Expansion joint construction for concrete slabs

Claim 2

An expansion joint between abutting parts of a reinforced concrete or masonry structure comprising a pair of nesting strips, one on each of said abutting parts and each being contiguous with its part over the entire width thereof, said strips having a hat-shaped cross section to provide a tongue and groove joint with contacting mantle portions, compressible expansible solid material disposed between the hatshaped strips at the top and flange portions thereof, reinforcing rods in said structure secured to said strips, and a threaded dowel embedded in one of said abutting parts and extending through said strips into the other of said abutting parts, said other part containing a threaded tube into which said dowel is threaded and axially moveable, said tube having threads with a width greater than the threads of the dowel to define a space between the threads of the dowel and the tube to allow said axial movement between the dowel and tube.

Claim 3

The joint of claim 1 in which the threads Of said tube are compressed at spaced places to symmetrically position the dowel temporarily while the joint is being assembled.

Claim 4

The joint of claim 1 in which said threaded tube has a terminal flange abutting one of said strips and a nut abutting the other strip to secure the tube to said strips.

Claim 5

An expansion joint for reinforced concrete slabs abutting each other in a tongue and groove joint comprising a first metal strip covering the tongue surface of one slab and integral therewith, a second metal strip covering the groove surface of the other slab, integral therewith, and nesting with said first strip, said strips being in sliding contact with each other at the sides of the tongue and spaced from each other in other areas, the space between said strips in said other areas being filled with solid compressible, expansible material, a threaded dowel extending transversely through said metal strips in said tongue area into the concrete slabs on either side of the tongue, and a threaded tube positioned in one of said slabs, said tube having threads with a width greater than the threads of the dowel to define a space between the threads on the dowel and the tube, said dowel being threaded into said tube and anchored to one of said slabs wherein said dowel is free to move within the tube positioned in the other of said slabs due to the difference in thread width, and longitudinally-disposed reinforcing rods secured to said strips at spaced points along the length thereof to strengthen the concrete forming the tongue and groove portions of said joint.

Claim 6

An expansion joint for reinforced concrete slabs abutting each other in a tongue and groove joint comprising a first metal strip covering the tongue surface of one slab and integral therewith, a second metal strip covering the groove surface of the other slab, integral therewith, and nesting with said first strip, said strips being in sliding contact with each other at the sides of the tongue and spaced from each other in other areas, the space between said strips in said other areas being filled with solid compressible, expansible material, a threaded dowel extending transversely through said metal strips in said tongue area into the concrete slabs on either side of the tongue, and a threaded tube positioned in one of said slabs, said tube having threads with a width greater than the threads of the dowel to define a space between the threads on the dowel and the tube, said dowel being threaded into said tube and anchored to one of said slabs wherein said dowel is free to move within the tube positioned in the other of said slabs due to the difference in thread width, and longitudinally-disposed reinforcing rods secured to said strips at spaced points along the length thereof to strengthen the concrete forming the tongue and groove portions of said joint.

Claim 7

The joint of claim 4 which includes additional transversely-disposed reinforcing rods shaped approximately to the contour of said tongue and groove portions and secured to said longitudinally-disposed reinforcing rods within said portions.

Claim 8

An expansion joint for reinforced concrete slabs abutting each other in a tongue and groove joint comprising a first metal strip covering the tongue surface of one slab and integral therewith, a second metal strip covering the groove surface of the other slab, integral therewith, and nesting with said first strip, said strips being in sliding contact with each other at the sides of the tongue and spaced from each other in other areas, the space between said strips in said other areas being filled with solid compressible, expansible material, and a threaded dowel extending transversely through said metal strips in said tongue area into the concrete slabs on either side of said slabs with the dowel threads embedded in the concrete, the other end of said dowel being disposed within a threaded tube secured to said strips and embedded in the concrete, within which tube said other end is axially movable commensurate with expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, said tube having threads with a width greater than the threads of the dowel to define a space between the threads of the dowel and the tube to allow said axial movement between the dowel and tube.

Claim 9

An expansion joint for reinforced concrete slabs abutting each other in a tongue and groove joint comprising a first metal strip covering the tongue surface of one slab and integral therewith, a second metal strip covering the groove surface of the other slab, integral therewith, and nesting with said first strip, said strips being in sliding contact with each other at the sides of the tongue and spaced from each other in other areas, the space between said strips in said other areas being filled with solid compressible, expansible material, and a threaded dowel extending transversely through said metal strips in said tongue area into the concrete slabs on either side of said slabs with the dowel threads embedded in the concrete, the other end of said dowel being disposed within a threaded tube secured to said strips and embedded in the concrete, within which tube said other end is axially movable commensurate with expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, said tube having threads with a width greater than the threads of the dowel to define a space between the threads of the dowel and the tube to allow said axial movement between the dowel and tube.