Decking System

Abstract

The slab module disclosed herein consists of a precast prestressed slab section which may have solid or a hollow core. The slab module has a longitudinal male inserting edge which when installed mates with a complimentary-shaped female receiving edge on a similar slab module. However, the dimensions of the female edge are slightly greater than the corresponding male edges. The bottom surface of both male and female members are inclined at an angle to the plane of a side of the slab module so that the inserted module will move upward in translation as well as move toward the module into which its edge is being inserted. When the top or bottom surface (as desired) of the inserting module is at the same plane as the corresponding surface of the inserted module, a positioning spacer may be inserted to limit further movement and to maintain the relative position of the modules. The spacers may be in the form of plates which will vary in thickness. The joints between slab modules will be grouted after the slab modules are assembled. The modules will be drawn together by tendons. After assembly and adjustment of the slab modules, the tendons are post-tensioned and permanently anchored. The finished deck will appear and function as a smooth, continuous slab.

Description

This invention involves structural members and, more particularly, precast slabs for use in making a deck or the like with the top or bottom surfaces (as desired) of all the slab modules flat.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved decking system.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved precast slab which can be used with other slabs to form a continuous top or bottom surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved floor system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial end view of two slabs according to the invention showing the joints therebetween.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one of the slabs according to the invention showing the facing plate members positioned on one side thereof.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one of the facing plates.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of two slabs supported on two structural members and in position to be drawn together by tendons.

FIG. 5 is a view of another embodiment of the inserted edge on the slab module.

FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of the inserted edge on the slab module.

FIG. 7 is a view of another embodiment of the inserted edge on the slab module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, slab modules 10 and 10' and end slab module 110 are shown supported on the main structural framing members 15. The slab modules each have a receiving female edge 12 and an inserting male edge 11. Transverse tie cables 13 are provided and the edge male tongue side 11 of each slab module is adapted to be inserted in the corresponding receiving female edge of the slab adjacent thereto. The structural framing members may be considered to be beams in a building. Weld plates 16 will be set into the slab modules for welding to the beams 15 when the slab modules are in place. Facing plates 17 each have an intermediate part 18' and a first end 19 and a second end 20 disposed generally in a symmetrical shape with the ends bent relative to the intermediate member. The tendons 13 extend through tubular opening in the slab modules and through holes in the plates 29 where they are temporarily anchored. The tendons are taken up and the slab modules pulled together. The slab modules each have longitudinal prestressed steel reinforcing members therein which will be placed in accordance with good practice familiar to those skilled in the art.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 show examples of a joint used to connect the slab modules.

The female receiving edge will have a first edge surface 24 generally perpendicular to the top surface 30 and a second surface 25 that may be disposed at approximately 30.degree. to the top surface 30. The third surface 26 will be disposed approximately perpendicular to the top surface 30 and the bottom surface 31 of the slab and the fourth surface 27 will extend from the third surface to the fifth surface. The fifth surface 28 will be disposed perpendicular to the top surface 30. The female receiving edge 12 will be formed complimentary in shape to the male inserting edge 11 so that the surface 32 on the male inserting edge 11 will ride up the surface 25 on the panel 10, thus moving the top surface of the slab in translation and bringing the desired surfaces of the slab into a common plane.

The bottom surface of both of the slab modules will rest on the structural members 15. Prior to bringing the mating edges in contact, facing plates 17 will be inserted at various positions along the receiving edge. These plates can vary in thickness and intended to take up gross variation in surface elevations of adjacent modules and to reduce the bearing surface of the mating edges as they are drawn together.

After the slabs are pulled together the desired amount with the facing plates 17 in place therebetween, as shown in FIG. 1, a positioning spacer such as indicated at 33 in FIG. 1 will be inserted in the space between the slab modules.

Upon completion of a deck section, the seams between the modules will be filled with mortar or grout, thus providing a smooth, continuous surface. The modules will be drawn together by a system of tendons 13 as shown, threaded through transverse conduit installed in each module. Prior to setting each module, the tendon 13 is threaded through tubular openings in the module and temporarily anchored to a plate 29 at the far side of the module to be set. The module is then drawn into position by taking up on the tendons. After positioning the incoming module, the positioning spacers 33 are set and the temporary tendon anchor removed. The tendon is then threaded through the tubular openings in the next incoming module and the process repeated. After all of the modules have been set, and the seams grouted, the tendons are post tensioned and permanently anchored to the edge module to provide a lateral bearing force between adjacent modules, assuring structural continuity. The weld plates 16 will then be welded to structural members 15. The finished deck will behave structurally as a continuous slab and will render the same appearance as a single, smooth, continuous slab.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 shows two panels 210 with flat top and bottom surfaces 211 and 212 and a joint 213 of slightly different configuration than FIGS. 1-4. Positioning spacers and facing plates 214 may be used as in the other embodiments.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 shows a joint between slab modules 311 and 312 and facing plates 314 and FIG. 7 show another embodiment of a joint between slab modules 411 and 412 wherein the one slab is lifted up when pulled toward the other. A facing plate 414 is disposed between the slab modules.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A plurality of load bearing slab modules,

said slab modules being precast, reinforced and/or prestressed, concrete,

said slab modules each having a male inserting edge adapted to be inserted into a complimentary shaped female receiving edge of a similar slab,

said slab modules each having a female receiving edge having slightly greater dimensions than said male inserting edge,

the bottom surface of both said inserting edge and said receiving edge being inclined to the plane of the top surface of said slab module so that when said slab module is installed with a similar slab module to make a deck, said slab modules will move into a common plane,

laterally extending holes disposed through said slab modules,

and tendons extending through said holes and having means on their ends adapted to force said slab modules toward each other whereby the top surface of said slab modules are disposed in a common plane,

and means comprising shims of selected sizes inserted between said slab modules to limit the movement of any particular slab whereby the top surface of said slabs may be brought into a common plane,

said slab modules being held from further movement toward each other by said shims.

2. A facing plate disposed between the slab modules recited in claim 1 wherein said facing plates are generally symmetrical having an intermediate part and a first and a second end attached to said intermediate part,

said first end of said facing plate being adapted to be disposed in the space between said edges of said slab modules,

said intermediate part of said facing plates being adapted to rest on said inclined portion of said edge,

and said second end of said facing plates being disposed between a relatively flat male end of a said edge of one said slab module and a relatively flat surface of said female edge, whereby the incline of the bracket reduces friction between said slab modules with each other.