Structural element reinforcement systems and methods
AssigneeCarboshield, Inc.
InventorsHamid Saadatmanesh, Ehsan Mahmoudabadi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems for reinforcement of structural elements such as piles, posts, pillars, and pipes are disclosed. The present invention features reinforced structural elements. The reinforced structural elements may include a sleeve structure positioned around a length of the structural element such that there is a chamber between the structural element and the sleeve structure. This chamber may be filled with concrete or another core filler material so as to reinforce the structural element. The sleeve structures of the present invention may be formed by the assembly of multiple staggered segmented layers of coupled reinforcing shells such as rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible fiber-reinforced shells.
Claims20
A reinforced structural element (400), comprising:
- a. a structural element (402) extending along an axis (404);
- b. a sleeve structure (410) disposed around a length (412) of the structural element (402) such that there is a chamber (406) between the structural element (402) and the sleeve structure (410), wherein the sleeve structure (410) comprises:
- i. a segmented layer (412), comprising a plurality of stacked segments (416) which each surround the structural element (402) and a plurality of horizontal seams (418) between the segments (416), the segments (416) disposed along the axis (404), wherein each segment (416) comprises two or more reinforcing shells (420) and two or more vertical seams (424) between the reinforcing shells (420);
- and
- ii. a splicer layer (480), comprising a plurality of splicers (482) attached to the segmented layer (412), wherein each splicer (482) is aligned with one or more of the seams of the segmented layer (412);
- and
- c. a core filler material (426) disposed within the chamber (406) between the sleeve structure (410) and the structural element (402) so as to reinforce the structural element (402).
A system for reinforcing a structural element (402), comprising:
- a. a plurality of reinforcing shells (420) configured to form a sleeve structure (410) around a length (405) of the structural element (402) such that there is a chamber (406) between the structural element (402) and the sleeve structure (410), wherein the sleeve structure (410) comprises:
- i. a segmented layer (412), comprising a plurality of stacked segments (416) and a plurality of horizontal seams (418) between the segments (416), the segments (416) disposed along an axis (404), wherein each segment (416) comprises two or more reinforcing shells (420) and two or more vertical seams (424) between the reinforcing shells (420);
- wherein each of the reinforcing shells (420) is attached to one or more splicers (482) configured to span one or more seams of the segmented layer (412) when the reinforcing shells (420) are assembled to form the segmented layer (412).
A sleeve structure (410) for reinforcement of a structural element (402), the sleeve structure (410) comprising:
- a. a plurality of reinforcing shells (420) configured to form a sleeve structure (410) around a length (405) of the structural element (402) such that there is a chamber (406) between the structural element (402) and the sleeve structure (410), wherein the sleeve structure (410) comprises:
- i. a segmented layer (412), comprising a plurality of stacked segments (416) and a plurality of horizontal seams (418) between the segments (416), the segments (416) disposed along an axis (404), wherein each segment (416) comprises two or more reinforcing shells (420) and two or more vertical seams (424) between the reinforcing shells (420);
- and
- ii. a plurality of splicers (482) attached to the segmented layer (412), wherein each splicer (482) is aligned with one or more of the seams of the segmented layer (412).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.