Expansion joint system

Abstract

An expansion joint system including mechanically fused elements for bridging a gap between spaced-apart adjacent structural members is provided. During an emergency operation that is caused by large movements occurring within the vicinity of the expansion joint gap, one or more mechanically fused elements may break away to improve system predictability, or to limit damage to the expansion joint system, the surrounding underlying structural members, or both.

1 . An expansion joint system for bridging a gap between spaced-apart structural members comprising:
 a load bearing member bridging said gap;   a housing having at least one fused portion; and   a support member positioned below said load bearing member and bridging said gap, said support member at least partially housed within said housing and slidable therein.   
   
   
       2 . The expansion joint system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, and a rear wall, wherein said top wall is mechanically fused. 
   
   
       3 . The expansion joint system of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one edge member supported by said longitudinal support member, said edge member being engaged by a mechanically fused connector to one of said structural members. 
   
   
       4 . The expansion joint system of  claim 3 , wherein said edge member is engaged by a mechanically fused connector to a mechanically fused portion of a structural member. 
   
   
       5 . The expansion joint system of  claim 4 , wherein said mechanically fused portion of said structural member is separated from the remaining portion of said structural member by a boundary region created by a boundary element. 
   
   
       6 . The expansion joint system of  claim 5 , wherein said boundary element is selected from the group consisting of a plate, a strap, a beam, an angle, a channel, a rod, a tube, a bead, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The expansion joint system of  claim 6 , wherein said boundary element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal alloy, polymer, ceramic, glass, composite material, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The expansion joint system of  claim 7 , wherein said boundary element creates a region of weakness coinciding with the boundary region. 
   
   
       9 . The expansion joint system of  claim 8 , wherein said boundary element creates a region of strength coinciding with a region bordering the boundary region. 
   
   
       10 . The expansion joint system of  claim 4 , wherein said mechanically fused connector comprises a connector selected from the group consisting of a mechanical fastener, a braze, a solder, a weld, and an adhesive. 
   
   
       11 . The expansion joint system of  claim 10 , wherein said mechanically fused connector comprises a mechanical fastener. 
   
   
       12 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein said mechanical fastener is selected from the group consisting of bolts, screws, rivets, nails, pins and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The expansion joint system of  claim 12 , wherein said mechanical fastener comprises a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, titanium alloys, magnesium alloys, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The expansion joint system of  claim 4 , comprising a terminal margin between said edge members and said structural members. 
   
   
       15 . The expansion joint system of  claim 14 , wherein said terminal margin is at least partially filled with a transmission material. 
   
   
       16 . The expansion joint system of  claim 15 , wherein said transmission material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a polymeric material, a composite material, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The expansion joint system of  claim 3 , comprising a plurality of mechanically fused elements. 
   
   
       18 . The expansion joint system of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of said mechanically fused elements are designed to break in a particular sequence. 
   
   
       19 . The expansion joint system of  claim 4 , comprising a plurality of mechanically fused elements. 
   
   
       20 . The expansion joint system of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of said mechanically fused elements are designed to break in a particular sequence. 
   
   
       21 . An expansion joint system for bridging a gap between spaced-apart structural members comprising:
 a plurality of transversely extending, spaced-apart load bearing members;   a housing having a fused portion; and   a support member positioned below said transversely extending, spaced-apart load bearing members and extending longitudinally across said gap, said support member at least partially housed within said housing and slidable therein.   
   
   
       22 . The expansion joint system of  claim 21 , wherein said housing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, and a rear wall, wherein said top wall is mechanically fused. 
   
   
       23 . The expansion joint system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one edge member supported by said longitudinal support member, said edge member being engaged by a mechanically fused connector to one of said structural members. 
   
   
       24 . The expansion joint system of  claim 23 , wherein said edge member is engaged by a mechanically fused connector to a mechanically fused portion of a structural member. 
   
   
       25 . The expansion joint system of  claim 24 , wherein said mechanically fused portion of said structural member is separated from the remaining portion of said structural member by a boundary region created by a boundary element. 
   
   
       26 . The expansion joint system of  claim 25 , wherein said boundary element is selected from the group consisting of a plate, a strap, a beam, an angle, a channel, a rod, a tube, a bead, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       27 . The expansion joint system of  claim 26 , wherein said boundary element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal alloy, polymer, ceramic, glass, composite material, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       28 . The expansion joint system of  claim 27 , wherein said boundary element creates a region of weakness coinciding with the boundary region. 
   
   
       29 . The expansion joint system of  claim 28 , Wherein said boundary element creates a region of strength coinciding with a region bordering the boundary region. 
   
   
       30 . The expansion joint system of  claim 24 , wherein said mechanically fused connector comprises a connector selected from the group consisting of a mechanical fastener, a braze, a solder, a weld, and an adhesive. 
   
   
       31 . The expansion joint system of  claim 30 , wherein said mechanically fused connector comprises a mechanical fastener. 
   
   
       32 . The expansion joint system of  claim 31 , wherein said mechanical fastener is selected from the group consisting of bolts, screws, rivets, nails, pins and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       33 . The expansion joint system of  claim 32 , wherein said mechanical fastener comprises a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, titanium alloys, magnesium alloys, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       34 . The expansion joint system of  claim 24 , comprising a terminal margin between said edge members and said structural members. 
   
   
       35 . The expansion joint system of  claim 34 , wherein said terminal margin is at least partially filled with a transmission material. 
   
   
       36 . The expansion joint system of  claim 35 , wherein said transmission material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a polymeric material, a composite material, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       37 . The expansion joint system of  claim 23 , comprising a plurality of mechanically fused elements. 
   
   
       38 . The expansion joint system of  claim 37 , wherein at least a portion of said mechanically fused elements are designed to break in a particular sequence. 
   
   
       39 . The expansion joint system of  claim 24 , comprising a plurality of mechanically fused elements. 
   
   
       40 . The expansion joint system of  claim 39 , wherein at least a portion of said mechanically fused elements are designed to break in a particular sequence. 
   
   
       41 . The expansion joint system of  claim 21 , comprising seals extending between said transversely extending, spaced apart load bearing members, and between said transversely extending, spaced apart load bearing members and edge sections of expansion joint system. 
   
   
       42 . The expansion joint system of  claim 41 , wherein said seals are flexible and compressible. 
   
   
       43 . The expansion joint system of  claim 42 , wherein said seals comprise an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       44 . The expansion joint system of  claim 43 , wherein said seals are selected from strip seals, glandular seals, and membrane seals. 
   
   
       45 . The expansion joint system of  claim 44 , wherein said seals are strip seals. 
   
   
       46 . An expansion joint system for bridging a gap between spaced-apart structural members comprising:
 a load bearing member bridging said gap, wherein said load bearing member is engaged by a mechanically fused connector to a mechanically fused portion of said structural member.   
   
   
       47 . The expansion joint system of  claim 46 , wherein mechanically fused connector and mechanically fused portion of said structural member are designed to break in a particular sequence. 
   
   
       48 . The expansion joint system of  claim 47 , wherein the load bearing member comprises a plurality of transversely extending, spaced-apart load bearing members: and the system further comprises support members positioned below said transversely extending, spaced-apart load bearing members and extending longitudinally across said gap; housing for accepting ends of the longitudinally extending support members; and edge members engaged by mechanically fused connectors to a mechanically fused portion of said structural members.