Erico International Corporation

John J Gregel

Louis J Colarusso

Glenn T Siracki

Mark V Samas

Frank J Fitzgerald

George F Kub, Jr

Dale R Boling

Johannes L L A Van Den Broek

Andrew W Weisel

Timothy P Sepelak

Colleen M Kerkay

Wilhelmus G Th Maas

Lawrence Gene Gatton

Johannes LLA Van Den Broek

A solid weld-metal-producing material is formed by agglomerating weld metal material powder. An igniter may be integrally formed in or on the agglomerated weld metal material. In addition to typical components of a weld metal material mixture, such as a reductant metal and a transition metal oxide, the agglomerated weld metal mixture may include a binder material, such as sodium silicate. In addition to functioning as a binder to help hold the agglomerated weld metal material together, the binder material may aid in the exothermic reaction that occurs when the weld metal material is ignited. The agglomerated weld metal material may be made by mixing together a reductant metal powder, a transition metal oxide powder, and possibly a binder solution. A slurry of the components may be pressed together, for example, using a die and a ram, and then may be dried.

Weld metal material apparatus and method

A high strength reinforcing bar splice uses a contractible jaw assembly bridging the bar ends to be joined. The jaw assembly includes interior teeth designed to bite into the projecting ribs or deformations on the outside of the bar ends which form the overall diameter of the bar but not the core or nominal diameter of the bar. The jaw assembly is constricted from both axial ends by driving tapered locking collars on each end of the jaw assembly with a tool while concurrently causing the jaw assembly to constrict and bite into the bar ends. When the tool is removed, the collars remain in place locking the jaw assembly closed. The splice provides not only high tensile and compressive strengths but also has good fatigue and dynamic strength to qualify as a Type 2 coupler.

Reinforcing bar connection and method

A tool for forming a high strength reinforcing bar coupling driving self-locking wedge sleeves over each end of a contractible jaw assembly bridging the abutting ends of the bar to be joined. The sleeves are seated in collars engaged by the distal ends of arms driven for closure by a piston-cylinder power unit and a cam on at least one arm. In one form the cam on one arm is engaged by a roller connected by a tension link to the other arm. In another form cams are provided on each arm driven by rollers fixed with respect to each other. The collars include self-releasing collets seating the sleeves. The tool has other uses such as bar shearing or forming.

Reinforcing bar tool and method

A reinforcing bar connection for concrete construction utilizes a sleeve supporting internal spring washers having flexible inner edges which engage a bar inserted in the sleeve. The reinforced inner edges of the washers bite into the bar and grip the bar preventing withdrawal. The washers have openings which permit the sleeve to be filled with a hardenable matrix such as grout or resin. In a preferred form, shoulder forming wedge grooves are formed in ends of the sleeve. The connection may be used as a dowel socket, a continuity set, or as butt end-to-end bar splice for axially aligned bar of the same or different size. The connection provides not only high compressive and tensile strengths but also will provide the dynamic and/or fatigue characteristics to qualify as Type 2 coupler approved for use in all United States earthquake zones.

A bar connection or splice and method uses a cage of relatively short bars which may be smaller reinforcing bars or threaded bars or rods. The bars of the cage may be joined by rings or wires and clamped to bridge or lap aligned bar ends. In one form, the concrete may be cast directly around to cage and bar ends to form the equivalent of a butt joined lap splice. In an enhanced form, the cage is included in a sleeve and set screws clamp the bars, cage and sleeve together. The sleeve may be filled with a hardenable matrix such as resin or grout, and then concrete is cast around the connection. The number of sets screws and bars of the cage may vary widely to form vertical and horizontal splices of axially aligned bar of the same or transitional sizes.

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Bedford, OH, United States of America

John J Gregel