Road structure – process – or apparatus – Pavement – Including joint means
Patent
1990-05-22
1991-07-02
Britts, Ramon S.
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Pavement
Including joint means
404 47, 404 69, E01C 1112
Patent
active
050281682
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device for the interconnection of two roadway parts separated by an expansion joint, such as exists in bridges or other engineering works.
This device is intended to ensure the tightness of the joint whilst at the same time providing satisfactory travelling conditions for vehicles.
In a known embodiment, devices of this type have a plurality of joint strips arranged end to end above the joint, each of the said joint strips being in the form of an elastomeric molded piece in which metal pieces are included.
In order to allow the movements of the expansion joint whilst at the same time ensuring tightness, the known joint strips, consisting of a plurality of identical joint strips arranged end to end and each of which is an elastomeric molded piece, have an upper face which is in the form of a substantially plane surface in which rectilinear recesses, parallel to the joint, are provided.
This arrangement has the following disadvantages:
When the joint is placed perpendicular to the trajectory of the vehicles, the passage of the wheels over these recesses is felt as a shock by the passengers in the vehicles, which has an adverse effect on their width, in other words when the joint is maximally open.
When the joint is placed parallel to the trajectory of the vehicles, these recesses constitute a real danger for bicycles and motorcycles as they may cause them to fall.
The invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a device consisting of joint strips without rectilinear recesses parallel to the joint and with a manufacturing cost less than that of the known devices.
The device for the interconnection of two roadway parts separated by an expansion joint, which is the subject of the invention, consists of a plurality of joint strips arranged end to end. Each joint strip comprises at least one deformable zone extending parallel to the joint, between two fastening elements connected to the two roadways parts respectively.
According to the invention, this device for the interconnection of two roadway parts is characterized in that this deformable zone consists of alternating carrying elements and bellows, which are deformable in all horizontal directions, the length of the bellows, measured in the direction perpendicular to the joint, being less than that of the deformable carrying elements, and in that, on either side of each bellows, two undeformable carrying elements are situated, these undeformable carrying elements extending in a direction transverse to the joint in the space between two deformable carrying elements. Each of the deformable carrying elements has a horizontal metal plate situated in the upper part of the joint strip and carried by two elastomer blocks, deformable by horizontal shearing and arranged symmetrically relative to a vertical plane parallel to the joint. Each of the bellows consists of an elastomeric, continuous, relatively thin and non-plane wall. A deformable zone thus comprises alternating bellows between deformable carrying elements (which support the load of the vehicles). Because the bellows are not as long, in the direction perpendicular to the joint, as the deformable carrying elements, the interconnection of a deformable zone and the elements which are adjacent to it does not have a rectilinear recess parallel to the expansion joint.
The shock generated during the passage of vehicle wheels, or the danger of a fall for cyclists and motorcyclists are thus limited.
According to a preferred version of the invention, the interconnection of a deformable zone, consisting of alternating bellows and deformable carrying elements, and each of the elements which is adjacent to it consists of a recess with a crenellated shape. This crenellated recess permits the deformation of the bellows and of the deformable carrying elements without creating any substantial shock during the passage of the wheels or any danger for the cyclists and motorcyclists.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will further emerge from the description
REFERENCES:
patent: 3829229 (1974-08-01), Britton et al.
patent: 3854159 (1974-12-01), McLean et al.
patent: 4030156 (1977-06-01), Raymond
patent: 4131382 (1978-12-01), Hymo
patent: 4132491 (1979-01-01), Scheffel
patent: 4833851 (1989-05-01), Ohmatsu
Britts Ramon S.
Connolly Nancy P.
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