US3340667A

US3340667A - Concrete structure with combination compression and tension reinforcement splices

Info

Publication number: US3340667A
Application number: US337200A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank D Reiland
Original assignee: Gateway Erectors Inc
Current assignee: Gateway Erectors Inc; Gateway Construction Co Inc
Priority date: 1964-01-13
Filing date: 1964-01-13
Publication date: 1967-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-12

Description

3,340,667 CONCRETE STRUCTURE WITH COMBINATION COMPRESSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 12, 1967 F. D. REILAND AND TENSION REINFORCEMENT SPLICES Filed Jan. 13, 1964 l 30 INVENTOR.

I j I F, D. REILAND Sept. 12, 1967 AND TENSION REINFORCEMENT SPLICES 5 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1964 a M w Q v. X M m Q Q N w w L m M Sept. 12, 1%? F. D. REILAND 3,340,567

CONCRETE STRUCTURE 'WITHCOMBINATION COMPRESSION AND TENSION REINFORCEMENT SPLIGES Flled Jan 13 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVELVTOR. .Q/WZK 19.

Jag i- Sept. 12, 1967 F o REILAND 3,340,567

CONCRETE STRUCTURE WITH COMBINATION COMPRESSION AND TENSION REINFORCEMENT SPLICES Flled Jan 13 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. awlii fiu'zwz/ D. REILAND 3,340,667 CONCRETE STRUCTURE WITH COMBINATION COMPRESSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 AND TENSION REINFORCEMENT SPLICES Filed Jan. 13, 1964 w ll!! 51c INVENTOR lllllllm 39c I I I 81 United States Patent CONCRETE STRUCTURE WITH COMBINATION COMPRESSION AND TENSION REINFORCE- MENT SPLICES Frank D. Reiland, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gateway Erectors, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 337,200 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Apr. 12, 1983, has been disclaimed Claims. (Cl. 52722) The present invention relates to an improved reinforced concrete structure. This application is a continuation-inpart of application Ser. No. 321,947 filed Nov. 6, 1963, now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 200,204, now Patent No. 3,245,190; the present application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 208,714, now Patent No. 3,245,189.

The principal object of the invention is to provide, in a concrete structure, a reinforcement comprising at least two deformed reinforcing bars spliced together in endwise abutting relation by means of a splice structure which is so formed as to function, in cooperation with the concrete per se and with the deformations on the bars, to provide multiple interlocks between said deformations and parts of the splice structure, which interlocks develop, at the splice, increased load supporting strength in compression and increased yield strength in tension.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a reinforced concrete structure of the above character, a splice structure that clamps the bars so as to maintain them in endwise abutting relation prior to the pouring of the concrete and before the formation of said interlocks.

A further object is to provide, in a concrete structure of the above character, a sleeve splice provided with a plurality of openings of suitable size to permit the concrete grout to flow freely into the sleeve and to form therein appendant segments of the main concrete body which fill channel-like voids between the deformation ribs of the bars and the space between the end faces of the bars, whereby these appendant bodies of concrete, beingv confined with the splice structure and being subjected to triaxial loading, provide strong interlocking concrete bodies for developing increased yieldstrength in tension at the splice and also provided maximum strength in compression, even though the end faces of the bars are not in total contact with each other.

According to the invention, at least one pair of conventionallydeformed reinforcing bars are spliced together in end-to-end alignment and embedded in a concrete body to reinforce the same. The concrete body may be of various forms, for example columns, beams, joist, or flooring of a building structure, storage dams, foundations and/or any other reinforced concrete structure which normally requires metallic reinforcement.

The splice reinforcing bars may be positioned either vertically or horizontally in the concrete body, since the splice structure has capacity for developing resistance strength against both compressive and tensional forces which may be present in such concrete body. In this connection the improved splice means includes a sleeve structure for embracing the adjacent end portions of the spliced bars, including a series of the conventional deformation ribs formed thereon and the channels intervening between adjacent deformation ribs.

The adjacent end faces of the bars may be square cut or substantially square cut, that is to say, a slight relative inclination of the end faces is permitted, since provision is made under the present invention for filling and clearance space between the end faces of the bars with a body of concrete grout. The hardened grout body, being enclosed in the metallic sleeve and surrounded by a substantial thickness of hardened concrete, becomes triaxially loaded under compressive forces and therefore constitute a noncompressible body of concrete connected, as an appendage, to the main concrete body.

The sleeve structure of the splice is perforated throughout with openings of substantial size defining passageways for admitting concrete grout into the space between the end faces of the bars and into the channels between the deformation ribs on the bars. The bodies of concrete grout in said channels abut against the side walls of the said channels and against the perimeter surfaces of the passageway openings in the sleeve structure to provide keylike interlocks for resisting compressive and tensional stresses imposed on the splice structure.

The invention is illustrated in certain preferred embodiments in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of a concrete structure in which metallic reinforcements are embedded in regions of the concrete to resist both compressive and tensional forces;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary cross-section taken on line 2a2a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4. is a view in perspective of a wedge member forming a part of the splice structure for connecting a pair of reinforcing bars;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a split sleeve element embracing the adjacent ends of a pair of reinforcing bars;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the sleeve structure 'of the invention assembled in its operative clamping position about the adjacent ends of a pair of reinforcing bars;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is' a longitudinal section through either the vertical or horizontal splice structures shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-section through a concrete body and through a reinforcement splice embedded therein, the section being taken on line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a concrete structure provided with a metallic reinforcement comprising conventionally deformed bars of different size classifications spliced in end-to-end relation;

, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of two bar sections of different diameters arranged in end-to-end relation and showing also the several elements of a clamp structure for splicing the said bars together;

v FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the clamp elements of FIG. 11 assembled in clamping relation about two bars of different diameters;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section similar to FIG. 8, but illustrating the clamp structure of FIGS. 11-13; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-section taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive of the drawings: designates a reinforced concrete body in the form of a structure of a building. It comprises foundation pier 11, vertical column 12 supported on the piers, and a horizontal girder 13 for connectiing the upper ends of the column 12 and other verticals (not shown) in the structure. Column 12 is subjected principally to the compressive stresses because of the compression load imposed lengthwise thereon, and the girder 13 and the other horizontal members (not shown) in the structure are subjected principally to tensional stresses incident to the load imposed transversely thereon. The building structure, therefore, presents an apt structure for illustrating compressive and tensional stresses, both of which are resisted by the present invention. However, the building structure shown is intended as an illustration only and not as a limitation.

The foundation pier 11 may extend to any suitable depth below the floor level 14 of the building, and the girder 13, since the columns are broken away as indicated at 15, may be treated as being associated with either the second or third floor of the building. In any event the reinforcement bars embedded in the column 12 are of lengths sufficient to project above the upper floor level and to which additional bars (not shown) may be spliced to extend the height of the building.

Referring now to the metallic reinforcement for the column 12: Inasmuch as the reinforcements for the columns in FIG. 1 are identical, it will be suflicient to describe the reinforcement of the pier 11 and the column 12 at the left of FIG. 1. This reinforcement may include any desired number of pairs of conventionally formed bars, for example four pairs arranged in vertical alignment. The lower bars are

members

16, 17, 18 and 19 (see FIGS. 1 and 2a). Each bar may be of any suitable length, depending upon the amount of reinforcement required, and the bars are embedded in spaced relation in the pier 11. The upper ends of the

lower bars

16, 17, 18 and 19 extend different distances above the pier 11 and are connected, respectively, to the lower ends of

upper bars

20, 21, 22 and 23 by means of

like splices

24, 25, 26 and 27 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Inasmuch as the upper ends of the

bars

16, 17, 18 and 19 terminate at different distances above the pier 11, the

splice structures

24, 25, 26 and 27 are located in staggered relation and thereby provide continuity of the reinforcement throughout the length of the column and also prevent excessive displacement of concrete at a single location transversely of the column.

A vertical column, such as the column 12, is defined primarily to support the compressive loads represented by the arrows 28 in FIG. 1. Nevertheless, there are some tensional stresses present therein from time to time, for example during severe Wind pressures. Therefore the present splice structure is highly desirable for use in columns, since it is designed not only to support compressive loads, but also resists tensional stresses.

The horizontal members of a building, for example, the girders 13, are subjected primarily to tensional stresses since the load is normally applied transversely thereof in the direction of gravity. For convenience of illustration the arrows 29 are intended to represent tensional stresses in the girder. Accordingly the metallic reinforcements herein indicated as

bar sections

30, 31 and 32, are embedded in the girder to extend lengthwise thereof below its center of gravity and preferably in the region of greatest tensional stress near the lower face of the girder. The bar 30 may be of suflicient length to extend across the entire span between the column 12, but the

bar sections

31, 32 are butt spliced together by means of sleeve splice structure 27a. The construction of the splice structure 27a conforms identically with the structure of the compression splice structures 27 embedded in the column 12. However, when the splice structure 27a is embedded in a horizontal position, such as herein illustrated,

4 it functions primarily to provide yield strength for resisting tensional stresses.

Inasmuch as the tension resisting capacity of the sleeve splice 27a depends upon its special cooperation with the deformations on the reinforcing bars, and in view also of the fact that the sleeve splice 27 cooperates with the deformations to increase its strength in compression, the bars will be described briefly before the description of the sleeve structure of the splice means.

There are various designs of deformed reinforcing bars, but generally they include a pair of ribs 33, one rib at either side of the bar extending the entire length of the bar (see FIGS. 5 and 6). A series of transverse ribs 34 on opposite sides of the bar are spliced apart lengthwise thereof with their ends terminating at or near the longitudinal ribs 33. It will be observed that each pair of the transverse ribs 34, defines an intervening channel 35. The longitudinal and transverse ribs define the perimeter of the bar which is gripped, as hereinafter described, by the sleeve structure to move the bar ends into axial alignment and to maintain them in this position during the pouring of the concrete to form the concrete body 10.

The adjacent end faces of the bars, particularly the vertical bars in the

columns

12, 12, are preferably, though not necessarily, cut sufliciently square to insure coplanar contact. However, if the end faces of the bars are reasonably square as they come from the mill no additional cutting is required, since the improved structure of the present invention makes it possible to splice bars having end faces 36, 37 (FIG. 5) inclined relative to each other or otherwise spaced apart within an allowable clearance tolerance.

Referring now to the construction and operation of the sleeve splice structure: All sleeve splice structures shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings have identical constructions and comprise in each case a sleeve element which embraces the adj-acent end portions of both bars being spliced, for example the

bars

19 and 23. Considered in its broadest aspect the sleeve may be of any suitable form and construction to insure its interlocking cooperation, hereinafter described, with the bars and the concrete body per se, whereby it develops increased load supporting strength n compression and also develops increased yield strength 1n tension. However, the preferred specific construction of sleeve structure comprises a split sleeve element 38 and a cooperating wedge member 39 (see FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7). The edges of the sleeve along the slit 40 are turned laterally in opposite directions to form wedge-

like flanges

41, 42. The wedge member 39 is a unitary structure slightly longer than the sleeve element 38. It comprises a fiat plate 43 having diverging edges which are bent inwardly to provide hook-shaped flanges 44-45 for interlocking engagement with substantially the entire length of the outturned flanges 41-42 of the sleeve, as shown best in FIGS. 7 and 9 of the drawings. The diameter of the sleeve element 38 is slightly larger than the diameters of the butted bar ends and is sufliciently flexible to yield circumferentially. The function of the wedge is to draw the flexible side walls of the sleeve in a wrap-around constrictive fashlOIl into tight gripping engagement with the perimeters of the end portions of the bars being spliced.

The sleeve 38 being, as previously indicated, slightly larger in diameter than the butted bar ends, may be slipped over one of the bars and moved to a position clear of its end so as to facilitate installation of the other bar. After the bars are brought into partial alignment, the sleeve may be positioned to overlap both bars and the flanges 44, 45 of the wedge '39 are interlocked with the

flanges

41, 42 of the sleeve 38. During the initial driving of the wedge, the sleeve may be held by any suitable clamp (not shown) in its proper centralized position relative to the faces 36, 3-7 of the butted bar ends until the sleeve is contracted into initial gripping engagement with the eri-meters of the bars, the perimeter being defined by the transverse ribs 34 and the vertical ribs 33. After the initial constrictive gripping contact on either or both of the butted bar ends the area of the contact together with the constrictive pressure asserted is sufficient to maintain the sleeve in its proper position during the further driving of the wedge to increase the grip of the device on the bars.

The constricting clamping action of the sleeve 38 on the end portions of the bars being spliced (for example bars 19 and 23, FIGS. 1 and 5, or bars 31-32, FIG. I) automatically effects axial centering thereof. The circumferential flexibility of the sleeve facilities conforming of the sleeve in a manner to compensate for tolerance variations in the perimeter contours of the bars. The circumferential flexibility of the sleeve together with the slight tension of the sleeve walls and parts of the wedge permits the sleeve to yield sufficiently to conform to normal tolerance variations in the respective diameters of the bars. This adaptability of the sleeve 38 and its wedge 39 to compensate for tolerance variations in the diameters of the respective bars is evidenced by the fact that if the bars vary slightly in their respective diameters the sleeve will first grip the bar of larger diameter and thereafter upon further driving the wedge downwardly will grip the bar of slightly smaller diameter.

When the sleeve is in its proper position a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 46-47 formed in the side of the sleeve will be so positioned as to communicate with the space 48 existing between the end faces 36-37 of the butted bars (see FIGS. 5-7). It will be observed in this connection that the sleeve element tightly grips the perimeter of the splice bars and therefore closes the space between the end faces of the bars except for the openings 36-37 and the opening 40 formed by its split wall. Consequently a body 50 of relatively fine concrete grout enters into the space 48 and therefore is confined in a substantially closed metallic chamber surrounded by a thick band of concrete constituting part of the main concrete body (FIG. 8). Upon hardening of the internal body 50 of concrete grout and the hardening of the external body 10 of concrete, the internal body 50 is rendered non-compressible and non-displaceable relative to the bar ends 36, 37. In addition to transmitting compressive forces uniformly across the entire areas of the end faces 36, 37 of the spliced bars, the grout body 50 imparts to the splice structure a compressive strength capacity equal to or greater than the ultimate compressive strength capacity of a reinforced concrete body similar to the column 12 but reinforced with non-spliced reinforcing bars of the same size and quality embedded in the structure herein shown.

The sleeve element 38 is provided with two groups of additional apertures arranged in closely spaced relation throughout the length and circumference of the sleeve. One group is formed in the portion of the sleeve embracing the bar 23 and is designated by reference numerals 51. The surface defining the perimeter of each of the above apertures is designated 52 and constitutes in each case a diametrically extending abutment surface adapted to cooperate with one or the other side face 53 or 54 of an adjacent channel 35 of the bar 23 when the latter is filled with concrete as hereinafter described. The portion of the sleeve 38 containing the second group of apertures embraces the end of the bar 19 and is designated 55. The surfaces defining the perimeters of the apertures constitute diametrically extending abutment surfaces 56 adapted to cooperate with the side walls 57-58 of adjacent channels 35 in the end portion of the bar 19 to com plete the transmission of stresses to or from the bar 23.

The

apertures

51 and 55, in addition increasing the flexibility of the sleeve 38, constitute passageways through which concrete grout, during the formation of the columns 12 and girder 13, flows into the sleeve to fill the channels 35 of both bar ends embraced by the sleeve. Upon hardening of the concrete, the hardened grout within said channels 35, being confined within the sleeve 38 and being also surrounded by a heavy band of hardened concrete in the main body 10, constitutes a series of appendant non-compressible segments 59 of the main concretebody. These segments function as key-like interlocks to transmit compressive and/or tensional stresses from one or the other of the bars 19-23 to the sleeve 38 and thence to the other one of the bars, depending of course upon whether the sleeve structure is being used as a compression or a tension splice.

When the sleeve structure is used as a compression splice, the line of compressive force leads from the abutment face 53 on bar 23 through a concrete interlock 59 to an opposed abutment surface 52 (the perimeter of an aperture 51) as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8 and thence through the sleeve 38 to the perimeter 56 of an aperture 55 serving as an abutment surface on the sleeve, thence through a concrete interlock 59 to an abutment face 57 on the bar 19.

Assume now that the sleeve structure 38 is used as a tension splice, such for example as if the

bars

19 and 23 were substituted for the tension bars 31, 32 shown in the girder 13. The line of tension force may be regarded as starting from an abutment face 58 on the bar 19, thence through a concrete interlock 59 to an abutment surface 56 on the sleeve 38 as indicated by arrows 60a and thence through the sleeve to an abutment surface 52 thereof, and through an interlock 59 to an abutment face 54 on the bar 23.

The fiat portion 43 of the wedge member 39 has formed therein a series of apertures designated 61 which are similar to the

apertures

51 and 55 and function as auxiliary passageways for delivering grout into the channels of both bar ends 19 and 23 through the slit opening 40 in the sleeve element.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 15, inclusive of the drawings: The splice structure of FIGS. 4 to 9 is utilized in FIGS. 10 to 15, with slight modification, to connect reinforcing bars of different diameter classifications.

FIG. 10 illustrates a building structure which includes a main column 62, an upper extension column 63, a horizontal beam or grider 64 and intermediate columns 65-66, the latter of which are located at opposite sides of a corridor 67. The spaces 68-69 at either side of the corridor may be substantially wider than the corridor. Consequently, the overlying areas of the grider 64 are reinforced with reinforcing bars 70 of larger diameters than the bars 71 overlying the corridor 67. Also the

bars

72 and 73 located in column 62 and its extension 63, respectively, are of different diameters and are con,- nected by the modified splice 270, since it is usual practice to reduce the diameter and weight of the reinforcing bars as the height of a building is increased.

The truss bar section 74-75 located in the girder are of the same diameter and are therefore connected by splice 27b which corresponds in structure to the

splices

27 and 27a as shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive of the drawings.

The splices 27c for connecting the bars 70-71 and 72-73 of different diameters shown in FIG. 10, include a split outer sleeve and a wedge of substantially the same construction as previously described in connection with FIGS. 4 to 9, inclusive. Consequently all corresponding parts of the splice members shown in FIGS. 11 to 15, inclusive are identified herein by the same reference numerals used in connection with the description of the splices shown in FIGS. 4 through 9, but include the letter The modified splice structure 27c, for purpose of convenience, is illustrated and will be described in detail with respect to its position in the column extension 63. However, such description also applies to the horizontal splices of the bars 70-71.

The bar 63 may be the same in all respects as the bar 23 of FIGS. 5 and 6. A pair of semicylindrical reducer sleeve sections 76 are adapted to be applied to the lower end of bar 73 and seat on the upper end face 78 of the bar 72 so that the diameter of bar 73 plus the combined thickness of the reducer sleeve sections 7676 will correspond to the diameter of the diameter of the lower bar 72. The adjacent end faces of the bars 72-73 are positioned in angular relation to each other and thereby provide a slight clearance space 79, as shown in FIG. 8, to be filled with a body 80 of concrete grout as hereinafter described.

The upper and lower ends of each reducer sleeve section are provided with recesses 77, either of which will register with the

inspection openings

46c and 47c formed at the mid point of the sleeve element 38c. Each reducer sleeve section is also formed with a series of apertures 81 which registers with the apertures 510 formed in the end portion of the sleeve element 380 which embraces the reducer sleeve and the lower end of the smaller bar 73. Both groups of

apertures

51c and 550 formed in the split outer sleeve element 38c and the apertures 81 formed in the reducer sleeve sections 76 function as passageways for insuring free flow of concrete grout into the channels 350 between the deformation ribs 340 on the

bars

72, 73.

The several parts of the splice structure 270 are assembled as follows: The split sleeve element 38c is first inserted over the upper end of the larger bar 72 and moved to a position below the upper end face 78 thereof. The bar 73 is then seated endwise upon the end face 78 of bar 72 as shown in FIG. 11. The semicylindrical reducer sleeve sections 76-7 6 are then fitted about the lower end of the bar 73. The outer sleeve element 38c is then moved upwardly to enclose the reducer sleeve sections 76 and the outer sleeve element 380 is turned to position its inspection openings 46c, 470 in register with the lower recesses 77 of the reducer sleeve sections. The wedge member 390 is then engaged over the wedge flanges 41c-42c and then driven downwardly to circumferentially contract the outer sleeve member 380 into constrictive gripping contact with the perimeter of bar 72 and to exert like constrictive gripping pressure, through the reducer sleeve sections 76, against the perimeter of the bar 73. The reducer sleeve sections have some circumferential flexibility; consequently, the contraction of the outer sleeve element 380 under the pressure exerted by the wedge 39c flexes the reducer sleeve sections sufliciently to compensate for tolerance variations in the diameter and/or perimeter contour of the bar 73.

During the pouring of the concrete to form the main concrete structure of FIG. 10, concrete grout flows from the main concrete body 10c into the sleeve 38c at the junction of the end faces 78-79 of the bars 7273. If there is any clearance space between said end faces the concrete fills such space to provide a concrete bed or body 80 between the said end faces of the bars. The flow path for the concrete grout is defined by apertures 46c-47c formed in the outer sleeve 38c and aligned with recesses 77 adjacent thereto formed in the reducer sleeve sections 76. The grout is substantially confined within the space defined by the inner walls of the reducer sleeve sections 76 and therefore constitutes a non-compressible body for transmitting compression forces across the end faces of the bars 7273. The concrete grout also flows through passageways defined by apertures 55c of the sleeve 380 into the channels 35c of the bar 72 to form key-like interlocks 590 between abutments 56c on the sleeve 38c and abutments 57c on the bar 72. Similar key-like interlocks 590 are formed by quantities of concrete grout which flow into the channels 350 of the bar 73 through apertures 510 formed in the sleeve 38c and registering with apertures 81 formed in the reducer sleeve sections 76.

When the sleeve structure 38c is used as a compression splice, the line of compressive force leads from the abutment face 53c on bar 73 through a concrete interlock 590 to an opposed abutment surface 520 (the perimeter of an aperture 510) as indicated by the arrows 600 in FIG. 14 .and thence through the sleeve 38c to the perimeter 560 of an aperture 550 serving as an abutment surface on the sleeve, thence through a concrete interlock 590 to an abutment face 570 on the bar 72.

When the sleeve 38c is used as a tension splice, the line of tension force may be regarded as'starting from an abutment face 580 on the bar 72, thence through a concrete interlock 590 to an abutment surface 560 on the sleeve 380 as indicated by arrows 60cc and thence through the sleeve to an abutment surface 520 thereof, and through an interlock 59c in the direction indicated by arrows 69cc to an abutment face 540 on the bar 73.

I claim:

1. In combination with a concrete body, a metal reinforcement embedded therein including two reinforcement bars each having .plural projecting deformation ribs spaced apart lengthwise thereof and defining multiple intervening channels having radially extending side walls constituting abutment faces, and splice means connecting the bars together in end-to-end relation, said splice means comprising a contractible sleeve embracing and gripping the adjacent ends of both bars and having a length suflicient to encompass a series of said ribs and intervening channels at the end of each bar, said sleeve having a plurality of side openings of dimensions generally comparable to said channels, said openings being distributed throughout the length and circumference of the sleeve and constituting passageways for admitting concrete grout into said channels during pouring of said concrete body to thereby afford a corresponding plurality of appendant concrete interlock segments extending from the main concrete body through the sleeve wall into the sleeve and interlocking the abutment faces on the bar deformation ribs with the internal surfaces of the sleeve apertures, said interlock segments serving to transmit both compression and tension forces from one bar to the other through the sleeve, said side openings being distributed longitudinally and circumferentially throughout said sleeve to assure complete peripheral interlocking of the sleeve with both bars.

2. A combination structure according to claim 1 in which the locations of the side openings in the contractible sleeve are such that the several center lines of tensionresisting force through the concrete interlock segments associated with one bar end of the splice and the center lines of tension-resisting force through the concrete interlock segments associated with the other bar end of the splice are inclined in opposite directions relative to the axis of the bars.

3. A combination structure according to claim 1 wherein said contractible sleeve is a circumferentially flexible metal sleeve having a longitudinal split with the opposite edges at the split turned laterally in opposite directions to form wedge-like flanges, and in which the split portion of said sleeve is closed by a wedge member having interlocked wedging engagement with said flanges and adapted upon movement of said wedge member in one direction relative to said flanges to constrict the split sleeve into firm gripping engagement with the perimeters of said deformation ribs on the end portions of both bars, said wedge member having a series of openings therein similar to the side openings in the sleeve distributed throughout the length of said wedge member, said openings in said wedge member defining additional passageways for admitting concrete grout into the split sleeve and into said channels between said deformation ribs.

4. A combination structure according to claim 3 wherein said split sleeve is circumferentially yieldable to accommodate bars of slightly different diameters and perimeter contours and wherein said openings in the wedge member and in the sleeve cooperate to increase the rate of yield under tension on the portion of the splice means which embraces the larger of the two reinforcement bars.

5. A combination structure according to claim 3 in which the reinforcing bars are of different diameter clas- Sifi a iQ Said structure further including a two-segment reducer sleeve substantially encompassing the reinforce- References Cited ment bar of smaller diameter within the split sleeve of UNITED STATES PATENTS the splice, said reducer sleeve having a plurality of side openings distributed throughout its length and constitut- 1,689,281 10/1928 FOFSSCH 52726 ing passageways for admitting concrete grout into the 5 3,245,189 4/1966 Renaud 52*648 channels between the deformation ribs of the smaller bar FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner- Y and connecting with the corresponding passageways afforded by the side openings in the split sleeve. J. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CONCRETE BODY, A METAL REINFORCEMENT EMBEDDED THEREIN INCLUDING TWO REINFORCEMENT BARS EACH HAVING PLURAL PROJECTING DEFORMATION RIBS SPACED APART LENGTHWISE THEREOF AND DEFINING MULTIPLE INTERVENING CHANNELS HAVING RADIALLY EXTENDING SIDE WALLS CONSTITUTING ABUTMENT FACES, AND SPLICE MEANS CONNECTING THE BARS TOGETHER IN END-TO-END RELATION, SAID SPLIC MEANS COMPRISING A CONTRACTIBLE SLEEVE EMBRACING AND GRIPPING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF BOTH BARS AND HAVING A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO ENCOMPASS A SERIES OF SAID RIBS AND INTERVENING CHANNELS AT THE END OF EACH BAR, SAID SLEEVE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SIDE OPENINGS OF DIMENSIONS GENERALLY COMPARABLE TO SAID CHANNELS, SAID OPENINGS BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH AND CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SLEEVE AND CONSTITUTING PASSAGEWAYS FOR ADMITTING CONCRETE GROUT INTO SAID CHANNELS DURING POURING OF SAID CONCRETE BODY TO THEREBY AFFORD A CORRESPONDING PLURALITY OF APPENDANT CONCRETE INTERLOCK SEGMENTS EXTENDING FROM THE MAIN CONCRETE BODY THROUGH THE SLEEVE WALL INTO THE SLEEVE AND INTERLOCKING THE ABUTMENT FACES ON THE BAR DEFORMATION RIBS WITH THE INTERNAL SURFACES OF THE SLEEVE APERTURES, SAID INTERLOCK SEGMENTS SERVING TO TRANSMIT BOTH COMPRESSION AND TENSION FORCES FROM ONE BAR TO THE OTHER THROUGH THE SLEEVE, SAID SIDE OPENINGS BEING DISTRIBUTED LONGITUDINALLY AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THROUGHOUT SAID SLEEVE TO ASSURE COMPLETE PERIPHERAL INTERLOCKING OF THE SLEEVE WITH BOTH BARS.