Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PORTABLE CUTTING LINE
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0001] This application is a nonprovisional application which claims priority
from U.S.
provisional application number 63/136,949, filed January 13, 2021, which is
incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
Technical Field/Field of the Disclosure
[0002] The present disclosure is directed to a portable cutting line.
Background of the Disclosure
[0003] Many structures are built using concrete, including, for instance,
buildings, parking
structures, apaiiments, condominiums, hotels, mixed-use buildings, casinos,
hospitals, medical
buildings, government buildings, research/academic institutions, industrial
buildings, malls,
bridges, pavement, tanks, reservoirs, silos, foundations, sports courts, and
other structures.
[0004] Pre-stressed concrete is structural concrete in which internal stresses
are introduced to
reduce potential tensile stresses in the concrete resulting from applied
loads. This can be
accomplished by two methods¨pre-tensioned pre-stressing and post-tensioned pre-
stressing.
When post-tensioning concrete, the pre-stressing assembly is tensioned after
the concrete has
cured to a specified strength. The pre-stressing assembly, commonly known as a
tendon, may
include for example and without limitation, anchorages, one or more strands,
and sheaths or
ducts surrounding the strand(s). A strand may be tensioned between a pair of
anchors, which
are embedded in the concrete. The strand may be formed from a metal or
composite or any
suitable material exhibiting tensile strength, including, for example and
without limitation,
reinforcing steel, single wire cable, or multi-wire cable. The strand is
typically fixedly coupled
to a fixed anchorage positioned at one end of the tendon, the so-called "fixed
end", and is
adapted to be stressed at the other anchor, the "stressing end" of the tendon.
The strand is
generally retained in each anchor by one or more wedges that engage a tapered
recess in the
anchor body so that when the strand is placed under tension, the wedges engage
the strand more
tightly.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-11
[0005] One end of the strand extends through the stressing end anchor
and out of the concrete
body in which the anchor is embedded. In some cases, a pocket former is placed
around the
strand before the concrete is poured, which results in a pocket in the cured
concrete. In these
cases, the end of the strand extends through and outwardly from the pocket.
Once the concrete
has cured, a tensile force can be applied to the extending strand end, causing
an elongation of
the strand. Releasing the tensile force causes the strand to be more tightly
gripped by the
wedges, thereby maintaining its elongated stress, which is transferred to the
concrete via the
anchors. The portion of the strand that extends out of the stressing anchor is
typically removed.
Summary
[0006] The present disclosure provides for a portable cutting line. The
portable cutting line
may include a frame and a lazy susan. The portable cutting line may also
include a cutting line
main table, the cutting line main table operatively connected to the lazy
susan and one or more
tubs, the tubs operatively connected to the cutting line main table. The lazy
susan, the cutting
line main table, and the one or more tubs may be positioned within the frame
when in transport
position.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed
description when
read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with
the standard
practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact,
the dimensions of the
various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of
discussion.
[0008] FIG. 1 is an is an isometric drawing of a portable cutting line
consistent with at least
some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. lA is a schematic of a catapuller consistent with at least some
embodiments of
the present disclosure.
[00010] FIG. 2 is an overhead view of a portable cutting line consistent with
at least some
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00011] FIG. 3 is a side view of a portable cutting line with sides flipped up
consistent with at
least some embodiments of the present disclosure.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-11
[00012] FIG. 4 is an overhead cutaway view of the portable cutting line
consistent with at least
some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00013] FIG. 5 is side cutaway view of the portable cutting line consistent
with at least some
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00014] FIG. 6 is an isometric drawing of a portable cutting line consistent
with at least some
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00015] FIG. 7 is an overhead view of a portable cutting line consistent with
at least some
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00016] FIG. 8 is a side view of a portable cutting line with sides flipped up
consistent with at
least some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00017] FIGs. 8A ¨ 8C are schematic views of portions of the portable cutting
line consistent
with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.
Detailed Description
[00018] It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many
different
.. embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various
embodiments.
Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to
simplify the present
disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be
limiting. In
addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters
in the various
examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and
does not in itself dictate
.. a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations
discussed.
[00019] In preparing a strand for post-tensioning, a mill may supply a spool
of cable. The cable
may be single or multi-strand. For example, the mill may extrude the cable,
apply grease, and
sheathing, and coil. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are
directed to a portable
cutting line for forming a strand from the spool supplied by the mill. FIG. 1
depicts portable
.. cutting line 100. Portable cutting line 100 includes lazy susan 110,
cutting line main table 130,
and at least one tub 140. Lazy susan 110 includes turntable 112 and may
include retaining arms
114. Lazy susan 110 is adapted to receive the spool of cable. Lazy susan 110
may be driven or
not driven. When driven, lazy susan 110 may include driving mechanism 116 such
as a motor
to turn lazy susan 110 and thereby unspool the cable for use in cutting line
main table 130.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-11
When not driven, lazy susan 110 may turn and unspool the cable as the cable is
pulled by cutting
line main table 130.
[00020] Lazy susan 110 is operatively connected to cutting line main table
130. Cutting line
main table 130 is adapted to receive the cable from lazy susan 110 and shear
the cable to form
a strand. In certain embodiments, cutting line main table 130 includes
catapuller 132 and shear
134.
[00021] Catapuller 132 may be any mechanism adapted to pull the cable from
lazy susan 110
and feed the cable to shear 134. As shown in FIG. 1A, catapuller 132 may
include catapuller
bodies 1020. Catapuller bodies 1020 are separated by gap 1040, through which
the cable may
be pulled by catapuller 132. Each catapuller body 1020 includes drive
mechanism 1060, which,
as shown in FIG. 2, may be a drive wheel, and retaining wheel 1080. Loop 1100
is positioned
around drive mechanism 1060 and retaining wheel 1080. Loop 1100 may be, for
example, a
belt or chain. As drive mechanism 1060 rotates, loop 1100 is pulled through
gap 1040, causing
the cable to be pulled through catapuller 132.
[00022] Shear 134 may include at least one sharp edge for cutting or shearing
the cable to form
the strand. In certain embodiments, shear 134 may include a rotating blade and
a fixed blade.
Shear 134 may be operated manually, electrically, pneumatically, or
hydraulically, for example.
[00023] In certain embodiments, cutting line main table 130 may include roller
box 131. Roller
box 131 may align the cable upstream of catapuller 132.
[00024] Cutting line main table 130 may include line counter 135. Line counter
135 may
measure the length of the cable as pulled through catapuller 132. In addition,
in certain
embodiments, cutting line main table 130 may include tub selector 136, such as
when portable
cutting line 100 includes more than one tub 140. Tub selector 136 determines
which of the
plurality of tubs 140 the strand is transferred.
[00025] Portable cutting line 100 may include one or more tubs 140. One or
more tubs 140 are
operatively connected to and adapted to receive the strand from cutting line
main table 130 and
spool the strand. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 1, tubs 140
include tub base
142 and strand receiving area 144. Tub base 142 may rotate so as to spool
strands received from
cutting line main table 130. Rotation of tub base 142 may be driven, i.e.,
turned manually,
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-11
electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. Strand receiving area 144 may
include one or more
sides 146 to hold the strand spool in place.
[00026] Portable cutting line 100 may also include power source 120. Power
source 120 may
provide power to, and be operatively connected to, lazy susan 110, cutting
line main table 130,
tubs 140, and, in certain embodiments, seater station 150. Power source 120
may supply
electrical power, air for pneumatic power, or hydraulic power. In certain
embodiments, power
source 120 is a generator for providing electrical power.
[00027] In certain embodiments, portable cutting line 100 may include seater
station 150.
Seater station 150 may be used to fasten an anchor to one end of the strand.
In other
.. embodiments, seater station 150 is not included in portable cutting line
100.
[00028] In certain embodiments, portable cutting line 100 may include a
transport position, as
shown in FIGs. 6- 8, and an operation position, as shown in FIGs. 1-5. In the
transport position,
portable cutting line 100 may be positioned within frame 160. In certain
embodiments, frame
160 may be a shipping container. In the transport position, all elements of
portable cutting line
100 may be positioned within frame 160.
[00029] In the operation position, elements of portable cutting line 100 are
moved outside of
frame 160. In some embodiments, lazy susan 110 may be moved along the long
axis of frame
160 to increase the distance between cutting line main table 130 and lazy
susan 110, as shown
in FIGs. 1 ¨ 5. As shown in FIGs. 2 and 4, power source 120 may swing to be
outside side 162
of frame 160 defined by the long axis of frame 160, so as to remove power
source 120 from the
path of the cable between lazy susan 110 and cutting line main table 130. As
further show in
FIGs. 2 and 4, tubs 140 may swing to be partially or completely outside sides
162 and 164 (also
defined by the long axis of frame 160). In certain embodiments, as shown in
FIG. 4, seater
station 150 may be moved along the long axis of frame 160 to increase the
distance between
seater station 150 and one or more tubs 140.
[00030] FIGs. 1 and 4 depict an embodiment for the operation position of
portable cutting line
100. In this embodiment, portable cutting line 100 includes extension 170
positioned at least
partially within frame 160. Extension 170 may include center rail 171. Lazy
susan rail 172 may
be mechanically connected to lazy susan 110 and may extend from center rail
171, thereby
moving lazy susan 110 from the transport position to the operation position.
Extension 170 may
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-11
also include generator rotator arm 174 rotatably attached to center rail 171
and mechanically
connected to power source 120. By rotating generator rotator arm 174 relative
to center rail
171, power source 120 may be swung into the operation position. Further,
extension 170 may
include one or more tub rotator arms 176 rotatably attached to center rail 171
and mechanically
connected to tubs 140. By rotating rotator arm 176, tub 140 may be swung into
the operation
position. In certain embodiments, extension 170 may include seater station
rail 178. Seater
station rail 178 may extend from center rail 171 or be rotatably connected to
center rail 171, for
example and mechanically connected to seater station 150. By extending or
rotating seater
station rail 178, seater station 150 may be moved into the operation position.
[00031] In certain embodiments, such as when frame 160 is a shipping
container, ends 180 of
frame 160 may be removable, or as shown in FIG. 2, be adapted to swing on
hinge 182 to expose
an interior of frame 160 and allow lazy susan 110 and seater station 150 to
move to the operation
position. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, sides 190 of frame 160 may be removable
or may flip up
to expose the interior of frame 160 and to allow tubs 140 and power source 120
to be swung
into the operation position.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-01-11
