Precast concrete bridge unit and headwall assembly and method of production

Abstract

A method of producing a precast concrete bridge and headwall assembly including casting a reinforced concrete bridge unit having a top wall connecting opposite side walls; positioning the bridge unit with a first side supported by a horizontal casting surface, wherein the top wall is positioned adjacent a framing unit for the headwall; forming a precast concrete headwall on the casting surface adjacent the top wall with a series of earth anchors at laterally spaced intervals along the top wall between the side walls, each earth anchor formed with: a) a body member extending outward from the headwall to the top wall; and b) a foot member extending laterally outward from the body member engaged on the top wall and including an upper surface generally parallel to the top wall; and removing the headwall and earth anchors as a unit from the bridge unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a precast concrete bridge and headwall assembly, comprising the steps of:
 casting a reinforced concrete bridge unit having a top wall connecting opposite side walls;   positioning the bridge unit with a first side supported by a horizontal casting surface, wherein the top wall is positioned adjacent a casting framing unit for the headwall;   forming a precast concrete headwall on the casting surface adjacent the top wall with a series of earth anchors at laterally spaced intervals along the top wall between the side walls, each earth anchor formed with:
 a) a body member extending outward from the headwall to the top wall; and 
 b) a foot member extending laterally outward from the body member engaged on the top wall and including an upper surface generally parallel to the top wall; 
   and   removing the headwall and earth anchors as a unit from the bridge unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , including releasably attaching a series of earth anchor forms to the top wall of the bridge unit at laterally spaced intervals between the side walls prior to forming the precast concrete headwall, wherein a bottom edge of the earth anchor forms is located adjacent the framing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the earth anchors are precast simultaneous with precasting of the headwall, forming an integral unit made up of the earth anchors and the headwall. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the earth anchors are precast into the earth anchor forms before the headwall has completely hardened. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the earth anchors are formed without passages in the body member defining connection points to the top wall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body member has opposing lateral sides and the foot member includes lateral foot sections that extend laterally outward from each of the lateral sides of the body member. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the foot member includes a distal foot section defining a surface that extends from the body member, distal from the headwall, and between the lateral foot sections.