Dowels for Jointed Concrete and Methods of Forming and Using the Same

Abstract

A dowel assemblies for use in concrete pavement each comprise a welded seam carbon steel hollow tube and a pair of end caps. The end caps are attached to opposite axial ends of the hollow tube. The pavement comprising a fracture groove over the dowel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming jointed concrete dowels, the method comprising:
 unspooling a coil of carbon steel strip;   directing the uncoiled strip along a path, the uncoiled strip having opposite side edges that extend along the path;   bending the strip into a hollow tube in a manner such that the side edges are adjacent to each other;   electric resistance welding the side edges of the strip to each other such that the hollow tube has a closed transverse cross-section;   transversely cutting the welded hollow tube into a plurality of jointed concrete dowels;   the steps of unspooling the coil, bending the strip, and electric resistance welding the side edges of the strip occurring continuously as the strip is uncoiled and travels along the path, and the step of transversely cutting the hollow tube occurring as the hollow tube occurring as the hollow tube travels along the path.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the method comprises attaching end caps to opposite axial ends of each of the jointed concrete dowels. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the end caps are bonded to the opposite axial ends of each of the jointed concrete dowels. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the method comprises coating the welded hollow tube as the welded hollow tube moves along the path 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the method comprises galvanizing the welded hollow tube as the welded hollow tube moves along the path. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the method comprises painting the welded hollow tube as the galvanized welded hollow tube moves along the path. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the method comprises cleaning and painting the welded hollow tube as the welded hollow tube moves along the path. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the method comprises cleaning and epoxy coating the welded hollow tube as the welded hollow tube moves along the path. 
     
     
         9 . A method of forming jointed concrete pavement, the method comprising:
 positioning a dowel in a location that will become concrete pavement, the dowel comprising a carbon steel welded seam hollow tube and a pair of end caps, the end caps being attached to opposite axial ends of the hollow tube;   allowing concrete to cure around the dowel to thereby transform the concrete into pavement;   cutting a top surface of the pavement over the dowel.   
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the dowel is positioned in a location that will become concrete pavement while the concrete is curing. 
     
     
         11 . Jointed concrete pavement comprising concrete cured around a dowel, the dowel comprising a welded seam carbon steel hollow tube and a pair of end caps, the end caps being attached to opposite axial ends of the hollow tube, the pavement comprising a fracture groove over the dowel.