Sheathing puller

1. A method for coupling an encapsulated tension member to an anchor, the encapsulated tension member including a tension member and a sheath positioned about the tension member, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sheathing puller;

b) mechanically coupling the sheathing puller to a fixed object;

c) mechanically coupling the sheathing puller to the sheath; and

d) using the sheathing puller to slide the sheath along the tension member toward the anchor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheathing puller includes a force applicator and a sheathing gripper, wherein actuating the force applicator causes the sheathing gripper to apply a longitudinal force to the sheath and wherein step d) comprises actuating the force applicator.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein actuating the force applicator causes the sheathing gripper to grip the sheath.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the force applicator is selected from the group consisting of pulleys, screws, ratchets, bar clamps, pipe clamps, and screw clamps.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the force applicator comprises:

a stationary head;

a linear actuator, the linear actuator mechanically coupled to the stationary head; and

a sliding head, the sliding head slideably coupled to the linear actuator;

wherein step d) comprises mechanically urging the sliding head towards the stationary head using the linear actuator.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the force applicator comprises:

a pivot;

a handle mechanically coupled to the pivot; and

a sheathing gripper mechanically coupled to the handle;

wherein step d) comprises rotating the handle around the pivot so as to exert a force on the sheathing gripper.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the handle has a remote end and a pivot end that is connected to the pivot, and wherein the sheathing gripper is mechanically coupled to the handle at a point between the pivot end and the remote end.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the force applicator comprises:

a ratchet bar clamp, the ratchet bar clamp including a pair of actuator handles and a moveable bar;

a sheathing gripper mechanically coupled to the moveable bar;

wherein step d) comprises moving the actuator handles together so as to cause the moveable bar to so as to exert a force on the sheathing gripper.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheathing puller includes a sheathing gripper and step c) comprises actuating the sheathing gripper.

10. The method of claim wherein the sheathing gripper includes a cable-receiving channel and at least one gripping member that is pivotable into engagement with a cable that is positioned in the cable-receiving channel.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the fixed object is a concrete anchor, a portion of a concrete form, or the ground.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises using a stationary coupler to mechanically couple the sheathing puller to a fixed object, and wherein the stationary coupler is selected from the group consisting of clamps, straps, bolts, screws, stakes, brackets, and cables.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein steps c) and d) are concurrent.

14. A method for coupling an encapsulated tension member to an anchor, the encapsulated tension member including a tension member and a sheath positioned about the tension member, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sheathing puller comprising a stationary coupler, a force applicator, and a sheathing gripper;

b) mechanically coupling the stationary coupler to the anchor;

c) mechanically coupling the sheathing gripper to the sheath; and

d) using the force applicator to move the sheathing gripper toward the stationary coupler, thereby sliding the sheath along the tension member toward the anchor.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the anchor includes a sheathing retainer, further including coupling the sheath to the sheathing retainer.

16. A method for coupling an encapsulated tension member to an anchor, the encapsulated tension member including a tension member and a sheath positioned about the tension member, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a sheathing puller;

b) mechanically coupling the sheathing puller to a fixed object;

c) mechanically coupling the sheathing puller to the sheath; and

d) using the sheathing puller to slide the sheath along the tension member toward the anchor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the sheathing puller includes a force applicator and a sheathing gripper, wherein actuating the force applicator causes the sheathing gripper to apply a longitudinal force to the sheath and wherein step d) comprises actuating the force applicator.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein actuating the force applicator causes the sheathing gripper to grip the sheath.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the force applicator comprises:

a stationary head;

a linear actuator, the linear actuator mechanically coupled to the stationary head; and

a sliding head, the sliding head slideably coupled to the linear actuator;

wherein step d) comprises mechanically urging the sliding head towards the stationary head using the linear actuator.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the force applicator comprises:

a pivot;

a handle mechanically coupled to the pivot; and

a sheathing gripper mechanically coupled to the handle;

wherein step d) comprises rotating the handle around the pivot so as to exert a force on the sheathing gripper.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the force applicator comprises:

a ratchet bar clamp, the ratchet bar clamp including a pair of actuator handles and a moveable bar;

a sheathing gripper mechanically coupled to the moveable bar;

wherein step d) comprises moving the actuator handles together so as to cause the moveable bar to so as to exert a force on the sheathing gripper.