US3767311A

US3767311A - Roadbed joint seal

Info

Publication number: US3767311A
Application number: US00266471A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pare R Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-26
Filing date: 1972-06-26
Publication date: 1973-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-23

Abstract

An elastomer joint seal for modular, slab-like construction elements such as pavements, roads, walls and the like. The seal is an elongated parallel-piped and is placed between facing edges of adjacent modular elements. Crossed spring elements run longitudinally of the seal and define an X-configuration in cross-section. Upon movement of the modular sections relative to each other, the spring elements undergo deformation in their respective planes.

Description

[ Oct. 23, 1973 United States, Patent Pare [ ROADBED JOINT SEAL [76] Inventor: Robert Lee Pare, 27 Chiswick Rd., Primary Examiner Mari" Parsons Edgewood Rl 02903 Attorney-Thomas J. Greer, .lr.

June 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 266,471

ABSTRACT [22] Filed:

An elastomer joint seal for modular, slab-like construction elements such as pavements, roads, walls and [52] US. Cl. 4114/67 h lik h sea] is an elongated para]]e| piped and is Int. la ed between facing edges of adjacent modular ele- [58] Field of Search.......................... 404/67, 66, 44

ments. Crossed spring elements run longitudinally of the seal and define an X-configuration in crosssection. Upon movement of the modular sections relative to each other, the spring elements undergo deformation in their respective planes.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ROADBED JOINT SEAL This invention relates to a seal for use in joints for pavements, roadbeds, wall panels, and the like, wherein the pavement, road or structural panel is composed of a plurality of modular sections or units each subject to expansion and contraction as occasioned by changes in ambient temperature or moisture. It is an improvement on my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,597.

In the construction of a pavement or roadbed, the'top surface is defined by a plurality of aligned and generally rectangular concrete slabs, either formed in situ or prefabricated, placed on a base or substrate. Spaces are left between the aligned slabs to allow for individual expansion and contraction of the slabs due to ambient temperature variations. Thus, the resultant pavementor roadbed is defined by a substrate or base upon which are placed a plurality of generally rectangular slabs, with gaps between the slabs running generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pavement or roadbed. It will be apparent that the gaps are entirely necessary in the case of expansion of the slabs, otherwise, buckling or fracture of the individual slabs would accompany temperature increases and failure of the slabs in tension would accompany temperature decreases.

This art has long been aware of various sealing elements between such modular units. Here, the worker in this art is referred to the following United States patents as exemplary of sealing elements between pavements of roadbed sections U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,324,775; 3,276,336; 3,179,026; 3,479,933; 2,315,588 and 2,071,299. In the latter three patents an elastomeric element, such as rubber, is provided with an internal cavity and a sheet metal spring element placed within the cavity. The function of the internal spring element is to produce forces laterally of the gap between the slabs, i.e., in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roadbed, for the purpose of taking up increases in the width of the gap which would accompany contraction of the individual modular units. The deformation of the seal which is defined by the elastomer and the spring element further accomodates a narrowing of the gap upon expansion of the individual modular elements. In the first three mentioned United States patents, an internal spring element is absent and the required resiliency of the sealing member is provided by the properties'of the elastomer member itself. Thus, deformation of the sealing element is made possible by cavities therein. While prior art structures such as those above listed have probably been at least partially satisfactory, certain disadvantages have been observed such as the formation of a depression or of a bulge in the top portion which is substantially coplanar with the pavement or roadbed surface. In the case of a seal entirely formed of an elastomer, the struts are folded inward on one another causing severe bending in the walls in the compressed position, thus developing compression set and reduction in recovery to the expanded position. Continued exposure of the seal to the atmosphere further inhibits the ability of the seal to expand during periods of low temperatures.

In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,597 it has been found that the single, planar internal spring does not always remain in a vertical plane upon deformation, rather its top or bottom edges undergo excursions therefrom.

According to the practice of the present invention, a joint which seals the gap between adjacent modular sections in a roadbed, pavement, or static building structure, is provided which employs a generally tubular elastomer member in combination with internal spring elements. Spring elements having substantially well defined planes are inserted within the elastomer seal. The planes of the springs are crossed, the longitudinal edges of any one spring bearing against diagonally opposite longitudinal edges of the elastomer tube (parallelpiped).

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective and partially broken view of the joint seal of this invention according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, looking longitudinally of the joint, of the joint shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 andillustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG..2 and illustrating another embodiment.

Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numerals l0 and 12 denote adjacent and facing modular roadbed sections of concrete or the like. Each section is formed with a ledge 14 such as illustrated on the section 10 and each with a top load-bearing

portion

16 and 18. It will be understood that the

surfaces

16 and 18 constitute adjacent surfaces which may either define a primary load bearing surface or may be covered with a suitable cover or secondary layer such as asphalt.

The numeral 20 denotes generally an elastomer seal according to this invention and is in the form of an elongated and hollow element having two generally opposite' and parallel facing sides, each of which is substantially planar, and having a top portion which is generally planar. The seal 20 extends completely across the gap between the adjacent modular sections 10 and 12, the gap being denoted by the numeral 22 in FIG. 2.

The seal 20 comprises generally opposite and planar facing

walls

24 and 26 which abut modular concrete sections 12 and 10. The top of the elongated seal 20 is generally planar and comprises a cap or top 28 centrally interrupted by a depression 30.

Integral webs

32 and 34 join top 28 and

side walls

24 and 26 as best indicated at FIG. 2. A bottom closure 38 is defined by two integral webs at the bottom edges of the side walls.

Two

planar springs

40 and 42, of identical construction, cross each other to define a generally X- configuration in transverse cross-section. Each spring is formed of metal wire and has a series of two loops. The loops are longitudinally spaced along runner portion 43, the latter continuously bearing against one interior corner of the seal 20 while the spaced outermost loops engage the diagonally opposite interior corner. The springs may be placed inside the elastomer tube so that they are in compression in their respective planes, the compression and attendant force urging diagonally opposite corners of the tube away from each other. In other intended uses the springs may not undergo deformation until insertion of the seal into the gap.

It will be clear that as the modular roadbed sections move towards and away from each other the force of the

springs

40 and 42 will compel the

side walls

24 and 26 to follow such excursions, thus always maintaining an effective seal across gap'22. Each of the

springs

40,42 being in compression in its own plane, the

walls

24 and 26 are under vertical tension, thus maintaining the walls flat against the sides of the roadbed gap.

In FIG. 4 an embodiment is illustrated in which upper and lower portions of the seal are of elastomer, as in the previously described embodiment, but in which the side walls are fashioned either of metal or plastic. The

numerals

55 and 57 denote the side walls and are swaged over at both longitudinal edges to retain

springs

40 and 42 by virtue of the resultant longitudinal channel. The lower elastomer portion or cap is denoted by the numeral 380 and includes integral webs 50 and rectangular saw-tooth sides 52 which engage the facing walls of gap 22.

A third embodiment is illustrated at FIG. 5 in which the upper elastomer member 60 includes integral webs 62 and side skirts 520 also having rectangular sawtooth elements to engage the gap walls. Again, the

side walls

550 and 570 are of metal or plastic and are swaged along their lower longitudinal edges to retain the springs. The latter are enveloped in a polyetholene sheath or film 64 to preclude degradation by oxidation. The upper longitudinal edges of the side walls are jointed to the interior edges of the side skirts 520 by a suitable adhesvie. The lower portion of the seal is open, having no distinct closure analagous to

portions

38 and 380.

I claim:

1. A seal adapted to be placed between facing edges of adjacent modular units, such as roadbed slabs, said seal including,

a. a pair of parallel and longitudinal side walls spaced from each other,

b. a pair of springs of the same longitudinal extent as said side walls, each of said springs lying in a plane, said planes intersecting each other,

c. each of said springs having a loci of points defining two longitudinal edges therefor,

d. the longitudinal edges of the springs positioned at, respectively, opposite diagonal longitudinal edges of said side wall, to thereby urge the side walls apart when the springs are under compression,

e. an elastomer top cap extending across the top longitudinal edges of said side walls.

2. The seal of claim 1 wherein said elastomer cap and side walls are integral.

3. The seal of claim 2 wherein the bottom longitudinal edges of said side walls are provided with integral extensions which are joined to form a bottom closure.

4. The seal of claim 1 including a bottom cap, said bottom cap being the same construction as the top cap and fixed to the lower longitudinal side walls in the same manner as the top cap.

5. The seal of claim 1 wherein said springs are encased in a plastic sheath.

6. The seal of claim 1 wherein said springs are each of wire and include longitudinally spaced loops extending from a main runner portion.

7. The seal of claim 4 wherein the upper and lower longitudinal edges of said side walls are of a rigid material and are inwardly swaged, toward each other, to define longitudinal channels for the reception of said springs.

8. The seal of claim 1 wherein the said side walls are of a rigid material.

Claims

1. A seal adapted to be placed between facing edges of adjacent modular units, such as roadbed slabs, said seal including, a. a pair of parallel and longitudinal side walls spaced from each other, b. a pair of springs of the same longitudinal extent as said side walls, each of said springs lying in a plane, said planes intersecting each other, c. each of said springs having a loci of points defining two longitudinal edges therefor, d. the longitudinal edges of the springs positioned at, respectively, opposite diagonal longitudinal edges of said side walls, to thereby urge the side walls apart when the springs are under compression, e. an elastomer top cap extending across the top longitudinal edges of said side walls.

2. The seal of claim 1 wherein said elastomer cap and side walls are integral.

5. The seal of claim 1 wherein said springs are encased in a plastic sheath.

8. The seal of claim 1 wherein the said side walls are of a rigid material.