GB2442061A

GB2442061A - Pre-cast concrete panel with connector

Info

Publication number: GB2442061A
Application number: GB0618434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wayne Toghill
Original assignee: WAYCON PRECAST Ltd
Current assignee: WAYCON PRECAST Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-19
Filing date: 2006-09-19
Publication date: 2008-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-19
Also published as: GB2442061B; GB0618434D0

Abstract

A pre-cast concrete panel 6.1, 6.2 has a vertical edge having a longitudinally extending recess containing pre-cast loops for receiving a reinforcing bar to link the panel to another adjacent panel. The panel also has provision at the corners of the panels to enable a rigid connection prior to grouting. The rigid connection may comprise metal fittings cast into the panel which may be connected to each other by elongate metal elements also pre-cast into the panel. The fittings may include a pair of parallel plates 31, 32; a cavity 22; a screw thread 24; and location means which may be a pin and socket 25, 33. The panel may also include a connector 40, which engages the end fitting.

Description

Waycon Precast Limited

PRECAST CONCRETE PANELS AND METHOD OF JOINING SAME

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to precast concrete panels and to a method of joining such panels during building construction.

BACKGROUND

During the construction of buildings it may be necessary to install vertical precast concrete panels edge-to-edge. Vertical joints between adjacent panels may be facilitated by casting the vertical edges of the panels with a vertical recess containing metal loops. When the panels are in situ a reinforcing rod is passed vertically down the conjoined recesses through the loops of the adjacent panels, thereby linking the two panels together.

Floors may abut the panels at each level, further adding to the stability of the overall structure. Full stability is only achieved when the joint cavities are filled with poured concrete or other suitable self-setting grout, which must be allowed time to cure and develop its full strength before construction can continue.

In order to achieve economic use of lifting equipment during the erection phase, continuity of erection is desirable. Often, the speed of erection exceeds the time for the concrete grout to cure at each level, which means that the lifting equipment may stand idle for long periods.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of precast concrete panel and a method of joining such panels which provides the adjacent panels with full stability so that erection of the building may continue without waiting for the grout to cure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a precast concrete panel of the kind having a vertical edge provided with a longitudinally-extending recess containing precast loops for receiving a reinforcing bar to link the panel to another adjacent panel, in which, at opposite ends of the said vertical edge, the panel has provision for rigidly connecting the panel to another such panel prior to grouting the conjoined recesses of the two panels.

The provision for rigidly connecting the panel to another such panel preferably comprises a metal end fitting which is cast into the panel. The fittings at opposite ends of the vertical edge may be connected to each other by means of an elongate metal element which is cast into the panel.

The panel may be used in combination with a connecting member adapted for rigid connection to the fittings of two adjacent panels.

Preferably one of the end fitting forms a cavity in the panel for receiving the connecting member.

The invention also provides a method of joining two precast concrete panels of the kind having a vertical edge provided with a longitudinally-extending recess containing precast loops, in which the recesses of the two panels are conjoined and a reinforcing bar is passed through the loops to link the two panels, the two panels are rigidly connected together at each end of the said vertical edges, and the conjoined recesses are filled with a self-setting grout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a building comprising a precast concrete lift shaft with a surrounding stairwell; Figure 2 is a detailed plan view of a vertical joint formed between two adjacent precast panels forming part of the stairwell; Figure 3 is an exploded side view of one end of the vertical joint showing how four panels are mutually connected in accordance with the invention during the construction process; Figure 4 is a bottom view of one of the bottom plates shown in Fig. 3; and Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the connection plates shown in Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, an access core within a building includes a precast lift shaft I surrounded by a stair welt with stairs 2 and landings 3 contained within an outer wall 4. The lift shaft may be constructed as described in United Kingdom Patent No. 2 363 110. Due to manufacturing and transportation constraints the outer walt 4 is formed in precast concrete sections, which in this example comprise two angled corner panels 6 and two flat panels 7. The adjacent vertical edges of the panels 6 and 7 are connected by vertical joints 5, one of which is shown in transverse cross section in Fig. 2. Each vertical edge is formed with a longitudinallyextendiflg recess 13 containing longitudinally-spaced precast loops 11. When the recesses are conjoined the loops 11 overlap each other allowing a metal reinforcing bar 12 to be passed through the loops to link the panels together. The rods may also be inserted through loops which are similarly formed on the concrete structures forming the stairs 2 and landings 3, thereby providing the structure with a degree of stability prior to grouting of the joints with quick-setting highstrength concrete which in due course will set to form a rigid structure.

During erection of a mutti-storey building a problem of temporary stability can arise prior to grouting and curing of the joints, particularly when a second elevation is placed on top of the first, resulting in both horizontal and vertical joints. The means by which this problem is overcome in accordance with the present invention will now be described.

Fig. 3 shows a rigid connection which is formed between two adjacent panels such as 6.1 and 7.1 and two similar panels 6.2 and 7.2 of an upper floor. All four panels are rigidly connected together in the manner to be described, forming a rigid structure prior to grouting and curing. The vertical edge of each panel contains a pair of spaced vertical reinforcing elements 20 (only one of which is visible in the drawing) which may each comprise a length of rod, tube or bar, e.g. of L or H section. At the upper end of each vertical edge the elements 20 are welded or otherwise joined to an end plate 21 which lies on the respective end face of the panel. The ends of the elements 20 adjacent to the end plate 21 are internally screw-threaded for receiving bolts 23 which can be inserted through the end plates. Each end plate 21 also contains a screw-threaded socket 24, accessible through the plate 21, which is anchored within the panel by short anchoring bars 26. During erection of a building, loops (not shown) may be temporarily screwed into the sockets 24 for use in lifting the panels into position. Once the panels are in place, the lifting loops are unscrewed and replaced with locating pins 25, as shown, which project vertically from the plates 21.

At the lower end of each vertical edge the elements 20 are secured to a pair of spaced parallel plates 31 and 32 which are joined at one end by a short length of spacer tube 33. The elements 20 are joined to the upper plate 31, while the lower plate 32 is coplanar with the bottom end face of the panel. A cavity 22 is formed in the concrete of the respective panel between the plates 31 and 32 into which the bolts 23 can be inserted.

When an upper panel6.2 or 7.2 is lowered onto the lower panel 6.1 or 7.1 respectively the projecting pins 25 enter the spacer tubes 33, thereby ensuring that the upper and lower panels are located horizontally. As shown in Fig. 4, the plates 31 and 32 contain notches 34 to allow passage of the reinforcing bars 12 into the vertical recesses 13. The end plates 21 contain similar notches for the same purpose. Further, the plates 31 and 32 contain holes 35 and 36 through which the bolts 23 may be inserted into the ends of the reinforcing elements 20, thereby rigidly connecting the upper and lower panels to each other.

Rigid coupling of the adjacent horizontal panels is achieved by connecting plates 40 which are inserted into the aligned cavities 22, as shown in Fig.s 3 and 5. The plates 40 contain pairs of holes 41, 42 and 43, 44 at each end to receive the bolts 23 before the bolts pass through the lower plates 32 and the end plates 21. The bolts are tightened to rigidly connect the adjacent panels together. A central aperture 45 is provided in alignment with the conjoined vertical recesses 13 to allow passage of the reinforcing bars 12.

During grouting of the conjoined recesses 13 the cavities 22 may also be grouted to encase the connecting plates 40 and bolts 23.

The bolts 23 could be used to connect the upper and lower panels independently of the connecting plates 40, i.e. to connect upper and lower end panels. Similarly, the plates 40 could be used to connect adjacent panels without connection to a panel at an upper level.

Although the plates 32 and 21 and connecting plates 40 are conveniently connected to the precast panels by means of bolts it will be appreciated that other temporary or permanent means of fixing could be used, for example roll pins or welded connections.

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any embodiment of the invention in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description places emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is sought for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

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Claims

1. A precast concrete panel of the kind having a vertical edge provided with a longitudinally-extending recess containing precast loops for receiving a reinforcing bar to link the panel to another adjacent panel, in which, at opposite ends of the said vertical edge, the panel has provision for rigidly connecting the panel to another such panel prior to grouting the conjoined recesses of the two panels.

2. A precast concrete panel according to Claim I in which said provision for rigidly connecting the panel to another such panel comprises a metal end fitting which is cast into the panel.

3. A precast concrete panel according to Claim 2 in which the end fittings at opposite ends of the vertical edge are joined to each other by means of at least one elongate metal element which is cast into the panel.

4. A precast concrete panel according to Claim 2 or 3 in which at least one of the end fittings comprises a screw thread.

5. A precast concrete panel according to Claim 2, 3 or 4 including a connecting member adapted to bridge the conjoined recesses and connect the metal end fittings of two adjacent panels.

6. A precast concrete panel according to Claim 5 in which at least one of the end fittings forms a cavity for receiving the connecting member

7. A precast concrete panel according to Claim 6 in which the end fitting which forms the cavity comprises a pair of substantially parallel, mutually spaced plates.

8. A precast concrete panel according to Claim 2 in which the end fittings incorporate location means for positively locating upper and lower panels prior to rigid connection thereof.

9. A precast concrete panel according to Claim 8 in which the location means comprises a pin and socket.

10. A method of joining two precast concrete panels of the kind having a vertical edge provided with a longitudinally-extending recess containing precast loops, in which the recesses of the two panels are conjoined and a reinforcing bar is passed through the loops to link the two panels, the two panels are rigidly connected together at each end of the said vertical edges, and the conjoined recesses are filled with a self-setting grout.

11. A method according to Claim 10 in which the two panels are rigidly connected together by means of a connecting member.

12. A method according to Claim 11 in which the connecting member is connected to each panel by bolts.

13. A method according to Claim 10, 11 or 12 in which at least one of said panels is rigidly connected to a similar panel at a different level.

14. A precast concrete panel substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

15. A method of joining two precast concrete panels substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

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