Patent Grant
11718964
The present disclosure relates generally to bridge apparatus, bridge systems, and methods for constructing bridges, and more particularly to apparatus, systems, and methods of using prestressed, precast concrete panels to place on highway bridge beams to create an overhang traffic surface, and to prestressed, precast concrete structures that may be transported (for example, on a flatbed truck) partially or fully assembled to the site where a new or replacement bridge is needed, such as smaller “county” bridges over small water streams.
Current systems and methods to construct concrete panels to place on highway bridge beams to create an overhang traffic surface involve placing hardware and forms to cast the elements in place on site. This activity is slow, time consuming and requires workers to perform these tasks while wearing fall protection equipment and hand forming these elements in the air up to 100 feet plus above the ground. It is slow tedious and dangerous work. Smaller bridges over small water streams, which are referred to herein as “county” bridges, while not typically being as high and dangerous, still involve placing hardware and forms to cast the elements in place on site, typically requiring several loads of uncured cement precursors carried by large, heavy cement trucks, and/or transporting several precast structures to the site which are then assembled to form the county bridge.
While there have been efforts to construct roadways using precast concrete panels, such as discussed in United States Pub. Patent App. No. 2011/0110717, to our knowledge such precast concrete panel systems have not achieved commercial success or acceptance by authorities tasked with approving and building such roadways, and to our knowledge have never been used in constructing bridges, much less bridges having an overhang traffic surface. The '717 publication does not disclose or discuss overhangs. Finally, the precast concrete panels described in the '717 publication are devoid of block outs or voids for placing wire mesh cages for closure pours of concrete to connect the panels to the supports, providing an inherently weak structure.
As may be seen, there remains a need for apparatus, systems, and methods with more advanced, robust, and flexible solutions while reducing cost and increasing safety. Presently available methods and systems may not be adequate for all circumstances, may lead to higher costs and worker injuries, and at worst may result in injury or death to construction personnel, inspectors, or to other personnel or the public during construction of overhang traffic surface systems. There remains a need for safer, less expensive, less labor-intensive, more robust overhang traffic surface systems and methods. As for the smaller county bridges, it would be of great benefit to the public if precast county bridges could be transported directly to the site where needed and installed while avoiding the need to place hardware and forms to cast the elements in place on site, typically requiring several loads of uncured cement precursors carried by large, heavy cement trucks. The systems and methods of the present disclosure are directed to these needs.
In accordance with the present disclosure, bridge apparatus, systems and methods of construction of bridges using the bridge apparatus and systems are described which reduce or overcome many of the faults of previously known systems and methods.
A first aspect of the disclosure are apparatus, certain embodiments comprising:
a) a generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having a length L, a width W, a thickness t, a top surface, a bottom surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inner edge, and an overhang edge;
b) the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having a generally planar panel upper portion and a generally planar panel bottom portion substantially parallel to the generally planar panel upper portion, the generally planar panel upper portion and the generally planar bottom panel portion sandwiching a generally planar central panel portion that has a length less than l, and a width that is less than W;
c) the generally planar panel upper portion having same width W as the generally planar bottom panel portion, and having a length l that is less than the length L, while the generally planar bottom panel portion has a length L;
d) a concave cutout formed in the inner edge, the leading edge, and the trailing edge; and
e) the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having at least one block out or void for placing wire mesh cages for closure pour of concrete to connect the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel to a support.
Certain apparatus embodiments may comprise a traffic panel section extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and from the inner edge to a line parallel with the inner edge, and an overhang panel section, the overhang section extending from the line parallel with the inner edge to the overhang edge. Certain apparatus embodiments may comprise wherein the traffic panel section is a major portion of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel. Certain apparatus embodiments may comprise wherein the at least one block out or void has a plan shape selected from octagonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, rectangular, round, elliptical, triangular, and trapezoidal. Certain apparatus embodiments may comprise wherein the at least one block out or void has an upper void length, an upper void width, a bottom void length, and a bottom void width, and wherein the upper void length is greater than the bottom void length, and wherein the upper void width is greater than the bottom void width. Certain apparatus embodiments may comprise wherein the line parallel with the inner edge bisects the at least one block out or void for placing wire mesh cages for closure pour of concrete. Certain apparatus embodiments may comprise at least one anchor to bolt steel plate forms to the overhang edge of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel. Certain apparatus embodiments may comprise an angle α equal to a radius angle of a horizontal roadway, wherein angle α ranges from about 1 to about 10 degrees, or from about 1 to about 5 degrees.
A second aspect of the disclosure are bridge systems, certain systems comprising:
a) a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels, each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels comprising:
b) at least one support beam attached to the plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels by a combination of wire and poured, solidified concrete.
Certain system embodiments may comprise wherein one of the at least one support beams is attached through the at least one block out or void by the combination of wire and poured, solidified concrete. Certain system embodiments may comprise wherein the at least one support beam is a prestressed concrete girder. Certain system embodiments may comprise wherein the prestressed concrete girder comprises one or more vertical U-shaped steel wire reinforcements having a U-portion and two leg portions, wherein the U-portion extends into the poured, solidified concrete. Certain system embodiments may comprise wherein each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels comprises a traffic panel section extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and from the inner edge to a line parallel with the inner edge, and an overhang panel section, the overhang section extending from the line parallel with the inner edge to the overhang edge. Certain system embodiments may comprise wherein the traffic panel section is a major portion of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels. Certain system embodiments may comprise wherein the at least one block out or void has a plan shape selected from octagonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, rectangular, round, elliptical, triangular, and trapezoidal. Certain system embodiments may comprise wherein the line parallel with the inner edge bisects the at least one block out or void for placing wire mesh cages for closure pour of concrete. Certain system embodiments may comprise an angle α equal to a radius angle of a horizontal roadway, wherein angle α ranges from about 1 to about 10 degrees.
A third aspect of the disclosure are methods of installing a bridge system of the present disclosure, certain methods comprising:
a) delivering a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to an installation site, each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels having:
b) delivering one or more support beams to the installation site, each support beam having a support and a base;
c) positioning the plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels on the supports of the one or more support beams with an overhang panel section and a traffic panel section;
d) optionally backfilling over the bases of the at least one support beams; and
e) connecting the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to the support beams by positioning steel reinforcement (for example, but not limited to wire mesh cages) in the at least one block out or void, pouring unsolidified concrete into the at least one block out or void, and curing the unsolidified concrete to form an overhang traffic surface.
In certain methods of this disclosure the methods may comprise:
Certain methods may comprise casting prestressed concrete panels in a manufacturing facility under a controlled environment; transporting the cast prestressed concrete panels to a proposed bridge location; and installing the cast prestressed concrete panels on pre-installed bridge beams, the pre-installed bridge beams installed generally parallel to a traffic direction, forming a traffic surface having left-side and right-side cast prestressed concrete panel overhangs.
In other embodiments, one or more bridging plates may be precast into the precast panels, the bridging plates further secured in the precast panels with two or more studs positioned on both sides of the bridging plates at substantially 90-degree angles to the bridging plates by welding headed studs to the bridging plates. The angles need not be 90 degrees but may vary by plus-25 degrees or minus-25 degrees from perpendicular; not all studs need be 90 degrees, and not all studs need form the same angle with the bridging plates. Holes or slots are provided in the bridging plates to accommodate transverse bars cast into the precast panels. Longitudinal bars are also cast into the precast traffic panels. A truss wire assists securing precast overhang panels to the precast traffic panels. To complete the construction on-site, cast-in-place (CIP) concrete is poured over the precast traffic panels and precast overhang panels, as well as filling gaps between ends of the precast traffic panels and the precast overhang panels. Transverse bars and longitudinal bars may be provided in the CIP concrete. In certain embodiments, prestressed wire strands and bridging plates remove the need for wide, thin bottom edges for a cast in place closure pour to connect the panels.
Yet another aspect of this disclosure are bridge systems, certain embodiments comprising:
a) one or more load-bearing, regular precast pocketed L-walls, each having a stem, a forebase, and a hindbase, with two pockets in the stem in a hindbase side of the stem;
b) a load-bearing, right-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall, each having a stem, a forebase, and a hindbase, with two pockets in the stem in a hindbase side of the stem;
c) a non-load-bearing, right-sided irregular precast non-pocketed L-wall;
d) a non-load-bearing, left-sided irregular precast L-wall;
e) load-bearing, left-sided irregular precast L-wall, each having a stem, a forebase, and a hindbase, with two pockets in the stem in a hindbase side of the stem;
f) a plurality of double-T members arranged and fastened together in at least two adjacent rows, with an equal number of double-T members in each row, each double-T member having a pair of webs, a span, and two flanges, and forming a plurality of webs, each of the plurality of webs having a proximal end and a distal end resting in one of the pockets;
g) the one or more load-bearing, regular precast pocketed L-walls being proximate a middle of the bridge system;
h) the load-bearing right-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall having one edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the non-load-bearing left-sided irregular precast L-wall;
i) the non-load-bearing right-sided irregular precast L-wall having one edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the load-bearing left-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall; and
j) the one or more load-bearing regular precast pocketed L-walls forming first and second edges, the first edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the load-bearing left-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall, and the second edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the load-bearing right-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall.
In certain embodiments the bridge systems may comprise a single load-bearing, regular precast pocketed L-wall. In certain embodiments the bridge systems may comprise the load-bearing right-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall having one edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the non-load-bearing left-sided irregular precast L-wall at an angle β, and the non-load-bearing right-sided irregular precast L-wall having one edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the load-bearing left-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall at the angle β, where the angle β ranges from about 20 to about 40 degrees. Certain other embodiments may comprise precast foundation slabs positioned under each of components (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e). In certain embodiments the bridge systems may comprise one or more auger piles securing the precast foundation slabs to soil under each of the precast foundation slabs. In certain other embodiments the bridge system may be devoid of auger piles. Methods of installing such bridge systems are considered another aspect of the present disclosure.
The proposed prestressed panels, L-walls, double-T members, and foundation slabs may be cast in a prestress manufacturing facility under a controlled environment with state-of-the-art production equipment and technology. The prestress concrete plant produces thousands of square feet per day in an efficient automated production line. The prestressed components can be produced ahead of schedule and delivered on a timely basis to improve the project schedule. The production plant is an indoor facility not subject to weather conditions that can affect any onsite construction activity. There are considerable cost and schedule savings to both the contractor and the owner by utilizing our prestress concrete components, systems, and methods. The time savings also affects the traveling public safety and delays by having shorter timeframes for construction detours, road closures and safety.
These and other features of the systems and methods of the disclosure will become more apparent upon review of the brief description of the drawings, the detailed description, and the claims that follow. It should be understood that wherever the term “comprising” is used herein, other embodiments where the term “comprising” is substituted with “consisting essentially of” are explicitly disclosed herein. It should be further understood that wherever the term “comprising” is used herein, other embodiments where the term “comprising” is substituted with “consisting of” are explicitly disclosed herein. Moreover, the use of negative limitations is specifically contemplated; for example, certain apparatus, systems, and methods may comprise a few physical components and features but may be devoid of certain optional hardware and/or other features. In certain systems and methods, for example, the bridge system may be devoid of wire cage reinforcements, or devoid of auger piles. Bridge systems may be devoid of components that would render them unsafe, according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards and other industry standards discussed herein. As used herein “generally planar” means nominally planar, that the panels may differ from being exactly planar by inclusions, imperfections, and the like in the concrete, as well as slight changes in thickness from edge to edge, for example 1 or 2 percent difference. As used herein “controlled environment”, also sometimes referred to as a critical environment, is a space where pressure, temperature, and humidity are controlled, and is separated from other operations. If there is chance that airborne particles may be a concern to the concrete curing process, standards for particle contamination may be considered, although this is rare. According to the National Precast Concrete Association, along with the right water/cementitious ratio, a controlled environment facilitates curing of freshy cast concrete, because hydration is a thermally dependent process. Higher temperatures (for example 80° F. and above) accelerates hydration, and low temperature slow it down. Ambient temperatures below 50° F. (10° C.) are not preferred, because when concrete falls below 40° F. (4.5° C.), hydration virtually stops. Further, while not strictly an environmental concern, by “controlled environment” we also mean ensuring raw ingredients meet quality standards, calculating the best mix design and training personnel on how to batch, place, and consolidate the concrete ingredients.
The manner in which the objectives of this disclosure and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached drawings in which:
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings may not be to scale and illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure. Furthermore,
In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the systems and methods disclosed herein may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. All U.S. published patent applications and U.S. patents referenced herein are hereby explicitly incorporated herein by reference, irrespective of the page, paragraph, or section in which they are referenced. Where a range of values describes a parameter, all sub-ranges, point values and endpoints within that range are explicitly disclosed herein.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure address the deficiencies in existing bridge systems and methods, particularly those with overhang traffic surfaces, and provide increased safety and reduced cost and complexity in comparison to existing systems and methods. The various system embodiments of the present disclosure comprise systems made largely of concrete elements, in certain embodiments precast and/or prestressed concrete elements. Systems and methods of the present disclosure introduce new concepts: use of precast, prestressed concrete panels supported by load bearing support structures, and use of precast, prestressed concrete double-T members supported by pocketed L-walls that are in turn supported by precast foundation slabs. These concepts greatly increase consistency of strength and life of concrete bridges, as well as safety during construction compared to existing systems in the marketplace.
Apparatus, systems, and methods of the present disclosure offer time saving on site for excavation, concrete work, foundations, assembly and backfill. Systems and methods of the present disclosure may be installed on site in a much shorter time frame compared with conventional bridge systems.
The primary features of the systems and methods of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which some of the construction and operational details, some of which are optional, will be further explained. The same reference numerals are used throughout to denote the same items in the figures. Those skilled in this art will know the basics of producing precast and prestressed concrete. Sources of background information include the Precast Concrete Institute (PCI); American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA); and American Society of Testing materials (ASTM), to name a few.
Certain panel embodiments, such as panel embodiment 100 illustrated schematically in
Referring to
Panel embodiment 100 may be described as having a generally planar upper panel portion 30, a generally planar bottom panel portion 32, and a generally planar central panel portion 33, with a concave cutout 34 on leading edge 3, trailing edge 5, and inner edge 36 of panel 100. Panel 100 may be cast concrete so that these panel portions are integral or separate. An overhang edge 38 of panel overhang section 10 is also illustrated schematically.
Table 1 provides broad and narrow ranges for various panel dimensions.
Panels described herein may be joined by pouring uncured concrete into the blocks or voids 18, 19, 20, and 22 after delivery and placement at the bridge site, and into voids between abutting or facing panels where the inside edges of two panels face each other, at the top of prestressed concrete girder support 16 for example (as illustrated schematically in
Different types of PC strand may be used, but they are typically specified according to the following parameters: structure (for example, 1×7, 1×2, 1×3, 1×19); strand diameter (from about 9 mm up to about 22 mm); relaxation, for example, no more than 2.5% @ 1000 hrs.; tensile strength, typically 1470 to 1960 MPa; yield strength, typically 1320 to 1760 MPa; elongation, not less than 3.5%; bonded or unbonded; materials, for example cold drawn carbon steel. PC strand is made and is typically tested in accordance with the following standards: ASTM A416 and ASTM A421 (USA); GB/T5224 (China); ISO6934; EN10138 (Europe), and the like.
In certain embodiments the panels, support members, L-walls, double-T members, and foundation slabs may be comprised of a suitable material or materials to withstand environmental conditions expected in the geographic region of installation. Such materials may be inert to human-hazardous vapors or gases, such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Suitable materials include various ceramic materials, such as concrete, metals and alloys, natural and man-made rubber compounds, elastomeric compounds, thermoplastic-elastomeric compounds, and the like, with or without fillers, additives, coupling agents, and other optional additives. Panels, support members, L-walls, double-T members, and foundation slabs useful in the systems and methods of the present disclosure should have sufficient strength to withstand any mechanical stress (compression, tensile, shear) or other loads imposed by the items connected to them, and stresses imposed by geologic faults in the region of installation and loads imposed by expected traffic. This desire for sufficient strength is balanced by the need to maintain light-weight and balance. Panels, support members, L-walls, double-T members, and foundation slabs should be capable of withstanding long term exposure to probable liquids and vapors, including hydrocarbons, solvents, brine, anti-freeze compositions, and the like, typically encountered with bridges. In certain embodiments, panels, support members, L-walls, double-T members, and foundation slabs may be rendered corrosion-resistant, water-resistant, freeze-resistant, and/or heat-resistant. Such material properties may be supplied by one or more coatings.
In certain other embodiments, the panels, support members, L-walls, double-T members, and foundation slabs need not take the shapes as illustrated schematically in the drawings. For example, there are many versions of panels that may be required, and many different support members are commercially available. Furthermore, the bridge systems could take any shape, such as linear, curvilinear, or combination thereof and the like, and may take on one or more levels, as long as the bridge system is able to carry out its intended function. It will be understood that such embodiments are part of this disclosure and deemed with in the claims.
Panels, support members, L-walls, double-T members, and foundation slabs, and various components and coatings for same, may be made using a variety of additive and/or subtractive processes, including molding, machining, and like subtractive processes, and/or subtractive processes such as net-shape casting (or near-net shape casting) using rapid prototype (RP) molds. Net-shape or near-net shape casting methods of making a variety of molds for producing a variety of complex products are summarized in patents assigned to 3D Systems, Inc., Rock Hill, S.C., U.S.A., for example U.S. Pat. No. 8,285,411. As summarized in the '411 patent, a number of technologies presently exist for the rapid creation of models, prototypes, and objects for limited run manufacturing. These technologies are generally called Solid Freeform Fabrication (“SFF”) techniques. Some SFF techniques include stereolithography, selective deposition modeling, laminated object manufacturing, selective phase area deposition, multi-phase jet solidification, ballistic particle manufacturing, fused deposition modeling, particle deposition, laser sintering, film transfer imaging, and the like. Generally, in SFF, complex parts are produced from a build material in an additive fashion as opposed to conventional fabrication techniques, which are generally subtractive in nature. For example, in most conventional subtractive fabrication techniques material is removed by machining operations or shaped in a die or mold to near net shape and then trimmed. In contrast, additive fabrication techniques incrementally add portions of a build material to targeted locations, layer by layer, in order to build a complex part. SFF technologies typically utilize a computer graphic representation of a part and a supply of a build material to fabricate the part in successive layers. According to the '411 patent, SFF technologies may dramatically shorten the time to develop prototype parts, can produce limited numbers of parts in rapid manufacturing methods, and may eliminate the need for complex tooling and machining associated with conventional subtractive manufacturing methods, including the need to create molds for custom applications. In addition, customized parts can be directly produced from computer graphic data (e.g., computer-aided design (CAD) files) in SFF techniques. Generally, in most techniques of SFF, structures are formed in a layer by layer manner by solidifying or curing successive layers of a build material. In selective laser sintering, a tightly focused beam of energy, such as a laser beam, is scanned across sequential layers of powder material to selectively sinter or melt powder (such as a metal or ceramic powder) in each layer to form a multilayered part. In selective deposition modeling, a build material is jetted or dropped in discrete droplets, or extruded through a nozzle, such that the build material becomes relatively rigid upon a change in temperature and/or exposure to actinic radiation in order to build up a three-dimensional part in a layerwise fashion. In another technique, film transfer imaging (“FTI”), a film transfers a thin coat of resin to an image plane area where portions of the resin corresponding to the cross-sectional layer of the part are selectively cured with actinic radiation to form one layer of a multilayer part. Certain SFF techniques require the part be suspended from a supporting surface such as a build pad, a platform, or the like using supports that join the part to the supporting surface. Prior art methods for generating supports are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,595,703; 6,558,606; and 6,797,351. The Internet website of Quickparts.com, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., a subsidiary of 3D Systems Inc., has more information on some of these techniques and materials that may be used.
Thus apparatus, systems, and methods described herein provide a consistent, low-cost, and safe way of constructing bridges, in particular those having overhang traffic portions employing one or more panels and support members, or those employing L-walls and double-T members, without workers having to work at great heights to construct the overhangs or other features Such methods are not only dangerous to workers, but are very expensive to construct. Systems and methods of the present disclosure avoid some or all these disadvantages of existing systems and methods.
Embodiments disclosed herein include:
A. Apparatus comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) a generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having a length L, a width W, a thickness t, a top surface, a bottom surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inner edge, and an overhang edge;
b) the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having a generally planar panel upper portion and a generally planar panel bottom portion substantially parallel to the generally planar panel upper portion, the generally planar panel upper portion and the generally planar bottom panel portion sandwiching a generally planar central panel portion that has a length less than l, and a width that is less than W;
c) the generally planar panel upper portion having same width W as the generally planar bottom panel portion, and having a length l that is less than the length L, while the generally planar bottom panel portion has a length L;
d) a concave cutout formed in the inner edge, the leading edge, and the trailing edge; and
e) the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having at least one block out or void for placing wire mesh cages for closure pour of concrete to connect the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel to a support.
B: A system comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels, each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels comprising:
b) at least one support beam attached to the plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels by a combination of wire and poured, solidified concrete.
C: A method of installing a bridge system, the method comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) delivering a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to an installation site, each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels having:
b) delivering one or more support beams to the installation site, each support beam having a support and a base;
c) positioning the plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels on the supports of the one or more support beams with an overhang panel section and a traffic panel section;
d) optionally backfilling over the bases of the at least one support beams; and
e) connecting the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to the support beams by positioning wire mesh cages in the at least one block out or void, pouring unsolidified concrete into the at least one block out or void, and curing the unsolidified concrete to form an overhang traffic surface.
D: Apparatus comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) a generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having a length L, a width W, a thickness t, a top surface, a bottom surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inner edge, and an overhang edge;
b) the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having at least one bridging plate cast into the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel and further secured therein by one or more studs;
c) the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having one or more block outs or voids for closure pour of cast-in-place concrete to connect the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel to a support, the cast-in-place concrete positioned around a central section of each of the one or more bridging plates.
E: A system comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels, each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels comprising:
b) at least one support beam attached to the plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels by a combination of wire and poured, solidified concrete.
F: A method of installing a bridge system, the method comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) delivering a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to an installation site, each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels having:
b) delivering one or more support beams to the installation site, each support beam having a support and a base;
c) positioning the plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels on the supports of the one or more support beams with an overhang panel section and a traffic panel section;
d) optionally backfilling over the bases of the at least one support beams; and
e) connecting the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to the support beams by positioning the at least one block out or void over the support beams, pouring unsolidified concrete into the at least one block out or void and around a central section of each bridging plate, and curing the unsolidified concrete to form an overhang traffic surface.
Each of the embodiments A, B, C, D, E, and F may have one or more of the following additional elements in any combination.
Element 1: a traffic panel section extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and from the inner edge to a line parallel with the inner edge, and an overhang panel section, the overhang section extending from the line parallel with the inner edge to the overhang edge.
Element 2: the traffic panel section is a major portion of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel.
Element 3: the at least one block out or void has a plan shape selected from octagonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, rectangular, round, elliptical, triangular, and trapezoidal.
Element 4: the at least one block out or void has an upper void length, an upper void width, a bottom void length, and a bottom void width, and wherein the upper void length is greater than the bottom void length, and wherein the upper void width is greater than the bottom void width.
Element 5: the line parallel with the inner edge bisects the at least one block out or void for placing wire mesh cages for closure pour of concrete.
Element 6: at least one anchor to bolt steel plate forms to the overhang edge of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel.
Element 7: an angle α equal to a radius angle of a horizontal roadway, wherein angle α ranges from about 1 to about 10 degrees.
Element 8: the angle α ranges from about 1 to about 5 degrees.
Element 9: one of the at least one support beams is attached through the at least one block out or void by the combination of wire and poured, solidified concrete.
Element 10: the at least one support beam is a prestressed concrete girder.
Element 11: the prestressed concrete girder comprises one or more vertical U-shaped steel wire reinforcements having a U-portion and two leg portions, wherein the U-portion extends into the poured, solidified concrete.
Element 12: each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels comprises a traffic panel section extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and from the inner edge to a line parallel with the inner edge, and an overhang panel section, the overhang section extending from the line parallel with the inner edge to the overhang edge.
Element: 13: the traffic panel section is a major portion of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels.
Element 14: the at least one block out or void has a plan shape selected from octagonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, rectangular, round, elliptical, triangular, and trapezoidal.
Element 15: the line parallel with the inner edge bisects the at least one block out or void for placing wire mesh cages for closure pour of concrete.
Element 16: methods wherein the delivering a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to an installation site comprises delivering a left side plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels and a right side plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels to an installation site;
G: A bridge system comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) one or more load-bearing, regular precast pocketed L-walls, each having a stem, a forebase, and a hindbase, with two pockets in the stem in a hindbase side of the stem;
b) a load-bearing, right-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall, each having a stem, a forebase, and a hindbase, with two pockets in the stem in a hindbase side of the stem;
c) a non-load-bearing, right-sided irregular precast non-pocketed L-wall;
d) a non-load-bearing, left-sided irregular precast L-wall;
e) load-bearing, left-sided irregular precast L-wall, each having a stem, a forebase, and a hindbase, with two pockets in the stem in a hindbase side of the stem;
f) a plurality of double-T members arranged and fastened together in at least two adjacent rows, with an equal number of double-T members in each row, each double-T member having a pair of webs, a span, and two flanges, and forming a plurality of webs, each of the plurality of webs having a proximal end and a distal end resting in one of the pockets;
g) the one or more load-bearing, regular precast pocketed L-walls being proximate a middle of the bridge system;
h) the load-bearing right-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall having one edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the non-load-bearing left-sided irregular precast L-wall;
i) the non-load-bearing right-sided irregular precast L-wall having one edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the load-bearing left-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall; and
j) the one or more load-bearing regular precast pocketed L-walls forming first and second edges, the first edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the load-bearing left-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall, and the second edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the load-bearing right-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall.
H: A method of installing a bridge system, the method comprising:
a) delivering a plurality of precast, prestressed concrete double-T members to an installation site, each of the precast, prestressed concrete double-T members comprising each double-T member having a pair of webs, a span, and two flanges, and forming a plurality of webs, each of the plurality of webs having a proximal end and a distal end:
b) delivering a plurality of precast foundation slabs to the installation site;
c) delivering to the installation site:
d) positioning components (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) on the plurality of precast foundation slabs;
e) backfilling over bases of components (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v);
f) positioning each of the plurality of precast, prestressed concrete double-T members adjacent at least one other of the plurality of precast, prestressed concrete double-T members, where the proximal ends and the distal ends of the plurality of webs of the plurality of precast, prestressed concrete double-T members are positioned in respective pockets; and
g) connecting each of the plurality of precast, prestressed concrete double-T members to at least one adjacent one of the plurality of precast, prestressed concrete double-T members.
Each of the embodiments F and G may have one or more of the following additional elements in any combination:
Element 17: the bridge system comprises a single load-bearing, regular precast pocketed L-wall.
Element 18: the load-bearing right-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall having one edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the non-load-bearing left-sided irregular precast L-wall at an angle β, and the non-load-bearing right-sided irregular precast L-wall having one edge positioned adjacent and fastened to a mating edge of the load-bearing left-sided irregular precast pocketed L-wall at the angle β, where the angle β ranges from about 20 to about 40 degrees.
Element 19: the bridge system comprises precast foundation slabs positioned under each of components (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e).
Element: 20: The bridge system comprises one or more auger piles securing the precast foundation slabs to soil under each of the precast foundation slabs.
Element 21: The bridge system is devoid of auger piles.
I. Apparatus comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) a generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having a length L, a width W, a thickness t, a top surface, a bottom surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inner edge, and an overhang edge;
b) the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having at least one bridging plate cast into the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel and further secured therein by one or more studs;
c) the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panel having a plurality of prestressed strands cast therein running generally parallel to the length of the panel, and welded wire reinforcement through substantially all of its length and width.
J: A system comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels, each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels comprising:
b) a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete overhang panels, each of the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete overhang panels comprising portions of the prestressed strands, with a minor percentage of the portion of the precast strands being unbonded; and
c) a support beam attached to the plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels at positions where the overhang edge and the overhang panels rest on the support beam by a combination of poured, cast-in-place solidified concrete and the prestressed strands.
K: A method of installing a bridge system, the method comprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of):
a) delivering a plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels and overhang panels as described in embodiment J to an installation site;
b) delivering one or more support beams to the installation site, each support beam having a support and a base;
c) positioning the plurality of generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels and overhang panels on the supports of the one or more support beams with an overhang panel section and a traffic panel section;
d) optionally backfilling over the bases of the at least one support beams; and
e) connecting the generally rectangular, precast, prestressed concrete panels and overhang panels to the support beams by pouring unsolidified concrete into voids around a central section of each bridging plate and around the prestressed strands, and curing the unsolidified concrete to form an overhang traffic surface.
From the foregoing detailed description of specific embodiments, it should be apparent that patentable apparatus, systems, and methods have been described. Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of describing various features and aspects of the systems and methods and is not intended to be limiting with respect to their scope. It is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and/or modifications, including but not limited to those implementation variations which may have been suggested herein, may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, one modification would be to take an existing bridge and modify it to remove existing features and install features described herein in accordance with the present disclosure. Another modification would be to supply the bridge panels with coatings or topping materials, for example suitable for urban use. In other embodiments, the bridge panels, L-walls, double-Ts, and foundation slabs may be mountable on trucks or other vehicles drivable by humans, or on self-driving trucks or autos.
This application is entitled to and claims the benefit of provisional application No. 63/243,273, filed Sep. 13, 2021, and provisional application No. 63/281,969, filed Nov. 22, 2021 under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), which provisional applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. This application may also be related to applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 11,155,988, issued Oct. 26, 2021.
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