Splicing device

Abstract

A splice device including a body, a first opening, a second opening, an inlet, an outlet, and a cavity. The first opening at a first end and including a first bore for fixedly attaching a first rebar of a first concrete slab to the body. The second opening at a second end and including a second bore for receiving a second rebar of a second concrete slab therethrough. The inlet being at a second longitudinal axis and the outlet being at a third longitudinal axis. The cavity is in the body and in fluid communication with the first opening, second opening, inlet, and outlet. The splice device fixedly couples the first rebar to the second rebar by filling the cavity with a fill material, which when cured to a hardened state, the fill material fixedly attaches the second rebar to the splice device at the cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a body extending along a first longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, the body comprising:
 a first opening,
 wherein the first opening comprises a first bore at the first end, the first bore being configured to receive a first rebar of a first concrete slab; 
 
 a second opening,
 wherein the second opening comprises a second bore at the second end, the second bore being configured to receive a second rebar of a second concrete slab; 
 
 an inlet,
 wherein the inlet is at a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; 
 
 an outlet,
 wherein the outlet is at a third longitudinal axis, the third longitudinal axis extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; and 
 
 a cavity,
 wherein the cavity extends along the first longitudinal axis and the cavity is in fluid communication with the first opening, the second opening, the inlet, and the outlet. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first bore comprises one or more threads on an inner surface, the one or more threads being configured to engage corresponding threads on the first rebar in response to installing the first rebar into the first bore so as to connect the device to the first rebar. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the device is configured to receive a portion of the second rebar in the cavity, the second bore permitting the second rebar to extend therethrough into the cavity and towards the first end. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the device is configured to receive a fill material in the cavity through one of the inlet and the outlet,
 wherein, in response to the fill material curing in the cavity, the fill material and the portion of the second rebar are retained in the cavity and connects the device to the second rebar.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second bore comprises a slot, the slot having a width that is greater than a height to permit a lateral movement of the second rebar. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the second bore is rectangular in geometry with arcuate ends. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:
 a first cylindrical portion,
 wherein the first cylindrical portion comprises the inlet and the outlet arranged thereon, 
   a second cylindrical portion,
 wherein the second cylindrical portion comprises the first opening axially extending therethrough, and 
   an end wall,
 wherein the end wall is at the second end, the end wall comprising the second opening axially extending therethrough. 
   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first bore is a conical bore extending from the first opening having a first diameter to an opening to the cavity having a second diameter, the first diameter being wider than the second diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for splicing together rebar of concrete slabs, the apparatus comprising:
 a splice device comprising:
 a cylindrical body comprising: 
 a first end, 
 a second end, and 
 at least one sidewall; 
   a first bore extending through the cylindrical body at the first end, the first bore comprising:
 one or more threads on an inner surface, the one or more threads configured to engage corresponding threads on a first rebar of a first post-tensioned concrete slab in response to installing the first rebar into the first bore; 
   a second bore extending through the cylindrical body at the second end, the second bore comprising:
 a slot, the slot configured to permit a portion of a second rebar of a second post-tensioned concrete slab to extend therethrough; 
   a third bore extending through the at least one sidewall;   a fourth bore extending through the at least one sidewall; and   a cavity,
 wherein the cavity is in fluid communication with the first bore, the second bore, the third bore, and the fourth bore. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the splice device is configured to receive a grout material in the cavity through one of the third bore and the fourth bore; and
 wherein, in response to the grout material curing in the cavity, the grout material and the portion of the second rebar are retained in the cavity and connects the splice device to the second rebar.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second bore is rectangular in geometry with arcuate ends, the slot having a width that is greater than a height to permit a lateral movement of the second rebar. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises:
 a first cylindrical portion comprising:
 a first sidewall, the first sidewall comprising the third bore and the fourth bore extending therethrough, 
   a second cylindrical portion comprising:
 a second sidewall, 
 wherein the second cylindrical portion comprises the first bore axially extending therethrough, and 
   an end wall,
 wherein the end wall comprises the second bore axially extending therethrough. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first bore is a conical bore extending from a first opening having a first diameter to an opening to the cavity having a second diameter, the first diameter being wider than the second diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the splice device is made of stainless steel;
 wherein the splice device further comprises a coating material coating an exterior surface of the splice device to resist corrosion.   
     
     
         16 . A method for making a concrete construction including a first concrete slab, a second concrete slab, the method comprising:
 installing a splice device onto an end of a first rebar for the first concrete slab,
 wherein the splice device comprises a cylindrical body comprising a first bore at a first end, a second bore at a second end, an inlet, an outlet, and a cavity; 
   positioning a portion of a second rebar of the second concrete slab into the cavity, the second rebar extending through the second bore;   forming the first concrete slab, the first concrete slab comprising the first rebar;   forming the second concrete slab, the second concrete slab comprising the second rebar;   after forming the first concrete slab and the second concrete slab, filling a fill material into the cavity through one of the inlet and the outlet; and   in response to the fill material curing in the cavity, the splice device securely fixes the second rebar in the cavity and couples the first rebar to the second rebar.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first bore comprises one or more threads formed on an inner surface of the first bore, the one or more threads being configured to engage corresponding threads on the first rebar in response to installing the first rebar into the first bore. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the splice device is configured to receive the portion of the second rebar in the cavity, the second bore permitting the second rebar to extend therethrough into the cavity and towards the first end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming the first concrete slab further comprises:
 pouring the first concrete slab so the first end of the splice device is embedded in the first concrete slab.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein forming the second concrete slab further comprises:
 pouring the second concrete slab so the second end of the splice device is adjacent the second concrete slab,
 wherein the second concrete slab is formed adjacent the first concrete slab to minimize a gap between the first concrete slab and the second concrete slab.