Tendon alignment assembly and method for externally reinforcing a load bearing beam
AssigneeHubbell, Roth & Clark
InventorsRichard B. Nacey, Eldon E. Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tendon alignment assembly (20) and method for aligning and providing a bearing surface for externally exposed tendons (10) below a weight bearing structure comprises a tendon slide plate (30) rigidly fixed to the underside of a structure and a tendon alignment shoe (50) in sliding and rotational engagement to the tendon slide plate. The bottom surface (52) of the tendon alignment shoe (50) defines a cavity (54) for receiving a tendon (10). The assembly provides for automatic alignment of the tendons regardless of the skew of the bridge relative to the bridge supports and also for movement caused by dynamic and thermal loading.
Claims17
A tendon alignment assembly for aligning and providing a bearing surface for externally exposed tendons below a weight bearing structure comprising:
- a tendon slide plate having a top and bottom surface, the top surface being attachable to the underside of a structure;
- and
- a tendon alignment shoe having a top and bottom surface, the top surface of the tendon alignment shoe being in sliding and rotational engagement with the bottom surface of the tendon slide plate,
- wherein the bottom surface of the tendon alignment shoe defines a cavity for receiving a tendon.
A bridge having at least one precast bridge beam, the bridge comprising:
- at least one tendon deployed along the underside of the bridge beam, each end of the tendon secured by a post-tensioning end anchorage device attached proximate each end of the precast bridge beam;
- and
- at least one tendon alignment assembly attached between the ends of the precast bridge beam, the tendon alignment assembly comprising
- a tendon slide plate having a top and bottom surface, the top surface being rigidly fixed to the underside of the bridge beam;
- and
- a tendon alignment shoe having a top and bottom surface, the top surface of the tendon slide plate being in sliding and rotational engagement with the bottom surface of the tendon slide plate,
- wherein the bottom surface of the tendon alignment shoe defines a cavity for receiving a tendon.
A load bearing road surface having at least one longitudinal support beam, the surface comprising:
- a pair of post-tensioning end anchorage devices attached proximate the ends of the longitudinal support beam;
- at least one tendon deployed underneath the surface, each end of the tendon attached to a post-tensioning end anchor use device, and
- at least one tendon alignment assembly attached between the ends of the longitudinal support beam, the tendon alignment assembly comprising:
- a tendon slide plate having a top and bottom surface, the top surface being rigidly attached to the underside of the longitudinal support beam;
- and
- a tendon alignment shoe having a top and bottom surface, the top surface of the tendon alignment shoe being in sliding and rotational engagement with the bottom surface of the tendon slide plate,
- wherein the bottom surface of the tendon alignment shoe defines a cavity for receiving the tendon.
A method for externally reinforcing a load bearing beam comprising the steps of:
- rigidly attaching a pair of post-tensioning end anchorage devices proximate the ends of the load bearing beam;
- deploying a tendon along the underside of the load bearing beam, each end of the tendon attached one of the post-tensioning anchorage devices;
- positioning the tendon in at least one tendon aligning assembly, the tendon aligning assembly comprising:
- a tendon slide plate having a top and bottom surface, the top surface being rigidly fixed to the underside of the load bearing beam;
- and
- a tendon alignment shoe having a top and bottom surface, the top surface of the tendon slide plate being in sliding and rotational engagement with the bottom surface of the tendon slide plate;
- wherein the bottom surface of the tendon alignment shoe defines a cavity for receiving a tendon;
- and post-tensioning the tendon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.