APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR JOINING ADJACENT CONCRETE PANELS

摘要

An apparatus and a method by which one end of a connecting rod is embedded in a first (e.g., precast) concrete panel and the opposite end of the connecting rod is moved inwardly of and affixed within an opposing rod receiving channel that is formed in an adjacent (e.g., precast) concrete panel so as to form a reliable joint for connecting the first and adjacent panels to one another. The apparatus and method have particular application in roadway construction and/or repair by creating a continuous flat driving surface to support vehicular traffic. Each of the connecting rod of the first concrete panel and the rod receiving channel of the adjacent concrete panel are axially aligned with one another and located so as to be separated from and spaced below the respective tops of the first and adjacent panels.

主权项

1. A method for joining a first concrete panel to an adjacent concrete panel, said method comprising the steps of:
affixing a panel connecting rod to the first panel such that one end of the connecting rod projects outwardly from said first panel; forming a rod-receiving channel in the adjacent concrete panel; positioning the first and adjacent concrete panels on a road bed such that said panels are laid end-to-end one another, and moving one of said first or adjacent concrete panels towards the other one of said concrete panels until the outwardly projecting end of said panel connecting rod affixed to said first panel is received inwardly of the rod-receiving channel formed in said adjacent concrete panel; locating a resilient bumper at the end of said rod-receiving channel formed in the adjacent concrete panel, such that the outwardly projecting end of said panel connecting rod is located adjacent said resilient bumper when said outwardly projecting end is received inwardly of the rod-receiving channel formed in said adjacent concrete panel; and filling the rod-receiving channel with a bonding material after the one of said concrete panels is moved towards the other one of said concrete panels and the outwardly projecting end of said panel connecting rod is received inwardly of said rod-receiving channel, whereby said resilient bumper is positioned to accommodate an axial displacement of said panel connecting rod through the rod receiving channel of the adjacent concrete panel after the rod-receiving channel has been filled with the bonding material.