US3729135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expansion joint for flow speed reaction rails
Assignee: Dow Chemical Co
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Filing: 1972-03-09
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1992-03-09
Abstract
Abstract An expansion joint to connect two rail sections comprising an expansion element with two elongated expandable laminated connectors. The connectors elastically flex upon exertion thereon of generally axially aligned forces. The expansion joint can be enclosed by a suitable cover and side shields and used in mass transport systems.
Inventors
- 👤 J Frasure
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:33
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60M; B60M1/00; B60M1/30; B60M1/305; E; E01; E01B; E01B11/00; E01B11/02; E01B11/14; E01B11/44; E01B25/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An expansion joint for use in connecting two rails comprising an expansion element with a first and a second elongated expandable laminated connector, each connector having two substantially coplanar portions spaced apart by a convexo-concave portion, said connectors suited to elastically deflectably expand upon axial exertion of coacting tensile forces and to elastically deflectably contract upon axial exertion of coacting compressive forces, the laminae suited to slidably move relative to each other, at least at the convexo-concave portions thereof, during deflection; the first connector adapted to have a surface of each coplanar portion substantially adjacent to the corresponding surface of said second connector and the concave surface of the convexo-concave portion substantially opposite in direction to the corresponding concave surface of said second connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An expansion joint for use in connecting two rails comprising an expansion element with a first and a second elongated expandable laminated connector, each connector having two substantially coplanar portions spaced apart by a convexo-concave portion, said connectors suited to elastically deflectably expand upon axial exertion of coacting tensile forces and to elastically deflectably contract upon axial exertion of coacting compressive forces, the laminae suited to slidably move relative to each other, at least at the convexo-concave portions thereof, during deflection; the first connector adapted to have a surface of each coplanar portion substantially adjacent to the corresponding surface of said second connector and the concave surface of the convexo-concave portion substantially opposite in direction to the corresponding concave surface of said second connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The expansion joint of claim 1 including a first support member attached to a first transverse end of said expansion element and a second support member attached to a second transverse end of said expansion element, said first and second support members suited to be physically attached to separate rails.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The expansion joint of claim 2 including at least two expansion elements suitably positioned to effect substantial parallelism of the coplanar surfaces and substantial freedon of mutual contact between sAid expansion elements during compressive bending.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The expansion of joint of claim 3 including a plurality of cooperative expansion elements with the convexo-concave portions of each expansion element adapted to be substantially free of contact with the other expansion elements during compressive bending.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
The expansion joint of claim 3 wherein the primary longitudinal axes of said support members are substantially parallel to each other and said expansion elements are each attached at the first transverse end and the second transverse end to a longitudinal surface of said support members; and two side shields are spaced apart at least by said expansion elements, each of said shields comprising at least two substantially parallel planar shield sections, a first shield section attached to a longitudinal surface of said first support member and a second shield section attached to a longitudinal surface of said second support member, said first and second shield sections adapted to be in cooperative slidable relationship with each other and have at least a longitudinal surface portion thereof substantially adjacent to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
The expansion joint of claim 5 including a planar protective cover suitablly positioned with a longitudinal plane thereof substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of said shield sections and spaced apart from said expansion elements, said cover comprising at least two substantially parallel cover elements, a first cover element attached to a surface of said first support member and a second cover element attached to a surface of said second support member, said first and second cover elements adapated to be in cooperative slidable relationship with each other and have at least a longitudinal surface portion thereof substantially adjacent to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The expansion joint of claim 2 wherein said connector and said support members are electric conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The expansion joint of claim 7 wherein said expansion elements and said support members are suitably electrically connected to each other and to the first rail and to the second rail and suitably positioned to effect substantial coincidence of the axial centerline of electric current flow through said expansion elements and said support members with the axial centerline of electric current flow through the rails.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The expansion joint of claim 2 wherein said connector and said end members are an aluminum alloy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The expansion joint of claim 1 wherein said connector contains a plurality of laminae.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The expansion joint of claim 1 wherein said connector contains at least 20 laminae.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
In combination with a linear induction motor reaction rail of an air cushion supported mass transit system vehicle the improvement comprising the expansion joint of Claim 6 for use in physically, electrically connecting two linear induction motor reaction rail sections wherein said expansion spacers and said support members are electric conductors and are suitably electrically connected to each other and to the first and the second rail sections and suitably positioned to effect substantial coincidence of the axial center line of electric current flow through said expansion elements and said support members with the axial center line of electric current flow through the rail sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The expansion joint of claim 12 wherein the exterior portions of said side shields and said protective cover are adapted to be in a substantially planar relationship with the corresponding parallel portions of the rails.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |