Sealing cap for tensile elements

Abstract

A sealing cap having a body, wherein the body includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The sealing cap includes at least one protrusion which extends from the outer surface. The protrusion may include at least one aperture that is defined in a surface of the protrusion. The surface of the protrusion may also define a hollow volume which may further accommodate a filling material. After the sealing cap is installed to enclose at least one protruding tensile element within a void of a substrate, filling material is disposed into the void to encompass the outer surface of the sealing cap and contact the surfaces which define the protrusion. As the filling material is cured, an interlocking bond is formed with the protrusion portion of the sealing cap, thereby providing an effective barrier between a tensile element enclosure defined in the sealing cap and the surrounding environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealing cap comprising:
 a body, wherein the body comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an enclosure; and   at least one protrusion extending from the outer surface,   wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with a filling material when disposed around the sealing cap.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing cap of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises at least one aperture defined in a surface of the protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing cap of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is filled with a protective filler. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing cap of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is concentric relative to a longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a hollow volume defined in the at least one protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent defined through the body of the sealing cap, wherein the vent provides fluidic access to the enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing cap of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hollow volume defined in the at least one protrusion; and   a vent defined through the body of the sealing cap, wherein the vent provides fluidic access to the enclosure,   wherein the at least one protrusion comprises at least one aperture defined in a surface of the protrusion,   wherein the enclosure is filled with a protective filler, and   wherein the protrusion is concentric relative to a longitudinal axis of the body.   
     
     
         8 . A method of post-tensioning a substrate, the method comprising
 providing an anchor, wherein the anchor is coupled to a pocket former;   threading at least one tensile element through the anchor and the pocket former;   casting a substrate around the anchor and pocket former, wherein a first portion of the at least one tensile element extends outside of the anchor and the substrate;   removing the pocket former from the substrate, wherein removing the pocket forms a void within the substrate;   placing a clamping device onto the at least one tensile element in the void;   providing at least one tensile element tail;   covering at least one tensile element tail with a sealing cap comprising a protrusion; and   filling the void within the substrate with a filling material, wherein the filling material encompasses the sealing cap and engages with at least one surface of the protrusion.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising distributing a protective filler to a tensile element enclosure defined within the cap. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein distributing the protective filler to the tensile element enclosure defined within the cap comprises:
 distributing the protective filler through a vent defined in a body of the sealing cap and into the tensile element enclosure; or   pre-filling the tensile element enclosure with the protective filler.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein threading the at least one tensile element through the anchor and the pocket former comprises disposing a first portion of the tensile element 0.01-36 inches outside of the anchor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein placing a clamping device in the void comprises threading the clamping device onto each tensile element disposed in the void. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the at least one tensile element tail comprises providing a tensile element tail with a length that is between 0.01 and 10 inches relative to the clamping device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein filling the void within the substrate with a filling material comprises disposing the filling material into at least one aperture defined in the surface of the protrusion and engaging the filling material to a surface of the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising distributing a protective corrosion filler to a tensile element enclosure defined within the cap,
 wherein threading the at least one tensile element through the anchor and the pocket former comprises disposing a first portion of the tensile element 0.01-36 inches outside of the anchor,   wherein placing a clamping device in the void comprises threading the clamping device onto each tensile element disposed in the void,   wherein providing the at least one tensile element tail comprises providing a tensile element tail with a length that is between 0.01 and 10 inches relative to the clamping device,   wherein distributing the protective corrosion filler to the tensile element enclosure defined within the cap comprises:
 distributing the protective corrosion filler through a vent defined in a body of the sealing cap and into the tensile element enclosure; or 
 pre-filling the tensile element enclosure with the protective corrosion filler, and 
   wherein filling the void within the substrate with a filling material comprises disposing the filling material into at least one aperture defined in the surface of the protrusion and engaging the filling material to a surface of the aperture.   
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a sealing cap, the method comprising:
 inserting the sealing cap into a void within a substate, wherein the void comprises at least one tensile element tail protruding through an anchor;   covering the tensile element tail with the sealing cap;   coupling the sealing cap to the anchor;   encompassing the void within the substrate around the sealing cap with a filling material; and   engaging the filling material to a protrusion extending from an outer surface of the sealing cap.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising distributing a protective filler into the sealing cap before or after encompassing the sealing cap with the filling material, wherein encompassing the sealing cap with a filling material comprises:
 disposing the filling material through at least one aperture defined through the protrusion; or   disposing the filling material into a hollow volume defined by a surface of the protrusion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein engaging the filling material to the protrusion extending from the outer surface of the sealing cap comprises:
 engaging the filling material to a surface of the aperture; or   engaging the filling material to a surface of the protrusion that is concentrically disposed relative to a body of the sealing cap.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein covering the tensile element tail with the sealing cap comprises:
 covering a clamping device on the at least one tensile element tail with the sealing cap;   covering a plurality of tensile element tails and a plurality of clamping devices with the sealing cap; or   covering at least one clamping device and the anchor with the sealing cap.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising distributing a protective filler into the sealing cap before or after encompassing the sealing cap with the filling material,
 wherein encompassing the sealing cap with a filling material comprises:
 disposing the filling material through at least one aperture defined through the protrusion; or 
 disposing the filling material into a hollow volume defined by a surface of the protrusion, 
   wherein engaging the filling material to the protrusion extending from the outer surface of the sealing cap comprises:
 engaging the filling material to a surface of the aperture; or 
 engaging the filling material to a surface of the protrusion that is concentrically disposed relative to a body of the sealing cap, 
   wherein covering the at least one tensile element tail with the sealing cap comprises:
 covering a clamping device on the at least one tensile element tail with the sealing cap; 
 covering a plurality of tensile element tails and a plurality of clamping devices with the sealing cap; or 
 covering at least one clamping device and the anchor with the sealing cap.