Patent Publication Number: US-2010115879-A1

Title: Concrete block-out-grout tube with drain

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to connection devices for joining together pre-cast concrete members such as panels or columns stacked one on top of the other to form building walls. The connection devices employ an elongated cylindrical grout tube with reinforcing ribs cast into the top of a lower concrete member with a opening in the bottom for draining collected water and debris and a tube attached to the lower end of the grout tube for carrying the water and debris out of the concrete member. The elongated cylindrical grout tube has reinforcing ribs to retain the tube in position in the pre-cast concrete member and to provide added strength to the grout as it hardens to provide strength to the formed concrete wall. The lower end of the grout tube has an integrated nipple-type attachment means, which is preformed into the grout tube, to which a hollow tube is attached that extends outward to a surface of the pre-cast concrete wall member. 
     The elongated cylindrical grout tube may be referred to or known as a concrete block-out tube that is mounted on a framing member in the form used to cast the wall panel, oriented inwardly in the center of the top wall of the panel with the nipple at the inward most point and the drain tube extending away to the closest side or bottom edge of the panel. After pouring of the concrete panel and the setting of the concrete, the forms are removed and the open ends of the tubes are sealed or taped, or alternatively a plug is driven into each tube. The tape and plug seals used to close the tube sections can be ineffective in extreme environmental changes and frequently allow water, moisture and dirt to collect in the tubes prior to the erection of the panels. If the water retained in the tube freezes, there is a risk the resultant expansion will crack and ruin the panel. Any debris collected within the tube will degrade the quality of the connection formed by the mortar when the panels are erected. 
     The present invention is an improvement to the concrete block-out tube apparatus used previously to connect upper and lower concrete wall sections as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,924[Thompson]. The Thompson patent discloses a reinforced, ovalized block-out tube cast into the top of a lower concrete member to mate with a structural rod cast into the bottom of an upper concrete member. While this device provides for the dimensional variants of the rod and receiving tube, creating the required structural strength, it does not completely prevent the entry of water, moisture or debris that can collect at the bottom of the grout tube and cause cracking or gaps in the grout holding the rod in a fixed position resulting in a potential failure of the wall integrity. 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a pre-cast concrete block-out tube for use in joining pre-cast vertical concrete panels that continues to provide structural strength, without introducing stress concentrations into the poured concrete or grout, and allows for the release of any water, moisture or debris that may collect in the tube that could degrade the quality of the grout connection inside the tube. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide an integrated connection or attachment point at the lowest internal space of the grout tube for the connection of a drain line or tube to allow for the instant removal of water or debris without any substantial retention of the same within the grout tube for any extended period of time. 
     Other objects will appear hereinafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in the types of devices previously known and used for the joining of pre-cast concrete panels. It should also be understood that the present invention may be used to join columns and other types of pre-cast concrete members. 
     The present invention comprises an elongated cylindrical tube with reinforcing ribs that retain the grout tube in position within the pre-cast concrete wall member and act to retain and hold the grout-like hardening substance within the tube to add strength to the constructed wall. The bottom end of the cylindrical tube has a nipple-type attachment means, which may be preformed into the grout tube for connecting the cylindrical grout tube to a water release tube or drain line. The nipple has circumferential flange ridges that make for a tighter seal to the drain line or tube and keep out moisture and debris from the connection to the water release tube, allowing for the egress of any water or moisture that may exist within the wall-grout tube. 
     The tube of the present invention is intended to be cast vertically into the top side of a concrete panel with the elongated body and nipple embedded inwardly into the panel and the drain line connected to the lowest point of the tube and extending outward to the closest exterior surface of the panel. Once the concrete has set, the reinforcing ribs keep the tube in place and secure from rotating in the concrete panel. Additionally, the reinforcing ribs arrayed along the length of the tube resist removal once set and provide against the inadvertent pullout of the structural rod once the grout has hardened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the concrete block-out grout tube with integrated bottom drain connected to the retained water release tube. 
         FIG. 2  is a cut-away view of a pre-formed concrete wall section showing the concrete block-out grout tube and integrated retained water release tube of the present invention positioned within the pre-formed concrete wall section. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  an isometric view of the elongated concrete block-out grout tube  10  with an integrated bottom drain  12 . At the top or proximal end of the grout tube  10  there is a flange  14  that permits the tube  10  to fit flush with the top surface of the pre-cast concrete wall member. The concrete block-out grout tube  10  is formed with a plurality of reinforcing ribs  16  which structurally anchor the tube  10  within the concrete wall member and prevent the tube from rotating within its position in the wall member. The reinforcing ribs  16  also act to hold the grout-like hardening substance in position so that the grout will not easily move inward or outward from the grout tube  10  so as to provide sufficient resistance against the movement or removal of the structural rod once the grout has hardened. 
     Integrated into the bottom wall of the concrete block-out grout tube  10  is a drain  12 . The drain  12  has a nipple-type attachment means  18  which may be inserted into the drain  12  by any means, for example, press fitting. Alternatively, the nipple-type attachment means  18  may be integrated into the grout tube  10  when formed or molded. The nipple attachment means  18  has a plurality of circumferential conical ridges  20  that extend outward from the drain  12 . Each of the conical ridges  20  is axially aligned with the next and has a larger base dimension so that in cross-section the series of ridges  20  appear to be a stacked array of parallelograms with their respective greater dimension bases facing inward toward the drain  12 . In this manner, the drain tube  22 , slips over the ridges  20  easily, but is retained on and over the ridges  20  as the ridges grasp the inner surface of the slightly expanded tube by the respective circumferential lips of the ridges holding the drain tube  22  in position over the nipple attachment means  18 . The drain tube  22  can be of any material that has the properties and characteristics for refraining from breaking down while encased in concrete mixtures and longevity in adverse temperature environments. 
     Looking now at  FIG. 2 , the concrete block-out grout tube  10  and integrated drain  12  with nipple attachment means  18  and attached retained water release tube  22  are shown positioned within a pre-cast concrete wall section  24 . The grout tube  10  is positioned at the top surface of the concrete wall member  24  with its flange  14  flush with the outer surface. The water release or drain tube  22  is fully extended away from the drain  12  and nipple attachment means  18  with its distal end extending to and through a lower wall surface at drain point  26  of the concrete wall member  24 . The nipple attachment means  18  with circumferential pyramidal ridges  20  for connecting to and retaining a water release tube provides a tight seal as it connects to the water release tube  22  permitting for the egress of any water or moisture that may have collected within the concrete block-out grout tube  10  to exit by force of gravity. 
     Thus, even though water, moisture or debris may collect within the concrete block-out tube while it awaits assembly into a building structure, or otherwise, such water and/or debris can be flushed or drained away through the drain  12  and drain tube  22  so that the integrity of the connection between one wall section and another can be maintained. Further, with a substantially dry and debris free tube bottom, there is less possibility of a freeze/thaw series weakening the concrete and causing a failure of the wall section  24 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.