Rebar separator with inflatable vibrational cushions and torsion bar vibration transferral

A rebar separator having a crossbar situated atop one or, preferably, two vibrational insulators which are preferably inflatable cushions. Preferably, there are two or more such crossbars on one or two inflatable cushions. At least one vibrational motor is in contact with at least one crossbar. And preferably each crossbar slopes from a first end to a second end. A source of fluid is in communication with each inflatable cushion. Preferably, the vibrational insulators are placed on top of first and second longitudinal channels of a horizontal rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for separating rebar from tangled bundles of rebar.

2. Description of the Related Art

Rebar comprises the elongated cylindrical steel rods which are placed within concrete to reinforce such concrete.

The rods of rebar come in bundles and often become entangled with one another.

At a facility which cuts and, on occasion, bends the rebar to make it suitable for particular purposes, a bundle of rebar is placed upon a horizontal rack. Then, after removing the straps which hold the bundle together, an individual manually grasps and shakes one rod at a time until it is loosened from the other rods. Such rod is then moved to a portion of the horizontal rack which can have one edge lowered to dump the separated rod onto rollers to be transported for measuring and cutting.

The only prior non-manual separator for rebar of which the present inventor is aware is that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,995. That separator utilizes a “blade-like member 55” that is moved longitudinally with respect to the rebar. Apparently, it is inserted between two intertwined pieces of rebar and then moved longitudinally.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Rebar Separator of the present invention isolates one or more crossbars from a rack used to hold rebar and utilizes a motor to vibrate such crossbars. Such vibration tends to separate rods of rebar that are tangled with one another when initially placed upon the crossbars.

The crossbars are placed atop horizontal racks that are traditionally used to hold rebar and are isolated from such racks by cushions which can be filled with fluid, preferably, air.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the Rebar Separator has a crossbar1that is placed atop a first vibrational insulator, preferably an inflatable cushion,2and, preferably, also atop a second vibrational insulator, preferably an inflatable cushion,3. The first cushion2is preferably located on top of a first longitudinal channel4of a horizontal rack5; the second cushion3is preferably located on top of a second longitudinal channel6of the horizontal rack5.

The first cushion2contains an aperture7, depicted inFIG. 2, which aperture7communicates with the interior8of the first inflatable cushion2. Similarly, the second cushion3contains an aperture9, depicted inFIG. 3, which aperture9communicates with the interior10of the second inflatable cushion3.

A fluid, preferably air, is provided to, and withdrawn from, the first inflatable cushion2through aperture7. Similarly, a fluid, preferably air, is provided to, and withdrawn from, the second inflatable cushion3through aperture9.

If the first longitudinal channel4is hollow, such first longitudinal channel4is, as shown inFIG. 4, in fluid communication with a source11of fluid and contains an aperture12in fluid communication with the aperture7of the first inflatable cushion2of associated with each given crossbar1(since it is preferable to employ two or more crossbars1on each horizontal rack5). A valve13is preferably inserted between the aperture12and the corresponding aperture7to control the flow of fluid into or from the first inflatable cushion2. And, even more preferably, as illustrated inFIG. 5, a first hollow tube14has a first end15attached to, and in fluid communication with, the valve13, which, in such option, is fluidically, but not necessarily physically, between the aperture12and the apertures7. (Also, in such option, the location of the aperture12is not necessarily the same as when the valve13is physically between aperture12and aperture7.) The first hollow tube14branches in order to have two or more, preferably three, second ends16with each of the second ends16connected to, and in fluid communication with, an aperture7of a first inflatable cushion2.

Similarly, if the second longitudinal channel6is hollow, such second longitudinal channel6is, as shown inFIG. 4, in fluid communication with a source11of fluid and contains an aperture17in fluid communication with the aperture9of the second inflatable cushion3associated with each given crossbar1(since it is preferable to employ two or more crossbars1on each horizontal rack5). A valve18is preferably inserted between an aperture17and the corresponding aperture9to control the flow of fluid into or from the second inflatable cushion3. And, even more preferably, as shown inFIG. 6, a second hollow tube19has a first end20attached to, and in fluid communication with, the valve18, which, in such option, is fluidically, but not necessarily, physically between the aperture17and the apertures9. (Also, in such option, the location of the aperture17is not necessarily the same as when the valve18is physically between aperture17and an aperture9). The second hollow tube19branches in order to have two or more, preferably three, second ends21with each of the second ends21connected to, and in fluid communication with, an aperture9of a second inflatable cushion3.

Optionally, as portrayed inFIG. 7, the first longitudinal channel4can, for the purpose of supplying fluid, be replaced by a first hollow tube22; and the second longitudinal channel6can, for the purpose of supplying fluid, be replaced by a second hollow tube23.

Also in contact with, and preferably attached to, the crossbar1is a vibrational motor24. The vibrational motor can be located anywhere on the crossbar1that will not impede the movements of rods of rebar, which are to be placed on the top25of the crossbar1, making the bottom26of the crossbar between the first inflatable cushion2and the second inflatable cushion3the preferred location for the vibrational motor24, as seen inFIG. 1. When several crossbars1are employed on a given horizontal rack5, it is, however, not necessary to have a vibrational motor attached to each crossbar1.

Optionally, a substantially rigid torsion bar27is, as depicted inFIG. 8, attached to one or more, and preferably each, crossbar1, in order to increase the uniformity of vibration of the crossbars1. Substantially, in this context, means that the amount the rigid torsion bar27moves under force is only such that one of ordinary skill in the field would consider the torsion bar27to be rigid.

Preferably, the top25of the crossbar1slants downward from a first end28of the crossbar1to a second end29of the crossbar1in order to encourage the rods of rebar to move toward the second end29of the crossbar1when the vibrational motor24is activated, although the direction of movement of such rods tends to reverse when the vibrational motor24is operated in a reverse direction.

Also, the second inflatable cushion3can be inflated less that the first inflatable cushion2in order to increase the tendency of the rods of rebar to move toward the second end29of the crossbar1.

Preferably, the crossbar1is made of metal; and, optionally, a layer30that is softer than metal can be placed on the top25of the crossbar1in order to protect the rods of rebar. A preferred material from which the layer30is made is ultra-high-weight molecular plastic (UHWM).

As used herein the term “preferable” or “preferably” means that a specified element or technique is more acceptable than another but not that such specified element or technique is a necessity.