Load transfer assembly

In a method of finishing the end of a section of concrete pavement of predetermined thickness and length laid without stationary forms on a roadbed by a paving machine to provide for the transfer of load lengthwise of said pavement across a vertical plane defined by the ends of said section and of the adjacent subsequently laid section while providing for relative lengthwise movement of said pavement sections in use, the steps of:

• (a) establishing the location on said roadbed of said predetermined vertical plane,
• (b) setting on said roadbed in advance of said paving machine an assembly comprising a plurality of elongated coupling members connected together in spaced parallel relation and each having a socket at the front end thereof having releasably secured therein a straight cylindrical dowel of a material susceptible to being readily cut off by a saw capable of cutting concrete, said assembly also including means for supporting said coupling members and dowels in cantilevered fashion in parallel relation with the length of said pavement and in substantially horizontal alignment with a vertically intermediate location in said pavement,
• (c) establishing said assembly in such position on said roadbed that said coupling members and a portion of each of said dowels are on the side of said predetermined vertical plane facing said pavement section while the outer end portion of each of said dowels projects beyond said plane,
• (d) continuing the laying of concrete on said roadbed until said assembly is entirely embedded in concrete of said predetermined thickness on both sides of said predetermined vertical plane,
• (e) after said concrete has partially set, saw cutting said pavement along said vertical plane to cut off so much of said concrete and of each said dowel as extends beyond said plane,
• (f) clearing the resulting scrap concrete and dowel pieces from the area adjacent said vertical plane to expose the end of said section and the cut ends of said dowels,
• (g) removing the remaining portions of said dowels from said coupling members, and
• (h) securing in each of the resulting empty sockets a metal straight cylindrical dowel of sufficient length to project beyond said vertical plane for embedding in the next section of pavement to be laid on said roadbed.