Bar connector assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly for concrete reinforcing bars comprises a seat section 21 and retainer 22 for use with the seat section 21 to connect bars having a semicircle loop at the ends. The seat section 21 is generally U-shaped and the retainer 22 is generally T-shaped. The seat section is symmetrical, the retainer is not, the bars are of uniform cross-section. A wedging action arises from the asymmetry of the retainer. The seat section has opposed lands in the form of posts 28 and 29, these posts have channels 30 and 31 which take the bar loop sections (not shown). The retainer has a central wedge 37 which, is operative to eliminate play between the bars and the parts of the connector to effectively form a rigid unit. This is accomplished by reason of the complex wedge action arising from a first wedge region adjacent the front at 38 on opposite sides of the wedge 37 and a second wedge region 39 which comprises a curved continuation of the wedge region 38 and a third wedge region at 40. Thus the first region tends to spread the bars while the second and third wedge regions tend to lift the bars.

1 . A bar connector assembly whereby at least one bar portion may be connected intimately with the connector assembly, the connector assembly comprising a body surrounding the at least one arcuate bar portion, the body having a bar seat section and a bar retainer, the seat section and retainer being moveable relative to each other for assembly together to form the surrounding body whereby during assembly the seat section, retainer and at least one arcuate bar portion are progressively wedged together characterised in that the relationship between retainer and seat section comprises a complex wedge having two wedge actions, one wedge action being adapted to force the at least one bar portion in a first direction and the second wedge action being adapted to force the at least one bar portion in a second direction, the cumulative effect of the complex wedge being to eliminate play between the at least one bar portion, seat section and retainer.  
     
     
         2 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, the seat section and retainer section are separate units.  
     
     
         3 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, the seat section and retainer section are partially assembled and constrained together for transport purposes.  
     
     
         4 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the bar portion is outboard of the wedge, the seat section, retainer and bar portion being wedged together, utilising the complex wedging action whereby wedge forces are applied laterally and outwardly in the direction of the bar portion and then across the bar portion in order to eliminate play between the bar portion and the connector assembly.  
     
     
         5 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the wedge has a length sufficient to make a connector that is operative for variations in bar tolerances  
     
     
         6 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the connector assembly is configured to connect two opposed bar portion, the retainer being configured to allow some limited transverse movement to accommodate differences in the bars being connected.  
     
     
         7 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the connector assembly is configured to connect two opposed bar portion, the retainer being configured to allow some limited transverse movement to accommodate differences in the bars being connected, the retainer wedge being adapted to move sideways as it is being forced into operative position if one bar is slightly bigger than the other.  
     
     
         8 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the bar retainer is moveable relative to the seat section to enable entry of the said at least one bar into the assembly, the seat section being adapted to receive and automatically position the said at least one bar relative to an adjacent bar already connected to the assembly, the retainer being moveable between a first position allowing the at least one bar to be placed on the seat section and a second position to block removal of the at least one bar from the assembly, the body when assembled about the at least one bar, and the connection to the adjacent bar being such that there is continuity of material between the bars to inhibit compressive movement between the bars when under compression.  
     
     
         9 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the seat section is a U-shaped channel complementary to part of the bar while the retainer is typically T-shaped and complementary to the bar so the bar is housed between them.  
     
     
         10 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein intimacy arises through a complex wedge applied to a U-shaped bar section located on the seat, the complex wedge being provided by the retainer which drives the bar at a tangent into close contact with the seat section by a progressive two stage wedging action.  
     
     
         11 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein wherein intimacy arises through a complex wedge applied to opposed U-shaped bar sections located on the seat section, the complex wedge being provided by the retainer which drives one or both the bars simultaneously into close contact with the seat section by a progressive two stage wedging action comprising a first and second stage, the first stage comprises a lateral wedging action giving rise to a substantially lateral force relative to the direction of the retainer and the second stage comprises the addition of a wedging action across the lateral force to lift the bars relative to the lateral direction of the first applied force.  
     
     
         12 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the connector assembly is adapted to connect together opposed reinforcement bars wherein at least one of the bars comprises a loop section, the retainer comprising a bridging member adapted to bridge over the seat section, the seat section having an opening and the seat section comprises a loop section seat accessible through the opening so that the loop section may be positioned on the seat, the bridging member being adapted to bridge across the opening when it is coupled to the seat section, the other one of the said bars being otherwise connected to the seat section opposite the loop section seat, the relative dimensions of the bars, the seat section and the bridging member being so chosen and arranged that a rigid portion of the assembly is located between the bars to resist compressive forces which may tend to force the bars toward each other and a further rigid section of the assembly is located inside the loop section to resist deformation of the loop section when under tension, the body when assembled about the bars from the bar seat section and retainer surrounds the at least one bar and being so dimensioned and arranged that upon assembly they co-operate to force the at least one bar into intimate relation with the body.  
     
     
         13 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the bar connector assembly enables connection of bars to the assembly so that bars extend from the connector in opposite directions, the bars having U-shaped ends configured so that the ends may be held captive in the assembly by the retainer  
     
     
         14 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the seat section comprises a curved channel and an upstanding land, the at least one bar having a curved section defining an inside and outside of the curved section, the curved section of the at least one bar being operatively positioned in the channel, the channel being at a boundary of the upstanding land, the upstanding land filling the inside of the curved section so that upon a load being applied to the bar in tension, the land section aids in retaining the bar in position and inhibits its deformation.  
     
     
         15 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the retainer comprises a solid piece driven in to secure the at least one bar in position, the retainer comprises an edgeways slidable member able to slide into operative position after the at least one bar has been located in operative position in the seat section, the bar in combination with the seat section and the retainer serving to secure the retainer and thereby the bar in position in the seat section, the retainer bridging across opposite sides of the body such that the body and retainer have the at least one bar located between them.  
     
     
         16 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly is symmetrical so that two identically shaped curved bars are connected together by the assembly with the bars so connected together occupy a common plane.  
     
     
         17 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the seat section includes a retainer guide way and the retainer has a guide that travels on the guide way, the guide and/or guide way having a slight taper so that the retainer is wedged in position.  
     
     
         18 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly is symmetrical so that two identically shaped curved bars of circular cross section are connected together by the assembly with the bars so connected together occupying a common plane, the two curved bars being U-shaped and the seat section having D-shaped lands matched to the bars, the retainer having curved wedge surfaces on opposite sides of the retainer, where at least part of the respective wedge surfaces slides under a respective bar to lift the bar against its respective land.  
     
     
         19 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly is symmetrical so that two identically shaped curved bars are connected together by the assembly with the bars so connected together occupying a common plane and any gaps between the bars are filled by the retainer so that compressive movement is blocked, the assembly being symmetrical in terms of force distribution in side view with the seat section resisting tension on one side of the bars and the retainer bridging the seat section on the opposite side of the bars to resist tension so that force applied to the bars is distributed evenly through the assembly.  
     
     
         20 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a second bar is connectable to the assembly, the second bar being curved having a curved section and the retainer being operatively connected across the second bar to the seat section outboard of the second bar and thereby generating a clamping force on the curved section of the second bar with an outward wedge force applied in a direction of tension and an inward force opposite the outward force applied by reason of the connection to the seat section outboard of the second bar.  
     
     
         21 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly is adapted to receive a second bar, the second bar is curved and the retainer is also wedged against the second bar.  
     
     
         22 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly has two opposed seats having curved sections in confronting relation.  
     
     
         23 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly has two opposed seats defined as the inner peripheral portion of opposed lands and having curved sections in confronting relation and the retainer is wedged between bars located in the curved sections applying an outward force to the bars and bridging across the lands applying an inward force to each of the lands tending to prevent separation of the lands when tensioned.  
     
     
         24 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly has two opposed seats defined as the inner peripheral portions of opposed lands, each the land comprises an upstanding post and each seat comprises a curved channel in the upstanding post, the channel extending around part of the post so that a curved section of bar wraps around the post and extends laterally of the post.  
     
     
         25 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly has two opposed seats defined as the inner peripheral portions of opposed lands, each the land comprises an upstanding post and each seat comprises a curved channel in the upstanding post, the channel extending around part of the post so that substantially U-shaped bars may be held in a common plane, the seat section comprises bilateral posts and bilateral channels, the channels being substantially in a common plane.  
     
     
         26 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly has two opposed seats defined as the inner peripheral portions of opposed lands each land being undercut on an outer edge, each undercut forming a guide way at each end for the retainer so the retainer slides sideways onto the lands in order to bridge across the lands.  
     
     
         27 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly has two opposed seats defined as the inner peripheral portions of opposed lands each land being undercut on an outer edge, each undercut forming a guide way at each end for the retainer so the retainer slides sideways onto the lands in order to bridge across the lands, each guide way being tapered so that the retainer is wedged into the guide way.  
     
     
         28 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly has two opposed seats defined as the inner peripheral portions of opposed lands each land being undercut on an outer edge, each undercut forming a guide way at each end for the retainer so the retainer slides sideways onto the lands in order to bridge across the lands, each guide way being tapered so that the retainer is wedged into the guide way, the retainer having a matching undercut and taper.  
     
     
         29 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly has two opposed seats defined as the inner peripheral portions of opposed lands each land being undercut on an outer edge, each undercut forming a guide way at each end for the retainer so the retainer slides sideways onto the lands in order to bridge across the lands, each guide way being tapered so that the retainer is wedged into the guide way, the retainer having a matching undercut and taper, each guide way extending across the seat section and is tapered from both ends to a central vertex so that the retainer may enter from either end.  
     
     
         30 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the complex wedge comprises at least in part a curved wedge surface.  
     
     
         31 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the complex wedge action arises from a first wedge region adjacent a front of the retainer on opposite sides of the retainer and a second wedge region which comprises a curved continuation of the first wedge region and a third wedge region adjacent the second wedge region.  
     
     
         32 . A bar connector assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the complex wedge action arises from a first wedge region adjacent a front of the retainer on opposite sides of the retainer and a second wedge region which comprises a curved continuation of the first wedge region and a third wedge region adjacent the second wedge region and the assembly is adapted to connect two opposed bars, the wedge action operating simultaneously on the two bars and the first wedge region tends to spread the bars while the second and third wedge regions tend to lift the bars.