# US 4,397,579 A · Expansion joint structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,397,579 A - Document ID: US4397579A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/271,259 - Filed: 1981-06-08 - Granted: 1983-08-09 - Earliest claimed: 1981-06-08 - Assignees: Columbia Chase Corporation - Inventors: Gerald L. Goldman; Joseph W. Gallagher; William A. Merlack - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397579A ## CPC - E01D 19/06: Arrangement, construction or bridging of expansion joints ({E01D19/005 takes precedence; in movable bridges E01D15/005 - E01D15/10}; sealing joints not restricted to expansion joints for bridges E04B1/68) - E01D: CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, {ELEVATED ROADWAYS} OR VIADUCTS; ASSEMBLY OF BRIDGES (bridges extending between terminal buildings and aircraft for embarking or disembarking passengers B64F1/305; {tracks for special kinds of railways E01B25/00; culverts E01F5/005}) ## Abstract An expansion joint and seal structure for the variable width space between roadway, bridge or like sections subject to expansion and contraction is provided in the form of an elongate elastomer member having spaced transverse passages of generally rectangular cross section with rounded corners in which metal bars of like cross section but shorter length are inserted, both the passages and bars have cooperating indexing devices which center the bars in each passage spaced equidistant from the ends thereof so as to maintain them over the space between the roadway, bridge or like sections. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expansion joint and seal structure for the variable width space between a pair of roadway, bridge or like sections which are subject to expansion and contraction with temperature changes comprising an elongate elastomeric member with generally parallel side marginal edges and generally parallel top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of spaced apart transversely extending generally rectangular passages extending through the elastomer member from one marginal edge to the other marginal edge, intermediate the top and bottom surfaces, each said openings having an indexing means on at least one side, a series of metal load bearing members equal in number to the number of passages and having the general shape of the transversely extending passages and slidable therein, said metal load bearing members having a cooperating indexing means engaging the indexing means in the passage to center the load bearing members in said passage, said load bearing members being shorter than the length of the passage and maintained in the passage substantially equidistant from the marginal edges by said indexing means but having a length sufficient to span the space between the roadway or bridge sections at all times, means included in the marginal side edges of said elastomer member for fastening the elastomer member to said spaced bridge or roadway sections and a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots on at least one of the marginal side edges and the top and bottom surfaces of the elastomer member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the generally rectangular passages have rounded corners to provide a generally long oval cross section and the load bearing members have the same cross section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load bearing members are cast of graphitic steel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fastening means is a generally H-shaped metal member having a threaded bolt projecting centrally therefrom extending out of the marginal side edges between each transverse passage with the H member on its side and having the legs of the H member extending partially over and under adjacent passages. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fastening means is a generally H-shaped member having a hole centrally thereof receiving a threaded bolt extending through said hole and through a hole in the elastomer member between each transverse passage with the H member on its side and having the legs of the H member extending partially over and under adjacent passages. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each marginal edge as at least one longitudinally extending slot extending lengthwise of said edge above the transverse passage and one below the transverse passage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the elastomer member each have spaced longitudinally extending slots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongate elastomeric member has a plurality of spaced transverse slots on the bottom surface parallel to the center line of each fastening means and intersecting the longitudinal slots. ### Claim 9 An expansion joint and seal structure for the variable width space between a pair of roadway, bridge or like sections which are subject to expansion and contraction with temperature changes comprising an elongate elastomeric member with generally parallel side marginal edges and generally parallel top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of spaced apart transversely extending generally rectangular passages extending through the elastomer member from one marginal edge to the other marginal edge, intermediate the top and bottom surfaces, each said openings having an indexing means on at least one side, a series of metal load bearing members equal in number to the number of passages and having the general shape of the transversely extending passages and slidable therein, said metal load bearing members having a cooperating indexing means engaging the indexing means in the passage to center the load bearing members in said passage, said load bearing members being shorter than the length of the passage and maintained in the passage substantially equidistant from the marginal edges by said indexing means but having a length sufficient to span the space between the roadway or bridge sections at all times, means included in the marginal side edges of said elastomer member for fastening the elastomer member to said spaced bridge or roadway sections, a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots on at least one of the marginal side edges and the top and bottom surfaces of the elastomer member and wherein the indexing means in the passage is an inwardly extending projection on the center of at least one side wall and the cooperating indexing means on the metal load bearing member is a like recess receiving said projection at the center of the load supporting member. ### Claim 10 An expansion joint and seal structure for the variable width space between a pair of roadway, bridge or like sections which are subject to expansion and contraction with temperature changes comprising an elongate elastomeric member with generally parallel side marginal edges and generally parallel top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of spaced apart transversely extending generally rectangular passages extending through the elastomer member from one marginal edge to the other marginal edge, intermediate the top and bottom surfaces, each said openings having an indexing means on at least one side, a series of metal load bearing members equal in number to the number of passages and having the general shape of the transversely extending passages and slidable therein, said metal load bearing members having a cooperating indexing means engaging the indexing means in the passage to center the load bearing members in said passage, said load bearing members being shorter than the length of the passage and maintained in the passage substantially equidistant from the marginal edges by said indexing means but having a length sufficient to span the space between the roadway or bridge sections at all times, means included in the marginal side edges of said elastomer member for fastening the elastomer member to said spaced bridge or roadway sections, a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots on at least one of the marginal side edges and the top and bottom surfaces of the elastomer member and wherein the indexing means is a pair of opposed elastomeric projections on the two side walls of each passage at substantially the midpoint of said passage engageable in a pair of cooperating like shaped recesses in each load bearing member at substantially its midpoint. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9, 10) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the generally rectangular passages have rounded corners to provide a generally long oval cross section and the load bearing members have the same cross section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9, 10) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the load bearing members are cast of graphitic steel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9, 10) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the fastening means is a generally H-shaped metal member having a threaded bolt projecting centrally therefrom extending out of the marginal side edges between each transverse passage with the H member on its side and having the legs of the H member extending partially over and under adjacent passages. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9, 10) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the fastening means is a generally H-shaped member having a hole centrally thereof receiving a threaded bolt extending through said hole and through a hole in the elastomer member between each transverse passage with the H member on its side and having the legs of the H member extending partially over and under adjacent passages. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9, 10) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein each marginal edge has at least one longitudinally extending slot extending lengthwise of said edge above the transverse passage and one below the transverse passage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9, 10) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the elastomer member each have spaced longitudinally extending slots. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9, 10) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the elongate elastomeric member has a plurality of spaced transverse slots on the bottom surface parallel to the center line of each fastening means and intersecting the longitudinal slots. ### Claim 18 An expansion joint and seal structure for the variable width space between a pair of roadway, bridge or like sections which are subject to expansion and contraction with temperature changes comprising an elongate elastomeric member with generally parallel side marginal edges and generally parallel top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of spaced apart transversely extending generally rectangular passages extending through the elastomer member from one marginal edge to the other marginal edge, intermediate the top and bottom surfaces, each said openings having an indexing means on at least one side, a series of metal load bearing members equal in number to the number of passages and having the general shape of the transversely extending passages and slidable therein, said metal load bearing members having a cooperating indexing means engaging the indexing means in the passage to center the load bearing members in said passage, said load bearing members being shorter than the length of the passage and maintained in the passage substantially equidistant from the marginal edges by said indexing means but having a length sufficient to span the space between the roadway or bridge sections at all times and a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots on at least one of the marginal side edges and the top and bottom surfaces of the elastomer member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 18 wherein the indexing means in the passage is an inwardly extending projection on the center of at least one side wall and the cooperating indexing means on the metal load bearing member is a like recess receiving said projection at the center of the load supporting member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) An expansion joint and seal structure as claimed in claim 18 wherein the indexing means is a pair of opposed elastomeric projections on the two side walls of each passage at substantially the midpoint of said passage engageable in a pair of cooperating like shaped recesses in each load bearing member at substantially its midpoint.