Expansion joint seal

Claim 2

An expansion joint seal for bridging and sealing an expansion space between structural members comprising a pair of elongated frame members, each of which is arranged to be secured rigidly to one of the structural members adjacent the space and to extend along the length of said members, each frame member being of uniform cross-section along its length and including in crosssection a portion defining a cavity having an opening facing generally inwardly toward the expansion space, the interior of the cavity having a greater cross-sectional dimension than the dimension across said opening, and each frame member including a base portion adjacent the cavity portion, the base portions of the members having surfaces that are substantially coplanar when the members are installed at the joint, and each frame member further including in cross-section a generally ''''C''''-shaped slot located along a marginal portion thereof remote from the expansion space; a substantially impermeable fluid membrane of flexible material disposed adjacent each frame member, each membrane having a portion received in said slot; a resilient retainer member received in the slot to hold the membrane in place; a substantially rigid elongated bridge member extending lengthwise of the joint, spanning the expansion space, having surfaces engaging the said coplanar surfaces of the frame members for relative sliding movement and having in cross-section a portion along each longer side edge defining a cavity that faces generally outward from the space and is generally opposite the cavity in a respective frame member, the side edges of the bridge member being spaced from the outer extremities, relative to the expansion space, of said frame membersurfaces and providing a zone between the bridge member and each frame member for substantial sliding movement of the bridge member relative to the frame members; and a unitary body of an elastomeric material received in each said zone and in the cavities of the respective frame and the bridge members, each said body filling said zone and being bonded and sealed to the cavities but being free of any substantial bond to said coplanar surface of the frame member.

Claim 3

An expansion joint seal according to claim 1 and further comprising a bond breaker medium between said coplanar surfaces and the respective body of elastomeric material to prevent the formation of a bond between the said coplanar surfaces and the body of elastomeric material.

Claim 4

An expansion joint seal according to claim 1 wherein the cavities are generally C-shaped in cross-section and provide a mechanical interlock with the body of elastomeric material received therein.

Claim 5

An expansion joint seal according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one retainer acting between the frame members and the bridge member for resiliently retaining the said surfaces of those members in engagement while affording relative sliding movement.

Claim 6

An expansion joint seal according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material received in each zone reacts to any lateral deformation of the material in the opposite zone causing movement of the bridge member and resists said deformation thus tending to hold the bridge member in a substantially centered position between the frame members.

Claim 7

An expansion joint seal for bridging and sealing aN expansion space between structural members comprising a pair of elongated frame members, each of which is arranged to be secured rigidly to one of the structural members adjacent the space and to extend along the length of said members, each frame member being of uniform cross-section along its length and including in cross-section a portion defining a cavity having an opening facing generally inwardly toward the expansion space, the interior of the cavity having a greater cross-sectional dimension than the dimension across said opening, and each frame member including a base portion adjacent the cavity portion, the base portions of the members having surfaces that are substantially coplanar when the members are installed at the joint, and each frame member further including a first part that includes the cavity portion and base portion, and a separate second part to support the first part and arranged to be secured to the structural member; a substantially rigid elongated bridge member extending lengthwise of the joint, spanning the expansion space, having surfaces engaging the said coplanar surfaces of the frame members for relative sliding movement and having in cross-section a portion along each longer side edge defining a cavity that faces generally outward from the space and is generally opposite the cavity in a respective frame member, the side edges of the bridge member being spaced from the outer extremities, relative to the expansion space, of said frame member surfaces and providing a zone between the bridge member and each frame member for substantial sliding movement of the bridge member relative to the frame members; a unitary body of an elastomeric material received in each said zone and in the cavities of the respective frame and the bridge members, each said body filling said zone and being bonded and sealed to the cavities but being free of any substantial bond to said coplanar surface of the frame member; and means positioned for access for detachably securing the first part of the frame member to the second part thereof such that an assembly that includes at least the first parts of the frame members, the bodies of elastomeric material and the bridge member is readily removable from and replaceable in the joint as a unit.

Claim 8

An expansion joint seal for bridging and sealing aN expansion space between structural members comprising a pair of elongated frame members, each of which is arranged to be secured rigidly to one of the structural members adjacent the space and to extend along the length of said members, each frame member being of uniform cross-section along its length and including in cross-section a portion defining a cavity having an opening facing generally inwardly toward the expansion space, the interior of the cavity having a greater cross-sectional dimension than the dimension across said opening, and each frame member including a base portion adjacent the cavity portion, the base portions of the members having surfaces that are substantially coplanar when the members are installed at the joint, and each frame member further including a first part that includes the cavity portion and base portion, and a separate second part to support the first part and arranged to be secured to the structural member; a substantially rigid elongated bridge member extending lengthwise of the joint, spanning the expansion space, having surfaces engaging the said coplanar surfaces of the frame members for relative sliding movement and having in cross-section a portion along each longer side edge defining a cavity that faces generally outward from the space and is generally opposite the cavity in a respective frame member, the side edges of the bridge member being spaced from the outer extremities, relative to the expansion space, of said frame member surfaces and providing a zone between the bridge member and each frame member for substantial sliding movement of the bridge member relative to the frame members; a unitary body of an elastomeric material received in each said zone and in the cavities of the respective frame and the bridge members, each said body filling said zone and being bonded and sealed to the cavities but being free of any substantial bond to said coplanar surface of the frame member; and means positioned for access for detachably securing the first part of the frame member to the second part thereof such that an assembly that includes at least the first parts of the frame members, the bodies of elastomeric material and the bridge member is readily removable from and replaceable in the joint as a unit.