Patent Application
20110113701
The present invention relates, in general, to bridge structures and, more particularly, this invention relates to a device for attaching a haunch carrier to a top surface of a support beam employed within the bridge structure.
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As is generally well known in the art of bridge structures, haunch carriers are required to attach bridge deck form to beam supports manufactured either from steel or concrete. Thus, haunch carrier is positioned along the edge of the beam support and is fastened to a series of L-shaped members manufactured from steel and attached along edge or edges of the beam support. Upright gusset is welded to each L-shaped member in order to achieve required rigidity.
However, it has been determined that improvements are needed in order to reduce installation costs of attaching haunch carriers as well as to accommodate use of bridge decks manufactured from polymers.
The invention provides a unitary device for attaching at least one haunch carrier to a support beam of a bridge structure. The unitary device includes a first portion having a first substantially planar surface thereof abutting a top generally horizontal surface of the support beam when the device is positioned for attaching the at least one haunch carrier. A second portion is also provided and has a first end thereof disposed at a first end of the first portion. The second portion extends upwardly and generally perpendicular relative to the first portion. The first end of the first portion is disposed in close proximity to one exterior edge of the support beam. There is also a third portion having a first end thereof disposed at an opposed second end of the second portion and having an opposed second end thereof disposed on an opposed second substantially planar surface of the first portion. The third portion is disposed at a first predetermined angle relative to the first portion and at a second predetermined angle relative to the second portion. An aperture is provided and is formed through a thickness of the second portion. The aperture is disposed in a generally vertical plane when the device is positioned for attaching the at least one haunch carrier.
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a device for attaching at least one haunch carrier to a support beam of a bridge structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching at least one haunch carrier to a support beam of a bridge structure that can be employed with either concrete or steel beams.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching at least one haunch carrier to a support beam of a bridge structure that has a first portion engaging the top surface of the beam, the second portion extending upwardly from the first portion and the third portion disposed at an angle and connecting the ends of the first and second portions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching at least one haunch carrier to a support beam of a bridge structure that has an aperture for operative alignment with an aperture in the haunch carrier.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching at least one haunch carrier to a support beam of a bridge structure that can be manufactured from different materials.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching at least one haunch carrier to a support beam of a bridge structure reduces installation costs.
In addition to the several objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of specificity above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
The present invention is illustrated and described in combination with a bridge structure, generally designated as 10. Such bridge structure 10 includes at least a pair of spaced apart beam members 12. Each of such at least a pair of spaced apart beam members 12 has a generally horizontal top surface 14 defined by a pair of longitudinal top edges 16 and 18. The bridge structure 10 also includes at least one haunch carrier 20 which is described in this invention as having an L-shaped cross-section in a direction transverse to its length and a plurality of spaced apart apertures 24 formed through a thickness of a vertically disposed leg 22. The haunch carrier 20 is positioned at inner longitudinal top edges of the adjacent beam members 12 so as to support bridge form deck 26.
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its embodiments, herein depicted within
Reference is now made, to
The device 30 also includes a second portion 40 having a first end edge 42 thereof disposed at a first end edge 38 of the first portion 32. The second portion 40 extends upwardly and generally perpendicular relative to the first portion 32. The second portion 40 also a pair of substantially planar spaced apart surfaces 44 and 46 that define a thickness of the second portion 42. A second end edge 48 is also provided and is essentially a top edge of the second portion 40 when the device 30 is positioned on the top surface 14.
A third portion 50 is also provided and has a first end edge 52 thereof disposed at an opposed second end edge 48 of the second portion 40 and has an opposed second end edge 54 thereof disposed on or in close proximity to the opposed second substantially planar surface 36 of the first portion 32. The third portion 50 is disposed at a first predetermined angle relative to the first portion 32 and at a second predetermined angle relative to the second portion. The angular disposition of the third portion 50 reinforces the device 30 and provides structural rigidity thereof. The sizes of first and second angles are determined based on the particular size of the haunch carrier 20 as well as to enable fastening thereof to the device 30 as will be explained below.
Preferably, each of the first, second and third portions, 32, 40 and 50 respectively, is a plate forming a hollow interior 58 of the device 30. It is further preferred that the first, second and third portions, 32, 40 and 50 respectively, have identical thicknesses so as to enable manufacturing of the device 30 from a single piece of metal, plastic or fiber material by one of bending, stamping, extrusion or casting processes. The presently preferred material of the device 30 is steel and the presently preferred method is bending. Accordingly, the free end of the third portion 50 is secured to the first portion 32 with a weld 76.
There is an aperture 60 that is formed through the thickness of the second portion 40. The aperture 60 disposed in a generally vertical plane when the device 30 is positioned for attaching the at least one haunch carrier 20. Preferably, the aperture 60 has a generally cross shape so as to allow vertical adjustments of the haunch carrier 20 as well as to accommodate manufacturing position tolerances of the aperture 60 and the spaced apart apertures 24 in order to receive threaded fastener 29 therethrough.
It is contemplated that the first aperture 60 may be provided as a threaded aperture, as best shown in
In further reference to
Combination of the nut 66 and threaded fastener 29 having a machine thread has been found advantageous, relative to screw-type fasteners, in accommodating high reaction forces and long spans of bridge structure 10.
It is also within the scope of the instant invention to retain the threaded nut 66 on the inner surface 46 of the second portion 40 in operative alignment with the aperture 60 either rigidly by way of welding or movably by way of a cage 68.
The above describes device 30 is suitable for secure attachment, by welding or any other suitable process, to the beam member 12 manufactured from metal.
When the device 30 is to be used with the beam member 12 manufactured from concrete, the device 30 further includes a flange 70 having a first end 72 thereof disposed on or in close proximity to the first substantially planar surface 34 of the first portion 32, between the ends 38, 39 thereof. The flange 70 extends downwardly and generally perpendicular relative to the first portion 32 in spaced substantially parallel relationship to the second portion 40. The flange 70 may be also provided with an anchor aperture 74 formed through a thickness thereof. The anchor aperture 74 receives concrete material therewithin, thus securing the device 30 within the top portion of the beam member 12.
The above described device 30 is suitable for use along one edge of the beam member 12 so as to attach a single haunch carrier 20.
The instant invention also contemplates that the device 30 is operative to span the entire width of the top surface 14 of the beam member 12 either to attach a single or, preferably, a pair of haunch carriers 20.
Now in a particular references to
When the device 30 is to be employed for attachment of the pair of pair of haunch carriers 20 to the concrete beam member 12, the device 30 may include a second flange 70 disposed adjacent the second edge 39 of the first portion 32 and spaced apart from the first flange 70.
It is also contemplated that a pair of devices 30 can be connected together at ends carrying the end edges 39 thereon either rigidly by way of welding or fastened by way of fasteners 39′ passed through aperture 39″ formed through first portion 32 that may be also provided as an elongated slot to accommodate manufacturing tolerances. Employment of fasteners 39′ is also advantageous when the device 30 is manufactured from materials that are not suitable for welding, for example, when at least one surface of the device 30 has a polymer material coating 78, such a polyethylene or the like, adhered thereto. Advantageously, the fastener 39′ can be employed with the device 30 of
Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
