Abstract: A strongback attachment system for temporarily attaching a reinforcing beam or the like to a poured concrete structural member includes an insert adapted to be set in the poured concrete member. The insert has a body for creating a void in the concrete structural member and a base for supporting the body in spaced relation above a floor of the concrete structural member. The base has a pair of leg members in which a portion thereof extends through the body so as to be free of concrete. A bolt is also provided for securing the reinforcing beam to the concrete structural member, where the bolt includes a shaft with a threaded end and an opposite end terminating in an engagement head. The engagement head is adapted to be releasably engaged by the leg member portions extending through the body.

Abstract: A wedge for use with tie rods in maintaining a predetermined spaced relation between opposed forms prior to and during the pouring of a concrete wall in the space between the forms incorporates a ramp portion which includes an elongated keyhole slot for receiving a tie rod therethrough, and the portions of the ramp bordering this slot are especially formed to reinforce them against deflection or collapse under the loading applied thereto from the head of a snap tie rod supported thereon and also to provide concave self centering capability and smooth surfaces to avoid nicking.

Abstract: A snap tie for use in maintaining a predetermined spaced relation between opposed forms prior to and during the pouring of a concrete wall therebetween comprises a steel rod of predetermined uniform cylindrical section having at each end an integrally formed head of substantially larger cross sectional dimensions. The rod also includes a portion interconnecting the inner side of each head with the remainder of the rod which has cross sectional dimensions intermediate those of the heads and of the remainder of the rod.

Abstract: A protective device for a housing steel reinforcement in an area where joints are made between first and subsequently poured concrete structures. The device includes a sheet of material having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion. The sheet of material is folded such that the first end portion and the second end portion are in an overlapping facing relationship to form a housing of generally rectangular cross section. Adhesive tape is wrapped around a portion of the generally tubular housing to hold the sheet of material in the folded position. The adhesive tape allows quick access to the interior of the housing by cutting the tape and unfolding the sheet of material. A plurality of steel reinforcement bars are provided having a first portion positioned within the housing for being imbedded in the subsequently poured concrete structure and second portion extending out of the housing through an aperture in the housing for being imbedded in the first poured concrete structure.

Abstract: In the construction of concrete pavement on a roadbed by a continuous concrete paving machine, the end of a section of the pavement is finished off by setting on the roadbed an assembly comprising a plurality of elongated coupling members connected together in spaced parallel relation, with each of these coupling members having releasably secured therein a dowel of a hard plastic material which projects downstream from the associated coupling member. After this assembly has been embedded in freshly laid payment and the paving operation is terminated, the new pavement is saw cut along a vertical plane intersecting the plastic dowels, and the concrete containing the cut off dowel portions is removed. The dowel stubs in the resulting end face of the pavement are than removed and replaced by steel dowels which project beyond the end face of the pavement section for embedding in the next section of pavement to be laid in order to serve as load transfer means between the two pavement sections.

Abstract: An adjustable hanger for supporting a concrete form which includes a first bracket having a downwardly-extending portion for engaging an edge of an I beam flange, a second bracket for engaging an I beam flange, and a threaded rod screwed into and extending between the first and second brackets so that the second bracket can be adjusted in spacing from the first bracket to enable the hanger to accommodate a variety of I beam flange widths. In the preferred embodiment, the second bracket includes an upwardly extending portion having a wedge-shaped slot and an outer arcuate bearing surface. The upwardly extending portion receives a bolt for supporting cantilevered formwork and the bolt is retained within the slot by a nut which rests against the arcuate bearing surface. The retained bolt can be pivoted throughout a range of angular orientations relative to the second bracket as the circumstances of use may require.

Abstract: A recess plug for positioning lifting anchors in precast concrete panel includes first and second hollow plug halves having complementary, frictionally-engaging mating surfaces, and also having pairs of projecting bosses positioned to overlap, when the plug halves are joined together, such that holes therethrough are in registry to receive nails therethrough for locking the plug halves together in enclosing relation with the head of an anchor as they are mounted on a vertical formwork wall. The plug halves also include boss portions for attaching a reinforcing bar to the plug assembly so that the reinforcing bar is properly positioned relative to the anchor held by the recess plug to bear the stresses applied to the anchor when the panel is lifted by the anchor. Each plug half includes a rear wall having a notch which forms an opening with the notch in the mating plug half sized to receive the shank of an anchor therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting an anchor in a concrete unit in which the head of the anchor is gripped by a plurality of resiliently-biased gripper elements pivotally attached to a cylindrical mandrel, the mandrel is drawn within the bore of a void former sleeve having a hemispherical outer end, and the sleeve is withdrawn within the channel of a support sleeve attached to associated formwork such that the hemispherical outer end protrudes from the formwork. After the concrete unit is cast, the void former sleeve is withdrawn from the unit so that the outer end leaves a hemispherical void in the unit and the mandrel is disengaged from the head of the anchor, leaving the head exposed within the void. The support sleeve includes a spring-loaded detent pin which is positioned to engage detent slots in the void former sleeve and a detent recess in the mandrel to hold the sleeve and mandrel in position during casting and to hold the sleeve in position as the anchor is attached to the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting precast concrete panels includes a lifting body having a forward portion adapted to engage in an anchor head, a latch yoke pivotally connected to a rearward end of the lifting body and including a safety latch cooperating with the forward portion to lock an anchor head to the forward portion, a release yoke pivotally attached to the lifting body and including a cam roller for urging the latch yoke to pivot to a release position, and a lifting bail pivotally attached to the forward portion. The lifting body includes a safety pin block extending upwardly from a rearward portion thereof adjacent to the rearward end of the latch yoke. The latch yoke and safety pin block include bores which are in registry with each other when the apparatus is oriented to a locked position. A safety pin is inserted into the bores and prevents relative pivotal movement between the latch yoke and lifting body, and is removable from the bore by a lanyard which is pulled by a worker.

Abstract: An apparatus for hot forming a polygonal head on an end of a tie rod includes a split electrode for gripping a tie rod and a reciprocating electrode for deforming the tie rod end. One of the electrodes defines a die cavity having walls forming a polygonal contour and a depth greater than a predetermined thickness of the tie rod head to be formed, and the other electrode includes a boss positioned in registry with the die cavity such that the boss may enter the cavity upon movement of the reciprocating electrode into abutment with the split electrode, thereby forcing the heated end of a tie rod into the polygonal contour of the cavity. The preferred method includes intermediate steps of lightly gripping the rod by the split electrodes and lightly contacting the rod tip by the reciprocating electrode to locate the rod accurately with respect to the die cavity.

Abstract: A pickup device has a trunion plate that is placed across an opening formed by a tubular insert in a horizontal concrete slab or panel. A housing extends through a hole in the trunnion plate into the insert and defines an internal cavity disposed inwardly of the insert. A bore communicates an end of the housing outside the panel with the housing cavity. An axially movable actuator rod or plunger is disposed in the bore and includes a head disposed in the cavity and formed of contiguous cylindrical and conical portions. A plurality of lugs are movably mounted in housing cutouts that extend radially outward of the cavity and such lugs have sides facing the plunger head which are, respectively, parallel to the cylindrical and the conical portions of the plunger head for cooperation therewith so that the lugs are moved radially outward of the housing by the cooperating conical portion of the head and the angularly inclined lug sides.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting precast concrete panels includes a lifting body having a forward portion adapted to engage in an anchor head, a latch yoke pivotally connected to a rearward end of the lifting body and including a safety latch cooperating with the forward portion .Iadd.of the lifting body .Iaddend.to lock an anchor head to the forward portion, a release yoke pivotally attached to the lifting body .Iadd.for movement between locked and release positions .Iaddend.and including a cam .[.roller for urging.]. .Iadd.effective during movement of the release yoke to its release position to cause .Iaddend.the latch yoke to pivot to a release portion, and a lifting bail pivotally attached to the forward portion. The .[.lifting body.]. .Iadd.release yoke .Iaddend.includes a safety pin block extending .[.upwardly.]. from a rearward portion thereof adjacent .[.to.]. the rearward end of the latch yoke.