US4991248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load bearing concrete panel reconstruction
Assignee: Allen Research and Development Corp
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Filing: 1989-01-23
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Granted: 1991-02-12
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Expires: 2009-01-23
Abstract
Abstract Prior art supported, load bearing concrete panels having flexural reinforcing materials within the top and bottom halves, are over-designed, and experience increased deterioration and increased severity of cracks in the top surface due to flexural reinforcing materials which are located within the tip half of the panel. It is now taught that existing deteriorated concrete panels can be reconstructed by removing the upper concrete containing the upper layer of flexural reinforcing means for carrying bending moment tension stressed in the top half of panels (12), over interior supports (14), while maintaining such flexural reinforcing means (20) confined to the lower half of the panel, has sufficient flexural strength of the panel (12) to support expected loads. Such panels (12), will exhibit improved durability and reduced tip surface (16) cracking. Preferred techniques for controlling top half cracking from temperature and shrinkage of the panel are set forth.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:02
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01D; E01D22/00; E01D19/00; E01D19/12; E01D19/125; E01D2101/00; E01D2101/20; E01D2101/24; E01D2101/26; E01D2101/262; E01D2101/264; E01D2101/266; E01D2101/268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A process for rehabilitating an existing concrete deck panel used as decking material in a bridge structure, said concrete deck panel being, at the time of rehabilitation, comprised of at least a deteriorated upper portion and a substantially undeteriorated concrete lower portion, each said concrete portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, having an upper surface which will come into contact with or be closely adjacent to loads which traverse the panel, said upper portion of concrete being substantially free of flexural reinforcement materials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A process for rehabilitating an existing concrete deck panel used as decking material in a bridge structure, said concrete deck panel being, at the time of rehabilitation, comprised of at least a deteriorated upper portion and a substantially undeteriorated concrete lower portion, each said concrete portion having a length dimension, a width dimension, having an upper surface which will come into contact with or be closely adjacent to loads which traverse the panel, said upper portion of concrete being substantially free of flexural reinforcement materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The process of claim 1 in which said over layer of concrete is constructed to resist or limit temperature change and shrinkage cracking formation at said top surface of said rehabilitated concrete panel by constructing said over layer of concrete according to practices which will resist or limit temperature change and shrinkage crack formation at said top surface of said rehabilitated panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
198 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said over layer of concrete which is cast over said remaining lower portion of said existing concrete deck panel is produced by the use of a practice selected from the group consisting of the use of temperature change and shrinkage crack formation resistant concrete compositions, by including temperature change and shrinkage volume change compensating additives in concrete compositions, by utilizing concrete compositions which set to form concrete having sufficient tensile strength to resist temperature change and shrinkage cracking strain cracking, by the manner of concrete placement, by employing staged panel placement, by employing structural measures which allow temperature change and shrinkage volume change deformations to occur without restraint, by including fiber reinforcing material in said concrete compositions in at least said overlaid upper portion of said concrete in said panel in an amount sufficient to control cracking induced by temperature and shrinkage volume changes in said overlaid upper portion of said panel, and by including wire fabric reinforcing material in said concrete in said overlaid upper portion of said panel in an amount sufficient to control cracking induced by temperature change and shrinkage in said overlaid concrete upper portion of said panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 3 in which said panel reinforcing material includes fibers in an amount and distribution sufficient to substantially resist temperature change and shrinkage cracking crack formation at the top surface of said panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 3 in which said fibers are selected from the group consisting of metal and of polymeric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 5 in which said fibers are metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 5 in which said metal fibers are steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 3 in which said panel reinforcing material includes fabric selected from the group consisting of metal wire and of polymeric material, and said fabric is present in an amount and distribution sufficient to substantially resist temperature change and shrinkage cracking crack formation at the top surface of said panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 8 in which said fabric is metal wire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 9 in which said metal wire fabric is composed of welded steel fabric located in said overlaid upper portion of said panel as a reinforcing material to restrain temperature change and shrinkage cracking at said top surface of said panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said metal wire fabric is coated with water-resistant and corrosion-resistant material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 2 in which said concrete which is cast as an over layer is substantially free of materials which are readily subject to corrosion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 11 in which said panel is intended to be supported by at least a pair of separated support members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 in which said flexural reinforcement means in said concrete in the remaining bottom portion of said panel comprises from about 0.5% to about 8% by volume of said bottom portion of said panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 in which said flexural reinforcement means in said concrete in said remaining bottom portion of said panel comprises from about at least 1% to about 4% by volume of said remaining bottom portion of said panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 in which , after rehabilitation is completed, said flexural reinforcement means is disposed substantially only in the lower one-third of said rehabilitated panel.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of refurbishing a deteriorated concrete panel having an upper half having an upper surface which will come into contact with or be closely adjacent to loads which traverse said panel, and a lower half having a lower surface which is spaced from loads which traverse said upper half of said panel, said concrete panel initially having flexural reinforcement means distributed throughout its structure, wherein the method includes the steps of: removing the portion of said upper half of said panel which is deteriorated, including substantially all flexural reinforcement means in said upper half, and all portions of said lower half of said panel which has a chloride content greater than 0.1% by volume; and then replacing the upper half with an over layer of concrete which is substantially free of flexural reinforcement means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of refurbishing a deteriorated concrete panel having an upper half having an upper surface which will come into contact with or be closely adjacent to loads which traverse said panel, and a lower half having a lower surface which is spaced from loads which traverse said upper half of said panel, said concrete panel initially having flexural reinforcement means distributed throughout its structure, wherein the method includes the steps of: removing the portion of said upper half of said panel which is deteriorated, including substantially all flexural reinforcement means in said upper half, and all portions of said lower half of said panel which has a chloride content greater than 0.1% by volume; and then replacing the upper half with an over layer of concrete which is substantially free of flexural reinforcement means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
The process of claim 17 in which said over layer of concrete is constructed to resist or limit temperature change and shrinkage cracking formation at said top surface of said refurbished concrete panel by constructing said over layer of concrete according to practices which will resist or limit temperature change and shrinkage crack formation at said top surface of said refurbished concrete panel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-11 | 1994-08-13 | 1995-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-11 | 1998-08-13 | 1999-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-11 | 2002-08-13 | 2003-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |