Abstract: A heat application apparatus includes a longitudinally split cylinder that may be disposed about a section of a suspension bridge cable or similar tubular article. The cylinder is split into two essentially identical semi-cylindrical halves which are pivotally connected by an elongate hinge. A plurality of toggle clamps are arranged transversely across the opens ends of the halves and may be engaged to positively connect and lock the edges together. On each of the inner faces of the halves is secured a semi-cylindrical air bladder. The bladders are covered by a flexible heat blanket having a uniformly distributed electrical resistance heating element. Independent air pressure regulators which are supplied with compressed air provide air at low pressure to the bladders and a suitable electrical connector all reside on the exterior of the apparatus.

Abstract: A machine or apparatus for installing resilient or elastomeric strip seals of indefinite length in expansion joints in, for example, highways and bridges. The machine includes an open, upper frame connected to a lower frame supported at its four corners by four freely rotating wheels. A pair of clamping pistons on the lower frame includes rollers which are adjusted to engage one face of the expansion joint. A toothed wheel or blade rotates about an inclined axis and is powered by a motor through a speed reducing gearbox. The toothed wheel engages the seal and forces it into a channel on the side of the expansion joint opposite to the side engaged by the rollers.

Abstract: A machine or apparatus for installing resilient or elastomeric strip seals of indefinite length in expansion joints in, for example, highways and bridges. The machine includes an open, upper frame connected to a lower frame supported at its four corners by four freely rotating wheels. A pair of clamping pistons on the lower frame includes rollers which are adjusted to engage one face of the expansion joint. A toothed wheel or blade rotates about an inclined axis and is powered by a motor through a speed reducing gearbox. The toothed wheel engages the seal and forces it into a channel on the side of the expansion joint opposite to the side engaged by the rollers.

Abstract: A system for butt welding expansion joint rails with an electroslag welding system. The electroslag welding system for butt welding the expansion joint rails comprises a control system. The method for butt welding the two expansion joint rails with the electroslag welding system comprises defining a weld cavity with a first expansion joint rail, a second expansion joint rail, a plurality of gland shoes, and a pair of butt shoes. The electroslag welding system can also be adapted to weld a expansion joint rail to a support beam. The method for welding the expansion joint rail to the support beam comprising placing the expansion joint rail on a horizontal axis, placing the support beam on a vertical axis and clamping a modular component system to the expansion joint rail.

Abstract: A roadway reflector is both durable and easily embedded into an opening in a roadway. The roadway reflector in one presently preferred embodiment is preferably circular or disk shaped so it can be inserted into a preformed circular hole in the roadway. A reflector includes two primary components, one of which is an upper member which can be easily coupled to the base member by a plurality of mating tabs and notches in the respective components. An expansion ring is inserted into the base member to expand the base member into a friction fit with the opening in the roadway. A resilient membrane or web is included in the base member and surrounds the upper reflective member so that as a snow plow blade, vehicle tire or the like passes over the reflector, the upper member is depressed downwardly into a cavity in the base member.

Abstract: An encapsulated cable for a suspension bridge or a cable-stayed bridge, the cable (10) being encapsulated by a wrap (16) which is formed by spirally winding a flexible strand (S) of a synthetic rubber tightly therearound. The strand is wound with each wind thereof overlapping one-half the width of the preceding wind, thereby forming a uniform thickness, double layer wrap. After the spiral winding step the wrap is heated to heat seal the superimposed layers to one another to thereby seal the seam formed therebetween and shrink the wrap into tight engagement with the cable. The strand, specifically the outermost layer of a laminated multiple layer strand, is precolored with a suitable colorant to eliminate the need for after painting the wrap to obtain a suitable color match between it and adjacent portions of the bridge structure.

Abstract: An expansion joint strip seal for use between spaced apart ends of sections of a highway, bridge, or the like, the strip seal having an elongate metallic rail with a C-shaped cavity therein embedded in the end of one of the sections, a second elongate metallic rail with a reverse C-shaped cavity therein embedded in the end of an adjacent section, and an elastomeric, elongate membrane having ear portions extending along its opposed edges, each of the ear portions being sealingly engaged by one of the metallic rails. The membrane, which is formed integrally in a single piece, has a central web portion, which is generally V-shaped in cross section, and each ear portion has an enlarged end portion and a transitional portion between the enlarged end portion and the central web portion. The transitional portion has upper and lower planar surfaces which sealingly engage planar sealing surfaces of an entrance of each metallic rail that engages such ear portion.

Abstract: An expansion joint strip seal for use between spaced apart ends of sections of a highway, bridge, or the like, the strip seal having an elongate metallic rail with a C-shaped cavity therein embedded in the end of one of the sections, a second elongate metallic rail with a reverse C-shaped cavity therein embedded in the end of an adjacent section, and an elastomeric, elongate membrane having ear portions extending along its opposed edges, each of the ear portions being sealingly engaged by one of the metallic rails. The membrane, which is formed integrally in a single piece, has a central web portion, which is generally V-shaped in cross section, and each ear portion has an enlarged end portion and a transitional portion between the enlarged end portion and the central web portion. The transitional portion has upper and lower planar surfaces which sealingly engage planar sealing surfaces of an entrance of each metallic rail that engages such ear portion.

Abstract: An expansion joint for use between spaced apart ends of adjacent sections of a highway, bridge or the like, the expansion joint having a pair of aligned boxes embedded in the pavement material of the ends of the sections, one or more support rails each of which is slidingly supported at its opposed ends in the aligned boxes, and one or more intermediate rails between the spaced apart ends and extending transversely of the support rails, each of the intermediate rails being affixed to and supported thereby. Each of the boxes has a removable top plate whose top surface is coplanar with the driving surface of the highway, bridge or the like, the top surface having a steel plate with upper and lower layers of an organic material affixed to its upper and lower surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: An expansion joint strip seal for use between spaced apart ends of sections of a highway, bridge, or the like, the strip seal having an elongate C-shaped metallic rail embedded in the end of one of the sections, a reverse C-shaped elongate metallic rail embedded in the end of an adjacent section, and an elastomeric, elongate membrane having ear portions extending along its opposed edges, each of the ear portions being sealingly engaged by one of the metallic rails. The membrane, which is formed integrally in a single piece, has a central web portion, which is generally V-shaped in cross-section, and each ear portion has an enlarged end portion and a transitional portion between the enlarged end portion and the central web portion. The transitional portion has upper and lower horizontal surfaces which sealingly engage sealing surfaces of an entrance of the metallic rail which engages such ear portion, the entrance leading into an enlarged cavity of the rail which engages the end portion of the membrane.

Abstract: A tillage implement comprising a plurality of coulters or discs is provided with disc cleaning means to prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris between adjacent coulters or discs. The disc cleaning means can comprise a rotatable belt mounted between adjacent coulters or discs and drive means operable to cause rotation of the belt. The drive means may comprise a drive gear secured to a power source. As the belt rotates, it removes soil from between adjacent coulters or discs.

Abstract: Expansion and cast-in retainer dams for sealing pavement joints against intrusion of water, dirt, etc., into the joint space, said dams utilizing a pair of extruded steel or aluminum frames on opposite sides of the joint and a continuous elastomer strip spanning the joint and interlocked along its opposite edges in slotted longitudinal openings in the frames by a bead of triangular cross-section on each edge of the strip, the frames each having elongated solid metal zones above and below the slotted openings.

Abstract: Expansion and cast-in retainer dam for sealing pavement joints against intrusion of water, dirt, etc., into the joint space, said dams utilizing a pair of rolled steel frames on opposite sides of the joint and a continuous elastomer strip spanning the joint and interlocked along its opposite edges in slotted openings in the frames by a bead of triangular cross-section on each edge of the strip.

Abstract: Pavement joint structures utilizing laterally spaced, elongated metal frames with a four-sided, compartmented, elongated, elastomer seal locked in the frames and spanning the space, the seal having a double arch, nadir-to-apex internal web structure.

Abstract: An expansion joint with an elastomer seal having longitudinal frames made from aluminum extrusions extending longitudinally of an expansion joint for pavements and bridge decks. The longitudinal frames are mounted by anchor bolts in the pavement or bridge deck concrete, which pavement or bridge deck has a concrete or asphaltic wear surface. The elastomer seal is fixedly held in the longitudinal frames by elongated tongue and groove means, and the joint space is spanned by at least one shallow, V-shaped elastomer wall which deforms downwardly as the joint width becomes narrower. The longitudinal frames are held in position in steps in the concrete adjacent to the joint by the anchor bolts, which have threaded ends projecting upwardly into an upwardly facing longitudinal channel and the hollow space of a hollow segment of substantially square cross section in the respective longitudinal frames.

Abstract: Elongated, hollow elastomer seals particularly useful for the sealing of bridge deck joints, bridge approach joints and like wide joints against intrusion by liquids and incompressible solids and embodying a transversely concave top wall; side walls and a bottom wall, and an internal web structure with a pair of webs extending respectively between intermediate portions of the top wall located intermediate the longitudinal midportion thereof and respective side walls and respective intermediate portions of laterally extending internal webs to resist inward rolling of the upper longitudinal corners of the seal away from the joint faces when the seal is seated under lateral compression in a joint.

Abstract: An expansion joint with an elastomer seal having longitudinal frames made from aluminum extrusions extending longitudinally of an expansion joint for pavements and bridge decks. The longitudinal frames are mounted by anchor bolts in the pavement or bridge deck concrete, which pavement or bridge deck has a concrete or asphaltic wear surface. The elastomer seal is fixedly held in the longitudinal frames by elongated tongue and groove means, and the joint space is spanned by at least one shallow, V-shaped elastomer wall which deforms downwardly as the joint width becomes narrower. The longitudinal frames are held in position in steps in the concrete adjacent to the joint by the anchor bolts, at least some of which have threaded ends projecting upwardly through the bottom wall into an upwardly facing longitudinal channel.