Concrete slab dowel system and method for making and using same

A concrete dowel slab joint system, which comprises

• a plurality of sleeve members for receiving and maintaining the dowel bar therewithin so that a dowel bar does not transmit substantial shear stresses to the concrete during the contraction and expansion of the concrete, the sleeve members defining (a) at least one hollow interior compartment for receiving and supporting a dowel bar, and (b) at least one aperture for receiving a bracket member, each said bracket member and each sleeve member being movable with respect to each other when shrinkage of the concrete occurs, said bracket member being located on an underlying surface for supporting said sleeve assembly system above said underlying surface;
• and
• said dowel bar being located within said hollow interior compartment for maintaining adjacent sections of concrete in alignment during contraction and expansion of the concrete, and for transferring shear stresses and bending moments across a joint formed between adjacent concrete slabs, the dowel bar moving in a lateral and/or longitudinal path within the hollow interior compartment and exerting interactive forces in response to the expansion and contraction of the concrete, said dowel bar being capable of movement to a position which is substantially non-parallel with respect to an original position of the dowel bar when the concrete dowel slab joint system was originally installed.

A method for maintaining adjacent sections of concrete in alignment during contraction and expansion of the concrete and for transferring shear stresses and bending moments across a joint formed between adjacent concrete slabs, which comprises:

• providing sleeve members for receiving and maintaining the dowel bar therewithin so that a dowel bar does not transmit substantial shear stresses to the concrete during the contraction and expansion of the concrete, the sleeve members comprising (a) at least one hollow interior compartment, and (b) at least one aperture for receiving a bracket member;
• providing a dowel bar;
• locating the dowel bar within said hollow interior compartment for maintaining adjacent sections of concrete in alignment during contraction and expansion of the concrete, and for transferring shear stresses and bending moments across a joint formed between adjacent concrete slabs, the dowel bar moving in a lateral and/or longitudinal path within the hollow interior compartment and exerting interactive forces in response to the expansion and contraction of the concrete so as not to transmit substantial shear stresses to the concrete during the contraction and expansion of the concrete, said dowel bar being capable of movement to a position which is substantially non-parallel with respect to an original position of the dowel bar when the concrete dowel slab joint system was originally installed;
• providing a plurality of bracket members;
• locating each said bracket member on an underlying surface, each bracket member comprising at least one connection element;
• and
• engagingly inserting each said connection element into each said aperture for supporting said sleeve assembly and dowel bar above said underlying surface, each said bracket member and sleeve assembly being movable with respect to each other when shrinkage of the concrete occurs.

A concrete slab including a plurality of concrete dowel slab joint systems, each concrete dowel slab joint system comprising

• a plurality of sleeve members for receiving and maintaining a dowel bar therewithin so that the dowel bar does not transmit substantial shear stresses to the concrete during the contraction and expansion of the concrete, the sleeve members comprising (a) at least one hollow interior compartment for receiving and supporting said dowel bar, and (b) at least one aperture for receiving a bracket member;
• said dowel bar having a tapered configuration and a pair of end sections, said dowel bar being located within said hollow interior compartment for maintaining adjacent sections of concrete in alignment during contraction and expansion of the concrete, and for transferring shear stresses and bending moments across a joint formed between adjacent concrete slabs, the dowel bar moving in a lateral and/or longitudinal path within the hollow interior compartment and exerting interactive forces in response to the expansion and contraction of the concrete, the tapered configuration of said dowel bar providing supplemental structural support for the dowel bar which is sufficient to overcome the effect caused if concrete joint separation skews the original position of the dowel bar;
• and
• a plurality of bracket member located on an underlying surface for supporting said sleeve members and said dowel bar above said underlying surface, each said bracket member comprising at least one connection element which is engagingly insertable into each said aperture, each said bracket member and sleeve member being movable with respect to each other when shrinkage of the concrete occurs.