Unitized post tension block system for masonry structures
An improved mortar less masonry structure comprising a plurality of concrete masonry units connected to each other by metal bars and metal threaded fasteners thereby forming a reinforcing skeletal system for a post tensioned structure. The improved system has been developed for use in constructing various types of masonry structures. The improvements of the system feature masonry units with recessed channels, pocket channels, or fully embedded bars as anchors. The bolt acts as the tendon for the post tensioning system which traverse the hollow cavities as ducts. Other new features teach a strong and durable full plate anchor and high strength tendons for defensive and anti-terrorism structures. This is an improved building system that demountably couples each individual masonry unit by a bar and bolt system. This coupling results in stronger, faster, and cheaper construction of masonry structures.
1. A construction system, comprising:
a) a plurality of masonry units, each of the plurality of masonry units having an uppermost and lowermost plane and a hollow cavity formed between and extending from the uppermost plane to the lowermost plane, wherein the uppermost and lowermost planes are substantially parallel to one another;
b) at least two anchor bars, each of the at least two anchor bars having a threaded aperture and a comparatively larger non-threaded aperture, a first bar of the at least two anchor bars placed contiguously to the lowermost plane and a second bar of the least two anchor bars placed contiguously to the uppermost plane, wherein the first bar and second bar are placed substantially parallel to each other; and
c) a plurality of fasteners configured to rigidly and removably connect to each of the at least two anchor bars, first to said first bar of the at least two anchor bars directly above, and second to said second bar of the at least two anchor bars directly below,
wherein each of the plurality of masonry units comprises at least one recess formed at the uppermost plane and having a substantially uniform recess depth; and
wherein each of the at least two anchor bars has a substantially uniform thickness corresponding to the substantially uniform recess depth, such that an anchor bar surface of the at least two anchor bars is substantially flush with the uppermost plane when one of the at least two anchor bars is inserted into the at least one recess; and
wherein connection of fasteners to each of the at least two anchor bars, first to said first bar of the at least two anchor bars directly above, and second to said second bar of the at least two anchor bars directly below, yields a post tensioned masonry unit therebetween.
2. The construction system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is recessed channel extending from one outer perimeter surface of each of the plurality of masonry units to another outer perimeter surface of each of the plurality of masonry units.
3. The construction system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess is a pocket recess that does not extend to an outer perimeter surface of each of the plurality of masonry units.
4. The construction system according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is formed in a lateral direction across a width of each of the plurality of masonry units.
5. The construction system according to claim 4 , wherein the recess is a first recess, and wherein a second recess is formed in a longitudinal direction across a length of each of the plurality of masonry units.
6. The construction system according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is formed in a longitudinal direction along a length of each of the plurality of masonry units.
7. The construction system according to claim 6 , wherein the recess is a first recess, and wherein a second recess is formed in a lateral direction across a width of each of the plurality of masonry units.
8. The construction system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least two anchor bars comprise a sloped portion to locate a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners, and wherein the sloped portion assists guiding of the first fastener into the threaded aperture of one of the at least two anchor bars.
9. The construction system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of masonry units is two or more rows of concrete masonry units, and wherein at least one of the two or more rows of concrete masonry units is wider than an adjacent row above or below the at least one of the two or more rows.
10. The construction system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fasteners has a length sufficient to extend continuously through the hollow cavity from above the uppermost plane to below the lowermost plane.
11. The construction system of claim 10 , wherein when one of the plurality of fasteners is rigidly and removably connected first to said first bar of the at least two anchor bars directly above, and second to said second bar of the at least two anchor bars directly below, the one of the plurality of fasteners extends continuously through the hollow cavity from above the uppermost plane to below the lowermost plane.
12. The construction system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess has a completely uniform recess depth and each of the at least two anchor bars has a completely uniform thickness corresponding to the completely uniform recess depth.
13. A construction system, comprising:
a) a plurality of masonry units, each of the plurality of masonry units having an uppermost and lowermost plane and a hollow cavity formed between and extending from the uppermost plane to the lowermost plane, wherein the uppermost and lowermost planes are substantially parallel to one another;
b) at least two anchor bars, each of the at least two anchor bars having a threaded aperture and a comparatively larger non-threaded aperture, wherein a first anchor bar of the at least two anchor bars is embedded within a first masonry unit of the plurality of masonry units, such that the first masonry unit substantially prevents movement in any direction of the first anchor bar with respect to the first masonry unit, wherein a second anchor bar of the at least two anchor bars is embedded within a second masonry unit of the plurality of masonry units, such that the second masonry unit substantially prevents movement in any direction of the first anchor bar with respect to the first masonry unit, wherein the first anchor bar does not protrude beyond an outer perimeter surface of the first masonry unit, wherein the second anchor bar does not protrude beyond an outer perimeter surface of the second masonry unit, and wherein the first anchor bar and second anchor bar are placed substantially parallel to each other; and
c) a plurality of fasteners configured to rigidly and removably connect to each of the at least two anchor bars with the threaded aperture and the comparatively larger non-threaded aperture, first to the first anchor bar directly above, and second to the second anchor bar directly below, to yield a post tensioned masonry unit therebetween.
14. The construction system according to claim 13 , wherein the first anchor bar is embedded in a lateral direction across a width of the first masonry unit, and wherein the second anchor bar is embedded in a lateral direction across a width of the second masonry unit.
15. The construction system according to claim 14 , wherein a third anchor bar of the at least two anchor bars is embedded in a longitudinal direction across a length of the first masonry unit, and wherein a fourth anchor bar of the at least two anchor bars is embedded in a longitudinal direction across a length of the second masonry unit.
16. The accessories according to claim 13 , wherein the first anchor bar is embedded in a longitudinal direction across a length of the first masonry unit, and wherein the second anchor bar is embedded in a longitudinal direction across a length of the second masonry unit.
17. The construction system according to claim 16 , wherein a third anchor bar of the at least two anchor bars is embedded in a lateral direction across a width of the first masonry unit, and wherein a fourth anchor bar of the at least two anchor bars is embedded in a lateral direction across a width of the second masonry unit.
18. The construction system according to claim 13 , wherein the at least two anchor bars comprise a sloped portion to locate a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners, and wherein the sloped portion assists guiding of the first fastener into the threaded aperture of one of the at least two anchor bars.
19. The construction system according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of masonry units is two or more rows of concrete masonry units, and wherein at least one of the two or more rows of concrete masonry units is wider than an adjacent row above or below the at least one of the two or more rows.
20. A construction system, comprising:
a) a plurality of masonry units, each of the plurality of masonry units having an uppermost and lowermost plane and a hollow cavity formed between and extending from the uppermost plane to the lowermost plane, wherein the uppermost and lowermost planes are substantially parallel to one another;
b) at least two anchor bars, each of the at least two anchor bars having a threaded aperture and a comparatively larger non-threaded aperture, a first bar of the at least two anchor bars placed contiguously to the lowermost plane and a second bar of the at least two anchor bars placed contiguously to the uppermost plane, wherein the first bar and second bar are placed substantially parallel to each other, and at least one of the at least two anchor bars has a length greater than the length of the masonry unit; and
c) a plurality of fasteners configured to rigidly and removably connect to each of the at least two anchor bars, first to said first bar of the at least two anchor bars directly above, and second to said second bar of the at least two anchor bars directly below,
wherein each of the plurality of masonry units comprises at least one recess formed at the uppermost plane and having a substantially uniform recess depth, the at least one recess formed in a longitudinal direction along a length of each of the plurality of masonry units;
wherein each of the at least two anchor bars has a substantially uniform thickness corresponding to the substantially uniform recess depth, such that an anchor bar surface of the at least two anchor bars is substantially flush with the uppermost plane when one of the at least two anchor bars is inserted into the at least one recess; and
wherein connection and post tensioning of respective fasteners to each of the at least two anchor bars, first to said first bar of the at least two anchor bars directly above, and second to said second bar of the at least two anchor bars directly below, yields a masonry unit under compression therebetween.
21. The construction system of claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of fasteners has a length sufficient to extend continuously through the hollow cavity from above the uppermost plane to below the lowermost plane.
22. The construction system of claim 21 , wherein when one of the plurality of fasteners is rigidly and removably connected first to the first bar of the at least two anchor bars directly above, and second to the second bar of the at least two anchor bars directly below, the one of the plurality of fasteners extends continuously through the hollow cavity from above the uppermost plane to below the lowermost plane.
23. The construction system of claim 20 , wherein the at least one recess has a completely uniform recess depth and each of the at least two anchor bars has a completely uniform thickness corresponding to the completely uniform recess depth.