Connection element, method for manufacturing a connection element and related installation kit

Abstract

A connection element (12) made of composite material includes a bundle of fibers (13) and a binding agent, and has at least one preformed portion (14) and at least one free fiber portion (16, 18, 19). The at least one preformed portion (14) includes a section of fibers (13) embedded in the binding agent to form a monolithic structure. At least part of the fibers (13) of the at least one free fiber portion (16, 18, 19) has virgin fibers (13).

1 . Connection element in composite material comprising a fibre bundle and a binding agent, said connection element comprising at least one preformed portion and at least one free fibre portion;
 said at least one preformed portion comprising a section of said fibre bundle embedded in said binding agent to form a monolithic structure;   wherein at least part of the fibres of the at least one free fibre portion consists of virgin fibres.   
     
     
         2 . Connection element according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one free fibre portion is arranged at one or both ends of the fibre bundle. 
     
     
         3 . Connection element according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one free fibre portion is arranged between two preformed portions. 
     
     
         4 . Connection element according to  claim 1 , wherein said bundle of fibres ( 13 ) comprises synthetic organic fibres, natural organic fibres, inorganic fibres, and/or metallic fibres. 
     
     
         5 . Connection element according to  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent is a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin or an inorganic matrix. 
     
     
         6 . Connection element according to  claim 1 , comprising a guide element sliding within said preformed portion adapted to be moved between an extracted position, protruding from said preformed portion at said at least one free fibre portion and a retracted position in which the guide element does not protrude or protrudes from said preformed portion at said at least one free fibre portion. 
     
     
         7 . Connection element according to  claim 1 , comprising a guide element protruding from said preformed portion at said at least one free fibre portion. 
     
     
         8 . Connection element according to  claim 1 , comprising a grouping element of said fibres of said free fibre portion, in a substantially distal position with respect to the preformed portion. 
     
     
         9 . Connection element according to  claim 8 , wherein said grouping element is obtained with a binding agent or a retention element. 
     
     
         10 . Connection element according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one preformed portion is hollow, and the internal volume is filled with one or more of resin, mortar, inorganic matrices, organic matrices. 
     
     
         11 . Method for making a connection element out of composite material comprising fibres and a binding agent, said procedure comprising the steps of:
 providing a fibre bundle;   impregnating the fibres with a binding agent;   passing the fibres inside a die having a cross-section;   curing the resin inside a furnace or said die; and   cutting the connection element;   
       wherein said step of impregnating the fibres with a binding agent is carried out on sections of the fibre bundles, while in some sections the fibres of the fibre bundle comprise or consist of virgin fibres. 
     
     
         12 . Method for making a connection element according to  claim 11 , wherein the cutting is made at a section of the fibre bundle impregnated with resin. 
     
     
         13 . Method for making a connection element according to  claim 11 , wherein the cutting is made at a section of the fibre bundle where the fibres comprise or consist of virgin fibres. 
     
     
         14 . Installation kit of a connection element comprising a connection element according to  claim 1 , and an insertion funnel to facilitate insertion of the connection element into a hole in a structural or non-structural element, and to facilitate arranging the fibre bundle as the free fibre portion.