NZ744564B2 - A coupling device, associated parts and a method of use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

reinforcing bar coupling assembly is described comprising: a sleeve with an inner surface that encloses at least part of at least one reinforcing bar when coupled with the at least one reinforcing bar; and at least one pin having a body and two opposing ends fitted with interference between, and causing local plastic deformation about, at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve; at least part of an adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar; or both the inner surface of the sleeve and an adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar; when coupled with the at least one reinforcing bar, where at least part of the body of the at least one pin is in contact with at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar when coupled with the at least one reinforcing bar and wherein local plastic deformation results in mechanical interlocking of the coupling assembly; and wherein the at least one pin is inserted tangentially and orthogonally to the longitudinal length of the at least one reinforcing bar between the inner surface of the sleeve and the adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar when coupled with the at least one reinforcing bar. A method of assembling the reinforcing bar coupling assembly noted above is also described. The reinforcing bar coupling assembly and method is highly versatile and strong and provides an alternative means of coupling reinforcing bar.

Claims (32)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A reinforcing bar coupling system comprising a reinforcing bar coupling assembly and at least one reinforcing bar, the reinforcing bar coupling assembly comprising: a sleeve with an inner surface that encloses at least part of the at least one reinforcing bar when 5 coupled with the at least one reinforcing bar; and at least one pin having a body and two opposing ends fitted with interference between the sleeve and the at least one reinforcing bar, and causing: local plastic deformation about at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve; local plastic deformation about at least part of an adjacent outer surface of the at least 10 one reinforcing bar; or local plastic deformation about at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve and an adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar; wherein at least part of the body of the at least one pin is in contact with at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar when coupled with the at 15 least one reinforcing bar and wherein local plastic deformation results in mechanical interlocking of the coupling assembly; wherein the at least one pin is inserted tangentially and orthogonally to the longitudinal length of the at least one reinforcing bar between the inner surface of the sleeve and the adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar when coupled with the at least one reinforcing bar; and 20 wherein, when a tractive force is applied to the coupling assembly, the coupling assembly is configured so that material of the reinforcing bar piles up or shears before the at least one pin.

2. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein pin embedment in the sleeve and reinforcing bar to pin diameter (PED ratio) is at least 15%.

3. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the PED ratio is from 15 to 30%.

4. The reinforcing bar coupling systemas claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one pin, prior to coupling, has a generally straight elongated and slender form along its body and two opposing 30 ends, one end being a leading end and a second end being a following end, the leading end entering between the sleeve and the at least one reinforcing bar first during fitting or coupling.

5. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the following end comprises a head with a form that extends outwardly beyond a cross-section width of the pin body.

6. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the leading end of 5 the at least one pin remains within the sleeve once fitted.

7. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the local plastic deformation is generated on installation of the pin between the sleeve and reinforcing bar via use of an impulse energy input to forcibly insert the pin between at least part of the inner surface of the adjacent 10 outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar.

8. The reinforcing bar coupling systemas claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein local plastic deformation occurs to the at least one pin during installation. 15

9. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pin is configured to bend during fitting.

10. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one pin, when fitted, passes through at least one orifice extending from the exterior of the sleeve to at least one 20 groove recessed into the sleeve inner surface, wherein the at least one orifice and/or at least one groove is/are formed in part or in full before coupling and wherein the orifice is undersized relative to the pin size to ensure an interface fit of the at least one pin into the orifice.

11. The reinforcing bar coupling systemas claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one pin itself 25 produces the form of all or part of the at least one orifice and/or at least one groove.

12. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one orifice and/or at least one groove is/are formed in part or in full before coupling and wherein the orifice is undersized relative to the pin size to ensure an interference fit of the at least one pin into the orifice.

13. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a plurality of pins are inserted to couple the at least one reinforcing bar and sleeve.

14. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, during fitting of the at least one pin, heat generated by friction during deformation causes the at least one pin to weld to at least a portion of the sleeve and/or at least one reinforcing bar.

15. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the sleeve is double ended and used to couple two reinforcing bars together in a substantially axial manner.

16. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the sleeve is 10 shaped to couple the at least one reinforcing bar and at least one additional reinforcing bar, the bars joining in a non-axial manner.

17. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the at least one reinforcing bar comprises a single reinforcing bar, and the sleeve couples to the single reinforcing bar 15 with another form of detail or connection type located on the sleeve.

18. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sleeve and the at least one reinforcing bar are coaxially aligned when coupled together. 20

19. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the local plastic deformation is generated on installation of the pin to the sleeve and at least one reinforcing bar via use of continuous pressure to forcibly insert the pin into at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve and into the adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar. 25

20. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the continuous pressure is a press configured to press the at least one pin into at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve and the adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar.

21. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein adhesive is 30 located between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar, the adhesive fusing and/or bonding the at least one pin and either, or both, the inner surface of the sleeve, or the outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar.

22. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the adhesive is present in the sleeve prior to fitment of the at least one reinforcing bar into the sleeve. 5

23. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the adhesive is applied between the sleeve and the at least one reinforcing bar after fitment of the at least one reinforcing bar into the sleeve.

24. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the adhesive is selected from: 10 chemical adhesive, flux, metal plating, alloying elements, and chemical bonding.

25. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the adhesive is a two component epoxy product in a vial that is preinstalled into the sleeve and configured so that, when the at least one reinforcing bar is installed in the sleeve, the vial is fractured releasing the adhesive.

26. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the at least one pin and sleeve inner surface and/or at the least one reinforcing bar outer surface are configured to provide a camming action of the at least one pin relative to the sleeve inner surface and/or at the least one reinforcing bar outer surface, as axial displacement occurs between the at least one reinforcing bar and 20 sleeve during axial loading of the reinforcing bar coupling assembly.

27. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the camming action increases interference between the at least one pin and the at least one reinforcing bar. 25

28. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the camming action decreases interference between the at least one pin and the at least one reinforcing bar.

29. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the camming action results in rotation of the at least one pin on application of an axial force, embedding an edge of the at least one pin 30 further into the at least one reinforcing bar.

30. A method of assembling a reinforcing bar coupling assembly comprising: providing a sleeve with an inner surface; inserting at least part of at least one reinforcing bar into the sleeve so that the inner surface of the sleeve encloses at least part of the at least one reinforcing bar; and fitting with interference, at least one pin having a body and two opposing ends between the sleeve 5 and at least one reinforcing bar, causing: local plastic deformation about at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve; local plastic deformation about at least part of an adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar; or local plastic deformation about at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve and an 10 adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar; wherein, once fitted, at least part of the body of the at least one pin is in contact with at least part of the inner surface of the sleeve and an outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar and wherein local plastic deformation results in mechanical interlocking of the coupling assembly; wherein the at least one pin is fitted tangentially and orthogonally to the longitudinal length of the 15 at least one reinforcing bar between the inner surface of the sleeve and the adjacent outer surface of the at least one reinforcing bar; and wherein, when a tractive force is applied to the at least one reinforcing bar and the sleeve, material of the at least one reinforcing bar piles up or shears before the at least one pin. 20

31. The reinforcing bar coupling system as claimed in claim 1, the reinforcing bar coupling assembly being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

32. The method as claimed in claim 30, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.