Patent Grant
11060250
The present disclosure relates to an expansion joint system for covering a gap located between sections of a deck structure, such as, for example, roadways, bridges and parking decks. The present disclosure also relates an expansion joint with a gap located between deck sections and having the expansion joint system secured the deck sections to bridge the gap, and a method for installing the expansion joint system.
An opening or gap is purposely provided between adjacent structural members for accommodating dimensional changes within the gap occurring as expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, and/or seismic cycling and vibration. An expansion joint system is conventionally installed in the gap to provide a bridge across the gap and to accommodate the movements in the vicinity of the gap.
Bridge and roadway constructions are especially subject to relative movement in response to the occurrence of thermal changes, seismic events, and vehicle loads. This raises particular problems, because the movements occurring during such events are not predictable either with respect to the magnitude of the movements or with respect to the velocity of the movements. In some instances bridges have become unusable for significant periods of time, due to the fact that traffic cannot travel across damaged expansion joints.
Known expansion joint systems utilize a movable rubber seal and a steel cover plate to bridge an expansion joint gap. The steel cover plate is fixedly bolted to the rubber seal member. Because the cover plate and rubber seal are bolted together, movement of the expansion joint system in the traverse direction (the direction perpendicular to the direction of traffic across the expansion joint) is severely constrained. Limited transverse movement may only be accomplished through pushing and shearing of the rubber seals. What is needed in the industry is an expansion joint system that is able to accommodate larger movements in the transverse direction.
Provided is an expansion joint system comprising an elastomeric seal member attached to one of said spaced structural deck members, said elastomeric seal member having a recess formed along at least a portion of a side of said seal member, wherein said elastomeric seal member can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction, an elongated guide positioned within said recess of said elastomeric seal member and extending along at least a portion of said recess, and a rigid plate member having opposite facing top and bottom surfaces and a dimension sufficient to bridge said gap located between said spaced structural deck members, said rigid plate member having a groove formed in said bottom surface, wherein said groove engages said elongated guide and wherein said rigid plate member can slide in the transverse direction.
Further provided is an expansion joint comprising spaced structural deck members with a gap located between said structural deck members, an elastomeric seal member attached to one of said spaced structural deck members, said elastomeric seal member having a recess formed along at least a portion of a side of said seal member, wherein said elastomeric seal member can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction, an elongated guide positioned within said recess of said elastomeric seal member and extending along at least a portion of said recess, and a rigid plate member having opposite facing top and bottom surfaces and a dimension sufficient to bridge said gap located between said spaced structural deck members, said rigid plate member having a groove formed in said bottom surface, wherein said groove engages said elongated guide and wherein said rigid plate member can slide in the transverse direction.
Disclosed is an expansion joint sealing system for covering a gap located between two spaced-apart structural deck members. The expansion joint sealing system comprises an elastomeric seal member and a substantially rigid plate member. The elastomeric seal member is attached to an underlying structural deck member and is able to expand and contract in the longitudinal direction in relation to the flow of traffic (human or vehicular) across the expansion joint. The rigid plate member is slidingly engaged with the elastomeric seal member and is able to move in the transverse direction along a guide surface. The rigid plate is not fixedly attached to the elastomeric seal member with mechanical fasteners or any other fastening means. As the rigid plate member is not mechanically attached to the elastomeric seal member, the rigid plate and the rubber seal member are capable of moving independently of one another in the transverse direction. The elastomeric seal member may expand and contract in the longitudinal direction while the rigid plate member moves independently in the transverse direction.
As used in the present Specification, the term “longitudinal direction” means the direction of traffic, human or vehicular, across the expansion joint system.
As used in the present Specification, the term “transverse direction” means a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of traffic across the expansion joint system, or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
The term “elastomeric” refers for a material that possesses rubber-like properties, for example, an elastomeric material will substantially recover its original dimensions after compression and/or elongation. The elastomeric seal member may be molded from a material selected from natural rubber, synthetic rubbers and combinations of natural and synthetic rubbers. The expansion joint seal member may be manufactured from a thermoplastic elastomer. Suitable thermoplastic elastomers include, without limitation, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, polyisoprene rubber, polychloroprene rubber, ethylene-alkene copolymer rubbers, silicon rubber, nitrile rubber, and blends thereof. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the elastomeric seal member comprises an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. The molded elastomeric seal member may be provided in a wide variety of cross sections and geometric configurations. According to certain embodiments, the elastomeric seal member comprises a molded elastomeric panel that is capable of expanding and contracting in the longitudinal direction. According to other certain embodiments, the elastomeric seal member comprises a molded elastomeric panel that is capable of expanding and contracting in the longitudinal direction, and is also capable of limited movement in the transverse direction. According to certain embodiments, the elastomeric seal member may be reinforced with one or more rigid elements. The rigid elements may include metal, metal alloy or composite material plates or shapes.
According to certain embodiments, the elastomeric seal members of the expansion joint system comprise opposite facing top and bottom face surfaces. The elastomeric seal members also include opposite marginal sides that extend in the longitudinal direction and opposite marginal sides that extend in the transverse direction. According to certain embodiments, the transversely extending opposite marginal sides and the longitudinally extending opposite marginal sides form a substantially rectangular molded elastomeric sealing panel. The molded elastomeric sealing members are configured to permit them to be positioned in an end-to-end relationship in the transverse direction within the block out of an expansion joint.
A recess is formed in the thickness of the elastomeric seal member to carry a guide member for the rigid bridging plate. The recess is formed along at least a portion of one transversely extending opposite marginal sides of the elastomeric seal member. According to certain embodiments, the recess may comprise an elongated recess that extends along the entire length of one of the transversely extending opposite marginal sides of the elastomeric seal member. The molded elastomeric seal member is able to expand and contract in the longitudinal direction in relation to the direction of traffic across the expansion joint system.
The elastomeric seal member carries a guide member for the rigid bridging plate member of the expansion joint system. According to certain embodiments, the guide member comprises an elongated guide member that is located within the recess formed in the elastomeric seal member. According to certain embodiments, the elongated guide member is positioned within the recess of the seal member and extends along a portion of the length of the transversely extending marginal side of the elastomeric seal member. According to other embodiments, the elongated guide member is located in the recess of the seal member and extends along the entire length of the transversely extending marginal side of the elastomeric seal member. The guide member is fastened to the elastomeric seal member through one or more mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the guide member comprises an elongated guide bar that extends the substantially entirely or entirely along the length of the transversely extending opposite marginal side of the elastomeric seal member. The guide member may also be referred to as a “slide member” or “slide bar” as it provides a path for guided sliding or translation movement of the rigid bridging plate in the transverse direction independent of the movement of the elastomeric sealing panel.
It should be understood that the guide member may be attached to the elastomeric seal member by any suitable connector, connection means, or connection member. For example, and without limitation, the guide member may be attached to the elastomeric seal member by mechanical fasteners, adhesive, bonding agents, or any combination thereof. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the elongated guide member is attached to the molded elastomeric seal member by mechanical fasteners. Without limitation, and only by way of illustration, suitable mechanical fasteners include threaded bolts, nails, rivets, screws, and tacks. According to certain embodiments, the elongated guide member is attached to the elastomeric seal member by elongated threaded bolts that are passed through openings in the guide member and pass into at least a portion of the thickness of the elastomeric seal member.
The rigid plate member of the expansion joint system has opposite facing top and bottom face surfaces and a thickness extending between the top and bottom face surfaces. The rigid plate also has a dimension, such as a width, that is sufficiently large to bridge or otherwise span the gap that is located between the spaced structural deck members. The rigid plate members also include opposite marginal sides that extend in the longitudinal direction and opposite marginal sides that extend in the longitudinal direction. According to certain embodiments, the transversely extending opposite marginal sides and the longitudinally extending opposite marginal sides form a substantially rectangular rigid plate member.
The rigid plate member includes a groove that is formed in the bottom surface of the plate. According to certain embodiments, the groove extends along a portion of the length of the marginal side of the rigid plate member. According to other embodiments, the elongated groove member extends along the entire length of the marginal side of the rigid plate member.
The elongated groove of the rigid plate is configured to accept at least a portion of the elongated guide member to form a sliding engagement between the rigid plate and the elastomeric seal member. The groove may also be referred to as a receptacle, channel, track, slot, or passage in the rigid plate member that includes a suitable cavity or space for accepting at least a portion of the guide member. The sliding engagement of the rigid plate with the elastomeric seal member permits the rigid plate to slide or translate in the transverse direction independent of the elastomeric seal member. The rigid plate member is allowed to slide back-and-forth in the transverse direction along the elongated guide member.
The groove of the rigid bridging plate may further comprise a layer of a low friction sliding surface material. The use of the sliding surface on the surfaces of the groove promotes unimpeded sliding or translation of the rigid plate member in the transverse direction, and reduces or eliminates noise. Without limitation, and only by way of illustration, a suitable material layer for forming a sliding surface on the surfaces of the groove of the rigid plate member comprises a polymeric material layer. The polymeric material suitable for forming a sliding surface on the groove of the rigid plate may comprise any polymeric material having a lower coefficient of friction than the rigid plate. According to certain embodiments, the polymeric material suitable for forming a sliding surface on the groove of the rigid plate may comprise any thermoplastic polymeric material having a lower coefficient of friction than the rigid plate. According to certain embodiments, without limitation, a suitable polymeric material used for the sliding surface layer on the groove surfaces comprises a polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or similar material.
According to certain illustrative embodiments, expansion joint system comprises the elastomeric seal member having a recess formed along at least a portion of a side of the seal member. The elongated guide has a longitudinal axis and is positioned within the recess of the elastomeric seal member and extends along at least a portion of the recess. The rigid plate member has opposite facing top and bottom surfaces and a dimension that is sufficient to bridge a gap that is located between spaced structural deck members. The rigid plate member has an elongated groove that is formed in the bottom surface of the plate and that is configured to engage the elongated guide. The elongated groove may comprise a top border surface and spaced apart side border surfaces. The side border surfaces of the groove are sloped inwardly toward the midline or longitudinal axis of the elongated groove. The elongated guide may comprise a top surface and spaced apart side surfaces. The side surfaces are sloped inwardly toward the midline or longitudinal axis of the elongated guide. The sloped sides of the elongated groove and the sloped side walls of the elongated guide are in sliding contact to permit the rigid plate member to slide in the traverse direction, but to prevent separation of the rigid plate from the elastomeric seal member in the vertical direction.
The rigid plate member of the expansion joint system may comprise a metal plate, a metal alloy plate, or a composite material plate. According to certain embodiments, the rigid plate comprises a metal alloy plate. According to certain embodiments, the metal alloy plate is selected from a rolled steel plate, a stainless steel plate, or a galvanized steel plate. According to alternative embodiments, the rigid plate member comprises a metal plate member. According to other embodiments, the metal plate member comprises an aluminum plate member.
According to further illustrative embodiments, the elastomeric seal members of the expansion joint system comprise opposite top face and bottom face surfaces, and a thickness that extends between the opposite top and bottom faces. The elastomeric seal members also include opposite marginal sides that extend in the longitudinal direction and opposite marginal sides that extend in the transverse direction. According to certain embodiments, the elastomeric seal members include a first set of opposite marginal sides that extend in the longitudinal direction in a substantially parallel manner, and a second pair of opposite marginal sides that extend in the transverse direction in a substantially parallel manner. According to certain embodiments, the transversely extending opposite marginal sides and the longitudinally extending opposite marginal sides form a substantially rectangular molded elastomeric sealing panel. The molded elastomeric sealing members are configured to permit them to be positioned in an end-to-end relationship in the transverse direction within the block out region of an expansion joint.
The elastomeric sealing member may be provided with a wide variety of geometries for engaging a portion of the elongated guide member of the expansion joint system. By way of illustration, but not in limitation, the elastomeric sealing member may be provided with an elongated opening, such as channel, groove, passageway, slot, or track, formed from the bottom face of the elastomeric sealing member that extends upwardly through at least a portion of the thickness of the sealing member. The structure of the elongated opening is configured to accept a portion of the elongated guide member to engage the rigid plate member with the elastomeric sealing member.
According to certain illustrative embodiments, the guide member comprises a base portion having opposite marginal sides. The opposite marginal sides of the base portion extend in a substantially parallel pattern. An elongated plate guide portion extends upwardly from the upper surface of the base portion of the guide member. The elongated plate guide portion extends along one of the opposite marginal sides of the base portion of the guide member. The elongated plate guide portion is configured to be slidingly engaged with the rigid plate member of the expansion joint system. An upstanding flange member extends upwardly from the top surface of the base portion of the guide member, and extends along the length of the marginal side of the base member opposite of the elongated plate guide member. The upstanding flange member is configured to be engaged with the opening formed in the underside of the elastomeric sealing member. The guide member may optionally include one or more additional upstanding (ie, vertically extending) flanges positioned between the elongated guide member that is engaged with the rigid plate and the upstanding flange that is engaged with the opening of the elastomeric sealing member.
According to certain embodiments, the guide member may be a formed as a monolithic piece including the horizontally extending base portion and vertically extending plate guide portion and at least one vertically extending flange member. According to other embodiments, the guide member may be formed by attaching by mechanical means the elongated plate guide member and the vertically extending flange members to the top surface of the horizontally extending base portion of the guide member. The elongated plate guide member and vertically extending flanges may be attached to the upper surface of the base portion of the guide member by welding the separate material pieces together.
The expansion joint sealing system is installed within cavities or recessed sections that are formed in the spaced-apart structural deck members. These cavities or recessed sections are commonly referred to in the expansion joint field as “blockouts.” The expansion joint system is installed within the blockouts of the underlying spaced-apart structural deck members so that the top surfaces of the rigid cover plate and the elastomeric seal member of the expansion joint system are substantially flush with the horizontal top surfaces of the spaced-apart structural deck members to provide a smooth transition across the expansion joint gap.
Portions of one or both of the blockout regions may be filled with a suitable header material to further affix the elastomeric seal member and/or rigid cover plate member to the underlying structural deck members, and to provide a smooth transition across the expansion joint gap. Without limitation, the header material may comprise a polymeric or polymer modified aggregate materials. According to certain illustrative embodiments, the header material used in the blockout regions of the expansion joint comprises a polymer modified aggregate material. Without limitation, a suitable polymer modified aggregate material for use as the header material comprises an elastomeric concrete that is commercially available from Watson Bowman Acme Corporation (Amherst, N.Y., USA) under the trade designation WABOCRETE® II. WABOCRETE® II elastomeric concrete is a self-leveling 100% solids material comprising a two-component polyurethane and aggregate. WABOCRETE® II can bond to concrete, steel and aluminum surfaces, and is capable of monolithically bonding expansion joint sealing system elements to the underlying structural deck members. WABOCRETE® II is also capable of absorbing traffic loads and dispersing them substantially evenly into the structural deck members. A primer may be applied to the underlying concrete structural deck member(s) prior to the installation of WABOCRETE® II. A suitable primer material is commercially available from Watson Bowman Acme Corporation under the trade designation WABO® Bonding Agent.
The present disclosure can be further understood when read in conjunction with illustrative drawing
Still referring to
While the present expansion joint system, expansion joint and method of installing the expansion joint system, have been described above in connection with certain illustrative embodiments, including those embodiments shown in the various drawing figures, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function of the present embodiments without deviating therefrom. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments of the invention may be combined to provide the desired characteristics. Variations can be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the attached claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 16/114,875 filed Aug. 28, 2018, which claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application For Patent Ser. No. 62/560,002, filed Sep. 18, 2017, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
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| Entry |
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| Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 16/114,875 dated Dec. 6, 2018. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200002906 A1 | Jan 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62560002 | Sep 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16114875 | Aug 2018 | US |
| Child | 16566770 | US |
