Patent Application
20070196171
This is a continuation application of PCT/EP2005/008223, filed Jul. 28, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a bridging device for an expansion joint in a drivable structure, wherein the expansion joint is arranged between an abutment bearing and a superstructure.
Bridging devices, as used particularly for road bridges to compensate for changes in length of the superstructure caused in particular by thermal expansion, are known and used in various configurations. A distinction is particularly made between bridging devices with plates that are arranged inside the joint gap between and parallel to the edges of the joint and which are supported on traverses spanning the expansion joint (see for example DE 8816536 U1), on the one hand, and bridging devices without plates on the other hand. Bridging devices with plates are particularly suited for bridging expansion joints with comparatively large operating ranges (difference between maximum and minimum joint width). The tooth profiles arranged on the plates bring about a noise reduction when motor vehicles pass over the bridging device by preventing the noise generated by the impact of the wheels of the vehicle on the plates, while with bridging devices without tooth profiles the impact noise generated on contact of the vehicle wheels with the plates is eliminated.
Joint bridging devices featuring plates of the initially described type, in which the tooth profiles are detachably connected to the plates, are known from DE 9803004 A1, DE 4138347 C3 and DE 4433909 C2, for example. Bridging devices for expansion joints featuring a construction similar to the bridging devices described above are also known, yet differ from this type in that the tooth profiles are welded onto the plates (see DE 19705531 C2 and WO 02/27102 A1). As far as the connection of the sealing profiles to the plates is concerned, clamping profiles are widely used that are bilaterally attached to the plates, and where the edges of the sealing profiles are buttoned into (see DE 19803004 A1).
In addition to bridging devices of the initially described type, in which the plates are supported on the traverses spanning the expansion joint, designs with scissor-like support of the plates are also known, which, however, have not proven useful in practice and have therefore been rejected. In such known bridging devices (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,169 A), retaining plates are attached laterally on the plates and in conjunction with the lateral wall of the corresponding plate define a retainer for the border of a sealing profile. Toothed ledges arranged on the top of the plate protrude over the borders located in the retainers in the tooth area to secure the position of the sealing profiles.
The bridging devices of the initially described type and illustrated above have thoroughly proven their worth in practical applications as far as their basic functions are concerned. However, it would be desirable if they could be manufactured with less technical effort and at lower cost, and if the risk of impairment of utility resulting from dirt accumulation could be further reduced.
Against the background of the prior art outlined above, the present invention is based on the object of providing a particularly reliable bridging device in conformity with its type that can be manufactured and installed with especially little technical effort and at low cost.
The bridging device of the present invention has the following characteristics, namely edge profiles provided on one of the sides of both the abutment bearing and superstructure; at least one plate that extends in longitudinal direction of the joint between the abutment bearing and the superstructure, where the plate is supported by at least two traverses that span the expansion joint and rest on the abutment bearing and superstructure; a tooth profile arranged on the top side of at least one plate with its teeth projecting sideways on both sides and meshing with the teeth of the tooth profiles arranged on the adjacent plates or edge profiles; and elastic sealing profiles detachably connected to the corresponding edge profile and plate and/or both corresponding plates arranged between the edge profile on the side of the abutment bearing and the adjacent plate, the edge profile on the side of the superstructure and the adjacent plate and/or both adjacent plates.
An essential feature of the bridging device according to the present invention is that in a bridging device of the initially illustrated type, the two sealing profiles connected to the respective plates in the area of the parting plane are clamped between the at least one plate and the tooth profile attached thereto. To facilitate this clamping, two receiving grooves arranged between the at least one plate and the tooth profile attached to it in the area of the parting plane, where said receiving grooves are open sideways and bordered by the surface sections of the tooth profile and the plate, where the edge sections of the two sealing profiles connected to the respective plate are clamped to. According to the present invention, the at least one plate basically thus discloses a flat upper sealing surface and receiving grooves limited by recesses, which are arranged on the underside of the tooth profile facing the plate. This is particularly advantageous in this respect, as in this case the plates can be made of inexpensive, commercially available standard components or rolled profiles, in particular HEM, IPE or comparable double-T beams, which require no further processing regarding the connection of the sealing profiles.
The invention further discloses special advantages by having the tooth profiles according to the present invention detachably mounted on the plates. By attaching the sealing profiles to the respective plate by clamping the sealing profile in the area of the respective separating plane between the plate and the tooth profile mounted on it, the sealing profiles may be mounted with minimum effort, namely in the course of mounting the tooth profiles. With regard to reliability, it is thereby particularly advantageous that on account of their clamping according to the present invention, and despite low assembly requirements, the sealing profiles can be connected particularly firmly and thereby particularly reliably and durably to the plates, particularly in the case of the arrangement of (particularly undercut) receiving grooves in which the borders of the sealing profiles are positioned and clamped for their connection to the respective plate.
With respect to the costs related to the production of the bridging device, it has proven to be advantageous that bridging devices according to the present invention only require a particularly small number of individual components and may be manufactured resorting to standard and/or standardized, if necessary, modular components at comparably low cost to a larger extent than usual for prior art bridging devices in conformity with this type. For this purpose, it is important that on practical application of the present invention, neither separate clamping or fastening ledges with suitable grooves to receive the borders of the sealing profile nor separate retaining plates bordering the retaining grooves in conjunction with the lateral walls of the plates, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,169 A, are provided. Owing to the embodiment of the tooth profiles according to the present invention, not even the plates must be arranged with specific grooves or recesses to receive the borders of the sealing profiles (see above). As far as the reliability of the bridging device is concerned, it has proven to be advantageous that in the bridging devices according to the present invention the sealing profiles can be arranged in relatively close proximity below the tooth profiles. This counteracts the functional impairment of the bridging device posed by an accumulation of dirt on the sealing profile and thus contributes to increased reliability. An especially advantageous embodiment of the present invention in this respect is found in that the sealing profiles are configured as hump profiles (see DE 29907832 U1), where particularly at least 70% of the space defined by the reinforcement of the sealing profiles and both associated tooth profiles are located below the hump section.
Basically, the sealing profiles are preferably clamped continuously between the plate and tooth profile over their entire length. This means that individual sections in which the sealing profile is not clamped between the plate and the tooth profile—e.g. due to segmentation of the tooth profile with tolerance joints between the individual tooth profile segments (see below)—have a maximum width of 10 mm (0.39 inches), whereby the ratio of free sections of this type to the overall length of the sealing profile along the joint is maximum 10%. More advantageous and, in general, technically smoothly feasible are maximum widths of the individual free sections of 5 mm (0.20 inches), with the sections amounting to a maximum of 5%, preferably still a maximum of 2%, of the overall length of the sealing profile. Since the tooth profile therefore rests completely, or at least almost continuously, on the edge of the sealing profile, the sealing profile may be reliably clamped with low surface pressure that minimizes the effect of jolting. Even more significant for practical applications is the complete or at least essentially continuous cover of the borders of the sealing profile, so that neither dirt nor moisture may penetrate in any appreciable amount.
Compared to the design according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,169 A, the corresponding bridging device thus also excels by increased reliability since, according to the related prior art, the edge of the sealing profile is exposed between two teeth, which means that no secure mount for the sealing profile exists and, additionally, significant amounts of dirt and moisture may penetrate into the retainer of the edge of the sealing profile. This sealing problem and thus reliability problem can be prevented by practical application of the present invention.
The advantages illustrated above not only come in useful on initial assembly of the bridging device but are even more evident during maintenance operations, since maintenance may entail replacement of the sealing profiles if required, which is particularly easy and cost-effective to perform in bridging devices according to the present invention, as described above.
Another preferred embodiment of bridging devices arranged according to the present invention with tooth profiles detachably connected to the plates features tooth profiles screwed onto the plates, preferably from above. It is particularly advantageous if the screws are staggered with respect to the center of the respective plate (and/or of the tooth profile), so that they are arranged alternately in particularly close proximity to the two receiving grooves where the borders of the sealing profiles connected to the respective plate are clamped to. Laterally staggering the screws in this way is particularly advantageous for weight deflection of the forces acting on the tooth profiles into the plate.
The teeth of the tooth profile projecting sideways on both sides are preferably offset from one another by a half pitch. In particular, the teeth provided on both sides of the tooth profile can overlap each other so that each of the tooth bases are offset in relation to the center of the plates in the opposite direction than that of the adjacent teeth tips. This is particularly advantageous with respect to the operating range of the bridging device.
The tooth profile attached to the plate may consist of a series of multiple individual, particularly identical, tooth profile segments, the lengths of which may be equal to, for example, 1 time or preferably 2 times the value of the pitch of the row of teeth. This may prove to be advantageous, for example, to the extent that in this case a damaged tooth profile segment can be replaced with little effort and within the shortest period of time, which is particularly advantageous in the interest of minimal intervention in traffic during required maintenance work. If the tooth profile is configured as a series of individual tooth profile segments in this manner, the edges between two adjacent tooth profile segments preferably extend at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the plate.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tooth profile or, as the case may be, each tooth profile segment has a lower base plate section resting against the plate and designed in particular as strip-like in form and an upper tooth plate section. It is particularly preferable that the width of the base plate section—featuring no rows of teeth—essentially corresponds to the width of the upper section of the plate to which the tooth profile is connected. This is advantageous both with respect to the structural conditions and with respect to a reliable connection of the sealing profiles to the plates. Depending on the specific circumstances, the base plate section and the tooth plate section may be produced separately and then joined to form the corresponding tooth profile, in particular welded to one another, or the corresponding tooth profile may instead be produced as a single-piece design, for example through forging, casting or machining.
Finally, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pitch of the row of teeth is equal to to between 0.8 times and 1.5 times the width of the plate, where it is particularly preferable that the row of teeth is given an essentially sinusoidal or triangular shape with rounded tooth tips and rounded tooth bases. This creates particularly advantageous structural conditions, while at the same time resulting in particularly low noise emission when a vehicle travels across the bridging device.
It shall be pointed out only for clarification purposes that the term “parting plane” as defined in the scope of the present invention shall in no way be understood so as to limit the tooth profile and the plate to abuting in a plane in the geometric sense. Instead, the abutment bearing surface may also be arched, stepped, angled or otherwise configured to deviate from a geometric plane. Likewise, for the sake of clarity, it shall be pointed out that the assertion stating that the receiving grooves are open “on the side” is not be understood as to limit the receiving grooves to being configured in such a way that the sealing profiles extend more or less horizontally in the area of the openings of the receiving grooves. Instead, the sealing profiles may protrude from the receiving grooves in the area of the openings thereof more or less at an angle, particularly at a downward angle, if it appears expedient in the individual case, for example when the base gap section of the tooth profile protrudes sidewards over the plate.
The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference being made to a preferred exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the figures, wherein:
The bridging device 1, which is illustrated in the figures only to the extent that is required for the essential features of the present invention, for an expansion joint D arranged between an abutment bearing W and a superstructure features an edge profile R arranged on one of the sides of both the abutment bearing and superstructure in a known manner and anchored thereto in a known manner. A plurality of plates 2 extending in the longitudinal direction of the joint are arranged between the abutment bearing and the superstructure and are also supported in the known manner on two traverses spanning the expansion joint and resting on the abutment bearing and the superstructure. The plates 2 are each configured as HEM beams comprising an upper flange 3, a web 4 and, shown only in
A tooth profile 6 is arranged on the top side 5 of each plate 2 with the teeth 7 and 8 projecting sideways on both sides and meshing with the teeth of tooth profiles 6a of adjacent plates 2a in a known manner. In addition to this, several identical tooth profile segments 9 forming a series are screwed to the upper flange 3 of each plate 2, where each tooth profile segment is secured by means of four screws 10, which are screwed into corresponding threaded holes 11 provided in the upper flange 3. The screws are staggered in relation to the center 12 of the tooth profile 6. The teeth 7 on one side of the tooth profile 6 are offset by half a pitch in relation to the teeth 8 on the other side of the tooth profile. Furthermore, the teeth 7 and 8 on both sides of the tooth profile 6 overlap each other in such a way that each of the teeth bases 13 are offset in relation to the center 12 of the plates 2 in the opposite direction than that of the adjacent teeth tips 14.
Each tooth profile segment 9 features a lower base plate section 15, which rests on the upper flange 3 of the associated plate 2 and has an essentially strip-like shape, and an upper tooth plate section 16, which is bordered laterally by two rows of teeth. The width of the base plate section 15 corresponds to the width of the upper flange 3 of the associated plate 2.
While the upper end surface 17 of the plate 2 is essentially level across the entire width of the upper flanges 3, the tooth profile segments 9 on the bottoms of the base plate sections 15 have two recesses 18 disposed adjacent to the side edges. These recesses, in conjunction with the opposite surface of the plate 2, each form a receiving groove 20 open sideways and arranged between plate 2 and the tooth profile 6 in the area of the parting plane 19. An edge section 21 of the elastic sealing profile 22 is clamped in this receiving groove 20 bordered by the surface segments of the tooth profile 6 and plate 2, while said profile is connected to the adjacent plate 2a by its opposite edge section 21a in a corresponding manner.
The sealing profile 22 is configured as a hump profile. It comprises a joist 23 formed by two sides disposed in an essentially V-shaped formation and a hat-shaped hump section 24. The sealing profile is adjusted to the plates 2, 2a and the tooth profiles 6, 6a in such a way that at least 70% of the space defined by the joist 23 of the sealing profile 22 and the two associated tooth profiles 6, 6a is located beneath the hump section 24.
The edge 25 between two adjoining tooth profile segments 9 extends at an angle to the longitudinal direction L of the plate 2. The edges joint may be sealed using a suitable sealant, particularly a permanently elastic sealant.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04018146.3 | Jul 2004 | EP | regional |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP05/08223 | Jul 2005 | US |
| Child | 11668450 | Jan 2007 | US |
