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CA-3079953-C - HYDRAULIC EXPANDABLE CONNECTOR

CA3079953CCA 3079953 CCA3079953 CCA 3079953CCA-3079953-C

Abstract

A hydraulic expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod in a hold-down system includes an inner cylindrical body disposed within an outer cylindrical body; a first actuation spring operably attached to the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body to urge relative motion between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body such that the connector expands axially to take up the slack; a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical body; a first passageway communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber; and a valve operably disposed in the first passageway in an open position when the connector expands and a closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load.

Inventors

  • Thomas M. Espinosa

Assignees

  • CETRES HOLDINGS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20181031
Priority Date
20171101

Claims (20)

  1. I CLAIM: 1. A hydraulic expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod in a hold-down system, comprising: a) an inner cylindrical body disposed within an outer 5 cylindrical body; b) a first actuation spring operably attached to the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body to urge relative motion between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body such that the connector expands axially to take 10 up the slack; c) a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical body; d) a first passageway communicating between the first 15 chamber and the second chamber; and e) a valve operably disposed in the first passageway, the valve having a closed position and an open position, the valve is in the open position when the connector expands to allow fluid from the first chamber to flow to the second chamber, the 20 valve is in the closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load to pressurize the fluid in the second chamber and absorb the load. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-02-02
  2. 2. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a piston disposed between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body.
  3. 3. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 2, wherein 5 the first passageway comprises a gap between the piston and the inner cylindrical body.
  4. 4. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 2, wherein: a) the inner cylindrical body includes a shoulder communicating with an entrance to the passageway; b) the piston includes a first position engaging the shoulder to close the entrance to the first passageway; and c) the piston includes a second position away from the shoulder to open the entrance to the passageway.
  5. 5. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 4, wherein 15 the inner cylindrical body includes an annular recess and the piston is disposed within the annular recess.
  6. 6. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 4, wherein a second spring urges the piston to engage the shoulder.
  7. 7. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 1, wherein 20 the first chamber decreases in volume and the second chamber increases in volume as the connector expands axially.
  8. 8. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 2, and Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-02-02 further comprising a second passageway communicating with the first chamber and the second chamber, the second passageway is open all the time to allow fluid to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber even when the first passageway is 5 closed.
  9. 9. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 8, wherein the second passageway comprises a plurality of holes through the piston.
  10. 10. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 1, and 10 further comprising: a) a piston forming a part of the inner cylindrical body; and b) the piston is disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. 15
  11. 11. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 10, wherein the first passageway is disposed through the piston.
  12. 12. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 11, wherein the valve is disposed at one end of the first passageway.
  13. 13. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 12, wherein: 20 a) the first passageway comprises a plurality of openings through the piston; and b) the valve comprises a plurality of one-way valves Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-02-02 operably associated with the respective openings.
  14. 14. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 13, wherein: a) the plurality of one-way valves comprise a ring plate with reed portions cut into the ring plate; b) the reed portions are operably associated with the respective openings; and c) the reed portions are responsive to fluid pressure to open or close the respective openings.
  15. 15. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 13, wherein: 10 a) the plurality of one-way valves comprise reeds operably attached to the piston at the respective openings; and b) the reeds are responsive to fluid pressure to open or close the respective openings.
  16. 16. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 13, wherein: 15 a) the plurality of one-way valves comprise a flat washer disposed across the openings; and b) a second spring pressing the flat washer against the openings, the second spring being compressible in response to fluid pressure in the openings pushing the flat washer away from 20 the openings.
  17. 17. A hydraulic expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod in a hold-down system, comprising: Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-02-02 a) an inner cylindrical body disposed within an outer cylindrical body; b) a first piston slidable between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body; c) a first spring operably attached to the outer cylindrical body to push the first piston axially; d) a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical body; e) a first passageway communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber; f) a valve operably disposed in the first passageway, the valve having a closed position and an open position, the valve is in the open position when the connector expands to allow 15 fluid from the first chamber to flow to the second chamber, the valve is in the closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load; and g) the first spring pressurizes the fluid in the first chamber to cause the fluid to flow into the second chamber 20 through the passageway and axially move the inner cylindrical body away to expand the connector.
  18. 18. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 17, wherein Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-02-02 the first spring is disposed inside the outer cylindrical body.
  19. 19. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 17, wherein the first chamber decreases in volume and the second chamber increases in volume as the connector expands axially. 5
  20. 20. The hydraulic expandable connector as in claim 17, and further comprising: a) a second piston forming a part of the inner cylindrical body; and b) the second piston is disposed between the first chamber 10 and the second chamber.

Description

HYDRAULIC EXPANDABLE CONNECTOR RELATED APPLICATION This is a nonprovisional application claiming the priority 5 of Provisional Application Serial No. 62/580,065, filed 11/01/2017. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally directed to a tension hold-down system used in walls in light frame construction to 10 resist uplift and to compensate for wood shrinkage in wood frame construction and compression loading. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a hydraulic expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod in a hold-down 15 system, comprising an inner cylindrical body disposed within an outer cylindrical body; a first actuation spring operably attached to the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body to urge relative motion between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body such that the connector expands 20 axially to take up the slack; a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-02-02 cylindrical body; a first passageway communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber; and a valve operably disposed in the first passageway, the valve having a closed position and an open position, the valve is in the open position 5 when the connector expands to allow fluid from the first chamber to flow to the second chamber, the valve is in the closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load to pressurize the fluid in the second chamber and absorb the load. The present invention further provides a hydraulic 10 expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod in a hold-down system, comprising an inner cylindrical body disposed within an outer cylindrical body; a first piston slidable between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body; a first spring operably attached to the outer cylindrical 15 body to push the first piston axially; a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical body; a first passageway communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber; a valve operably disposed 20 in the first passageway, the valve having a closed position and an open position, the valve is in the open position when the connector expands to allow fluid from the first chamber to flow Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-02-02 to the second chamber, the valve is in the closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load; and the first spring pressurizes the fluid in the first chamber to cause the fluid to flow into the second chamber through the passageway and 5 axially move the inner cylindrical body away to expand the connector. The present invention still further provides a hydraulic expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod holddown system, comprising an inner cylindrical body disposed 10 within an outer cylindrical body; a first piston slidable between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body; a first spring operably attached to the outer cylindrical body to push the first piston axially; a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the 15 inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical body; a first passageway communicating with the first chamber and the second chamber; a valve operably disposed in the first passageway, the valve having a closed position and an open position, the valve is in the open position when the 20 connector expands to allow fluid from the first chamber to flow to the second chamber, the valve is in the closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load; and the first Date Re9ue/Date Received 2024-02-02 spring pressurizes the fluid in the first chamber to cause the fluid to flow into the second chamber through the passageway. The present invention provides a hydraulic expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod in a hold-down 5 system, comprising an inner cylindrical body disposed within an outer cylindrical body; a first spring operably attached to the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body to urge relative motion between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body such that the connector expands axially to take 10 up the slack; a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical body; a passageway communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber; a valve operably disposed in the passageway, the 15 valve having a closed position and an open position, the valve is in the open position when the connector expands to allow fluid from the first chamber to flow to the second chamber, the valve is in the closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load; and the valve i