Apparatuses, methods and systems for reinforcing concrete panels using spiral reinforcing bars

Abstract

Reinforced concrete panels that are reinforced by spiral metal bars. In a reinforced concrete panel having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, where the longitudinal axis defines the length of the concrete panel, the spiral metal bars are located parallel to the longitudinal axis. The spiral metal bars are parallel to each other, such that the bars do not touch each other. Additionally, the bars are perpendicular to the transverse axis. During formation of the reinforced concrete panel, the bars are lowered into a mold to which concrete mix is added. The bars are lowered by a hanger assembly that releasably secures the spiral metal bars and maintains their parallel relationship. After the viscosity of the mix is sufficiently reduced, the hanger assembly releases the bars into the concrete mix, and is removed from the mold. The reinforced concrete panel is then removed from the mold, and cut as necessary to make smaller individual reinforced concrete panels.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reinforced concrete panel, wherein said reinforced concrete panel comprises at least one spiral metal bar therein for reinforcing said reinforced concrete panel.  
     
     
         2 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 1 , wherein said reinforced concrete panel is an autoclaved aerated concrete panel.  
     
     
         3 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spiral metal bar is constructed of a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, carbon, steel alloy, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and a steel alloy.  
     
     
         4 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 1 , wherein said reinforced concrete panel comprises a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, and wherein said at least one spiral metal bar is oriented lengthwise in the direction of the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         5 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spiral metal bar comprises a plurality of spiral metal bars, and wherein each one of said plurality of spiral metal bars is parallel to each other one of said plurality of spiral metal bars.  
     
     
         6 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 1 , wherein said reinforced concrete panel comprises a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, wherein the longitudinal axis defines the length of the concrete panel, and wherein the at least one spiral metal bar runs substantially the entire length of the reinforced concrete panel.  
     
     
         7 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spiral metal bar comprises a protective coating thereon.  
     
     
         8 . A method for constructing a reinforced concrete panel using at least one spiral metal bar, comprising: 
 inserting the at least one spiral metal bar into a mold that is to receive a concrete mix;    pouring a concrete mix into the mold, wherein said mold defines the shape of the concrete mix during a reduction of the viscosity of the concrete mix, and    removing said mold, after said concrete mix can retain the shape of the mold without the mold, to produce a reinforced concrete panel.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein inserting the at least one spiral metal bar into a mold comprises inserting a plurality of spiral metal bars into said mold, wherein each one of said plurality of spiral metal bars is parallel to each other one of said plurality of spiral metal bars.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising cutting said reinforced concrete panel after the reinforced concrete panel has been removed from said mold, to produce a plurality of small reinforced concrete panels.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising curing said reinforced concrete panel.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein inserting the at least one spiral metal bar into said mold comprises: 
 releasably mounting the at least one spiral metal bar to a hanger assembly, and lowering said hanger assembly into said mold.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising releasing the at least one spiral metal bar from said hanger assembly after pouring the concrete mix into the mold and prior to removing said mold.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein releasing the at least one spiral metal bar from said hanger assembly comprises rotating said hanger assembly to release the at least one spiral metal bar.  
     
     
         15 . A system for constructing reinforced concrete panels, comprising: 
 a mold for receiving concrete mix, and for maintaining the shape of said concrete mix during the reduction in viscosity of said concrete mix, and    a hanger assembly for releasably securing in a parallel orientation a plurality of spiral metal bars, wherein said hanger assembly is lowered into said mold, and wherein said hanger assembly is removed from said concrete mix after releasing said plurality of spiral metal bars into said concrete mix after the viscosity of said concrete mix is sufficient to retain the position of said spiral metal bars in said concrete mix.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a bridge located substantially above the mold, and wherein the hanger assembly is supported by said bridge.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a needle connecting the hanger assembly and the bridge, wherein the needle is rotatable with respect to the bridge to facilitate the release of the plurality of spiral metal bars from said hanger assembly.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said hanger assembly comprises a plurality of clips for releasably securing said plurality of spiral metal bars to said hanger assembly.  
     
     
         19 . A reinforced concrete panel, wherein said reinforced concrete panel comprises at least one shaped reinforcement bar therein for reinforcing said reinforced concrete panel.  
     
     
         20 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 19 , wherein said reinforced concrete panel is an autoclaved aerated concrete panel.  
     
     
         21 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one shaped reinforcement bar is constructed of a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, carbon, steel alloy, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and a steel alloy.  
     
     
         22 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 19 , wherein said reinforced concrete panel comprises a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, and wherein said at least one shaped reinforcement bar is oriented lengthwise in the direction of the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         23 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one shaped reinforcement bar comprises a plurality of shaped reinforcement bars, and wherein each one of said plurality of shaped reinforcement bars is parallel to each other one of said plurality of shaped reinforcement bars.  
     
     
         24 . The reinforced concrete panel of  claim 19 , wherein said reinforced concrete panel comprises a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, wherein the longitudinal axis defines the length of the concrete panel, and wherein the at least one shaped reinforcement bar runs substantially the entire length of the reinforced concrete panel.