Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lockable double shear dowel connector comprising two guide tubes, two dowels, two sleeves, an open end, and two orifices. The dowels are disposed adjacent to each other and adjacent to a joint between adjacent blocks of building materials. The present disclosure further provides kits and methods for using and installing the connectors disclosed herein.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method is provided to connect precast concrete panels to a structural member. The connector can have a receiving member embedded in a precast concrete panel and can further have an attachment member that selectively interconnects to the receiving member. This attachment member can have a surface that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the precast concrete panel and that receives or supports a structural member such as a floor joist or a second precast concrete panel. The configuration of a protrusion of the attachment member allows for a rapid and secure interconnection with an aperture in the receiving member. A builder can use the connector system described herein to rapidly and securely assemble multiple precast concrete panels to structural members in the construction of, for example, a parking garage or other similar structure.

Abstract: Anchors, clutches, and lifting systems are described herein that increase the size of a shear cone within a precast concrete panel without using multiple clutches and without increasing the complexity of the lift system. A shear cone is the volume within the panel that the anchor and clutch pull on when orienting and positioning the precast concrete panel. Anchors described herein encompass a larger volume of the panel in different ways to produce a larger shear cone. Similarly, the clutches described herein have features that allow a clutch to accommodate the improved anchors. As a result, the anchors, clutches, and lifting systems provide a larger shear cone in the panel to increase the load capacity of the lifting system and reduce the likelihood of failure.

Abstract: A weldment support for holding a weldment plate in a precast concrete form is provided. The weldment support holds the weldment plate at a predetermined position so that the weldment plate is exposed on one side of the finished precast concrete panel. Weldment plates have one or more studs extending into the form to anchor the plate in the precast concrete panel. The weldment support has multiple adjustment features to secure the weldment support to different sizes of studs and to set the weldment plate at different positions within the form. In some embodiments, one adjustment feature is a plurality of deflectable fingers that engage the stud of the weldment plate, and another adjustment feature is a plurality of segments that can be broken off of the support to set the position of the weldment plate in the form.

Abstract: A connector and a method of manufacturing a connector are provided for joining a precast concrete structure and a support structure such as a floor joist. An attachment member of the connector is assembled in a manner that allows forces to be transferred through a protrusion and aperture connection, which reduces the forces transferred through welded joints. As a result, the attachment member requires less welding and saves time and costs when installing the connector. In some embodiments, a support is secured to a horizontal plate which increases the rigidity of the horizontal plate and the ability of the horizontal plate to transfer forces from a support structure to a precast concrete structure.

Abstract: A reinforcement system is provided to strengthen a precast concrete panel with a connector that joins the panel with another structure such as a floor joist or concrete slab. One or more hook bars can be embedded in the panel proximate to the receiving member to distribute forces from the connector to a much larger volume of the panel. To accomplish this distribution, at least one hook bar can be positioned in an anchor volume defined by anchor members of the receiving member, and at least one hook bar can be positioned outside of the anchor volume. The hook bars can be oriented with a main body portion positioned proximate to the receiving member of the connector to resist tension forces caused by a load on the connector, and end portions of the at least one hook bar encompass the larger volume of the panel.

Abstract: A connector and a method of manufacturing a connector are provided for joining a precast concrete structure and a support structure such as a floor joist. An attachment member of the connector is assembled in a manner that allows forces to be transferred through a protrusion and aperture connection, which reduces the forces transferred through welded joints. As a result, the attachment member requires less welding and saves time and costs when installing the connector. In some embodiments, a support is secured to a horizontal plate which increases the rigidity of the horizontal plate and the ability of the horizontal plate to transfer forces from a support structure to a precast concrete structure.

Abstract: Composite precast concrete panels are described herein having have an anchor that distributes forces imposed on the anchor through concrete wythes of the panels. Specifically, pins can be embedded in at least one concrete wythe, and then the anchor is secured to the wythe as described herein. The anchor extends through another Wythe to selectively connect to a hoist system that moves and places the composite precast concrete panel. The forces imposed on the anchor are distributed through the pins and into multiple concrete wythes to prevent failure of the composite precast concrete panels and improve safety.

Abstract: An adjustable brace to support a precast concrete panel in a substantially vertical orientation. The adjustable brace includes a first elongate member selectively secured to a second elongate member. The first elongate member can be interconnected to the second elongate member at a job site without significantly decreasing the maximum load that the second elongate member can support.

Abstract: Anchors, clutches, and lifting systems are described herein that increase the size of a shear cone within a precast concrete panel without using multiple clutches and without increasing the complexity of the lift system. A shear cone is the volume within the panel that the anchor and clutch pull on when orienting and positioning the precast concrete panel. Anchors described herein encompass a larger volume of the panel in different ways to produce a larger shear cone. Similarly, the clutches described herein have features that allow a clutch to accommodate the improved anchors. As a result, the anchors, clutches, and lifting systems provide a larger shear cone in the panel to increase the load capacity of the lifting system and reduce the likelihood of failure.

Abstract: An insert for lifting and leveling a precast concrete slab is provided. The insert includes a sleeve that extends through the concrete slab and has two distinct threaded portions on an inner surface of the sleeve. This configuration allows a lifting bolt to be positioned into an upper end of the sleeve to lift the concrete slab, and a different-sized leveling bolt to be positioned in the sleeve to selectively elevate or raise part of the concrete slab relative to a ground surface.

Abstract: Anchors, clutches, and lifting systems are described herein that increase the size of a shear cone within a precast concrete panel without using multiple clutches and without increasing the complexity of the lift system. A shear cone is the volume within the panel that the anchor and clutch pull on when orienting and positioning the precast concrete panel. Anchors described herein encompass a larger volume of the panel in different ways to produce a larger shear cone. Similarly, the clutches described herein have features that allow a clutch to accommodate the improved anchors. As a result, the anchors, clutches, and lifting systems provide a larger shear cone in the panel to increase the load capacity of the lifting system and reduce the likelihood of failure.

Abstract: A weldment support for holding a weldment plate in a precast concrete form is provided. The weldment support holds the weldment plate at a predetermined position so that the weldment plate is exposed on one side of the finished precast concrete panel. Weldment plates have one or more studs extending into the form to anchor the plate in the precast concrete panel. The weldment support has multiple adjustment features to secure the weldment support to different sizes of studs and to set the weldment plate at different positions within the form. In some embodiments, one adjustment feature is a plurality of deflectable fingers that engage the stud of the weldment plate, and another adjustment feature is a plurality of segments that can be broken off of the support to set the position of the weldment plate in the form.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method is provided to connect precast concrete panels to a structural member. The connector can have a receiving member embedded in a precast concrete panel and can further have an attachment member that selectively interconnects to the receiving member. This attachment member can have a surface that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the precast concrete panel and that receives or supports a structural member such as a floor joist or a second precast concrete panel. The configuration of a protrusion of the attachment member allows for a rapid and secure interconnection with an aperture in the receiving member. A builder can use the connector system described herein to rapidly and securely assemble multiple precast concrete panels to structural members in the construction of, for example, a parking garage or other similar structure.

Abstract: A lifting system is provided that prevents a thermal bridge between concrete layers of a precast concrete structure. In some precast concrete panels, an insulation layer is provided between concrete layers. Lifting systems of the present invention allow lifting forces from a hoisting system to be transferred to the concrete panels without creating a thermal bridge between the concrete layers, and thus, reducing the effectiveness of the insulation layer. In some embodiments, a multi-plate configuration allows a central plate to distribute a lifting force to the concrete layers and then rotate away to prevent a thermal bridge between concrete layers.

Abstract: An insert for lifting and leveling a precast concrete slab is provided. The insert includes a sleeve that extends through the concrete slab and has two distinct threaded portions on an inner surface of the sleeve. This configuration allows a lifting bolt to be positioned into an upper end of the sleeve to lift the concrete slab, and a different-sized leveling bolt to be positioned in the sleeve to selectively elevate or raise part of the concrete slab relative to a ground surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method is provided to connect precast concrete panels to a structural member. The connector can have a receiving member embedded in a precast concrete panel and can further have an attachment member that selectively interconnects to the receiving member. This attachment member can have a surface that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the precast concrete panel and that receives or supports a structural member such as a floor joist or a second precast concrete panel. The configuration of a protrusion of the attachment member allows for a rapid and secure interconnection with an aperture in the receiving member. A builder can use the connector system described herein to rapidly and securely assemble multiple precast concrete panels to structural members in the construction of, for example, a parking garage or other similar structure.