Splice sleeve with elliptical or compound curve cross section

Abstract

A splice sleeve having an elliptical or compound curve cross section for connecting overlapping end portions of reinforcing bars utilized in various types of structures in which steel reinforcing bars are utilized and it is desired to connect the overlapping end portions of the reinforcing bars. The splice sleeve is configured to receive the overlapped end portions of the reinforcing bars and then be filled with hardenable material to resist axial tension and compression exerted on the reinforcing bars. In one embodiment, both ends of the sleeve are provided with an inwardly directed lip to increase the splicing capacity of the sleeve and also to serve as a guide to position the rebars to a minimum of about 3 mm from the inside wall surface of the sleeve.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A splice sleeve assembly comprising a rigid sleeve, end portions of axially extending reinforcing bars being disposed in said sleeve in overlapping relation, and hardened cementitious material having non-shrink properties enclosing the overlapping ends of the reinforcing bars and filling the transverse cross-sectional area of the sleeve;
 said rigid sleeve including a surrounding wall and opposed ends, said surrounding wall having a longitudinal inner surface with an elliptical or compound curve cross-section defining a major axis and a minor axis,
 a first inner diameter of the elliptical or compound cross-section inner surface as measured along the major axis being greater than a second inner diameter of the elliptical or compound cross-section inner surface as measured along the minor axis, 
   both opposed ends of said rigid sleeve being partially closed by a circumferential lip to reduce the elliptical or compound cross-section inner surface of said sleeve adjacent both sleeve ends,
 the respective sleeve end lips laterally positioning the overlapping end portions of the reinforcing bars in a side-by-side spaced relationship with respect to each other and with respect to adjacent portions of said surrounding wall inner surface along the major axis, and 
 the spaced relationship between said reinforcing bar ends and between each of said reinforcing bar ends and an adjacent portion of said wall inner surface forming spacing gaps each having a width effective to form a longitudinally extending space that is filled with said hardened cementitious material to completely surround each bar end and keep the bar ends spaced away from one another and from said adjacent portions of said wall inner surface; 
   said rigid sleeve having at least one cementitious material injection port,
 said injection port positioned transversely in said rigid sleeve surrounding wall substantially along said minor axis; and 
   said elliptical or compound curve cross-section inner surface of said rigid sleeve, said relative positioning of said reinforcing bar ends with said spacing gaps, said partially closed sleeve ends and said hardened cementitious material all cooperating to exert resisting forces perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the reinforcing bars when axial tension or compression is exerted on the overlapping reinforcing bar ends thereby imposing an opposite force toward the overlapping bar ends to confine the hardened cementitious material in the rigid sleeve and develop a secure frictional engagement between the reinforcing bar ends, the hardened cementitious material and the rigid sleeve,
 said frictional engagement between the reinforcing bar ends and the hardened cementitious material and said confinement of said hardened cementitious material within the rigid sleeve yielding a splicing capacity of about 500% greater than lapped reinforcing bar ends not confined in a sleeve. 
   
     
     
         22 . The splice sleeve assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the respective circumferential lips extend inwardly at least about 3 mm from the inner wall of the sleeve. 
     
     
         23 . The splice sleeve assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the effective spacing gap between each of said reinforcing bar ends and said adjacent portion of said inner surface of said sleeve surrounding wall is at least about 3 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The splice sleeve assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein a ratio between said first and said second inner diameters is in a range of about 1.47 to about 1.77. 
     
     
         25 . The splice sleeve assembly as defined in  claim 21  wherein said surrounding wall has a thickness of about 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         26 . The splice sleeve assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein each overlapping rebar end extends a full length of said sleeve. 
     
     
         27 . The splice sleeve assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein a transverse area of the elliptical or compound cross-section inner surface of said rigid sleeve is essentially constant between said respective sleeve end lips. 
     
     
         28 . The splice sleeve assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the effective spacing gap between each of said reinforcing bar ends and said adjacent portions of said wall inner surface is continuous between the respective sleeve end lips, and the inner wall surface of the rigid sleeve is smooth between the respective sleeve end lips. 
     
     
         29 . The splice sleeve assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said rigid sleeve also includes at least one cementitious material, exit port positioned longitudinally in said rigid sleeve surrounding wall substantially along said minor axis. 
     
     
         30 . In combination, a pair of axially extending reinforcing bars having peripheral projections thereon, said bars having overlapping ends disposed in adjacent, generally parallel spaced relation, a rigid splice sleeve for receiving said overlapping ends of the axially extending reinforcing bars therein, and a hardened material enclosing the overlapping ends of the reinforcing bars and filling a transverse cross-sectional area of the sleeve to effect a connection of said overlapping bar ends,
 said rigid sleeve including a surrounding wall and opposed ends and, when said sleeve is oriented horizontally, said surrounding wall having an inner surface with an elliptical or compound curve cross-section defining a major axis that is horizontal, and a minor axis that is vertical,   a first inner diameter of the elliptical or compound cross section inner surface as measured along the major axis being greater than a second inner diameter of the elliptical or compound cross-section inner surface as measured along the minor axis,   the overlapping ends of the reinforcing bars being positioned in parallel side-by-side relation within said elliptical or compound curve cross-section inner surface with said bar ends spaced from each other and each end bar spaced from its adjacent portions of said surrounding wall inner surface by at least about 3 mm along the major axis, and   at least one end of the rigid sleeve having an inwardly directed lip that reduces the cross-section of said inner sleeve surface adjacent said at least one end,   wherein (a) said elliptical or compound curve cross-section inner surface of said rigid sleeve, (b) said relative positioning of said reinforcing bar ends away from said inner surface by at least about 3 mm along the major axis, (c) said inwardly directed lip adjacent at least one end of said sleeve, and (d) said hardened material all cooperating to develop a secure frictional and confining engagement between the reinforcing bar ends and the hardened material to securely retain the connection of the overlapping ends of the reinforcing bars in overlapping relation.