Apparatus and method for reinforcing cast structures

A reinforcing cage for a cast concrete structure having end surfaces, comprising:

• a plurality of spaced locators defining the extremity of each end surface of said cage;
• an outer reinforcing cage;
• an inner reinforcing cage spaced from said outer cage;
• and
• at least one spacer member between each of said reinforcing cages, said spacer member being attached to said outer and inner reinforcing cage, said plurality of spaced locators being attached to only one of said outer reinforcing cage and said inner reinforcing cage.

A reinforcing cage for a cast concrete structure having end surfaces, comprising:

• a plurality of spaced locators defining the extremity of each end surface of said cage;
• an outer reinforcing cage;
• an inner reinforcing cage spaced from said outer cage;
• at least one spacer member between each of said reinforcing cages, said spacer member being attached to said outer and inner reinforcing cages, said plurality of spaced locators being attached to one of said outer reinforcing cage, said inner reinforcing cage, and said at least one spacer member;
• a plurality of spaced longitudinal tubes having ends defining said plurality of spaced locators, said outer reinforcing cage being attached to an outside of said longitudinal tubes;
• and
• said outer reinforcing cage including two first C-shaped members joined by overlapped first straight members and said inner reinforcing cage including two second C-shaped members joined by overlapped second straight members.

A reinforced concrete structure comprising:

• a reinforcing cage including:
• a plurality of longitudinal registration tubes at predetermined locations around said reinforcing cage;
• an outer reinforcing cage surrounding each of said registration tubes;
• an inner reinforcing cage substantially coaxially positioned relative to said outer reinforcing cage;
• at least one separator fastened between said outer and said inner reinforcing cages for controllably separating said cages;
• and
• a cast concrete tube encapsulating said reinforcing cages in the walls thereof, said concrete tube having end surfaces substantially flush with the ends of said registration tubes exposing the ends of said registration tubes.

A welded fabric concrete reinforcing mat comprising:

• a welded steel fabric mat having a layer of first reinforcing wires connected to a transverse layer of second reinforcing wires, said second reinforcing wires being variably spaced across the length of said first reinforcing wires, said spacing including:
• a first zone including a plurality of closely spaced reinforcing wires near each end of said first reinforcing wires;
• a second zone adjacent each of said first zones free of reinforcing wires;
• a third zone adjacent each of said second zones defined by a pair of non-uniformly spaced second reinforcing wires;
• and
• a fourth zone bounded by each of said third zones including a plurality of uniformly spaced reinforcing wires, said first reinforcing wires being bent in the same direction in said second zone, of said second reinforcing wires, to position the wires of said first zone at substantially a right angle to the wires of said fourth zone.

A reinforcing cage having a plurality of connected support surfaces for inclusion in a cast concrete structure comprising:

• an outer reinforcing cage including two C-shaped members joined by overlapped straight members;
• an inner reinforcing cage coaxial with said outer reinforcing cage and spaced from said outer cage, said inner reinforcing cage including two C-shaped members joined by overlapped straight members;
• at least one separator member between said outer and inner reinforcing cages for separating said cages;
• and
• a plurality of spaced longitudinal tubes defining the extremity of each support surface of said reinforcing cage.

A reinforcing cage assembly for a cast structure including a wall with opposing end faces, comprising:

• a plurality of spaced longitudinal tubes having tubular end sections defining openings;
• a reinforcing cage defining ends for positioning proximate the opposing end faces on the cast structure, said reinforcement cage comprising a matrix of reinforcement wires secured to said plurality of spaced longitudinal tubes, said longitudinal tubes being located on said reinforcing cage proximate said cage ends so that said tubular end sections are located proximate the opposing end faces of said cast structure, said openings in said tubular end sections forming a locator on the opposing end faces of said reinforcing cage, so that said openings are accessible longitudinally for locating said reinforcing cage during manufacture of said cast structure;
• and
• said tubular end sections defining guides configured to locate said reinforcing cage in a mold cavity having the shape of said cast structure, said tubular end sections including threads for interconnecting the cast structure to another cast structure.