Sleeve connector

Abstract

An implementation of a sleeve connector disclosed herein includes a base plate having an opening at the center for passing a threaded rod and a plurality of side plates, wherein each of the plurality of side plates includes an opening for passing a threaded bolt and wherein each of the plurality of side plates are connected at a bottom surface to the base plate by welding. In an alternative implementation, a plurality of beveled and threaded side plates of a sleeve connector are used to attach a first column with a second column.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleeve connector, comprising:
 a base plate having an opening for passing a threaded bolt to securely attach the base plate to a foundation; and   a plurality of side plates attached to the base plate, wherein one of more of the plurality of side plates includes an opening for passing a threaded bolt.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve connector of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of side plates is attached to the base plate via welded joints. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve connector of  claim 1 , wherein one of more of the side plates are not connected to any of the other side plates. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve connector of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of each of the side plates is in the shape of a combination of a rectangle and a trapezoid with the longer side surface of the trapezoid aligned with a longer side surface of the rectangle. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve connector of  claim 4 , wherein the cross-section of each of the side plates includes beveled side surfaces facing beveled side surfaces of the other of the plurality of side plates. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve connector of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of side plates includes one or more openings for passing a threaded bolt. 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a connector column welded to the base plate and to a rectangular beam. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve connector of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is welded to a flange of an I-beam. 
     
     
         9 . A sleeve connector assembly comprising:
 an upper sleeve comprising a plurality of upper side plates, wherein each of the plurality of upper side plates includes at least one opening for passing a bolt there through and wherein each of the plurality of upper side plates is connected to a first side of a mid plate; and   a lower sleeve connected to a second side of the mid plate, the second side being opposite the first side, wherein the lower sleeve comprising a plurality of lower side plates, wherein each of the plurality of lower side plates includes at least one opening for passing a bolt there through and wherein each of the plurality of lower side plates is connected to the second side of the mid plate.   
     
     
         10 . The sleeve connector assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the upper side plates is connected to a first side of the mid plate via a welded joint and each of the lower side plates is connected to a second side of the mid plate via a welded joint. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve connector assembly of  claim 9 , wherein one of more of the upper side plates are not connected to any of the other upper side plates. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve connector of  claim 9 , wherein a cross-section of each of the upper side plates is in the shape of a combination of a rectangle and a trapezoid with the longer side surface of the trapezoid aligned with a longer side surface of the rectangle. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve connector of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-section of each of the upper side plates includes beveled side surfaces facing beveled side surfaces of the other of the plurality of upper side plates. 
     
     
         14 . A sleeve connector assembly, comprising:
 an upper sleeve connector comprising a plurality of upper side plates, wherein each of the plurality of upper side plates includes an opening for passing a bolt and wherein each of the plurality of upper side plates is connected to an upper base plate;   an upper connector column with a first end welded to the base plate; and   a rectangular beam welded to a second end of the connector column.   
     
     
         15 . The sleeve connector assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a lower sleeve connector comprising a plurality of lower side plates, wherein each of the plurality of lower side plates includes an opening for passing a bolt and wherein each of the plurality of lower side plates is connected to a lower base plate;   a lower connector column with a first end welded to the lower base plate; and   the rectangular beam welded to a second end of the lower connector column.   
     
     
         16 . A method of attaching a first structural column with a second structural column, the method comprising:
 determining width of an internal wall surface of the first column;   manufacturing one or more beveled side plates wherein width of the beveled side plates is determined based in the width of an internal wall surface of the first column;   generating threaded openings on the beveled side plates, the first column, and the second column;   aligning the one or more threaded side plates with internal surface of the first column;   attaching the one or more threaded side plates with the first column using threaded bolts;   aligning the one or more threaded side plates with internal surface of the second column; and   attaching the one or more threaded side plates with the second column using threaded bolts.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more beveled side plates comprises four side plates. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein aligning the one or more threaded side plates with internal surface of the first column further comprises aligning the one or more threaded side plates with internal surface of the first column such that the beveled side of the side plates faces towards center of the first column. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein aligning the one or more threaded side plates with internal surface of the first column further comprises aligning the one or more threaded side plates with internal surface of the first column such that the beveled edge of at least one of the threaded side plates faces beveled edge of at least one of the other threaded side plates.