Highway joint with spring torsion bar

• US 3,972,640 A
• Filed: 09/16/1974
• Issued: 08/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raphael W. Miller
• Original Assignee: Raphael W. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Raphael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Byers, Jr., Nile C.
• Application Number:
  US05/506,470
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 404/47, 404/60, 404/50, 404/51, 404/53, 404/34, 404/62, 404/63, 404/52, 404/34, 404/40, 404/48
• US Class Current: 404/62
• 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 highway joint system, and the method of forming the same, wherein bars are employed between adjacent concrete highway sections having obliquely disposed end joints imposing a biasing force upon the sections during the occurrence of section lateral displacement due to expansion. The joint system utilizes biasing bars which may employ torsion forces for realigning the highway sections after expansion thereof, and the system contemplates the utilization of a tongue and groove interconnection in conjunction with the bars to prevent "buckling" and other misalignment at concrete highway joints. A V-shaped divider plate is employed to define the tongue and groove relationship, and this plate supports the biasing bars, and is supported by a framework capable of releasable attachment to the bars.

Claims

1. A concrete highway joint system comprising, in combination, substantially planar adjacent concrete highway sections having abutting ends defining a joint, said ends being obliquely disposed in a horizontal direction with respect to the length of said sections, a plurality of deflectible, resilient, elongated biasing members embedded in said sections each having end regions exposed to the concrete and a central region, said end regions of a common biasing member being embedded in different sections and said central region being located adjacent and bridging said joint on each side thereof, said elongated biasing members comprising torsion bars, said end regions being transversely disposed to the associated central region in a direction transverse to the plane of said highway sections whereby relative lateral displacement of said highway sections produces a torsional force within said central regions, and a substantial radial clearance defined between said concrete sections and said bars'"'"' central region by an annular resilient jacket encompassing said biasing members'"'"' central region permitting lateral bending of said regions with respect to the length of said members and a relative internal displacement of adjacent sections, said clearance being sufficient to permit said central region bending without damaging the concrete of said sections adjacent said joint.

2. A dowel bar for concrete highway joints comprising, in combination, an elongated member of steel having a predetermined elasticity, said member having a central region and exposed end regions transversely disposed to said central portion wherein said member comprises a torsion bar, and a resilient yieldable jacket formed of an elastomer encompassing said central portion having a length and radial wall thickness sufficient to permit transverse bending of said end regions relative to said central region within the elastic limits of said member when said bar is entirely embedded in concrete.

3. A divider for substantially planar concrete highway sections comprising, in combination, an elongated plate of V cross-sectional configuration defining an apex, a plurality of tubular openings defined in said plate spaced along the length thereof and extending through said apex, said openings comprising dowel bar support means having an axis perpendicular to the length of said plate, a bendable dowel bar supported within each of said openings having a central region located within the associated opening and end regions disposed on opposite sides of said plate, said dowel bar end regions being transversely disposed to said central regions in a direction transverse to the plane of said highway sections, said bars constituting torsion bars, a tubular jacket of yieldable material encompassing said bar'"'"'s central region only snugly received within the associated tubular opening and extending from each side of said associated opening defining a clearance between said central region and the concrete of the associated highway sections when said divider is embedded therein permitting lateral bending of said dowel bars in said central region, and plate support means for supporting said plate wherein said V configuration is disposed upon its side to form a tongue and groove joint between adjacent highway sections, said plate support means comprising a framework engaging said plate and having a bar support extending beyond at least one side of said plate, said bar support defining an eye encircling the end region of a bar and including a releasable connection for releasable attachment to a dowel bar adjacent an end region comprising a first member partially defining an eye having a hook end region and a second member defining the remainder of an eye having an extended end region adapted to be received within said hooked end region whereby said first and second members together define a releasable dowel bar encircling eye.

4. The method of interconnecting concrete highway sections having abutting ends defining a joint obliquely disposed in a horizontal direction to the length of the sections with a plurality of elongated torsion bars each having end regions and a central region, said end regions including torsion producing elements transversely disposed to the length of the associated bar for providing a torsion force within the associated bar upon lateral displacement of adjacent highway sections, comprising the steps of embedding a plurality of elongated torsion bars in adjacent sections bridging the joint wherein the central region of said bars extends through the joint, and defining a clearance between said bars'"'"' central region and the concrete of said sections adjacent the joint sufficient for permitting lateral displacement of adjacent sections at the joint without damage to the concrete of said sections and permitting deflection of said bars at said central regions with respect to said end regions.