Connector assembly

Abstract

Disclosed is a connector assembly for connecting together a structural component and a concrete body. The connector assembly is capable of resisting shear forces between the structural component and the concrete body. The connector assembly includes a connector adapted to be embedded in concrete and adapted to be attached to the structural component, and a connector element that is adapted to surround the connector and form a barrier that is spaced from the connector and confines concrete around the connector. A clip for interconnecting the connector and connector element is also disclosed. An integrally formed connector element assembly that includes a connector element and a clip is also disclosed.

1 : A connector assembly for connecting together a structural component and a concrete body wherein the connector assembly is capable of resisting shear forces between the structural component and the concrete body and includes: 
 (a) a connector adapted to be embedded in concrete and adapted to be attached to the structural component; and    (b) a connector element that is adapted to surround the connector and form a barrier that is spaced from the connector and confines concrete around the connector.    
   
   
       2 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the connector and the connector element are separate components and the connector assembly further includes a means for holding the connector element around the connector.  
   
   
       3 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the holding means is a clip extending between the connector and the connector element.  
   
   
       4 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 3  wherein the connector includes a shank with one end adapted to be embedded in concrete and the other end adapted to be attached to the structural component, and wherein the clip includes: 
 (a) a means for coupling the clip to a section of the connector element, and    (b) a plurality of legs formed from resilient material that extend inwardly and have inner ends that describe an opening that can receive the shank of the connector, and which opening has a diameter that is less than that of the shank, whereby in use the legs deflect when the clip is pushed over the shank so that the shank extends through the opening and the inner ends of the legs contact the shank and thereby couple the clip to the shank.    
   
   
       5 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the holding means is adapted to hold the connector element from the connector so that there is a spacing of at least 20 mm between the components.  
   
   
       6 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the holding means is adapted to hold the connector element from the connector so that there is a spacing of at least 25 mm.  
   
   
       7 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the holding means is adapted to hold the connector element from the connector so that there is a spacing of at least 30 mm.  
   
   
       8 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the holding means is adapted to hold the connector element from the connector so that there is a spacing of at least the maximum size of aggregate in concrete in the concrete body between the components.  
   
   
       9 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the holding means is adapted to hold the connector element from the connector so that there is a spacing of least 1.25 times the maximum size of aggregate in concrete in the concrete body.  
   
   
       10 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the holding means is adapted to hold the connector element from the connector so that there is a spacing of at least 1.5 times the maximum size of aggregate in concrete in the concrete body.  
   
   
       11 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the connector element is selected from the group which includes a ring of solid material, a ring of mesh, and a coil with small pitch windings.  
   
   
       12 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the connector element is a coil with small pitch windings and the ends of the coils are closed to facilitate the development of hoop stresses in the coil.  
   
   
       13 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 11  wherein the connector element is a continuous ring of solid material, such as steel.  
   
   
       14 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein, in a situation in which the concrete body is supported by a profiled decking having an upstanding rib or ribs separated by pans and an underlying structural framework of beams, the connector element is annular.  
   
   
       15 : The connector assembly defined in  claim 14  wherein the connector element has a height approximately 60%-80% the height of the rib or ribs on the decking.  
   
   
       16 : A composite structure includes a structural framework of beams, a decking on the structural framework, a concrete body on the decking, and a connector assembly, the connector assembly including: 
 (a) a connector embedded in concrete and attached to the structural framework; and    (b) a connector element that surrounds the connector and forms a barrier that is spaced from the connector and confines concrete around the connector.    
   
   
       17 : The composite structure defined in  claim 16  wherein the connector assembly includes a means that holds the connector element around the connector.  
   
   
       18 : The composite structure defined in  claim 17  wherein the holding means is a clip extending between the connector and the connector element.  
   
   
       19 : The composite structure defined in  claim 16  wherein the spacing of the connector element from the connector is at least 20 mm.  
   
   
       20 : The composite structure defined in  claim 16  wherein the spacing of the connector element from the connector is at least 25 mm.  
   
   
       21 : The composite structure defined in  claim 16  wherein the spacing of the connector element from the connector is at least 30 mm.  
   
   
       22 : The composite structure defined in  claim 16  wherein the spacing of the connector element from the connector is at least the maximum size of aggregate in concrete in the concrete body.  
   
   
       23 : The composite structure defined in  claim 16  wherein the spacing of the connector element from the connector is at least 1.25 times the maximum size of aggregate in concrete in the concrete body.  
   
   
       24 : The composite structure defined in  claim 16  wherein the spacing of the connector element from the connector is at least 1.5 times the maximum size of aggregate in concrete in the concrete body.  
   
   
       25 : A shear connector assembly for use in construction of concrete composite structures having a concrete body supported by a decking on a structural framework, the shear connector assembly including: 
 (a) at least one shear connector stud adapted to be permanently fixed through the decking; and    (b) a connector element adapted to form a barrier surrounding at least one connector stud a spaced distance therefrom to confine the concrete around the stud.    
   
   
       26 : The shear connector assembly defined in  claim 25  further includes a means for holding the connector element around the connector stud and concentric of the stud.  
   
   
       27 : The shear connector assembly defined in  claim 26  wherein the holding means is a clip extending between the connector stud and the connector element.  
   
   
       28 : A method of forming a composite concrete structure including the steps of: 
 (a) assembling a structural framework incorporating interconnected cross-beams and a decking mounted on the beams;    (b) permanently fixing connectors in the form of shear connector studs through the decking and aligned with the beams;    (c) positioning a connector element in relation to the decking wherein the element forms a barrier surrounding at least one connector stud a spaced distance therefrom; and    (d) pouring concrete on the decking to form a composite structure.    
   
   
       29 : The method defined in  claim 28  further includes distancing the connector stud and the surrounding connector element from the decking rib at which concrete failure is most likely to occur.  
   
   
       30 : A clip for use with the connector assembly defined in  claim 1  includes: 
 (a) a means for coupling the clip to a section of the connector element, and    (b) a plurality of legs formed from resilient material that extend inwardly and have inner ends that describe an opening that can receive a section of the connector, and which opening has a diameter that is less than that of the connector section, whereby in use the legs deflect when the clip is pushed over the connector so that the connector section extends through the opening and the inner ends of the legs contact the connector section and thereby couple the clip to the connector.    
   
   
       31 : The clip defined in  claim 30  wherein the legs are formed to enable the legs to flex at least in one direction, when in use the clip is pushed over the connector to locate the clip on the connector.  
   
   
       32 : The clip defined in  claim 30  wherein the legs are formed to enable the legs to flex in two mutually perpendicular directions, when in use the clip is pushed over the connector to locate the clip on the connector.  
   
   
       33 : The clip defined in  claim 30  wherein at least one of the legs includes an upward crank.  
   
   
       34 : The clip defined in  claim 33  wherein the leg or legs that include the cranked end further include a section that is formed to increase the flexibility of the leg.  
   
   
       35 : The clip defined in  claim 34  wherein the by section is in the form of a curved bend in the leg outwardly of the cranked end.  
   
   
       36 : The clip defined in  claim 30  wherein the inner ends of the legs are relatively wide to enable the legs to grip the connector section securely.  
   
   
       37 : The clip defined in  claim 30  wherein the inner ends of the legs include projections that enable the legs to grip the connector section securely.  
   
   
       38 : The clip defined in  claim 30  wherein the legs are formed so as to minimise interference to concrete flowing into the volume defined by the connector element that enclose the connector.  
   
   
       39 : The clip defined in  claim 30  wherein the means for coupling the clip to the section of the connector element includes a plurality of clasps that can clip onto the section of the connector element.  
   
   
       40 : A connector element assembly for use in a connector assembly for connecting together a concrete body and a structural component, wherein the connector assembly includes the connector element assembly and a connector adapted to be embedded in concrete and adapted to be connected to the structural component, and the connector element assembly includes: 
 (a) a connector element that defines a barrier to confine concrete around the connector, and    (b) an integrally formed clip section for coupling the connector element to the connector.    
   
   
       41 : The connector element assembly defined in  claim 40  wherein the clip section includes a plurality of legs formed from resilient material that extend inwardly from a section of the barrier section and have inner ends that describe an opening that can receive a section of the connector and have a diameter that is less than that of the connector section, whereby in use the legs deflect when the connector element is pushed over the connector so that the connector extends through the opening and the inner ends of the legs contact the connector section and thereby couple the connector element to the connector with the barrier section positioned to surround the connector.  
   
   
       42 : The connector element assembly defined in  claim 41  wherein the legs are formed so that the legs can flex at least in one direction, when in use the connector element is pushed over the connector to locate the connector element on the connector.  
   
   
       43 : The connector element assembly defined in  claim 41  wherein the legs are formed so that the legs can flex in two mutually perpendicular directions, when in use the connector element is pushed over the connector to locate the connector element on the connector.  
   
   
       44 : The connector element assembly defined in  claim 41  wherein at least one of the legs includes an upward crank.  
   
   
       45 : The connector element assembly defined in  claim 44  wherein the leg or legs that include the cranked end further include a first leg section that is formed to increase the flexibility of the leg.  
   
   
       46 : The connector element assembly defined in  claim 45  wherein the first leg section is in the form of a curved bend in the leg outwardly of the cranked end.  
   
   
       47 : The connector element assembly defined in  claim 41  wherein the inner ends of the legs are relatively wide to enable the legs to grip the connector section securely.  
   
   
       48 : The connector element assembly defined in  claim 41  wherein the inner ends of the legs include projections that enable the legs to grip the connector section securely.  
   
   
       49 : A method of manufacturing the connector element assembly defined in  claim 40  includes stamping a flat blank from a steel sheet, the blank having (a) a rectangular section that corresponds to the barrier section and (b) 4 four elongate members extending from one side of the rectangle that correspond to the legs of the clip section, folding the rectangular section of the blank to form the barrier section, and shaping the elongate members to form the legs of the clip section.  
   
   
       50 : A method of manufacturing the connector element assembly defined in  claim 40  includes pressing a cup-shaped member from a steel sheet, the cup-shaped member having a cylindrical wall that forms the barrier section, and stamping the base to form the legs of the clip section.