Expansion joint for road works

Claim 1

For carrying traffic over the gap between ends of two adjacent concrete sections of a road, an expansion joint comprising: two metal elements, each including a support for extension upon one end of one section and a plurality of teeth extending in one direction laterally from the support for traversing the gap, said teeth being spaced from one another along said support, the ends of said teeth having their upper edge substantially aligned with (1) the upper edge of the bases thereof, (2) said support and (3) the road; each support having means defining a generally planar lower support face for supporting the support on the respective section end; means defining at least one opening through the support and through the support face; and means for securing the two metal elements upon the ends of the respective adjacent sections, so that the teeth of the two metal elements are interdigitated; the securing means for each metal element comprising: at least one rod extending generally perpendicular to said support face, means engageable with the section for anchoring the lower portion of the rod against upward movement with respect to the section; said rod, above said anchoring means extending up through said opening means; and vertically adjustable securement means on said rod above said opening means tightenable, in combination with the anchoring means, to provide such compressive force on said supports that when vehicular traffic passes over the joint a reduction in compression, but not an alternation between compression and tension, is created in said supports.