Rectangular Load Plate

• US 20080014018A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nigel Parkes, Russell Boxall
• Inventors: Boxall, Russell, Parkes, Nigel
• Granted Patent: US 7,736,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/56
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/14 Dowel assembly ; Design or construction of reinforcements in the area of joints coupling devices for prefabricated units E01C5/005; combined with characteristic packings E01C11/08 - E01C11/12; removable holders E01C23/045

Abstract

A generally rectangular load plate for transferring loads between a first cast-in-place slab and a second cast-in-place slab separated by a joint. The load plate being adapted to transfer load between the first and second slabs directed essentially perpendicular to the intended upper surface of the first slab, and allowing relative movement between adjacent concrete slabs along the joint between the slabs with minimal joint opening between the slabs. A pocket former embedded within the first slab may also be included to position the load plate and create void space on the sides of the load plate to permit the relative movement. A compressible material along the side of the load plate may also be used to permit the relative movement. Neither the void space created by the pocket former nor the compressible material are dependent upon the existence of a significant gap in the joint between the concrete slabs.

Claims

1. A system for transferring loads across a joint between concrete on-ground cast-in-place slabs, the system comprising:

a first concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab;

a second concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab;

a joint separating the first and second slabs, at least a portion of the joint being initially defined by an inner surface of an edge form, wherein an essentially planar upper surface of the first slab is essentially perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form, and a longitudinal axis of the joint is formed by an intersection of the inner surface of the edge form and the upper surface of the first slab;

a generally rectangular load plate having upper and lower surfaces;

a pocket former for receiving the load plate with collapsible fins that position the load plate during installation

whereby a first end of the load plate protrudes into the pocket former, and a second end protrudes into the second slab such that the load plate transfers between the first and second slabs a load applied to either slab directed essentially perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab; and

whereby relative movement along longitudinal axis of the joint between the concrete slabs is permitted when fins of the pocket former collapse to allow the load plate to close the void space created by the fins.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the load plate has a width measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the joint and a length measured parallel to the upper surface of the first slab;

and the width of the load plate is essentially greater than or equal to the length of the load plate.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the load plate measured perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab is essentially less than one-eighth of a largest width of the load plate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the load plate is essentially square.

5. Apparatus for use in transferring a load across a joint between first and second cast-in-place slabs, the joint having a essentially planar joint surface essentially perpendicular to an essentially planar intended upper surface of the first slab, the apparatus comprising:

a pocket former adapted to be embedded within the first slab such that an essentially planar top surface and a essentially planar bottom surface of the pocket former are essentially parallel to the intended upper surface of the first slab, the top and bottom surfaces of the pocket former each having a width parallel to an intersection between the joint surface and the upper surface of the first slab;

a generally rectangular load plate having essentially planar upper and lower surfaces, the load plate being adapted to be inserted into the pocket former, the remaining portion of the load plate being adapted to be embedded in the second slab; and

the pocket former adapted to position the load plate when inserted leaving void spaces on each end of the load plate to allow relative movement of the load plate within the pocket former with respect to the concrete slab the pocket former is encased within, along the longitudinal axis of the joint;

the load plate and the pocket former being adapted to transfer between the first and second slabs any load applied to either the first or second slab in a direction perpendicular to the intended upper surface of the first slab.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pocket former has collapsible fins for positioning the load plate and creating void spaces on the sides of the load plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a second pocket former with collapsible fins is used on the end of the load plate protruding into the second concrete slab.

8. A system for transferring loads across a joint between concrete on-ground cast-in-place slabs, the system comprising:

a first concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab;

a second concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab;

a joint separating the first and second slabs, at least a portion of the joint being initially defined by an inner surface of an edge form, wherein an essentially planar upper surface of the first slab is essentially perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form, and a longitudinal axis of the joint is formed by an intersection of the inner surface of the edge form and the upper surface of the first slab;

a generally rectangular load plate having upper and lower surfaces;

a compressible material on the sides of a first end of the load plate;

whereby the first end of the load plate protrudes into the first slab, and a second end protrudes into the second slab such that the load plate transfers between the first and second slabs a load applied to either slab directed essentially perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab;

whereby relative movement along longitudinal axis of the joint between the concrete slabs is permitted when the compressible material condenses under loading;

the load plate having a width measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the joint and a length measured parallel to the upper surface of the first slab.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the width of the load plate is essentially greater than or equal to the length of the load plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein an anti-friction material on the upper and lower surfaces and on the end of the load plate, is used to prevent bonding of the load plate to the second concrete slab.

11. A load plate kit having component parts capable of being assembled during creation of a joint between first and second cast-in-place slabs, the joint being initially defined by an inner surface of an edge form, a substantially planar intended upper surface of the first slab being substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form, the kit comprising:

a. a mounting plate adapted to be attached to the edge form;

b. a pocket former adapted to be attached to the mounting plate such that a substantially planar top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface of the pocket former protrude into a space to be occupied by the first slab, the top and bottom surfaces of the pocket former being substantially parallel to the intended upper surface of the first slab, the top and bottom surfaces of the pocket former each having a width parallel to an intersection between the edge form and the intended upper surface of the first slab; and

c. a generally rectangular load plate, having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, the end being adapted to be inserted into the pocket former, the upper and lower surfaces of the first end adapted to cooperatively engage the substantially planar upper and lower surfaces of the pocket former, the load plate and pocket former being adapted to transfer between the first and second slabs a load applied to either slab, the load being directed substantially perpendicular to the intended upper surface of the first slab after;

i. the first slab has been poured and has hardened,

ii. the edge form and mounting plate have been removed from the first slab,

iii. the end of the load plate has been inserted into the pocket former such that a remaining portion of the load plate protrudes into a space to be occupied by the second slab, and

iv. the second slab has been poured and has hardened.

12. The kit of claim 11 wherein the pocket former and the end of the load plate each have a depth perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form, the width of the pocket former being substantially greater than the width of the end at each corresponding depth along the end and the pocket former, such that the end can move within the pocket former substantially parallel to the intended upper surface of the first slab.

13. The kit of claim 12 wherein the pocket former further comprises means for initially centering the generally rectangular the load plate within the width of the pocket former.

14. The kit of claim 12 wherein the pocket former further comprises:

a plurality of deformable centering fins for initially centering the generally rectangular end of the load plate within the width of the pocket former.

15. The kit of claim 11 wherein the load plate further comprises a thickness measured perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab, the thickness being substantially less than one-eighth of a largest width of the load plate.