METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING A CONCRETE TOWER
The present invention broadly comprises a method and apparatus for constructing a concrete lower. In one embodiment, a tower construction apparatus includes an alignment jig and a pre-cast concrete element located on the alignment jig.
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This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Application No. 62/168,203, filed May 29, 2015, the entire content of which is incorporated into the present application by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a method and apparatus for constructing a concrete tower. In particular, the invention relates to constructing a concrete tower using pre-cast concrete components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional methods and apparatuses for constructing a tower with pre-cast components can be labor intensive. Accordingly, a need for a more efficient method and apparatus has been developed by the present inventors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention broadly comprises a method and apparatus for constructing a concrete tower. In one embodiment a tower construction apparatus includes an alignment jig and a pre-cast concrete element located on the alignment jig.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference is presently made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are illustrated in or represented by the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the present subject matter, not limitation of the present subject matter. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present subject matter without departing from the scope or spirit of the present subject matter. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present subject matter covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the disclosure and equivalents thereof.
As shown in
In another embodiment, a post-tensioning strand 22 is inserted into one of apertures 39A and ted through the aperture until it reaches the foundation level. An elbow passageway 24 in the foundation 20 (shown in
Transition ring 39 may also include a plurality of post tensioning nods 39B. These rods 39B extend through passages in transition ring 39 and a bottom flange of metal portion 40, and are capped off just above the flange of metal portion 40 and just below the surface of transition ring 39. This fixes the metal portion 40 to the concrete portion 30.
In another embodiment, each section is made of two elements that are transported from the factory separately and then assembled at the worksite. This embodiment is shown in
In another embodiment, the elements in a section may be joined with a grout joint as shown in
The present written description uses examples to disclose the present subject matter, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated and/or associated methods. While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rattier than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Claims
1. A tower construction apparatus comprising:
- an alignment jig; and
- a pre-cast concrete clement located on the alignment jig.
2. The tower construction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alignment jig includes a plurality of pegs each projecting upward from a top surface of the alignment jig, the pre-cast concrete element includes a plurality of openings, and the pre-cast concrete element is located on the alignment jig such that each of the plurality of pegs extends into one of the plurality of openings.
3. The tower construction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a second pre-cast concrete element located on the alignment jig.
4. The tower construction apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a first end of the pre-cast concrete element is adjacent a first end of the second pre-cast concrete element, and a second end of the pre-cast concrete element is adjacent a second end of the second pre-cast concrete element.
5. The tower construction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a first rebar extends from the first end of the pre-cast concrete element and a second rebar extends front the first end of the second pre-cast concrete element.
6. The tower construction apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
- a caulked joint located between the first end of the pre-cast concrete element and the first end of the second pre-cast concrete element along one side of the first rebar and the second rebar;
- a plate extending between the first end of the pre-cast concrete element and the first end of the second pre-cast concrete element along an opposite side of the first rebar and the second rebar; and
- a grout joint surrounding the first rebar and the second rebar and extending between the caulked joint and the plate.
7. The tower construction apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
- a waterproof adhesive located between the second end of the pre-cast concrete element and the second end of the second pre-cast concrete element.
8. The tower construction apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
- third and fourth pre-cast concrete elements located on the pre-cast concrete element and the second pre-cast concrete element; and
- rods extending vertically to connect the third and fourth pre-cast concrete elements to the pre-cast concrete element and the second pre-cast concrete element.
9. A method comprising:
- providing a foundation;
- providing an alignment jig;
- assembling a first and a second pre-cast concrete element together on the alignment jig to create a tower section; and
- transferring the tower section onto the foundation.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the alignment jig includes a plurality of pegs each projecting upward from a top surface of the alignment jig and each of the first and second pre-cast concrete elements include a plurality of openings, and the method further comprises:
- placing the first pre-cast concrete element on the alignment jig such that at least one of the plurality of pegs extends into at least one of the plurality of openings in the first pre-cast concrete element; and
- placing the second pre-cast concrete element on the alignment jig such that at least one of the plurality of pegs extends into at least one of the plurality of openings in the second pre-cast concrete element.
11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
- placing the first and second pre-cast concrete elements on the alignment jig such that a first end of the first pre-cast concrete element is adjacent a first end of the second pre-cast concrete element, and a second end of the first pre-cast concrete element is adjacent a second end of the second pre-cast concrete element.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a first rebar extends from the first end of the. first pre-cast concrete element and a second rebar extends from the first end of the second pre-cast concrete element.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:
- providing a caulked joint between the first end of the first pre-cast concrete element and the first end of the second pre-cast concrete element along one side of the first rebar and the second rebar;
- providing a plate extending between the first end of the first pre-cast concrete element and the first end of the second pre-cast concrete element along an opposite side of the first rebar and the second rebar; and
- providing a grout joint surrounding the first rebar and the second rebar and extending between the caulked joint and the plate.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:
- providing a waterproof adhesive located between the second end of the first pre-cast concrete element and the second end of the second pre-cast concrete element.
Type: Application
Filed: May 31, 2016
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2016
Applicant: Tindall Corporation (Spartanburg, SC)
Inventors: Bryant A. ZAVITZ (Dunwoody, GA), Kevin KIRKLEY (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 15/168,284