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US 9,790,651 B2Granted
Individual seal arrangement for cable anchorage
AssigneeVSL International AG
InventorsRachid Annan, Adrian Gnagi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable anchorage is described for anchoring a cable, for example a stay cable comprising multiple strands (50), against an axial tension force. Each strand (50) is individually sealed in an individual channel (6) of the anchorage against moisture ingress, and each strand (50) may be removed and replaced individually. A tight-fitting elastic annular seal (26) is fitted into a recess (27) in the channel. The annular seal (26) is inserted from the anchor block end (1) of the anchorage.
Claims19
An insertion tool for displacing a seal element into a recess of a cable anchorage comprising:
- a plurality of axial cylindrical channels in an anchor block, each channel individually accommodating a strand of a cable, wherein the channel extends along the whole length of the cable anchorage between a first channel end, proximal to a running part of the cable, and a second channel end remote from the running part of the cable;
- and
- a seal element positioned at a predetermined axial location of an inner wall of the channel, said inner wall of the channel comprising an annular or cylindrical recessed region at said predetermined axial location, said recessed region being longitudinally coaxial with the channel and accommodating said seal element so as to retain the seal element at said predetermined axial location during an axial displacement of the strand in the channel and provide a seal between the inner wall of the channel and the strand, when the strand is in the channel;
- wherein the seal element and the second channel end of the channel are formed such that the channel is configured to receive the seal element through the second channel end,
- wherein the seal element and the inner wall of the channel are designed such that the seal element is axially displaced inside the channel from the second channel end to the recessed region, and
- wherein said seal element comprises an elastic material so that said seal element is elastically deformable to a compressed state, in which it has a radial outer dimension which is smaller than or equal to all diameters of the inner wall of the channel between said second channel end and said recessed region whereby said sealing element is removably arranged in said recessed region
- the insertion tool comprising:
- a seal retaining and/or aligning device for maintaining the seal element in its radially compressed state and coaxially aligned with the channel during a displacing step of said seal element inside the channel,
- a displacement extension device for displacing the seal element, in the compressed state, through the channel from the second channel end to the predetermined axial location, and
- a remote release device, operable from outside the second channel end of the channel, for releasing the seal element from the seal retaining and/or aligning device such that the seal element substantially regains its fitted state in the recessed region of the channel.
7 more elements
A method of replacing a strand of a cable in an axial channel of a cable anchorage, said cable anchorage comprising:
- a plurality of axial cylindrical channels in an anchor block, each channel individually accommodating a strand of a cable, wherein the channel extends along the whole length of the cable anchorage between a first channel end, proximal to a running part of the cable, and a second channel end remote from the running part of the cable;
- and
- a seal element positioned at a predetermined axial location of an inner wall of the channel, said inner wall of the channel comprising an annular or cylindrical recessed region at said predetermined axial location, said recessed region being longitudinally coaxial with the channel and accommodating said seal element so as to retain the seal element at said predetermined axial location during an axial displacement of the strand in the channel and provide a seal between the inner wall of the channel and the strand, when the strand is in the channel;
- wherein the seal element and the second channel end of the channel are formed such that the channel is configured to receive the seal element through the second channel end,
- wherein the seal element and the inner wall of the channel are designed such that the seal element is axially displaced inside the channel from the second channel end to the recessed region, and
- wherein said seal element comprises an elastic material so that said seal element is elastically deformable to a compressed state, in which it has a radial outer dimension which is smaller than or equal to all diameters of the inner wall of the channel between said second channel end and said recessed region whereby said sealing element is removably arranged in said recessed region,
- the method comprising the following steps:
- a strand removal step, in which one strand is removed from its corresponding channel through the second channel end;
- a seal-removal step, in which the seal element disposed around said one strand is removed through the second channel end;
- a seal-lining step, in which a new seal element is introduced through the second channel end and displaced axially inside the channel from said channel end to said recessed region;
- and
- a strand replacement step in which a new strand is inserted into said channel through the second channel end.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.