Dowels for Jointed Concrete and Methods of Forming and Using the Same
OwnerChristopher P. Schenkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dowel assemblies for use in concrete pavement each comprise a welded seam carbon steel hollow tube and a pair of end caps. The end caps are attached to opposite axial ends of the hollow tube. The pavement comprising a fracture groove over the dowel.
Claims11
A method of forming jointed concrete dowels, the method comprising:
- unspooling a coil of carbon steel strip;
- directing the uncoiled strip along a path, the uncoiled strip having opposite side edges that extend along the path;
- bending the strip into a hollow tube in a manner such that the side edges are adjacent to each other;
- electric resistance welding the side edges of the strip to each other such that the hollow tube has a closed transverse cross-section;
- transversely cutting the welded hollow tube into a plurality of jointed concrete dowels;
- the steps of unspooling the coil, bending the strip, and electric resistance welding the side edges of the strip occurring continuously as the strip is uncoiled and travels along the path, and the step of transversely cutting the hollow tube occurring as the hollow tube occurring as the hollow tube travels along the path.
A method of forming jointed concrete pavement, the method comprising:
- positioning a dowel in a location that will become concrete pavement, the dowel comprising a carbon steel welded seam hollow tube and a pair of end caps, the end caps being attached to opposite axial ends of the hollow tube;
- allowing concrete to cure around the dowel to thereby transform the concrete into pavement;
- cutting a top surface of the pavement over the dowel.
Jointed concrete pavement comprising concrete cured around a dowel, the dowel comprising a welded seam carbon steel hollow tube and a pair of end caps, the end caps being attached to opposite axial ends of the hollow tube, the pavement comprising a fracture groove over the dowel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.