Grout to Grout Rebar Connector
AssigneeERICO International Corporation
InventorsSteven McDaniel, Anirudha Vaidya, Samuel Barker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rebar coupler can have a coupler body with a hollow interior, and a first end and a second end that are open to the hollow interior to receive rebar into opposing ends of the hollow interior along a longitudinal axis. One or more grout ports can be included on the coupler body, including a first grout port on the first end of the coupler body. The coupler body can include a set screw, a removable stop, a narrowed first end, a removable cap, or other features.
Claims20
A coupler system for rebar, the coupler system comprising:
- a rebar coupler that includes a coupler body, the coupler body including a hollow interior, and a first end and a second end that are open to the hollow interior to receive rebar into opposing ends of the hollow interior along a longitudinal axis;
- the coupler body defining one or more grout ports that open into the hollow interior, including a first grout port on the first end of the coupler body;
- the hollow interior including internal ribs that define cells to engage grout received within the coupler body, the cells including:
- a first cell adjacent to the first grout port and defining a first volume to receive grout;
- and
- a second cell adjacent to the first cell and defining a second volume to receive grout,
- the first cell being radially wider than the second cell so that the first volume is larger than the second volume.
A coupler system for rebar, the coupler system comprising:
- a rebar connection that includes a coupler body with a hollow interior and one or more grout ports that open into the hollow interior, including a first grout port;
- the hollow interior defining cells to engage grout received within the coupler body,
- the cells including a first cell that defines a first volume to receive grout and a second cell that is adjacent to the first cell and defines a second volume to receive grout,
- the first grout port opening into the first cell;
- and
- the first volume being larger than the second volume.
A method of prefabricating a concrete structure using a coupler system for rebar, the method comprising:
- securing a rebar coupler to a concrete form with a stop assembly, so that:
- a first end of a coupler body of the rebar coupler extends away from the concrete form;
- an anchor of the stop assembly is secured to a concrete form and engages a second end of the coupler body to secure the stop assembly to the coupler body;
- and
- a stop body of the stop assembly is supported within a hollow interior of the coupler body to provide a stop for a first length of rebar within the hollow interior;
- inserting a first length of rebar into the hollow interior via the first end of the rebar coupler, until the first length of rebar contacts the stop body;
- pouring and curing concrete around the first length of rebar and the rebar coupler;
- and
- removing the stop assembly and the concrete form from the rebar coupler and the cured concrete.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.