Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WC~ 9~/04~04 Pcr/U~91/05942
ADJUSTABLE PROTECTING SLEEVE AND
FASTENER THEREFOR
Back~round of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device, and a method used to form the
device, for protecting pilin~s from deterioration. Pilings used in offshore and even on shore
structures such as piers and causeways require external protection in the tidal and splash zones
as well as a distance below the low tide level. The purpose of the external protection is to
prevent damage to the piles resulting from corrosion, decay and marine life which adheres to
the surface of the piles. Piles exposed to the atmosphere or which are buried in the ground
require similar protection. The piles may be metal, wood or concrete and may be of various
configurations such as circular, rectangular, hexagonal or "I" and "H" sections.Protection is commonly provided to a pile by wrapping sheeting around the pile in the
area to be protected. The sheeting usually takes the form of a metal or plastic sleeve which
may include a waterproof or antioxidant gel-like substance. One such commercially available
device is the RETROWRAP Wraparound Pile Encapsulation System manufactured for
M.I.C.C. Limited in Cirencester, United Kingdom and which is described in Strange, et al.
PCT pa~ent application No. PCT/GB87/00127 filed February 20, 19~7.
While prior pile protection devices have been used successfully, these devices have had
two major points of weakness. First, prior devices have had rods secured to the ends of tlhe
sleeve by folding the end of the s!eeve over the rod and sealing the adjacent sleeve material
to the overlying sleeve material. This seal, which secures the rod to the sleeve, is subject to
failure during long terrn operation. Second, due to the method in which the rods have been
connected to the ends of the sleeves, each sleeve must be tailor made for each application as
the width of the sleeve cannot be varied to accommodate various different sizes of piles.
lt has therefore been found desirable to provide a sleeve in which the ends of the
flexible sheet are securely connected to the rods while allowing the point of attachment of the
rods to the sheet to be easily varied such that various widths of the sleeve may be provided
as desired from a single size of sheet material.
The present invention also relates to a fastener for securing protective sleeves around
elongate memoers such as piles. Applicadon Nos. 576.075, filed o~ Augusl 1, l990,
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650,229 filed on Februarv d" 1991 both assigned tO T C Manufacturing Co., ~nc.. the
assignee of the present invention. This protective sleeve is used by forming a sleeve end at
each end of the protective sleeve. Each sleeve end is formed by wrapping the sleeve between
two rods such that the sleeve becomes secured therebetween. Each sleeve end is then drawn
toward one another such that the sleeve is tightly wrapped around the pile with the use of a
plurality of cable ties which extend around each sleeve end and through apertures within the
sleeve.
The use of cable ties to connect sleeve ends together gives a very adequate connection
but does have some disadvantages. For example, temporary clamps are often required to hold
the sleeve ends in position while the cable ties can be inserted through the apertures and
around the sleeve ends and the apertures may lead to some leakage. The amount of hoop
tension which the cable ties can provide in the sleeve is also limited thereby limiting the
de~ree of tightness with which the protective sleeve fits around the pile.
Summarv of the Invention
The present invention provides a sleeve which is adapted to be securely wrapped
around an elongate member such as a pile. The sleeve includes a generally rectangular pliable
sheet, which may be multi-layered laminate~ having a first end and a second end. A first rod
and a second rod grippingly engage the first end of the sheet to form a first sleeve end and
a third rod and a fourth rod grippingly engage the second end of the sheet to form a second
sleeve end. The sleeve is wrapped around the elongate member whereupon the first and
second sleeve ends and their respective rods are securely ~astened to one another and are
drawn together such that the sleeve is tightly wrapped around the elongate member.
The connection between the sheet material and the rods is made by initially placing the
first rod against the sheet spaced from and parallel to the edge of the sheet. The end of the
sheet is then folded over the first rod and the second rod is placed adjacent the first rod. The
first rod is then rotated about the second rod so that the second rod is wrapped with two
layers of the sheet. The second rod is then rotated about the first rod so that the first rod is
wrapped with three layers of the sheet material. This interweaving and wrapping of th sheet
material about the two rods creates a strong non-slip comlection between the two rods and the
sheet material. A plurality of apertures are then punched into the sheet material at each end
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of the sheet. The apertures provide an opening for the insertion of the strap of a cable tie.
so that the cable tie may be securely wrapped around each sleeve end and its respective rods
to draw the sleeve ends together.
The present invention also provides a tastener which is adapted to receive and securely
retain the sleeve ends of a protective sleeve which has been wrapped around an elongate
member such as a pile. The fastener includes a first clip and a second clip, each clip
including a chamber having an entryway. Each sleeve end may be respectively inserted and
withdrawn through the entryway in each clip. The first clip includes a cylindrical bore
through which a threaded bolt extends. The second clip includes a threaded bore which is
threadably engaged to the bolt. Upon the proper rotation of the bolt, the second clip will be
drawn towards or away frorn the first clip by the threads of the bolt to respectively tighten
or loosen the sleeve around the elongate member.
The entryway and chamber of each clip is adapted to allow the insertion and removal
of a sleeve end while preventing the removal of the sleeve end through the application of a
tensile force on the sleeve. The fastener eliminates the need for providing apertures in the
sleeve for the insertion of cable ties and eliminates the need for any temporary clamps to hold
the sleeve in position. The bolt may be tensioned such that the clips are drawn together to
provide a large hoop stress in the protective sleeve to tightly draw the protective sleeve around
the elongate member. The fastener also allows the sleeve ends to be initially positioned a
specified distance apart from one another and then drawn together by the fastener until the
second clip abuts the first clip whereupon no further tension may be applied to the protective
sleeve, thereby preventing over stressing of the sleeve.
The pliable sheet material, wbich may be a laminate, may be of one standard sizepermitting the sleeve to be made in various widths, from a maximum width to any smaller
width. The width of the sleeve is adjusted by varying the initial positions at which the first
rods are placed against the sheet material and this positioning may also provide for an end
tongue to seal the gap between the sheet ends. The farther the first rods are placed from the
ends of the sheet, the smaller the width of the resulting sleeve will be. Thus a sleeve of any
desired width may be fabricated from a sheet material having a standard width.
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The sheet bottom is designed to overlap the sheet below to provide a seal between
sheets. A method for making the laminated sheets by joining through thistle patches improves
manufacture and installation.
Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows a sl eve of the present invention having ends formed by the method
of the present invention wrapped around an elongate member shown in phantom.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the sleeve shown in an extended position.Figure 3 is a partial perspective view showing the initial placement of the rods at one
end of the sheet material.
Figure 4 is a partial end view of one end of the sheet showing the initial placement of
the rods.
Figure 5 is a partial end view of one end of the sheet showing the first rod rotated
about the second rod.
Figure 6 is a partial end view of the sleeve showing the second rod of each sleeve end
rotated about the first rod, and the two sleeve ends secured together with a cable tie with a
sealing tongue therebetween.
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating an alternate tongue embodiment
made from a folded under portion of the sheet.
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing an upper sheet overlapped on a lower
sheet to provide a seal between she ts.
Figure 9 is a view talcen substantially along the lines 9-9 of Figure 8.
- Figure 10 is an end view showing the various sections in a laminated sheet with thistle
patches used for joining.
Figure 11 is a view taken substantially along the line 11-11 of Figure 10.
Figure 12 shows a sleeve having a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end wrapped
around an elongate member shown in phantom and held by f~steners.
Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the fastener.
. Figure 14 is a top elevational view of th2 fastener taken along lines 14-14 of Figure
. 13.
Figure 15 is an elevational vi~w of the bolt.
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Figure 16 shows the fastener in use in connec~ion with a protective sleeve having a
separate tongue.
Figure 17 shows the fastener in use in connection with a protective sleeve having an
integral tongue.
Descript on of the Preferred Embodiment
A sleeve 10 is shown in Figure I securely wrapped around an elongate member 12
which is shown in phantom. The elongate member 12 may be a pile, leg, column, strut or
any other member for which protection is desired. The elongate member 12 shown in Figure
I is circular, however the sleeve 10 may be used with elongate members having other cross
sectional shapes.
The sleeve 10 includes a pliable sheet material 14 which may be of any suitable textile
or plastic material or a combination of the two and may be a laminate of the same including
layers of material impregnated with water proof, antioxidant or germicidal substances. The
sheet 14 extends between an upper edge 16, a lower edge 18, a first edge 20 and a second
edge 2 As shown in Figure 3, a first sleeve end 24 of the sleeve 10 includes a first rod 34
and a second rod 38 which securely grip the sheet material 14 therebetween. A second sleeve
end 26 of the sleeve 10 includes a first rod 34' and a second rod 38' which securely grip the
sheet material 14 therebetween. The sleeve eDds 24 and 26 are connected to one another by
cable ties 28. The sleeve ends 24 and 26 are placed over a tongue 30 which is placed
adjacent the elongate member 12 so as to seal the gap 32 between the sleeve ends 24 and 26.
The first sleeve end 24 is formed by placing the first rod 34 against ~he sheet material
14 parallel to and spaced a distance as desired from the first edge 20. The first rod 34
extends between the upper edge 16 and the lower edge 18 of the sheet 14. The first edge 20
and an end portion 36 of the sheet material which extends past the first rod 34 is wrapped
around and folded over the first rod 34 as best shown in Figures 3 and 4. The second rod
38 is then placed against the folded over end portion 36 parallel and adjacent the first rod 34
as best shown in Figures 3 and 4. The second rod 38 extends substantially the same length
as the first rod 34. The rods 34 and 38 are preferably cylindrical. however they may also be
of various other shapes. It is also preferred that the second rod 38 be of a smaller diameter
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th~n ~he first rod 34. As can be see~ in Figllres 3 and 4, while the second rod 38 is adjacent
the first rod 34 they are separated by the folded over end portion 36 of the sheet material 14.
After the second rod 38 is in posihon. the first rod 34 is then rotatesi about the second
rod 38 to a position as shown in Figure S wherein two plies of the sheet material 14 are
wrapped around the second rod 38. The second rod 38 is then rotated about the first rod 34
to a position as shown in Figure 6 wherein the first rod 34 is wrapped by three plies of the
sheet material 14 thereby forrning the first sleeve end 24. The second sleeve end 26 of the
sleeve 10 is formed in substantially the same manner as the first sleeve end 24 was forrned,
by using a first rod 34' and a second rod 38'. Additional wraps of the material 14 around the
respective rods 34 and 38, and 34' and 38', may be made but are not necessary.
Once the sleeve ends 24 and 26 have been formed, the sheet material 14 may be
perforated to form a plurality of apertures 40 which are adjacent to and along the first sleeve
end 24 and located to the interior of the sleeve end 24. A plurality of apertures 42 are also
formed adjacent to and along the second sleeve end 26 to the interior of the second sleeve end
26 as shown in Figure 2.
Once the sleeve ends 24 and 26 are formed, the sleeve 10 will have a specific width
between the ends 24 and 26. While using the same size of sheet material 14, various other
widths of the sleeve 10 may be formed by var~ing the initial placement of the first rods 34
and 34' against the material 14. For example, by locating one or both of the first rods 34 and
34' to positions which are closer to the center of the sheet material 14, a sleeve 10 will be
produced which has a width which becomes progressively narrower as the location of the first
rods 34 and 34' are moved closer to the center of the sheet material 14. On the other hand,
as the initial placement of the rods 34 and 34' against the sheet material 14 are located
progressively further from the center of the sheet material 14, the wid~h of the sleeve 10 will
become progressively wider. While a specific size of the sheet material 14 will have a
maximum width between the sleeve ends 24 and 26, any narrower width of sleeve 10 may be
produced by the appropriate placement of the first rods 34 and 34' prior to the forrning of the
sleeve ends 24 and 26.
In operation, the sleeve ends 24 and 26 are formed to produce a sleeve 10 having a
desired width, which when wrapped around the elongate member 12 will leave a small gap
32 between the sleeve ends 24 and 26. A tongue 30, which may be made of the same
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material as the sheet 14, is initially placed aga~s~ ate member 12 in a venical
position where the gap 32 will be located. Additional tongue members (not shown) may be
circumferentially wrapped around the elongate member 12 at positions where the upper edge
16 and the lower edge 18 oF the sleeve 10 will be located on the member 12. The sleeve 10
is then wrapped around the elongate member 12 such that both sleeve ends 24 and 26 and the
apertures 40 and 42 are located on the tongue 30. A plurality of cable ties 44 each having
a stem 46 are used to connect the first sleeve end 24 to the second sleeve end 26. The stem
46 of each cable tie 44 is inserted through an aperture 42 and is then inserted through a
corresponding aperture 40. The cable ties 44 are then fastened such that the sleeve end 24,
the sleeve end 26 and their respective rods 34, 34', 38 and 38' are fastened together within
the cable ties aA. The cable ties 44 rnay then be tightened as desired to properly tension the
sleeve 10. The cables ties 44 are spaced along the height of the sleeve 10 at a spacing which
will insure a strong and secure watertight fit. The cable ties 44 prevent the sleeve ends 24
and 26 from rotating and thereby prevent the sleeve 10 from loosening around the elongate
member 12 and lock it in place. The tongue 30 prevents water from contacting the elongate
member 12 through the gap 32 or through the apertures 40 and 42.
In Figure 7 there is shown an alternate tongue construction 48 wherein the second
sleeve end 26 has rods 34' and 38' additionally spaced from the end 50 of the sheet 14 to
provide a flap or tongue 52 which is ~olded under the ends 24-26 as at 54 and extends across
and closes the gap 32. The unitary tongue construction eliminates the need for the separate
tongue 30 shown in Figure 1.
In installing the unitary tongue 52 it may be desirable to put adhesive at 56 tohold the tongue 52 in place until the cable ties 44 are tightened.
In those situations where the elongate member or piling 12 and the like is longer than
the width of the sheet 14, it may be desirable or necessary to apply two sle~ves 10 to cover
the member. In such instances, it is necessarS~ to provide a watertight joinder between the
sleeves. Refernng now to Fig. 8, there is shown a construction for providing such a
watertight connection. As shown, the upper sleeve 10 overlaps the lower sleeve lOa. This
construction is provided by removing the upper ends of the rods 34, 34'. 38, 38', in sleeve
lOa and overlapping the lower portion 58 of the upper sleeve 10 over the top of the sleeve
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lOa. The rod connectors 34, 34', 38, 38' and the cable tie 28 are then tightened to provide
a watertight seal between the sleeve 10 and the sleeve lOa.
As mentioned earlier, the sleeve 14 may be a laminate of several materials.
As shown in Fig. 10, the laminate may include a tough outer jacket 60 which is a synthetic
waterproof material, an inner layer of high tensile material 62, a multi-layer jacket material
o4 which provides strength and cushioning, an inner mat 68 which provides additional
cushioning and a layer 70 of specially formulated corrosion inhibiting material. The inner mat
68 and the corrosion inhibiting material 70 can include such things as gels which may contain
fungicides and the like, thixatropic material or oils and greases as may be desirable for
protecting the piling and the like. Conventionally a laver of adhesive, as at 72, has been
provided between the layers 62 and 64 to hold them together. Such a layer of adhesive
material 72 has been of a conventional type and sometimes does not work well with some
types of substances. Thus, a problem arose if the upper layers o8 and 70 are impregnated
with a material that makes adhesion difficult. This has required the preparation of the
laminate and then the application of the gel or other such material which has caused problems
in manufacture. This need for an adhesive layer 72 has been eliminated by the use of thistle
fasteners 74 which are attached to the multi-layer jacket material 64 or for that matter to any
of the other laminate layers 60 or 62. The inner mat 68 and the corrosion inhibiting material
70 can easily be joined to the inner laminate 64 by the thistle fasteners 74 since they grab hold
of the inner mat 68 with sufficient strength to hold that portion of the laminate in place until
the sleeve is applied to the elongated member or piling 12 and tightened in place by cable ties
28. Such a construction makes all the laminate sheets 14 much easier to make and eliminates
the step of applying the corrosion inhibiting material or gel after the laminate has been
constructed.
A plurality of fasteners 11 are shown in Figure 12. The fasteners 11 are shown
securing a sleeve 13 around an elongate member lS shown in phantom. The sleeve 13
includes a pliable sheet material 17 which may be of any suitable textile or plastic material
or a combination of the two. The sheet 17 extends between an upper edge 19, a Ivwer edge
21, a first edge 23 and a second edge 25. As shown in Figures 12 and 16, a first sleeve end
27 of the sleeve 13 includes a first rod 29A and a second rod 31A which securely grips the
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sheet 17 therebetween. A second sleeve end 33 of the sleeve 13 includes a first rod 29B and
a second rod 31B which securely grips the sheet material 17 therebetween.
As shown in Figures 12 and 16, the sleeve ends 27 and 33 are located over a tongue
35 which is placed adjacent the elongate member 15 so as to seal the gap 37 between the
sleeve ends 27 and 33. As shown in Figure 17, a tongue 38 for sealing the gap 37 between
the sleeve ends 27 and 33 may be formed from a portion of the sheet material 17 which
extends beyond one of the sleeve ends 27 or 33.
The fastener 11 as best shown in Figures 13-15, includes a first clip 41, a second clip
43 and a bolt 45. Each clip 41 and 43 includes a front wall 47 and a rear wall 49 which is
spaced apart from the ~ront wall ~7. Each clip 41 and 43 also includes a base 51, an inner
wall 53 and an outer wall 55 which ex~end between the front wall 47 and the rear wall 49.
A cylindrical bore 57 extends through the first clip 41 from the outer wall 55 to the inner wall
53. A threaded cylindrical bore 59 extends through the second clip 43 from the inner wall
53 to the outer wall 55. The first clip 41, the second clip 43 and the bolt 45 may all be made
of valious metals such as sta~nless steel or from various types of plastics. However, a non-
corrosive material is preferred.
Each clip 41 and 43 additionally includes a chamber 61 which extends through thefront wall 47 and the rear wall 49. Each chamber 61 is defined by a first wall portion 63
which is substantially planar, a second wall portion 65 which generally conforms to a portion
of a cylinder, a third wall portion 67 which is substantially planar, and a fourth wall portion
69 which generally conforms to a portion of a cylinder. Each of the wall portions 63-69
extend from the front wall surface 47 to the rear wall surface 49. The first wall portion 63
and the inner wall 53 forrn a finger 71 having a tip 73. The four~h wall portion 69 and the
outer wall 55 form a finger 75 having a tip 77. As best shown in Figure 13, the third wall
` ~ portion 67 is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis 79 which extends through the center
of each bore 57 and 59. The first wall portion 63 of each chamber 61 is also disposed at an
angle to the longitudinal axis 79 which angle is larger than the angle formed by the third wall
portion 67. Each chamber 61 also includes an entryway 81 which is located between ~he tip
73 of the finger 71 and the tip 77 of the finger 75.
The bolt 45, best shown in Figure 15, includes an hexagonal head 83 and a shaft 85.
The shaft 85 includes a first smooth cylindlical portion 87 located adjacent to the head 83,
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a threaded portion ~9 and a second smooth cylindrical portion 91 which is slightly smaller in
diamcter than the threaded portion 89 and the first cylindrical portion 87. The cylindrical
bore 57 of the first clip 41 is sized so that the shaft 85 of the bolt 45 will slide longitudinally
through the bore 57 in close engagement therewith. The threaded bore 59 of the second clip
43 is adapted to threadablv engage the threaded portion 89 of the bolt 45. The second
cylindrical portion 91 of the bolt 45 allows the shaft 85 to be partially inserted longitudinally
into the threaded bore 59 of the second clip 43 provide an initial alignment of the threaded
bore 59 with the threaded portion 89. The threaded portion 89 may then be rotated to engage
the threaded bore 59.
In operation, the second rod 31A of the first sleeve end 27 will be inserted into the
chamber 61 of the first clip 41 through the entryway 81. The second rod 3 lA will be inserted
into the chamber 61 until the sheet matenal 17 engages the second wall portion 65 of the
chamber 61. As the second rod 31A is being moved toward the second wall por~ion 65, the
first rod 29A will be pushed towards the third wall portion 67 and the fourth wall portion 69
of the chamber 61. A similar operation is used for inserting the second sleeve end 33 into
the chamber 61 of the second clip 43. The chamber 61 should be sized so that the sleeve ends
27 or 33 will substantially fill the chamber 61 up~n their insertion. as shown in Figures 16
and 17. While the first rod 29A is shown as being larger in diameter than the second rod
31A. rods of the same size or a second rod 31A of larger diameter than the first rod 29A can
be used with the fastener 11. Various different sizes of chambers 61 may be used as desired
with each clip 41 and 43 to accommodate different sizes of sleeve ends 27 and 33. When a
sleeve end 27 or 33 has been inserted into a chamber 61, the finger 71 will preferably extend
a distance from the second wall portion 65 which is approximately equal to one-half the
distance between the wall portion 65 and the tip 77 of the finger 75. The finger 75 will also
preferably extend around the first rod 28 such that the tip 73 will extend past a line which
extends through the center 93 of the first rod 28 and the center 95 of the second rod 30.
`~ When the sleeve ends 27 and 33 have been inserted into the chambers 61 of the clips
41 and 43 as shown in Figures 16 and 17 the chambers 61 will prevent the sleeve ends 27 and
33 from rotating and will prevent the sleeve ends 27 and 33 from being removed from the
chambers 61 by the application of a tensile force being applied to the sheet material 17. The
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sleeve ends 27 and 33 however mav be removed from the clips 41 and 43 by pushing the first
rod 28 ou~wardly through the entryway 81.
The sleeve ends 27 and 33 may be inserted into their respective chambers 61 while the
clips 41 and 43 are connected ~o the bolt 45, or the sleeves 27 and 33 may be initially inserted
into the chambers 61 of the clips 41 and 43 and then the bolt 45 may be inserted through the
bores 57 and 59 to fasten the clips 41 and 43 together. Once the sleeve ends 27 and 33 have
been inserted into the chambers 61 and the clip 41 is connected to the clip 43 by the bolt 45,
the bolt 45 may be rotated whereby the threaded portion 89 will draw the second clip 43
towards the first clip 41. Alternatively, upon the proper rotation of the bolt 45, the second
clip 43 will be moved away from the first clip 41. The bolt 45 may be used to draw the clips
41 and 43 together to achieve any desired hoop stress within the sheet material 17 which
extends around the elongate member 15. As the clips 41 and 43 are drawn together,
eventually the inner walls 53 of each clip will abut one another whereby the sleeve 13 cannot
be tensioned any further.
` Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in
connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention, however, it must be understood
that these particular arrangements merely illustrate. and that the invention must be given its
fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.
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