Description

COUPLER FOR STEEL REINFORCEMENT

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a steel reinforcement coupler, which is intended to couple steel reinforcements to each other in a longitudinal direction thereof and, more particularly, to a steel reinforcement coupler, which increases fastening force and tensile force, and affords a prompt and convenient fastening operation when steel reinforcements are coupled to each other. Background Art

[2] Generally, steel reinforcements are installed to provide tensile force to a reinforced- concrete structure.

[3] The steel reinforcements are produced at certain unit lengths. Thus, when a reinforced-concrete structure is constructed, the steel reinforcements must be coupled to each other. Since a predetermined tensile force acts on a coupled portion of the steel reinforcements while concrete cures, the steel reinforcements must maintain a firm coupling state.

[4] Therefore, various kinds of steel reinforcement couplers have been proposed so as to firmly couple steel reinforcements to each other in the longitudinal direction thereof.

[5] However, a conventional steel reinforcement coupler is problematic in that its construction is very complex, so that assembling or coupling work is very complicated, and thus onsite work efficiency is very low.

[6] Further, the conventional steel reinforcement coupler is problematic in that many auxiliary parts are required in order to increase the fastening force and tensile force, and thus the manufacturing cost is high. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steel reinforcement coupler, which remarkably increases fastening force and tensile force, and allows the operation of coupling steel reinforcements to each other to be more rapidly and conveniently executed.

[8] Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel reinforcement coupler, which has a simpler construction, thus enabling the easy manufacture of the coupler, and considerably reducing the manufacturing cost of the coupler. Technical Solution

[9] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a steel rein-

forcement coupler, including a pair of covers each having a seating groove which accommodates an end of each of steel reinforcements that are to be coupled to each other, with at least one coupling protrusion provided on an outer circumferential surface of each of the covers in a circumferential direction thereof, a sleeve for accommodating outer circumferential surfaces of the covers and elastically pressing the coupling protrusion of each of the covers, and a plurality of wedges longitudinally fitted between each of the covers and the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has on an end thereof at least one elastic rib for elastically pressing the coupling protrusion of each of the covers, with a notch provided in one side of the elastic rib and having a width corresponding to the coupling protrusion.

[10] According to the present invention, the coupling protrusion is formed such that an upper surface thereof is inclined in a circumferential direction of each of the covers.

[11] Further, the present invention provides a steel reinforcement coupler, including a pair of covers each having a seating groove which accommodates an end of each of steel reinforcements that are to be coupled to each other, with at least one coupling protrusion provided on an outer circumferential surface of each of the covers in a circumferential direction thereof, a sleeve for accommodating outer circumferential surfaces of the covers, and elastically pressing the coupling protrusion of each of the covers, and a plurality of wedges longitudinally fitted between each of the covers and the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has on an end thereof at least one depression which has a width corresponding to that of the coupling protrusion of each of the covers.

[12] According to one characteristic of the present invention, the sleeve has a polygonal outer circumferential surface.

[13] According to another characteristic of the present invention, the sleeve has a polygonal outer circumferential surface.

[14] Further, each of the covers has on an outer circumferential surface thereof a key groove which is inclined outwards in a longitudinal direction thereof, for insertion of each of the wedges into the key groove.

[15] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description. The terms or words used in the specification and claims are not limited to the meanings found in a dictionary, but must be understood as having meanings and concepts which are defined within the scope of the invention, as according to the principle by which the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms so as to best explain the invention.

Advantageous Effects

[16] According to the present invention, a steel reinforcement coupler remarkably increases fastening force and tensile force, and allows the operation of coupling steel

reinforcements to each other to be more rapidly and conveniently executed.

[17] Further, according to the present invention, a steel reinforcement coupler has a simpler construction, thus enabling the easy manufacture of the coupler, and considerably reducing the cost of manufacturing the coupler. Brief Description of the Drawings

[18] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a steel reinforcement coupler, according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which steel reinforcements are coupled to each other via the steel reinforcement coupler, according to the present invention;

[20] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

[21] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2;

[22] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a steel reinforcement coupler, according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[23] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sleeve of a steel reinforcement coupler, according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and

[24] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 6, when covers are fitted into the sleeve.

[25] *Description of reference characters of important parts*

[26] 11, 12: cover 21, 22: sleeve

[27] 31, 32, 33, 34: wedge

Mode for the Invention

[28] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description.

[29] Hereinafter, steel reinforcement couplers according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[30] Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. For clarity of description, known functions and constructions relating to the present invention will be omitted herein.

[31] FIGS. 1 to 4 are views showing a steel reinforcement coupler, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[32] As shown in the drawings, the steel reinforcement coupler of the present invention includes a pair of covers 11 and 12, which accommodate respective ends of steel reinforcements, one or more sleeves 21 and 22, which accommodate the outer circumferences of the covers 11 and 12, and a plurality of wedges 31, 32, 33, and 34, which are fitted between the covers 11 and 12 and the sleeves 21 and 22.

[33] Each cover 11 or 12 has a semi-circular cross-section. Seating grooves 1 Ia and 12a are provided on the inner circumferential surfaces of the covers 11 and 12, respectively, so that the respective ends of the steel reinforcements 51, which are to be coupled to each other, are seated on the corresponding seating grooves. A plurality of ribs 1 Ib and 12b protrudes inwards from the seating grooves 1 Ia and 12a, so that the lateral ribs 51a of each steel reinforcement 51 are fitted between the ribs 1 Ib and 12b, thus preventing the steel reinforcement 51 from being removed in the longitudinal direction thereof.

[34] Further, blocks 13 and 14 protrude outwards from the central portions of the respective covers 11 and 12. Each of the blocks 13 and 14 serves as a reference point when the steel reinforcements 51 are coupled to each other.

[35] One or more coupling protrusions 15 or 16 are provided on each of the covers 11 and 12 in the circumferential direction thereof in such a way as to be adjacent to the corresponding block 13 or 14.

[36] Further, the coupling protrusions 15 and 16 may be inclined in the circumferential direction thereof.

[37] Each of the sleeves 21 and 22 has the shape of a pipe, accommodates the covers 11 and 12 therein, and may be made of a material having a predetermined elastic force.

[38] Further, one or more elastic ribs 23 or 24 are provided on the end of each of the sleeves 21 and 22. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the elastic ribs 23 and 24 presses the corresponding coupling protrusion 15 or 16 of each of the covers 11 and 12, thus providing radial coupling force between the sleeves 21 and 22 and the covers 11 and 12.

[39] A notch 25 or 26 is provided in one side of each elastic rib 23 or 24. The arc length of the notch 25 or 26 may be slightly longer than or equal to that of the coupling protrusion 15 or 16 of each cover 11 or 12.

[40] Thanks to this construction, when the coupling protrusions 15 and 16 of the covers

11 and 12 are fitted into the corresponding notches 25 and 26 of the sleeves 21 and 22, and then the sleeves 21 and 22 are rotated in circumferential directions thereof, the elastic ribs 23 and 24 of the sleeves 21 and 22 move upwards along the inclined coupling protrusions 15 and 16 of the covers 11 and 12. Thereby, the elastic ribs 23 and 24 elastically press the corresponding coupling protrusions 15 and 16 of the covers 11 and 12.

[41] The plurality of wedges 31, 32, 33, and 34 is longitudinally fitted between the sleeves 21 and 22 and the corresponding covers 11 and 12.

[42] Preferably, key grooves 17 and 18 are formed in the outer circumferential surfaces of the corresponding covers 11 and 12 in such a way as to be inclined outwards in longitudinal directions thereof. Each of the wedges 31, 32, 33, and 34 is inserted into the

corresponding key groove 17 or 18, thus reinforcing coupling force between the sleeves 21 and 22 and the covers 11 and 12, thus allowing a pair of steel reinforcements 51 to be more firmly coupled to each other.

[43] The coupling operation using the steel reinforcement coupler according to the present invention will be described below in detail.

[44] First, the lateral ribs 5 Ia of each steel reinforcement 51 are fitted between the ribs

I Ib and 12b of the covers 11 and 12, so that the respective ends of the pair of steel reinforcements 51 are inserted into the seating grooves 11a and 12a in the pair of covers

I I and 12.

[45] Subsequently, the sleeves 21 and 22 are fitted over the covers 11 and 12 such that the coupling protrusions 15 and 16 of the covers 11 and 12 are inserted into the corresponding notches 25 and 26 of the sleeves 21 and 22. Next, the sleeves 21 and 22 are rotated in circumferential directions thereof. At this time, the elastic ribs 23 and 24 of the sleeves 21 and 22 move upwards along the inclined coupling protrusions 15 and 16 of the covers 11 and 12. Thereby, the elastic ribs 23 and 24 elastically press the coupling protrusions 15 and 16 of the covers 11 and 12.

[46] Finally, each of the wedges 31, 32, 33, and 34 is individually inserted into the key grooves 17 and 18 of the covers 11 and 12, thus reinforcing the coupling force between the sleeves 21 and 22 and the covers 11 and 12.

[47] FIG. 5 is a view showing a steel reinforcement coupler according to the second embodiment of the present invention. According to the second embodiment, the outer circumferential surface of each sleeve 41 or 42 has a polygonal shape, such as a hexagonal or octagonal shape. Such a polygonal outer circumferential surface permits easier rotational coupling using a fastening means such as a spanner.

[48] Since the remainder of the construction and operation of this embodiment are equal to those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the detailed description will be omitted herein.

[49] FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing the third embodiment of the present invention.

According to the third embodiment, each of sleeves 61 and 62 has on one end thereof one or more depressions 65. The depressions 65 have the same function and operation as the notches 25 and 26 of the above-mentioned embodiments. Each depression 65 may be formed by outwardly expanding part 64 of the end of the corresponding sleeve 61 or 62 through a pressing process or an expansion process.

[50] In the construction of the third embodiment, the coupling protrusions 15 and 16 of the covers 11 and 12 are fitted into the depressions 65 of each sleeve 61 or 62, and thereafter, the sleeve 61 or 62 is rotated in a circumferential direction thereof (clockwise or counterclockwise). At this time, an inner wall 66, which is adjacent to each depression 65 of the corresponding sleeve 61 or 62, moves upwards along the

inclined coupling protrusion 15 or 16 of each cover 11 or 12, thus elastically pressing the coupling protrusion 15 of the cover 11 or 12.

[51] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the outer circumferential surface of each sleeve 61 or

62 according to the third embodiment may have a polygonal shape, as in the second embodiment. The outer circumferential surface of each sleeve may have a circular shape, as in the first embodiment.

[52] Since the remainder of the construction and operation of this embodiment are equal to those of the first and second embodiments, the detailed description will be omitted herein.

[53] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

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