Hybrid screw with compartmentalized wedge groove

Abstract

A screw having a shank, wherein the shank has a tip end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the tip end and through the rear end, wherein the tip end and the rear end are opposite ends of the shank, and a screw thread, which is connected to the shank, and which winds around the shank, wherein a wedge groove is provided in the shank, which wedge groove winds around the shank and extends alongside at least a section of the screw thread, wherein the wedge groove is delimited by a rearwardly tapered wedge flank for wedging a grout shell surrounding the shank. At least one ridge is provided within the wedge groove, wherein the ridge compartmentalizes the wedge groove.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A screw comprising: a shank having a tip end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the tip end and through the rear end, the tip end and the rear end being opposite ends of the shank; a screw thread connected to the shank and winding around the shank; a wedge groove being provided in the shank, the wedge groove winding around the shank and extends alongside at least a section of the screw thread, the wedge groove being delimited by a rearwardly tapered wedge flank for wedging a grout shell surrounding the shank; and at least one ridge within the wedge groove, wherein the ridge compartmentalizes the wedge groove.

9. The screw as recited in claim 8 wherein the ridge extends parallel to the longitudinal axis.

10. The screw as recited in claim 8 wherein the ridge projects from the wedge flank.

11. The screw as recited in claim 8 wherein the ridge is sunk into the wedge groove or is flush with a surrounding of the wedge groove.

12. The screw as recited in claim 8 wherein the at least one ridge includes a plurality of ridges provided within the wedge groove, the ridges compartmentalizing the wedge groove.

13. The screw as recited in claim 12 wherein at least one ridge per turn of the wedge groove is provided.

14. The screw as recited in claim 8 wherein the screw is a concrete screw.

15. The screw as recited in claim 14 wherein a ratio of the maximum outer thread diameter of the screw thread to the pitch of the screw thread is between 1 and 2 at least in some regions of the screw thread.

16. The screw as recited in claim 15 wherein a ratio of the maximum outer thread diameter of the screw thread to the pitch of the screw thread is between 1.2 and 1.6 at least in some regions of the screw thread.

17. The screw as recited in claim 8 wherein a ratio of the maximum outer thread diameter of the screw thread to the pitch of the screw thread is between 1 and 2 at least in some regions of the screw thread.

18. The screw as recited in claim 17 wherein a ratio of the maximum outer thread diameter of the screw thread to the pitch of the screw thread is between 1.2 and 1.6 at least in some regions of the screw thread.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, which are depicted schematically in the accompanying drawings. Individual features of the exemplary embodiments presented below can be implemented either individually or in any combination within the scope of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a screw according to a first embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the screw according to the first embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section according to A-A in FIG. 2, and including the longitudinal axis of the screw's shank, of the screw according to the first embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, according to E-E in FIG. 2, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the screw's shank, of the screw according to the first embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the screw according to the first embodiment arranged in a borehole and embedded in a grout shell,

[0023] FIG. 6 is a detail of the screw according to the first embodiment, in longitudinal section that includes the longitudinal axis of the screw's shank.

[0024] FIG. 7 is another detail of the screw according to the first embodiment, in longitudinal section that includes the longitudinal axis of the screw's shank.

[0025] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a screw according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrate a first embodiment of a screw. The screw comprises an elongate shank 10, which has a tip end 11. The tip end 11 is the leading end of the shank 10 and the shank 10 is intended to be inserted with the tip end 11 first into a borehole 90 when the screw is installed. The shank 10 also has rear end 18, which is located opposite the tip end 11. In particular, the shank 10 can be generally circular cylindrical. The screw furthermore has a screw drive 19 that is connected to the shank 10, monolithically in the present case by way of example, for applying torque to the shank 10. In the shown embodiment, the screw drive 19 is a hex head located at the rear end 18, but this is an example only. Any other type of screw drive 19 can be used, such as an external type, for example hex, line (ALH), square, or a socket head, for example Bristol, clutch, double hex, hex socket, hexalobular socket, line (ALR), polydrive, Robertson, spline, TP3, and others. The screw drive 19 could also be located within the shank 10 and/or remote from the rear end 18, in particular if the screw is headless and/or internally threaded.

[0027] The elongate shank 10 comprises a longitudinal axis 99, extending in the longitudinal direction of the shank 10 and through both the tip end 11 and through the rear end 18.

[0028] The screw furthermore comprises a screw thread 30, which is located on the shank 10, which winds around the shank 10 and/or the longitudinal axis 99, and which projects radially, with respect to the longitudinal axis 99, from the shank 10. In particular, the screw thread 30 is arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis 99. The screw thread 30 is an external screw thread. The screw thread 30 is generally helical. However, it could also deviate from a strict mathematical helix, e.g. for additional functionality. In the present embodiment, the shank 10 and the screw thread 30 are monolithic. However, alternatively, at least a section of the screw thread 30, or all of the screw thread 30, might be separate from the shank 10. Whereas in the present embodiment, the screw thread 30 is shown to be a monolithic part, it might also consist of separate elements. In particular, the shank 10 and/or screw thread 30 consist of a metal material, preferably a steel material, most preferably a stainless steel. The shank 10 and/or screw thread 30 could also be provided with a respective coating, comprising one or more layers.

[0029] In the present embodiment, the screw thread 30 is shown to be continuous. However, it could also be non-continuous, for example in order to provide a serration.

[0030] Whereas in the shown embodiment, no additional screw threads are shown, the screw might also have additional screw threads, formed monolithically or non-monolithically with respect to the shank 10.

[0031] A wedge groove 40 is provided in the shank 10, wherein the wedge groove 40 projects radially, with respect to the longitudinal axis 99, into the shank 10. The wedge groove 40 extends alongside the screw thread 30 and it flanks the screw thread 30, at least a section thereof. Like the screw thread 30, the wedge groove 40 thus winds around the shank 10 and/or around the longitudinal axis 99, and the wedge groove 40 is generally helical (again with possible deviations from a strict mathematical helix). The helical wedge groove 40 is arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis 99. In particular, the wedge groove 40 extends parallelly alongside the screw thread 30. In particular, the wedge groove 40 and the screw thread 30 have the same pitch.

[0032] The wedge groove 40 is delimited by a forwardly facing flank 41 and a rearwardly facing flank 44. Whereas in the shown embodiment, the forwardly facing flank 41 merges into the rearwardly facing flank 44, there might also be provided a bottom surface adjoining both flank 41 and flank 44, and located between flank 41 and flank 44, which bottom surface delimits the bottom of the wedge groove 40. Since the wedge groove 40 is generally helical, so are the forwardly facing flank 41, the rearwardly facing flank 44 and/or the bottom surface.

[0033] The rearwardly facing flank 44 (see, e.g, FIG. 5) is rearwardly tapering, i.e. when seen in a longitudinal section including the longitudinal axis 99, its distance from the longitudinal axis 99 decreases towards the rear end 18 of the shank 10. In other words, the rearwardly facing flank 44 converges towards the rear end 18 of the shank 10, wherein a focus of convergence can preferably be the longitudinal axis 99 of the shank 10.

[0034] The rearwardly facing flank 44 forms a helical wedge, which is able to wedge a grout shell 91 that surrounds the shank 10 radially outwardly as the shank 10 is rearwardly loaded (Rearwards can be considered the direction pointing, parallel to the longitudinal axis 99, from the tip end 11 to the rear end 18 of the shank 10, which is the direction indicated with a thick arrow in FIG. 7. The rearward direction is also the pull-out direction). The flank 44 can thus form an additional anchoring mechanism for anchoring the shank 10 in a grouted borehole 90, which is effective in addition to an interlock of the screw thread 30 with the wall of the borehole 90. The flank 44 is thus a wedge flank 44 for wedging the grout shell 91 surrounding the shank 10.

[0035] Wedge-shaped lamellae of the grout shell 91 may be radially displaced in case of axial displacement of the shank 10 in the substrate, which for example occurs during tensile loading and especially in cracked concrete condition. As a consequence, a friction and/or deadlock reaction between the shank 10 and the borehole wall can emerge, which can provide an additional load transfer mechanism between the screw and the substrate.

[0036] As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 7, a buffer zone 49 is provided between, in particular axially between, the wedge flank 44 and the screw thread 30 located adjacent to the wedge flank 44. The buffer zone 49 adjoins, namely at its rear edge, the wedge flank 44, and further adjoins, namely at its front edge, the screw thread 30, in particular the rearwardly facing flank of the screw thread 30. The buffer zone 49 is thus sandwiched between the wedge flank 44 and the screw thread 30. In the buffer zone 49, the shank 10 has less rearward taper as compared to the wedge flank 44. Accordingly, the cone angle, measured with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank 10, is smaller in the buffer zone 49 than it is at the wedge flank 44. In particular, the taper and/or the cone angle might be zero in the buffer zone 49, which is shown in the present embodiment. In this case, the buffer zone 49 can have a generally circular cylindrical lateral surface, as shown in the present embodiment.

[0037] The buffer zone 49 provides an offset, in the longitudinal direction, between wedge flank 44 and the screw thread 30. This offset can counteract large-surface collision of grout shell lamellae wedged by the wedge flank 44 with the screw thread 30 when the shank 10 is rearwardly loaded, i.e. loaded in the pull-out direction illustrated with the thick solid arrow shown in FIG. 7. As a consequence, the lamellae can retain contact with both the shank 10 and the surrounding substrate, and continue to transfer radial loads.

[0038] The rearward taper of the rearward flank of the screw thread 30 is larger than the rearward taper of the buffer zone 49.

[0039] The screw is a concrete screw, i.e. the screw thread 30 is able to tap, in particular cut, a corresponding mating thread in a concrete substrate. In particular, the screw can be so configured that it is able to be anchored within a concrete borehole by means of engagement of the screw thread 30 only (i.e. without grout). A grout shell 91, i.e. a shell of hardened mass, can be provided in order to provide additional anchoring by means of the mechanism described above.

[0040] The screw thread 30 has an outer thread diameter d.sup.tr. The ratio of the maximum outer thread diameter d.sub.tr of the screw thread 30 to the pitch p.sub.tr of the screw thread 30 is preferably between 1 and 2, in particular between 1.2 and 1.6. At least one of the following thread parameters can preferably be employed for the screw thread 30: [0041] d.sub.tr/d.sub.b=1.1 to 1.3 (ratio outer thread diameter to borehole diameter); [0042] p.sub.tr/d.sub.b=0.7 to 1.1 (ratio screw thread pitch to borehole diameter); [0043] flank angle of the screw thread 30=30° to 60°, wherein the screw thread 30 can have non-symmetric thread cross section, as shown, or, in an alternative embodiment, symmetric cross-section.

[0044] The screw thread 30 has a plurality of turns, namely approximately six turns in the shown embodiment. Preferably, it has at least two turns. In the present embodiment, the screw thread 30 spans, longitudinally (i.e. in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 99), approximately 80% of the length l.sub.s of the shank 10. The screw thread 30 thus forms a main thread of the screw.

[0045] The wedge groove 40, on the other hand, has less turns than screw thread 30 has (the wedge groove 40 has approximately three turns in the present embodiment), and the wedge groove 40 spans approximately 40% of the length l.sub.s of the shank 10. In particular, the screw thread 30 extends closer to the rear end 18 of the shank 10 than does the wedge groove 40 (and/or the wedge flank 44). In particular, the screw thread 30 extends closer to the rear end 18 of the shank 10 than does the wedge groove 40 (and/or the wedge flank 44) by at least one turn of the screw thread 30 (by approximately two turns in the present embodiment). Accordingly, the screw thread 30 has at least one turn (two turns in the present embodiment) that is located axially between the rear end 18 of the shank 10 and the wedge groove 40 and/or the screw thread 30 has at least one turn that is located axially between the rear end 18 of the shank 10 and the wedge flank 44. In other words, the screw thread 30 extends closer to the rear end 18 of the shank 10 than does the wedge groove 40 and/or the wedge flank 44 by at least one time the pitch p.sub.tr of the screw thread 30. Due to this offset, the wedging mechanism provided by the wedge flank 44 is concentrated deep within the borehole 90, where the loading capacity of the substrate is usually highest, and/or where the substrate can usually absorb radial loads particularly well.

[0046] As already mentioned above, the screw thread 30 might be strictly mathematically helical, but might also deviate from a helical form, which can e.g. provide additional functionality. Likewise, the wedge groove 40 and/or the wedge flank 44 might be strictly mathematically helical, but might also deviate from a helical form, which can e.g. provide additional functionality

[0047] The screw comprises a plurality of axially extending ridges 46 (see, e.g., FIG. 1), which are located, at least partly, within the wedge groove 40, and which divide the wedge groove 40 into a helical succession of compartments or bays. In case of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the ridges 46 do not completely cover the longitudinal cross-section of the wedge groove 40, and the ridges are slightly sunk into the wedge groove 40, as can be for example taken from FIGS. 2 and 3. In contrast, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the ridges 46 completely cover the longitudinal cross-section of the wedge groove 40, and they are flush with their surrounding regions of the shank 10, at least they are flush with buffer zone 49. Moreover, in case of the second embodiment, the ridges 46 are broader as compared to the first embodiment.

[0048] In both embodiments, the ridges 46 form predetermined breaking locations (in particular predetermined breaking lines) or separator locations (in particular separator lines) for the grout shell 91 that surrounds the shank 10, which can cause the grout shell 91 to divide into individual segments when the shank 10 is rearwardly loaded, thereby activating the wedging mechanism.

[0049] In both embodiments, the ridges 46 extend longitudinally, in particular they extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 99. In both embodiments, they project radially outwardly from the wedge flank 44 and/or from the forwardly facing flank 41 of the wedge groove 40.

[0050] Except for the different design of the respective ridges 46, the two shown embodiments are generally identical. Therefore, with regards to the details of the embodiment of FIG. 8, reference is made to the description of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, which can be applied mutatis mutandis.

[0051] The screws of both embodiments can be screwingly inserted into a non-grouted borehole 90 in a concrete substrate, and the screw thread 30 can provide sufficient anchoring action. Alternatively, the respective screws can also be installed together with grout (i.e. a hardenable chemical mass) that is filling the gaps between shank 10 and borehole wall. In this case, grout fills also the individual cone-shaped compartments, so that wedge-shaped grout segments, separated by the ridges 46, are formed. In particular, the grout is chosen so that it does not glue or bond to the (steel) surface of the shank 10. Any bonding action with the shank 10 has usually to be minimized (optionally using surface treatment or coatings, e.g. organic wax coatings). In contrast, the grout should bond to the borehole wall, by chemical bonding and/or by mechanical interlock that is provided by any small geometrical “imperfection” such as roughness, local breakouts, corrugations or the like. When the shank 10 is rearwardly loaded in the axial direction, loads are transferred into the substrate both via mechanical interlock between the screw thread 30 and the borehole wall and via the wedging mechanism provided by the wedge flank 44 acting on the (hardened) grout.

[0052] In both embodiments, at least one of the following thread parameters can preferably be employed for the wedge groove 40: [0053] W.sub.groove/p.sub.tr=0.5-0.95 (ratio of width of wedge groove 40 in axial direction to pitch of screw thread 30) [0054] W.sub.offset/p.sub.tr=0.1-0.5 (ratio of width of buffer zone 49 in axial direction to pitch of screw thread 30) [0055] Cone angle α of wedge flank 44=5°-30° [0056] d.sub.r/d.sub.c=0.6-1.1 (ratio of diameter of the ridges 46 to core diameter of screw thread 30) Number of ridges 46 per turn of the wedge groove 40: at least one per turn, preferably two ridges 46 or more per turn