Apparatus for compressing sleeves onto structural rods

Apparatus for fastening to adjacent substantially co-axially disposed reinforcing rod ends a sleeve of uniform external cross-section throughout its length and having internal cross-sectional dimensions to enable it to receive and embrace both rod ends, comprising at least two fluid pressure operated jack units each having a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod;

• mounting plates to which the jack cylinders are attached and through which the piston rods pass;
• latching means for releasably securing the jack cylinders with their mounting plates together in parallel relationship around one of the reinforcing rods in a zone not occupied by the sleeve;
• die segments corresponding in number to the number of mounting plates, which collectively provide an axial bore at least part of which is dimensionally smaller in cross-section than the external cross-sectional dimension of the sleeve, loosely mounted on the free ends of the piston rods so as to be capable of limited roational movement relative thereto in a longitudinal direction;
• die segment retaining means at the extremities of the piston rods;
• pusher means on the mounting plates extending in a direction towards the die segments which engage one end of the sleeve and prevent it from moving axially relative to the rods;
• ring-shaped locking members for securing the die segments in operative relationship one to the other and which permit the aforesaid limited rotational movement thereof;
• and complementary formations on the die segments for receiving the ring-shaped locking members.