Components for use in large-scale concrete slab constructions

Abstract

Structural reinforcing members are supplied for use in resisting shear forces within larger construction projects using reinforced concrete, along sites where strengthening ribs or beams between formers are to be created. The members also force the channels apart and maintain the reinforcing therein before curing at predetermined dimensions and spacings. A variant provides reinforcing cages that can be put together on the site for maintaining multiple reinforcing rods. The cages of different beams can intermesh at rib cross-over points. Example cages are eight-bar cages where each bar is made of 1.25 inch diameter reinforcing steel. During assembly the bars are held in place by the members with the assistance of gravity so that relatively little linking together of the reinforcing parts is required.

1 . Components to form part of the reinforcement for a reinforced concrete structure, wherein the components serve to (a) determine the dimensions of strengthening beams or ribs of concrete to be formed as part of the structure, by delimiting and occupying spaces between rigid formers that will contain the concrete after pouring, (b) dictate the placement of reinforcing bars of metal within the strengthening beams or ribs of concrete by providing clear attachment points for holding said reinforcing bars at predetermined positions, and (c) serve in themselves as structural reinforcement components orientated in order to resist shear stress applied to the strengthening beams or ribs of concrete.  
   
   
       2 . Components as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each component is formed from metal.  
   
   
       3 . Components as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the components are used along the strengthening beams or ribs of concrete as a series of single components (herein termed “structural stirrups”) and each single component includes (a) more than one attachment points for a corresponding reinforcing bar held at a predetermined position, and (b) at least one attachment point capable of locating the component with respect to an adjacent former so that each component is capable of holding said reinforcing bars at predetermined positions with respect to the adjacent former.  
   
   
       4 . Components as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each component is used as a member of a group of components for assembly as part of the structure during construction, and each group of components after assembly includes (a) more than one attachment point for more than one reinforcing bars each held at a predetermined position, and (b) at least one attachment point for location with respect to an adjacent former so that each single component is capable of holding said reinforcing bars at predetermined positions with respect to the adjacent former, and (c) each group of components after assembly serves as a cage assembly capable of holding said more than one reinforcing bars at predetermined positions.  
   
   
       5 . A reinforced concrete structure including a cage assembly as claimed in  claim 4 .  
   
   
       6 . A reinforced concrete structure including intersecting cages constructed in position.  
   
   
       7 . A method for assembly of a group of components as claimed in  claim 4  along the course of an intended strengthening beam or rib, between formers, including the steps of: 
 a) placing deep non-structural “pod spacers and bar organisers” along the channel in order to locate and hold the void formers in place during later component placement, and thereby to maintain the channel width,    b) placing a structural “inverted top hat” deep bar-holding bent wire shape with sufficient depth to support a first, lower layer of bars at the deepest level, alongside each pod spacer and bar organiser,    c) placing a deep array of structural reinforcing rods in the grooves provided by the deep series of pod spacers and bar organisers,    d) placing shallow non-structural pod spacer and bar organisers along the channel,    e) placing a shallow array of structural reinforcing rods in the grooves provided by the shallow series of pod spacers and bar organisers,    f) placing an inverted “U” structural element to serve as part of the cage over the shallow array of reinforcing rods, in alignment with the “inverted top hat”   g) fixing the structural elements to each other, so that the assembly is ready for receiving wet concrete and providing reinforcement once the concrete has cured.    
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , further wherein at positions where beams of reinforced concrete are intended to intersect, the respective arrays of reinforcing rods are installed so as to cross over each other thereby creating and installing interlocking reinforcing cage assemblies.  
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein should beams of reinforced concrete be intended to intersect, those groups of components for use with a first set of reinforcing rods oriented in a first direction is made longer in order to reach to a greater depth than the groups of component for use with a second, intersecting set of reinforcing rods by about the diameter of the reinforcing rods, so that the sets of reinforcing rods may cross over each other without bending.