Anchor sleeve

An axially extending sleeve (1), for use as an anchor secured by grout or a hardenable mass in a blind bore (2a) in a structural component (2), has an outside surface with a radially outwardly projection extending in the axial direction of the sleeve. The sleeve has a closed first end leading in the insertion direction and a trailing second end. The projection extends from the second end in the axial direction toward the first end. An elastic layer (3) is placed over the surface of the structural component containing the bore and a hole (3a) in the elastic layer is aligned with the bore in the component. When the sleeve (1) is inserted into the bore (2a), the projection (1d) forms a passageway through the elastic layer, so that air and excess grout can escape from the bore through the elastic layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to an anchor sleeve to be secured by 
grout or a hardenable mass within a bore in a structural component. The 
leading end of the sleeve is closed, that is the end first inserted into 
the bore. 
To provide an anchor in a structural component for receiving an attachment 
bolt or the like, it is known to fill a prefabricated bore with grout or a 
hardenable mass and then to insert a sleeve into the bore with the sleeve 
having an internal thread for securing the attachment or fastening bolt. 
The grout or hardenable mass forms an adhesive connection between the 
sleeve and the bore in the component. Such an adhesive connection or 
bonding can only be adequately achieved, if the grout or hardenable mass 
can distribute itself uniformly along the axial length of the bore. One 
requirement for uniform distribution of the grout is an unimpeded escape 
of air pockets from the bore, accordingly, it is necessary that the bore 
is open at the surface of the component so that all air within the bore 
can escape along with any excess grout. 
If the above method is applied to the attachment of railroad rails, 
difficulties occur if an elastic overlay, such as a rubber mat, must be 
introduced between the rail and the structural component or tie. The 
rubber mat is required for dampening. Such a rubber mat embraces the 
sleeve because of its elasticity and, as a result, forms a seal at the 
bore opening in the component or tie. The escape of air and possibly 
excess grout is blocked, whereby a uniform distribution of the grout and 
an adequate adhesive connection can not be assured. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an 
anchor sleeve of the type described above, so that, independently of the 
condition of the bore, an escape of air and excess grout from the bore is 
possible. 
In accordance with the present invention, a projection extends radially 
outwardly from the outside surface of the sleeve and extends from the 
trailing end of the sleeve toward the leading end for at least a part of 
the axial length of the sleeve. 
The projection supports the sleeve against the wall of the bore so that an 
adequate free space is provided between the outside surface of the sleeve 
and the wall of the bore to enable an unimpeded displacement of air and 
possibly excess grout out of the bore. If the sleeve extends through a 
hole in the rubber mat forming an overlay on the structural component or 
tie, then the hole in the rubber mat is enlarged by the projection whereby 
the hole in the mat adjacent the projection does not have a circular shape 
and forms gaps between the hole and the outside surface of the sleeve 
adjacent the projection. Air pockets and excess grout can flow through 
these gaps when the sleeve is introduced into the bore. 
Preferably, the projection extends along the full axial length of the 
sleeve. Accordingly, an adequate free space is created along the full 
insertion length of the sleeve. 
In a preferred arrangement the projection is formed by two ribs extending 
in the axial direction of the sleeve with the ribs spaced from one another 
in the circumferential direction. With the ribs spaced apart in the 
circumferential direction for approximately the height of one rib, an 
axially extending channel between the ribs forms an open space. 
For at least a part of the axial length of the projection its radial 
dimension decreases continuously between the ends toward the leading end 
of the sleeve to facilitate its introduction into the bore. Accordingly, 
the projection forms an inclined ramp with the radial dimension of the 
ramp at the leading end being zero. 
Preferably, the sleeve is utilized so that its trailing end having the full 
radial dimension of the projection extends through the elastic mat or 
overlay placed on the structural component. The elastic overlay is widened 
in the region of the projection, so that an adequate open space is formed 
for the escape of air from the bore and possibly for the outflow of excess 
grout. 
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are 
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part 
of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its 
operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference 
should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which 
there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention 
.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In FIG. 1 a sleeve 1 is intended to serve as an anchor in a structural 
component 2, such as a railroad tie in the illustrated case. A rubber mat 
3 is placed over the upper surface of the component 2. In turn, a steel 
plate 4 is supported on the rubber mat 3. The steel plate 4 serves as a 
connecting element for bolting a railroad rail to it, the rail is not 
shown. 
A blind bore 2a is provided in the component for receiving the sleeve. As 
shown, the bore widens from the opening into the bore to the base. In FIG. 
1 the bore 2a is partially filled with grout or a hardenable mass 5. A 
hole 4a is formed in the steel plate 4 and another hole 3a is formed 
through the rubber mat 3 with the two holes being co-axial with the bore 
2a. The hole 3a in the rubber mat 3 has a diameter not larger than the 
diameter of the outside circular surface of the sleeve 1. 
Sleeve 1 has a central bore 1a extending from its trailing or upper end as 
viewed in FIG. 1 to base 1b of the sleeve. The base 1b is closed by the 
rounded leading end of the sleeve. Central bore 1a is arranged to receive 
a bolt for fastening the steel plate 4 to the component or tie 2. The 
outside surface of the sleeve 1 is provided with circumferentially 
extending grooves 1c. A radially extending projection 1d, in the form of 
two ribs 1d, note FIG. 3, extends from the trailing end of the sleeve 1 in 
the axial direction to the base 1b. In the setting or insertion direction 
of the sleeve the projection 1d extends continuously and is formed at 
least in part as an inclined ramp tapering inwardly to the leading end or 
base 1b of the sleeve. 
When the sleeve is inserted in the setting direction, as indicated by the 
arrow A in FIG. 1, the sleeve passes through the holes 4a, 3a in the steel 
plate 4 and the mat 3, respectively, into the bore 2a. Note the fully 
inserted sleeve 1 as shown in FIG. 2. As it is inserted, the sleeve 1 
displaces a portion of the grout 5 out of the bore 2a opposite to the 
setting direction A. Since the projection 1d extends radially outwardly 
from the outside surface of the sleeve 1, with the hole 3a in the elastic 
mat 3 being the same as the diameter of the outside surface of the sleeve, 
the projection presses the mat radially outwardly. The channel 6 formed 
between the ribs 1d forms an open passageway for the flow of air out of 
the bore 2a. Since the ribs 1d press the elastic rubber mat 3 radially 
outwardly relative to the axis of the borehole 2a, the channel is open in 
the region of the rubber mat. In addition, two generally triangularly 
shaped gaps or slots 7 are formed, one on each of the opposite sides of 
the projection 1d, between the surface of the hole 3a in the mat and the 
outside surface of the sleeve 1. As a result, air and the grout 5 can 
escape from the bore 2a through the slots 7. 
As can be seen in FIG. 2 the combination of the radial dimension of the 
projection 1d at the trailing end of the sleeve 1 and the diameter of the 
outside surface of the sleeve 1 equal the diameter of the hole 4a through 
the plate 4. 
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described 
in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it 
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without 
departing from such principles.