Duct coupler apparatus for use with precast concrete segmental construction

A coupler apparatus for use with concrete segments comprising:

• a first duct having an end and an exterior surface;
• a first coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said duct, said first coupler member having a seat opening adjacent said end of said first duct;
• a second duct having an end and an exterior surface;
• a second coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said second duct, said second coupler member having a seat opening adjacent said end of said second duct;
• and
• a gasket means received in said seat of said second coupler member, said gasket means for preventing liquid from passing between said ends of said first and second coupler members into an interior of either of said first and second ducts, said seat of said first coupler member having a slot facing said second coupler member, said second coupler member having a slot facing said first coupler member, said gasket means fitted in said slot of said second coupler member, said slot of said first coupler member having a depth less than a depth of said slot of said second coupler member, said gasket means being an elastomeric ring having a cross-sectional thickness greater than a depth of either of the slots of said first and second coupler members.

A coupler apparatus for use on tendon-receiving ducts of a segmental precast concrete structure comprising:

• a first coupler member having an interior passageway suitable for receiving one of the ducts therein, said first coupler member having an open slot at one end thereof;
• a second coupler member having an interior passageway suitable for receiving another of the ducts therein, said second coupler member having an open slot at one end thereof, said open slot of said second coupler member facing said open slot of said first coupler member;
• a gasket member received in said open slot of said second coupler member, said gasket member having a portion extending outwardly of said slot beyond an end of said second coupler member, said portion of said gasket member receivable in liquid-tight abutment with a surface of said open slot of said first coupler member;
• and
• an internal seal slidably positioned against an interior surface of said second coupler member.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first concrete segment having an outer surface;
• a first duct embedded in said first concrete segment and extending therethrough, said first duct having an end adjacent to said outer surface of said first concrete segment;
• a first coupler member embedded in said first concrete segment and extending over the first duct, said first coupler member having a seat opening at said outer surface of said first concrete segment;
• a second concrete segment having an inner surface;
• a second duct embedded in said second concrete segment and extending therethrough, said second duct having an end adjacent said inner surface of said second concrete segment;
• a second coupler member embedded in said second concrete segment and extending over said second duct, said second coupler member having an seat at said inner surface of said concrete segment;
• a gasket fixedly received in said seat of said second coupler member and in liquid-tight abutment with a surface of said seat of said first coupler member, said seat of said first coupler member having back surface in abutment with said end of said first duct, said seat of said second coupler member having a back surface in abutment with said end of said second duct;
• and
• an internal seal interposed in generally liquid-tight relationship between an interior surface of said second coupler member and against an exterior surface of said second duct, said internal seal allowing relative movement between said second coupler member and said second duct while maintaining the liquid-tight relationship therebetween.