CONSTRUCTION JOINT FOR CONCRETE FLOORS WITH NON-LINEAR UPPER PROFILE IN ENGINEERING GRADE PLASTIC POLYMERS

Abstract

 The present invention is a construction joint specially designed to protect the joint edge on concrete floors. Produced in engineering plastic polymers, it is especially suitable for repairing floors, however, it can be used for other purposes in conjunction with formwork systems. This invention is characterized by being a modular system with quick fittings that don't require tools to assemble the various modules. Each module consists of a single piece that has a vertical non-linear profile (1) and lateral anchoring (2) with holes (7) to allow its positioning and leveling. To make a joint are required at least two modules that are joined together through a male (3) - female (4) quick fitting system that allows not only the assembly of the joint in the closed position but also an open one. There is also a male (5) - female (6) fitting system for assembling sequential modules.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Due to the intensive traffic of cargo vehicles associated with poor prescription of the joint system, the pavement edges degrade. This fact leads to search for solutions that can be used to repair these same floors.

[0002] The current increase in demand for joint repair systems on concrete floors has led MGSI to study a joint profile made of plastic material that can be manufactured using injection molds.

[0003] In general, the repair process of a degraded construction / expansion joint includes the process of cutting and removing the damaged edges of the floors, cleaning the cavity to be repaired, applying and leveling the repair joint, filling with cementitious or resin based products and, after the latter has dried, proceed to the milling of the repaired area until reaching the desired level and finish.

[0004] Knowing that the concrete undergoes deformations due to temperature, creep and shrinkage, with undesirable restrictions on these deformations, the concrete will certainly crack.

[0005] Concrete floors that cover large areas need joints to assimilate the movements of contraction and expansion in order to maintain the integrity of the floor. The execution of these joints can be carried out by sawing the floor to define a crack line or using formwork to divide the space into smaller areas that are later individually paved. In areas subjected to great efforts or heavy traffic, as is the case with logistical storage spaces, the most common way of making joints is to use construction joints. These joints allow the area to be divided into smaller areas and to transfer loads between the various areas of the pavement to maintain its vertical leveling.

[0006] In some logistical spaces, due to the intrinsic fragility of the products handled or even due to demands for extending the useful life of the pavement, there can be no vibration during the passage of the vehicle over the joint line. It is at this point that the present invention has an advantage over the other joints.

Background Art

[0007] The use of joints with a non-linear profile allows the vehicle wheels to pass smoothly, without vibrations, between the slab panels, thus preventing damage to the edges of the slabs.

[0008] There are now some joints for concrete slabs on the market that allow a smooth transition between slabs manufactured in metallic products. The upper profiles of these joints can also be used for repairing degraded floors. The present invention in PT 107249 (MGSI - ACESSÓRIOS PARA INDÚSTRIAS, LDA.) 21/10/2013, pending decision, has horizontal plates with waved cut-out. This type of wide upper joint profile needs special attention when installing it on site when it comes to lateral leveling.

[0009] The PCT/US 4332504 05/11/1979 - Slabs in bridges - has a system of vertical bent profiles that completely cross the thickness of the pavement and does not allow the transfer of loads between the pavements.

[0010] The intrinsic characteristics associated with the use of metals for the construction of the profiles used in these existing joints, in case of pavement repair, make it impossible to achieve a proper finishing between the pavement surface and the joint profile. This is due to the fact that, during the milling process of the floor, given that the metal is a material with greater hardness than the repair material, it is not possible to fully level the surface.

Summary of invention

[0011] The product is a construction joint designed for repair concrete floors. It can also be used in the pavement execution phase to divide the area to be cast into smaller areas, it defines the joint line and allows the contraction and expansion movements of the concrete resulting from thermal variations.

[0012] The use of plastic materials in this product allows the floor and the repair profile to be perfectly levelled, when levelling the repaired area by milling.

[0013] The non-linear upper profile used, allows vehicles to pass smoothly over the joint without impact or noise, as the wheel has a continuous transition between each slab panel. This leads to greater operator comfort and longer wheel life for cargo vehicles.

[0014] This profile can also be used on a formwork plate if the specifics of the work so require.

[0015] The small width of the joint, compared to other solutions already on the market, facilitates the lateral leveling of the joint during installation on site and its construction allows the use of quick leveling devices.

[0016] In areas of very heavy traffic, or when the joint opening is significant, the forklift wheels that pass perpendicular to the joint cause shocks and vibrations that cause damage to the pavement, requiring repair work sooner or later.

[0017] The upper profiles in a non-linear way fit together creating a continuous passage surface and consequently less noise and less vibrations that damage the floor and that can also damage some more fragile products that are being transported.

Brief description of drawings

[0018] 

Figure 1 - Top view of the construction joint profile.

Figure 2 - Front view of the construction joint profile.

Figure 3 - Side view of the construction joint profile.

Figure 4 - Top view of the construction joint.

Figure 5 - Side view of the construction joint profile with formwork plate and load transmission devices.

Figure 6 - Perspective view of the construction joint.

Description of embodiments

[0019] 

Option 1 - The joint consists of two equal modules of profile in plastic polymer with a non-linear shape (1) with anchoring (2), connected to each other through a male (3) - female (4) connecting system that allow various levels of joint opening in order to accommodate the thermal expansion of the floors; the connectors are fragile in order to break with the force of the horizontal movements of the pavement. The connection between consecutive joints is carried out equally by means of a male (5) and a female (6) connector. The anchoring system (2) has holes (7) that allow the use of lifting / leveling devices to install the joint on site. The joint modules are produced using injection molds.

Option 2 - It is also possible to use this joint in association with a formwork: (8), joining them with fastening devices suitable to the formwork's material, when using formwork, it is possible to install load bearing devices (9) and sleeves (10), see Figure 5.

References

[0020] 

• PT 107249 (MGSI - ACESSÓRIOS PARA INDÚSTRIAS, LDA.) 21.10.2013
• PCT/US 4332504 05.11.1979

Claims

1. Construction joint for concrete floors with non-linear upper profile characterized by being constituted by two modules of engineering grade plastic polymer parts with vertical upper profile with non-linear shape (1) and anchoring system (2) that are joined together through an integrated connecting system.

2. Construction joint according to claim 1, characterized by forming sequences of male and female forms that conjugate with each other in order to maintain permanent contact between the upper surface of the joint and the wheels of the cargo handling equipment when there is a separation of two adjacent slabs.

3. Construction joint according to the preceding claims, characterized by having two vertical profiles with non-linear shape (1), joined by a fragile connecting system that breaks with the concrete's retraction force.

4. Construction joint according to the preceding claims, characterized by having a fragile male (3) - female (4) connecting system between the two profiles that allows it to be joined with several joint openings.

5. Construction joint according to the preceding claims, characterized by having a male (5) - female (6) connecting system between successive joints.

6. Construction joint according to the preceding claims and with option 2 of the preferred embodiment, characterized by having formwork profile (8) and transmission bars (9) with a hole in the visible area to use leveling devices, and sleeves (10) where these bars slide in the horizontal plane and which have the function of allowing movements of retraction and expansion of the concrete ensuring the transmission of loads and the vertical alignment between adjacent slabs.

7. Construction joint according to the preceding claims, characterized by having two steel sheet profiles (8) as formwork, designed to support the upper plastic components, they divide the slabs and are slightly lagged for easier assembly of adjacent modules.

Drawing