CA2155696A1 - Method and kit for sealing expansion joints - Google Patents
Method and kit for sealing expansion jointsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2155696A1 CA2155696A1 CA 2155696 CA2155696A CA2155696A1 CA 2155696 A1 CA2155696 A1 CA 2155696A1 CA 2155696 CA2155696 CA 2155696 CA 2155696 A CA2155696 A CA 2155696A CA 2155696 A1 CA2155696 A1 CA 2155696A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sealing element
- expansion joint
- sealing
- sealing strip
- vacuum
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01D—CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, ELEVATED ROADWAYS OR VIADUCTS; ASSEMBLY OF BRIDGES
- E01D19/00—Structural or constructional details of bridges
- E01D19/06—Arrangement, construction or bridging of expansion joints
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Building Environments (AREA)
Abstract
A method for sealing an expansion joint to inhibit leakage includes the steps ofcollapsing a generally hollow resilient sealing element by creating a vacuum therein such that the width of the sealing element becomes less than the width of the expansion joint; and then positioning the sealing element within the expansion joint and releasing the vacuum so that the sealing element expands to fill the expansion joint allowing adhesive to act between the sealing element and the expansion joint. An expansion joint sealing kit is also provided.
Description
2l~5696 Method and Kit for S~lins~ pql~cion Joints Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method for in~tall~tion of expansion joint seals into .c;on joints and to an expansion joint sealing kit.
Bark~round of the Invention In large structures such as bridges, buildingc~ parking decks, floors etc., eYp~n~ion joints are provided to accommodate movcll.cl.l of building materials due to changes in loading forces and thermal expansion and contraction. In structures other than bridges, these ~yr~n~ionioints typically have gap widths ranging from about 1 inch to 6 inches in which a typical 4 inch joint in the winter would decrease to 2 inches in the s~lmmer due to thermal ~Yp~n~ion. In seasonal çlim~tes the normal time for filing expansion joints is in the summer when warm tclllpcl~ res cause the expansion joints to decrease.
Once an expansion joint has been formed in a structure, it is necessary to seal the gap. This is due to the fact that water caused by rain and/or snow fall as well as other m~t~ri~l~ such as oil from leaking automobiles, cause slow damage to the structure. In previous years, the gaps of çyr~n~ionioints were sealed with a composition such as tar dçcigned to accommodate expansion of the joint while still ~ inil~g the seal.
Unfortunately, this type of seal often proved to be inadequate and leakage through the seal was commonplace.
More recently, hollow preroll.led sealing elements commonly referred to as sealing strips have been used to seal expansion joints. During in~t~ tion, the sealing strip is COIllyl cssed and then placed in the gap of the expansion joint where it ç~cr~n~s Adhesive on the sealing strip and on the opposed walls of the expansion joint adhere the sealing strip to the expansion joint to inhibit leakage through the seal. The in~t~ tion of the sealing strip in the gap of the expansion joint has been done m~nll~lly by pushing the sealing strip into the gap.
.hinery has also been designed to compress and install sealing strips of this nature. For e~ ,le, U.S. PatentNos. 3,466,988 and 3,532,032 disclose m~chines designed to insert a 2ls5696 sealing strip into pavement grooves.
However, there are problems associated with these methods. When the sealing strip is installed m~ml~lly, or when using machinery to push the sealing strip into the gap, adhesive is removed from between the sealing strip and the walls of the expansion joint which may result in an inadequate seal and leakage through the expansion joint. Also, these prior art methods are not desi~ed to deal with uneven and crooked expansion joints and therefore, when such expansion joints are sealed using these prior art methods, leakage often occurs.
Also, the m~hinery designed to install the sealing strips in expansion joints is expensive and complicated.
Systems have also been devised to deal with water leaking through an eYpansiQn joint. For example, Canadian Patent Application No. 2,103,885 discloses a method for diverting water leaking into an elevated expansion joint in e~i~ting bridges. As those of skill in the art will appreciate, improved methods to seal expansion joints are desired.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an advantageous and novel method for sealing an expansion joint and an expansion joint sealing kit which obviate or mitig~te at least one of the above-mentioned problems.
SummarY of the Invention We have developed, in accordance with this invention, a novel method for sealing an expansion joint. In this method, a sealing element is laterally con,p-essed by ,UUlll such that the width of the compressed sealing element is less than the width of the gap in the expansion joint to be sealed. This allows the sealing elçm~nt to be easily positioned into the expansion joint. The present method overcomes the difficulties involved in correctly positioning the sealing element without the removal of the applied adhesive or the use of complicated machinery. This allows the sealing element and adhesive to fill any voids in the walls of the expansion joint and provide a seal across the gap of the expansion joint which inhibits le~k~ge . 3 Accol.ling to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method forsealing an eYp~n~ion joint to inhibit leakage through said joint and allow for thermal expansion and contraction, said method comprising the steps of:
I) collapsing a generally hollow resilient sealing element by creating a vacuum therein such that the width of said sealing element is less than the width of said expansion joint; and ii) positioning said collapsed sealing element within the expansion joint and rele~i~ said vacuum so that said sealing element expands to fill said expansion joint allowing adhesive between said sealing element and said expansion joint to adhere said sealing element to said PYp~n~ n joint;
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an expansion joint sealing kit comprising:
I) at least one generally hollow collapsible resilient sealing element;
ii) at least one pump connectible to said sealing element to create a vacuum within the sealing element to collapse said sealing element to a width less than the width of said expansion joint; and iii) adhesive to adhere the sealing element to the walls of said expansion joint.
Brief Description of the Drawin~s Embodim~ntc of the present invention will now be described more fully with rererence to the accomp~-yillg drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealed expansion joint;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 taken along line 2-2;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the expansion joint of Figure 1 connected to a pump;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the expansion joint of Figure l;
Figures 5a to 5c are cross-sectional views showing the steps performed during sealing ofthe expansion joint of Figure 1;
Figures 6a to 6e are cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of sealingstrips used to seal expansion joints; and Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 6a.
Detailed DescriPtion of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an expansion joint is shown and is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The expansion joint can be formed in a variety of structures such as bridges, buil~ing~ parking decks, floors and the like. The expansion joint 10 in~ les a gap 12 formed between opposing walls 14 and 16 of the structure in which the ~Yp~mion joint is formed. The opposing walls may be straight or uneven. In Figure 2, wall 14 is depicted as being uneven while wall 16 is depicted as being straight. A sealing element in the form of a sealing strip 20 is positioned in the gap 12 and extends the length of the expansion joint 10. Adhesive 22 acts between the walls 14 and 16 and the sides ofthe sealing strip 20. The sealing strip 20 and the adhesive 22 on both sides of the sealing strip form a seal to inhibit leakage through the expansion joint 10.
Figures 2 and 3 best illustrate the sealing strip 20. As can be seen, the sealing strip is symmetrical about its central long1tu-lin~l axis. V-shaped grooves 20a are formed in the upper and lower surfaces 20b, 20c respectively, of the sealing strip and extend along the length of the sealing strip. The interior of the sealing strip is generally hollow. An internal web pattern defined by a single internal wall 20d divides the interior of the sealing strip into two separate cells 20e and 20f e~tentling the length of the sealing strip. The sealing strip is formed of resilient elastomeric material and the internal web pattern and grooves 20a are desi~ed to allow the sealing strip to be compressed laterally. Prior to in5t~ tion, the ends 20g of the sealing strip must be sealed. This can be done in a number of ways. For example, the ends of the sealing strip can be sealed by first clamping and then sealing the ends either by welding or gluing them shut. If gluing then it is prefelled that a fast cure adhesive be used.
Alternatively, a piece of rubber 20h cut to fit over the ends of the sealing strip, may be welded or glued onto the end of the sealing strip avoiding the need to clamp the ends. The rubber 20h 2l~5696 can be of any resilient material such as that used for the sealing strip 20. Further still, foam or other suitable material may also be inserted into the open ends of the cells to seal the ends of the sealing strip. Elastomeric materials used for forming the sealing strips include butyl rubber, ABS rubber, urethane rubber, polysulfide rubber, neoprene rubber, sanliprelle~, etc.
Silicone rubber sealing strips may be either a vinyl addition cure type or a peroxide cure type.
The sealing strip 20 may be a co~ llercially available m~mlf~ctured elastomeric compression seal.
The adhesive 22 may likewise be selected from a wide range of materials. A
c~luilt;lllent ofthe adhesive is that it readily adheres to both the sealing strip 20 and the walls 14 and 16. Thus, the adhesive 22 may vary depending on whether the structure is formed of steel or concrete and whether the sealing strip 20 is butyl rubber or silicone. A di~el enl adhesive may be applied to the joint walls 14 and 16 to that applied to the sealing strip 20 as long as the two adhesives are colllpa~ible. Adhesives suitable for use herein include adhesives such as urethane adhesives, butyl rubber adhesives, epoxy, cement/latex or silicone. There are a variety oftypes of silicone adhesives although the primary component of all silicone se~l~nts is moisture cured RTV sealant. Another type of silicone sealant is the two component conden~tion cured sealant. The adhesive 22 should have some elastomeric character to accommodate slight variations in the shape of the sealing strips 20 and to reduce stress due to di~ ing coefficients of thermal expansion at the interface between the sealing strip and the walls ofthe eYp~nsion joint.
Although the sealed expansion joint 10 appears conventional, the present method of sealing the expansion joint is advantageous as compared to prior art methods and will now be described with particular reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5a to Sc. Prior to in~t~ tion ofthe sealing strip 20 in the gap 12 ofthe expansion joint 10, an aperture 40 is formed in the sealing strip, prefel~bly in its upper surface 20b and a valve 42 is fitted into the aperture. The ends 20g of the sealing strip are also sealed. It is desirable to ensure that the internal cells 20e and 20f of the sealing strip are in fluid communication. If the aperture 40 is formed by drilling, the drill can also be used to puncture a hole through the internal wall 20d.
Alternatively, before the ends of the sealing strip 20 are sealed, slits can be formed in the 2ls5696 internal wall 20d adjacPnt the ends of the sealing strip.
A tube 44 is connected to the valve 42 which leads to a valved Y-connector 46.
One port 48 of the valved Y-connector leads to the intake port 50 of a pump 52. The other port 54 of the valved Y-connector leads to the exhaust port 56 of the pump 52. At this stage, the pump 52 is operated to create a vacuum to evacuate the sealing strip 20 causing the sealing strip to collapse. The symmetrical nature and design of the sealing strip f~cilit~tes collapsing of the sealing strip along its length. Once collapsed, the sealing strip 20 is ready to be installed into the gap 12 of the e~ran~ion joint.
Prior to inst~lling the collapsed sealing strip into the gap 12, the opposing walls 14 and 16 are cleaned to remove any loose debris and then the adhesive 22 is applied on the walls to a thiç1~ness of apploxil-lately 1/16" to 1/4" depending on irregularities in the walls.
Adhesive 22 is also placed on the side walls of the sealing strip 20. The sealing strip 20 is then lowered into the Pxp~n~ion joint If the expansion joint is located in a low traffic area, the sealing strip is positioned so that its upper surface 20b is level with the surface of the structure in which the eYpan~ion joint is formed. If the expansion joint is located in a high traff1c area, the sealing strip 20 is positioned so that its upper surface 20b is slightly below the surface of the structure, typically 1/2 inch. The sealing strip 20 may be held at the proper depth by plopping it on top of a backer rod 60 or on top of a foam board 62. It should however be understood to those skilled in the art that any similar object may be used to support the sealing strip 20 in place during positioning.
Once held at the proper depth, the sealing strip 20 is oriented so that it is propelly positioned. The pump 52 is then turned off, releasing the vacuum, and the valve in the Y-connector 46 is turned to connect the tube 44 to the exhaust port 56 allowing air to slowly enter into the sealing strip 20 so that the sealing strip begins to expand. When the sealing strip 20 has exr~n-led to the point where the sides ofthe sealing strip abut the walls 14 and 16, the pl~cçm~nt ofthe sealing strip is inspected again to ensure that it is still properly positioned. If the positioning is correct, the pump 52 is again operated with the valve of the Y-conne~;lor 46 connecting the tube 44 to the exhaust port 56 of the pump. This causes air to 2lss696 be forced into the sealing strip causing it to over-inflate within the gap so that the sides of the sealing strip firmly abut the walls 14 and 16. If the ends ofthe sealing strip 20g were clamped and welded or glued, then this portion of the sealing strip must be cut offin order to allow for the sides of the sealing ~lement to come into contact with the joint walls. The expansion joint 10 is then left ~n~i~hlrbed until the adhesive 22 cures. This usually takes from 4 to 24 hours.
Once the adhesive cures, the valve 42 is removed from the aperture 40 and the aperture is sealed.
Although the present method has been described with reference to the sealing strip depicted in Figures 1 and 2, alternative sealing strips having di~rent internal web patterns may be used. Figures 6a to 6e show examples of alternative sealing strips which are suitable for use when carrying out the present method. Figure 6a shows a multicell rubber col.lpression sealing strip particularly useful for sealing horizontal expansion joints in structures bearing traffic. Figure 6b shows a rubber compression sealing strip useful for sealing holi~olll~l and vertical expansion joints in structures bearing no traffic. Figure 6c shows a rubber co-.lpression sealing strip having textured sides to increase surface area and provide improved adhesion. Figures 6d and 6e show two further sealing strip design~ As those of skill in the art will appreciate, when the sealing strip has a complicated internal web pattern to define a plurality of internal cells, the cells are brought into fluid communication by forming slits 70 in the internal walls of the sealing strip as illustrated in Figure 7 as opposed to using a drill. This is due to the fact that it is difficult to puncture all of the internal walls in this manner.
It should be appa,enl to those of skill in the art that the sealing strip need not be over-inflated during in~t~ tion. Rather, once the sealing strip has been properly positioned in the gap 12, the sealing strip can simply be allowed to assume its uncompressed state by disconnecting the tube 44 from the pump 52 so that the sides of the sealing strip abut the walls 14 and 16.
The present method provides a simple, fast and economical method for sealing ~,Ypan~ion joints which are less prone to leakage than expansion joints sealed using prior art .
techniques. This is due to the fact the in the present method, the sealing strip 20 can be properly positioned within the gap 12 ofthe expansion joint 10 without adhesive 22 being scraped from belween the sealing strip and the walls. In this manner, the adhesive 22 placed on the walls to fill voids in the walls remains on the walls and is likely to be un(li~tllrbed by the sealing strip when it is positioned in the gap. Because ofthis, the likelihood of leakage through the seal is reduced. These advantages are achieved by creating a vacuum in the sealing strip to col--press it to a width which is less than the width of the gap in the expansion joint allowing for the sealing strip to be inserted in the gap without disturbing the adhesive.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the present method provides a method of sealing an expansion joint which does not require extensive prep~lion of the eYp~mion joint walls, while reduçing the possibility of leakage through the seal. The present method also obviates the need for complicated machinery to compress and insert the sealing strip into the gap of the expansion joint. In addition, the present method also obviates the need to use sealing strips having wings. Winged sealing strips are extremely expensive to use and install.
As one of skill in the art will appreciate, various widths and lengths of sealing strips may be used although it is pl~relled that the sealing strips, varying in width from 1 inch to several inches, be designed to suit the requirements of the expansion joint. The length of the sealing strip used depends on the length of the expansion joint to be sealed. It is also understood that expansion joints which are not straight, i.e. bend and turn, may also be sealed using the present method by welding or using adhesive to join a number of sealing strips together in a manner to fit the shape of the expansion joint to be sealed.
Although the sealing strips are shown as being symmetrical about their lon~ihldin~l axis, it should be apparenl to those of skill in the art that this is not critical. The sealing strip simply needs to be of a design so that when the vacuum is created, the sealing strip col"presses laterally so that its width is less than the width of the gap allowing the sealing strip to be positioned in the gap without disturbing the adhesive.
-In addition, although a simple pump is shown to collapse and over-inflate the sealing strip, it should be realized that separate pumps can be used to perform each step.
The present method may be used to seal expansion joints in various steel or concrete structures including roadways, buildings, pavement, and in parking slabs. It is understood to those skilled in the art that the method of the present invention can be used to seal basically any type of e~cr~n~iQn joint whether the joint is narrow, wide, short, long, straight, bending, or on an even plane.
Although prcrellcd embodiments ofthe invention are described herein in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Bark~round of the Invention In large structures such as bridges, buildingc~ parking decks, floors etc., eYp~n~ion joints are provided to accommodate movcll.cl.l of building materials due to changes in loading forces and thermal expansion and contraction. In structures other than bridges, these ~yr~n~ionioints typically have gap widths ranging from about 1 inch to 6 inches in which a typical 4 inch joint in the winter would decrease to 2 inches in the s~lmmer due to thermal ~Yp~n~ion. In seasonal çlim~tes the normal time for filing expansion joints is in the summer when warm tclllpcl~ res cause the expansion joints to decrease.
Once an expansion joint has been formed in a structure, it is necessary to seal the gap. This is due to the fact that water caused by rain and/or snow fall as well as other m~t~ri~l~ such as oil from leaking automobiles, cause slow damage to the structure. In previous years, the gaps of çyr~n~ionioints were sealed with a composition such as tar dçcigned to accommodate expansion of the joint while still ~ inil~g the seal.
Unfortunately, this type of seal often proved to be inadequate and leakage through the seal was commonplace.
More recently, hollow preroll.led sealing elements commonly referred to as sealing strips have been used to seal expansion joints. During in~t~ tion, the sealing strip is COIllyl cssed and then placed in the gap of the expansion joint where it ç~cr~n~s Adhesive on the sealing strip and on the opposed walls of the expansion joint adhere the sealing strip to the expansion joint to inhibit leakage through the seal. The in~t~ tion of the sealing strip in the gap of the expansion joint has been done m~nll~lly by pushing the sealing strip into the gap.
.hinery has also been designed to compress and install sealing strips of this nature. For e~ ,le, U.S. PatentNos. 3,466,988 and 3,532,032 disclose m~chines designed to insert a 2ls5696 sealing strip into pavement grooves.
However, there are problems associated with these methods. When the sealing strip is installed m~ml~lly, or when using machinery to push the sealing strip into the gap, adhesive is removed from between the sealing strip and the walls of the expansion joint which may result in an inadequate seal and leakage through the expansion joint. Also, these prior art methods are not desi~ed to deal with uneven and crooked expansion joints and therefore, when such expansion joints are sealed using these prior art methods, leakage often occurs.
Also, the m~hinery designed to install the sealing strips in expansion joints is expensive and complicated.
Systems have also been devised to deal with water leaking through an eYpansiQn joint. For example, Canadian Patent Application No. 2,103,885 discloses a method for diverting water leaking into an elevated expansion joint in e~i~ting bridges. As those of skill in the art will appreciate, improved methods to seal expansion joints are desired.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an advantageous and novel method for sealing an expansion joint and an expansion joint sealing kit which obviate or mitig~te at least one of the above-mentioned problems.
SummarY of the Invention We have developed, in accordance with this invention, a novel method for sealing an expansion joint. In this method, a sealing element is laterally con,p-essed by ,UUlll such that the width of the compressed sealing element is less than the width of the gap in the expansion joint to be sealed. This allows the sealing elçm~nt to be easily positioned into the expansion joint. The present method overcomes the difficulties involved in correctly positioning the sealing element without the removal of the applied adhesive or the use of complicated machinery. This allows the sealing element and adhesive to fill any voids in the walls of the expansion joint and provide a seal across the gap of the expansion joint which inhibits le~k~ge . 3 Accol.ling to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method forsealing an eYp~n~ion joint to inhibit leakage through said joint and allow for thermal expansion and contraction, said method comprising the steps of:
I) collapsing a generally hollow resilient sealing element by creating a vacuum therein such that the width of said sealing element is less than the width of said expansion joint; and ii) positioning said collapsed sealing element within the expansion joint and rele~i~ said vacuum so that said sealing element expands to fill said expansion joint allowing adhesive between said sealing element and said expansion joint to adhere said sealing element to said PYp~n~ n joint;
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an expansion joint sealing kit comprising:
I) at least one generally hollow collapsible resilient sealing element;
ii) at least one pump connectible to said sealing element to create a vacuum within the sealing element to collapse said sealing element to a width less than the width of said expansion joint; and iii) adhesive to adhere the sealing element to the walls of said expansion joint.
Brief Description of the Drawin~s Embodim~ntc of the present invention will now be described more fully with rererence to the accomp~-yillg drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealed expansion joint;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 taken along line 2-2;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the expansion joint of Figure 1 connected to a pump;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the expansion joint of Figure l;
Figures 5a to 5c are cross-sectional views showing the steps performed during sealing ofthe expansion joint of Figure 1;
Figures 6a to 6e are cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of sealingstrips used to seal expansion joints; and Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 6a.
Detailed DescriPtion of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an expansion joint is shown and is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The expansion joint can be formed in a variety of structures such as bridges, buil~ing~ parking decks, floors and the like. The expansion joint 10 in~ les a gap 12 formed between opposing walls 14 and 16 of the structure in which the ~Yp~mion joint is formed. The opposing walls may be straight or uneven. In Figure 2, wall 14 is depicted as being uneven while wall 16 is depicted as being straight. A sealing element in the form of a sealing strip 20 is positioned in the gap 12 and extends the length of the expansion joint 10. Adhesive 22 acts between the walls 14 and 16 and the sides ofthe sealing strip 20. The sealing strip 20 and the adhesive 22 on both sides of the sealing strip form a seal to inhibit leakage through the expansion joint 10.
Figures 2 and 3 best illustrate the sealing strip 20. As can be seen, the sealing strip is symmetrical about its central long1tu-lin~l axis. V-shaped grooves 20a are formed in the upper and lower surfaces 20b, 20c respectively, of the sealing strip and extend along the length of the sealing strip. The interior of the sealing strip is generally hollow. An internal web pattern defined by a single internal wall 20d divides the interior of the sealing strip into two separate cells 20e and 20f e~tentling the length of the sealing strip. The sealing strip is formed of resilient elastomeric material and the internal web pattern and grooves 20a are desi~ed to allow the sealing strip to be compressed laterally. Prior to in5t~ tion, the ends 20g of the sealing strip must be sealed. This can be done in a number of ways. For example, the ends of the sealing strip can be sealed by first clamping and then sealing the ends either by welding or gluing them shut. If gluing then it is prefelled that a fast cure adhesive be used.
Alternatively, a piece of rubber 20h cut to fit over the ends of the sealing strip, may be welded or glued onto the end of the sealing strip avoiding the need to clamp the ends. The rubber 20h 2l~5696 can be of any resilient material such as that used for the sealing strip 20. Further still, foam or other suitable material may also be inserted into the open ends of the cells to seal the ends of the sealing strip. Elastomeric materials used for forming the sealing strips include butyl rubber, ABS rubber, urethane rubber, polysulfide rubber, neoprene rubber, sanliprelle~, etc.
Silicone rubber sealing strips may be either a vinyl addition cure type or a peroxide cure type.
The sealing strip 20 may be a co~ llercially available m~mlf~ctured elastomeric compression seal.
The adhesive 22 may likewise be selected from a wide range of materials. A
c~luilt;lllent ofthe adhesive is that it readily adheres to both the sealing strip 20 and the walls 14 and 16. Thus, the adhesive 22 may vary depending on whether the structure is formed of steel or concrete and whether the sealing strip 20 is butyl rubber or silicone. A di~el enl adhesive may be applied to the joint walls 14 and 16 to that applied to the sealing strip 20 as long as the two adhesives are colllpa~ible. Adhesives suitable for use herein include adhesives such as urethane adhesives, butyl rubber adhesives, epoxy, cement/latex or silicone. There are a variety oftypes of silicone adhesives although the primary component of all silicone se~l~nts is moisture cured RTV sealant. Another type of silicone sealant is the two component conden~tion cured sealant. The adhesive 22 should have some elastomeric character to accommodate slight variations in the shape of the sealing strips 20 and to reduce stress due to di~ ing coefficients of thermal expansion at the interface between the sealing strip and the walls ofthe eYp~nsion joint.
Although the sealed expansion joint 10 appears conventional, the present method of sealing the expansion joint is advantageous as compared to prior art methods and will now be described with particular reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5a to Sc. Prior to in~t~ tion ofthe sealing strip 20 in the gap 12 ofthe expansion joint 10, an aperture 40 is formed in the sealing strip, prefel~bly in its upper surface 20b and a valve 42 is fitted into the aperture. The ends 20g of the sealing strip are also sealed. It is desirable to ensure that the internal cells 20e and 20f of the sealing strip are in fluid communication. If the aperture 40 is formed by drilling, the drill can also be used to puncture a hole through the internal wall 20d.
Alternatively, before the ends of the sealing strip 20 are sealed, slits can be formed in the 2ls5696 internal wall 20d adjacPnt the ends of the sealing strip.
A tube 44 is connected to the valve 42 which leads to a valved Y-connector 46.
One port 48 of the valved Y-connector leads to the intake port 50 of a pump 52. The other port 54 of the valved Y-connector leads to the exhaust port 56 of the pump 52. At this stage, the pump 52 is operated to create a vacuum to evacuate the sealing strip 20 causing the sealing strip to collapse. The symmetrical nature and design of the sealing strip f~cilit~tes collapsing of the sealing strip along its length. Once collapsed, the sealing strip 20 is ready to be installed into the gap 12 of the e~ran~ion joint.
Prior to inst~lling the collapsed sealing strip into the gap 12, the opposing walls 14 and 16 are cleaned to remove any loose debris and then the adhesive 22 is applied on the walls to a thiç1~ness of apploxil-lately 1/16" to 1/4" depending on irregularities in the walls.
Adhesive 22 is also placed on the side walls of the sealing strip 20. The sealing strip 20 is then lowered into the Pxp~n~ion joint If the expansion joint is located in a low traffic area, the sealing strip is positioned so that its upper surface 20b is level with the surface of the structure in which the eYpan~ion joint is formed. If the expansion joint is located in a high traff1c area, the sealing strip 20 is positioned so that its upper surface 20b is slightly below the surface of the structure, typically 1/2 inch. The sealing strip 20 may be held at the proper depth by plopping it on top of a backer rod 60 or on top of a foam board 62. It should however be understood to those skilled in the art that any similar object may be used to support the sealing strip 20 in place during positioning.
Once held at the proper depth, the sealing strip 20 is oriented so that it is propelly positioned. The pump 52 is then turned off, releasing the vacuum, and the valve in the Y-connector 46 is turned to connect the tube 44 to the exhaust port 56 allowing air to slowly enter into the sealing strip 20 so that the sealing strip begins to expand. When the sealing strip 20 has exr~n-led to the point where the sides ofthe sealing strip abut the walls 14 and 16, the pl~cçm~nt ofthe sealing strip is inspected again to ensure that it is still properly positioned. If the positioning is correct, the pump 52 is again operated with the valve of the Y-conne~;lor 46 connecting the tube 44 to the exhaust port 56 of the pump. This causes air to 2lss696 be forced into the sealing strip causing it to over-inflate within the gap so that the sides of the sealing strip firmly abut the walls 14 and 16. If the ends ofthe sealing strip 20g were clamped and welded or glued, then this portion of the sealing strip must be cut offin order to allow for the sides of the sealing ~lement to come into contact with the joint walls. The expansion joint 10 is then left ~n~i~hlrbed until the adhesive 22 cures. This usually takes from 4 to 24 hours.
Once the adhesive cures, the valve 42 is removed from the aperture 40 and the aperture is sealed.
Although the present method has been described with reference to the sealing strip depicted in Figures 1 and 2, alternative sealing strips having di~rent internal web patterns may be used. Figures 6a to 6e show examples of alternative sealing strips which are suitable for use when carrying out the present method. Figure 6a shows a multicell rubber col.lpression sealing strip particularly useful for sealing horizontal expansion joints in structures bearing traffic. Figure 6b shows a rubber compression sealing strip useful for sealing holi~olll~l and vertical expansion joints in structures bearing no traffic. Figure 6c shows a rubber co-.lpression sealing strip having textured sides to increase surface area and provide improved adhesion. Figures 6d and 6e show two further sealing strip design~ As those of skill in the art will appreciate, when the sealing strip has a complicated internal web pattern to define a plurality of internal cells, the cells are brought into fluid communication by forming slits 70 in the internal walls of the sealing strip as illustrated in Figure 7 as opposed to using a drill. This is due to the fact that it is difficult to puncture all of the internal walls in this manner.
It should be appa,enl to those of skill in the art that the sealing strip need not be over-inflated during in~t~ tion. Rather, once the sealing strip has been properly positioned in the gap 12, the sealing strip can simply be allowed to assume its uncompressed state by disconnecting the tube 44 from the pump 52 so that the sides of the sealing strip abut the walls 14 and 16.
The present method provides a simple, fast and economical method for sealing ~,Ypan~ion joints which are less prone to leakage than expansion joints sealed using prior art .
techniques. This is due to the fact the in the present method, the sealing strip 20 can be properly positioned within the gap 12 ofthe expansion joint 10 without adhesive 22 being scraped from belween the sealing strip and the walls. In this manner, the adhesive 22 placed on the walls to fill voids in the walls remains on the walls and is likely to be un(li~tllrbed by the sealing strip when it is positioned in the gap. Because ofthis, the likelihood of leakage through the seal is reduced. These advantages are achieved by creating a vacuum in the sealing strip to col--press it to a width which is less than the width of the gap in the expansion joint allowing for the sealing strip to be inserted in the gap without disturbing the adhesive.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the present method provides a method of sealing an expansion joint which does not require extensive prep~lion of the eYp~mion joint walls, while reduçing the possibility of leakage through the seal. The present method also obviates the need for complicated machinery to compress and insert the sealing strip into the gap of the expansion joint. In addition, the present method also obviates the need to use sealing strips having wings. Winged sealing strips are extremely expensive to use and install.
As one of skill in the art will appreciate, various widths and lengths of sealing strips may be used although it is pl~relled that the sealing strips, varying in width from 1 inch to several inches, be designed to suit the requirements of the expansion joint. The length of the sealing strip used depends on the length of the expansion joint to be sealed. It is also understood that expansion joints which are not straight, i.e. bend and turn, may also be sealed using the present method by welding or using adhesive to join a number of sealing strips together in a manner to fit the shape of the expansion joint to be sealed.
Although the sealing strips are shown as being symmetrical about their lon~ihldin~l axis, it should be apparenl to those of skill in the art that this is not critical. The sealing strip simply needs to be of a design so that when the vacuum is created, the sealing strip col"presses laterally so that its width is less than the width of the gap allowing the sealing strip to be positioned in the gap without disturbing the adhesive.
-In addition, although a simple pump is shown to collapse and over-inflate the sealing strip, it should be realized that separate pumps can be used to perform each step.
The present method may be used to seal expansion joints in various steel or concrete structures including roadways, buildings, pavement, and in parking slabs. It is understood to those skilled in the art that the method of the present invention can be used to seal basically any type of e~cr~n~iQn joint whether the joint is narrow, wide, short, long, straight, bending, or on an even plane.
Although prcrellcd embodiments ofthe invention are described herein in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (18)
1. A method for sealing an expansion joint to inhibit leakage through said joint and allow for thermal expansion and contraction, said method comprising the steps of:
I) collapsing a generally hollow resilient sealing element by creating a vacuum therein such that the width of said sealing element is less than the width of said expansion joint; and ii) positioning said collapsed sealing element within the expansion joint and releasing said vacuum so that said sealing element expands to fill said expansion joint allowing adhesive between said sealing element and said expansion joint to adhere said sealing element to said expansion joint;
I) collapsing a generally hollow resilient sealing element by creating a vacuum therein such that the width of said sealing element is less than the width of said expansion joint; and ii) positioning said collapsed sealing element within the expansion joint and releasing said vacuum so that said sealing element expands to fill said expansion joint allowing adhesive between said sealing element and said expansion joint to adhere said sealing element to said expansion joint;
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of after step (I), applying adhesive to at least one of said sealing element and said expansion joint.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein adhesive is applied to both said sealing element and said expansion joint.
4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of over-inflating said sealing element after said vacuum has been released.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said collapsing and over-inflating is performed using a single pump.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said sealing element is formed of an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, ABS rubber, urethane rubber, polysulfide rubber, neoprene rubber, santaprene and silicone rubber.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein said sealing element has at least one internal wall defining a plurality of isolated cells therein, said method further including the step of bringing said cells into fluid communication prior to performing step (I).
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said cells are brought into fluid communication by slitting at least one of said internal walls, adjacent at least one end of said sealing element.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said cells are brought into fluid communication by drilling at least one hole through a surface of said sealing element and through at least one of said internal walls.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said vacuum is created in said sealing element through said at least one hole.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said adhesive is selected from the group consisting of epoxy, urethane adhesives, butyl rubber adhesives, and silicone adhesives.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the ends of said sealing element are welded.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the ends of said sealing element are glued.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein during step (ii) said vacuum is at first released slowly so that said sealing element expands slowly to facilitate alignment of said sealing element within the expansion joint.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein after said sealing element is aligned, said sealing element is fully expanded by releasing said vacuum.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein during step (ii) said sealing element is positioned on a supporting metal rod or foam board.
17. An expansion joint sealing kit comprising:
I) at least one generally hollow collapsible resilient sealing element;
ii) at least one pump connectible to said sealing element to create a vacuum within the sealing element to collapse said sealing element to a width less than the width of said expansion joint; and iii) adhesive to adhere the sealing element to the walls of said expansion joint.
I) at least one generally hollow collapsible resilient sealing element;
ii) at least one pump connectible to said sealing element to create a vacuum within the sealing element to collapse said sealing element to a width less than the width of said expansion joint; and iii) adhesive to adhere the sealing element to the walls of said expansion joint.
18. A kit as defined in claim 17 further comprising a valved connection means extending between the in tube and exhaust ports of said pump and said sealing element, said valved connection means being selectable to a first condition to connect the sealing element to the intake port of said pump to create said vacuum and to a second condition to connect the sealing element to the exhaust port of said pump to over-inflate said sealing element.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2155696 CA2155696A1 (en) | 1995-08-09 | 1995-08-09 | Method and kit for sealing expansion joints |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2155696 CA2155696A1 (en) | 1995-08-09 | 1995-08-09 | Method and kit for sealing expansion joints |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2155696A1 true CA2155696A1 (en) | 1997-02-10 |
Family
ID=4156384
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2155696 Abandoned CA2155696A1 (en) | 1995-08-09 | 1995-08-09 | Method and kit for sealing expansion joints |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2155696A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107268433A (en) * | 2017-08-10 | 2017-10-20 | 宋新虎 | A kind of waterstop and bridge expansion joint installation |
| CN109610310A (en) * | 2018-12-12 | 2019-04-12 | 湖南大学 | Fashioned iron-UHPC combined bridge deck structure and its construction method suitable for cantilever position |
-
1995
- 1995-08-09 CA CA 2155696 patent/CA2155696A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107268433A (en) * | 2017-08-10 | 2017-10-20 | 宋新虎 | A kind of waterstop and bridge expansion joint installation |
| CN109610310A (en) * | 2018-12-12 | 2019-04-12 | 湖南大学 | Fashioned iron-UHPC combined bridge deck structure and its construction method suitable for cantilever position |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Dead |
Effective date: 19980810 |