Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is broadly directed to an anchor assembly for anchoring to a structure, said assembly typically arranged to provide mounting to an anchorage for coupling to a person working at heights. The invention also generally relates to a method of pull-testing an anchor assembly anchored to a structure. The invention further extends to a temporary locating tool and method of anchoring an anchor member within a structure utilising the temporary locating tool.

Background of Invention

[0002] Concrete mounted anchors are currently available in a variety of designs and configurations depending on their application. In protection for fall arrest, the anchor couples directly or indirectly to a lanyard connected to a person’s harness where the person is working at heights. In direct coupling of the lanyard to the anchor, the anchor may take the form of an eyebolt (or post to which an eyebolt is mounted) having an anchor bolt anchored within a hole formed in a concrete structure. With indirect coupling of the lanyard, the anchor is typically one of multiple anchors interconnected by a horizontal lifeline to which the lanyard is coupled. In this known configuration, the anchors may include shock-absorbing anchorages fixed to the concrete structure via an anchor bolt and associated fastener where the anchor bolt is anchored to said structure.

[0003] In complying with regulatory Standards, it is necessary to test drilled-in anchorages such as friction and glued-in anchorages to ensure compliance with the relevant Standard. In particular, anchor bolts used to mount the drilled-in anchorages must be pull-tested using a known fixing tester. In order to pull-test the anchor bolts using the fixing tester, the following steps are followed: i) the fixing tester is fitted directly to the anchor bolt and secured via an associated fastener for pull testing; ii) the fixing tester is activated to load the anchor bolt to the static pull-out loading prescribed by the Standard; iii) the fixing tester is removed from the anchor bolt and the anchorage assembled.

Summary of Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a link coupling associated with an anchor member anchored within a structure, said link coupling mounted to the anchor member and configured to be releasably linked by a fixing tester which applies a pull-out force to the anchor member via the link coupling thereby testing the holding power of the anchor member within the structure.

[0005] According a second aspect of the invention there is provided an anchor assembly comprising: an anchor member adapted to be anchored within a structure; a link coupling mounted to the anchor member and configured to be releasably linked by a fixing tester which applies a pull-out force to the anchor member via the link coupling thereby testing the holding power of the anchor member within the structure.

[0006] Preferably the link coupling includes a sleeve member having a central opening received by the anchor member for mounting of the link coupling. More preferably the link coupling also includes an annular flange connected to and extending outward of the sleeve member, the annular flange adapted to bear the pull out force applied by the fixing tester. Even more preferably the annular flange is one of a pair of annular flanges together forming a circumferential channel configured for releasable engagement with the fixing tester.

[0007] Preferably the anchor assembly also comprises an anchorage mounted to the anchor member. More preferably the anchorage is designed to provide coupling for a person working at heights.

[0008] Preferably the anchor member is separate from the anchorage. More preferably the anchor assembly also comprises a fastener arranged to engage the anchor member for secure mounting of the anchorage to the anchor member. Even more preferably the anchorage is separate from the fastener wherein the link coupling is located between the fastener and the anchorage. Alternatively the anchorage is integral with the fastener wherein the link coupling is located between the fastener and the structure.

[0009] Alternatively the anchor member is integrated with the anchorage wherein the link coupling is located between the anchorage and the structure.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of pull-testing an anchor assembly including a link coupling associated with an anchor member anchored within a structure, said method comprising the steps of: releasably linking a fixing tester to the link coupling which is mounted to the anchor member; activating the fixing tester whereby a pull-out force is applied to the anchor member via the link coupling thereby testing the holding power of the anchor member within the structure.

[0011 ] Preferably the anchor assembly also includes an anchorage mounted to the anchor member and the step of activating the fixing tester is performed with the anchorage in-situ.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a temporary locating tool adapted to releasably retain an anchor member to be anchored within a hole of a structure, a proximal end portion of the anchor member being inserted within a cavity of the locating tool thereby enclosing a predetermined length of said proximal end portion which at least in part is retained by the locating tool whereby positioning of the locating tool about an opening of the hole supports the retained anchor member for anchoring within the hole of the structure and thereafter release of the locating tool from the anchored anchor member exposes the predetermined length of the proximal end portion of the anchor member outside the structure.

[0013] Preferably the locating tool includes a detachable cap within which the cavity is formed. More preferably the cavity is formed at a predetermined depth being substantially equal to the predetermined length of the proximal end portion of the anchor member. Even more preferably the detachable cap includes a perimeter wall which defines the cavity and is adapted to rest upon the structure surrounding the opening of the hole thereby suspending the anchor member within the hole prior to its anchoring within said hole. Alternatively, the cap is designed wherein the depth of the cavity can be adjusted depending on the predetermined length at which the anchor member is to be exposed outside the structure.

[0014] Preferably the cavity of the detachable cap is at least in part a press, interference or friction fit with the proximal end portion of the anchor member to temporarily retain it for anchoring within the hole. Alternatively the cavity is formed at least in part by a threaded section designed for screw-threaded connection with the proximal end portion of the anchor member.

[0015] According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of anchoring an anchor member within a hole of a structure, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a proximal end portion of the anchor member within a cavity of a temporary locating tool thereby enclosing a predetermined length of said proximal end portion which at least in part is retained by the locating tool; positioning the locating tool about an opening of the hole to support the retained anchor member for anchoring within the hole; releasing the locating tool from the anchor member thereby exposing the predetermined length of the proximal end portion of said anchor member outside the structure.

[0016] Preferably the step of inserting the proximal end portion of the anchor member within the cavity of the locating tool involves press-fitting of said member with the cavity to retain the anchor member in an interference or friction fit with the locating tool. Alternatively or additionally the locating tool is at least in part screw-threaded to the anchor member for retention therewith.

[0017] Preferably the method also comprises the step of inserting a chemical anchor within the hole for chemical anchoring of the anchor member. More preferably said step is performed prior to the step of positioning the locating tool about the opening of the hole to support the retained anchor member within the hole. [0018] Preferably the step of releasing the locating tool from the anchor member involves releasing said tool from the anchor member after at least initial curing of the chemical anchor. More preferably said release involves retraction of the tool from the anchor member in a sliding action. Alternatively the locating tool is released from the anchor member by screw-threaded rotation about said anchor member.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention preferred embodiments of the various aspects of the technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

Figures 1a to 1i illustrate the various steps involved in anchoring an anchor member within a structure and subsequent pull-testing of an anchor assembly including the anchor according to a preferred embodiment of different aspects of the invention;

Figures 2a to 2d depict several of the equivalent steps taken from figure 1 but with the anchorage omitted for clarity purposes;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fixing tester taken from figure 1 i shown linked with the link coupling of the preceding embodiment during or in preparation for testing the holding power of the anchor member within the structure;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a link coupling and anchor assembly taken from figure 1 and representing a preferred embodiment of other aspects of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the anchor assembly of the preferred embodiment of figure 4;

Figure 6 illustrates various views of the link coupling of the preceding embodiment taken from figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 shows various views of a temporary locating tool taken from figures 1c to 1f and representing an embodiment of another aspect of the invention; Figure 8 depicts various views of a temporary locating tool according to another embodiment of this other aspect of the invention;

Figures 9a to 9c are perspective views of another embodiment of a temporary locating tool of this other aspect of the invention shown sequentially in the course of locating an anchor rod within a building structure;

Figures 10a and 10b show elevational views of the temporary locating tool of figures 9a to 9c in operation urging the anchor rod into the chemical of the associated bind hole of the building structure;

Figure 11 schematically depicts adjustment of the temporary locating tool of this other embodiment of figures 9 and 10 in conjunction with an appropriate measurement device for presetting the required position or depth of the locating tool; and

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate exploded and perspective views of a link coupling and anchor assembly of another embodiment of the other aspects of the invention.

Detailed Description

[0020] As best seen in figure 1 , there is a method of anchoring and subsequently pull-testing an anchor member in the form of an anchor rod 10 within a structure 12. The method of anchoring the anchor rod 10 according to a preferred embodiment of one aspect of the invention comprises the general steps of:

1. inserting a proximal end portion 14 of the anchor rod 10 within a cavity 16 of a temporary locating tool 18 (see figures 1c and 1 d);

2. positioning the locating tool 18 about an opening 20 of a hole, in this case a blind hole 22 formed in a concrete or other building structure 12 (see figure 1 e) ;

3. releasing the locating tool 18 from the anchor rod 10 thereby exposing the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor rod 10 outside the concrete structure 12 (see figure 1f).

[0021] In this example, insertion of the anchor rod 10 within the temporary locating tool 18 is effective in enclosing a predetermined length of the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor rod 10. The proximal end portion 14 of said rod 10 and the cavity 16 of the locating tool 18 are configured wherein the anchor rod 10 is temporarily retained by the locating tool 18.

[0022] In this embodiment, the locating tool 18 retains the anchor rod 10 for chemical anchoring within the blind hole 22. It will be understood that on releasing the locating tool from the anchor rod 10, the proximal end portion 14 of said rod 10 is exposed a distance substantially equal to the predetermined length outside the concrete structure 12. This exposed distance is conveniently determined or preset to accommodate attachments and/or fasteners to be mounted to the anchor rod 10.

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates other steps involved in anchoring of the anchor rod 10 of this embodiment within the concrete structure 12 where in:

1. figure 1 a the blind hole 22 is drilled to its desired depth within the concrete structure 12;

2. figure 1 b a chemical anchor (not shown) is inserted into the blind hole 22 in preparation for insertion and anchoring of the anchor bolt 10 within the concrete structure 12 as described above.

[0024] In this example, the step of inserting the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor rod 10 within the cavity 16 of the locating tool 18 involves press-fitting to retain the anchor rod 10 in an interference or friction fit within the locating tool 18. The step of releasing the locating tool 18 from the anchor rod 10 occurs after at least initial curing of the chemical anchor and is performed in a sliding action. It will be understood that release of the locating tool 18 in this manner ensures that the position of the anchor rod 10 is not disrupted within the blind hole 22 of the concrete structure 12.

[0025] In another aspect of the invention there is a method of pull-testing an anchor assembly 30 including a linked coupling 32 associated with an anchor member such as 10 anchored within a structure such as concrete or other building structure 12. The method according to a preferred embodiment is best illustrated in figures 1 g to 1 i and comprises the general steps of: 1. releasably linking a fixing tester 34 to the link coupling 32 which is mounted to the anchor member or rod 10;

2. activating the fixing tester 34 whereby a pull-out force is applied to the anchor rod 10 via the link coupling 32.

[0026] The fixing tester 34 of this embodiment is of a known construction and in applying the pull-out force to the anchor rod 10 via the link coupling 32 tests the holding power of the anchor rod 10 within the concrete structure 12. The fixing tester 34 includes an anchor member adaptor 36 detachably mounted to a loading head 38 of the fixing tester 34. The anchor member adaptor 36 is slid into linking engagement with the link coupling 32 and axial load is applied to the anchor rod 10 via the link coupling 32 by activating the fixing tester 34 in a conventional manner.

[0027] In this embodiment, the anchor assembly 30 also includes an anchorage 40 mounted to the anchor rod 10. It will be understood from figure 1 i that activation of the fixing tester 34 for application of the pull-out force to the anchor rod 10 is advantageously performed with the anchorage 40 in-situ. This means the required Standard’s testing of the holding power of the anchor rod 10 is an accurate reflection of the anchor assembly 30 in its entirety. This in-situ testing of the anchor assembly 30 also means the anchorage 40 and associated components need not be removed from the anchor rod 10 to enable testing.

[0028] Figures 2a to 2d depict equivalent steps to figures 1 g to 1 i but, for clarity purposes only, with the anchorage removed. It will be understood that the anchorage such as 40 may depart from the shock-absorbing device of figure 1g and remain within the scope of the present invention. For example, the anchorage may take the form of:

1. an eyenut (not shown) which is threaded to the exposed proximal end portion 14 of the anchor member or rod 10 and where the link coupling 32 is located between the eyenut and the structure 12;

2. an eyebolt (not shown) where the anchor member or rod 10 forms an integral part of the head of the eyebolt and where the link coupling 32 is located between the head of the eyebolt and the structure 12; 3. a post (not shown) where the anchor member or rod 10 is one of a plurality of anchor rods arranged to mount the post to the structure 12 wherein a mounting flange (not shown) of the post locates between the link coupling 32 and the structure 12 which is clamped together via an associated fastener arrangement such as that depicted in figures 2a to 2d

[0029] The anchorage may be replaced with practically any object anchored or otherwise mounted to a structure via an anchor member or assembly to be pull- tested. In all variations on this theme, the link coupling to which the fixing tester is linked is mounted or otherwise coupled to the anchor member.

[0030] Figure 3 is a complete perspective view of the fixing tester 34 taken from figure 1 i and shown linked with the link coupling 32. In complying with regulatory and compliance Standards or contractual obligations with customers, the anchor member or rod 10 must be tested after its installation within the concrete structure 12. This means for chemical anchoring of the anchor member or rod 10. sufficient time (for example at least 48 hours) must be allowed for curing of the chemical anchor prior to testing. In testing for free fall-arrest for one person, the relevant compliance requirements generally require an ultimate strength or holding power for the anchor rod 10 of 15kN. In applying a pull-out force to the anchor rod 10 via the fixing tester 34, the required ultimate strength translates to static proof loading of 50%, i.e. application of a static pull-out force of 7.5kN.

[0031 ] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the anchor assembly 30 according to a further aspect of the invention. In this case, the anchor assembly 30 is taken from the preceding aspect of the technology and generally comprises:

1. the anchor member or rod 10 adapted to be anchored within the structure 12;

2. the link coupling 32 mounted to the anchor rod 10 and configured to be releasably linked by the fixing tester 34, or more particularly the anchor rod adaptor 36.

[0032] The anchor member or rod 10 of this example is chemically anchored or glued via an appropriate adhesive within the hole 22 of the structure 12. In an alternative arrangement, the anchor member may be anchored to the concrete structure by other drilled-in anchorages including but not limited to friction, screw threaded or other mechanical or chemical anchorages.

[0033] In this embodiment, the anchor assembly 30 includes the anchorage 40 mounted to the anchor member or rod 10. The anchorage 40 is designed to provide coupling for a person working at heights. The anchorage 40 of the illustrated embodiments is of a shock-absorbing design of a known construction and promoted and sold by the applicant under the trade marks FROGLINK or FROGLINE. These shock-absorbing anchorages such as 40 are described in the applicant’s international patent application nos. PCT/AU2009/000862 and PCT/AU2016/050299 and their national derivatives. The contents and relevant disclosures of these published patents/patent applications are to be considered included herein by way of these references.

[0034] In this example, the anchor member or rod 10 is separate from the anchorage 40 and the anchor assembly 30 comprises a fastener arrangement 42 for secure mounting of the anchorage 40 to the anchor rod 10. The fastener arrangement 42 includes a nut 44 designed to engage the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor rod 10 and clamp the link coupling 32 to the anchorage 40. The fastener arrangement 42 also includes a spring-washer 46 which locates about the anchor rod 10 and is sandwiched between the nut 44 and the link coupling 32.

[0035] In alternative arrangements not illustrated, the anchorage may be formed integral with the fastener such as an eyebolt anchorage threaded to the anchor rod.

In this variation, the link coupling is located between the anchorage/fastener and the structure. In yet another construction, the anchor member may be integrated with the anchorage and take the form of an eyebolt anchorage. In this departure, the anchor assembly is absent a fastener and the link coupling is located between the anchorage and the structure.

[0036] Figure 6 illustrates the link coupling 32 taken from the earlier preferred embodiments of the anchor assembly 30. In this example, the link coupling 32 includes a sleeve member in the form of a ring-shaped member 50 having a central opening 52 to be received by the anchor rod 10 for mounting of the link coupling 32. The link coupling 32 also includes an upper annular flange 54 connected to and extending outward of the ring-shaped member 50. It will be understood from the earlier description of the method of pull-testing the anchor assembly 30 that the upper annular flange 54 is designed to bear the pull-out force applied by the fixing tester 34. The link coupling 32 includes a lower annular flange 56 also connected to and extending outward of the ring-shaped member 50. The upper and lower annular flanges 54 and 56 together form a circumferential channel 58 with which the anchor rod adaptor 36 releasably engages for application of the pull-out force to the anchor rod 10 via the link coupling 32.

[0037] In a further aspect of the invention there is the link coupling 32 taken from the preferred embodiment of the anchor assembly 30 of the preceding aspect of the technology. The link coupling 32 is configured to mount to the anchor member or rod 10 and adapted for releasable linking by a fixing tester such as 34 for the application of a pull-out force to the anchor member or rod 10 via the link coupling 32. It will be understood that this pull-out force is effective in testing the holding power of the anchor member or rod 10 within the associated structure 12.

[0038] Figures 7 and 8 depict yet another aspect of the technology which is broadly directed to a temporary locating tool adapted to releasably retain an anchor member to be anchored within a structure. In this embodiment, the temporary locating tool 18 is taken from figures 1c to 1f which are relevant to the earlier aspect of the invention. The temporary locating tool 18 includes the cavity 16 within which the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor member or rod 10 is inserted. The locating tool 18 thus functions to:

1. enclose a predetermined length of the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor rod 10, in this example the predetermined length being substantially equal to the depth of the cavity 16; and

2. the cavity 16 is configured relative to the proximal end portion 14 to retain the anchor rod 10 for positioning of the locating tool 18 about the opening 20 of the hole 22 of the structure 12.

[0039] It will be understood that the locating tool 18 supports the retained anchor rod 10 for in this case chemical or adhesive anchoring within the blind hole 22. On adequate curing of the chemical or adhesive anchor, the locating tool 18 is configured for release from the anchored rod 10 thereby exposing the predetermined length of the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor rod 10 outside the concrete structure 12. In an alternative arrangement, the cavity of the tool may be adjustable in terms of its depth depending upon the predetermined length at which the anchor member is to be exposed outside the structure.

[0040] In this example, the locating tool 18 is in the form of a detachable cap within which the cavity 16 is formed. The detachable cap 18 includes a perimeter wall 19 which defines the cavity 18. The perimeter wall 19 is adapted to rest upon the structure 12 surrounding the opening 20 of the hole 22. The locating tool 18 thus suspends the anchor member or rod 10 within the hole 22 prior to its chemical anchoring within the hole 22.

[0041 ] In this embodiment, the cavity 16 of the detachable cap 18 is at least in part a press, interference or friction fit with the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor member or rod 10. This fit is effective in temporarily retaining the detachable cap 18 for anchoring of the anchor rod 10 within the blind hole 22. This fit arrangement between the detachable cap 18 and the anchor rod 10 is illustrated in figure 7 whereas figure 8 depicts a departure from this embodiment where the cavity 16' is formed at least in part by threaded section 23'. The threaded section 23' is designed for screw-threaded connection with the proximal end portion 14 of the anchor member or rod 10.

[0042] Figures 9 to 11 illustrate another embodiment of a temporary locating tool or depth gauge of this other aspect of the technology. In this other embodiment the locating tool or depth gauge 180 is for ease of reference and in order to avoid repetition designated with the same reference numeral as the preceding embodiment but with an additional “0”. This depth gauge 180 is largely the same as the temporary locating tool 18 of the preceding embodiment except:

1. the cavity 160 is enlarged relative to the anchor rod 10 and thus is not configured to temporarily retain the anchor rod 10;

2. the cavity 160 is throughgoing and as such extends axially for the full length of the depth gauge 180; 3. the depth gauge 180 includes an adjustable screw 250 which threadingly engages a complementary thread 270 of the throughgoing cavity 160.

[0043] In this other embodiment, the depth gauge 180 is designed to urge the anchor member or rod 10 into the blind hole 22 of the concrete or other structure 12.

It will be understood that the axial position of the adjustable screw 250 relative to the cavity 160 determines the extent to which the anchor rod 10 is inserted into the relatively viscous resin, glue, or other chemical within the blind hole 22 and thus the extent to which the proximal end 14 of the anchor rod 10 extends from the structure 12. Figures 9a to 9c illustrate sequential steps in locating the anchor rod 10 within the blind hole 22 of the structure where in:

1. figure 9a the anchor rod 10 is generally positioned within the chemical within the blind hole 22 showing the depth gauge 180 preset at the required insertion depth hovering above the anchor rod 10;

2. figure 9b the depth gauge 180 is lowered upon the anchor rod 10 so as to receive its proximal end 14 within the cavity 160 whereupon contact of the adjustable screw 250 urges the anchor rod 10 further into the blind hole 22 until the depth gauge 180 contacts the surrounding structure 12;

3. figure 9c the depth gauge 180 is raised clear of the anchor rod 10 which remains at the designed depth within the blind hole 22 and thus extends the predetermined distance from the structure 12 as determined by the depth gauge 180.

[0044] Figures 10a and 10b depict sequential steps involved in urging of the anchor member or rod 10 into the blind hole 22 via the depth gauge 180 of this embodiment of the invention. It can be seen from these part sectional views that the anchor rod 10 contacts the adjustable screw 250 which is preset relative to the threaded cavity 160 and thus dictates the extent to which the anchor rod 10 extends from the structure 12. Figure 11 depicts a convenient technique for measuring the relative position of the adjustable screw 250 within the threaded cavity 160 thereby dictating the extent to which the anchor rod 10 extends from the structure 12. In this example, the measurement device or Vernier calliper 290 is at its tail end inserted within the cavity 160 to contact the adjustable screw 250 thereby obtaining the preset depth measurement. It will be appreciated that this depth dimension corresponds to the extent to which the anchor rod 10 will protrude or extend the predetermined length from the structure 12.

[0045] Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a variation on the preferred embodiment of figures 4 and 5 of the other aspects of the technology. For ease of reference and in order to avoid repetition, like components of this other embodiment have been designated with an additional “0” vis a vis the preferred embodiments. For example, the anchor member of this other embodiment has been designated at 100. This other embodiment is directed to an anchorage assembly 300 effectively the same as the preferred embodiment except:

1. the anchor member 100 is in the form of an anchor fastener;

2. the anchor fastener 100 is anchored within the hole 220 via an insert sleeve 110 inserted within the hole 220.

[0046] The insert sleeve 110 is inserted into the hole 220 in a clearance or slightly larger fit. The insert 110 is anchored to the surrounding structure 12 via an adhesive gel or other glue applied to the external surface of the insert collar 110. The glued-in anchorage is typically allowed sufficient time for curing before pull-testing.

[0047] Now that preferred embodiments of the various aspects of the technology have been described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that they have the following advantages:

1. the anchor assembly provides more accurate pull-testing where, in particular, the anchorage remains in-situ

2. the anchor assembly can be pull-tested without disassembly and reassembly which is typically required in pull-testing prior art arrangements;

3. the temporary locating tool is effective in both retention of the anchor member in the course of its anchoring, typically chemical anchoring, and exposing a predetermined length of the anchor member outside the structure;

4. the temporary locating tool or depth gauge is relatively simple in its construction and thus inexpensive and if necessary being disposable. [0048] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention as described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the link coupling may vary from the flange or collared arrangement of the preferred embodiment provided it permits effective linking with a fixing tester for application of the required pull-out force. It is also possible that the link coupling may be integral with the anchorage rather than the separate arrangement described in the preferred embodiment. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.