first threaded interface and mechanically couples to the proximal end portion at a second threaded interface and wherein the second threaded interface is reversed with respect to the first threaded interface, whereby rotation of the coupler in a direction draws the cover and the cap extension together.