US2837985A

US2837985A - Reinforce assemblies and units thereof

Info

Publication number: US2837985A
Application number: US529804A
Authority: US
Inventors: John I Swanson
Original assignee: Union Steel Products Co
Current assignee: Union Steel Products Co
Priority date: 1955-08-22
Filing date: 1955-08-22
Publication date: 1958-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1975-06-10

Description

June 10, 1958 J. l. swANsoN 2,837,985

REINF ORGE ASSEMBLIES AND UNITS THEREOF Filed Aug. 22, 195s r' i 2,837,985 Patented June 10, 1958 t 2,831,985 Y REINFoncE AssEMBLIEs AND UNITS THEREoF .lohn I. Swanson, Albion, Mich., assgnor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 22, 1955, Serial No. 529,804

9 Claims. (Cl. 94-8) This invention relates to improvements in reinforce assemblies and units thereof particularly desirable for use :at joints of pavements, airtields, and the like.

The main objects of the invention are:

First, to provide a reinforce assembly comprising pairs of like units which may be quickly assembled at the point of use with dowels or other reinforce elements which may be handled as an assembled structure.

Second, to provide an assembly of this character in which the parts may be compactly arranged and shipped in the knockdown and quickly set up at the point of use and when set up provides a strong structure even when formed of relatively light material, the parts being ar- .ranged to effectively support and brace each other.

Third, to provide a unit for supporting reinforcing lelements `which provides secure seats for a plurality of reinforcing elements and permits rapid assembly of such "elements therewith and when the elements are assembled provides effective support therefor.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. vThe invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view on a line corresponding to line 1 1 of Fig. 2 of a reinforce assembly embodying my invention, the assembly being illustrated las supported by a subgrade of a pavement or the like which is conventionally illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding lto line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vsection corresponding to that of Fig. 2, showing the details of the reinforce member supports and the adjustability thereof to receive the reinforcing member.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the assembly.

iWhile the reinforce assembly of my invention is especially desirable for and I have illustrated it as embodied in what is commonly designated as a load transfer device for pavement joints, certain features of my invention are adapted for a wide variety of uses, for example reinforce bars of various types and lengths may be substituted for the dowel barsillustrated.

yThe assembly of the embodiment illustrated comprises a pair of similar units designated generally by the numeral 1, these units being arranged in opposed relation to receive and support reinforce memberssuch as the joint U-shape and their bights-9 are disposed upon and tixedly secured to the top bars as by welding indicated at 10.

The arms of the chair members are disposed in crossed relation, the

outer arms

11, 11 are secured to the bottom bar 7 and constitute legs. The inner arms 12 are also disposed in crossed relation but they are springable relative to each other as is indicated by the dotted and full lines in Fig. 3, the initial position thereof being indicated by dotted lines. These crossed inner and outer arms provide seats for the dowel bar 2 or other reinforcing element. The units are arranged in opposed relation as illustrated in Figs. l and 4 and the dowel bars assembled therewith,

lthe dowels constituting tie members for the units and also connecting bars or crosspieces for the legs of the unit, thus supporting the units in upright position and enabling the assembly being handled as a unit.

Some paving specifications require the use of joint spacers or fillers 14 which are provided with holes 1S through which the dowel bars are inserted and the spacer members 14 thus become an assembled part of the assembly. The spacers are quite commonly of fibreboard or the like as is indicated by the dotted section in Fig. l.

One of the main advantages of the structure of my invention is that the unit may be nested and shipped or transported as such and the assembly readily set up at the point of use, the pair of units being arranged in properly spaced relation. The dowel bars are assembled endwise one at a time, the arms 12 of the chair members being sprung by swinging the lower ends thereof toward each other from their initial position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. This may be done by grasping the ends to enlarge the triangle between the arms 12 and the bar 5 which form the seat and'then inserting a reinforce bar by endwise movement thereof. When the arms 12 are released they springably grip the reinforcing members, holding them in position against the top bar so that they do not fall out of the seats of the chair members and the whole assembly may be handled and positioned as a unit. The arms 11 which constitute legs are not in clutching engagement with the reinforced members and they are desirably connected at their lower ends to support the reinforced dowel bars at predetermined height.

It will be understood that the whole assembly is embedded in the concrete and when used as a joint support the dowel bars are commonly coated, at least in part, with some material which permits relative movement of adjacent pavement slabs or blocks to accommodate expansion arid contraction thereof. However, the adjacent edges of the slabs are supportedly connected to provide what is commonly designated as a load transfer connection. As pointed out, the units may be usted to support reinforce members other than dowel bars. The joint fillers of the assembly are supported so that no further support is required in the placing of the concrete. It will be noted that the filler is supported in upright position by the inner arms of the chair members.

I have illustrated one adaptation or embodiment of my invention. I have not attempted to illustrate others which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the same a's may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A reinforce assembly comprising a pair of units disposed in opposed relation, said units comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars, a bottom bar disposed in downwardly spaced outwardly offset relation relative to the outer top bar, pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of said top bars, said chair members of the pairs being of inverted U-shape and xedly secured to said top bars in spaced relation to each other with `their'arms in crossed relation, the inner crossed arms coacting with the top bars to provide dowel seats, the outer arms being secured to the bottom bar and constituting legs, the inner arms being springable relative to each other permitting expanding of the seats thereof to receive a dowel bar presented endwise thereto, and dowel bars disposed in aligned seats of the units with the inner arms of the chair members in springable clutching engagement against said dowel bars, the dowels constituting the tie members for the units and connecting bars for the legs of the units.

2. A reinforce assembly comprising a pair of units disposed in opposed relation, said units comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars, pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of said top bars, said chair members of the pairs being of inverted U-shape and iixedly secured to said top bars in spaced relation to each other with their arms in crossed relation, the inner arms coacting with the top bars to form dowel seats and being springable relative to each other permitting expanding of the seats thereof to receive a dowel bar presented endwise thereto, and dowel bars disposed in aligned seats of the units with the inner arms of the chair members in springable clutching engagement against said dowel bar, the dowels constituting tie members for the units and connecting bars for the legs of the units.

3. A reinforce assembly comprising a pair of units disposed in opposed relation, said units comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars, a bottom bar disposed in a plane below the plane of the top bars, pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of said top bars, said chair members of the pairs being fixedly secured to said top bars and comprising downwardly projecting crossed arms, the inner arms coacting with the top bars to provide dowel seats, one pair of crossed arms being secured to the bottom bar and constituting legs, the inner arms being springable relative to each other permitting expanding of the seat thereof to receive a dowel bar presented endwise thereto, and dowel bars disposed in aligned seats of the units with the said springable arms in springable clutch- :ing engagement against said dowel bars.

4. A reinforce assembly comprising a pair of units disposed in opposed relation, said units comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars, pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of said top bars, said chair members of the pairs being xedly secured to said top bars and comprising downwardly projecting crossed arms, one pair 'of crossed arms constituting legs, the other pair of arms coacting with said top bars to provide dowel seats and being springable relative to each other permitting expanding of the seat thereof to receive a dowel bar presented endwise thereto, and dowel bars disposed in aligned seats of the units with the said springable arms in springable clutching engagement against said dowel bars.

5. A reinforce unit comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars, a bottom bar disposed in downwardly spaced relation relative to the outer top bar, pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of said top bars, said chair members of the pairs being of inverted U-shape and tixedvly secured to said top bars in spaced relation to each other with their arms in crossed relation, the inner arms coacting with the top bars to provide dowel seats, the outer -arms being secured to the bottom bar and constituting legs, the inner arms being springable relative to each other permitting expanding o'f the seats thereof to receive a supported bar presented endwise thereto.

6. A reinforce unit comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars, pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of said top bars, said chair members of the pairs being of inverted U-shape and iixedly secured to said top bars in spaced relation to each other with their arms in crossed relation, the inner arms coacting with said top bars to provide dowel seats and being springable relative to each other permitting vertical expanding of the seats thereof to receive a supported bar presented endwise thereto.

7. A reinforce unit comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars, a bottom bar disposed in a plane below the plane of the top bars, cross pieces connecting said top bars, and pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of said top bars, said chair members of the pairs being fixedly secured to said top bars and comprising downwardly projecting crossed arms one pair of crossed arms coacting with the top bars to provide dowel seats, the other pair of crossed arms being secured to the bottom bar and constituting legs, the said first pair of arms being springable relative to each other permitting expanding of the seat thereof to secure a supported bar presented endwise thereto.

8. A reinforce unit comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars, cross pieces connecting said top bars, and pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of said top bars, said chair members of the pairs being xedly secured to said top bars and comprising downwardly projecting crossed arms, one pair of crossed arms having their lower ends connected to each other in spaced relation and constituting legs, the other pair of arms coacting with said top bar to provide dowel seats being springable relative to each other permitting expanding of the seat thereof to secure a supported bar presented endwise thereto.

9; A reinforce assembly comprising a pair of units disposed in opposed relation, said units comprising laterally spaced inner and outer top bars and pairs of chair members spaced longitudinally of the top bars, said chair members being of inverted U-shape and fixedly secured to said top bars in spaced relation to each other with their arms in crossed relation, the inner arms to coact with the top bar to provide dowel bar seats and being springable relative to each other permitting expanding of the inner seats to receive dowel bars presented endwise thereto,

-dowel bars disposed in aligned seats of the unit with the inner arms of the chair members in springable clutching engagement with the dowel bars, the inner arms of the pairs of units being spaced to receive a ller member between them, and an elongated tiller member disposed between the inner arms of the units and through which the dowel bars are disposed, certain of the inner arms of the units being in supporting engagement with the filler member whereby it is maintained in upright position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,531,040 Heltzel Nov. 21, 1950 2,531,552 Brickman Nov. 28, 1950 2,634,660 Godwin Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 843,706 Germany Nov. 4, 1952