Structural element reinforcement systems and methods

Abstract

Systems for reinforcement of structural elements such as piles, posts, pillars, and pipes are disclosed. The present invention features reinforced structural elements. The reinforced structural elements may include a sleeve structure positioned around a length of the structural element such that there is a chamber between the structural element and the sleeve structure. This chamber may be filled with concrete or another core filler material so as to reinforce the structural element. The sleeve structures of the present invention may be formed by the assembly of multiple staggered segmented layers of coupled reinforcing shells such as rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible fiber-reinforced shells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reinforcing sleeve structure ( 410 ) comprising:
 a. a plurality of stacked segments ( 416 ), each stacked segment ( 416 ) comprising two or more reinforcing shells ( 420 ) and seams between the reinforcing shells ( 420 ); and   b. a plurality of splicers ( 482 ), each splicer ( 482 ) aligned with a seam of the stacked segments ( 416 ).   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve structure ( 410 ) is configured to be formed around a structural element ( 402 ), wherein a core filler material ( 426 ) is disposed between the structural element ( 402 ) and the sleeve structure ( 410 ). 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) have a curved shape. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) are horizontal splicers ( 484 ) each configured to span across a horizontal seam ( 418 ). 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 4 , wherein a length of each horizontal splicer ( 484 ) is such that an integer number of horizontal splicers ( 484 ) substantially spans the entire horizontal seam ( 418 ) between two segments ( 416 ). 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 5 , wherein one or more of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) are vertical splicers ( 486 ) each configured to span across a vertical seam ( 424 ). 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 6 , wherein a length of each vertical splicer ( 486 ) is such that each vertical splicer ( 486 ) fits between two horizontal splicers ( 484 ) at either end of a segment ( 416 ). 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) are cross splicers ( 488 ) each configured to span across both a horizontal seam ( 418 ) and a vertical seam ( 424 ). 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) and each of the reinforcing shells ( 420 ) has one or more splicer fastening holes ( 492 ) to allow the splicers to be fixed to the reinforcing shells ( 420 ) via screws, bolts, hooks, tabs, or splicer rivets ( 490 ). 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) is fixed to the reinforcing shells ( 420 ) via an adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) comprises a metal, plastic, carbon fiber, or composite material. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) is rigid. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) is flexible. 
     
     
         14 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of splicers ( 482 ) is attached to at least one reinforcing shell ( 420 ). 
     
     
         15 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein a centerline of each splicer ( 482 ) is aligned with one of the seams such that the splicer ( 482 ) overlaps each of the reinforcing shells ( 420 ) on either side of the seam by about equal overlap distances. 
     
     
         16 . The sleeve structure ( 410 ) of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the splicers ( 482 ) have a centerline tab protruding along the centerline of the spacer into one of the seams so as to align the splicer ( 482 ) with the seam.