Precast traffic barrier soundwall

Abstract

A traffic barrier soundwall includes a top portion attached to a bottom portion. The segments are reinforced by rebar, mesh, or combinations thereof. Dowel rods extend from the bottom edge of the top portion which fit into corresponding pipe sections along the top edge of the bottom portion. Grout is flowed into the pipe sections and an epoxy is applied along the length of the joining surfaces. The upper corners of each of the top and bottom portions have connection elements comprising troughs and PVC sleeves to attach the segments to adjacent segments. The bottom portion is generally T-shaped with a tapered cross-section. The footer of the bottom portion is installed under the ground level and connection elements comprising troughs to receive non-metal drop pins to attach the footers of adjacent segments to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A traffic barrier soundwall, comprising:
 a top wall portion disposed on a bottom wall portion to form a segment, the top and bottom wall portion reinforced by rebar, mesh, or combinations thereof; and   wherein dowel rods extend substantially vertically from the bottom edge of the top wall portion, the dowel rods inserted into corresponding pipe sections embedded in the bottom wall portion and disposed along the top edge of the bottom wall portion, and   wherein the top wall portion includes a connection element for coupling adjacent segments.   
     
     
         2 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 1 , wherein the connection element comprises a trough in communication with a sleeve configured to receive a connector. 
     
     
         3 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 2 , wherein the connector is a drop pin dowel. 
     
     
         4 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall portion includes a connection element for coupling adjacent segments. 
     
     
         5 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 4 , wherein the connection element comprises a trough configured to receive a connector. 
     
     
         6 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 3 , wherein the drop pin dowel is made of non-metallic material. 
     
     
         7 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall portion has a generally T-shaped cross section comprising a stanchion wall substantially perpendicular to a footer. 
     
     
         8 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom wall portions each include lifting loops coextensive with the reinforcement. 
     
     
         9 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 1 , wherein grout is flowed into the pipe sections. 
     
     
         10 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 1 , wherein epoxy is applied to at least one joining surface of the top or bottom wall portion. 
     
     
         11 . A traffic barrier soundwall system, comprising:
 a plurality of traffic barrier soundwall segments each comprising a top wall portion disposed on a bottom wall portion, the top and bottom wall portions reinforced by rebar, mesh, or combinations thereof;   wherein dowel rods extend substantially vertically from the bottom edge of the top wall portion, the dowel rods are inserted into corresponding pipe sections embedded in the bottom wall portion and disposed along the top edge of the bottom wall portion; and   wherein the upper corners of each of the top and bottom wall portions include a connection element for coupling adjacent segments.   
     
     
         12 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 11 , wherein the connection element on the upper corner of the top wall portion comprises a trough in communication with a PVC sleeve that is configured to receive a drop pin. 
     
     
         13 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 11 , wherein the connection element on the upper corners of the bottom wall portion comprises a trough configured to receive a drop pin. 
     
     
         14 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 11 , wherein grout is flowed into the pipe sections. 
     
     
         15 . The traffic barrier soundwall of  claim 11 , wherein epoxy is applied to at least one joining surface of the top or bottom wall portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method for putting together a traffic barrier soundwall, comprising the steps of:
 coupling a top wall portion with a bottom wall portion to form a wall segment, wherein the top wall portion and the bottom wall portion are joined by inserting dowel rods extending substantially vertically from a bottom edge of the top wall portion into corresponding pipe sections embedded in the bottom wall portion, and   coupling at least two wall segments together using connection elements disposed proximate to upper corners of each of the top and bottom wall portions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the connection element on the upper corner of the top wall portion comprises a trough in communication with a sleeve that is configured to receive a drop pin dowel, and
 wherein coupling the top wall portions of the at least two wall segments includes inserting the drop pin dowel into the adjacent concentrically aligned sleeves of the adjacent wall segments and filling the troughs with material.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the connection element on the upper corners of the bottom wall portion comprises a trough configured to receive a drop pin dowel, and
 wherein coupling the bottom wall portions of the at least two wall segments includes inserting the drop pin in the adjacent aligned troughs and filling the troughs with material.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein grout is added into the pipe sections when forming the wall segment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein epoxy is applied at least one joining surface of the top or bottom wall portion when forming the wall segment.