AU645940B1

AU645940B1 - Expansion joint

Info

Publication number: AU645940B1
Application number: AU24574/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Geoffrey John Humby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-18
Filing date: 1992-09-18
Publication date: 1994-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-18

Description

o 17 -rm~-i 11 .II r459A p00011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Original TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: GEOFFREY JOHN HUMBY GEOFFREY JOHN HUMBY Peter Maxwell Associates Blaxland House, Suite 10, 5 Ross Street, NORTH PARRAMATTA NSW 2151 INVENTION TITLE: EXPANSION JOINT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- I The present invention relates to an expansion joint for concrete slabs and the like.

The invention has particular application in suspended parking stations where the expansion joints between adjacent concrete slabs should provide a waterproof barrier and be able to withstand high impact loads.

According to the invention, there is provided an expansion joint for concrete slabs, the expansion joint being adapted to span adjacent first and second concrete slab edges, and comprising a first clamping means and a second clamping means which are separately supported on edge surfaces of the first and second slab edges respectively so as to provide a waterproof seal between each of the clamping means and edge surfaces, each clamping means having a void therewithin, (ii) a bridge plate which extends between the voids, and, (iii) sealant material which fills the remaining space of the voids.

In a preferred form of the invention, each clamping means includes a base plate which is supported on the edge surface and a clamp plate which is secured over the base plate so as to leave a void therebetween.

Preferably, the clamp plate is secured over the base plate by means of a bolt countersunk into the clamp plate which engages screwably a nut located in a cavity of the base plate.

-3- It is also preferred that each of the adjacent slab edges have a recess formed therealong into which the base plate is located.

Preferably, the bridge plate has a downwardly projecting portion adjacent each end thereof.

The sealant material is preferably high density polyurethane.

It is also preferred that the clamp plate has an upper surface contour adapted for non-skid conditions.

A rubber sheet may be applied between the adjacent slab edges !,!ith the clamping means being located over the sheet.

In this way, the rubber sheet will act as a condensation drain.

Preferably, the clamp plates, base plates and bridge plate are all made from extruded high tensile aluminium.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two adjacent concrete slab edges, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the slab edges of Fig. 1 with a rubber sheet condensation drain, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of an expansion joint system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the expansion joint of Fig. 3 installed between the slab edges of Fig. 1.

r. -4- The edges 11 and 12 of the concrete slabs shown in Fig.

1 have recessed edge surfaces 13 and 14 respectively which are separated by a gap 15. The recessed edge surfaces 13 and 14 may be formed either during concrete slab forming and setting or in existing hardened slabs by cutting the recess from the edge.

In Fig. 2. a rubber sheet 16 has been applied over both the recessed edge surfaces 13 and 14 and a central portion of the sheet 16 sags in the gap 15 so as to provide a condensation drain for when the expansion joint is in operation.

The expansion joint system shown in Fig. 3 includes base plates 17 and 18, clamp plates 19 and 20 and a bridge plate 21. The clamp plates 19 and 20 are secured to their respective base plates 17 and 18 by bolts 22 and 23 countersunk into each clamp plate. The bolts 22 and 23 o engage screwably the nuts 24 and 25 that are located in respective cavities 26 and 27 of each base plate.

The connection of a clamp plate to a base plate forms a clamping structure.

Located between the base plate 17 and clamp plate 19 is a void 28. Located between the base plate 18 and clamp plate is a void 29.

Extending from one void 28 to the other void 29 is the bridge plate 21 having downwardly projecting portions 34 and in the cross-sectional shape of nobs.

The clamp plates 19 and 20 have an upper surface contour of a plurality of grooves 30 and 31 respectively which are adapted for non-skid conditions. The slightly arched shape of the clamp plates 19 and 20 adds to their impact strength.

The base plates 17 and 18 have lip edges 32 and 33 respectively.

The installation of the expansion joint system of Fig.

3 between adjacent concrete slab edges will be described with reference to Fig. 4.

A layer of epoxy paint primer 36 and 37 is applied on each of the recessed edge surfaces of slab edges 11 and 12 respectively. The base plates 17 and 18 are then pressed onto the primer coated recessed edge surfaces and a waterproof gasket 38 and 39 located between the side edges of the base plates 17 and 18 and the upright wall of the recessed edge surfaces.

High density polyurethane sealant 50 is then applied over the flattened portion 40 and 41 of the base plates 17 and 18 respectively until the level of sealant 50 reaches to about the height of the lip edges 32 and 33 respectively.

The bridge plate 21 is located between the base plates 17 and 18 in such a way that the downwardly projecting nob portions 34 and 35 become embedded in the sealant Additional sealant 50 is applied over the edge portions of the bridge plate 21 and over the sealant adjacent thereto.

The clamp plates 19 and 20 are then secured to the base plates 17 and 18 respectively by passing bolts 22 and 23 through apertures in the clamp plates and screwably engaging r -6the bolts 22 and 23 to nuts 24 and 25 located in cavities of the base plates. The apertures into which the bolts are passed are depressed and so the bolts become countersunk and do not interfere with the surface contour of the clamp plates.

As the clamp plates 19 and 20 are being secured onto the base plates 17 and 18, the lower surface of each clamp plate exerts pressure against the still uncured sealant and causes the sealant 50 to spread across the top of the bridge plate 21. Any excess sealant that emerges through the gap between the bridge plate 21 and free end of the clamp plate is removed and the remaining entrapped sealant allowed to cure.

The expansion joint which has been produced is specially adapted for external, heavy load carrying conditions such as may be required when bridging con.rete slabs of suspended parking stations. The joint is still able to withstand high impact loads and allow the normal range of relative movement of the concrete slabs without undermining the waterproofing capacity of the joint.

The preferred aluminium construction of the clamp plates, base plates and bridge plate ensures that the joint is kept to a optimally low weight while maximizing strength.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope or ambit of the invention.

1

Claims

1. An expansion joint for concrete slabs, the expansion joint adapted to span adjacent first and second concrete slab edges, and comprising a first clamping means and a second clamping means which are separately supported on edge surfaces of the first and second slab edges respectively so as to provide a waterproof seal between each of the clamping means and edge surfaces, each clamping means having a void therewithin, (ii) a bridge plate which extends between the voids, and, (iii) sealant material which fills the remaining space of the voids.

2. The expansion joint of claim 1 wherein each clamping means includes a base plate which is supported on the edge surface and a clamp plate which is secured over the base plate so as to leave a void therebetween.

3. The expansion joint of claim 2 wherein the clamp plate is secured over the base plate by means of a bolt countersunk into the clamp plate which engages screwably a nut located in a cavity of the base plate.

4. The expansion joint of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein each of the adjacent slab edges have a recess formed therealong into which the base plate is located.

The expansion joint of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the bridge plate has a downwardly projecting portion adjacent each end thereof.

6. The expansion joint of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the sealant material is high density polyurethane.

7. The expansion joint of any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the clamp plate has an upper surface contour adapted for non- skid conditions.

8. The expansion joint of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein a rubber sheet is applied between the adjacent slab edges with the clamping means being located over the sheet.

9. The expansion joint of any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the clamp plates, base plates and bridge plate are all made from extruded high tensile aluminium. An expansion joint for concrete slabs, said expansion joint being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 16th day of September, 1992. GEOFFREY JOHN HUMBY Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES 92 1 097 _rl I ABSTRACT An expansion joint for spanning adjacent edges (11,12) of concrete slabs has a pair of clamping means (17,19 and 18,20) which are separately supported on recessed slab edge surfaces (13,14) respectively. Each clamping means forms a waterproof seal with its edge surface. There is a void (28,29) in each clamping means and a bridge plate (21) extends between the voids. Sealant material, such as high density polyurethane fills the space in the voids not taken up by the bridge plate, so that there is a waterproof barrier between the top and bottom of the expansion joint. lr