Support for load transfer device for concrete constructions

• US 6,019,546 A
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meadow Burke, LLC (CRH PLC)
• Original Assignee: Meadow-Burke Products
• Inventors: Ruiz, Hector G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LISEHORA, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/143,743
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 404/70, 404/134, 404/135, 404/136
• US Class Current: 404/134
• 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

The invention relates to supports for a device for transferring weight loads from one concrete structure to another. The device is particularly suited for concrete highway construction. The supports are used to position joint dowels that extend across paving joints between adjoining concrete slabs. The supports comprise a first and second support each positioned on opposing sides of the paving joint. The first support comprises a pair of legs that holds one end of the dowel therebetween and the dowel is then manually locked to that support by a pin lock.

Claims

1. Supports for a load transfer device comprising:

a first support comprising;

a first member;

an element comprising a first leg and a second leg, each leg having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first leg being connected to said first end of said second leg, said first leg being attached to said first member proximal said first end of said first leg, said first leg having a first bend formed therein intermediate said first end of said first leg and the point at which said first leg is attached to said first member, said second leg being attached to said first member proximal to said first end of said second leg, said second leg having a second bend formed therein intermediate said first end of said second leg and the point at which said second leg is attached to said first member, said first ends of said first and second legs being spaced apart for receipt of a dowel of predetermined diameter therebetween;

a second support spaced apart from said first support, being configured for support of a dowel; and

a pin lock sized and configured to engage the interior portion of said first and second bends of said element, said pin lock comprising a rod, having a first section that engages one of said first and second bends of said element and a second section that engages the other one of said first and second bends of said element, said first and second sections of said rod being general cylindrical and having an exterior surface, said rod having a third section intermediate said first section and said second section, a portion of said third section extending outwardly beyond said exterior surface of said first second sections, whereby then a dowel is mounted to said first support, upon rotation of said rod said outwardly extending portion of said third section frictionally engages the dowel locking the dowel to said first support.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said first ends of said first and second legs are contiguously joined to one another by a curved portion.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said first support comprises a plurality of elements attached to said first member, each said element of said plurality of elements being spaced apart from one another and each being configured to receive a dowel therein, and said second support being configured to support a plurality of dowels.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein said second support comprises;

a second member; and

a part comprising a pair of arms, each arm having a first end and a second end, and said first ends of said arms being connected to one another, each arm of said pair of arms being attached to said second member proximal said first end of each said arm, said pair of arms being configured for receipt of the dowel therethrough.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein said first ends of said pair of arms are contiguously joined to one another by an arcuate portion.

6. A device as in claim 4, wherein said first support and said second support each comprise a plurality of elements spaced apart from one another that are attached to said first member of said first support and said second member of said second support, and a plurality of parts, one of said plurality of parts being attached to said first member of said first support intermediate each pair of said elements attached to said first member, and one of said plurality of parts being attached to said second member of said second support intermediate each pair of said elements attached to said second member, whereby one end of a dowel is received by a part on one of said first and said second supports and the other end of the dowel is received by an element on the other one of said first and said second supports.