U.S. patent number 3,682,053 [Application Number 05/115,518] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-08 for sealing member.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Acme Highway Products Corporation. Invention is credited to James J. Kerschner.
United States Patent |
3,682,053 |
Kerschner |
August 8, 1972 |
SEALING MEMBER
Abstract
An elongated resiliently yieldable sealing member for use in an
expansion joint comprising a pair of side sections and a flexible
intermediate section interposed between and formed integral with
the side sections. The intermediate section has a flexible internal
truss structure which is readily compressible and which
accommodates movements in various planes while maintaining sealing
pressure against adjoining structural members. The outer surfaces
of the side sections conform to the flanges of standard structural
members.
Inventors: |
Kerschner; James J. (Buffalo,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Acme Highway Products
Corporation (Buffalo, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22361915 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/115,518 |
Filed: |
February 16, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01D
19/06 (20130101); E01C 11/126 (20130101); E01C
11/02 (20130101); E04B 1/68 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E01D
19/06 (20060101); E01C 11/12 (20060101); E04B
1/68 (20060101); E01D 19/00 (20060101); E01C
11/02 (20060101); E01c 011/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;94/18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nackenoff; Jacob L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A sealing member comprising: an elongated, elastic body having a
pair of side sections and an intermediate section interposed
between and formed integral with said side sections, said
intermediate section comprising a plurality of cross bars
intersecting intermediate the opposite ends thereof and collapsing
upon movement of said side sections toward each other during
compression of said body, each of said side sections comprising a
tubular structure and an internal truss structure for increased
relative rigidity preventing substantial buckling thereof until
said intermediate section is substantially fully collapsed.
2. A sealing member according to claim 1 whereinsaid intermediate
section cross bars provide a pantograph arrangement
3. A sealing member according to claim 1, wherein each of said side
sections has a pair of side walls joined at the opposite ends
thereof to top and bottom walls to form a tubular structure, said
internal truss structure of each of said side sections comprising a
pair of angularly related bars forming a diamond shaped
configuration and extending between said side walls intermediate
the opposite ends thereof.
4. A sealing member according to claim 1 wherein said side sections
have top and bottom walls each comprising a pair of sloping
portions joined together to form a corner.
5. A sealing member according to claim 4 wherein said side sections
also have inner and outer side walls, said internal truss structure
of each of said side sections including a pair of diagonal bars
extending inwardly in diverging relation from said outer side wall
intermediate the opposite ends thereof and joined to said top and
bottom walls, respectively, adjacent said corners.
6. A sealing member according to claim 1 wherein said side sections
have outer side walls and top and bottom wall portions extending
inwardly in diverging relation from said outer side walls adjacent
the opposite ends thereof to fit standard structural members and
form a mechanical lock therewith.
7. A sealing member according to claim 6 wherein the exterior
surfaces of said outer side walls and said top and bottom wall
portions are provided with means for retaining and trapping an
adhesive applied to said exterior surfaces.
8. A sealing member according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate
section is joined to said side sections at spaced points.
9. A sealing member according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate
section comprises a corrugated top wall and a corrugated bottom
wall joined at the respective opposite ends there of to said side
sections.
10. A sealing member according to claim 9 wherein said
interconnecting cross bars of said intermediate section extend from
said corrugated top wall downwardly to said corrugated bottom wall,
adjacent pairs of said cross bars being interconnected adjacent
their opposite ends, and the outermost pairs thereof being
connected adjacent their outer ends to said side sections to form a
collapsible pantograph arrangement.
11. A sealing member according to claim 1, wherein said side
sections comprise outer side walls, top and bottom walls having
major portions extending inwardly in diverging relation from
opposite ends of said outer walls and minor portions extending
inwardly in converging relation from the outer ends of said major
portions thereof, and inner side walls generally parallel to said
outer side walls interconnecting the outer ends of said minor top
wall portions, said side, top and bottom walls defining said
tubular structures.
12. A sealing member according to claim 11, wherein said major and
minor portions of said top and bottom walls form corners at the
junctures thereof, and wherein said internal truss structure of
each of said side sections includes a pair of diagonal bars
extending inwardly in diverging relation from said outer side wall
intermediate the opposite ends thereof to said top and bottom walls
adjacent said corners.
13. A sealing member according to claim 12, wherein said internal
truss structure of each of said side sections includes angularly
related bars extending between said side walls and jointed thereto
intermediate the opposite ends thereof, said angularly related bars
forming a diamond shaped configuration.
14. A sealing member according to claim 11 wherein the outermost
ends of the outermost pair of said intermediate section cross bars
are connected to said side structure adjacent the outer ends of
said minor portions thereof.
15. A sealing member according to claim 11 wherein said
intermediate section cross bars provide a pantograph arrangement
connected to said side sections adjacent the junctures between said
inner side walls and said minor wall portions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sealing members and, more particularly,
to sealing members employed in expansion joints which are disposed
in grooves formed between pavement blocks or slabs.
In the construction of highways, bridges, sidewalks, architectural
concourses and the like in which pavement slabs of concrete or
other paving materials are used, provision must be made for the
expansion and contraction of such slabs due to variations in
temperature. Conventionally, grooves are provided between adjacent
slabs to accommodate the expansion and contraction thereof. Such
grooves are sealed to preclude the entry of liquids and solid
particles therein and to prevent such foreign matter from passing
through the grooves beneath the pavement. These grooves often are
sealed by means of hollow, resilient, elastic strips which can be
compressed when the groove is contracted due to expansion of the
pavement material and which expand to maintain the groove seal when
the groove is expanded due to contraction of the pavement
material.
While many such seals are suitable for absorbing normal movement of
the adjacent pavement slabs in one plane toward and away from each
other, they are not as satisfactory in accommodating various
movements of adjacent slabs occurring in different planes as a
result of pavement deck loading, vertical deflection and racking of
adjacent slabs.
Also, these seals often are mounted in structural members which
have been expecially designed or modified to receive them, thereby
materially increasing fabrication and installation costs. Sometimes
such modification of conventional structural members seriously
impairs the strength thereof, whereby either the joint is weakened
or larger and more expensive members must be employed to compensate
for the loss of strength resulting from the modification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing
member obviating the above deficiencies.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved
sealing member accommodating and facilitating the use of standard
structural members in a manner securely retaining the seal in place
therebetween.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the
foregoing sealing member with an intermediate section having
sufficient flexibility to accommodate movements of adjacent
pavement slabs in various planes while maintaining the desired
sealing action.
Still another object of this invention is to provide the foregoing
in a seal providing a wide range of movement for expansion and
contraction.
The sealing member of the present invention is characterized by the
provision of a pair of side sections and an intermediate section
interposed between and formed integral with the side sections. The
intermediate section has a flexible, pantograph configuration which
is readily compressible and which facilitates the accommodation by
the sealing member of movements in various planes without reducing
sealing pressure against the adjacent structural members. The outer
surfaces of the side sections conform to the flanges of standard
structural members and form a mechanical lock therewith.
The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing
features of the present invention will become clearly apparent from
the ensuing detailed description of an illustrative embodiment
thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein like
reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various
views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a sealing member constructed
in accordance with this invention, shown in its natural expanded
condition;
FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the sealing member of FIG.
1, shown in a compressed condition between opposed, conventional
structural members;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the sealing member in
substantially a maximum compressed condition;
FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the sealing member of FIG. 1,
shown in a compressed state and subjected to rotational forces;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the sealing member
of FIG. 1, shown subjected to torsional stresses; and
FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken about on line 6--6 of
FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1
an elongated, resiliently yieldable sealing member, generally
designated 10 constructed in accordance with this invention.
Sealing member 10 is shown uncompressed in FIG. 1, prior to
assembly with the structural members which form a part of the
expansion joint assembly.
Sealing member 10 preferably is composed of a resiliently yieldable
elastomeric material, such as neoprene for example, or any other
elastic material having similar properties of durability,
sufficient compression and expansion capabilities, high abrasion
resistance and capable of withstanding temperature extremes,
sunlight, weathering, oxidation and deleterious chemicals. Sealing
member 10 is formed of a unitary, one-piece construction by a
suitable extrusion process and can be of any length desired. While
sealing member 10 can take various outside dimensions to conform to
the width of the grooves in which it is to be used, the width is
generally of a greater dimension than the height thereof. Also, it
should be understood that although sealing member 10 is especially
adapted for use between adjacent pavement slabs of a bridge deck
construction, it has general utility in various expansion joint
applications such as those employed in highways, sidewalks,
airfields, architectural concourses, building structures and the
like.
Sealing member 10 comprises a pair of side sections 12 and 14
connected together by an intermediate section 16 extending between
and formed integral with side sections 12 and 14. Side section 12
comprises a straight side wall 18, the upper end of which is
connected to a top wall having a major portion 20 extending
inwardly and slightly upwardly at an obtuse angle from side wall 18
and a minor portion 22 extending inwardly and downwardly at a
significantly lesser angle from the outer end of portion 20 and
forming a corner 24 therewith. Similarly, the lower end of side
wall 18 is connected to a bottom wall having a portion 26 extending
inwardly and slightly downwardly at an obtuse angle from side wall
18 and a portion 28 extending inwardly and upwardly at a
significantly lesser angle from portion 26 and forming a corner 30
therewith. A generally straight wall 32 in substantial parallelism
with side wall 18 is connected at its upper and lower ends to the
outer ends of portions 22 and 28, as at junctures 34 and 36,
respectively to complete the tubular configuration of side section
12. Intermediate section 16 is joined to side section 12 at these
junctures 34 and 36, as will be described.
Side section 12 is provided with an internal truss structure
comprising a pair of diagonal bars 38 and 40 extending in a
diverging relation from side wall 18 approximately midway between
the opposite ends thereof to portions 22 and 28 adjacent corners 24
and 30, respectively. A pair of bent bars 42 and 44 comprising
angularly related straight portions forming oppositely directed
knees extend from side wall 18 at the intersection of bars 38 and
40 to intermediate wall 32 substantially midway of the opposite
ends thereof. These pre-formed bars 42 and 44 form a diamond shaped
configuration and exert pressure against side wall 18 to prevent
buckling thereof while permitting inward movement of side wall 32
during compression thereof as will be presently apparent.
Side section 14 is a mirror image of side section 12. Since the
configuration of side section 14 is identical to, although opposite
from section 12, the same reference characters primed are used to
identify corresponding structure.
Intermediate section 16 comprises a corrugated top wall formed, in
the illustrated example, of three inverted generally U-shaped
sections defined by three sets of upwardly sloping wall or bar
portions 46 and 48, 50 and 52, and 54 and 56 spanned at their upper
ends by transverse wall portions 62, 64 and 66, respectively. Wall
portions 46 and 56 terminate at their lower ends at junctures 34
and 34', respectively and the lower ends of wall portions 48-50 and
52-54 meet at junctures 58 and 60, respectively.
The bottom wall of intermediate section 16 is substantially a
mirror image of the top wall thereof and comprises three generally
U-shaped sections defined by three sets of downwardly sloping wall
portions 68 and 70, 72 and 74 and 76 and 78, the lower ends of
which are joined by short, transverse wall portions 84, 86 and 88,
respectively. Wall portions 68 and 78 terminate at their upper ends
at junctures 36 and 36', respectively and the upper ends of wall
portions 70-72 and 74-76 meet at junctures 80 and 82,
respectively.
Intermediate section 16 is provided with an internal truss
structure comprising a plurality of cross bars arranged in
generally a pantograph pattern. These cross bars include a pair of
intersecting diagonally extending cross bars 90 and 92 extending
downwardly at an angle from junctures 34 and 58 to junctures 80 and
36, respectively, and interserting midway intermediate their
opposite ends. Another pair of cross bars 94 and 96 extend
downwardly at an angle from junctures 58 and 60 to junctures 82 and
80, respectively and intersect midway between their opposite ends.
A third pair of cross bars 98 and 100 extend downwardly at an angle
from junctures 60 and 34' to junctures 36' and 82, respectively and
intersect midway between their respective opposite ends.
In use, sealing member 10 is mounted between a pair of spaced
structural members 102 (FIG. 2) having webs 104 and flanges 106,
108 at the opposite ends of webs 104, respectively. These
structural members can be edge channels anchored to the opposed
upper edges of spaced pavement slabs for accommodating a single
sealing member 10, or can extend longitudinally in the expansion
groove between adjacent, laterally spaced sealing members 10 in a
composite sealing joint assembly. In either case, it is a
particular feature of my invention that these structural members
are conventional, the flanges 106 and 108 thereof having the
outwardly flared surfaces 110 and 112 customarily found in I-beams
and/or channels. The angle of inclination of wall portions 20, 20',
26 26' of sealing member 10 is such that they are complementary to
flared surfaces 110 and 112 and conform therewith to provide a
tight fit therebetween.
Sealing member 10 is adhesively secured to the webs and flanges of
members 102 by means of a suitable lubricant-adhesive 114 which not
only cements sealing member 10 in place but also facilitates
insertion thereof between structural members 102. To carry the
lubricant-adhesive into place, side walls 18, 18' and wall portions
20, 20', 26 and 26' can be provided with longitudinal ribs 116 on
the exterior surfaces thereof defining a multiplicity of grooves
extending lengthwise of sealing member 10. Prior to mounting
sealing member 10 between structural members 102,
lubricant-adhesive 114 is applied to the exterior surfaces of side
sections 12 and 14 and is retained or trapped within the grooves
between ribs 116 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 illustrates sealing member 10 in a compressed state caused
by relative movement of structural members 102 toward each other.
As sealing member 10 is compressed to the condition shown in FIG.
2, substantially only the intermediate section 16 is collapsed
while side sections 12 and 14 substantially retain their original
configurations. The bars comprising intermediate section 16 bend
and fold, permitting side sections 12 and 14 to move with members
102 toward each other. The angularly bent bars 42, 44 and 42', 44'
comprising the diamond-shaped formations exert reaction forces
laterally between side walls 18, 18' and walls 32, 32',
respectively, to prevent the latter from buckling while reinforcing
the sealing action of the former, and these forces increase as
compression of sealing member 10 continues. Also, diagonal bars 38,
38', 40 and 40' offer support to wall portions 22, 22', 28 and 28'
and exert upward forces against corners 24, 24', 30 and 30' to
prevent them from rolling away from the surfaces 110 and 112 of
flanges 106 and 108, respectively. This latter action also presses
wall portions 20, 20', 26 and 26' against flange surfaces 110 and
112 further increasing the sealing pressures at these surfaces. As
illustrated in FIG. 2, the intermediate section 16 folds uniformly,
spacing bars 62, 64 and 66 and 84, 86 and 88 apart at substantially
equal distances.
FIG. 3 illustrates the condition of sealing member 10 under
substantially maximum compression. The bars forming intermediate
section 16 are collapsed or folded partially against each other
with the upper and lower bars 62, 64 and 66 and 84, 86 and 88
closely spaced at substantially equal distances. The internal truss
structures of the opposite side sections 12, 14 are only somewhat
collapsed.
While diagonal bars 38, 38', 40 and 40' bend or collapse slightly
upon maximum compression of sealing member 10 as illustrated in
FIG. 3, they offer sufficient support and rigidity to wall portion
22, 22', 28, 28' to enable the same to maintain corners 24, 24', 30
and 30' and sloping wall portions 20, 20', 26 and 26' firmly
engaged against their associated flange surfaces. It will be noted
that, while not as thick as walls 18, 18', 20, 20', 22, 22', 28 and
28', bars 38, 38', 40 and 40', like walls 32 and 32', are thicker
than the walls and bars of the intermediate section. The diamond
shaped formations consisting of bars 42, 44 and 42', 44',
respectively, deform slightly upon maximum compression of sealing
member 10 but exert reaction forces against their respective side
walls 32 and 32' to prevent buckling thereof, thereby maintaining
the integrity of the side sections and confining the folding action
substantially to the intermediate portion 16. The angular bends or
knees in these bars control the direction in which such bars will
bend. As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate portions of these bars
of each diamond shaped formation tend to move apart, thus
shortening their span between side walls 18, 18' and walls 32, 32',
and in addition to controlling the direction of bending, such knees
facilitate folding of bars 42, 44, 42' and 44' under predetermined
compression forces, thereby reducing the maximum reaction force
generated by the seal while ensuing the collapsing of the side
sections only upon full compression of the intermediate
section.
The configuration of intermediate section 16 constitutes an
important feature of the present invention in that it enables
sealing member 10 to be compressed to approximately 50 percent of
its original or uncompressed width, as opposed to prior known
sealing elements which are compresible to only about 40 percent of
their original widths under maximum compression conditions. Also,
the intermediate section bars fold evenly whereby intermediate
section 16 is not displaced above or below corners 24, 24' and 30,
30', respectively. It will be observed that the intermediate
section 16 of seal 10 comprises a series of seal portions (three in
the illustrated embodiment) which are connected to adjacent seal
portions and to the side sections only at spaced, upper and lower
points of pivotal connection 34, 34', 36, 36', 58, 60, 80 and 82.
In addition to a highly desirable folding action, this arrangement
offers other advantages.
For example, seals, particularly those used in bridge spans, are
subjected to various forces and stresses other than those caused by
expansion and contraction of the pavement slabs due to temperature
variations. Loads applied to the span effect rotation of the
adjacent edges of the pavement sections and consequently, rotation
of the opposite ends of sealing member 10 in the directions
indicated by arrows A and B in FIG. 4. The sealing member of the
present invention is especially adapted to accommodate such
rotational movement without loss of sealing effect because of the
symmetrical, accordian like arrangement of intermediate section 16
with its spaced points of pivotal interconnection. As shown in FIG.
4, the upper portion of intermediate section 16 expands while the
lower portion contracts. Pivoting movement is effected about
junctures 34, 34', 58 and 60 for the upper portion and about
junctures 36, 36', 80 and 82 for the lower portion of intermediate
section 16. Intersecting cross bars 90, 92, 92, 96, 98 and 100
react differently above and below their respective intersection. Of
course, with rotational movement applied to the opposite lower ends
of sealing member 10, an opposite reaction would occur whereby the
lower portion of intermediate section 16 would expand and the upper
portion contract. As a result of this flexibility of intermediate
section 16, the stresses acting on portions 20, 20' 26 and 26'
tending to pull them away from their respective adhering surfaces
110 and 112 are materially reduced, thus insuring sealing pressure
therebetween.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, sealing member 10 also is particularly
adapted to accommodate torsional forces applied thereto causing one
side of sealing member 10 to be displaced vertically relative to
the other side. This relative deflection of one side to the other
alternates along the length of sealing member 10, as indicated in
FIG. 5, the longitudinal axis of side section 12 being indicated
X--X and the longitudinal axis of side section being indicated
Y--Y. FIG. 6 illustrates side section 12 displaced or deflected
above side section 14 with intermediate section 16 somewhat
compressed and extending upwardly from section 14 to section 12.
Due to the flexibility and symmetrical configuration of
intermediate section 16, upper bars 62, 64 and 66 lie generally in
a common plane at an angle to a horizontal plane cut through the
longitudinal axis of sealing member 10 and lower bars 84, 86 and 88
lie generally in a common plane parallel to the top bar plane.
While side sections 12 and 14 have been deflected vertically
relative to each other, they remain substantially in their true
upright positions without any pivotal movement about their
longitudinal axis. Thus, any torsional forces applied to sealing
member 10 are not effective to displace portions 20, 26 and 20',
26' of side sections 12 and 14 away from the adjoining surfaces
110, 112, respectively, of structural members 102.
From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention fully
accomplishes its intended objects and provides an improved sealing
member having a pair of side sections and a flexible intermediate
section interposed between and formed integral with the side
sections for providing sealing pressure in an improved and more
efficient manner. The flexibility of the intermediate section with
its pivotal connections between the sealing portions thereof and
with the side sections enables the sealing member to accommodate
the various movements imparted to the adjacent pavement slabs as a
result of temperature variations, pavement deck loading and
torsional stresses inherent in elongated spans. The outer surfaces
of the side sections conform to conventional structural members
providing a mechanical lock therewith which is reinforced upon
compression of the intermediate section, and which is not adversely
affected by movement of the intermediate section. The side sections
are of thicker outer wall form than the intermediate section and
are provided with internal truss structures to prevent buckling
during compression and to prevent displacement of the sealing
member outer edges away from their adjoining structural surfaces.
Whereas heretofore it was the practice to cut down a standard I
beam or otherwise especially fabricate the structural members, the
seal of my invention is adapted to fit standard structural I beams
without modification, and where this results in a beam flange of
increased width that is offset by the greater compressibility of
the seal. The symmetrical design of sealing member 10 insures equal
sealing pressure along both side walls 18 and 18'.
A preferred form of this invention having been disclosed in detail,
it is to be understood that this has been done by way of
illustration only. Also, the terms upper, lower, top, bottom and
the like have reference to the illustrated embodiment and are not
used in a limiting sense.
* * * * *