Joints and connections – Interfitted members – Clamped members
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-10-23
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Interfitted members
Clamped members
C403S320000, C403S374300, C403S381000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305873
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connecting structure in which structural elements such as segments are connected together, a plurality of these structural elements being connected together to form a cylindrical tunnel wall member, for example.
2. Technical Field of the Invention
When forming tunnel wall members, a typical structure employed for the segment connecting structure is one in which a joint plate having a hole is recessed in the vicinity of the segment's connecting surface. The connecting surfaces of the segments are brought into contact with one another, with the joint plate holes aligned so as to communicate. A bolt is then passed through the communicating holes in this state, and a nut is fastened on to the bolt to affect the connection.
However, the above structure requires that the extremely troublesome operation of passing the bolt through the holes formed in the connecting surfaces of the joint plates, and then fastening a nut over the bolt, be performed at the construction site.
Moreover, in the above-described structure, fastening of the nut onto the bolt becomes difficult if there is even a slight positional deviation between the segments. As a result, work may be delayed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention's connecting structure is one in which the structural members are connected with their connecting surfaces mutually aligned. The present invention's connecting structure is connected by means of a connecting rod attached to one structural member and projecting outward from its connecting surface in the direction of another structural member, and a connector attached to the other structural member which engages with this connecting rod. This connector is provided with a tapered sleeve, the diameter of its inner circumferential surface gradually widening in the direction of insertion of the connecting rod; a plurality of wedges which are disposed in a circle within the sleeve to form an insertion fixing hole for the connecting rod at their mutual center, the plurality of wedges being disposed so as to be freely moveable in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve, with the outer circumferential surfaces of the wedges in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve; and an elastic member for biasing the wedges toward the rear of the direction of insertion of the connecting rod.
In the case where connecting structural members using this connecting structure, the wedges retreat toward the bottom of the sleeve, compressing the elastic member, when the connecting rod is pushed into the sleeve of the connector. The diameter of the insertion fixing hole formed by the wedges widens, and the connecting rod is inserted into the insertion fixing hole. Once the insertion of the connecting rod into the insertion fixing hole is completed, the wedges are pushed toward the tip of the sleeve due to the biasing force of the elastic member. As a result, the diameter of the insertion fixing hole formed by the wedges is reduced, so that the connecting rod is gripped and fixed in place. The diameter of the insertion fixing hole formed by the wedges narrows further in response to a slipping out movement by the connecting rod, so that the fixing force of the wedges is increased. As a result, the connecting rod is strongly connected by the connector, thus connecting the structural members in a unitary manner.
The method for producing the wedges employed in the present invention is one in which wedges are produced for a connector that is provided with a tapered sleeve, the inner circumferential surface of which has a gradually widening diameter in the direction of insertion of the connecting rod; a plurality of wedges that are disposed in a circle within the sleeve to form an insertion fixing hole at their mutual center, this plurality of wedges being disposed so as to be freely moveable along the longitudinal direction of the sleeve with their outer circumferential surfaces in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve; and an elastic member for biasing the wedges toward the rear direction of insertion of the connecting rod which is inserted into the insertion fixing hole. In this method, a plurality of intermediate work pieces, which are flabellate in cross-section, are produced and then placed in a forging machine disposed in a circle with their lateral surfaces facing one another. These intermediate work pieces are then simultaneously forge-molded into wedges by the forging machine, to produce the wedges which form the connector.
This method for producing the wedges does not require an operation for segmenting a wedge-shaped cylinder by cutting. Accordingly, the wedges can be produced at low cost. Moreover, accuracy in assembling a plurality of these wedges is excellent. Further, since no machining allowance for cutting is incurred, a reduction in wedge width and a decrease in the contact surface with the sleeve does not occur. As a result, strong fastening can be obtained, while at the same time, small diameter wedges can be produced. In addition, since the fiber flow generated during forge-molding is not interrupted, strong wedges can be obtained. The machining equipment can also be reduced in size. Productivity is increased, with defective products less likely to be produced. As a result, the wedges can be produced even more inexpensively.
In the attaching structure for the connector in the present invention, the connector is attached to a mold-plate using an attaching member, the connector being provided with a tapered sleeve, the inner circumferential surface of which has a gradually widening diameter in the direction of insertion of the connecting rod; a plurality of wedges that are disposed in a circle within the sleeve to form an insertion fixing hole at their mutual center, this plurality of wedges being disposed so as to be freely moveable along the longitudinal direction of the sleeve with their outer circumferential surfaces in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve; and an elastic member for biasing the wedges toward the rear of the direction of insertion of the connecting rod which is inserted into the insertion fixing hole. The attaching member is equipped with a cylindrical pin which passes through the attachment hole formed in the mold-plate, to insert into and engage with the insertion fixing hole of the connector disposed at the inner surface of the mold-plate; a stopping member provided to the cylindrical pin, which is stopped by the outer surface of the mold-plate; an elastically deformable elastic member which is provided to the end of the cylindrical pin on its connector side; an attachment bolt which passes through the elastic member and the cylindrical pin, the head of which is stopped by the elastic member; and an attachment nut which screws onto the end of the attachment bolt which projects outward from the end of the cylindrical pin. By screwing on the attachment nut of the attaching member, the elastic member is compressed and its diameter expands, attaching the connector to the mold-plate.
In this attaching structure for the connector, the elastic member and the cylindrical pin of the attaching member are passed through the attachment hole of the mold-plate and inserted into the connector. Then, by the simple operation of fastening the attachment nut, the elastic member is compressed, so that its diameter expands. As a result, the attaching member and the connector form a unitary structure, thereby attaching the connector to the mold-plate. Thus, a quicker and simpler attachment operation can be anticipated.
It is necessary to release the connection between the connector and mold-plate when removing the mold. In this case, by loosening the attachment nut, the pressing force of the head portion of the attachment bolt on the elastic member is released. As a result, the elastic member returns to its original form, releasing the engagement between the connector and the attaching member. As a result, the connect
Kobayashi Toshio
Matsubara Kenta
Nakano Akihiko
Nishimura Shuuichi
Okayama Susumu
Browne Lynne H.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Obayashi Corporation
Walsh John B.
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