Adjustable Dap Assembly

Abstract

A vertically adjustable steel reinforcing assembly, especially adapted for effective use with dapped beam ends. The reinforcing assembly includes an upper assembly and a lower assembly. Running vertically through the center of each of the assemblies are aligning pin holes. Assembly is configured at the time of casting to accommodate most recent dap design.

Claims

1. An adjustable support structure for casting into a beam dap comprising: a vertical support member with a height which exceeds a vertical depth of the dap which it will be installed into; a horizontal support member with a horizontal distance which will extend along a horizontal distance of the dap which it will be installed into and will continue to extend beyond the dap to provide a connection flange for connecting the horizontal support member to said vertical support member; a means for allowing the horizontal support member connection flange to be securably connected to the vertical support member at multiple vertical locations along the vertical member; whereas said horizontal support member and said vertical support member can be aligned and securable affixed to each other at a proper vertical height to match the dimensions of a double tee dap in a just prior to the time of casting the beam.

2. The adjustable support structure for casting into double tee beam dap of claim 1, wherein said means for allowing the horizontal support member connection flange to be securably connected to the vertical support member at multiple vertical locations along the vertical member is comprised of a plurality of aligning pin holes running vertically through both the horizontal support member connection flange and the vertical support member and a plurality of press fit pins.

3. The adjustable support structure for casting into double tee beam dap of claim 1, further comprising an bearing plate affixed to the bottom edge of the horizontal support member, oriented perpendicularly with the horizontal support member.

4. The adjustable support structure for casting into double tee beam dap of claim 1, further comprising an bearing plate affixed to the bottom edge of the vertical member, oriented perpendicularly with the vertical member.

5. An adjustable support structure for casting into a beam dap comprising: a vertical support member with a height which exceeds a vertical depth of the dap which it will be installed into; a bearing plate affixed to the bottom edge of the vertical member, oriented perpendicularly with the vertical member a horizontal support member with a horizontal distance which will extend along a horizontal distance of the dap which it will be installed into and will continue to extend beyond the dap to provide a connection flange for connecting the horizontal support member to said vertical support member; a bearing plate affixed to the bottom edge of the horizontal support member, oriented perpendicularly with the horizontal support member a means for allowing the horizontal support member connection flange to be securably connected to the vertical support member at multiple vertical locations along the vertical member; a plurality of aligning pin holes running vertically through both the horizontal support member connection flange and the vertical support member and a plurality of press fit pins; whereas said horizontal support member and said vertical support member can be aligned at a proper vertical height to match the dimensions of a double tee dap in a just prior to the time of casting the double tees beam, and secured to each other utilizing said pin holes and press fit pins.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view drawing of a double tee structure with adjustable dap assemblies installed;

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view drawing of a double tee structure with adjustable dap assemblies installed;

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view drawing of a double tee structure with an adjustable dap installed with the adjustable tee configured for a dapped end with a tall vertical dimension;

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view drawing of a double tee structure with an adjustable dap installed with the adjustable tee configured for a dapped end with a short vertical dimension.

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view drawing of a double tee structure depicting how rebar is installed through the double tee structure web.

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view drawing of a double tee structure depicting how rebar and mesh web is installed through the double tee structure web.

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded perspective view drawing of the dap assembly.

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates an perspective view drawing of the dap assembly with the upper and lower assemblies separated.

[0024] FIG. 9 illustrates an perspective view drawing of the dap assembly with the upper and lower assemblies connected.

[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates an perspective view drawing of the an alternate embodiment of the dap assembly with the vertical and horizontal assemblies separated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 & 2 the adjustable dap assemblies 1 of the present invention are reinforcement structures that are cast into pre-manufactured double tees structures 2 that utilize dapped ends 3 to reduce floor-to-floor building height without losing necessary strength in the double tees structures 2.

[0027] In general, a double tee member can be considered to include an upper flange 5, and two depending webs 6. In building a structure, double tees structures 2 are often mounted upon columnar support members. To reduce the overall height of the structure, it has been found safe and useful to form each web 6 with a rectangular notch at the lower end of the web which is known as a dap 3.

[0028] As depicted in FIGS. 5 & 6 running fully or partly through the webs 6, particularly at the ends of the web, are reinforcing rebar 7 and mesh web 8. The mesh 8 and/or rebar 7 elements are tied to one another to provide a strong, rigid assembly which will properly take up and distribute the various vertical shear and other forces applied to the finished precast concrete double tees structures 2 in which the dap assemblies are located 1.

[0029] Referring s to FIGS. 3 & 4, each rectangular dap 3 has a horizontal 9 and vertical dimension 10. These dimensions can vary based upon the required dimensions of the structure itself, the dimensions of the double tee, and the calculated loads the double tee structures are required to support.

[0030] The unusual shape of the dapped-end 3 creates severe stress concentrations localized at the upper inner corner of the dap notch 11 and at the lower corner of the dap notch 12. Furthermore, in addition to the calculated forces from external loads, dapped ends 3 are also sensitive to horizontal tension forces arising from restraint of shrinkage or creep shortening of the PC member. Therefore, if suitable reinforcement is not provided at the upper inner corner of the dap notch 11 and at the lower corner of the dap notch 12, diagonal tension cracks may propagate rapidly and failure may occur with little or no warning.

[0031] For this reason, reinforcing dap assemblies 1 are utilized to add additional support where these stress concentrations exist. The adjustable dap assemblies 1 of the current invention will provide additional support structures that cab be cast in the double tee daps 3, providing a steel surface, instead of a cement surface, at the upper inner corner of the dap notch 11 and at the lower corner of the dap notch 12 where stress concentrations occur, which is less prone to stress failure than concrete is.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, & 9, the adjustable dap assembly of the present invention is generally comprised of two pieces, an upper assembly 13 and a lower assembly 14. The two assemblies are joined to create a single rigid adjustable dap assembly 1 which can be cast into the double tee assemble 2.

[0033] The upper assembly comprises the following components: a vertical upper member 15, a horizontal arm member 16 and a upper bearing plate 17.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment the vertical upper member 15 is a flat rectangular piece of plate steel. The vertical upper member 15 functions to provide a large surface area to distribute load forces evenly throughout the web 6 of the double tee structure 2.

[0035] Running vertically through the upper vertical member 15 is a plurality of pin holes 18 drilled through the member. The pin holes 18 serve to allow the upper assembly 13 and lower assembly 14 to be affixed to each other at various distances between the upper bearing plate 17 and lower bearing plate 19. Allowing these two members to be affixed at various locations provides the adjustability which differentiates this invention from the prior art.

[0036] Protruding perpendicularly from approximately the vertical center of the vertical upper member 15 is a horizontal arm member 16. The length of the horizontal arm member 16 is roughly the same dimension as the horizontal length of the dap notch 3. In the preferred embodiment the horizontal arm member 16 is manufactured from the same piece of plate steel as the upper vertical member 15 so that the two sections are one contiguous part. Having the two members manufactured as one contiguous part increases the strength of the upper assembly 13 and reduces the potential for stress concentrations in the upper assembly 13. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the bottom edge of the arm 20 forms a right angle 22 with the vertical upper member 15 and the upper edge 21 of the arm forms an angle greater the 90 degrees 23 with the vertical upper member 15 to minimize the risk of creating a stress concentration at that connection point. The horizontal arm member 16 functions to provide and attachment location for the upper bearing plate 17 and to distribute load forces evenly throughout the web 6 of the double tee structure 2.

[0037] Affixed to the bottom edge 20 of the horizontal arm member 16 is a ell shaped upper bearing plate 17. The upper bearing plate 17 is also constructed out of flat plate steel, however, it is oriented perpendicularly with the upper vertical member 15 and horizontal arm member 16 and is welded to the upper vertical member 15 and horizontal arm member 16. The bearing please is oriented so that the right angle 24 of the ell shape is fitted to the right angle connection between the vertical member and horizontal arm member 22. The upper bearing plate 17 functions to transfer concentrated forces generated by the aforementioned stress concentrations in the upper inner corner of the dap notch 11 into general load forces which can be evenly throughout the web 6 of the double tee structure 2.

[0038] The lower assembly 14 comprises the following components, a vertical lower member 27 and a lower bearing plate 19.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment the lower vertical member 27 is a flat rectangular piece of plate steel. The lower vertical member 27 functions to provide a large surface area to distribute forces generated by the aforementioned stress concentrations in the dap evenly throughout the web 6 of the double tee structure 2.

[0040] Running vertically through the lower vertical member 27 is a plurality of pin holes 18 drilled through the member. The pin holes 18 serve to allow the upper assembly 13 and lower assembly 14 to be affixed to each other at various distances between the upper bearing plate 17 and lower bearing plate 19. Allowing these two members to be affixed at various locations provides the adjustability which differentiates this invention from the prior art.

[0041] Affixed to the bottom edge 29 of the lower member is a ell shaped lower bearing plate 19. The lower bearing plate 19 is constructed out of flat plate steel, however, it is oriented perpendicularly with the lower vertical member 27 and is welded to the lower vertical member 27. The lower bearing plate 19 is oriented so that the right angle 30 of the ell shape is fitted to the lower corner of the dap notch 12. The lower bearing plate functions to transfer the concentrated forces generated by the aforementioned stress concentrations in the lower corner of the dap notch 12 into general load forces which can be evenly throughout the web 6 of the double tee structure 2.

[0042] FIG. 10 depicts an alternate embodiment of the current inventions which is generally comprised of two pieces, a vertical assembly 101 and a horizontal assembly 102. The two assemblies are joined to create a single rigid adjustable dap assembly 100 which can be cast into the double tee assemble 2.

[0043] The vertical member is comprised of a vertical member 103, a and a bearing plate 104. The horizontal member is comprised of a horizontal member 105, a connecting flange 106, and a bearing plate 107. When installed on the adjustable dap assembly 100, the horizontal member 105 and a connecting flange 106 match the length of the dap, and the connection flange begins at the upper inner corner of the dap notch 11 and is the same width as the vertical member 103.

[0044] Running vertically through the vertical member 103 and connecting flange 106 are a plurality of pin holes 108 drilled through the members. The pin holes 108 serve to allow the vertical assembly 101 and horizontal assembly 102 to be affixed to each other at various distances between the bearing plates 104 & 107 utilizing press fit pins. Allowing these two members to be affixed at various locations provides vertical height adjustability.

[0045] At the time of manufacture of the double tee structure 2, the pre-castor will acquire the appropriate adjustable dap assembly 1 from their supply stock, based on the horizontal length of the dap (8″ in the figures). The castor then will align the upper 13 and lower 14 assemblies based on the vertical height of the dap 3 and press fit the pins (not depicted) into the pin holes 18 to fix the height of the adjustable dap assembly 21.

[0046] During the casting process the castor may install into the cast the appropriate rebar 7 and/or mesh web 8 into the double tee webs 6.