Seismic joint seal

Abstract

The present invention is a seismic joint seal comprising a support plate, a channel assembly, and a deck plate. It is used to join bridge segments to each other or to an abutment. The invention has a curved deck plate that rides along a complementarily-curved support plate to accommodate movements that result from seismic events.

1 .) A seismic joint seal for joining a bridge segment to another bridge segment or to an abutment, comprising: 
 a support plate having a curved top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface, said support plate fixedly attached to a first bridge segment; and    a deck plate having a curved bottom surface, said deck plate attached to a second bridge segment, and said curved bottom surface of said deck plate slidably resting on said curved top surface of said support plate.    
   
   
       2 .) The seismic joint seal according to  claim 1 , wherein said curved top surface is convex, and said curved bottom surface is concave.  
   
   
       3 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising a channel assembly for attaching said deck plate to a bridge segment.  
   
   
       4 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 3 , wherein said channel assembly comprises a spring assembly with elastomeric washers.  
   
   
       5 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 4 , wherein said channel assembly comprises a spring assembly with alternating elastomeric washers and steel washers.  
   
   
       6 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 5 , additionally comprising a support sheet between the channel assembly and the deck plate.  
   
   
       7 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 6 , wherein the support sheet is made of neoprene.  
   
   
       8 .) A method of seismically sealing a bridge joint, comprising: 
 attaching a support plate with a curved top surface to a first bridge segment; and    attaching a deck plate with a curved bottom surface to a second bridge segment, so that said curved bottom surface slidably rests on said curved top surface.    
   
   
       9 .) The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said curved top surface is convex and said curved bottom surface is concave.  
   
   
       10 .) A seismically protected bridge, comprising a first bridge segment joined to a second bridge segment or to an abutment by a joint seal according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 , or  7 .  
   
   
       11 .) A seismic joint seal for joining a bridge segment to another bridge segment or to an abutment, comprising: 
 a support plate having a top surface, said support plate fixedly attached to a first bridge segment;    a deck plate having a bottom surface, said deck plate attached to a second bridge segment, and said bottom surface of said deck plate slidably resting on said top surface of said support plate to form an interface; and    means for ensuring that as said deck plate moves longitudinally relative to said support place the interface remains substantially constant.    
   
   
       12 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 11 , wherein said means for ensuring that as said deck plate moves longitudinally relative to said support place the interface remains substantially constant comprises a curved bottom surface and a curved top surface.  
   
   
       13 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 12 , wherein said top surface is convex and said bottom surface is concave.  
   
   
       14 .) A kit for creating a seismic bridge joint, comprising a deck plate with a curved bottom surface and a support plate with a curved top surface.  
   
   
       15 .) The kit according to  claim 14 , wherein said bottom surface is convex and said top surface is concave.  
   
   
       16 .) A seismically-protected bridge, comprising at least one support plate and a plurality of modular channel assemblies and deck plates, wherein the support plate has a curved upper surface, and the deck plates have a curved lower surface.  
   
   
       17 .) The bridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the upper surface is concave and the lower surface is convex.  
   
   
       18 .) A seismic joint seal for joining a bridge segment to another bridge segment or to an abutment, comprising: 
 a support plate having a support plate top surface and a support plate bottom surface, said support plate fixedly attached to a first bridge segment;    a deck plate having a deck plate top surface and a deck plate bottom surface, said deck plate attached to a second bridge segment;    wherein said support plate top surface is not parallel to said support plate bottom surface, and wherein said deck plate top surface is not parallel to said deck plate bottom surface.    
   
   
       19 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 4 , wherein said channel assembly is protected from liquid by a deck seal.  
   
   
       20 .) The seismic joint according to  claim 19 , wherein said deck seal is placed between said first bridge segment and said deck plate.