Patent ID: 6348674
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: B23P,B25B,F01D,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for prestressing structural joint connections comprising:a first and second clampable element, said clamping elements having comating first surfaces and obverse second surfaces; a reciprocable first wedging element having a first face and a second obverse face, said first face having a plurality of ramps; a second wedging element having a ramped surface, wherein the ramped surface has a plurality of ramps that comate with the ramps of the first wedging element, wherein said second wedging element is positioned between the second obverse surface of the first clamping element and the ramped first face of the first wedging element; a plurality of connecting elements traversing the two clampable elements, wherein each connecting element traverses comating ramps of the first and the second wedging elements, each connecting element further having a first end engaging the second surface of the second clampable element and a second end engaging the obverse face of the first wedging element; and heating means for heating the connecting elements, wherein each connecting element has heating means which selectively transfers heat to said connecting element; whereby movement of the reciprocable ramped face of the first wedging element when the connecting elements are substantially uniformly heated alters the tension on the connecting elements through the application of a substantially uniform end force to the second end of the connecting elements thereby changing the pressure between the comating first surfaces of the two clampable elements, such alteration of tension modifiable by the transfer of heat to or from the connecting elements.