Patent ID: 7648306

Claim:
A concrete shell assembly comprising: two concrete shell elements ( 1 , 2 ), each concrete shell element comprising frames ( 5 , 6 ), with transverse struts ( 7 , 21 , 50 ) attached therebetween, respective frames of the shell elements being abutable with one another, each frame comprising a longitudinally extending groove-shaped depression ( 9 ) providing a cavity ( 10 ) between the frame and a corresponding attached strut; a turnbuckle device ( 11 ) clamping the respective frames and concrete shell elements together, the turnbuckle device comprising: two claws ( 12 , 13 ), displaceable toward one another, each claw comprising a pair of spaced legs ( 14 , 20 ; 41 ) each having a respective contact surface ( 30 , 31 ; 43 ) extending in a plane parallel to and engaging an outer surface of a corresponding strut received between the pair of legs, a wedge ( 18 ) interlockingly engaging each claw for fixing the claws relative to one another in a clamping position; a lug ( 16 , 40 ) disposed on and planar with an outer free end ( 16 , 22 ; 40 ) of each of the legs for engaging the depression in a corresponding frame; and an extension ( 17 ; 42 ; 44 ; 45 ) disposed on the lug of one of the legs of the two claws, the extension extending transverse to the contact surface of the one leg and projecting into the cavity between the strut and the frame of one of the concrete shell elements thereby holding the turnbuckle device in position as the claws are displaced toward one another; wherein each end of each strut includes a recess ( 51 ), facing the depression of a corresponding attached frame, and the extension has a hook shape with a second section ( 47 ) disposed at a free end of the extension bent inwardly toward the one leg and disposed for entering the recess.