# US 7,744,320 B2 · Anchor bolt and annularly grooved expansion sleeve assembly exhibiting high pull-out resistance, particularly under cracked concrete test conditions

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- Number: US 7,744,320 B2
- Document ID: US7744320B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/073,141
- Filed: 2008-02-29
- Published: 2008-06-26
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-05
- Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Inventors: Robert G. Kobetsky; Michael Starozhitsky; Matthew J. Reiter; Donald Broomfield
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744320B2

## CPC

- F16B 13/065: {fastened by extracting the screw, nail or the like}
- G01N 3/32: by applying repeated or pulsating forces
- G01N 2203/0016: Tensile or compressive
- G01N 2203/0066: Propagation of crack
- G01N 2203/0246: Special simulation of "in situ" conditions, scale models or dummies
- G01N 2203/027: Specimens with holes or notches
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A wedge-type anchor assembly, capable of meeting cracked concrete testing standards, comprises an anchor bolt component and a substantially C-shaped expansion sleeve component annularly disposed about the anchor bolt component. A plurality of annular grooves, threads, or teeth are disposed only about the forward end portion of the expansion sleeve component, as opposed to throughout the entire axial length thereof, so that when the anchor bolt component is moved axially through the expansion sleeve component, the maximum interference area (M.I.A.) and maximum interference volume (M.I.V.) can be generated between the anchor bolt component and the expansion sleeve component in a controlled and predictable manner, as well as between the expansion sleeve component and the internal peripheral side wall portions of a concrete substrate or substructure can be generated so as to enhance pull-out resistance and reliability of the anchor assembly within the concrete substructure or substrate. The expansion sleeve component may be plated with a tin-zinc (Sn—Zn) composition, and the rear end portion of the expansion sleeve component may have a larger diametrical extent than the forward end portion of the expansion sleeve component so as to enhance pull-out resistance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An anchor assembly adapted to be anchored within a bore-hole defined within a concrete substrate so as to be capable of meeting cracked concrete testing standards, comprising:
an anchor bolt member having a longitudinal axis and an enlarged head portion disposed upon a forward end portion of said anchor bolt member;
an expansion sleeve member annularly disposed around said anchor bolt member and having a longitudinal axis, an internal peripheral surface portion, and an external peripheral surface portion; and
a plurality of annular grooves disposed only upon a forward external peripheral portion of said expansion sleeve member, while a rearward external peripheral portion of said expansion sleeve member is non-grooved and solid, such that when said anchor bolt member is moved axially rearwardly through said expansion sleeve member, said enlarged head portion of said anchor bolt member will initially progressively expand said forward portion of said expansion sleeve member so that said plurality of annular grooves will be progressively forced into engagement with internal peripheral side wall portions of a borehole defined within a concrete substrate so as to progressively define a progressively increased area and volume of interference with the internal peripheral side wall portions of the borehole defined within the concrete substrate, and subsequently, said enlarged head portion of said anchor bolt member will progressively expand said rearward portion of said expansion sleeve member so that said non-grooved solid portion of said expansion sleeve member will be progressively forced into engagement with the internal peripheral side wall portions of the borehole defined within the concrete substrate so as to achieve a maximum area and volume of interference with the internal peripheral side wall portions of the borehole defined within the concrete substrate so as to enhance the holding power and pull-out resistance of said anchor assembly with respect to the borehole defined within the concrete substrate;
wherein said expansion sleeve member is slightly tapered, in a smooth, constant linear manner, along its entire axial extent such that the diametrical extent of the external peripheral wall surface of the expansion sleeve member, at the rear end portion thereof, is larger than the diametrical extent of the external peripheral wall surface of the expansion sleeve member at the forward end portion thereof as considered in the direction in which said expansion sleeve member is inserted into the concrete substrate so as to enhance the pull-out resistance of said anchor assembly with respect to the concrete substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The anchor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the difference between said diametrical extent of said rear end portion of said expansion sleeve member and said forward end portion of said expansion sleeve member is within the range of ten-fifteen thousandths of an inch (0.010-0.015″).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The anchor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the entire thickness dimension of said expansion sleeve member is maintained substantially constant throughout its axial length, as measured between said internal peripheral surface portion of said expansion sleeve member and said rearward external non-grooved peripheral surface portion of said expansion sleeve member, as well as between said internal peripheral surface portion and crest portions of said annular grooves disposed upon said forward external peripheral portion of said expansion sleeve member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The anchor assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
barb means, disposed upon said expansion sleeve member annularly disposed upon said anchor bolt member, for effectively biting into, and becoming embedded within, internal peripheral surface portions of the concrete wall defining the borehole within the concrete substrate so as to thereby prevent rotation of said expansion sleeve component with respect to the borehole defined within the concrete substrate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The anchor assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
said barb means comprises a plurality of barbs circumferentially spaced upon said expansion sleeve member annularly disposed upon said anchor bolt member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The anchor assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
each one of said plurality of barbs has a substantially triangular configuration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The anchor assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein:
each one of said plurality of barbs has a primary longitudinal axis which is disposed substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said expansion sleeve member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The anchor assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein:
each one of said plurality of barbs has a primary longitudinal axis which is disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said expansion sleeve member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The anchor assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein:
said predetermined angle, at which each one of said plurality of barbs is angularly offset with respect to said longitudinal axis of said expansion sleeve member, is approximately 20°.