Apparatus and method for joining adjacent concrete panels

Abstract

An apparatus and a method by which one end of a connecting rod is embedded in a first (e.g., precast) concrete panel and the opposite end of the connecting rod is moved inwardly of and affixed within an opposing rod receiving channel that is formed in an adjacent (e.g., precast) concrete panel so as to form a reliable joint for connecting the first and adjacent panels to one another. The apparatus and method have particular application in roadway construction and/or repair by creating a continuous flat driving surface to support vehicular traffic. Each of the connecting rod of the first concrete panel and the rod receiving channel of the adjacent concrete panel are axially aligned with one another and located so as to be separated from and spaced below the respective tops of the first and adjacent panels.

1 . A method for joining a first concrete panel to an adjacent concrete panel, said method comprising the steps of:
 affixing a panel connecting rod to the first panel such that one end of the connecting rod projects outwardly from said first panel;   forming a rod-receiving channel in the adjacent concrete panel;   positioning the first and adjacent concrete panels on a road bed such that said panels are laid end-to-end one another, and moving one of said first or adjacent concrete panels towards the other one of said concrete panels until the outwardly projecting end of said panel connecting rod affixed to said first panel is received inwardly of the rod-receiving channel formed in said adjacent concrete panel;   locating a resilient bumper at the end of said rod-receiving channel formed in the adjacent concrete panel, such that the outwardly projecting end of said panel connecting rod is located adjacent said resilient bumper when said outwardly projecting end is received inwardly of the rod-receiving channel formed in said adjacent concrete panel; and   filling the rod-receiving channel with a bonding material after the one of said concrete panels is moved towards the other one of said concrete panels and the outwardly projecting end of said panel connecting rod is received inwardly of said rod-receiving channel,   whereby said resilient bumper is positioned to accommodate an axial displacement of said panel connecting rod through the rod receiving channel of the adjacent concrete panel after the rod-receiving channel has been filled with the bonding material.   
     
     
         2 . The method for joining recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and adjacent concrete panels are precast concrete panels, said method comprising the additional step of embedding a portion of the panel connecting rod within said first panel such that the one end of said connecting rod projects outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The method for joining recited in  claim 2 , comprising the additional steps of forming a rod-retaining channel within the first precast concrete panel while said first concrete panel is being cast from concrete, locating said panel connecting rod within the rod-retaining channel of said first precast concrete panel such that the one end thereof projects outwardly from the first panel, and filling the rod-retaining channel with a bonding material, whereby said connecting rod is embedded within said first panel. 
     
     
         4 . The method for joining recited in  claim 3 , wherein each of said rod-retaining channel of the first concrete panel and said rod-receiving channel of the adjacent concrete panel has a diameter, said method comprising the additional step of forming said rod receiving channel with a diameter that is larger than the diameter of said rod-retaining channel. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method for joining recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and adjacent concrete panels has a bottom lying on the road bed and a top lying opposite the bottom thereof, said method comprising the additional, step of locating each of said panel connecting rod and said rod-receiving channel so as to be separated from and spaced below the respective tops of said first and adjacent concrete panels. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method for joining recited in  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of forming a filler receiving port through the adjacent concrete panel so as to communicate with said rod-receiving channel thereof, and filling said rod-receiving channel with the bonding material by way of said filler receiving port so as to retain the outwardly projecting end of said panel connecting rod within said rod-receiving channel. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for joining a first pre-cast concrete panel to an adjacent pre-cast concrete panel, said method comprising the steps of:
 forming a rod-retaining channel in the first pre-cast concrete panel during the casting of said first panel, said rod-retaining channel having a first diameter;   affixing a panel connecting rod to the first pre-case concrete panel such that one end of said panel connecting rod is located within said rod-retaining channel and the opposite end of said panel connecting rod projects outwardly from said first pre-cast concrete panel;   forming a rod-receiving channel in the adjacent concrete panel during the casting of said adjacent panel, said rod-receiving channel having a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter of said rod-retaining channel;   laying the first pre-cast concrete panel on a road bed;   lowering the adjacent pre-cast concrete panel onto the road bed and adjusting the position of said adjacent panel relative to said first pre-cast concrete panel until the opposite end of said panel connecting rod which projects outwardly from said first pre-cast concrete panel is aligned with and located inwardly of the relatively wide rod-receiving channel of said adjacent pre-cast concrete panel so that said first and adjacent pre-cast concrete panels are joined to one another;   forming an injection port through said adjacent pre-cast concrete panel during the casting of said adjacent panel such that said injection port communicates with said rod-receiving channel formed in said adjacent panel; and   pumping a filler material down said injection port for filling said rod-receiving channel with said filler material so that the opposite end of said panel connecting rod located in said rod-receiving channel is surrounded by and embedded within said filler material.