Composite dowel system and related method
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of The Universi
InventorHamid Saadatmanesh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite dowel structure and related methods (FIG. 1) are provided, for preparing, repairing and/or reinforcing existing hollow support structures, e.g. light poles made of steel, iron, or fiberglass, especially support structures that have lost tensile strength due to corrosion or other types of deterioration. The methods are particularly useful in preparing, repairing and/or reinforcing a hollow support structure, by forming a composite dowel structure, in situ, in the hollow support structure.
Claims23
A pole structure comprising
- a. a hollow pole, and
- b. a composite dowel structure disposed at least partly in the hollow pole structure;
- the composite dowel structure comprising
- i. a high tensile strength material disposed at least partly in the hollow pole, and
- ii. a high tensile strength epoxy resin aggregate substantially filling a predetermined portion of the hollow pole that includes a predetermined portion of the high tensile strength material.
A method for repairing, in situ, a hollow support structure that has a deteriorated portion and an access opening, comprising the steps of
- a. placing a high tensile strength material in the hollow support structure, to at least a depth such that the high tensile strength material extends over the depth of the deteriorated portion,
- b. pouring an aggregate material into the hollow support structure, to incorporate the high strength material into the aggregate that fills the hollow support structure at least over the depth of the deteriorated portion, and
- c. allowing the aggregate to cure, in situ.
A method of forming, in situ, a dowel structure that reinforces a portion of a hollow support structure, comprising the steps of;
- a. determining the depth of the portion of the hollow support structure that is to be reinforced,
- b. placing a high tensile strength reinforcement component inside the hollow support structure such that the high tensile strength reinforcement component extends at least over the depth of the portion of the hollow support structure that is being reinforced, and
- c. pouring into the hollow support structure an epoxy aggregate that substantially fills the hollow support structure at least over the depth of the portion of the hollow support structure that is being reinforced, and allowing the epoxy aggregate to cure in situ.
A method of forming, in situ, a structure that reinforces a deteriorated portion of a hollow support structure, the hollow support structure being disposed partly in a medium (such as the ground or an aqueous medium) and partly above the medium, comprising the steps of;
- a. determining the depth of the deteriorated portion of the hollow support structure to be reinforced,
- b. saturating a high tensile strength fabric with a high strength epoxy material, and
- c. wrapping the saturated high tensile strength fabric about the hollow support structure such that the high tensile strength fabric extends at least over the depth of the deteriorated portion of the hollow support structure that is being reinforced, and allowing the high strength epoxy material to cure, in situ.
A method for preparing a hollow support structure for incorporation of a composite dowel structure into the hollow support structure, comprising the steps of
- a. providing a fabric sleeve of high tensile strength fabric having a mouth,
- b. placing the fabric sleeve through an access opening in the hollow support structure,
- c. forcing the sleeve into the hollow support structure to a desired depth, and, and
- d. locating the mouth of the sleeve in the access opening, so that an epoxy resin aggregate can be poured into the hollow support structure through the mouth of the sleeve and to the desired depth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.