US20090084057A1

US20090084057A1 - Packer for Repairing Crack in Concrete Body

Info

Publication number: US20090084057A1
Application number: US11/992,599
Authority: US
Inventors: Byeong Kwon Hwang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-27
Filing date: 2006-09-25
Publication date: 2009-04-02
Also published as: JP2009510288A; KR100655850B1; CN101273176A; WO2007037604A1; EP1943399A1; KR20050100353A

Abstract

Disclosed is a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body. The packer includes an injection main body and a soft sleeve. The injection main body includes an inflow route, a nipple part, a plurality of extension units, each of which has a trapezoidal section injection main body, and a backward flow prevention unit in the end of the inflow route opposite to the nipple part. The packer is obtained by assembling the soft sleeve with the extension units of the injection main body, and is installed along the crack of the concrete body, thus easily repairing the crack in the concrete body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body, and more particularly to a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body, which includes an injection main body including an inflow route formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of extension units, each having a trapezoidal section, consecutively formed at one end thereof, and a soft sleeve having a hollow formed therein corresponding to the shapes of the extension units and inserted into one end of the injection main body, in which, when the packer is inserted into the concrete body along the crack and a resin solution is injected into the injection mainbody, the injection main body is partially pushed out under the condition that the soft sleeve maintains its original position, and thus the soft sleeve is uniformly expanded in the circumferential direction, thus preventing the leakage of the resin solution.

BACKGROUND ART

Usually, concrete bodies are cracked due to various reasons, such as repetition of drying, shrinking, and freezing and melting of concrete, infiltration of salt water or acid materials and corrosion iron reinforcing rods. Many methods for repairing a crack in a concrete body have been proposed. Hereinafter, a method for repairing a crack in a concrete body using packers will be described.
For example, as disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration Nos. 116530, 135358, 205925, and 462457, a packer includes an injection main body, which is perforated in the longitudinal direction, and has a nipple part formed at one end of the injection main body for injecting a resin solution into the injection main body and a male screw formed at the other end of the injection main body, and a rubber sleeve and a nut, which are sequentially fixed to the nipple part and the male screw of the injection main body. Now, a method for constructing the packers in a concrete body will be described. Fixing holes are formed in the concrete body along a crack in the concrete body by drilling such that the fixing holes are spaced from the crack by a designated distance and are formed at a designated angle, and the packers are respectively installed in the fixing holes. When the nut of each of the packers is tightened up, the rubber sleeve is expanded, thus being stuck to the corresponding one of the fixing holes. Thereafter, a resin solution is injected into the injection main body of each of the packers so as to fill the crack. After the resin solution is dried to a certain extent, the protruding portion of each of the packers is removed. Then, the surface of the concrete is finished with a finishing material.
In case that a backward flow prevention unit, such as a check valve for preventing the backward flow of the resin solution or a fixing pin, is formed at the portion of the packer to be removed, after at least 24 hours to dry the injected resin solution elapsed, the portion of the packer is removed. Thus, such a packer elongates the construction time, and increase labor costs due to a post process.
In case that the rubber sleeve is expanded in the circumferential direction by tightening the nut, the rubber sleeve is bent into a circular arc shape. In this case, since the rubber sleeve is not uniformly stuck to the fixing hole in the circumferential direction, when the resin solution is injected into the injection main body, the resin solution flows outwardly. Further, when the nut is excessively tightened, the rubber sleeve is bent and strains the concrete body. Since the packer does not have a portion caught on the concrete body, the position (depth) of the packer fixed to (inserted into) the concrete body is not uniform. Since the injection main bodyof the packer is usually made of a metal, it is difficult to remove a portion of the packer and a post process for grinding the protruding portion of the packer with a grinder is required.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body, which includes an injection main body including an inflow route formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction, two extension units, each having a trapezoidal section, formed at a designated interval at one end of the injection main body, and a nipple part formed at the other end of the injection main body, and a soft sleeve inserted into the extension units, and is inserted into a fixing hole formed in the concrete body along the crack by drilling, in which the soft sleeve maintains its original position and the injection main body is partially pushed out when a resin solution is injected into the injection main body and is returned to a proper position when the injection of the resin solution is stopped, thus allowing the soft sleeve to be uniformly stuck to the fixing hole in the circumferential direction within the range where the concrete body is not damaged, preventing the resin solution from leaking through a gap between the packer and the fixing hole, and easily repairing the crack in the concrete body.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body, in which a backward flow prevention unit, including a spherical check ball and a compressed spring, is formed in the end of an injection main body opposite to a nipple part, thus preventing an injected resin solution from flowing backwardly due to the elasticity of the compressed spring. Since the backward flow prevention unit is inserted into a fixing hole, a portion of the packer, which protrudes from the surface of the concrete body, can be removed just after the resin solution is injected into the injection main body, and thus the packer shortens a time for repairing the crack in the concrete body and reduces labor costs.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body, in which an injection main body is integrally made of polycarbonate, and thus is easily cut and removed.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body comprising an injection main body including an inflow route formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of extension units, each having a trapezoidal section, consecutively formed at one end thereof and a soft sleeve having a cylindrical surface having a hollow formed therethrough corresponding to the shapes of the extension units and inserted into one end of the injection main body, in which, when the packer is inserted into the concrete body along the crack and a resin solution is injected into the injection main body, the injection main body is partially pushed out under the condition that the soft sleeve maintains its original position, and thus the soft sleeve is uniformly expanded in the circumferential direction, thereby preventing the outflow of the resin solution and easily repairing the crack in the concrete body.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

A packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body of the present invention includes an injection main body including an inflow route formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction, two extension units, each having a trapezoidal section, formed at a designated interval at one end of the injection main body, and a nipple part formed at the other end of the injection main body, and a soft sleeve inserted into the extension units, and is inserted into a fixing hole formed in the concrete body along the crack by drilling, in which the soft sleeve maintains its original position and the injection main body is partially pushed out when a resin solution is injected into the injection main body and is returned to a proper position when the injection of the resin solution is stopped, thus allowing the soft sleeve to be uniformly stuck to the fixing hole in the circumferential direction within the range where the concrete body is not damaged, preventing the resin solution from leaking through a gap between the packer and the fixing hole, and easily repairing the crack in the concrete body.
A backward flow prevention unit, including a spherical check ball and a compressed spring, is formed in the end of the injection main body opposite to the nipple part, thus preventing the injected resin solution from flowing backwardly due to the elasticity of the compressed spring. Since the backward flow prevention unit is inserted into the fixing hole, a portion of the packer, which protrudes from the surface of the concrete body, can be removed just after the resin solution is injected into the injection main body, and thus the packer shortens a time for repairing the crack in the concrete body and reduces labor costs.
The injection main body is integrally made of polycarbonate, and thus is easily cut and removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the packer in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the packers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention are installed in a concrete body, which is cracked;

FIGS. 4 to 6 are sectional views illustrating a process for installing the packer in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention in the concrete body; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process for repairing a crack in a concrete body using the packers of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

First Embodiment

A packer 30 of the present invention comprises an injection main body 10 and a soft sleeve 20, which are assembled. An inflow route 11 is formed through the injection main body 10 in the longitudinal direction. A nipple part 12 is formed at one end of the injection main body 10, and a plurality of extension units 13, each of which has a trapezoidal section such that its diameter is increased from the front end to the rear end, are consecutively formed at the other end of the injection main body 10. A backward flow prevention groove 11′ having a diameter larger than that of the inflow route 11 is formed in the end of the inflow route 11 opposite to the nipple part 12, and a backward flow prevention unit 17 including a check ball 17 a having a spherical shape and a compressed spring 17 b, which are sequentially assembled, is formed at the backward flow prevention groove 11′. The soft sleeve 20 has a cylindrical structure having a hollow formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the shapes of the extension units 13, and includes a plurality of protruding rings 24, each having a semicircular section, formed on the outer circumferential surface of the soft sleeve 20. The packer 30 is obtained by assembling the soft sleeve 20 with the extension units 13 of the injection main body 10, and is used to repair cracks in a concrete body 40.
The packer 30 of the present invention includes the injection main body 10 and the soft sleeve 20. Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the packer 30 will be described in detail. First, with reference to FIG. 2, the injection main body 10 has a cylindrical structure having the inflow route 11 formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction, and includes the nipple part 12 formed at one end of the injection main body 10 and connected to a nozzle for injecting a resin solution into the injection main body 10, and the plurality of extension units 13, each of which has a trapezoidal section such that its diameter is increased from the front end to the rear end, formed at the other end of the injection main body 10. Each of the plurality of extension units 13 includes a large diameter part 13 a, an inclined part 13 b, and a small diameter part 13 c, which are sequentially connected. The large diameter part 13 a having a designated diameter is extended to a designated length, the inclined part 13 b having a gradually decreasing diameter is extended to a designated length, and the small diameter part 13 c having a decreased diameter is extended to a designated length. Two extension units 13 are consecutively connected.
A groove 13 a′ having a section of a designated shape, such as a triangle, a rectangle, or a semicircle, the depth of which is increased from the large diameter part 13 a to the inclined part 13 b, is formed in the outer circumferential surface of the large diameter part 13 a.
An inclined receipt part 14 having a diameter gradually increasing from the small diameter part 13 c to the nipple part 12, and a projecting part 15 having a diameter larger than that of the inclined receipt part 14 are sequentially formed between the extension units 13 and the nipple part 12. The largest diameter of the inclined receipt part 14 is smaller than the diameter of the large diameter part 13 a. The projecting part 15 has a diameter larger than the largest diameter of the inclined receipt part 14 and the largest diameter of the nipple part 12, and is extended to a designated length. A locking part 16 protruding to a designated height is formed on the projecting part 15 in the circumferential direction, or a plurality of locking parts 16 having a designated size are formed on the projecting part 15 in the circumferential direction.
The backward flow prevention groove 11′ having a diameter larger than that of the inflow route 11 and a designated depth is formed in the end of the inflow route 11 at the side of the extension units 13, and the backward flow prevention unit 17 is formed in the backward flow prevention groove 11′. The backward flow prevention unit 17 is obtained by sequentially assembling the check ball 17 a having a spherical shape for closing the inflow route 11, the compressed spring 17 b having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the check ball 17 a and a designated tensile strength, and a fixing unit 17 c for preventing the compressed spring 17 b from being separated from the backward flow prevention groove 11′.
That is, the injection main body 10 includes the inflow route 11 formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction, the two extension units 13, each having a trapezoidal section, consecutively formed on the outer circumferential surface of one end thereof, the inclined receipt part 14 having a gradually increasing diameter, and the projecting part 15 provided with the locking part 16 and the nipple part 12 for connection, which are sequentially connected. The backward flow prevention groove 11′ having a designated depth is formed in the end of the inflow route 11 opposite to the nipple part 12, and the backward flow prevention unit 17, obtained by sequentially assembling the check ball 17 a, the compressed spring 17 b, and the fixing unit 17 c, is formed in the backward flow prevention groove 11′.
Thereafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the soft sleeve 20 will be described. The soft sleeve 20 has a cylindrical structure having a hollow formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction. The soft sleeve 20 is inserted into the two extension units 13 and the inclined receipt part 14 of the injection main body 10, thus having an internal shape corresponding to the shapes of the two extension units 13 and the inclined receipt part 14. The soft sleeve 20 includes two extension units 21, each having a trapezoidal internal section, and an inclined receipt part 22 having a designated gradient. A locking part 23 is formed at one end of the soft sleeve 20, opposite to the inclined receipt part 22, i.e., at the end of the soft sleeve 20 from which the extension units 21 start. The hollow internal structure of the soft sleeve 20 will be described, below.
First, the locking part 23 having a gradually decreasing diameter from one end of the soft sleeve 20 to the inside of the soft sleeve 20 is formed in the end of the soft sleeve 20, and the two extension units 21, each of which includes a large diameter part 21 a, an inclined part 21 b, and a small diameter part 21 c, are consecutively connected to the locking part 23. The large diameter part 21 a having a larger diameter than that of the locking part 23 is extended to a designated length, the inclined part 21 b having a gradually decreasing diameter and a designated gradient is extended to a designated length, and the small diameter part 21 c having a decreased diameter is extended to a designated length. At least two extension units 21 are consecutively connected.
The inclined receipt part 22 having a gradually increasing section and connected to the small diameter part 21 c is formed in the other end of the soft sleeve 20 opposite to the locking part 23. The locking part 23, the two extension units 21, and the inclined receipt part 22 form the internal structure of the soft sleeve 20. Next, the external structure of the soft sleeve 20 is described. Preferably, the outer diameter of the soft sleeve 20 coincides with the diameter of the projecting part 15 of the injection main body 10. Further, a plurality of protruding rings 24, having a semicircular section and protruding in the circumferential direction, is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the soft sleeve 20 in the longitudinal direction.
The locking part 23 serves to catch the end of the injection main body 10 under the condition that the injection main body 10 is inserted into the soft sleeve 20. The increase of the diameter of the locking part 23 from the front end thereof to the rear end thereof facilitates the easy dispersion of the injected resin solution 50. In case that the locking part 23 has a small width, there is no need to vary the diameter of the locking part 23. Preferably, the diameters and lengths of the structures formed in the soft sleeve 20, i.e., the extension units 21 and the inclined receipt part 22, coincide with those of the structures formed on the injection main body 10, i.e., the extension units 13 and the inclined receipt part 14.
For reference, the injection main body 10 is integrally made of synthetic resin, such as polycarbonate (having high thermal resistance, strength, shock resistance, dimensional stability, creep resistance and transparency), or metal having high chemical resistance and corrosion resistance, such as brass. Further, the soft sleeve 20 is integrally made of a material having high ductility, durability and chemical resistance, such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. The injection main body 10 and the soft sleeve 20 are respectively made of materials having comparatively high chemical resistance, thus not being damaged due to the injection of the resin solution 50.
One end of the injection main body 10 is inserted into the soft sleeve 20. Thereby, the packer 30, in which one end of the injection main body 10 is caught by the locking part 23 of the soft sleeve 20 and the extension units 13 and 21, i.e., the large diameter parts 13 a and 21 a, the inclined parts 13 b and 21 b, and the small diameter parts 13 c and 21 c, are engaged with each other, is obtained.

Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, a method for repairing a crack in a concrete body using packers of the present invention will be described.
In a drilling and blowing step (S1), the fixing holes 41 having a designated depth are formed in the concrete body 40 along a crack using an electric drill, and scraps of foreign substances generated thereby are removed by wind. The fixing holes 41 are formed at an angle of 45 degrees by drilling such that the external surfaces of the fixing holes 41 are spaced from the crack by a designated distance and the internal portions of the fixing holes 41 are connected to the internal portion of the crack. A plurality of the fixing holes 41 are formed along the crack in zigzag.
Thereafter, in a packer-installing step (S2), as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the packer 30 is inserted into each of the fixing holes 41. Here, the soft sleeve 20 is completely inserted into the fixing hole 41, and the injection main body 10 is partially inserted into the fixing hole 41 such that the locking part 16 is caught on the surface of the concrete body 40.
Thereafter, in a resin solution-injecting step (S3), high-pressure equipment (not shown) for supplying the resin solution 50, such as urethane resin or epoxy resin, is connected to the nipple part 12 of the injection main body 10. The high-pressure equipment is gradually adjusted from a low pressure to a high pressure, and fills the inside of the injection main body 10 at the most proper pressure to push the check ball 17 a closing the inflow route 11 and to fill up the crack in the concrete body 40 with the resin solution until the resin solution 50 flows outside.
The gradually increase in the pressure for injecting the resin solution 50 causes the injection main body 10 to be pushed out and the soft sleeve 20 to maintain its original position due to the friction between the fixing hole 41 and the protruding rings 24. Thereby, the soft sleeve 20 is expanded in the circumferential direction. After the injection of the resin solution 50 is completed, the injection main body 10 is partially drawn inwardly. However, in this case, the injection main body 10 is still located outside its initial position.
Since the packer 30 is closely stuck into the fixing hole 41 by the expanded soft sleeve 20 and the protruding rings 24 formed thereon, the resin solution 50 does not leak through a gap between the packer 30 and the fixing hole 41, and, if the resin solution 50 leaks through the gap, the leaked resin solution 50 is retained in the groove 13 a′ of each of the extension units 13 and does not leak through a gap between the injection main body 10 and the soft sleeve 20. Further, even when the supply of the resin solution 50 is completed, the backward flow prevention unit 17 prevents the resin solution 50 from flowing backward through the inflow route 11.
Thereafter, in a cutting step (S4), the projecting part 15 protruding from the concrete body 40 is removed from the packer 30 by striking, beating, or cutting using with a tool (a hammer, a cutter, a pincher, a T-wrench, or a pipe). In case that the projecting part 15 is removed from the packer 30 by striking or beating, a portion between the small diameter part 21 c having the smallest outer diameter and the inclined receipt part 14 is broken.
Finally, in a finishing step (S5), the surface of the concrete body 40 is smoothed by finishing the cut portions of the packers 30 and the repaired crack of the concrete body 40 using a finishing material 51, such as an acrylic crack covering agent or a cement filler. Thereafter, the resin solution 50 and the finishing material 51 are completely dried. Thereby, the repairing of the crack in the concrete body 40 using the packers 30 of the present invention is completed.
The method for repairing the concrete body 40 using the packers 30 of the present invention allows the packers 30 to be easily installed in the concrete body 40, and the protruding portion of each of the packers 30 to be removed just after the resin solution 50 is injected into the injection main body 10 because the backward flow prevention unit 17 is installed at the rear end of the inflow route 11, thus shortening a time taken to constructing the packers 30 and reducing labor costs. Further, since the soft sleeve 20 is uniformly stuck into each of the fixing holes 41 in the circumferential direction, it is possible to prevent the poor sticking of the soft sleeve 20 into the fixing hole 41 due to the tightening of a nut and the outflow of the resin solution 50.
Before the packers 30 are assembled with the fixing holes 41, in case that a small amount of moisture remains in the fixing holes 41 formed by drilling, frictional force between the soft sleeves 20 and the concrete body 40 is lowered and the packers 30 cannot be easily expanded.
Accordingly, in order to solve the above problem, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, protrusions 27 and 27′ are formed at a designated interval on the injection main body 10 between the projecting part 15 and the nipple part 12. A pincher is inserted into an area between the two protrusions 27 and 27′ and pulls and then pushes the injection main body 10. Thereafter, when the resin solution 50 is injected into the injection main body 10, the injection main body 10 is easily pushed out and the packer 30 is expanded, thereby preventing the resin solution 50 from flowing outwardly.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body, which includes an injection main body including an inflow route formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction, two extension units, each having a trapezoidal section, formed at a designated interval at one end of the injection main body, and a nipple part formed at the other end of the injection main body, and a soft sleeve inserted into the extension units, and is inserted into a fixing hole formed in the concrete body along the crack by drilling, in which the soft sleeve maintains its original position and the injection main body is partially pushed out when a resin solution is injected into the injection main body and is returned to a proper position when the injection of the resin solution is stopped, thus allowing the soft sleeve to be uniformly stuck to the fixing hole in the circumferential direction within the range where the concrete body is not damaged, preventing the resin solution from leaking through a gap between the packer and the fixing hole, and easily repairing the crack in the concrete body.
A backward flow prevention unit, including a spherical check ball and a compressed spring, is formed in the end of the injection main body opposite to the nipple part, thus preventing the injected resin solution from flowing backwardly due to the elasticity of the compressed spring. Since the backward flow prevention unit is inserted into the fixing hole, a portion of the packer, which protrudes from the surface of the concrete body, can be removed just after the resin solution is injected into the injection main body, and thus the packer shortens a time for repairing the crack in the concrete body and reduces labor costs.
The injection main body is integrally made of polycarbonate, and thus is easily cut and removed.
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.

Claims

1. A packer for repairing a crack in a concrete body comprising:

an injection main body filled with a resin solution for repairing the crack in the concrete body and including an inflow route formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction, a nipple part formed at one end of the injection main body, and a backward flow prevention unit and; and

a soft sleeve having a cylindrical structure having a hollow formed therethrough in the longitudinal direction and inserted into the other end of the injection main body opposite to the nipple part,

wherein an inclined receipt part having a gradually decreasing diameter and a plurality of extension units, each having a trapezoidal section such that its diameter gradually increases, are sequentially formed at the nipple part of the injection main body, an inclined receipt part and a plurality of extension units, corresponding to the inclined receipt part and the plurality of extension units of the injection main body, and a locking part having a decreased diameter are sequentially formed in the hollow of the soft sleeve, and the soft sleeve is assembled with the extension units of the injection main body.

2. The packer according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of extension units of the injection main body and the soft sleeve includes a large diameter part having a designated diameter, a small diameter part having a smaller diameter than that of the large diameter part, and an inclined part connecting the large diameter part and the small diameter part at a designated gradient, and a groove having a section of a designated shape, such as a triangle, a rectangle, or a semicircle, is formed in the outer circumferential surface of the large diameter part of each of the plurality of extension units of the injection main body.

3. The packer according to claim 2, wherein a projecting part having an increased diameter is formed between the inclined receipt part and the nipple part, and a plurality of locking parts protruding to a designated height are formed on the projecting part in the circumferential direction.

4. The packer according to claim 3, wherein two protrusions, each having a designated height, are formed at a designated interval between the projecting part and the nipple part.

5. The packer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the backward flow prevention unit, including a check ball having a spherical shape and a compressed spring, which are sequentially assembled, is formed in a backward flow prevention groove, having a diameter larger than that of the inflow route and a designated length, which is formed in the end of the inflow route opposite to the nipple part.

6. The packer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the injection main body is integrally made of metal or polycarbonate, and the soft sleeve is integrally made of rubber or soft synthetic resin.