Reinforcing bar splice with threaded collars

Abstract

A reinforcing bar splice secures together reinforcing bar ends by utilizing, at both ends, both tapered-thread coupling and coupling involving a filler, such as a grout or an epoxy. The splice may include a central tapered-thread central sleeve or coupler, and a pair of collars that are screwed onto externally-threaded ends of the central sleeve. The central sleeve has a channel therethrough with tapered internal threads at both ends, and a center internal relief. The internal relief is an increased radius center portion that ensures full thread contact between the tapered internal threads and external threaded sections of the rebar ends. The sleeve has externally-threaded ends that are engaged by internally-threaded ends of a pair of collars. Distal to their internally-threaded ends, the collars have filler-material-receiving channels. The channels include plural sloped surfaces for aiding in securing filler material between the collars and the rebar ends.

1 . A reinforcing bar splice comprising:
 a sleeve having sleeve internal tapered threads at opposite sleeve ends; and   a pair of collars mechanically coupled to the ends, and extending axially beyond the sleeve ends.   
   
   
       2 . The splice of  claim 1 , wherein the collars have collar internal threads at distal collar ends that threadedly engage sleeve external threads at the sleeve ends. 
   
   
       3 . The splice of  claim 2 , wherein the collars have respective channels at proximal ends that have diameters greater than maximum diameters of tapered-thread portions of the sleeve. 
   
   
       4 . The splice of  claim 3 , further comprising filler material in the channels. 
   
   
       5 . The splice of  claim 4 , wherein the filler material includes an epoxy. 
   
   
       6 . The splice of  claim 4 , wherein the filler material includes a grout. 
   
   
       7 . The splice of  claim 3 , wherein each of the channels has plural sloped inner surfaces, wherein the sloped inner surfaces have a smaller diameter closer to the distal end of the collar. 
   
   
       8 . The splice of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sleeve has a through-hole; and   wherein the sleeve internal tapered threads are at tapered-thread portions at opposite ends of the through-hole.   
   
   
       9 . The splice of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has an internal relief at a central portion of the through-hole. 
   
   
       10 . The splice of  claim 1 ,
 in combination with a pair of rebar ends;   wherein the rebar ends have external tapered thread portions threadedly engaged with the internal tapered threads of the sleeve.   
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 10 , further comprising filler material in spaces between the collars and respective of the rebar ends. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the filler material includes one or more of an epoxy and a grout. 
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the collars have collar internal threads at distal collar ends that threadedly engage sleeve external threads at the sleeve ends. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein each of the channels has plural sloped inner surfaces, wherein the sloped inner surfaces have a smaller diameter closer to the distal end of the collar. 
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein tensile stresses on the rebar ends is converted at least in part to compressive stresses in the filler material, which in turn is converted at least in part to hoop stresses in the collars. 
   
   
       16 . The splice of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the sleeve has a through-hole; and   wherein the sleeve internal tapered threads are at tapered-thread portions at opposite ends of the through-hole.   
   
   
       17 . The splice of  claim 16 , wherein the sleeve has an internal relief at a central portion of the through-hole. 
   
   
       18 . A method of coupling reinforcing bar ends, the method comprising:
 securing external tapered thread portions of the reinforcing bar ends in opposite internal tapered thread ends of a sleeve; and   placing filler material between the reinforcing bar ends and collars that are mechanically coupled to the sleeve.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the filler material includes at least one of an epoxy and a grout.