Temporary ramp
A temporary ramp having a plurality of segments coupled together by way of interlocking mating shapes located along the edges of adjacent ramp segments. Hinges couple adjacent ramp segments together. Fastener openings defined in the ramp segments allow a fastener to be fixed with the underlying roadway to help secure the ramp segment in position.
This invention relates to temporary ramps for use on roadways under construction, wherein the roadways have obstructions such as manhole structures which are temporarily positioned at slightly higher elevations than the existing roadway.
During roadway construction, various structures such as manholes, storm sewer inlets and structures which allow access to water mains are constructed at a raised elevation corresponding to that of the finished roadway. The roadway is then built up such that the surface of the roadway is at the same elevation as the manholes, storm sewers and other structures, resulting in a smooth roadway with all structures being at the proper elevation.
Other roadway construction projects involve removing the top layer of roadway by grinding and then replacing it with a new surface layer. Removal of the top layer of these roadways leaves the structures such as manholes and sewer inlets slightly elevated. These elevated structures are obstructions to automobiles traveling the roadway during the period of time when the top surface is not in place on the roadway.
Similarly, during construction of a roadway the area of road under construction is often at a lower elevation than an adjacent area of roadway. The roadway under construction is eventually raised to the level of the adjacent roadway. But during the period of construction the higher elevation of the adjacent finished roadway is an elevated structure that automobile traffic encounters. This type of elevated structure created by the temporary difference in roadway elevation creates an obstruction to vehicular traffic.
It is known to provide temporary ramps positioned against the edge of the elevated structures so that automobiles may drive up the ramps and over the obstruction. This helps eliminate damage to automobiles as they drive over the elevated structures. One type of ramp is comprised of asphalt that is installed at the edge of the elevated structure and tapers down to the roadway. The installation and removal of this type of temporary ramp involves a variety of machinery and many workers and is therefore a relatively labor intensive and costly process. Also, the asphalt material is only used once and therefore involves disposal of a relatively large amount of waste material.
It is also known to provide elevated structures such as manholes with a single piece temporary ramp that can be placed around the manhole. Some single piece ramps are relatively small and therefore define a relatively steep incline. These steep single piece ramps are therefore best adapted for use in slow traffic areas. These single piece temporary ramps have the advantage of being reusable and therefore eliminate waste. The smallest of these single piece ramps are small enough that they do not require a large number of persons to install or remove them from the manhole. But larger single piece ramps may require more than one person to handle the ramp during installation, removal and transport. Relatively steep ramps are not well adapted for use on elevated manholes in roadways where traffic is moving at higher speeds. Higher speed roadways require a relatively gradual incline on ramps in order to hinder damage to the car as it rides up over the elevated structures.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a temporary ramp that is adapted for use on roadways where traffic moves at relatively high speeds. It would be desirable for such a ramp to have a relatively gradual inclined surface adapted for relatively high-speed roadways. Such a ramp would be relatively large when in place on the roadway next to the elevated structure. It would be desirable for such a temporary ramp to allow a single person to relatively easily install and remove the temporary ramp, even if the ramp is relatively large when in place on the roadway. Such a temporary ramp would therefore not be labor intensive to install or remove. It would also be desirable for such a temporary ramp to involve little or no heavy machinery to install. It would also be advantageous to provide a temporary ramp that is reusable, thereby eliminating waste and reducing the cost of providing temporary ramps during roadway construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a temporary ramp adapted for use on roadways under construction. The roadways have elevated obstructions such as manholes located in the roadway. The temporary ramp includes a plurality of elastomeric ramp segments positioned adjacent each other, each having a lower surface which contacts the roadway when installed and an upper inclined surface that vehicle wheels contact during use. The ramp segments each have at least one edge portion along which each ramp segment is coupled with an adjacent ramp segment during use. The ramp segments are positionable adjacent the elevated obstruction for allowing vehicles traveling the roadway to ride up and over the elevated obstruction.
The ramp segments are removably coupled together by way of interlocking mating shapes which are formed in abutting edge portions of adjacent ramp segments. The mating shapes comprise male and female shapes which fit together to secure the adjacent ramp segments together when the ramp segments are installed for use on a roadway under construction. The mating shapes extend substantially the entire vertical height of the edge portions of the ramp segments proximate the mating shape. The temporary ramp can be disassembled so that the ramp segments are detached from each other, thereby allowing an operator to handle individual ramp segments. This allows a single operator to assemble and disassemble an entire temporary ramp relatively easily. And the temporary ramp according to the present invention is re-usable so that materials are not wasted.
The ramp segments can be provided with a core of rigid and relatively heavy material such as metal that adds weight to the segment for helping the segment resist shifting that may be caused by forces imparted by vehicles traveling over the temporary ramp.
Hinge mechanisms can be positioned between adjacent edge portions of adjacent ramp segments for allowing the adjacent ramp segments to pivot with respect to one another when removed from the roadway. The hinges allow an operator to fold adjacent ramp segments about the hinge axis to allow an operator to transport the ramp segments relatively easily.
The ramp segments according to the present invention can also include fastener openings through which fasteners can be positioned. Fasteners positioned within the fastener openings can be coupled with the roadway beneath the ramp segments and operatively abut the ramp segments to help the ramp segments resist shifting due to forces transmitted to the ramp segments by vehicles traveling across the temporary ramp. Fasteners such as nails can be placed within the fastener openings and driven into the underlying roadway. The head of the nail will abut a washer or directly abut the top surface of the ramp segment for helping to secure the ramp segment in place on the roadway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to
Each ramp segment 16 shown in
The ramp 14 shown in
The ramp segments 16 can also be provided with fastener holes 38 that allow an installer to attach fasteners 40 such as nails through the holes 38 and into the underlying pavement 12. A washer 42 can be placed around the nail 40 before being driven. Once the nail 40 is driven into the underlying pavement 12 in this manner the head of the nail 40 abuts the washer 42, which abuts the top surface 44 of the ramp segment 16. The nail 40 and washer 42 help secure the segment 16 in place as vehicular traffic drives over the temporary ramp 14.
The ramp segments 16 can be provided with a 1:20 incline. For a manhole 10 that extends 1.75 inches above the existing roadway surface 12, the segment 16 would extend radially 30 inches from the manhole 10. The radially outer edge 46 of the segment is approximately 0.25 inches high.
Referring now to
The temporary ramp 14 shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
All the ramp segments 16 shown in the drawing figures can be provided with fastener openings 38 similar to those shown in phantom in
The temporary ramps 14 adapted for use against a linear surface or butt joint 48 as shown in
The temporary ramps 14 shown in
Claims
1. A method of constructing a roadway having a roadway surface under construction and an obstruction elevated above the roadway surface under construction at a height corresponding to an expected elevation of a finished roadway surface upon completion of construction, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a temporary ramp assembly, said temporary ramp assembly comprising a plurality of individual ramp segments, wherein each of said ramp segments includes: (i) a substantially horizontal base for contacting the roadway surface under construction during use; (ii) an upper surface for contact with vehicle wheels during use, said upper surface sloped from a first edge at an apex to a second edge opposite said first edge, and wherein said first edge apex has a predetermined height substantially the same as the height of the elevated obstruction above the roadway surface under construction; (iii) a third edge having coupling formations extending therefrom; (iv) a fourth edge having coupling formations formed therein complementary to said coupling formations extending from said third edge;
- (b) placing a first one of said plurality of ramp segments on said roadway surface under construction such that said base is in contact with the roadway surface under construction and with said first edge thereof adjacent the elevated obstruction;
- (c) placing at least a second ramp segment of said plurality of ramp segments on said roadway surface under construction such that said base is in contact with the roadway surface under construction and with said first edge thereof adjacent the elevated obstruction;
- (d) positioning said fourth edge of said at least said second ramp segment adjacent said third edge of said previously placed first ramp segment;
- (e) interlocking said coupling formations extending from said third edge of said first ramp segment with said coupling formations formed in said fourth edge of said at least said second ramp segment, whereby said interlocking, adjacently disposed said first ramp segment and said at least said second ramp segment forms a temporary ramp assembly disposed adjacent the elevated obstruction;
- (f) maintaining said temporary ramp assembly on the roadway surface under construction adjacent the elevated obstruction until said roadway surface under construction is ready to be paved whereby said temporary ramp assembly provides a transition from the roadway surface under construction to the elevated obstruction such that vehicles traveling on the roadway under construction may transition over the elevated obstruction;
- (g) removing said first ramp segment and said at least said second ramp segment from the roadway surface under construction prior to placing pavement adjacent the elevated obstruction; and
- (h) placing pavement on the roadway surface under construction adjacent the elevated obstruction.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said elevated obstruction on the roadway surface under construction is substantially linear, and wherein said first ramp segment and said at least said second ramp segment are substantially rectangular.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said elevated obstruction on the roadway surface under construction is substantially circular, and wherein said first edges of said first ramp segment and said at least said second ramp segment are substantially arcuate with an inner radius substantially corresponding to a radius of the substantially circular elevated obstruction, and wherein said third edges and fourth edges thereof extend substantially radially outward from said first edges thereof.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of ramp segments are elastomeric.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of ramp segments includes a metal core.
6. The method of claim 1, further including removably securing each of said plurality of ramp segments to the roadway surface under construction with fasteners received within fastener openings disposed through each of said plurality of ramp segments.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 18, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2005
Inventor: Earl Koch (Tremont, IL)
Application Number: 11/037,416