Patent Publication Number: US-2022219348-A1

Title: Portable cutting line

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a nonprovisional application which claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 63/136,949, filed Jan. 13, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD/FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is directed to a portable cutting line. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Many structures are built using concrete, including, for instance, buildings, parking structures, apartments, condominiums, hotels, mixed-use buildings, casinos, hospitals, medical buildings, government buildings, research/academic institutions, industrial buildings, malls, bridges, pavement, tanks, reservoirs, silos, foundations, sports courts, and other structures. 
     Pre-stressed concrete is structural concrete in which internal stresses are introduced to reduce potential tensile stresses in the concrete resulting from applied loads. This can be accomplished by two methods—pre-tensioned pre-stressing and post-tensioned pre-stressing. When post-tensioning concrete, the pre-stressing assembly is tensioned after the concrete has cured to a specified strength. The pre-stressing assembly, commonly known as a tendon, may include for example and without limitation, anchorages, one or more strands, and sheaths or ducts surrounding the strand(s). A strand may be tensioned between a pair of anchors, which are embedded in the concrete. The strand may be formed from a metal or composite or any suitable material exhibiting tensile strength, including, for example and without limitation, reinforcing steel, single wire cable, or multi-wire cable. The strand is typically fixedly coupled to a fixed anchorage positioned at one end of the tendon, the so-called “fixed end”, and is adapted to be stressed at the other anchor, the “stressing end” of the tendon. The strand is generally retained in each anchor by one or more wedges that engage a tapered recess in the anchor body so that when the strand is placed under tension, the wedges engage the strand more tightly. 
     One end of the strand extends through the stressing end anchor and out of the concrete body in which the anchor is embedded. In some cases, a pocket former is placed around the strand before the concrete is poured, which results in a pocket in the cured concrete. In these cases, the end of the strand extends through and outwardly from the pocket. Once the concrete has cured, a tensile force can be applied to the extending strand end, causing an elongation of the strand. Releasing the tensile force causes the strand to be more tightly gripped by the wedges, thereby maintaining its elongated stress, which is transferred to the concrete via the anchors. The portion of the strand that extends out of the stressing anchor is typically removed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides for a portable cutting line. The portable cutting line may include a frame and a lazy susan. The portable cutting line may also include a cutting line main table, the cutting line main table operatively connected to the lazy susan and one or more tubs, the tubs operatively connected to the cutting line main table. The lazy susan, the cutting line main table, and the one or more tubs may be positioned within the frame when in transport position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
         FIG. 1  is an is an isometric drawing of a portable cutting line consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic of a catapuller consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an overhead view of a portable cutting line consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a portable cutting line with sides flipped up consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an overhead cutaway view of the portable cutting line consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is side cutaway view of the portable cutting line consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric drawing of a portable cutting line consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an overhead view of a portable cutting line consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a portable cutting line with sides flipped up consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  are schematic views of portions of the portable cutting line consistent with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
     In preparing a strand for post-tensioning, a mill may supply a spool of cable. The cable may be single or multi-strand. For example, the mill may extrude the cable, apply grease, and sheathing, and coil. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a portable cutting line for forming a strand from the spool supplied by the mill.  FIG. 1  depicts portable cutting line  100 . Portable cutting line  100  includes lazy susan  110 , cutting line main table  130 , and at least one tub  140 . Lazy susan  110  includes turntable  112  and may include retaining arms  114 . Lazy susan  110  is adapted to receive the spool of cable. Lazy susan  110  may be driven or not driven. When driven, lazy susan  110  may include driving mechanism  116  such as a motor to turn lazy susan  110  and thereby unspool the cable for use in cutting line main table  130 . When not driven, lazy susan  110  may turn and unspool the cable as the cable is pulled by cutting line main table  130 . 
     Lazy susan  110  is operatively connected to cutting line main table  130 . Cutting line main table  130  is adapted to receive the cable from lazy susan  110  and shear the cable to form a strand. In certain embodiments, cutting line main table  130  includes catapuller  132  and shear  134 . 
     Catapuller  132  may be any mechanism adapted to pull the cable from lazy susan  110  and feed the cable to shear  134 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , catapuller  132  may include catapuller bodies  1020 . Catapuller bodies  1020  are separated by gap  1040 , through which the cable may be pulled by catapuller  132 . Each catapuller body  1020  includes drive mechanism  1060 , which, as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be a drive wheel, and retaining wheel  1080 . Loop  1100  is positioned around drive mechanism  1060  and retaining wheel  1080 . Loop  1100  may be, for example, a belt or chain. As drive mechanism  1060  rotates, loop  1100  is pulled through gap  1040 , causing the cable to be pulled through catapuller  132 . 
     Shear  134  may include at least one sharp edge for cutting or shearing the cable to form the strand. In certain embodiments, shear  134  may include a rotating blade and a fixed blade. Shear  134  may be operated manually, electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically, for example. 
     In certain embodiments, cutting line main table  130  may include roller box  131 . Roller box  131  may align the cable upstream of catapuller  132 . 
     Cutting line main table  130  may include line counter  135 . Line counter  135  may measure the length of the cable as pulled through catapuller  132 . In addition, in certain embodiments, cutting line main table  130  may include tub selector  136 , such as when portable cutting line  100  includes more than one tub  140 . Tub selector  136  determines which of the plurality of tubs  140  the strand is transferred. 
     Portable cutting line  100  may include one or more tubs  140 . One or more tubs  140  are operatively connected to and adapted to receive the strand from cutting line main table  130  and spool the strand. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , tubs  140  include tub base  142  and strand receiving area  144 . Tub base  142  may rotate so as to spool strands received from cutting line main table  130 . Rotation of tub base  142  may be driven, i.e., turned manually, electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. Strand receiving area  144  may include one or more sides  146  to hold the strand spool in place. 
     Portable cutting line  100  may also include power source  120 . Power source  120  may provide power to, and be operatively connected to, lazy susan  110 , cutting line main table  130 , tubs  140 , and, in certain embodiments, seater station  150 . Power source  120  may supply electrical power, air for pneumatic power, or hydraulic power. In certain embodiments, power source  120  is a generator for providing electrical power. 
     In certain embodiments, portable cutting line  100  may include seater station  150 . Seater station  150  may be used to fasten an anchor to one end of the strand. In other embodiments, seater station  150  is not included in portable cutting line  100 . 
     In certain embodiments, portable cutting line  100  may include a transport position, as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , and an operation position, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . In the transport position, portable cutting line  100  may be positioned within frame  160 . In certain embodiments, frame  160  may be a shipping container. In the transport position, all elements of portable cutting line  100  may be positioned within frame  160 . 
     In the operation position, elements of portable cutting line  100  are moved outside of frame  160 . In some embodiments, lazy susan  110  may be moved along the long axis of frame  160  to increase the distance between cutting line main table  130  and lazy susan  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , power source  120  may swing to be outside side  162  of frame  160  defined by the long axis of frame  160 , so as to remove power source  120  from the path of the cable between lazy susan  110  and cutting line main table  130 . As further show in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , tubs  140  may swing to be partially or completely outside sides  162  and  164  (also defined by the long axis of frame  160 ). In certain embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 4 , seater station  150  may be moved along the long axis of frame  160  to increase the distance between seater station  150  and one or more tubs  140 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 4  depict an embodiment for the operation position of portable cutting line  100 . In this embodiment, portable cutting line  100  includes extension  170  positioned at least partially within frame  160 . Extension  170  may include center rail  171 . Lazy susan rail  172  may be mechanically connected to lazy susan  110  and may extend from center rail  171 , thereby moving lazy susan  110  from the transport position to the operation position. Extension  170  may also include generator rotator arm  174  rotatably attached to center rail  171  and mechanically connected to power source  120 . By rotating generator rotator arm  174  relative to center rail  171 , power source  120  may be swung into the operation position. Further, extension  170  may include one or more tub rotator arms  176  rotatably attached to center rail  171  and mechanically connected to tubs  140 . By rotating rotator arm  176 , tub  140  may be swung into the operation position. In certain embodiments, extension  170  may include seater station rail  178 . Seater station rail  178  may extend from center rail  171  or be rotatably connected to center rail  171 , for example and mechanically connected to seater station  150 . By extending or rotating seater station rail  178 , seater station  150  may be moved into the operation position. 
     In certain embodiments, such as when frame  160  is a shipping container, ends  180  of frame  160  may be removable, or as shown in  FIG. 2 , be adapted to swing on hinge  182  to expose an interior of frame  160  and allow lazy susan  110  and seater station  150  to move to the operation position. Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , sides  190  of frame  160  may be removable or may flip up to expose the interior of frame  160  and to allow tubs  140  and power source  120  to be swung into the operation position.