Removable dowel connector and system and method of installing and removing the same
First Claim
1. A method of removing and replacing a pavement slab, the method comprising:
- cutting between a pavement slab and an adjacent pavement slab, wherein the cutting cuts a hollow connector into first and second parts positioned in the pavement slab and the adjacent pavement slab, respectively;
vertically removing the adjacent pavement slab from next to the pavement slab to expose the first part of the hollow connector in the pavement slab;
removing the first part of the hollow connector from the pavement slab;
installing a full-size connector in the place of the first part of the hollow connector that was removed from the pavement slab;
removing the second part of the connector from the adjacent pavement slab;
cleaning out the interconnection slot in the adjacent pavement slab; and
replacing the adjacent pavement slab next to the pavement slab by vertically lowering the adjacent pavement slab next to the pavement slab until the interconnection slot in the adjacent pavement slab covers the full-size connector in the pavement slab.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
32 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of removing and replacing a pavement slab, the method comprising:
-
cutting between a pavement slab and an adjacent pavement slab, wherein the cutting cuts a hollow connector into first and second parts positioned in the pavement slab and the adjacent pavement slab, respectively; vertically removing the adjacent pavement slab from next to the pavement slab to expose the first part of the hollow connector in the pavement slab; removing the first part of the hollow connector from the pavement slab; installing a full-size connector in the place of the first part of the hollow connector that was removed from the pavement slab;
removing the second part of the connector from the adjacent pavement slab;cleaning out the interconnection slot in the adjacent pavement slab; and replacing the adjacent pavement slab next to the pavement slab by vertically lowering the adjacent pavement slab next to the pavement slab until the interconnection slot in the adjacent pavement slab covers the full-size connector in the pavement slab. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A system for removing a connector in pavement, the system comprising:
-
a pavement slab; and an adjacent pavement slab positioned next to the pavement slab; and a hollow connector, wherein a portion of the hollow connector is embedded in the pavement slab and a remaining portion is embedded in the adjacent pavement slab, wherein, under the condition that a cut is made between the pavement slab and the adjacent pavement slab, the hollow connector is cut into a first part in the pavement slab and a second part in the adjacent pavement slab, and wherein the adjacent pavement slab is configured to be vertically removed from next to the pavement slab, and Wherein the first part is axially advanced out of the pavement slab without deforming the pavement slab, thus defining a space in the pavement slab that is a shape of the removed first part. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of replacing a connector in pavement, the method comprising:
-
cutting the pavement slab to a depth to cut a hollow connector in the pavement slab into first and second parts, the cutting the pavement slab defining first and second adjacent slabs; removing the second adjacent slab having the second part contained therein from beside the first adjacent slab to define a void and thereby expose the first part of the hollow connector in the first adjacent slab; removing the first part of the hollow connector from the first adjacent slab without otherwise damaging the first adjacent slab; installing another connector in the first adjacent slab wherefrom the first part of the hollow connector was removed, the another connector extending from the first adjacent part into the void; and replacing the second adjacent slab in the void next to the first adjacent slab. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification