Non-corroding erection lifting inserts for precast insulated panels

Abstract

An erection lifting insert for precast insulated panel having an insulating material layer between opposing wythes, the insulating material layer, wythes, and precast insulated panel having respective widths. The erection lifting insert includes an insert body. Opposing elongated engagement arms extend outward from the opposing sides of the insert body and downward past the bottom of the insert body. The opposing engagement arms are provided on each lateral side of the insert body between the midpoint and the side edges.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An erection lifting insert for precast insulated panel having an insulating material layer between opposing wythes, the insulating material layer, wythes, and precast insulated panel having respective widths, comprising:
 an insert body having opposing sides defining a thickness, opposing lateral sides defining a lateral width and a midpoint of the insert body, and top and bottom sides defining a height, the lateral width of the insert body being greater than the width of the insulating material layer and less than the width of the precast insulated panel such that penetrating portions of the insert body can penetrate into the wythes;   opposing elongated engagement arms extending outward from the opposing sides of the insert body and downward past the bottom of the insert body, the opposing engagement arms being provided on each lateral side of the insert body between the midpoint and the side edges, the engagement arms having a width less than the width of the wythes and a length greater than the lateral width of the insert body.   
     
     
         2 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein the insert body comprises a plate having planar sides and a height less than the width of the plate, and a thickness less than the height of the plate. 
     
     
         3 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 2 . wherein the engagement arms are detachable from the plate. 
     
     
         4 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 3 , wherein opposing engagement arms are provided by a single elongated member, and the plate comprises holes for receiving the elongated members such that portions of the elongated members from opposing sides of the plate to form the opposing engagement arms. 
     
     
         5 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 4 , wherein the elongated members are curved and the engagement arms extend outward and downward from the plate. 
     
     
         6 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 5 , wherein plate comprises three holes arranged in a triangle. 
     
     
         7 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 6 , wherein two of the holes have a first diameter and form a side of the triangle arranged along, and adjacent to, the bottom side of the plate, and the third hole has a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the third hole being arranged adjacent to the top side of the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The erection lifting inserts of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated engagement arms comprise surface protrusions for engaging the wythe. 
     
     
         9 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein the top of the insert body has a width less than the bottom of the insert body. 
     
     
         10 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 1 , wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of the insert body and the engagement arms comprises a fiber-reinforced polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 10 , wherein the fibers of the fiber-reinforced polymer further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of continuous and discontinuous fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 10 , wherein the fiber of the fiber reinforced polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, glass fibers, basalt fibers, aramid fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 10 , wherein the matrix comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyphenylene sulfide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polyurethane, polysulfone, polyether ketone, polyetherether ketone, thermoset epoxy, phenolic, nylon, vinyl ester and polyester. 
     
     
         14 . The erection lifting insert of  claim 10 , wherein the fibers are in a configuration that is at least one selected from the group consisting of non-crimped, multi-directional, woven, knitted, or braided configurations. 
     
     
         15 . A precast insulated panel, comprising:
 an insulating material layer;   opposing wythes on each side of the insulating material layer, the insulating material layer, wythes, and the precast insulated panel having respective widths;   an erection lifting insert, comprising:
 an insert body having opposing sides defining a thickness, opposing lateral sides defining a lateral width and a midpoint of the insert body, and having top and bottom sides defining a height, the lateral width of the insert body being greater than the width of the insulating material layer and less than the width of the precast insulated panel such that penetrating portions of the insert body penetrate into the wythes; 
 opposing elongated engagement arms extending outward from the opposing sides of the insert body and downward past the bottom of the insert body, the opposing engagement arms being provided on each lateral side of the insert body between the midpoint and the side edges, the engagement arms having a width less than the width of the wythes and a length greater than the lateral width of the insert body and penetrating into the wythes. 
   
     
     
         16 . The precast insulated panel of  claim 15 , wherein the erection lifting insert is arranged such that the insert body is orthogonal to the wythes and at a top portion of the precast insulated panel. 
     
     
         17 . The precast insulated panel of  claim 15 , wherein the erection lifting insert is configured to sustain an ultimate tension load of 12,000 lbs. and an ultimate shear load of 6,000 lbs. 
     
     
         18 . The precast insulated panel of  claim 15 , wherein the insulating material layer comprises a cutout portion for receiving a portion of the erection lifting insert. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a precast insulated panel, comprising the steps of:
 providing an erection lifting insert, comprising:
 an insert body having opposing sides defining a thickness, opposing lateral sides defining a lateral width and a midpoint of the insert body, and having top and bottom sides defining a height, the lateral width of the insert body being greater than the width of the insulating material layer and less than the width of the precast insulated panel such that penetrating portions of the insert body penetrate into the wythes; 
 opposing elongated engagement arms extending outward from the opposing sides of the insert body and downward past the bottom of the insert body, the opposing engagement arms being provided on each lateral side of the insert body between the midpoint and the side edges, the engagement arms having a width less than the width of the wythes and a length greater than the lateral width of the insert body and penetrating into the wythes fixing the erecting lifting insert into a mold; 
   pouring a first concrete wythe into a mold, the first wythe embedding a first pair of opposing engagement arms;   placing an insulating layer into the mold;   pouring a second wythe into the mold, the second wythe embedding a second pair of the opposing engagement arms.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the opposing engagement arms are provided by a single elongated member, the erection lifting insert comprising a first elongated member providing a first pair of opposing engagement arms, and a second elongated member providing a second pair of engagement arms, the insert body comprising a plate comprising holes for receiving the elongated members such that portions of the elongated engagement members extend from opposing sides of the plate to form the opposing engagement arms, the method further comprising the step of positioning the plate in the mold and inserting a first elongated member into one of the holes and pouring a first wythe embedding the first elongated member, and after positioning of the insulating layer inserting a second elongated member into a second of the holes and pouring a second wythe embedding the second elongated member. 
     
     
         21 . A method of erecting a precast insulated panel, comprising the steps of:
 providing a precast insulated panel, comprising:
 an insulating material layer; 
 opposing wythes on each side of the insulating material layer, the insulating material layer, wythes, and precast insulated panel having respective widths; 
 an erection lifting insert, comprising:
 an insert body having opposing sides defining a thickness, opposing lateral sides defining a lateral width and a midpoint of the insert body, and having a top side and a bottom side defining a height, the lateral width of the insert body being greater than the width of the insulating material layer and less than the width of the precast insulated panel such that penetrating portions of the insert body penetrate into the wythes; 
 opposing elongated engagement arms extending orthogonally outward from the opposing sides of the insert body and downward past the bottom of the insert body, the opposing engagement arms being provided on each lateral side of the insert body between the midpoint and the side edges, the engagement arms having a width less than the width of the wythes and a length greater than the lateral width of the insert body and penetrating into the wythes 
 
   engaging a lifting device to the erecting lifting insert;   positioning the precast insulated panel in position and securing the precast insulated panel; and;   disengaging the lifting device from the erection lifting insert.