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US4030156A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bridge expansion joint

Assignee: A J Harris and Sons Inc
•
Filing: 1976-08-16
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1996-08-16
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Abstract

Abstract An improved modular expansion joint having proportioning bars to provide support for and to center the beams which run longitudinally in the gap being joined. The proportioning bars extend across the gap under and at an angle to the beams. The ends of the bars slide in channels formed in the ends of the pavement sections being joined. As the gap narrows, the angle between the bars and the beams becomes more acute. Each beam is connected to at least a pair of bars and its position in the gap is thereby controlled. Removable caps are provided on each beam to accommodate replacement of the resilient seals between the beams.

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul J. Raymond

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 11:02
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01D; E01D19/00; E01D19/06; E01D19/062

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 134 words
An expansion joint for use in a gap between pavement sections comprising: at least one beam running longitudinally in the gap and having a wearing surface substantially coplanar with the wearing surfaces of the pavement sections; at least a pair of proportioning bars for supporting each beam, said bars extending across the gap at an acute angle with the general line of direction of the gap, and each of said bars being rotatably connected to its associated beam; a glide channel formed in the ends of each of the pavement sections being joined and defining the permissible motion of an end of each of the proportioning bars as substantially linear in the general line of direction of the gap; and means for slidably mounting the ends of the proportioning bars in the glide channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 134 words
An expansion joint for use in a gap between pavement sections comprising: at least one beam running longitudinally in the gap and having a wearing surface substantially coplanar with the wearing surfaces of the pavement sections; at least a pair of proportioning bars for supporting each beam, said bars extending across the gap at an acute angle with the general line of direction of the gap, and each of said bars being rotatably connected to its associated beam; a glide channel formed in the ends of each of the pavement sections being joined and defining the permissible motion of an end of each of the proportioning bars as substantially linear in the general line of direction of the gap; and means for slidably mounting the ends of the proportioning bars in the glide channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each glide channel is defined by the expansion joint housing, said housing being adapted to be connected to the end of a pavement section being joined.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The invention of claim 1 further comprising resilient sealing means communicating between each pair of beams and between each beam and the end of the pavement section being joined.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 54 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the mounting means include means for tilting the proportioning bars as vertical differences occur between the ends of the pavement sections being joined, thereby causing the wearing surface of the beams to be positioned at vertical levels between the levels of the wearing surfaces of the pavement sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 54 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein each mounting means further comprises a glide platform slidably mounted within the glide channel, a saddle member rotatably connected to the glide platform and adapted to receive an end of a proportioning bar and means for pivotally connecting an end of a proportioning bar to the saddle member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein the glide channel is covered with a stainless steel plate and the sliding block is provided with teflon sliding surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 54 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the mounting means include means for tilting the proportioning bars as vertical differences occur between the ends of the pavement sections being joined, thereby causing the wearing surface of the beams to be positioned at vertical levels between the levels of the wearing surfaces of the pavement sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein each glide channel is defined by the expansion joint housing, said housing being adapted to be connected to the end of a pavement section being joined.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 54 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein each mounting means further comprises a glide platform slidably mounted within the glide channel, a saddle member rotatably connected to the glide platform and adapted to receive an end of a proportioning bar and means for pivotally connecting an end of a proportioning bar to the saddle means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein the glide channel is covered with a stainless steel plate and the sliding block is provided with teflon sliding surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein each beam is provided with a removable cap as its wearing surface, thereby facilitating the installation and removal of the sealing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein the glide platforms are provided with cushion pot bearings adapted to reduce the play between the platforms and the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 136 words
An expansion joint for use in a gap between pavement sections comprising: at least one beam running longitudinally in the gap and having a wearing surface substantially coplanar with the wearing surfaces of the pavement sections; a resilient seal between each pair of beams and between each beam and the end of a pavement section; at least a pair of proportioning bars, said bars extending across the gap at an acute angle with the general line of direction of the gap; a glide channel formed in the ends of each of the pavement sections being joined and defining the permissible motion of an end of each of the proportioning bars as substantially linear in the general line of direction of the gap; means for slidably mounting the ends of the proportioning bars in the glide channels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 136 words
An expansion joint for use in a gap between pavement sections comprising: at least one beam running longitudinally in the gap and having a wearing surface substantially coplanar with the wearing surfaces of the pavement sections; a resilient seal between each pair of beams and between each beam and the end of a pavement section; at least a pair of proportioning bars, said bars extending across the gap at an acute angle with the general line of direction of the gap; a glide channel formed in the ends of each of the pavement sections being joined and defining the permissible motion of an end of each of the proportioning bars as substantially linear in the general line of direction of the gap; means for slidably mounting the ends of the proportioning bars in the glide channels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein the mounting means include means for tilting the proportioning bars as vertical differences occur between the ends of the pavement sections being joined.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 32 words
The invention of claim 14 wherein each glide channel is defined by the expansion joint housing, said housing being adapted to be connected to the end of a pavement section being joined.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 54 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein each mounting means further comprises a glide platform slidably mounted within the glide channel, a saddle member rotatably connected to the glide platform and adapted to receive an end of a proportioning bar and means for pivotally connecting an end of a proportioning bar to the saddle means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 26 words
The invention of claim 16 wherein the glide channel is covered with a stainless steel plate and the sliding block is provided with teflon sliding surfaces.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1799574A Cited
US2013195A Cited
US3482492A Cited
US3606826A Cited
US3648423A Cited
US3788758A Cited
US3830583A Cited
US3904304A Cited
US3907443A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-06-20 1980-12-20 1981-06-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-06-20 1984-12-20 1985-06-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-06-20 1988-12-20 1989-06-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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