Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110072745 | ANCHORING, SPLICING AND TENSIONING ELONGATED REINFORCEMENT MEMBERS - Anchoring devices and systems are disclosed for use with elongated reinforcement members such as FRP, SRP, metallic bars, or cables. Such devices and systems impart a compressive stress into a static structure having the elongated reinforcement member running therethrough or therealong. An anchoring system can include an anchor block that includes a front end surface for contacting the static structure, an axial bore for receiving the elongated reinforcement member, and clamping members that, when closed, exert a radial clamping force on a reinforcement member in the axial bore. A tensioning and anchoring system may include one or more tensioners integrally connected to an anchor block. At least one sleeve may be secured to the anchor block and cooperate with a bolt that displaces the anchor block to place a tensile force on the elongated reinforcement member and impart a compressive force on the static structure. | 03-31-2011 |
20110197540 | ANCHORING, SPLICING AND TENSIONING ELONGATED REINFORCEMENT MEMBERS - Anchoring devices and systems are disclosed for use with elongated reinforcement members such as FRP, SRP, metallic bars, or cables. Such devices and systems impart a compressive stress into a static structure having the elongated reinforcement member running there through or there along. An anchoring system can include an anchor block that includes a front end surface for contacting the static structure, an axial bore for receiving the elongated reinforcement member, and clamping members that work with fasteners to provide a clamping force. The bore may be tapered and the fasteners optionally provide different clamping levels to reduce the stress on the elongated reinforcement member near the front end surface. The disclosed systems also include pre-stressing devices that can be used with the disclosed anchor systems, and that can place a tensile force on the elongated reinforcement members to also impart a compressive force on the static structure. | 08-18-2011 |
20130195541 | SHEET AND ROD ATTACHMENT APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - Exemplary sheet and rod attachment apparatus and systems are described for providing composite reinforcement for one or more structures, such that one or more structures can be supported by different reinforcement mechanisms. The sheet and rod attachment apparatus includes an adaptor that couples the sheet to the rod in a manner that minimizes or substantially eliminates localized stress concentrations. The adaptor may include one or more wedge-shaped bodies contoured and configured to attach to at least a portion of a rod of a predetermined size and/or shape. A wedge-shaped body may include an interior surface for engaging the rod, and exterior surfaces extending radially from the interior surface. Example exterior surfaces are configured to engage a reinforcement sheet that extends axially from the rod. | 08-01-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080271389 | PERFORATED PLATE SEISMIC DAMPER - The present invention relates to apparatus and systems for absorbing seismic energy to prevent non-linear displacement in a structure. A seismic damper according to embodiments of the present invention includes at least one flat plate which can be perforated to include a plurality of apertures and/or cut-outs. Interior apertures are formed in the flat plate, and one or more cut-outs along outer edges. Nodes are defined between the apertures and the cut-outs and stresses from transferred energy focus on the nodes to reduce non-linear displacement of a brace system to which the seismic damper is attached. One or more tension straps can be attached to the flat plate. The interior apertures may include a single aperture, or multiple apertures. The apertures may include slots. Two plates may be connected and rotated relative to each other placing the apertures out of alignment. Tension straps can be rotated relative to each other. | 11-06-2008 |
20100107519 | PERFORATED PLATE SEISMIC DAMPER - Disclosed are apparatus and systems for absorbing seismic energy through non-linear yielding as a structure experiences lateral displacement. A seismic damper according to embodiments of the present invention includes at least one flat plate which can be perforated to include a plurality of apertures and/or cut-outs. One or more interior apertures are formed in the plate, and cut-outs may be formed along outer edges. External nodes are defined between the apertures and the cut-outs and stresses focus on the nodes to reduce non-linear displacement of a brace system to which the seismic damper is attached. One or more tension straps can be attached to the flat plate. Tension straps can be rotated relative to each other. Multiple tension straps may also be on the same surface. Multiple tension straps on the same surface may be nested and parallel. | 05-06-2010 |
20100144905 | BLENDING PLASTIC AND CELLULOSE WASTE PRODUCTS FOR ALTERNATIVE USES - The present invention relates to methods for reclaiming plastics and cellulose materials for use in a variety of applications, including as alternative fuel sources. According to one embodiment of the invention, waste is received which includes cellulose materials and plastics. Such materials are sorted from other materials and the cellulose and plastic materials are shredded or ground and then blended together. The blended materials can then be fed to an energy converter, such as a combustion unit or a gasifier, where they are burned as fuel source or used to create synthetic gas. In other embodiments, the blended materials are heated or have a binding element added thereto. Such mixture is then compressed to form a desired shape or sized object, and that object can then be packaged, distributed or used. The blended object can be used as a fuel source, or as a building, sound attenuation, or insulation material. | 06-10-2010 |
20120152832 | SUBMERGED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF UNDESIRABLE SUBSTANCES FROM AQUEOUS MEDIA - A system and method are provided for removal of undesirable substances from a body of liquid. The system can include an aeration structure having a continuously inclined surface configured to provide an interaction of air bubbles against substantially an entire length of the continuously inclined surface while the air bubbles are moving toward a top of the body of liquid. The continuously inclined surface can be substantially submerged in the body of liquid. A bio-film of diverse bacteria colonies is disposed on the continuously inclined surface, and a high surface area-to-volume structure is located in proximity to the aeration structure, upon which a bio-film of bacteria colonies can be formed. An aeration system is coupled to an air supply system which releases the air bubbles toward a bottom of the continuously inclined surface, such that the air bubbles move along the continuously inclined surface as they rise so as to (i) create a variety of aerobic-anaerobic conditions at the bio-film and (ii) engage the air bubbles in a continuous mixing of a micro climate for the bio-film in response to an orientation of the continuously inclined surface and (iii) provide airlift circulation of water from bottom to top of the aeration structure. | 06-21-2012 |
20150075099 | ELONGATE MEMBER REINFORCEMENT - An elongate member reinforcement system and associated methods is disclosed. The system can include an elongate member, a structure associated with an end of the elongate member, a support member coupled to the structure and laterally offset from the elongate member extending about an end portion of the elongate member, a support layer surrounding the end portion of the elongate member such that at least a portion of the support member is between the support layer and the elongate member, and a structural filler disposed between the support layer and the elongate member. A load tending to cause relative movement of the end portion of the elongate member and the structure can be transferred through the structural filler and the support member to provide support for the elongate member. | 03-19-2015 |