The invention relates to a connecting device for joining adjacent pre-cast concrete sections such as reinforced concrete elements as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1.

The invention also relates to a method for joining a first pre-cast concrete section such as reinforced concrete element and a second pre-cast concrete section such as reinforced concrete element, as defined in the preamble of independent claim 4.

The invention relates especially, however without excluding other applications, to connecting devices for joining pre-cast concrete sections such as reinforced concrete elements in the form of wall elements and correspondingly to a method for joining a first pre-cast concrete section such as a first reinforced concrete element in the form of a first wall element and a second pre-cast concrete section such as a second reinforced concrete element in the form of a second wall element. The invention may also be used for connecting a first pre-cast concrete section such as a first reinforced concrete element in the form of a first wall element to a column.

Such connecting devices are normally used in the below described way when joining a first pre-cast concrete section and a second pre-cast concrete section.

The first pre-cast concrete section is provided with a first connecting device that comprises a first cable loop, which has an anchoring end anchored to the first pre-cast concrete section, and which has a loop section that is to be anchored to a reinforcement rod or the like by arranging the reinforcement rod to penetrate the loop section, wherein the reinforcement rod is situated in a spacing that is formed between the first pre-cast concrete section and the second pre-cast concrete section.

The second pre-cast concrete section is correspondingly provided with a second connecting device that comprises a second cable loop, which has an anchoring end anchored to the second pre-cast concrete section, and which has a loop section that is to be anchored to a reinforcement rod or the like by arranging the reinforcement rod to penetrate the loop section, wherein the reinforcement rod is situated in said spacing that is formed between the first pre-cast concrete section and the second pre-cast concrete section.

The first pre-cast concrete section is arranged adjacent to the second pre-cast concrete section so that said spacing is formed between the first pre-cast concrete section and the second pre-cast concrete section. A reinforcement rod is arranged in said spacing to penetrate the loop section of the first connecting device of the first pre-cast concrete section. A reinforcement rod is arranged in the spacing to penetrate the loop section of the second connecting device of the second pre-cast concrete section. The cable loop section is also configured to be anchored to concrete to be cast in the spacing between the two adjacent pre-cast concrete sections. Thereafter the spacing between the first pre-cast concrete section and the second pre-cast concrete section is at least partly filled with concrete.

In such a connection it would be desirable that the connection device could transfer as much force such as shear force as possible between the pre-case concrete section and the concrete cast in the spacing.

It is known in the art to increase the ability of the connection device to transfer force by using several cable loops in connection with one connection devise. The ability to transfer force is therefore increased because the total surface area of the cable loops which is in contact with the concrete cast in the spacing is bigger in comparison with a situation where there is only one cable loop. Several cable loops make, however, the connecting device more complex, which makes it more difficult to install.

It is also known in the art to increase the ability of the connection device to transfer force by using a thicker cable in the cable loop. Also in this case the ability to transfer force is increased for example when the surface area of the cable loop which is in contact with the concrete cast in the spacing is bigger in comparison with a situation where there is a thinner cable loop. Thicker cables such as thicker steel wire ropes are however expensive.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive solution for increasing the ability of the connection device to transfer force such as shear force to the concrete cast in the spacing.

Short description of the invention

The connecting device of the invention is characterized by the definitions of independent claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the connecting device are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 3.

The method of the invention is correspondingly characterized by the definitions of independent claim 4.

Preferred embodiments of the method are defined in the dependent claims 5 to 6. The invention is based on increasing the ability of the connection device to transfer force such as shear force to the concrete cast in the spacing by providing the loop section of the cable loop of the connecting device with an anchoring element for increasing the contact area i.e. the surface area between the loop section and concrete to be cast in the spacing between the two adjacent pre-cast concrete sections.

The anchoring element may for example comprise a spiral means such as a metal spring or a metal wire formed to a spiral, which spiral means is arranged at least partly around the loop section of the cable loop of the connecting device.

The anchoring element may for example comprise a plate means such as a metal plate, wherein the plate means is fixedly or releasably attached to the loop section of the cable loop of the connecting device.

The anchoring element may for example comprise a tube means such as a metal tube, wherein the tube means is arranged at least partly around the loop section of the cable loop of the connecting device, and wherein the tube means being fixedly or releasably attached the loop section of the cable loop of the connecting device.

List of figures

In the following the invention will be described in more detail by referring to the figures, of which

Figure 1 shows the principle of a connection between a first and a second pre-cast concrete section,

Figure 2 is a section view of a connection between a first and a second pre-cast concrete section,

Figures 3 to 5 are schematic drawings of the connecting device in a first embodiment,

Figures 6 to 8 are schematic drawings of the connecting device in a second embodiment, and

Figure 9 is a schematic drawing of the connecting device in a third embodiment.

Detailed description of the invention

Firstly the connecting device 1, la, lb for joining adjacent pre-cast concrete sections 2, 2a, 2b such as reinforced concrete elements for example wall elements and preferred and alternative embodiments of the connecting device 1, la, lb will be described in greater detail.

The connecting device 1, la, lb comprises a cable loop 3, 3a, 3b.

The cable loop 3, 3a, 3b may comprise a steel wire rope.

The cable loop 3, 3 a, 3b has an anchoring end 4, 4a, 4b for anchoring the connecting device 1, la, lb to a pre-cast concrete section 2, 2a, 2b.

The cable loop 3, 3a, 3b has a loop section 5, 5a, 5b that is to be anchored to a reinforcement rod 6 or the like by arranging the reinforcement rod through the loop section 5, 5a, 5b, wherein the reinforcement rod 6 is situated in a spacing 7 that is formed between two or more adjacent pre-cast concrete sections 2, 2a, 2b when mounting pre-cast concrete sections 2, 2a, 2b.

The loop section 5, 5 a, 5b is also configured to be anchored to concrete 8 to be cast in said spacing 7 that is formed between the two or more adjacent pre-cast concrete sections 2, 2a, 2b.

The loop section 5, 5a, 5b is provided with an anchoring element 9 for increasing the contact area between the loop section 5, 5a, 5b and concrete 8 to be cast in the spacing 7 between the two adjacent pre-cast concrete sections 2, 2a, 2b. The anchoring element 9 is an element originally separate from the loop section 5, 5a, 5b that has been arranged to, for example releasably or fixedly fastened to, the loop section 5, 5a, 5b.

The anchoring element 9 may comprise a spiral means 10 such as a metal spring or a metal wire formed to a spiral, which spiral means 10 is arranged at least partly around the loop section 5, 5a, 5b of the cable loop 3, 3a, 3b of the connecting device 1, la, lb. Such a spiral means 10 may be formed by wounding metal wire around the loop section 5, 5a, 5b of the cable loop 3, 3a, 3b of the connecting device 1, la, lb. Such a spiral means 10 may be fixedly or releasably attached around the loop section 5, 5a, 5b of the cable loop 3, 3a, 3b of the connecting device 1, la, lb. Figures 3 to 5 shows a connecting device 1, la, lb having an anchoring element 9 comprising a spiral means 10.

The anchoring element 9 may comprise a plate means 11 such as a metal plate, which plate means 1 1 is fixedly or releasably attached to the loop section 5, 5a, 5b of the cable loop 3, 3a, 3b of the connecting device 1, la, lb. Such plate means 1 1 may be fixedly or releasably attached to the inside of the loop section 5, 5a, 5b of the cable loop 3, 3a, 3b of the connecting device 1, la, lb so that the loop section 5, 5a, 5b surrounds the plate means 11. Figures 6 to 8 shows a connecting device 1, la, lb having an anchoring element 9 comprising a plate means 11.

The anchoring element 9 may comprise a tube means 12 such as a metal tube, which tube means 12 is arranged at least partly around the loop section 5, 5a, 5b of the cable loop 3, 3a, 3b of the connecting device 1, la, lb, and which tube means 12 is fixedly or releasably attached to the loop section 5, 5a, 5b of the cable loop 3, 3a, 3b of the connecting device 1, la, lb. Figure 9 shows a connecting device 1, la, lb having an anchoring element 9 comprising a tube means 12.

The connecting device 1, la, lb shown in the drawings has also a case-like structure 13 for providing a dowel-like countersink in the surface of the pre-cast concrete section 2, 2a, 2b.

Next the method for joining a first pre-cast concrete section 2a such as a reinforced concrete element and a second pre-cast concrete section 2b such as a reinforced concrete element and preferred and alternative embodiments of the method will be described in greater detail. The method comprises a step for providing the first pre-cast concrete section 2a with a first connecting device la that comprises a first cable loop 3a, which has a first anchoring end 4a anchored to the first pre-cast concrete section 2b and which has a first loop section 5a that is to be anchored to a reinforcement rod 6 or the like by arranging the reinforcement rod 6 to penetrate the first loop section 5a, wherein the reinforcement rod 6 is situated in a spacing 7 that is formed between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b.

The method comprises a step for providing the second pre-cast concrete section 2a with a second connecting device lb that comprises a second cable loop 3b, which has a second anchoring end 4b anchored to the second pre-cast concrete section 2b and which has a second loop section 5b that is to be anchored to a reinforcement rod 6 or the like by arranging the reinforcement rod 6 to penetrate the second loop section 5b, wherein the reinforcement rod 6 is situated in a spacing 7 that is formed between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b.

The method comprises a step for arranging the first pre-cast concrete section 2a adjacent to the second pre-cast concrete section 2b so that said spacing 7 is formed between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b.

The method comprises a step for arranging a reinforcement rod 6 in the spacing 7 between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b to penetrate the first loop section 5a of the first connecting device la of the first pre-cast concrete section 2a.

The method comprises a step for arranging a reinforcement rod 6 in the spacing 7 between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b to penetrate the second loop section 5b of the second connecting device lb of the second pre-cast concrete section 2b.

The method comprises a step for filling the spacing 7 between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b at least partly with concrete 8, whereby the first cable loop 3 a and the second cable loop 3b is also anchored to the concrete 8 cast in the spacing 7 between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b.

The method comprises a step for providing at least one of the first loop section 5a of the first connecting device la and the second loop section 5a of the second connection device lb with a anchoring element 9 for increasing the contact area between the first loop section 5a and the concrete 8 cast in the spacing 7 between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b and/or for increasing the contact area between the second loop section 5b and the concrete 8 cast in the spacing 7 between the first pre-cast concrete section 2a and the second pre-cast concrete section 2b. The anchoring element 9 is an element originally separate from the first loop section 5 a and/or the second loop section 5b that has been arranged to for example releasably or fixedly fastened to the first loop section 5 a and/or the second loop section 5b.

The method may comprise a step for using as an anchoring element 9 a spiral means 10 such as a metal spring or a metal wire formed to a spiral, and a step for arranging a spiral means 10 at least partly around the first loop section 5a and/or a step for arranging a spiral means 10 at least partly around the second loop section. The method may comprise a step for fixedly or releasably attaching a spiral means 10 at least partly around the first loop section 5a and/or a step for fixedly or releasably attaching a spiral means 10 at least partly around the second loop section.

The method may comprise a step for using as an anchoring element 9 a plate means 1 1 such as a metal plate, and a step for fixedly or releasably attaching a plate means 1 1 to the first loop section 5a and/or a step for fixedly or releasably attaching a plate means 1 1 to the second loop section 5b. The method may comprise a step for fixedly or releasably attaching the plate means 1 1 to the inside of the first loop section 5a so that the first loop section 5a surrounds the plate means 11 and/or correspondingly for fixedly or releasably attaching the plate means 1 1 to the inside of the second loop section 5b so that the second loop section 5b surrounds the plate means 11.

The method may comprise a step for using as an anchoring element 9 a tube means 12 such as a metal tube, and a step for arranging a tube means 12 at least partly around the first loop section 5a and a step for fixedly or releasably attaching the tube means 12 to the first loop section 5a and/or a step for arranging a tube means 12 at least partly around the second loop section and a step for fixedly or releasably attaching the tube means 12 to the second loop section 5b.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the presented method for joining a first pre-cast concrete section 2a such as a reinforced concrete element and a second precast concrete section 2b such as a reinforced concrete element may also be used for joining three of four pre-cast concrete sections together.

It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.