Seismic proof articulating bridge deck expansion joint

Details Seismic proof articulating bridge deck expansion joint Seismic proof articulating bridge deck expansion joint

2002-10-03

2003-08-26

Hartmann, Gary S. (Department: 3671)

Bridges

Deck

Joint

C014S073500, C052S393000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06609265

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to expansion joints for bridges and other structures. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
FIGS. 1A and 1
B respectively illustrate plan and elevation views of a conventional bridge
100
. Bridge
100
consists of a main span
102
suspended by cables
104
between main towers
106
and
108
. A side span
114
is suspended by cables
104
between main tower
106
and pier
116
while side span
118
is suspended by cables
104
between main tower
108
and pier
120
.
Main span
102
is connected to main towers
106
and
108
by expansion joint assemblies
126
and
128
, respectively. Side span
114
is connected to main tower
106
and pier
116
by expansion joint assemblies
130
and
132
, respectively. Side span
118
is connected to main tower
108
and pier
120
by joint assemblies
134
and
136
.
FIGS. 2A and 2B
illustrate partial plan and elevation views of a bridge expansion joint assembly
200
that can be used for the expansion joint assemblies of bridge
100
. Expansion joint assembly
200
includes an expansion joint
202
attached to a bridge superstructure (e.g., a deck on main tower
106
) and an expansion joint
204
attached to another bridge superstructure (e.g., a deck on main span
102
). Fingers
206
of expansion joint
202
are interdigitated with fingers
208
of expansion joint
204
over a sliding support
210
to accommodate relative motion along the longitudinal direction between main tower
106
and main span
102
. Expansion joint assembly
200
allows bridge
100
to expand and contract with temperature changes.
Expansion joint assembly
200
does not accommodate vertical or transverse movement. Thus, expansion joint assembly
200
is ill suited for bridges in areas that have large magnitude earthquakes. Accordingly, what is needed is a multidirectional bridge deck expansion joint that will accommodate longitudinal, vertical, and transverse movement demands for new bridges and for seismic retrofitting of existing bridges to prevent serious bridge deck damage and possible loss of life resulting from large magnitude earthquakes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the invention, an expansion joint assembly includes a first expansion module and a second expansion module on opposing structures. The first expansion module includes a first hinge pivotally mounted to a first structure so the first hinge can rotate about a first axis, and a first group of fingers pivotally mounted to the first hinge so the first group of fingers can rotate about a second axis. The second expansion module includes a second hinge pivotally mounted to a second structure so the second hinge can rotate about a third axis, and a second group of fingers mounted, either fixedly or pivotally, to the second hinge. The first group of fingers and the second group of fingers are interdigitated and rest upon a sliding support.


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