Socket-projection fixing assembly

Abstract

A socket-projection fixing assembly for a horizontal wet joint ( 3 ) between two cylindrical concrete sections ( 2.2 ′) for a wind turbine tower, which comprises socket-projection fixing device with an active internal reinforcement ( 8 ) and a socket-projection fixing device with a passive internal reinforcement ( 7 ) so that said reinforcements each include an embedded portion which is embedded in a first section of said cylindrical sections and a projecting portion which projects from said first section and is housed in a duct ( 9, 10 ) in a second section of said cylindrical sections. Said active internal reinforcement includes tightening means ( 14, 16 ) which are arranged in said projecting portion of said active internal reinforcement and against a supporting surface ( 15 ) of one of said cylindrical sections, and said passive internal reinforcement includes cured material ( 12 ) which is arranged around said projecting portion o said passive internal reinforcement ( 7 ) and adheres to the interior of said duct ( 10 ).

1 . An internally reinforced, socket-projection fixing assembly for a horizontal wet joint formed between two cylindrical prefabricated concrete sections, for a wind turbine tower, which assembly comprises at least one socket-projection fixing device with active internal reinforcement and at least one socket-projection fixing device with passive internal reinforcement, so that said active internal reinforcement and said passive internal reinforcement each include an embedded portion which is embedded in a first section of said cylindrical sections, and a projecting portion which projects from said first section and is housed in a duct in a second section of said cylindrical sections, wherein said active internal reinforcement includes tightening means which are arranged in said projecting portion of said active internal reinforcement and against a supporting surface of one of said cylindrical sections so that said active internal reinforcement is anchored to said supporting surface and is tightened by means of said tightening means, and said passive internal reinforcement includes cured material which is arranged at least partially around said projecting portion of said passive internal reinforcement and adheres to the inside of passive reinforcement duct in which is arranged said projecting portion of said passive internal reinforcement. 
     
     
         2 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second sections is formed by voussoirs. 
     
     
         3 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylindrical sections comprise voussoirs and said socket-projection fixing assembly comprises a number of socket-projection fixing devices with active internal reinforcement, which is at the same time a multiple of the number of voussoirs in the first section, a multiple of the number of voussoirs in the second section and the divisor of the total number of socket-projection fixing devices with active reinforcement ( 8 ) and with passive reinforcement. 
     
     
         4 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said tightening means has a nut which is threaded onto a threaded end of said active internal reinforcement and which is tightened against said supporting surface. 
     
     
         5 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said nut is tightened against said supporting surface with the insertion of an anchor plate and/or a curable material. 
     
     
         6 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said nut is tightened against said supporting surface with the insertion of an anchor plate, said second section is arranged above said first section, and said anchor plate comprises at least one bore which acts as a drain pipe for the air outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said passive reinforcement duct includes a sheath which receives said projecting portion of said passive internal reinforcement and said passive reinforcement duct  40 ) is filled with curable material. 
     
     
         8 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said second section has a working facing which includes at least one hole in correspondence with the distal end of a projecting portion of an active internal reinforcement, said hole having a depth such that it at least extends to the respective active internal reinforcement duct in correspondence with said distal end of said projecting portion of said active internal reinforcement and having such dimensions that they enable the respective tightening means to be housed in the interior of said hole. 
     
     
         9 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the respective supporting surface is located on the inner wall of said hole. 
     
     
         10 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said second section is arranged above said first section and said second section has a working facing which includes at least one hole in correspondence with the distal end of a projecting portion of a passive internal reinforcement ( 7 ), said hole having a depth such that it at least extends to the respective passive reinforcement duct in correspondence with said distal end of said projecting portion of said passive internal reinforcement, and said sheath having an extension which extends along said hole until it reaches at least the inlet of said hole. 
     
     
         11 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said hole is not opened by the facing opposing the working facing. 
     
     
         12 . The socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said working facing is the facing orientated towards the inner space enclosed by said second section. 
     
     
         13 . A method of installing a socket-projection fixing assembly according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a first cylindrical prefabricated section of concrete for a wind turbine tower and a second cylindrical prefabricated concrete section for a turbine tower,   b) installing said first and second cylindrical sections within a mutual coaxial relationship so that said projecting portions of said internal reinforcements and said corresponding ducts face each other and are aligned with each other,   c) bringing said first and second cylindrical sections closer together so that said projecting portions of said internal reinforcements are housed in said corresponding ducts until said first and second cylindrical sections are adjacent to each other,   d) applying said tightening means to the active reinforcement,   e) applying curable material to the passive reinforcement(s),   f) stretching the active reinforcement(s) by tightening said tightening means;   wherein in step f) said active reinforcement(s) are tightened by tightening said tightening means so that said horizontal wet joint is subjected to a partial pre-tensioning.   
     
     
         14 . The method of installing according to  claim 13 , further comprising application of a curable material to ring formed between said first and second cylindrical sections. 
     
     
         15 . The method of installing according to  claim 13 , wherein said step d) also includes the application of curable material to ring formed between said first and second cylindrical sections. 
     
     
         16 . The method of installing according to  claim 13 , wherein said step c) also includes the use of a protective cover for the distal end of at least one reinforcement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of installing according to  claim 16 , wherein said protective cover is conical in shape.