Spacer for a reinforcement layer, reinforcement system for a concrete component, and method for the production of a reinforcement system

Abstract

The invention relates to a spacer (1) for a reinforcement layer (16), a reinforcement system (29) for a concrete component (21), and a method for the production of a reinforcement system (29). The spacers (1) described allow especially mesh-type reinforcement layers (16) to be kept at a distance from other bodies (24, 28) in a particularly simple manner. The spacers (1) are fitted by inserting them into a mesh (8) of the reinforcement layer (16) and connecting them thereto by twisting.

Claims

1. A Spacer (1) for a first reinforcement layer (16), with which (1) a distance, in the spacer's axial direction (z), between the first reinforcement layer (16) and at least one other body (24, 28) is adjustable and comprising: at least one distancing body (6) extending in the axial direction (z), at least one securing system (3), which acts substantially in a first plane (E1) defined by a peripheral direction (j) and a radial direction (r) of the spacer (1) and which is connected to the distancing body (6), the securing system (3) having at least two connecting elements (11) for strands (8) or rods of the first reinforcement layer (16), each of the connecting elements (11) having at least one groove (10) featuring a first (12) and a second (13) groove wall, whose longitudinal axis runs in the peripheral direction (j) of the spacer (1) and whose opening points outwards in the radial direction (r), the spacer (1) having a principal axis of rotation (4) running in the axial direction (z), ends (22) of the first groove walls (12) in the radial direction (r) being spaced from the principal axis of rotation (4) by distances (L1), and the first groove wall (12) having a portion being substantially flat that opposes the second groove wall (13), and, in angular portions (WA) lying between the connecting elements (11) in the peripheral direction (j), the securing system (3) having a reach (L2) which, in the radial direction (r) in the second plane (E2) defined by the first groove walls (12), is smaller than the distance (L1), at least one limit stop (15), which is located outside the plane (E1) defined by the first groove walls (12) and whose edge, at the end facing radially (r) away from the principal axis of rotation (4), is spaced from the principal axis of rotation (4) by a distance L3, which is greater than L1.

2. The Spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two connecting elements (11) are attached at the ends of legs (5), which run in the radial direction (r) and/or the at least two connecting elements (11) are carried by a disc (25).

3. The Spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two groove walls (12, 13) of at least one groove (10) of the spacer (1) is elastically deformable, at least section-wise, during insertion of a fibre strand (8).

4. The Spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two groove walls (12, 13) of at least one groove (10) of the spacer (1) is provided with a protrusion (20), which projects into the interior of the groove (10).

5. The Spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one distancing body (6) is connected releasably to the at least one securing system (3).

6. The Spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two connecting elements (11) of at least one securing system (3) of the spacer (1) are distributed uniformly around the principal axis of rotation (4) in the peripheral direction ().

7. The Spacer (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least two securing systems (3), which are offset relative to one another in the axial direction (z) and are connected releasably or inseparably and, in the peripheral direction (j), rotatably or rigidly by distancing elements (6).

8. A Reinforcement system (29) for a concrete component, the system comprising: a first reinforcement layer (16) comprising reinforcement strands (8) or reinforcement rods (8) that intersect at cross-over points (18), a plurality of strand or rod sections (8), each of which extends between two adjacent crossover points (18), forming a mesh (2) of the reinforcement layer (16), at least one spacer (1) according to claim 1 featuring an axially (z) extending distancing body (6) and at least one securing system (3), which is connected to the distancing body (6), and at least one limit stop (15), which is located outside the plane (E1) defined by the first groove walls (12) and whose edge, at the end facing radially (r) away from the principal axis of rotation (4), is spaced from the principal axis of rotation (4) by a distance L3, which is greater than L1, wherein the securing system (3) comprising at least two connecting elements (11), each with at least one groove (10) in which at least one strand or rod section (8) of the mesh (2) of the reinforcement layer (16) is accommodated at a connection site (7) of the strand or rod section, and the limit stop (15) being in contact with the reinforcement layer (16), wherein the distance between the connection sites (7) and the geometric centre of the mesh (2) being smaller than the distance between the geometric centre and the cross-over points (18) of the reinforcement layer mesh (2), and wherein the distance between the (16) and a further body (24, 28) being adjustable by the distancing body (6).

9. The Reinforcement system (29) according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcement system has at least two reinforcement layers (16) with or without a space between them and the at least one spacer (1) is directly connected with the at least two reinforcement layers (16).

10. The Reinforcement system (29) according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcement contains fibre strands.

11. A Method for production of a reinforcement system (29), the method comprising: Provision of a reinforcement (16) comprising strands or rods (8) that intersect at cross-over points (18), a plurality of strand or rod sections (8), each of which extends between two adjacent cross-over points (18), forming a mesh (2) of the reinforcement, Provision of at least one spacer (1) according to claim 1 comprising at least one distancing body (6) extending in its axial direction (z), a limit stop (15), which is located outside the plane (E1) defined by the first groove walls (12) and whose edge, at the end facing radially (r) away from the principal axis of rotation (4), is spaced from the principal axis of rotation (4) by a distance L3, which is greater than L1, and at least one securing system (3), the securing system (3) comprising at least two connecting elements (11) each of which has at least one groove (10) whose longitudinal axis runs in the peripheral direction (j) of the spacer (1) and whose opening points outwards in the radial direction (r), Insertion of the securing system (3) of the at least one spacer (1) into the mesh (2) in such a manner that, along the principal axis of rotation (4), the grooves (10) are at the height of the strand or rod sections (8) of the mesh (2), Twisting of the spacer (1) about its principal axis of rotation (4), the corresponding strands or rod sections (8) being received into the at least one groove (10).

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the twisting movement is continued until the groove walls secure the strand or rod section in position.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein on insertion into the mesh (2), each of the connecting elements (11) of the securing system (3) is oriented towards a cross-over point (18) of the reinforcement (16).

Description

(1) A few selected embodiments of the invention are explained below by reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the A-A section through FIG. 3.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view (view B from FIG. 3) of a first embodiment of the spacer, which is located in a mesh.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view of a first basic embodiment of the spacer, which is located in a mesh.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the first basic embodiment of the spacer, without the mesh shown in FIGS. 1-3 but with a limit stop.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a top view of a second embodiment of the spacer, which is located in a mesh.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a top view of a third embodiment of the spacer, which is located in a mesh.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a top view of a third embodiment of the spacer, which has reached its end position in a mesh.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of a spacer, whose grooves embrace two reinforcement layers.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a side view of a fifth embodiment of a spacer, which comprises two securing systems.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a side view of a sixth embodiment of a spacer, which comprises three securing systems.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a section through a concrete component in its formwork.

(13) FIG. 12 shows a top view of a seventh embodiment of a spacer, where the securing system is configured like a disc.

(14) FIG. 13 shows the seventh embodiment of a spacer from the side.

(15) FIG. 14 shows a systematic top view of a plurality of reinforcement meshes.

(16) FIG. 15 shows a basic embodiment of a spacer from the side and serves to clarify the terms used.

(17) FIG. 16 shows a top view of a further embodiment of a spacer, which is optimised specifically for rectangular meshes.

(18) FIG. 17 shows a spacer suspended in formwork with a distancing body shaped as a hook.

(19) FIG. 18 shows a section (C-C in FIG. 4) (first embodiment, but with a limit stop).

(20) FIG. 19 shows a perspective drawing of a further embodiment of a spacer.

(21) FIG. 20 shows a top view of the embodiment already shown in FIG. 19.

(22) FIG. 21 shows a section (BB in FIG. 20) of the embodiment already shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.

(23) FIG. 3 shows a top view of a first basic embodiment of the spacer 1, which is located in a mesh 2 and is also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, it is predominantly the securing system 3 of the spacer 1 that is visible. This securing system forms a bridge between the connection sites 7, at which the grooves 10 of the securing system embrace the strands 8 of the mesh 2. The securing system comprises two legs 5, which meet at the principal axis of rotation 4. The curly bracket 9 indicates the length of a leg 5. The grooves 10, which, terminologically speaking, are part of the connecting elements 11, are at the leg ends further away from the principal axis 4 (=in the positive radial direction). The first embodiment of a spacer illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is provided with two distancing bodies 6. These two elongate bodies 6 extend along the same line as the principal axis of rotation 4. The strands of the mesh are only shown in simplified form in FIGS. 1 to 3, and in some of the other drawings they have been left out altogether for reasons of clarity.

(24) The drawings described so far show the reach L1, between the principal axis of rotation 4 and the end 22 of the first groove wall 12, of the securing system 3. This is greater than the reach L2 which the securing system 3 has in the angular sections WA between the securing elements. In this first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, L1 is also equal to L3. L3 is the reach which the securing system 3 has between the principal axis of rotation 4 and the end of the second groove wall 13. This simple embodiment serves for the explanation of the basic principle of the insertion of the spacer through rotational movement. Furthermore, only the following embodiments show all features of the claimed spacer.

(25) FIGS. 4 and 18 show a slightly modified first embodiment, in which L3 is greater than L1. The second groove wall 13 of the illustrated spacer 1 is longer than the first groove wall 12, meaning that the second groove wall 13 can simultaneously serve as the limit stop 15.

(26) When the spacer is inserted into a mesh 2, the limit stop 15 ends the relative movement between the spacer 1 and the mesh 2. At this point, the first plane E1 of the groove bottoms 14 is on a level with the strands 8 forming the mesh 2. At this level (=position in the axial direction), the spacer 1 undergoes a twisting movement about its principal axis of rotation 4 in the peripheral direction to the effect that portions of the strands 8 are hosted in the grooves 10 at the connection sites 7, thereby establishing the desired connection between the spacer 1 and the mesh 2 of the first reinforcement layer.

(27) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the spacer 1, which only differs from the spacer 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the limit stop 17 is circular. This limit stop is a highly advantageous refinement of the previously mentioned limit stop 15. The limit stop 17, too, has a reach L3, which is again greater than L1, in the spacer's radial direction. This reach L3 is also the same as the radius of the circular limit stop 17 in the third plane L3 of the second groove walls 13. The size of the limit stop 17 is coordinated with the mesh 2 in such manner that, in the limit-stop position, a relatively large contact surface is obtained between the mesh 2 and the circular limit stop. The detent mechanism for a spacer 1 of this kind is shown again in FIGS. 6 and 7, which disclose a third embodiment of the spacer 1. Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 5, which features two legs 5 associated in each case with a connecting element 11 having a groove 10, the third embodiment has four legs 5 associated in each case with a connecting element 11 having a groove 10. The angular distance in each case between the legs 5, securing elements 11 and the grooves is 90 (180 in FIG. 5).

(28) FIG. 6 shows the situation in which the spacer 1 is being inserted into the mesh 2. At this moment, the securing elements 11/grooves 10 of the securing system 3 are pointing towards the cross-over points 18 of the strands 8 forming the mesh. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, it is hardly possible to insert the spacer into the mesh at angular positions in which the connecting elements 11 are not pointing relatively accurately towards the cross-over points 18.

(29) It goes without saying that functional pairs made up from the first reinforcement layer 16 and the spacer 1 are possible, where the spacer can be inserted into the first reinforcement layer even if the connecting elements 11, or the grooves 10, point towards strand portions located between the cross-over points 18 and/or the connection sites 7, i.e. are at angle of 45 or 30 to the cross-over points 18 and/or the connection sites 7.

(30) FIG. 7, ultimately, shows the spacer and the mesh from FIG. 6 after the spacer has been twisted onto the strands of the reinforcement layer and thereby locked onto it.

(31) FIG. 8 shows a section through a reinforcement system providing a fourth embodiment of a spacer 1, in which two reinforcement strands 8 are held in each of its grooves 10.

(32) FIG. 9 shows a spacer 1 that has two securing systems 3. These are arranged such as to be mutually mirror-inverted, i.e. the position of the two circular limit stops 17, in particular, is mirror-inverted, which is advantageous particularly for the first and last securing systems 3 of a spacer.

(33) FIG. 10 shows a spacer 1 built up in modular design. This spacer has a plurality of distancing bodies 6, which are attached releasably to the securing systems. This if effected with the help of latching elements 19, which preferably engage in notches (not shown) and create snap-in connections. The male latching element may be attached either to the distancing body 6 or to the securing system 3. FIG. 10 also shows the latching element 20 of the groove 10, which projects from one groove wall into the groove 10 and can help to secure strands 8 or rods in the groove 10. FIG. 10 furthermore shows that, on the basis of this invention, it is possible to create a distancing system with different distancing bodies 6 and securing systems 3, making it possible to fulfil all sorts of different requirements.

(34) FIG. 11 shows a section through a concrete component 21 in its formwork 24.

(35) FIGS. 12 and 13 show a further embodiment of a spacer, in which the securing system comprises a disc 25 on which the connecting elements 11, which in turn comprise grooves 10, are arranged. The side view in FIG. 13 discloses that the disc 25 extends only along the third plane E3 of the second groove walls 13. The disc 25 carries the connecting elements 11, which in turnhereeach form and/or comprise a groove 10. The connecting elements are again distributed uniformly over the circumference of the spacer. The spacer shown requires no legs 5, which may also extend along the planes E1 or E2. The disc 25 may also feature perforations that make it easier for concrete to flow through it.

(36) FIG. 14 once again shows a reinforcement layer 16 of strands 8, which intersect at cross-over points 18. A person skilled in the art would refer to the reinforcement layer 16 shown in FIG. 14 as a grid. The meshes 2 are square; however, they may also be rectangularthat is, have a length L that differs from the breadth B. Textile reinforcement layersi.e. those that comprise fibrous material or consist exclusively thereof, may be brought into grid shape in the form of bonded or woven fabrics. Steel reinforcing mats are usually bonded. The square 27 (dashed line) indicates the scope of the term mesh.

(37) The spacers according to the invention are suitable both for textile and for conventional reinforcement layers of steel or the like. However, the additional advantages in the field of textile reinforcement layers must be emphasized.

(38) FIG. 15 once again shows a spacer 1 from the side and clarifies the terms used in this publication.

(39) FIG. 16 shows a rectangular mesh in which the length L is greater than the breadth B and in which an appropriately adapted spacer 1 has been inserted. This has two long legs 5a along the length L and two short legs 5b along the breadth B. The centre of the spacer 1 is the principal axis of rotation 4, which coincides with the centre of the mesh 2 and passes through it. The spacer 1 of FIG. 16 is again provided only with limit stops 15 that are nothing more than an elongated second groove wall 13. From the design of its connecting elements 11 at the ends of the legs 5a, 5b, FIG. 16 is insofar reminiscent of FIGS. 4 and 5.

(40) FIG. 16 also serves to explain circumstances that apply to many embodiments of the invention:

(41) Two of the four connecting elements 11, or their grooves 10, point outwards in the longitudinal direction L while two point outwards in the widthwise direction B. One could also say that the connecting elements 11 pointing in the widthwise direction B and in the longitudinal direction L form a pair in each case and are in opposition. If one of the two connecting elements 11 of the pair comes into contact with the associated strand 8 of the mesh 2 when the spacer 1 is twisted about it principal axis of rotation 4, an opposing force is generated that acts on the other connecting element of the pair and promotes the formation of a connection between it 11 and the associated strand 8. This is why it is advantageous to arrange pairs of connecting elements in the manner described.

(42) The arrow denoted by L2 in FIG. 16 is also of general importance to the whole invention. L2 is smaller than L4 in the entire angular portion WA between the two connecting elements 11 or securing elements. The arrow was drawn at the point where L2 is smallest. In FIG. 6, the angular portion or angular section WA between two connection sites 7 and L2 was drawn in the same manner.

(43) FIG. 17 shows a further section through a concrete component 21 in its formwork 24. The concrete component is provided with a special distancing body 6. As already mentioned, the term distancing body is first and foremost a functional term. Most of the distancing bodies 6 are cylindrical in the drawings described so far. Furthermore, these bodies extend along the principal axis of rotation 4. Distancing bodies may, however, also run parallel to this axis, the most important thing being that they reach in the axial direction z. The distancing body 6 in FIG. 17 is provided with a hook 26 that can be hung on a wire, for example (other means, such as an eyelet, for securing the distancing body to a wire or rope are also conceivable. This hook 26 imparts a tensile load to the whole of the distancing body 6, enabling the entire spacer 1 and thus also the reinforcement 16 to be suspended during encasement in concrete.

(44) By contrast, the distancing bodies 6 already shown in the illustrated embodiments primarily take up compressive loads.

(45) FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of another spacer 1, which is also depicted in FIGS. 20 and 21. This spacer 1 has grooves 10 that are limited in the axial direction z of the spacer 1 by first 12 and second groove walls 13. In the embodiment shown, however, the first groove wall 12 is interrupted in those portions of the peripheral direction in which the second groove wall 13 is existent and vice versa (the interruption thus reaches primarily in the radial and peripheral directions). This measure brings advantages in the production of spacers 1 by injection moulding and is accordingly applicable to all embodiments of the spacers 1 according to the invention. The second groove walls 13 are simultaneously part of the circular limit stop 17, which is interrupted in the peripheral direction at those points where the first groove wall 13 is existent (strictly speaking, the limit stop is no longer circular). The curly bracket 30 indicates the clasping portion of the groove 10. In this clasping portion, the groove 10 embraces the connection site 7 of a strand 8 of the first reinforcement layer 16. One could also say that the curly bracket 30 denotes the portion, in the peripheral direction , in which the groove 10 is effective (functional portion of the groove 10). The clasping portion thus arises here from the portion in which the first and/or second groove wall embraces the strand and in so doing creates a form-fitting connection in the spacer's axial direction z.

(46) The strand 8, which is only shown in FIG. 10, has been left transparent in this drawing so that the groove walls 12, 13 remain visible.

(47) TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals 1 Spacer 2 Mesh 3 Securing system 4 Principal axis of rotation 5 Leg 5a Long leg 5b Short leg 6 Distancing body 7 Connection sites 8 Strand 9 Curly bracket 10 Groove 11 Connecting element 12 First groove wall 13 Second groove wall 14 Groove bottom 15 Limit stop 16 First reinforcement layer 17 Circular limit stop 18 Strand cross-over points 19 Latching element of distancing body 20 Latching element of groove 21 Concrete component 22 End of first groove wall 23 End of second groove wall 24 Formwork 25 Disc 26 Hook 27 Dashed square 28 Second reinforcement 29 Reinforcement system 30 Curly bracket: clasping/functional portion of groove 10 A Distance reinforcement layer 16 - other body: B Breadth of mesh L Length of mesh L1 Reach of securing system 3 from the principal axis of rotation 4 to the end 22 of the first groove wall 12 L2 Reach of securing system 3 in the angular portion WA between the connecting elements 11 L3 Reach of securing system 3 from the principal axis of rotation 4 to the end 23 of the second groove wall 13 L4 Reach of the securing system 3 from the principal axis of rotation 4 to the groove bottom 14 E1 Plane in which a securing system 3 acts E2 Plane defined by the first groove walls 12 E3 Plane defined by the second groove walls 13 r Radial coordinate in cylindrical coordinate system, radial direction of the spacer 1 Angular coordinate in cylindrical coordinate system, peripheral direction of the spacer 1 z Height coordinate in cylindrical coordinate system, axial direction of the spacer 1