Removable dowel connector and system and method of installing and removing the same
First Claim
1. A connector for functionally coupling adjacent pavement slabs, the connector comprising:
- a connector having an axial opening therethrough, the axial opening defining an interior surface of the connector; and
an engagement surface configured on the interior surface within the axial opening,wherein a portion of the connector is adapted to be removably embedded in one slab and a remaining portion of the connector is adapted to be removably embedded in an adjacent slab.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pre-fabricated pavement slab installation and replacement system is provided. The system includes a connector having an axial opening therethrough and engagement surface within the opening. The system further includes a pavement slab and an adjacent pavement slab, wherein a portion of the connector is embedded in the pavement slab and a remaining portion of the connector is exposed. The adjacent pavement slab has an interconnection slot, that can cover the remaining portion of the exposed connector. The system further provides that under the condition that the pavement slab and the adjacent pavement slab are cut apart, the connector is cut into a first half and a second half, wherein the first half of the connector contains the first engagement component and the second half of the connector contains the second engagement component. The first half of the connector can be subsequently removed by engaging the engagement surface.
36 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A connector for functionally coupling adjacent pavement slabs, the connector comprising:
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a connector having an axial opening therethrough, the axial opening defining an interior surface of the connector; and an engagement surface configured on the interior surface within the axial opening, wherein a portion of the connector is adapted to be removably embedded in one slab and a remaining portion of the connector is adapted to be removably embedded in an adjacent slab. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for installing and removing a connector in adjacent pavement slabs, the system comprising:
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a connector having an axial opening therethrough; an engagement surface within the axial opening, a pavement slab, wherein a portion of the connector is embedded in the pavement slab and a remaining portion of the connector is exposed; an adjacent pavement slab having an interconnection slot, wherein under the condition that the adjacent pavement slab is positioned adjacent the pavement slab, the interconnection slot covers the remaining portion of the exposed connector; and a binder material, the binder material being introduced into the interconnection slot to bind the remaining portion of the connector to the adjacent pavement slab. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for installing a connector in a pavement slab, the system comprising:
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a pavement slab having a vertical edge; a hole in the vertical edge; and a connector having an axial opening therethrough, the connector having an engagement surface within the axial opening, wherein a portion of the connector is adapted to be inserted into the hole in the pavement slab such that the engagement surface resides within the hole, and wherein a remaining portion of the connector is exposed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification