Modular expansion joint

Claim 2

A shallow modular joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted at the respective edges of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel, spaced relationship to each other, said rails respectively having openings therein at longitudinally spaced intervals, said openings further being aligned in a plurality of transverse rows, said openings being of rectangular cross section and having a horizontal width greater than the vertical depth, and a plurality of joint-spanning load-bearing beams of rectangular cross section with a horizontal width greater than the respective vertical depth of each beam and extending through at least some of said rows of rectangular openings with said rails resting slidably thereon.

Claim 3

A joint structure as claimed in claim 1, said rails having mounted therebetween a plurality of coil springs arranged in a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse rows.

Claim 4

A joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted at the respective edges of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel, spaced relationship to each other, said rails respectively having openings therein at longitudinally spaced intervals, said openings further being aligned in a plurality of transverse rows, said openings being of rectangular cross section and having a width greater than the depth, and a plurality of joint-spanning load-bearing beams of rectangular cross section with a width greater than the respective depth of each beam and extending through at least some of said rows of rectangular openings with said rails having mounted therebetween a plurality of coil springs arranged in a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse rows, said springs balancing the spacing between respective rails at the joint structure widens or narrows, said spring members each having horizontal legs at opposite ends thereof seated in leg-receiving groove means in respective rails and diagonal end portions extending from said legs with the tip portions of the diagonal end portions seated in opposed groove means in respective rails.

Claim 5

A joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted at the respective edges of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel, spaced relationship to each other, said rails respectively having openings therein at longitudinally spaced intervals, said openings further being aligned in a plurality of transverse rows, said openings being of rectangular cross section and having a width greater than the depth, and a plurality of joint-spanning load-bearing beams of rectangular cross section with a width greater than the respective depth of each beam and extending through at least some of said rows of rectangular openings with said rails having mounted therebetween a plurality of coil springs arranged in a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse rows, said springs balancing the spacing between respective rails at the joint structure widens or narrows, said spring members each having horizontal legs at opposite ends thereof seated in leg-receiving groove means in respective rails and diagonal end portions extending from said legs with the tip portions of the diagonal end portions seated in opposed groove means in respective rails.

Claim 6

A joint structure as claimed in claim 1, said longitudinal frames having formed therein longitudinally extending cavities into which the ends of the joint-spanning, load-bearing beams can extend as the joint approaches its narrowest spacing.

Claim 7

A modular joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated, longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted on respective sides of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel relationship to each other, plurality of joint-spanning, load-bearing beams extending transversely across the joint and supporting the respective rails, an elastomer tread composed of one or more tread sections, means supporting said tread on the upper portion of each rail with a solid elastomer strip portion of the tread above and supported by each rail, and said solid portions being connected by at least one shallow V-shaped wall connecting respective upper corner portions of said solid portions of said tread.

Claim 8

A modular joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated, longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted on respective sides of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel relationship to each other, plurality of joint-spanning, load-bearing beams extending transversely across the joint and supporting the respective rails, an elastomer tread composed of one or more tread sections, means supporting said tread on the upper portion of each rail with a solid elastomer strip portion of the tread above and supported by each rail, and said solid portions being connected by at least one shallow V-shaped wall connecting respective upper corner portions of said solid portions of said tread.

Claim 9

A joinT structure as claimed in claim 5, said tread also having a lower, shallow V-shaped wall below and spaced from said first-mentioned wall and defining a hollow space between said walls and solid portions.

Claim 10

A joint structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said tread sections have dformable members depending from said solid portions and interlocking in channel-forming means extending along the upper sides of respective rails.

Claim 11

A joint structure as claimed in claim 5, said longitudinal frames having longitudinal groove means for receiving an interlocking member depending from the end wall of said tread mounted on said frame, and said frame further having an elongated lip overlying the upper corner of said tread.

Claim 12

A joint structure as claimed in claim 5, said tread comprising a plurality of side-by-side sections extending longitudinally of the joint and interlocking serrations formed in the contiguous, abutting side walls of respective tread sections.

Claim 13

A modular joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated, longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted on respective sides of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel relationship to each other, a plurality of joint-spanning, load-bearing beams extending transversely across the joint and supporting the respective rails, said frames having one or more downwardly facing, longitudinal slots, nuts slidably positionable at any desired point in said slot or slots, and anchor bolts having threaded ends threaded into said nuts until the nuts and bolts bind in the slot or slots, the shanks of said bolts projecting from the frame for anchoring in pavement poured adjacent and beneath said frames.

Claim 14

A modular joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated, longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted on respective sides of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel relationship to each other, a plurality of joint-spanning, load-bearing beams extending transversely across the joint and supporting the respective rails, said frames having one or more downwardly facing, longitudinal slots, nuts slidably positionable at any desired point in said slot or slots, and anchor bolts having threaded ends threaded into said nuts until the nuts and bolts bind in the slot or slots, the shanks of said bolts projecting from the frame for anchoring in pavement poured adjacent and beneath said frames.

Claim 15

A modular joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated, longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted on respective sides of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel relationship to each other, a plurality of joint-spanning, load-bearing beams extending transversely across the joint and supporting the rails, said frames being composed of aligned sections, a gasket between abutting ends of said section, said sections each having a downwardly facing longitudinal slot portion near respective abutting ends, a nut slidably adjustably seated in each slot portion, a bracket mounted on the inside of each section adjacent respective abutting ends by a bolt threaded into a respective nut in each slot portion and bolts connecting respective pairs of brackets of respective abutting ends for drawing said ends together and compressing therebetween said gasket.

Claim 16

A modular joint structure useful for spanning joints comprising a pair of elongated, longitudinal frames adapted to be mounted on respective sides of the joint, a plurality of elongated, longitudinal rails spanning the joint in parallel relationship to each other, a plurality of joint-spanning, load-bearing beams extending transversely across the joint and supporting the rails, said frames being composed of aligned sections, a gasket between abutting ends of said section, said sections each having a downwardly facing longitudinal slot portion near respective abutting ends, a nut slidably adjustably seated in each slot portion, a bracket mounted on the inside of each section adjacent respective abutting ends by a bolt threaded into a respective nut in each slot portion and bolts connecting respective pairs of brackets of respective abutting ends for drawing said ends together and compressing therebetween said gasket.

Claim 17

A modular joint structure as claimed in claim 11, said bolts having threaded ends threaded into said nuts until the nuts and bolts bind in said respective slots.