EP4655463A1

EP4655463A1 - Device for splicing reinforcement cages

Info

Publication number: EP4655463A1
Application number: EP24707261.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephen Render
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-01-25
Filing date: 2024-01-23
Publication date: 2025-12-03
Also published as: WO2024156992A1; AU2024212242A1; GB2626547A; GB202301058D0

Abstract

A device (50A) usable e.g. in pluralities thereof for splicing together end-to-end a first reinforcement cage (10) and a second reinforcement cage (20), each of the first and second reinforcement cages (10, 20) extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage (20) comprising a suspension band (28) adjacent one of its ends (M) and the first reinforcement cage (10) carrying the said device (50A) adjacent one of its ends, an end portion (C) of the first cage (10) being of a different transverse width from the transverse width of an end portion (M) of the second cage (20) so as to define a transverse suspension gap (G) between the respective end portions of the first and second cages (10, 20), into which transverse suspension gap (G) the suspension band (28) on the second cage (20) is insertable and trappable by the device (50A) on the first cage (10) as the cages (10, 20) are brought together into their spliced relationship by relative movement thereof in said axial direction; wherein the device (50A) comprises: an elongate gate member (70) having opposite proximal (78) and distal (72) end portions and being pivotally mounted on the first cage (10) via a pivot portion (74) of the gate member (70) intermediate its proximal (78) and distal (72) end portions, the gate member (70) being pivotable about its pivot mounting (90B) between an open pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band (28) on the second cage (20) can be inserted into the suspension gap (G) during axial relative movement of the cages (10, 20) towards one another, and a closed pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band (28) on the second cage (20), once located in the suspension gap (G), is prevented from being removed therefrom by the gate member (70); wherein the proximal end portion (78) of the gate member (70) includes an abutment portion (80) against which the suspension band (28) on the second cage (20) trappingly abuts once the suspension band (28) has been inserted into the suspension gap (G) as the first and second cages (10, 20) are brought axially together into their spliced relationship, and the distal end portion (72) of the gate member (70) includes a stop means (77; 92B) for limiting the pivoting motion of the gate member (70) as it pivots into its closed pivotal configuration; wherein the proximal end portion (78) of the gate member (70) is located on, or extends in a first normal direction (D1) from, a first side of the pivot portion (74) thereof, and the distal end portion (72) is located on, or extends in a second normal direction (D2) from, a second side of the pivot portion (74) thereof, wherein the first and second sides - i.e. the first and second normal directions (D1, D2) - are different from one another. The gate member (70) is thus configured and arranged in the form of a class one mechanical lever, with the proximal (78) and distal (72) end portions thereof being located on or extending from different sides of the fulcrum (92B) about which the gate member lever (70) pivots as it moves between its open and closed pivotal configurations.

Description

DEVICE FOR SPLICING REINFORCEMENT CAGES

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a device for splicing together reinforcement cages, such as pile cages and diaphragm wall cages. It also relates to a combination of at least two reinforcement cages spliced together using one or more of the splicing devices. The invention further relates to a method for splicing together at least one pair of reinforcement cages using one or more of the splicing devices, and to piles, diaphragm walls and other reinforcing structures formed using reinforcement cages that have been spliced together according to the method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

Reinforcement cages such as pile cages are used in a wide range of civil engineering and construction applications, principally in the formation of concrete piles in the construction of buildings, underground car parks, road or rail or other bridges, and other structures. Pile cages not only provide reinforcement for the concrete of the pile, but they also provide a means of attaching or anchoring part(s) of the building, bridge or other structure to the built pile itself.

As used herein, the term “pile cage” means a generally cylindrical, or alternatively other cross-sectional shaped, assembly or network of a plurality (typically at least about 4, 5 or 6, or possibly more than six) of steel (or other metal) reinforcing bars (which are typically referred to in the industry as “rebars”) each extending in a generally longitudinal direction (defined as a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pile to be formed around the cage) and anchored together by an arrangement of one or more helical wires or bands welded to the rebars to form a rigidifying cage structure which maintains the relative positioning, separation and alignment of the cage bars during the subsequent formation of the pile around the cage. Thus, a pile cage is a relatively stiff and structurally stable framelike structure, and is often manufactured off-site in a dedicated assembly plant and transported by vehicle to the building site ready for use in the building of the required piles.

Typically a hole of the required size and cross-sectional shape to form the pile is formed in the ground by drilling and is then at least partially lined (to prevent wall collapse) with a reusable casing. A pile cage is then lowered into the lined hole, and wet concrete is then poured therein, embedding the cage within it. The casing is then withdrawn, for re-use in the building of another pile, while the concrete is still wet, and the concrete is then allowed to cure to form the pile. Frequently, however, it is necessary to form particularly tall piles, i.e. of a height greater than the length of a typical single individual pile cage. In this case it is common practice to splice together pairs of pile cages end-to-end, i.e. to connect the top end of a lower pile cage to the bottom end of an upper pile cage so that the two cages are securely interconnected together end-to-end, prior to the spliced cage combination being lowered into the prepared hole ready for the pouring of concrete therein to form a pile of the required enhanced height or length. Often as many as three, four or even more than four individual pile cage sections can be spliced together end-to-end in sequential pairs and lowered stagewise into the hole until a single unified multi-section pile cage of the required total height/length has been formed. During the splicing and stagewise lowering operation each successive pile cage section is generally accurately positioned (e.g. using a crane) directly above an exposed upper portion of the pile cage section below it, then spliced thereto by whatever splicing device or devices is/are being employed for that job.

To assist the accurate relative placement of the respective ends of a given pair of cages during the splicing operation, it is usual for an end portion of one of the cages (typically the top end portion of a lower one of the cages of the pair) to be “cranked”, which is to say the rebars of that top end portion are bent radially inwardly a short distance so as to form that top end portion of the lower cage with a diameter of somewhat reduced size compared with the diameter of the bottom end portion of the upper cage (which is uncranked). Thus, the top end portion of the lower cage forms a spigot-like extension of the lower cage which fits radially inside and a short distance axially up into the interior of the slightly larger-diameter bottom end portion of the upper cage, thereby facilitating their stable and secure splicing together as the appropriate number of splicing devices mounted on one of the cages (typically on the cranked top portion of the lower cage) are actuated to effect the secure splicing connection together of the two cage sections of the pair.

Although the formation of circular-sectioned piles using cylindrical pile cages are generally the most common forms of reinforcing structures formed using such spliced reinforcement cages, in the formation of concrete reinforcing structures other than circular-sectioned piles, reinforcement cages of other types and cross-sectional shapes may be used instead. For example, diaphragm walls, such as those of rectangular or even L-shaped or T-shaped cross-sections, may be formed in an analogous manner to cylindrical piles, but instead of using one or more cylindrical pile cages one or more reinforcement cages of an appropriate alternative cross-sectional shape may be used instead. Such alternatively shaped reinforcement cages may likewise be used in spliced pluralities thereof as the physical needs of the structure to be formed dictate, with corresponding pairs of such alternatively shaped reinforcement cages being spliced end-to-end in a corresponding manner using corresponding splicing devices.

However, splicing together pairs of reinforcement cages, whether of the pile, diaphragm wall or other types, presents various technical difficulties if the splicing is to be effected efficiently and reliably. It is also a procedure that comes with ever increasing health and safety risks that need to be addressed, such as mitigating against risks associated with workers manually assisting certain steps in the overall splicing operation or even splicing device failure if correct mechanical specifications are not adhered to for some reason.

Various pile and other cage splicing devices and splicing methods are known in the art. One early known cage splicing system is that disclosed in published International Patent Application W02007/068898 (also published as EP1963579A). Here a supported lower (or alternatively upper) cage is fitted with a circumferential suspension band, e.g. by welding to the longitudinal rebars thereof, and the upper (or alternatively lower) pile cage is fitted with a series of welded support plates each with a screw-threaded aperture therein to receive a respective suspension bolt which is screwable therein from the outside of the cages once the upper and lower cages have been correctly positioned and aligned. However, this known system is rather crude and mechanically unreliable, due mainly to the cantilevered nature of the anchored suspension bolts that have to bear the full loads exerted by the weight of the spliced cages, as well as the propensity for inaccurate positional placement of the suspension band and the suspension bolts relative to each other.

More recently I have myself proposed some new reinforcement cage splicing systems which address and ameliorate the shortcomings inherent in the known system of EP1963579A above by avoiding the use of mere cantilevered suspension bolts. For example, the reinforcement cage splicing devices disclosed in my UK Patents nos. GB2531376B and GB2547283B rely on the creation of a radial suspension gap between the respective end portions of the two cages being spliced, wherein the suspension gap is formed by a radially- extending anchoring portion fixed to one of the cages, and that suspension gap is then bridged by any of various designs of suspension member (e.g. an elongate solid or hollow body) which are insertable from outside the cages to close the suspension gap once the suspension band on the other of the cages has been inserted therein as the cages are brought together into their splicing relative configuration.

As a further improvement on even the above more recently proposed splicing systems, my more recent International Patent Application WO2016/207652A1 (granted as e.g. EP3314067B1) proposes a different and more efficient and reliable form of cage-mounted gate means that closes the suspension gap once the suspension band on the first (usually the lower one) of the cages has been inserted therein as the cages are brought together into their splicing relative configuration. In this alternative arrangement the gate means is selectively configurable in either an open configuration (in which the suspension band on the first (usually lower) cage can be inserted into the suspension gap via the open gate means during axial relative movement of the cages towards one another) or a closed configuration (in which the suspension band on the first (usually lower) cage, once located in the suspension gap, is prevented from being removed therefrom via the closed gate means), and the gate means carried on the second (usually upper) cage is moveable between those open and closed configurations by virtue of at least a portion thereof being moveable by pivoting. WO2016/207652A1 discloses various example forms of such pivotal gate members.

This most recently proposed cage-mounted splicing device based on one or more pivotal gate members goes far in addressing and ameliorating many of the shortcomings and limitations of the earlier known cage splicing devices already proposed in the art, but there is still room for improvement over even those pivotal gate member-based arrangements. In particular, one feature of even the most recent pivotal gate member-based splicing devices of WO2016/207652A1 which may in certain circumstances lead to potential shortcomings, is the fact that the radial suspension gap - into which is selectively insertable and trappable the suspension band on the first (usually lower) of the cages - is formed by a radially- extending anchoring portion fixed to and carried by the second (usually upper) cage, which radially-extending anchoring portion is still in essence of the nature of a cantilevered arrangement. This stems from the fact that in the various selectively open-or-closed configurable gate member arrangements disclosed in WO2016/207652 A 1 - and especially that of an especially preferred embodiment thereof shown in Fig. 11 (b) of that document - they mostly rely on some kind of pin- or bolt-based stop means located at a remote end of the radially extending anchoring portion to provide the pivotal gate means with its principal load-bearing function as the weight of the spliced cages forces the suspension band on the first (usually lower) cage into abutment with the pivotal gate member(s), which gate member(s) then bear(s) against that stop means as the spliced cages are lifted and/or lowered during their insertion operation into the prepared hole in the ground.

The overall reliability of this cantilever-type arrangement of the radially extending anchoring portion that carries the stop means at its remote end is limited by the flexural strength of this cantilever. This places limitations on the loads that can be tolerated by an anchoring portion and associated stop means with a given construction and size and the thickness of the materials from which their components are formed. Furthermore, the flexural stiffness and maintenance of physical integrity of such cantilever-type anchoring portion and associated stop means arrangements diminish as the length of the cantilever increases, which places greater physical demands and requirements for thicker and bulkier components on such known pivotal-type splicing devices as the sizes of potential loads increase, e.g. in the case of especially tall piles or other reinforcing wall structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to address and ameliorate, or at least partially solve, the above shortcomings of known prior art reinforcement cage splicing systems, in particular the pivotal-type cage splicing devices disclosed in WO2016/207652A1 , and to provide a form of reinforcement cage splicing device which does not rely on such known cantilever-type anchoring portion and associated stop means arrangements.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention provides a device for splicing together end-to-end a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, each of the first and second reinforcement cages extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage comprising a suspension band adjacent one of its ends and the first reinforcement cage carrying the said device adjacent one of its ends, an end portion of the first cage being of a different transverse width from the transverse width of an end portion of the second cage so as to define a transverse suspension gap between the respective end portions of the first and second cages, into which transverse suspension gap the suspension band on the second cage is insertable and trappable by the device on the first cage as the cages are brought together into their spliced relationship by relative movement thereof in said axial direction; wherein the device comprises: an elongate gate member having opposite proximal and distal end portions and being pivotally mounted on the first cage via a pivot portion of the gate member intermediate its proximal and distal end portions, the gate member being pivotable about its pivot mounting between an open pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band on the second cage can be inserted into the suspension gap during axial relative movement of the cages towards one another, and a closed pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band on the second cage, once located in the suspension gap, is prevented from being removed therefrom by the gate member; wherein the proximal end portion of the gate member includes an abutment portion against which the suspension band on the second cage trappingly abuts once the suspension band has been inserted into the suspension gap as the first and second cages are brought axially together into their spliced relationship, and the distal end portion of the gate member includes a stop means for limiting the pivoting motion of the gate member as it pivots into its closed pivotal configuration; wherein the proximal end portion of the gate member is located on or extends from a first side of the pivot portion thereof, and the distal end portion is located on or extends from a second side of the pivot portion thereof, wherein the first and second sides of the pivot portion are different sides thereof from one another.

Expressed slightly differently, in an alternative first aspect the present invention provides a device for splicing together end-to-end a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, each of the first and second reinforcement cages extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage comprising a suspension band adjacent one of its ends and the first reinforcement cage carrying the said device adjacent one of its ends, an end portion of the first cage being of a different transverse width from the transverse width of an end portion of the second cage so as to define a transverse suspension gap between the respective end portions of the first and second cages, into which transverse suspension gap the suspension band on the second cage is insertable and trappable by the device on the first cage as the cages are brought together into their spliced relationship by relative movement thereof in said axial direction; wherein the device comprises: an elongate gate member pivotally mounted on the first cage and having proximal and distal end portions, the gate member being pivotable about its pivot mounting between an open pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band on the second cage can be inserted into the suspension gap during axial relative movement of the cages towards one another, and a closed pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band on the second cage, once located in the suspension gap, is prevented from being removed therefrom by the gate member; wherein the proximal end portion of the gate member includes an abutment portion against which the suspension band on the second cage trappingly abuts once the suspension band has been inserted into the suspension gap as the first and second cages are brought axially together into their spliced relationship, and the distal end portion of the gate member includes a stop means for limiting the pivoting motion of the gate member as it pivots into its closed pivotal configuration; wherein the gate member is pivotally mounted on the first cage via a pivot portion of the gate member which pivot portion is located intermediate the proximal and distal end portions of the gate member.

Thus, in many embodiments of the splicing device of either of these first aspects of the invention, the gate member may take the form of, and be constructed and configured in its form of mounting on the first cage, in the manner of a class one mechanical lever, with the proximal and distal end portions thereof being located on or extending from different sides of the fulcrum about which the lever pivots as it moves between its open and closed pivotal configurations.

Furthermore, defined slightly differently still, in yet another alternative first aspect the present invention provides a device for splicing together end-to-end a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, each of the first and second reinforcement cages extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage comprising a suspension band adjacent one of its ends and the first reinforcement cage carrying the said device adjacent one of its ends, an end portion of the first cage being of a different transverse width from the transverse width of an end portion of the second cage so as to define a transverse suspension gap between the respective end portions of the first and second cages, into which transverse suspension gap the suspension band on the second cage is insertable and trappable by the device on the first cage as the cages are brought together into their spliced relationship by relative movement thereof in said axial direction; wherein the device comprises: an elongate gate member pivotally mounted on the first cage and being pivotable about its pivot mounting between an open pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band on the second cage can be inserted into the suspension gap during axial relative movement of the cages towards one another, and a closed pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band on the second cage, once located in the suspension gap, is prevented from being removed therefrom by the gate member; wherein the gate member includes a stop means for limiting its pivoting motion as it pivots into its closed pivotal configuration, and an abutment portion against which the suspension band on the second cage trappingly abuts once the suspension band has been inserted into the suspension gap as the first and second cages are brought axially together into their spliced relationship; and wherein the stop means is located on or constituted by a portion of a distal end portion of the gate member and the abutment portion of the gate member is located on or constituted by a portion of a proximal end portion thereof, the distal and proximal end portions of the gate member being located on different sides of the gate member’s pivot mounting on the first cage.

Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the splicing device of the invention (i.e. in all references thereto herein using this phraseology this being according to any of its abovedefined first aspects), what is now proposed is that the previously employed arrangement of a pivotally mounted gate member that is itself still based on a cantilever, as the means for effectively “trapping” the suspension band on the second cage in the transverse suspension gap between the two cage end portions, is now replaced with a class one-type lever arrangement, where the functional arms of the gate member “lever” - one of which provides or carries the pivoting stop device that limits the pivoting movement of the gate member, and the other of which provides or carries the abutment portion that abuttingly bears the principal load exerted by the weight of the cages once spliced together - are located on different sides of the pivot point, thereby avoiding or ameliorating many of the mechanical shortcomings of the cantilever-type gate members as used in the prior art.

In the practical deployment of many typical embodiments of the splicing device of the invention (i.e. in all references thereto herein using this phraseology this being according to any of its above-defined first aspects), the first cage may be a lower reinforcement cage of a pair to be spliced together end-to-end, and the second cage may be an upper reinforcement cage of the pair to be spliced together end-to-end.

However, it is to be understood that in certain other embodiments of the splicing device of the invention (i.e. in all references thereto herein using this phraseology this being according to any of its above-defined first aspects), it may be possible for the arrangement to be inverted (or reversed), i.e. such that the first cage may be an upper reinforcement cage of a pair to be spliced together end-to-end, and the second cage may be a lower reinforcement cage of the pair to be spliced together end-to-end.

In the practical deployment of many embodiments of the splicing device of the invention (i.e. in all references thereto herein using this phraseology this being according to any of its above-defined first aspects), the end portion of the first cage may be of a lesser or smaller transverse width than the corresponding transverse width of the end portion of the second cage, whereby the said transverse suspension gap is defined between the respective end portions of the first and second cages. In other words, in such embodiments it may be the first (usually the lower) cage whose upper end portion is “cranked”, which is to say the rebars of that upper end portion of the first (usually the lower) cage are bent transversely (or radially, in the case of a circular-sectioned first cage) inwardly a short distance so as to form that upper end portion of the first cage with a transverse width (or diameter, in the case of a circular-sectioned such first cage) of somewhat reduced size compared with the corresponding transverse width (or diameter, in the case of a circular-sectioned such second cage) of the lower end portion of the second (usually the upper) cage (which is uncranked), thereby forming the said transverse suspension gap between the adjacent end portions of the two cages once they have been brought into their splicing relationship by relative axial movement towards one another.

However, it is to be understood that in certain alternative “inverted/reversed” embodiments, where the first cage is the upper one, and the second cage is the lower one, of the pair of reinforcement cages to be spliced together end-to-end, in alternative embodiments to those defined in the preceding paragraph it may instead be that it is the first but upper cage whose lower end portion is “cranked”, which is to say the rebars of that lower end portion of the first but upper cage are bent transversely (or radially, in the case of a circular-sectioned first cage) inwardly a short distance so as to form that lower end portion of the first cage with a transverse width (or diameter, in the case of a circular-sectioned such first cage) of somewhat reduced size compared with the corresponding transverse width (or diameter, in the case of a circular-sectioned such second cage) of the upper end portion of the second but lower cage (which is uncranked), thereby forming a correspondingly configured said transverse suspension gap between the adjacent end portions of the two cages once they have been brought into their splicing relationship by relative axial movement towards one another.

Also in many practical examples of such “inverted/reversed” embodiments within the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that the orientation of the or each splicing device and its component parts will typically be inverted (i.e. inverted through 180° about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axial direction of the cages) as compared with its/their orientation in the more usual or typical “right way up” embodiment arrangements, as described in detail hereinbelow.

In most practical embodiments the transverse suspension gap may be present on at least two opposite sides of the first cage, and especially in the case of the majority of cross- sectional shapes of first and second cages the transverse suspension gap may be present on substantially all sides of, i.e. all around, the first cage, such as in the form of an annular suspension gap in the case of circular-sectioned first and second cages.

Thus, in the practical deployment of many embodiments of the splicing device of the invention as in the preceding paragraph, the suspension band on the second cage may usually be mounted internally (i.e. transversely or radially internally) of the rebars of the second cage.

In some embodiments of the splicing device of the invention, the first and second sides (or, more correctly, the respective normals to those first and second sides) of the pivot portion of the gate member that are different sides thereof from one another, or the different sides (or, more correctly, the respective normals to those different sides) of the gate member’s pivot mounting on the first cage, may be respective sides (or normals thereto) of the pivot portion or pivot mounting which are angularly displaced relative to each other, especially angularly displaced by an angle of less than 180° relative to each other. More usually, such an angular displacement of the two sides (or normals thereto) of the pivot portion or pivot mounting may be in a range of from about 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80° up to about 100 or 110 or 120 or 130 or 140 or 150° relative to each other.

In other words, in such embodiments, the proximal end portion of the gate member may extend outwardly from the pivot portion or pivot mounting thereof in a first general direction, and the distal end portion of the gate member may extend outwardly from the pivot portion or pivot mounting thereof in a second general direction, wherein the first and second general directions may be separated by an angle of less than 180°, or more usually by an angle in a range of from about 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80° up to about 100 or 110 or 120 or 130 or 140 or 150°. In this manner, considering that in many embodiments the gate member may be considered to be, or to be arranged as, a class one mechanical lever, that lever may be configured as a bent such class one lever, with the general longitudinal directions of its oppositely extending arms making an angle of less than 180° relative to each other, or more usually an angle in a range of from about 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80° up to about 100 or 110 or 120 or 130 or 140 or 150° relative to each other. In some typical practical embodiments the above-defined first and second general directions, in which the proximal and distal end portions of the gate member respectively extend outwardly from the pivot portion thereof, may make an angle of around 85 to 95°, e.g. approx, around 90°, relative to each other. In some embodiments of the splicing device of the invention, the stop means provided at or located on the distal end portion of the gate member, which stop means functions to limit the pivoting motion of the gate member as it pivots into its closed pivotal configuration, may be formed by a stopping engagement portion provided on (or being part of) one of the distal end portion of the gate member and an upper end portion of the first cage, and a stop member provided on the other of the distal end portion of the gate member and the upper end portion of the first cage, which stopping engagement portion and stop member are engageable with each other as the gate member pivots into its closed pivotal configuration to define an angularly limiting pivotal position of the gate member relative to the upper end portion of the first cage corresponding to that closed pivotal configuration of the gate member. In many practical such embodiments, the stopping engagement portion - e.g. in the form of a stopping recess or channel portion - may be provided on (or as part of) the distal end portion of the gate member, and the stop member - e.g. in the form of a stopping pin, bolt or spigot - may be provided on the upper end portion of the first cage, especially attached (directly or indirectly) to a rebar thereof.

In some embodiments of the splicing device of the invention, the pivotal mounting of the gate member on the first cage may be by virtue of a pivot bolt or pin which is fixedly attached relative to the first cage (e.g. by welding), especially directly or indirectly to a rebar thereof, and about which pivot bolt or pin the gate member is pivotable by rotation relative thereto.

In some embodiments of the splicing device of the invention, the device may additionally include a biasing means, especially a spring, e.g. a coil spring, for biasing the gate member pivotally towards its closed pivotal configuration.

In embodiments of the splicing device of the invention, the abutment portion of the proximal end portion of the gate member - against which the suspension band on the second cage abuts once the suspension band has been inserted into the suspension gap as the first and second cages are brought axially together into their spliced relationship, i.e. so as to bear the principal load exerted by the weight of the cages once spliced together - may comprise a substantially straight abutment edge or surface. Moreover, in some such embodiments the abutment portion may terminate in or include at an end thereof remote from the pivot portion of the gate member an enlarged nose portion, wherein the enlarged nose portion is configured so as to substantially retain the abutting suspension band in its location or position against the abutment edge or surface once in abutment therewith, especially so as to substantially prevent the abutting suspension band slipping off the abutment edge or surface in a direction away from the pivot portion of the gate member as the spliced cages are lifted and/or lowered and the principal load exerted by the weight of the cages borne against the abutment edge or surface via the abutting suspension band.

In some embodiments of the splicing device of the invention, the proximal end portion of the gate member may include a drive portion, especially a drive portion on an opposite side of the proximal end portion from that on which is provided the said abutment portion, the drive portion being configured for enabling the suspension band on the second cage to abuttingly slide against and past it and in so doing cause the gate member to pivot towards its open configuration as the suspension band is inserted into the suspension gap as the first and second cages are brought axially together. In some such embodiments the drive portion may for example be configured with a drive edge, especially a straight drive edge, which is obliquely inclined (i.e. angled at a non-right angle) relative to the axial direction of the cages (or the axial direction of the cages themselves) and/or is chamfered or bevelled or convexly curved to facilitate the sliding abutment of the suspension band thereagainst as the suspension band is inserted into the suspension gap.

In some embodiments of the splicing device of the invention, the device may further include a base plate fixedly mounted (e.g. by welding) on the first cage, especially fixedly mounted on the first cage between a rebar thereof and the pivotal mounting of the gate member thereon, wherein the base plate includes one or more auxiliary retaining portions, surfaces or edges configured for further retaining or containing (especially by means of abutment thereagainst) of the suspension band within the suspension gap once it has been inserted into and trapped within the suspension gap upon pivoting of the gate member firstly into its open pivotal configuration and then back into its closed pivotal configuration. The base plate, e.g. in the form of a suitably shaped substantially flat plate member welded to a rebar of the first cage on which the gate member is pivotally mounted, may itself include pivot mounting means, e.g. a pivot bolt or pin welded at one end thereof to the base plate, which provides the said pivot mounting of the gate member on the first cage via the base plate. The base plate may further have mounted thereon the above-mentioned stop member - e.g. in the form of a stopping pin, bolt or spigot - which functions to limit the pivoting motion of the gate member as it pivots relative to the base plate (the latter being fixedly attached to the first cage) into its closed pivotal configuration.

In some such embodiments including the base plate, at least one primary auxiliary retaining portion, surface or edge of the fixedly mounted base plate may be arranged opposite the abutment portion of the proximal end portion of the pivotal gate member, on the opposite side of the suspension gap therefrom, when the gate member is in its closed pivotal configuration. Furthermore, in some such embodiments, the one or more auxiliary retaining portions, surfaces or edges of the fixedly mounted base plate may include at least one secondary auxiliary retaining portion, surface or edge located adjacent the primary auxiliary retaining portion, surface or edge, whereby the primary and secondary auxiliary retaining portions, surfaces or edges in combination with the abutment portion of the proximal end portion of the gate member and the distal end portion of the gate member collectively substantially fully retain or contain the suspension band on all four sides thereof within the suspension gap once it has been inserted therein and the gate member pivoted back into its closed pivotal configuration.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a splicing device per se for splicing together a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, each of the first and second reinforcement cages extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage comprising a suspension band adjacent one of its ends and the first reinforcement cage being for carrying the said device adjacent one of its ends, an end portion of the first cage being of a different transverse width from the transverse width of an end portion of the second cage so as to define a transverse suspension gap between the respective end portions of the first and second cages, into which transverse suspension gap the suspension band on the second cage is insertable and trappable by the device on the first cage as the cages are brought together into their spliced relationship by relative movement thereof in said axial direction; wherein the splicing device is as defined in any of the above first aspects of the invention or any embodiment thereof defined or described hereinabove or hereinbelow.

Thus, the splicing device may be provided as a discrete item per se, independent of and separate from the first and second reinforcement cages themselves that are to be spliced together by means thereof. The structural components of the splicing device per se may for example be pre-manufactured and supplied separately, e.g. for attachment to or assembly with a first reinforcement cage in a dedicated off-site facility, ready for transport of the prepared first - and optionally also second - reinforcement cage(s) to a particular desired site at which the splicing together of the cages is actually to take place during a pile or reinforcing wall construction operation. Alternatively the attaching of the splicing device per se to, or assembly thereof with, a first reinforcement cage may be carried out on-site, even at the actual site at which the splicing of the cages is to take place during the construction operation. In the putting into practice any embodiments of the invention, any number of individual splicing devices may be used to splice together the first and second reinforcement cages, as desired or as necessary. In many practical embodiments of the invention, the first and second reinforcement cages may be spliced together using a plurality of splicing devices, especially a plurality of splicing devices disposed equi-distantly or equi-angularly around the first and second cages, especially equi-distantly or equi-angularly around the peripheral or perimeter portions of the first and second cages. Each such splicing device may be a splicing device as defined in any of the above first aspects of the invention or any embodiment thereof defined or described hereinabove or hereinbelow. In practice the number of splicing devices used may for example depend on the size, scale or weight of the pair of reinforcement cages to be spliced together. Frequently, and for example in the case of splicing e.g. a pair of 0.5 tonne pile cages, three splicing devices each disposed at 120° to each other around the pile cage assembly may typically be suitable.

Also provided by the present invention, in a third aspect thereof, is, in combination, a first reinforcement cage and one or more - especially a plurality of - splicing devices carried thereon adjacent one of its ends, the first reinforcement cage and the or each splicing device each respectively being as defined respectively in any of the above first aspects of the invention or any embodiment thereof defined or described hereinabove or hereinbelow.

Thus, according to the combined first reinforcement cage+splicing device(s) of this third aspect of the invention, the splicing device(s) and first reinforcement cage may be provided as a discrete assembly or unit, independent of the second reinforcement cage to which the first reinforcement cage is spliceable by means of the device(s). Again, the first reinforcement cage and the components of the attached splicing device(s) may for example be pre-manufactured and pre-assembled in a discrete preparative step, e.g. in a dedicated off-site facility, ready for transport of the combined first reinforcement cage - with the splicing device(s) pre-attached thereto - to a particular desired site at which the splicing to the second reinforcement cage is actually to take place during a pile or reinforcing wall construction operation.

Also provided by the present invention, in a fourth aspect thereof, is, in combination, a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, the first and second reinforcement cages being spliced together by use of one or more splicing devices each being according to any of the first aspects of the invention or any embodiment thereof defined or described hereinabove or hereinbelow. Thus, according to this fourth aspect the combined first and second spliced reinforcement cages may be provided as a discrete assembly or unit ready for being inserted into, or already formed in situ, a pre-prepared hole in the ground in which a pile or other reinforcing wall structure is to be formed.

According to yet another, fifth, aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of splicing together a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, each of the first and second reinforcement cages extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage comprising a suspension band adjacent one of its ends and the first reinforcement cage carrying adjacent one of its ends one or more splicing devices according to any of the first aspects of the invention or any embodiment thereof defined or described hereinabove or hereinbelow, wherein the method comprises:

(i) with the or each gate member of the or each device configured in its open pivotal configuration, bringing together the first and second reinforcement cages into a splicing spatial relationship by relative movement of the first and second reinforcement cages in said axial direction such that the suspension band on the second reinforcement cage is inserted into or received within the suspension gap defined between the respective end portions of the first and second cages; and

(ii) configuring the or each gate member of the or each device, by pivoting thereof about its respective pivot mounting on the first cage, from its open pivotal configuration into its closed pivotal configuration, whereupon the suspension band is then prevented from being removed from the suspension gap via or past the or each gate member; and optionally wherein upon completion of step (ii) at least the respective abutment portion of the or each gate member and the suspension band are abuttingly engaged, so that as the upper one of the first and second reinforcement cages is lifted and/or lowered so the other one of the first and second reinforcement cages spliced thereto is lifted and/or lowered with it.

Thus, according to the above-defined method of the fifth aspect, once the gate member has been configured, by pivotal movement thereof about its pivot mounting on the first cage, into its closed pivotal configuration, by virtue of the suspension band now being prevented from being removed from the suspension gap via or past the or each gate member, the first and second reinforcement cages are thereby securely spliced together, in which condition at least the respective abutment portion of the or each gate member and the suspension band are abuttingly engaged, so that as the relevant one, i.e. the upper one in many embodiments, of the first and second reinforcement cages is liftable (e.g. by use of a crane) so the other one of the first and second reinforcement cages spliced thereto is liftable with it. According to yet another, sixth, aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pile or other reinforcing structure constructed using at least one plurality of reinforcement cages embedded therein, the cages of the plurality having been spliced together, prior to the pouring of concrete to form the pile or other reinforcing structure, by means of one or more splicing devices according to any of the first aspects of the invention or any embodiment thereof defined or described hereinabove or hereinbelow.

In practical embodiments of the invention the suspension band on the second cage may be attached thereto by any suitable means, e.g. by welding directly onto the rebars of the second cage, as is already known in the art. In some such embodiments the suspension band on the second cage may be formed as a continuous suspension band whose length may extend over substantially the whole circumferential or lateral length of the second cage (i.e. substantially complete circumferential length thereof in the case of a cylindrical second cage, or substantially complete lateral length thereof in the case of a second cage of a noncircular, e.g. rectangular, cross-sectional shape). Alternatively the suspension band may have a length sufficient merely to extend over and across only some of, e.g. at least 2 or 3 or more of, the individual rebars of the second cage, to each of which rebars the band may again be attached, e.g. by welding. However, in other such embodiments, e.g. in an effort to save on materials costs, the suspension band may be of a modular form, in which the suspension band comprises a plurality of discrete modular suspension band segments. Thus, as the term is used herein, “suspension band” is to be construed as encompassing any and all of the above forms, i.e. both continuous (i.e. circular or annular, or full-lateral- length), or part-continuous, as well as modular (i.e. plural discrete or segmented) suspension bands.

Whilst in many practical embodiments of the invention the reinforcement cages to be spliced together by the splicing device(s) may be substantially circular in cross-section, in order to form generally cylindrical shaped piles, it is to be understood that embodiments of the invention are not limited to reinforcement cages of circular cross-section, but other cross- sectional shapes may also be possible. For example, reinforcement cages having cross- sectional shapes being non-circular, e.g. elliptical, rectangular, square, L-shaped, T- shaped, or even of other shapes, may all be spliced together by use of one or more spicing devices according to the invention or any embodiments thereof defined or described hereinabove or hereinbelow, so as to create reinforcing wall or other structures of any alternative corresponding such physical shapes or forms. Of course, in practice in the process of drilling the initial hole for insertion therein of the spliced reinforcement cages (optionally in combination with an appropriate shoring device or material), an appropriately shaped drill or form of drilling rig and/or excavation equipment or arrangement may need to be employed in order to form the correctly shaped hole or void for receiving the correspondingly shaped reinforcement cages therein.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following detailed description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. Thus, any one or more features referred to or described with reference to one particular embodiment should be construed as being applicable to any or all embodiments, unless expressly stated otherwise or if such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention in its various aspects will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic exploded elevational view of a pair of typical pile (or other reinforcement) cages about to be spliced using two or more (in this case two, by way of example) splicing devices according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the complete splicing device according to the embodiment of the invention as shown in position as part of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on lines A-A (of FIG. 2) of the splicing device of the embodiment of FIG. 2, showing in clearer detail the overlapping combination of the gate member and the back plate via which the gate member is attached pivotally to a rebar of the first cage;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the gate member alone of the splicing device of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 & 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the back plate alone of the splicing device of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 & 3;

FIGURE 6 is an explanatory side view of the complete embodiment splicing device of FIGS. 2 & 3, but showing the gate member pivoted into its open pivotal configuration as a result of the pushing therepast of the suspension band on the second cage as the cages are brought axially together at the commencement of their splicing operation, in which open pivotal configuration the suspension band can be inserted into the suspension gap between the cages ready to be trapped therein once the gate member has been allowed to pivot back into its pivotal closed configuration (as shown in FIG. 2);

FIGURE 7 is a schematic exploded elevational view of an alternative, inverted (or “upside-down”) embodiment arrangement of a pair of pile (or other reinforcement) cages about to be spliced end-to-end using two or more of the same, but inverted, splicing devices as used in the embodiment arrangement of FIG. 1 , in which alternative arrangement the “lower” and “upper” identities of the “first” and “second” cages have been inverted or reversed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to FIG. 1 , here there is shown schematically a pair of pile cages - namely lower (first) pile cage 10 and upper (second) pile cage 20 - ready for being brought together for splicing in an overlapping end-to-end relationship, as depicted by arrow S. Each pile cage 10, 20 comprises a respective array of e.g. six generally axially arranged elongate steel cage rebars 12, 22 (although only four in each cage are explicitly shown for clarity) of a conventional type. The rebars 12, 22 of each cage 10, 20 are united into their respective strong and substantially rigid cage assemblies 10, 20 by means of a respective framework of one or more helical steel wires 16, 26 wound around the respective peripheries of each cage 10, 20 and welded to their respective rebars 12, 22.

The upper end portion C of the lower (first) cage 10 is “cranked”, i.e. tapered radially inwardly towards its open upper end, in order to form a spigot section C of that lower (first) cage 10 that is dimensioned so as to fit comfortably within the open lower mouth portion M of the upper (second) cage 20 with an annular suspension gap G formed in between and around the bodies of the cages 10, 20 formed by their respective collections of rebars 12, 22. It is within this suspension gap G that the various splicing devices 50A, 50B mounted on the lower (first) cage 10 are deployable to effect their splicing operation.

Any number of splicing devices 50A, 50B, from (especially) 2 up to e.g. 3, 4, 5 or 6 (or possibly more than 6), may be provided in the arrangement of Figure 1 , and they are desirably equidistantly and equi-angularly spaced apart circumferentially around the cage arrangement. By way of example, however, only two such splicing devices 50A, 50B are represented in FIG. 1 for clarity, but typically at least three such splicing devices may be used, e.g. spaced at 120° angles relative to each other around the periphery of the cage arrangement. In some cases more than three splicing devices may be utilised, if that is desired or necessary, for example depending on the overall dimensions and/or weight of the combined pile cages 10, 20 to be spliced together and subsequently lifted and/or lowered during their insertion in the prepared hole in the ground.

The upper end of the lower (first) cage 10 is optionally fitted at its uppermost terminal end with a terminal end band 14 welded to the rebars 12 (and which may lie internally or externally of those rebars 12) in order to stabilise the free spigot section C of the lower (first) cage 10.

The lower (first) cage 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a typical condition during a pile construction operation, in which the majority of the length of the lower cage 10 has already been lowered into a pile casing 5 located within a pre-drilled hole in the ground, leaving just an upper end section (C etc) of the lower cage 10 exposed and ready for splicing to the upper (second) cage 20, as shown. The lower cage 10 is suspended in the casing 5 by means of a steel trapping band 15 welded onto the cage bars 12 (and which may lie externally or internally of those cage bars 12) at the lower end of the exposed upper end section (C etc) of the lower cage 10. This trapping band 15 is used to temporarily trap beneath it, i.e. between it and the upper (open) end of the casing 5, an elongate trapping bar or rod 8, which thereby temporarily prevents the lower cage 10 from dropping down further into the casing 5 and thus effectively suspends it at a desired height location ready for splicing to the upper cage 20. Once the cages 10, 20 have been spliced together, they can then be lifted and/or lowered together down inside the casing 5 which lines the pile hole and wet concrete is then poured therein to form the pile. Prior to curing of the concrete, the casing 5 is removed for re-use in the forming of another pile.

The upper cage 20 is fitted at or adjacent its open lower mouth M with a steel suspension band 28, which is mounted internally of the cage bars 22 of the upper cage 20, e.g. by direct welding thereto. It is this suspension band 28 which effects the splicing together of the two cages 10, 20 as they are brought axially together into their splicing relative relationship and the respective splicing devices 50A, 50B mounted on the lower cage 10 are deployed, as described further below.

One such splicing device 50A that is used in the arrangement of FIG. 1 to splice together the lower and upper cages 10, 20 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. According to the invention, this form of splicing device is based primarily on a pivotally mounted elongate gate member 70 - in the form of a class one mechanical lever - which selectively opens or closes the transverse/radial suspension gap G to either permit the suspension band 28 to be inserted (or received) therein or to be trapped therein. As shown in FIG. 2, the gate member 70, which may be formed of a suitable grade of steel cut to the appropriate shape, comprises a proximal end portion 78, a distal end portion 72, and a pivot portion 74 located therebetween. The gate member 70 is pivotally mounted on the lower cage 10 indirectly on a rebar 12 thereof via a pivot bolt 90B and nut 90N arrangement, the pivot bolt 90B being fixedly mounted on an upper end portion 66 of the base plate 60 fixedly mounted via fillet welds F (as shown in FIG. 3) to the rebar 12 of the lower cage 10. As represented in FIG. 6, the gate member 70 is pivotable about the pivot bolt 90B so as to be able to swing rotationally upwardly and radially inwardly of the combined cage arrangement in the direction of arrows R (FIG. 6).

The proximal end portion 78 and distal end portion 72 of the gate member 70 are located on - or, more correctly, extend in respective directions being respective normals to - different lateral sides of the pivot portion 74 or the pivot mounting 90B (the latter constituting the fulcrum of the class one lever arrangement that the gate member 70 thus constitutes). In other words, the proximal end portion 78 of the gate member 70 extends in a first normal direction D1 (FIG. 2) from the pivot bolt 90B at the centre of the pivot portion 74, and the distal end portion 72 of the gate member 70 extends in a second normal direction D2 from the pivot bolt 90B at the centre of the pivot portion 74. These first and second normal directions D1 , D2 are thus different directions from each other.

As shown for the currently preferred embodiment form in FIGS. 2 to 6, the two normal directions D1 , D2 are angled at an angle of approx. 90° relative to each other. However, in other embodiment forms (which may nevertheless be practical and useful) the two normal directions D1 , D2 may be angled relative to each other at an angle greater than or less than 90°, especially in the range of from about 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80° up to around 100 or 110 or 120 or 130 or 140 or 150°. Thus, in most practical embodiments the gate member 70 is configured as a bent class one lever, in which the respective general longitudinal directions in which the two arms of the lever (i.e. the proximal and distal end portions 78, 72) extend either side of its fulcrum (i.e. the pivot bolt mounting 90B) make an angle of less than 180° relative to each other - or more usually an angle in the above range of from about 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80° up to about 100 or 110 or 120 or 130 or 140 or 150° relative to each other, and most usually an angle in the vicinity of around 90° (e.g. from about 85 to about 95°) relative to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the proximal end portion 78 of the gate member 70 includes an abutment edge or planar edge surface 80, against which the suspension band 28 on the second cage 20 abuts once the suspension band 28 has been inserted into the suspension gap G as the first and second cages 10, 20 are brought axially together into their spliced relationship. In this manner the abutment edge or planar edge surface 80 bears the principal load exerted via the suspension band 28 by the weight of the cages 10, 20 once spliced together. The abutment edge or planar edge surface 80 may be substantially straight in shape, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Moreover, if desired or appropriate, the abutment edge or planar edge surface 80 may teminate at its end remote from the pivot portion 74 of the gate member 70 in an enlarged or hooked nose portion 79, which acts to help retain the abutting suspension band 28 in its load-transmitting position against the abutment edge or surface 80 once in abutment therewith and thereby to help prevent the abutting suspension band 28 slipping off the abutment edge or surface 80 in a direction away from the pivot portion 74 of the gate member 70 as the spliced cages 10, 20 are lifted and/or lowered during their insertion operation into the prepared hole in the ground.

As also shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the proximal end portion 78 of the gate member 70 also includes a drive edge portion 82, which is located on the opposite side of the proximal end portion 78 from that on which is provided the abutment portion 80. The drive edge portion 82 is substantially straight in shape and angled as shown in the FIGS. - i.e. angled obliquely at a non-right angle (e.g. an angle of from around 30 or 40 to around 50 or 60°) relative to the first general direction D1 of the proximal end portion 74 (or alternatively relative to the overall axial direction of the first and second cages 10, 20) - for enabling the suspension band 28 on the second cage 20 to abuttingly slide against and past the drive edge portion 82 as it is inserted into the suspension gap G (as the first and second cages are brought axially together) and in so doing to cause the gate member 70 to pivot towards its open configuration - i.e. in the rotational direction represented by arrows R in FIG. 6. Alternatively or additionally the drive edge portion 82 may be chamfered or bevelled or convexly curved to further facilitate the sliding abutment of the suspension band 28 thereagainst as it is inserted into the suspension gap G.

The distal end portion 72 of the gate member 70 terminates at its distal end in a stopping engagement portion 76, which as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 comprises a concave or re-entrant stopping recess or channel 77 which is engageable with a stop member 92B fixedly mounted (e.g. by welding) on a lower end of the base plate 60 - as seen more clearly in FIG. 3. The stop member 92B comprises a stopping bolt 92B fitted with a capping nut 92N behind which the concave or re-entrant stopping recess or channel 77 of the stopping engagement portion 76 of the gate member 70 is pivotally fittable as the gate member 70 is pivoted about its pivot mounting 90B into its closed pivotal configuration as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the stopping bolt 92B provides a simple stop mechanism which limits the rotational distance to which the distal end portion 72 of the gate member 70 can pivotally swing (downwards and to the left as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6) in the direction of its closed pivotal configuration, in which pivotal configuration it is shown represented in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the gate member 70 is biased into its closed pivotal configuration - i.e. into its pivotal position in which its stopping engagement portion 76 is engaged with and against the stopping bolt 92B - by a coil spring 100, which is fixed at each of its mounted ends by mounting pins 102a, b.

Thus, the base plate 60, which is shown separately in FIG. 5, and which may be formed of a suitable grade of steel cut to the appropriate shape, is fixedly and rigidly mounted (e.g. by fillet welds F as shown in FIG. 3) to the rebar 12 of the lower cage 10. The gate member 70 thus partially overlies and partly overlaps with the main body portion 62 of the base plate 60 in a face-to-face manner, with the adjacent faces of the two components being separated a short distance (e.g. approx. 1 - 3 mm typically) in their overlying mountings on the first cage 10 by spacer washers 95, 96 mounted on the respective pivot and stopping bolts 90B, 92B and located between the two components.

As well as the base plate 60 (shown alone in FIG. 5) providing the sites - namely on its upper end portion 66 and on its lower end, respectively - for the provision of the pivot bolt mounting 90B of the pivot portion 74 of the gate member 70 on and relative to the first cage 10 and of the stopping bolt 92B of the pivot-limiting stop mechanism, the base plate 60 also includes primary 63 and secondary 64 auxiliary retaining portions which present respective retaining or containing edges or edge surfaces configured for further retaining or containing (especially by means of abutment thereagainst) of the suspension band 28 within the suspension gap G once it has been inserted into and trapped therewithin upon pivoting of the gate member 70 into its closed pivotal configuration (as depicted in FIG. 2). The primary auxiliary retaining portion 63 is located opposite (i.e. on the opposite side of the suspension gap G from) the abutment portion 80 of the proximal end portion 78 of the gate member 70, whilst the secondary auxiliary retaining portion 64, e.g. in the form of a retaining spike with a pointed tip portion 69, is located geometrically adjacent the primary auxiliary retaining portion 63. Thus, the primary and secondary auxiliary retaining portions 63, 64 in combination with the abutment portion 80 of the proximal end portion 78 and the distal end portion 72 of the gate member 70 collectively serve to substantially fully retain or contain the suspension band 28 on all four sides thereof within the suspension gap G once it has been inserted therein and the gate member 70 pivoted from (i) its open pivotal configuration as shown in FIG. 6, in which configuration the suspension band 28 is insertable (in the direction of arrow S) into the suspension gap G upon the cages 10, 20 being brought axially together into their relative splicing relationship, back into (ii) its closed pivotal configuration as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the suspension band 28 is now trapped within the suspension gap G, with the suspension band 28 abutting the abutment portion 80 of the gate member 70 and transferring its load thereto as the spliced cages 10, 20 are lifted and/or lowered further into the prepared hole in the ground during their insertion operation.

According to the fundamental principles underpinning embodiments of the present invention, because the distance between the principal load-bearing abutment portion 80 of the gate member 70 and its pivot mounting 90B on the first cage 10 (via the base plate 60) is relatively short or minimized, and also because neither the gate member itself nor the base plate are free cantilevers, the ability of the arrangement to resist or withstand significantly higher rotational or torsional forces, as the load exerted by the combined weight of the spliced cages is applied to the arrangement, is increased or optimised. Furthermore, by elimination of the true cantilever- 1 ike components of many of the known designs of splicing devices in the manner of the new mechanical arrangements of embodiments of the present invention, it may be possible to achieve an economic advantage in the reduction of materials costs by the attendant use of what can be lesser amounts of steel. Other advantages or benefits associated with embodiments of the present invention may also be apparent from the foregoing description of currently preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the foregoing detailed description of the more typical embodiment arrangement of FIGS. 1 to 6, it is the lower cage 10 which constitutes the “first” reinforcement cage defined more broadly hereinabove, and the upper cage 20 which constitutes the “second” reinforcement cage defined more broadly hereinabove. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that in an alternative embodiment thereof it may be possible for the arrangement to be inverted or reversed (i.e. so as to be rendered “upside-down”), such that the “first” cage is the upper reinforcement cage of the pair to be spliced together end-to-end, and the “second” cage is the lower reinforcement cage of the pair. To illustrate such an alternative embodiment, FIG. 7 shows this “upside-down” inverted arrangement, which corresponds in its fundamental construction, relative configuration of its component parts and its operation to the more typical embodiment arrangement of FIG. 1. In this alternative, inverted, arrangement shown in FIG. 7, its various features and components that correspond structurally and/or functionally to those of the more typical arrangement of FIG. 1 are labelled with the same reference numerals but with a “ ’ ” suffix.

In this inverted arrangement of FIG. 7, it is therefore the lower end portion C’ of the first but now upper cage 10’ that is “cranked”, i.e. tapered radially inwardly towards its open lower end, in order to form a spigot section C’ of that upper (now first) cage 10’ that is dimensioned so as to fit comfortably within the open upper mouth portion M’ of the second but now lower cage 20’ with a corresponding annular suspension gap G’ formed in between and around the bodies of the cages 10’, 20’ formed by their respective collections of rebars 12’, 22’. As with the more typical embodiment arrangement of FIG. 1 , it is within this corresponding suspension gap G’ that the various splicing devices 50A’, 50B’, etc mounted on the upper (first) cage 10’ are deployable to effect their splicing operation.

In this inverted arrangement of FIG. 7, it is furthermore to be understood that the physical orientation of each of the splicing devices perse 50A’, 50B’, etc is likewise inverted through 180° (about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axial direction of the cages (represented by arrow S’)) from the orientation of the corresponding “other way up” splicing devices 50A, 50B, etc illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6. However, the fundamental construction, relative configuration of component parts and operation of those inverted splicing devices 50A’, 50B’, etc of FIG. 7 are substantially the same in all material respects as those of the “other way up” splicing devices 50A, 50B etc in the FIGS. 2 to 6 arrangement, as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art practising such an inverted embodiment arrangement as in FIG. 7.

It is to be understood that in the foregoing descriptions of various constructional arrangements and variations thereof of splicing devices according to embodiments of the invention that any and all individual features thereof may be taken independently or in any combination and applied in that manner to any and all embodiments, not only to those in the context of which such feature(s) have been specifically introduced, described or illustrated. In other words, any feature(s) described with reference to one embodiment is/are applicable to any and all embodiments, unless expressly stated otherwise or such features are incompatible.

It is furthermore to be understood that the above description of embodiments of the invention in terms of their various features and aspects has been by way of non-limiting example(s) only, and various modifications may be made from what has been specifically described and illustrated whilst remaining within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1 . A device for splicing together end-to-end a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, each of the first and second reinforcement cages extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage comprising a suspension band adjacent one of its ends and the first reinforcement cage carrying the said device adjacent one of its ends, an end portion of the first cage being of a different transverse width from the transverse width of an end portion of the second cage so as to define a transverse suspension gap between the respective end portions of the first and second cages, into which transverse suspension gap the suspension band on the second cage is insertable and trappable by the device on the first cage as the cages are brought together into their spliced relationship by relative movement thereof in said axial direction; wherein the device comprises: an elongate gate member having opposite proximal and distal end portions and being pivotally mounted on the first cage via a pivot portion of the gate member intermediate its proximal and distal end portions, the gate member being pivotable about its pivot mounting between an open pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band on the second cage can be inserted into the suspension gap during axial relative movement of the cages towards one another, and a closed pivotal configuration thereof in which the suspension band on the second cage, once located in the suspension gap, is prevented from being removed therefrom by the gate member; wherein the proximal end portion of the gate member includes an abutment portion against which the suspension band on the second cage trappingly abuts once the suspension band has been inserted into the suspension gap as the first and second cages are brought axially together into their spliced relationship, and the distal end portion of the gate member includes a stop means for limiting the pivoting motion of the gate member as it pivots into its closed pivotal configuration; wherein the proximal end portion of the gate member is located on or extends from a first side of the pivot portion thereof, and the distal end portion is located on or extends from a second side of the pivot portion thereof, wherein the first and second sides of the pivot portion are different sides thereof from one another.

2. A splicing device according to claim 1 , wherein the gate member is configured and arranged in the form of a class one mechanical lever, with the proximal and distal end portions thereof being located on or extending from different sides of the fulcrum about which the lever pivots as it moves between its open and closed pivotal configurations.

3. A splicing device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first cage is a lower reinforcement cage of a pair to be spliced together end-to-end, and the second cage is an upper reinforcement cage of the pair to be spliced together end-to-end.

4. A splicing device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first cage is an upper reinforcement cage of a pair to be spliced together end-to-end, and the second cage is a lower reinforcement cage of the pair to be spliced together end-to-end.

5. A splicing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end portion of the first cage is of a lesser or smaller transverse width than the corresponding transverse width of the end portion of the second cage, whereby the said transverse suspension gap is defined between the respective end portions of the first and second cages.

6. A splicing device according to claim 5, wherein the transverse suspension gap is present on at least two opposite sides of the first cage, and optionally the transverse suspension gap is present on substantially all sides of the first cage.

7. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the suspension band on the second cage is mounted internally of the rebars of the second cage.

8. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second sides, or the respective normals to those first and second sides, of the pivot portion of the gate member that are different sides thereof from one another are respective sides, or normals thereto, of the pivot portion or pivot mounting which are angularly displaced relative to each other, optionally angularly displaced by an angle of less than 180° relative to each other.

9. A splicing device according to claim 8, wherein the first and second sides, or the respective normals to those first and second sides, of the pivot portion of the gate member that are different sides thereof from one another are respective sides, or normals thereto, of the pivot portion or pivot mounting which are angularly displaced relative to each other by an angle in a range of from 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80° up to 100 or 110 or 120 or 130 or 140 or 150°.

10. A splicing device according to claim 9, wherein the angular displacement of the first and second sides, or the respective normals to those first and second sides, is in a range of from 85 to 95° relative to each other.

11. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the stop means provided at or located on the distal end portion of the gate member is formed by a stopping engagement portion provided on or being part of one of the distal end portion of the gate member and an upper end portion of the first cage, and a stop member provided on the other of the distal end portion of the gate member and the upper end portion of the first cage, which stopping engagement portion and stop member are engageable with each other as the gate member pivots into its closed pivotal configuration to define an angularly limiting pivotal position of the gate member relative to the upper end portion of the first cage corresponding to that closed pivotal configuration of the gate member.

12. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the pivotal mounting of the gate member on the first cage is by virtue of a pivot bolt or pin which is fixedly attached relative to the first cage, optionally directly or indirectly to a rebar thereof, and about which pivot bolt or pin the gate member is pivotable by rotation relative thereto.

13. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device additionally includes a biasing means, for biasing the gate member pivotally towards its closed pivotal configuration.

14. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the abutment portion of the proximal end portion of the gate member comprises a substantially straight abutment edge or surface.

15. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the abutment portion terminates in or includes at an end thereof remote from the pivot portion of the gate member an enlarged nose portion, wherein the enlarged nose portion is configured so as to substantially retain the abutting suspension band in its location or position against the abutment edge or surface once in abutment therewith, without the abutting suspension band slipping off the abutment edge or surface in a direction away from the pivot portion of the gate member as the spliced cages are lifted and/or lowered and the principal load exerted by the weight of the cages borne against the abutment edge or surface via the abutting suspension band.

16. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the proximal end portion of the gate member includes a drive portion, optionally a drive portion on an opposite side of the proximal end portion from that on which is provided the abutment portion, the drive portion being configured for enabling the suspension band on the second cage to abuttingly slide against and past it and in so doing cause the gate member to pivot towards its open configuration as the suspension band is inserted into the suspension gap as the first and second cages are brought axially together.

17. A splicing device according to claim 16, wherein the drive portion is configured with a drive edge which is angled at a non-right angle relative to the axial direction of the cages and/or is chamfered or bevelled or convexly curved to facilitate the sliding abutment of the suspension band thereagainst as the suspension band is inserted into the suspension gap.

18. A splicing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device further includes a base plate fixedly mounted on the first cage, optionally fixedly mounted on the first cage between a rebar thereof and the pivotal mounting of the gate member thereon, wherein the base plate includes one or more auxiliary retaining portions, surfaces or edges configured for further retaining or containing (optionally by means of abutment thereagainst) of the suspension band within the suspension gap once it has been inserted into and trapped within the suspension gap upon pivoting of the gate member firstly into its open pivotal configuration and then back into its closed pivotal configuration.

19. A splicing device according to claim 18, wherein the base plate includes pivot mounting means which provides the said pivot mounting of the gate member on the first cage via the base plate, optionally wherein the base plate further has mounted thereon a stop member in the form of a stopping pin, bolt or spigot which functions to limit the pivoting motion of the gate member as it pivots relative to the base plate into its closed pivotal configuration.

20. A splicing device according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein at least one primary auxiliary retaining portion, surface or edge of the fixedly mounted base plate is arranged opposite the abutment portion of the proximal end portion of the pivotal gate member, on the opposite side of the suspension gap therefrom, when the gate member is in its closed pivotal configuration, and the one or more auxiliary retaining portions, surfaces or edges of the fixedly mounted base plate include at least one secondary auxiliary retaining portion, surface or edge located adjacent the primary auxiliary retaining portion, surface or edge, whereby the primary and secondary auxiliary retaining portions, surfaces or edges in combination with the abutment portion of the proximal end portion of the gate member and the distal end portion of the gate member collectively substantially fully retain or contain the suspension band on all four sides thereof within the suspension gap once it has been inserted therein and the gate member pivoted back into its closed pivotal configuration.

21 . A splicing device perse for splicing together a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, each of the first and second reinforcement cages extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage comprising a suspension band adjacent one of its ends and the first reinforcement cage being for carrying the said device adjacent one of its ends, an end portion of the first cage being of a different transverse width from the transverse width of an end portion of the second cage so as to define a transverse suspension gap between the respective end portions of the first and second cages, into which transverse suspension gap the suspension band on the second cage is insertable and trappable by the device on the first cage as the cages are brought together into their spliced relationship by relative movement thereof in said axial direction; wherein the splicing device is as defined in any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. In combination, a first reinforcement cage and one or more, optionally a plurality of, splicing devices carried thereon adjacent one of its ends, the first reinforcement cage and the or each splicing device each respectively being as defined in any one of claims 1 to 20.

23. In combination, a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, the first and second reinforcement cages being spliced together by one or more, optionally a plurality of, splicing devices, each splicing device being a splicing device according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

24. A method of splicing together a first reinforcement cage and a second reinforcement cage, each of the first and second reinforcement cages extending in a longitudinal axial direction between respective opposite ends thereof, the second reinforcement cage comprising a suspension band adjacent one of its ends and the first reinforcement cage carrying adjacent one of its ends one or more, optionally a plurality of, splicing devices each being a splicing device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the method comprises:

25. A reinforcing structure constructed using at least one plurality of reinforcement cages embedded therein, the cages of the plurality having been spliced together, prior to the pouring of concrete to form the pile or other reinforcing structure, by means of one or more, optionally a plurality of, splicing devices each being a splicing device according to any one of claims 1 to 20.