Pavement crack initiator
US7223046B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE01C11/14
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A device to ensure that when the transverse contraction joint in a pavement and the like cracks, the crack extends through the middle of the dowel bar. A dowel is a smooth continuous bar that is embedded in a concrete pavement. It provides vertical shear resistance across a joint. Shortly after the concrete is place and sets, the concrete pavement starts to dry out. The drying out process produces a strain in the concrete pavement due to shrinkage causing the concrete to crack. In order to control the cracking, a saw cut is made in the pavement. The saw cut is centered in the middle of the embedded dowel bar. The saw cut provides a weaken plane in the pavement, thereby controlling the location of the crack. The saw cut and crack form the transverse contraction joint in the pavement. The crack extends from the bottom of the saw cut through the dowel bar to the bottom of the pavement. The crack does not always extend straight down to the bottom of the pavement. The crack typically extends in a diagonal direction down to the bottom of the pavement. This results in a short and long sections of the dowel bar providing shear resistance across the joint. The difference in dowel bar sectio…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.