# US 7,744,307 B2 · Method for renovating of a traffic-carrying structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,307 B2 - Document ID: US7744307B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/089,958 - Filed: 2006-10-06 - Published: 2008-10-09 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-12 - Assignees: Mageba S.A. - Inventors: Gianni Moor; Bernd Urich; Eduard Schiebelbein; Ernst-Peter Laich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744307B2 ## 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 22/00: Methods or apparatus for repairing or strengthening existing bridges {(electrochemical desalination or re-alkalisation C04B41/00); Methods or apparatus for dismantling bridges} - E04G 23/02: Repairing, e.g. filling cracks; Restoring; Altering; Enlarging {(compositions of filling material C04B; strengthening, widening, repairing of bridges E01D22/00; drying damp layers by temporary mechanical ventilation E04B1/7092)} - 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}) - E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS ## Abstract In order to repair a bridge in the zone of an expansion joint initially at least the near-surface components of the bridging device that is to be replaced are dismounted and the existing lane structure in the zones bordering the bridging device that is to be replaced is removed in the areas facing the abutment and the superstructure so as to form recesses placed at a lower level than the lane surface, whereupon a temporary bridging element located at the ground level is removably mounted. In order to entirely dismount one section of the bridging device that is to be replaced after another and perform preparatory work for assembling a new permanent bridging device, at least the bridging plate is repeatedly removed and re-assembled as required. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for renovation of a traffic-carrying structure in the zone of an expansion joint existing between an abutment and a superstructure, comprising: removing existing road construction in the abutment side and superstructure side in the zones adjoining a bridging device to be replaced by forming, in the abutment and superstructure, excavations that are deeper than the road surface, at least a first excavation having a surface running substantially parallel to the associated road surface; demounting at least a part of the bridging device to be replaced which forms the traffic-carrying surface; removably mounting a temporary bridging element, which comprises a bridging plate spanning the expansion joint and a mating plate meshing therewith in a zone of a finger array, and whose surface adjoins the road surfaces of abutment and superstructure adjacent to the respective excavation in a manner that is flush with the road surfaces of abutment and superstructure and substantially free of gaps, uneven levels and angles, the bridging plate being braced in the zone of the finger array on the bottom of the first excavation; repeatedly removing the temporary bridging plate and remounting the temporary bridging plate until the remaining parts of the bridging device to be replaced are completely demounted at a level under the road surface and the site is prepared for mounting a new permanent bridging device; removing the temporary bridging element and mounting the new permanent bridging device; wherein at least for the first excavation, a rough excavation deeper than the thickness of the finger array of the temporary bridging element is made, after which a layer of polymer concrete or sealing mortar is applied on the surface of the rough excavation and the temporary bridging plate is placed slidingly on the surface thereof in the zone of the finger array. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the rough excavations corresponds to the thickness of an adjoining pavement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein components of a temporary bridging element are bolted together with at least one of the abutment and the superstructure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein the components of the temporary bridging element are secured in position by additional interlocking with at least one of the abutment and the superstructure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary bridging element is composed of a plurality of sectional segments disposed next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the expansion joint. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary bridging element is asymmetric and further comprises a bridging plate and a mating plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the bridging plate is secured by means of a bracing device that prevents it from being lifted. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the bracing device in the expansion joint is applied against at least one of: the abutment and the superstructure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein after mounting the permanent bridging device, zones of the pavement along the sides thereof are cast with polymer concrete. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein retaining portions of the components of the permanent bridging device are cast in place during casting of the pavement zones of polymer concrete. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the bridging device to be replaced is a cantilevered segment type pavement transition and wherein to demount said pavement two excavation cuts are made respectively on the abutment side and on the superstructure side in the road construction, the two outer excavation cuts extending to a depth of substantially the thickness of the pavement, and the two inner excavation cuts extending to below the pavement. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1,wherein closure times while the bridging plate is demounted are limited to at least one of light-traffic nighttime and weekend periods. ### Claim 13 A method for renovation of a traffic-carrying structure in the zone of an expansion joint existing between an abutment and a superstructure, comprising: removing existing road construction in the abutment side and superstructure side in the zones adjoining a bridging device to be replaced by forming, in the abutment and superstructure, excavations that are deeper than the road surface, at least a first excavation having a surface running substantially parallel to the associated road surface; demounting at least a part of the bridging device to be replaced which forms the traffic-carrying surface; removably mounting a temporary bridging element, which comprises a bridging plate spanning the expansion joint and a mating plate meshing therewith in a zone of a finger array, and whose surface adjoins the road surfaces of abutment and superstructure adjacent to the respective excavation in a manner that is flush with the road surfaces of abutment and superstructure and substantially free of gaps, uneven levels and angles, the bridging plate being braced in the zone of the finger array on the bottom of the first excavation; repeatedly removing the temporary bridging plate from the mating plate and remounting the temporary bridging plate until the remaining parts of the bridging device to be replaced are completely demounted at a level under the road surface and, the site is prepared for mounting a new permanent bridging device; and removing the temporary bridging element and mounting a new permanent bridging device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein components of the temporary bridging element are bolted together with at least one of the abutment and the superstructure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein the bridging plate and mating plate are asymmetric. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein the bridging plate is secured by means of a bracing device that prevents it from being lifted. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein at least for the first excavation, a rough excavation deeper than the thickness of the finger array of the temporary bridging element is made, after which a layer of polymer concrete or sealing mortar is applied on the surface of the rough excavation and the temporary bridging plate is placed slidingly on the surface thereof in the zone of the finger array.