Patent Application
20240133135
The present disclosure is directed to a self-cleaning expansion joint system for bridging a gap between spaced apart structural members. Additionally disclosed is an expansion joint having the self-cleaning expansion joint system mounted to underlying spaced-apart structural members. Constructions, such as roadway, highway, and bridges structures, incorporating the self-cleaning expansion joint system are further provided.
Dimensional changes occur between structural members in response to expansion and contraction due to, for example, temperature changes, shortening and creep caused by pre-stressing concrete members, seismic cycling, vibrations, deflections caused by live loads, longitudinal forces caused by wind loads, and vehicular traffic. A gap is purposefully provided between the adjacent structural members for accommodating these dimensional changes. These dimensional changes result in the expansion and contraction of the width of the gap between the spaced apart structural members. Expansion joint systems are positioned within the gap to accommodate the movements in the vicinity of the gap, but still permit flow of traffic across the gap.
Types of expansion joint systems include, but are not limited to, modular expansion joint systems and finger expansion joint systems. Current expansion joint systems require routine maintenance and cleaning due to, for example, the collection of runoff and debris because the debris can become embedded in the gap. This prevents movement and may cause damage to the overall expansion joint system. This maintenance and cleaning can be quite costly and lead to extensive roadway closures. Accordingly, there is a long felt need in the expansion joint industry for an improved expansion joint system that is capable of self-cleaning.
Provided is an expansion joint system having a first base member and a second base member. At least one base plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members and is upwardly sloped therefrom. A substantially horizontal movable plate is also engaged with at least one of the first and second base members.
Additionally provided is an expansion joint having a first structural member and a second structural member spaced-apart in the longitudinal direction from the first structural member. There is a first base member and a second base member. At least one base plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members and is upwardly sloped therefrom. A substantially horizontal movable plate is also engaged with at least one of the first and second base members.
Additionally provided is an expansion joint for a bridge or roadway having a first structural member and a second structural member spaced-apart in the longitudinal direction from the first structural member. A first base member is engaged with the first structural member and a second base member is engaged with the second structural member. At least one base plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members and is upwardly sloped therefrom. A substantially horizontal movable plate is also engaged with at least one of the first and second base members.
Certain illustrative embodiments of the expansion joint system, expansion joint, and bridge and roadway constructions are disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings and are for illustrative purposes only. The disclosed subject matter is not limited in its application to the details of construction or arrangement of the components illustrated in the drawings. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like components, unless otherwise indicated. The present disclosure will be more readily understood from the detailed description of illustrative embodiments presented below considered in conjunction with the drawings, of which:
The following text sets forth a broad description of numerous different embodiments of the present disclosure. The description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. It will be understood that any feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step, or methodology described herein can be deleted, combined with or substituted for, in whole or part, any other feature, characteristic, component, product, step or methodology described herein. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.
As used herein, the terms “about,” and “substantially,” and any other version thereof, or any other similar relative term, or similar term of approximation, are defined as being close to as understood by one having ordinary skill in the art.
As used herein, the term “engage,” and any other version thereof, or any other similar relative term, can mean that the components are fixedly connected (e.g., by non-limiting example, by welding), removably connected (e.g., by non-limiting example, by mechanical fasteners, anchors, removable connection points, etc.), or merely touching (e.g., by non-limiting example, one component resting upon another).
Disclosed is an expansion joint system having a first base member and a second base member. At least one base plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members and is upwardly sloped therefrom. At least one substantially horizontal movable plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members.
In an illustrative embodiment, the expansion joint system has a first base member and a second base member. A first base plate is engaged with the first base member and is upwardly sloped therefrom. A second base plate is engaged with the second base member and is upwardly sloped therefrom. At least one substantially horizontal movable plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members.
In an illustrative embodiment, a first movable plate is engaged with the first base member and a second moveable plate is engaged with the second base member. In an illustrative embodiment, a first movable plate is engaged with the first base plate and a second movable plate is engaged with a second base plate.
In an illustrative embodiment, the expansion joint system also has at least one stiffening member engaged with at least one base plate. In some embodiments, a first stiffening plate is engaged with a first base plate and a second stiffening plate is engaged with a second base plate. In an illustrative embodiment, the expansion joint system also has at least one stiffening member engaged with at least one base member. In some embodiments, a first stiffening plate is engaged with a first base member and a second stiffening plate is engaged with a second base member.
In an illustrative embodiment, the stiffening member can have a plurality of openings.
In an illustrative embodiment, the expansion joint system can have, by way of non-limiting example, a modular or finger configuration. In some illustrative embodiments, the expansion joint system has a finger configuration. When the expansion joint system has a finger configuration, the at least one movable plate can comprise a first movable plate comprising a plurality of fingers pivotally engaged with a first base member and/or first base plate and a second movable plate comprising a plurality of fingers pivotally engaged with a second base member and/or a second base plate. In some illustrative embodiments, the plurality of fingers on the first and second movable plates are interdigitated. In some illustrative embodiments, the plurality of fingers on the first and second movable plates are configured to extend longitudinally and in a substantially horizontal manner across an expansion joint gap located between two spaced-apart structural members.
In an illustrative embodiment, the expansion joint system can have a trough. The trough is configured to have a first end and a second end. The first end engages with the first base member and the second end engages with the second base member. In an illustrative embodiment, the trough is comprised of a flexible material. In certain other embodiments, the trough is comprised of a rigid material.
In an illustrative embodiment, the first and second base members are elongated C-shaped channels and/or “L-shaped” brackets. In further illustrative embodiments, the first and second base members are a pair of opposite facing elongated C-shaped channels and/or “L-shaped” brackets. In some illustrative embodiments the first and second base members further include a connector point capable of engaging with the first and second ends of a trough, respectively.
As used in the present disclosure, the term “longitudinal direction” means the direction of traffic across the expansion joint system. The term “transverse direction” means a direction which has at least a component extending perpendicular to the direction of traffic across the expansion joint system, or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Additionally disclosed is an expansion joint having a first structural member and a second structural member spaced-apart in the longitudinal direction from the first structural member. An expansion joint gap exists between the vertical marginal edges of the first and second structural members respectively. The expansion joint further has a first base member and a second base member. At least one base plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members and is upwardly sloped therefrom (e.g., away from the gap). At least one substantially horizontal movable plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members. The at least one substantially horizontal movable plate extends substantially horizontally across the expansion joint gap.
The first and second base members may be engaged with the underlying first and second structural members by at least partially embedding the first and second base members in the respective structural members, and/or by mechanical fasteners engaged both the base members and penetrating into the structural members. In certain embodiments, the mechanical fasteners can comprise elongated bolts having a head and a threaded portion depending downwardly from the head of the bolt. The first and second base members may comprise, for example, elongated C-shaped channels, a pair of opposite facing elongated C-shaped channels, substantially “L-shaped” brackets, and/or a pair of opposite facing elongated substantially “L-shaped” brackets.
In illustrative embodiments, the at least one movable plate may be engaged with only the first base member, only the second base member, or both the first and second base member. The at least one movable plate may be engaged with only a first base plate, only a second base plate, or both a first and second base plate. The at least one movable plate may comprise a first movable plate engaged with the first base member and/or first base plate and a second movable plate engaged with the second base member and/or second base plate.
In illustrative embodiments, the expansion joint may have at least one stiffening member. The stiffening member may be engaged with at least one base plate. In some embodiments, a first stiffening plate is engaged with a first base plate and a second stiffening plate is engaged with a second base plate. In an illustrative embodiment, the expansion joint system also has at least one stiffening member engaged with at least one base member. In some embodiments, a first stiffening plate is engaged with a first base member and a second stiffening plate is engaged with a second base member. In certain embodiments, the stiffening member may have a plurality of openings. The plurality of openings, for example, permit dirt and debris to fall into the gap.
In an illustrative embodiment, the expansion joint can have, by way of nonlimiting example, a modular or finger configuration. In some illustrative embodiments, the expansion joint system has a finger configuration. When the expansion joint system has a finger configuration, the at least one movable plate can comprise a first movable plate comprising a plurality of fingers pivotally engaged with a first base member and/or first base plate and a second movable plate comprising a plurality of fingers pivotally engaged with a second base member and/or a second base plate. In some illustrative embodiments, the plurality of fingers on the first and second movable plates are interdigitated. In some illustrative embodiments, the plurality of fingers on the first and second movable plates are configured to extend longitudinally and in a substantially horizontal manner across an expansion joint gap located between two spaced-apart structural members.
In an illustrative embodiment, the expansion joint can have a trough. The trough is configured to have a first end and a second end. The first end engages with the first base member and the second end engages with the second base member. In an illustrative embodiment, the trough is comprised of a flexible material. In certain other embodiments, the trough is comprised of a rigid material.
In an illustrative embodiment, the first and second base members are elongated C-shaped channels and/or “L-shaped” brackets. In further illustrative embodiments, the first and second base members are a pair of opposite facing elongated C-shaped channels. In other embodiments, the first and second base members have an “L-shaped” configuration. In some illustrative embodiments the first and second base members further include a connector portion capable of engaging with the first and second ends of a trough, respectively.
The underlying structural members may comprise, for example, concrete or steel bridge, roadway, and the like structural members.
Additionally disclosed is an expansion joint for a bridge or roadway having a first structural member and second structural member spaced-apart in the longitudinal direction from the first structural member. A first base member is engaged with the first structural member and a second base member is engaged with the second structural member. At least one base plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members and is upwardly sloped therefrom (e.g., away from the gap formed between the first and second structural members). At least one substantially horizontal movable plate is engaged with at least one of the first and second base members and may have a dimension sufficient to span a gap between the first and second structural members.
It is understood that the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative of the disclosure and that many variations of the above-described embodiments can be derived by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure. It is therefore intended that all such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
