Coupler apparatus for use with angled post-tension cables in precast concrete segmental construction

1. A coupler apparatus for use with concrete segments comprising:

a first duct having an end and an exterior surface, said first duct having a longitudinal axis;

a first coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said duct, said first coupler member having an opening at an end thereof, said opening having a central axis extending at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said first duct;

a second duct having an end and an exterior surface, said second duct having a longitudinal axis in alignment of said longitudinal axis of said first duct;

a second coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said second duct, said second coupler member having an opening end thereof, said opening of said second coupler member having a central axis aligned with said central axis of said first coupler member;

a gasket means positioned at said end of said first coupler member and said end of said second coupler member, said gasket means for preventing liquid from passing between said ends of said first and second coupler members into an interior of either of said first and second ducts;

an first seal affixed in generally liquid-tight relationship to an opposite end of said first coupler member and affixed to an exterior surface of said first duct; and

a second seal affixed in generally liquid-tight relationship to an opposite end of said second coupler member and said exterior surface of said second duct, each of said first and second seals being formed of a heat shrink material, said first seal being in compressive contact with an exterior surface of said first coupler member and with said exterior surface of said first duct, said second seal being in compressive contact with an exterior surface of said second coupler member and with said exterior surface of said second duct.

2. The coupler apparatus of claim 1 , said opposite end of said first coupler member having a surface contacting said first duct and a surface spaced from said first duct, said opposite end of said second coupler member having a surface contacting said second duct and an opposite surface spaced from said second duct.

3. A coupler apparatus for use with concrete segments comprising:

a first duct having an end and an exterior surface, said first duct having a longitudinal axis;

a first coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said duct, said first coupler member having an opening at an end thereof, said opening having a central axis extending at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said first duct;

a second duct having an end and an exterior surface, said second duct having a longitudinal axis in alignment of said longitudinal axis of said first duct;

a second coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said second duct, said second coupler member having an opening end thereof, said opening of said second coupler member having a central axis aligned with said central axis of said first coupler member; and

a gasket means positioned at said end of said first coupler member and said end of said second coupler member, said gasket means for preventing liquid from passing between said ends of said first and second coupler members into an interior of either of said first and second ducts, each of said first and second ducts having a circular cross-section, each of said first and second coupler members having an oval cross-section.

4. The coupler apparatus of claim 3 , said end of said first coupler member having a generally V-shaped groove formed around a periphery of said opening thereof, said V-shaped groove having an opening facing said second coupler member, said second coupler member having a generally V-shaped groove formed around a periphery of said opening thereof, said V-shaped groove of said second coupler member having an opening facing said first coupler member, said gasket means received in said V-shaped grooves of said first and second coupler members.

5. The coupler apparatus of claim 4 , said gasket means being an elastomeric ring having a cross-sectional thickness greater than a depth of either of said V-shaped grooves of said first and second coupler members.

6. The coupler apparatus of claim 3 , said first duct and said second duct and said first coupler member and said second coupler member each being formed of a polymeric material.

7. A coupler apparatus for use with concrete segments comprising:

a first duct having an end and an exterior surface, said first duct having a longitudinal axis;

a first coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said duct, said first coupler member having an opening at an end thereof, said opening having a central axis extending at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said first duct;

a second duct having an end and an exterior surface, said second duct having a longitudinal axis in alignment of said longitudinal axis of said first duct;

a second coupler member extending over and around said exterior surface of said second duct, said second coupler member having an opening end thereof, said opening of said second coupler member having a central axis aligned with said central axis of said first coupler member;

a gasket means positioned at said end of said first coupler member and said end of said second coupler member, said gasket means for preventing liquid from passing between said ends of said first and second coupler members into an interior of either of said first and second ducts; and

a horn member fitted onto said first duct and extending outwardly beyond said end of said first duct, said horn member having a funnel-shaped opening positioned adjacent said end of said second duct.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a first concrete segment having an planar outer surface;

a first duct embedded in said first concrete segment and extending therethrough at a non-transverse acute angle with respect to said planar outer surface of said first concrete segment, said first duct having an end spaced from said outer surface of said first concrete segment;

a first coupler member embedded in said first concrete segment and extending over said first duct, said first coupler member having an end opening at said outer surface of said first concrete segment;

a second concrete segment having a planar inner surface;

a second duct embedded in said second concrete segment and extending therethrough at a non-transverse acute angle with respect to said planar inner surface of said second coupler member, said second duct having an end spaced from said inner surface of said second concrete segment;

a second coupler member embedded in said second concrete segment and extending over said second duct, said second coupler member having an end opening at said inner surface of said concrete segment; and

a gasket affixed in generally liquid-tight relationship at said ends of said first and second coupler members, said end of said first coupler member having a generally V-shaped groove extending around a periphery thereof and facing said second coupler member, said second coupler member having a generally V-shaped groove extending around a periphery thereof and facing said first coupler member, said gasket fitted in said V-shaped groove of at least one of said first and second coupler members, said gasket being an elastomeric ring having a cross-sectional thickness greater than a depth of either of the V-shaped grooves of said first and second coupler members.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

an first seal affixed in generally liquid-tight relationship to an opposite end of said first coupler member and affixed to an exterior surface of said first duct.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a second seal affixed in generally liquid-tight relationship to an opposite end of said second coupler member and against an exterior surface of said second duct.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , said end of said first coupler member being generally flush with said planar outer surface of said first concrete segment, said end of said second coupler member being generally flush with said planar inner surface of said second concrete segment.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , each of said first and second ducts having a generally circular cross-section, each of said first and second coupler members having a generally oval cross-section.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a first concrete segment having an planar outer surface;

a first duct embedded in said first concrete segment and extending therethrough at a non-transverse acute angle with respect to said planar outer surface of said first concrete segment, said first duct having an end spaced from said outer surface of said first concrete segment;

a first coupler member embedded in said first concrete segment and extending over said first duct, said first coupler member having an end opening at said outer surface of said first concrete segment;

a second concrete segment having a planar inner surface;

a second duct embedded in said second concrete segment and extending therethrough at a non-transverse acute angle with respect to said planar inner surface of said second coupler member, said second duct having an end spaced from said inner surface of said second concrete segment;

a second coupler member embedded in said second concrete segment and extending over said second duct, said second coupler member having an end opening at said inner surface of said concrete segment; and

a gasket affixed in generally liquid-tight relationship at said ends of said first and second coupler members; and

a horn member fitted onto said first duct and extending outwardly beyond said end of said first duct, said horn member having a funnel-shaped opening positioned adjacent to said end of said second duct.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

a plurality of tendons extending through an interior of said first and second ducts, said gasket positioned so as to prevent liquid from passing between said first and second coupler members into said interior of said first and second ducts.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:

a grout material filling said interior of adjacent first and second ducts around said plurality of tendons therein.