Bridge expansion joint and bridge deck asphalt concrete continuous structure

Abstract

The utility model discloses a bridge expansion joint and a bridge deck asphalt concrete continuous structure, the bridge expansion joint comprises a first module unit, a second module unit and a third module unit, the first module unit, the second module unit and the third module unit form an expansion space below a bridge deck asphalt concrete surface layer to complete a deformation function; the second connecting part of the second module unit extends into the cavity of the first connecting part of the first module unit, and radial and axial moving spaces are formed in the cavity, so that free extension and retraction are realized; and the third module unit is arranged above the second module unit and the bridge deck pavement layer. Instantaneous deformation superposition at the position of the expansion joint is effectively solved through sliding between the third module unit plates, the bearing capacity of an expansion joint installation area is greatly improved, and concrete continuity of a bridge deck is supported. After the telescopic device is used, broken joints and gaps do not appear on the whole traffic lane any more, and the using effects of comfortable driving, no noise and durability are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of infrastructure, specifically a telescopic device and an asphalt concrete surface layer for highway and urban road bridges. Background Technology

[0002] Bridge expansion joints are expansion devices installed between the ends of two beams, between a beam end and an abutment, or at hinged joints of the bridge to accommodate bridge deck deformation. Expansion joints must allow free expansion and contraction in both directions parallel and perpendicular to the bridge axis, be robust and reliable, and provide a smooth ride for vehicles without bumps or noise. They must prevent rainwater and debris from seeping in and causing blockages. Installation, inspection, maintenance, and cleaning should be simple and convenient. The function of bridge expansion joints is to regulate the displacement and connection between the superstructure caused by vehicle loads and temperature changes in bridge building materials. Expansion joints are among the weakest and most vulnerable components in a bridge structure.

[0003] Currently, bridge expansion joints come in three types: butt-joint expansion joints (including embedded and filled types), rubber expansion joints, and steel expansion joints (including steel comb plates and steel folded plates). During construction and installation, the process is complex. Generally, the expansion joint installation is carried out after the bridge deck pavement and asphalt concrete surface layer are completed, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. The required concrete volume is small, and it is mostly steel fiber reinforced concrete, making it difficult to control the mixing and pouring quality. Furthermore, the construction site is small, and there are many components to be installed, making it impossible to use large machinery such as pavers and rollers, affecting construction progress, smoothness, and construction quality. During the traffic operation phase, because there are tens of centimeters of rigid steel fiber reinforced concrete pavement on both sides of the expansion joint, while the rest of the driving lane is mostly asphalt concrete flexible pavement, and the reserved expansion width is completely exposed on the driving lane surface, the joint width will be wider in winter, making vehicle bouncing and impact noise unavoidable, especially on highways, first-class roads, and urban expressways, where driving speeds are high, significantly reducing comfort. In routine maintenance, traditional expansion joints are weak points in bridges, prone to concrete cracking, steel detachment, and deformation, creating safety hazards. Exposed gaps are easily clogged with debris, making cleaning difficult and unsafe. The rubber components of traditional expansion joints are prone to aging and failure, resulting in severe leakage and making replacement difficult. Repairs require traffic closures, concrete removal, repair or replacement of expansion joint components, and re-pouring and curing of concrete, making the process complex, time-consuming, and posing significant safety management challenges.

[0004] Based on the inventor's years of experience and information retrieval, no products or patents were found that are identical to this utility model. Several patents related to seamless expansion joints were found, but they differ significantly from this utility model in terms of deformation principles and design. For example, one proposed a seamless bridge expansion joint device, which involves setting a stiffening plate and two corrugated expansion plates under the asphalt concrete surface layer. This has drawbacks such as requiring numerous components, uncertain load-bearing capacity and deformation, questionable durability, and reducing the thickness of the asphalt surface layer, preventing the asphalt surface layer from being laid in one go. Another proposed a seamless bridge expansion joint device, which involves pre-embedding fixed and movable components in the expansion joint installation area, connecting them with multiple U-shaped connectors, and then filling with elastic material to achieve a seamless connection. This device has drawbacks such as numerous pre-embedded components, the inability to mechanically lay and compact the surface layer, difficulty in quality control, and the incompatibility of the filling material with the asphalt concrete of the bridge deck, which can easily cause driving discomfort. Under repeated wheel loads, the pre-embedded components are prone to damage. No practical product information was found for these devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a bridge expansion joint and a continuous asphalt concrete structure for the bridge deck, which completely solves the problems of vehicle bouncing, noise, easy damage, and difficult maintenance of the existing expansion joints, improves driving comfort, reduces noise generation, and reduces maintenance difficulty and cost.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0007] This utility model first provides a bridge expansion joint, including a first module unit, a second module unit and a third module unit. The first module unit, the second module unit and the third module unit form an expansion space below the asphalt concrete surface layer of the bridge deck to complete the deformation function.

[0008] The first module unit is disposed in the bridge deck pavement or bridge abutment slab concrete on both sides of the expansion joint. The first module unit has a first connecting part, and the first connecting part forms a cavity on both sides of the expansion joint.

[0009] The second module unit forms two second connecting parts on both sides of the expansion joint. The second connecting parts extend into the cavity of the first connecting part of the first module unit and have radial and axial movement space in the cavity to achieve free expansion and contraction. The second module unit forms two first support parts upward to support the load transmitted by the third module unit.

[0010] The third module unit includes a lower cover plate, a middle support plate, and an upper cover plate, and is disposed above the second module unit and the bridge deck pavement layer; one lower cover plate is disposed on each side of the upper surface of the bridge deck pavement layer on both sides of the expansion joint; the middle support plate is disposed above the lower cover plate and has a free end extending out of the end face of the bridge deck pavement layer; the upper cover plate overlaps the upper part of the two middle support plates; the two first support parts of the second module unit are supported on the free ends of the two middle support plates.

[0011] The second module unit also has a second support portion located between the two first support portions and supported below the upper cover plate.

[0012] The second module unit includes a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector; the second connector is located at both ends of the first connector; two first support parts are located on the second connector, the second support parts are located on the third connector, and the load-bearing force on the second connector and the third connector is transmitted to the first connector.

[0013] The first connecting member is a connecting rod; the cavity provides free space for the radial and axial movement of the connecting rod; both ends of the connecting rod are first connecting parts, and the ends of the connecting rod are located in the cavities of the first connecting parts.

[0014] The second connecting member is a crossbeam; the third connecting member is a column bearing plate.

[0015] A limiting hole is provided on the bottom plate of the crossbeam; an opening is provided near the lower end of the column bearing plate for the first connector to pass through; the column bearing plate passes through the limiting hole to form the second module unit as a whole.

[0016] The first module unit includes:

[0017] The front wall panel is located on the end face of the bridge deck pavement layer on both sides of the expansion joint; the front wall panel is provided with the first connecting part for connecting the second module unit.

[0018] The first module unit also includes:

[0019] A sleeve is installed on the connection part of the front wall panel; the sleeve extends into the bridge deck pavement layer on both sides of the expansion joint to form a cavity.

[0020] The first connecting part of the front wall panel is a connecting hole; the second module unit is inserted into the connecting hole.

[0021] The third module unit also includes a sliding plate, which is disposed between the lower cover plate and the middle support plate.

[0022] This utility model also provides a continuous asphalt concrete structure for bridge decks, comprising:

[0023] Several intervals are arranged in the bridge deck pavement layers;

[0024] The bridge expansion joints provided above; the bridge expansion joints are set between two adjacent bridge deck pavement layers, and the bridge deck pavement layers are connected through the bridge expansion joints;

[0025] Asphalt surface layer; the upper surface of the bridge deck pavement layer connected by the bridge expansion joints.

[0026] The expansion joint provided by this utility model can be installed below the asphalt concrete surface layer of the bridge deck, solving the problems of expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes in the bridge's load-bearing structure and multi-directional displacement caused by vehicle load impact. The new expansion joint has advantages such as being invisible, noiseless, providing driving comfort, being permanent, and having low maintenance costs, effectively overcoming the shortcomings of traditional expansion joints. The new expansion joint has a simple structure, clear deformation and load transfer paths, and uses common bridge construction materials with abundant resources. The construction process is simple, making it convenient to use on both new and existing bridges. Especially for high-grade highways or urban roads, it can be upgraded and replaced in one go during major or medium-scale road repairs, using new technologies and products to solve problems such as vehicle bouncing, high noise, driving discomfort, and difficult and unsafe maintenance associated with existing expansion joints on highways and urban roads.

[0027] This utility model of bridge expansion joint includes a front wall panel, lower, middle and upper cover panels and sliding plate, crossbeam, column bearing plate, connecting rod and sleeve. These components, made of conventional bridge construction materials, are assembled to form a novel expansion device. Working together, they can provide space to accommodate the expansion and displacement of the bridge's load-bearing structure, and also provide sufficient support for the asphalt concrete surface layer.

[0028] This utility model has the following technical effects:

[0029] 1. Providing space for expansion, contraction, and displacement deformation of the load-bearing structure: In the first module unit, the front wall panel and sleeve are combined to form a sufficient cavity; in the second module unit, the connecting rod is inserted into the cavity after connecting the column bearing plate, and free expansion, contraction, and swing are achieved within the sleeve cavity to meet the displacement deformation requirements of the load-bearing structure. The asphalt concrete of the driveway is a flexible structure with strong deformation capacity, which can offset most of the expansion and contraction deformation. In the beam end expansion joint section, the third module unit, composed of the lower bearing plate, sliding plate, middle bearing plate, and upper cover plate, allows relative sliding between the plates, eliminating the superposition of instantaneous strain and eliminating the fatigue effect of vibration on the asphalt concrete surface layer.

[0030] 2. Providing support for the asphalt concrete surface layer: The load of the asphalt concrete surface layer is ultimately borne by the bridge's load-bearing structure. The load of the new expansion joint gap section is supported by a structural system consisting of a front wall panel, connecting rods, column bearing plates, crossbeams, middle bearing plates, and an upper cover plate. Specifically, the front wall steel plate supports the connecting rods, the connecting rods support the crossbeams and column bearing plates, the crossbeams support one end of the middle bearing plate, the column bearing plates support the middle of the upper cover plate, and both ends of the upper cover plate rest on the beam (aperture). The load transfer path is clear, and the overall combination of load-bearing components is stable.

[0031] 3. Driving Comfort: The most significant feature of this expansion joint is that the expansion device is installed within the bridge deck pavement structure layer, enabling continuous paving and one-time molding of the asphalt concrete surface layer of the bridge deck. This eliminates the gaps and voids found in traditional expansion joints, and tires no longer need to undergo repeated transitions between flexible and rigid states during driving, resulting in a substantial improvement in driving comfort. If all bridge expansion joints on China's highways, first-class roads, and urban roads were replaced with this new type of bridge expansion joint, it would achieve a nationwide elimination of exposed joints on expressways.

[0032] 4. Overcoming vehicle bounce and eliminating noise: With this new type of bridge expansion joint, the entire bridge deck is paved asphalt concrete in one continuous, seamless manner, thus completely eliminating vehicle bounce and the clattering sound caused by wheels slipping through the gaps. Furthermore, vulcanized rubber gaskets or damping strips are added to the moving contact points of components such as the front wall panel, connecting rods, column bearing plates, crossbeams, intermediate bearing plates, and upper cover plates to reduce wear, eliminate friction noise, and improve the overall structural integrity.

[0033] 5. Simple construction process: This new type of bridge expansion joint is integrated with the bridge deck pavement layer. The first module unit is installed below the steel mesh of the bridge deck pavement (or abutment slab), and the steel mesh of the bridge deck pavement is continuous throughout the entire span. The installation of the new expansion joint is carried out in conjunction with the bridge deck pavement layer, and waterproof concrete is poured simultaneously. This avoids the trouble caused by the need for separate installation of traditional expansion joints, which requires starting from scratch, greatly improving construction efficiency and making it more conducive to construction quality control.

[0034] 6. Durable and Low-Cost Maintenance: The load-bearing components of this new type of bridge expansion joint are made of traditional steel, with ample market supply and guaranteed quality. Auxiliary gaskets and washers are made of durable vulcanized rubber. The structure is simple, with a clear stress path, and is located below the asphalt concrete surface layer, not exposed. The parts in contact with air use galvanized, rust-proof steel components, ensuring the expansion device is robust and durable, with a service life no less than that of the bridge's load-bearing structure. This expansion joint is concealed below the asphalt concrete surface layer of the driving lane, eliminating the need for debris blockage, and has excellent water sealing. Routine road maintenance is sufficient; no special maintenance is required for the expansion joint itself. Major and minor repairs of the bridge's asphalt concrete surface layer can be treated the same as for ordinary roads. The inspection and maintenance of the new expansion joint can be carried out simultaneously with major and minor repairs of the asphalt concrete pavement.

[0035] 7. Wide range of applications: This new type of bridge expansion joint can replace traditional rubber expansion joints and steel expansion joints. By increasing the cross-section and dimensions of materials such as the front wall panel, connecting rod, column bearing plate, crossbeam, and upper cover plate, it can adapt to the needs of increased expansion and contraction. By adjusting the overlap angle between the sleeve and the front wall panel, it can adapt to skew bridges, sloping bridges, and curved bridges.

[0036] 8. Further development potential: For mega-bridges, the design height of the top plate at the end of the load-bearing beam can be optimized to reserve sufficient space for installing reinforced new expansion joints. Alternatively, the new expansion joint can be integrated with the beam body (apron back wall) by adding a front wall panel and sleeve combination at the end of the load-bearing beam. Smart chip devices can also be implanted to monitor the bridge's operational status in real time. Attached Figure Description

[0037] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution for the bridge expansion joint, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the original attached drawings.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structural embodiment of the bridge expansion joint of this utility model;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the first module unit structure;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a structural embodiment of the front wall rigid plate;

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the front wall rigid plate;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the second module unit;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the bridge expansion joint of this utility model;

[0044] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second module unit in the embodiment;

[0045] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the continuous asphalt concrete structure for bridge deck of this utility model;

[0046] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A cross-sectional schematic diagram.

[0047] The component names represented by each number are as follows: 1. First module unit; 11. Front wall panel; 111. Connecting hole; 12. Sleeve; 13. Rubber gasket; 2. Second module unit; 21. Connecting rod; 22. Crossbeam; 221. First support part; 23. Column bearing plate; 231. Second support part; 3. Lower cover plate; 4. Middle bearing plate; 5. Upper cover plate; 6. Beam or abutment; 7. Bridge deck pavement layer; 8. Asphalt pavement. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, clearly and completely describes the structure and engineering principle of this novel bridge expansion joint. Obviously, the described novel structure falls within the scope of protection provided by this novel bridge expansion joint. Example 1

[0049] This embodiment provides a bridge expansion joint, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a first module unit 1, a second module unit 2 and a third module unit, wherein the third module unit includes a lower cover plate 3, a middle support plate 4 and an upper cover plate 5.

[0050] The structure of Unit 1 of the first module is shown in [reference]. Figure 2 The module includes a front wall panel 11 and a sleeve 12. A connection hole 111 is provided in the front wall panel 11. The sleeve 12 is welded to the connection hole 111 in the front wall panel 11. The connection hole 111 and the sleeve 12 constitute the first connection part, and the space inside the sleeve 12 forms the cavity for the expansion and contraction of the second module unit 2.

[0051] The connecting hole 111 on the front wall panel 11 can be a round hole ( Figure 3 ), or it can be a long rectangular hole ( Figure 4 The shape of the connecting hole 111 is not specifically limited. A cavity for connecting the second module unit is formed behind the front wall panel 11 using a sleeve 12 or other means. Depending on the expansion and contraction requirements, the shape of the opening in the front wall can be, but is not limited to, circular, elliptical, teardrop-shaped, etc., and the shape of the cavity behind the front wall can be, but is not limited to, cylindrical, prismatic, spindle-shaped, etc. Furthermore, the material and detailed dimensions of this expansion joint will vary depending on the required amount of expansion and contraction.

[0052] For the structure of the second connection module 2, see [link / reference]. Figure 5 The system includes a connecting rod 21 and a crossbeam 22. Both ends of the connecting rod 21 are second connecting portions that pass through the connecting holes 111 of the first module unit 1. The crossbeam 22 is mounted on the connecting rod 21 and supported and fixed by the connecting rod. The crossbeam 22 has two first support portions 221 located at its upper end. The crossbeam 22 can be made of U-shaped channel steel, with the two flanges of the U-shaped channel steel forming the first support portions 221. The first support portions 221 are used to support the ends of the middle support plate 4.

[0053] When the connecting hole 111 is circular, the connecting rod 21 can also be made of circular steel bars or steel pipes, and the corresponding sleeve 12 is also a circular sleeve. When the connecting hole 111 is rectangular, the connecting rod 21 is made of a rigid plate inserted into the connecting hole, and the corresponding sleeve 12 is also a rectangular sleeve. The connecting rod 21 is inserted into the cavity, which provides free space for the radial and axial movement of the connecting rod 21. The connecting rod 21 can extend and retract, tilt up and down, and swing left and right within the cavity, effectively counteracting the various displacements caused by temperature changes or vehicle impacts between beams on both sides of the expansion joint, so as to meet the deformation function of the expansion joint.

[0054] A 1.0–2.0 mm washer is placed at the contact point between connecting rod 21 and connecting hole 111 to reduce friction. The axial movement range of connecting rod 21 should not be less than the design expansion / contraction amount, and the radial movement range is 1.0–2.0 mm. To facilitate bridge bearing replacement, the upward movement is controlled within 2.0–10.0 mm. Depending on the expansion / contraction amount, the material, diameter, and spacing of connecting rod 21 will vary. For example, for an 80 mm expansion joint, 32 mm plain round steel bars can be used, with a recommended spacing of 25 cm.

[0055] To prevent the upper cover plate 5 from sinking and deforming, the second connecting module 2 also includes a column support plate 23, the upper end of which forms a second support portion 231, see [reference]. Figure 3 The upper cover plate 5 is supported by the second support part 231.

[0056] The third module unit consists of three layers of steel plates—a lower web plate 3, a middle support plate 4, and an upper cover plate 5—located at the expansion joint to eliminate the superposition of instantaneous deformations. After the bridge deck pavement concrete reaches the required elevation, the lower cover plate 3 is installed promptly. After the curing period, a sliding plate is installed on the lower cover plate 3, with the smooth side facing down. The middle support plate 4 is installed on top of the lower cover plate 3, with its free end overlapping the flange of the crossbeam 22. The pre-installed installation distance between adjacent middle support plates 4 depends on the ambient temperature during installation. The upper cover plate 5 is then installed on top of the middle support plate 4. This third module unit significantly increases the load-bearing capacity of the expansion joint area. After using the expansion joint provided by this invention, the expansion area is no longer the weakest point in the bridge structure.

[0057] The bottom surface of the crossbeam 22 has a square hole through which the column bearing plate 23 passes, interlocking to form a whole. This ensures that deformation requirements are met while also supporting the middle bearing plate 4 and the upper cover plate 5, providing stable support for the asphalt concrete pavement. The connecting rod 21, the crossbeam 22, and the column bearing plate 23 are self-locking to form a whole.

[0058] In one specific example, the expansion joint provided by this utility model is suitable for bridges with an expansion range of 0 to 160 mm (equivalent to modular expansion devices MA and MB), designed according to a bridge deck pavement layer thickness of 12 cm reinforced concrete and an asphalt concrete surface layer thickness of 8 cm, for orthogonal bridges.

[0059] In a specific example, the front wall steel plate 11 of the first module unit 1 is made of 10 mm thick steel plate, with a height of 12 cm (the same thickness as the bridge deck pavement) and a length equal to the width of a single bridge deck. The front wall steel plate 1 has holes at 25 cm intervals, with a hole diameter of 35 mm. The sleeve 22 is a seamless steel pipe with an outer diameter of 70 mm, a wall thickness of 2 mm, and a length of 15 cm. One end of the sleeve 22 is welded to the front wall steel plate 11, and the axis of the sleeve 22 is collinear with the center of the holes in the front wall steel plate 11; the other end of the sleeve 22 is closed. Then, structural reinforcing bars are provided at 20 cm intervals both longitudinally and transversely. The longitudinal reinforcing bars are welded to the front wall steel plate 11, forming a rigid frame for the first module unit, facilitating production, transportation, and installation. During installation of the first module unit 1, the front wall steel plate 11 is recessed 3 cm from the edge of the reserved gap to allow space for the installation of expansion joint components.

[0060] In the second module unit 2, the connecting rod 21 is made of galvanized round steel bar with a diameter of 32 mm and a length of 22-32 cm; the crossbeam 22 is made of galvanized channel steel with a diameter of 40 mm x 50 mm. A 5.5 mm x 110 mm square hole is drilled every 25 cm along the main line of the channel steel base plate for the column bearing plate 23 to pass through. The column bearing plate 23 is made of 5 mm thick galvanized steel plate, 95 mm x 105 mm, with a 35 mm diameter hole at the bottom for the connecting rod 21 to pass through. After passing through the column bearing plate 23, the connecting rod 21 is inserted into the connecting holes 111 of the front wall steel plate of the first module unit at both ends, extending into the cavity formed by the sleeve 12. The column bearing plate 23 passes through the square hole at the bottom of the channel steel crossbeam, and the channel steel crossbeam is placed on the connecting rod 21 and supported by the connecting rod 21. Shims are added at all insertion points. In this way, the first module unit 1 and the second module unit 2 are combined into a whole, which can meet both deformation requirements and load-bearing capacity.

[0061] The third module unit consists of a 3mm thick steel plate (underbody 3), 37cm wide, and the same length as the width of a single bridge span; a 2mm thick polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) plate (slide plate) with the same dimensions as the underbody 3; a 4mm thick, 42cm wide, and the same length as the width of a single bridge span middle plate (middle support plate 4), with one end placed on the slide plate and the free end folded upside down onto the crossbeam flange, supported by the crossbeam 22; and a 5mm thick, 22-32cm wide, and the same length as the width of a single bridge span middle plate (upper body 4), with both ends placed on the middle support plates 4 on both sides. The middle of the upper support plate 5 contacts the top of the column support plate 23, which provides partial support and restrains the downward deflection of the upper support plate 5. The third module unit is installed after the bridge deck concrete is poured. The reserved installation spacing at the free ends of the middle support plates on both sides of the expansion joint is determined according to the temperature at installation time: 20mm at 20℃, 10mm at 30℃, and 30mm at 10℃.

[0062] After the third module unit is installed, emulsified asphalt is applied to a 120 cm wide area of ​​the expansion joint, followed by the laying of polypropylene long-pile anti-crack fabric, and then another layer of emulsified asphalt is applied to enhance the adhesion between the asphalt surface layer and the steel plate, absorb instantaneous strain, and enhance fatigue resistance. Then, the asphalt concrete surface layer is continuously and integrally laid.

[0063] The first module unit 1 of this utility model's expansion joint is embedded in the concrete pavement layer 7 of the bridge deck. The first module unit 1 is symmetrically placed on both sides of the expansion joint, so that the expansion joint provided by this utility model is integrated with the main structure of the bridge and supports the second module. The first connecting part of the first module unit 1 provides a cavity for the expansion and contraction of the second module unit 2. The second module unit 2 provides support for the third module unit upwards, transferring the bridge deck load within the width range of the expansion joint to the beam or pier 6. The third module unit is composed of a lower cover plate 3, a middle support plate 4, and an upper cover plate 5. By utilizing the strong deformation capacity of the flexible structure of the bridge deck asphalt concrete, after eliminating most of its own temperature deformation, the local instantaneous deformation at the expansion joint location is effectively offset by the sliding between the three plates; at the same time, the plate combination supports the asphalt concrete surface layer 8 laid on it, ensuring that the expansion joint area has a reliable and stable load-bearing capacity. The lower cover plate 3 is wet-bonded to the pavement concrete 7; the intermediate support plate 4 is placed on the lower cover plate 3, with its free end extending into the expansion joint gap, and is supported by the crossbeam 22 of the second module unit 2; the upper cover plate 5 rests on the intermediate support plate 4 at both ends, and the middle of the intermediate support plate 4 is supported by the column support plate 23, allowing the intermediate support plate 23 a certain amount of expansion and contraction space; a polytetrafluoroethylene sliding plate is placed between the intermediate support plate 4 and the lower cover plate 3, with the smooth side facing down. All components cooperate with each other to form a structural system that meets deformation requirements and has sufficient load-bearing capacity.

[0064] Installation process:

[0065] For newly constructed bridges, the new telescopic honeycomb structure is assembled on-site after the bridge deck paving is completed. Installation process:

[0066] Step 1: Adjust the position of the pre-embedded steel bars and place one first module unit 1 on each side of the expansion joint;

[0067] Step 2: Assemble the connecting rod 21 and the column bearing plate 23 in series with washers;

[0068] Step 3: Add washers to both ends of connecting rod 21 and insert it into the connection hole 111 of the first module unit;

[0069] Step 4: Align connecting rod 21, adjust the gap width, and install crossbeam 22;

[0070] Step 5: Precisely position the steel bars and weld them to the pre-embedded steel bars for fixation;

[0071] Step 6: Installation of steel mesh for bridge deck paving;

[0072] Step 7: Pouring concrete for bridge deck paving;

[0073] Step 8: After the bridge deck concrete reaches the required elevation, install the lower cover plate 3 and control its flatness;

[0074] Step Nine: Health Preservation;

[0075] Step 10: Install the skateboard, smooth side down;

[0076] Step 11: Install the center support plate 4, with the corner facing down, add damping strips, and fasten it to the flange of the crossbeam 6. The reserved distance between adjacent center support plates depends on the temperature;

[0077] Step 12: Add shock-absorbing strips and install the upper cover plate 5;

[0078] Step 13: Spray emulsified asphalt, lay polypropylene long-pile anti-crack cloth, and then spray emulsified asphalt again;

[0079] Step 14: Integrated paving of bridge deck asphalt concrete;

[0080] Step 15: Handover and delivery for use.

[0081] For the replacement of existing bridge expansion joints, it is best to carry out the work simultaneously with major or medium-scale road repairs. Installation process:

[0082] Step 1: Close the road;

[0083] Step 2: Mark the lines, and chisel away the steel fiber concrete and bridge deck pavement concrete at the expansion joints to expose the beams or abutment back walls.

[0084] Step 3: Clean the surface and adjust the embedded steel bars; then follow the same installation process as for newly built bridges.

[0085] In a specific example, the expansion joint provided by this utility model is suitable for expansion joints with an expansion range of 160 to 1000 mm (corresponding to comb-plate type expansion joints SC and SSA). The dimensions, materials, and shapes of each component need to be determined according to design calculations. The length of the connecting rod 21 is between 22 and 200 cm, and the diameter is between 32 and 300 mm. It can be made into a hollow component and high-strength materials can be selected. The dimensions and combinations of other components vary accordingly.

[0086] In a specific example, for the expansion joints of extra-large bridges with a contraction of over 1000 mm (corresponding to comb-type expansion joints SSB), the height of the beam end at the expansion joint installation location is controlled by design to reserve space for the installation of new expansion joints. It is even possible to generate a connecting rod movement space within the anchoring concrete at the beam end. Then, detailed design of each component is carried out to meet the strength and deformation capacity requirements.

[0087] As the expansion and contraction increase, the gap width also increases. In order to provide sufficient support for the asphalt concrete of the bridge deck, the combination of the second and third module units is optimized and adjusted. For example, the connecting rod is optimized into a comb plate, the cavity formed by the sleeve is optimized into a groove, the free end of the middle bearing plate is optimized into a folded plate, and the column bearing plate is optimized into a transverse plate support, thereby eliminating the deformation mode of crossbeams, etc.

[0088] For expansion joints with an expansion range of less than 40 mm, optimize the second module unit, requiring only the connecting rod 21 and eliminating the crossbeam 22 and column bearing plate 23. The third module unit is optimized simultaneously.

[0089] This novel expansion joint is suitable for skewed bridges, curved bridges, or sloping bridges. By adjusting the overlap angle between the sleeve and the front wall panel, it can easily adapt to various bridge types. The panel angles of the third module unit are also adjusted accordingly.

[0090] To facilitate bearing replacement during bridge maintenance, the opening in the front wall panel has been optimized. Specifically, when making the opening in the front wall, the bottom position of the hole remains unchanged, while the top of the hole is extended upwards by 5-10 millimeters. This does not affect the support and deformation of the connecting rod, and also provides space for the load-bearing beam to be lifted upwards when the bearing is replaced. Example 2

[0091] This embodiment provides a continuous road surface structure, such as Figure 8 As shown, the structure includes a bridge beam or abutment 6, a bridge deck pavement layer 7, and an asphalt pavement 8. Gaps exist between the bridge deck pavement layers 7, and bridge expansion joints as described in Example 1 are installed within these gaps. The first module unit 1 of the bridge expansion joint is embedded within the gap end face of the bridge deck pavement layer 7; the first module unit 2 of the bridge expansion joint is installed on the first module unit 1; the lower cover plate 3 of the third module unit of the bridge expansion joint is wet-bonded to the pavement concrete 7; the middle support plate 4 is placed on the lower cover plate 3, with its free end extending into the expansion joint gap and supported by the crossbeam 22 of the second module unit 2; the upper cover plate 5 rests on the middle support plate 4 at both ends, with the middle support plate 4 supported by a column support plate 23 in the middle, allowing the middle support plate 23 some expansion and contraction space; a polytetrafluoroethylene sliding plate is placed between the middle support plate 4 and the lower cover plate 3, with the smooth side facing down. The asphalt pavement 8 is laid on the upper cover plate 5.

[0092] In the first module unit 1, the front wall plate 11 has connection holes 111 as needed. After the connection holes 111, a sleeve 12 with one end closed is welded (or glued) to form a cavity. The first module unit 1 is placed inside the concrete pavement layer of the bridge deck, symmetrically placed on both sides of the expansion joint, and constructed simultaneously with the bridge deck pavement layer or bridge abutment slab. The connecting rod 21 of the second module unit is inserted into the cavity and can freely expand, contract, and swing within the cavity, effectively counteracting the various displacements caused by temperature changes or vehicle impacts between beams or abutments on both sides of the expansion joint. During installation, the clearance distance between the front wall steel plate 11 and the beam end should be accurately determined according to the design expansion and contraction requirements, leaving sufficient space to accommodate the crossbeam 22 and column bearing plate 23 of the second module unit, dividing the expansion and contraction space in two. The installation area of ​​the expansion and contraction deformation components is basically controlled below the asphalt concrete surface layer.

[0093] To counteract the micro-vibration reflection at the overlap of the upper cover plate, and to ensure a tighter bond between the asphalt surface layer and the steel plate, resulting in stronger fatigue resistance, this invention applies asphalt to the top surface of the expansion joint and then lays a layer of polypropylene long-pile anti-crack fabric to absorb stress and protect the asphalt concrete surface layer from fatigue damage. Specifically, after the upper cover plate 5 is installed, a 3-5mm layer of emulsified asphalt is brushed onto the top surface of both the upper cover plate 5 and the intermediate support plate 4, followed by a layer of polypropylene long-pile anti-crack fabric, and then the asphalt concrete surface layer is directly laid. This way, the entire expansion device is located below the asphalt concrete surface layer, creating an uninterrupted lane, significantly improving driving comfort and completely eliminating vehicle bounce and noise. Because the expansion joint is protected by the asphalt concrete surface layer, it requires no special maintenance and is more durable. Major and minor repairs of the asphalt concrete surface layer can also be carried out continuously and mechanizedly, and no special slope adjustment is needed at the expansion joint area.

[0094] All contact points between connecting rod 21, crossbeam 22, column bearing plate 23, middle bearing plate 4 and upper cover plate 5 are fitted with vulcanized rubber gaskets or vulcanized rubber damping strips to reduce wear, further avoid noise generated by friction or impact, and enhance the overall integrity and stability of the structure.

[0095] Adjusting the overlap angle between sleeve 12 and front wall steel plate 11 can adapt to the special requirements of expansion joints for skew bridges, sloping bridges, and curved bridges. By adjusting the material and cross-sectional dimensions of materials such as connecting rod 21, expansion joints with ultra-large expansion amounts can be developed. For extra-large bridges, further development can be carried out based on the principle of this expansion joint, namely by optimizing the design of the top plate at the end of the load-bearing structure beam, reducing the height of the beam end, and reserving sufficient space for installing a reinforced new type of expansion joint, or by designing and installing a combination of front wall plate 11 and sleeve 12 at the end of the load-bearing beam (or at the anchoring position of the anchor plate).

[0096] This utility model of bridge expansion joint unifies traditional modular expansion joints (MA, MB) and comb-plate expansion joints (SC, SSA, SSB). Different models of expansion devices can be designed according to deformation and load-bearing requirements, facilitating the upgrade and replacement of existing bridge expansion joints. By removing a portion of the pavement layer at both ends of the existing bridge expansion joint, installing the new invisible, noise-free, permanent bridge expansion joint, reinforcing the pavement, pouring concrete, and then laying asphalt concrete to ensure a continuous asphalt surface for the roadway, the noise caused by vehicle bumps and swaying at the bridge expansion joint can be completely eliminated. This significantly improves the service level of existing roads, solves the much-discussed noise problem on highways and urban elevated roads, and reduces maintenance costs.

Claims

1. A bridge expansion joint, characterized in that, It includes a first module unit, a second module unit, and a third module unit. The first module unit, the second module unit, and the third module unit form an expansion and contraction space below the asphalt concrete surface layer of the bridge deck to complete the deformation function. The first module unit is disposed in the bridge deck pavement or bridge abutment slab concrete on both sides of the expansion joint. The first module unit has a first connecting part, and the first connecting part forms a cavity on both sides of the expansion joint. The second module unit forms two second connecting parts on both sides of the expansion joint. The second connecting parts extend into the cavity of the first connecting part of the first module unit and have radial and axial movement space in the cavity to achieve free expansion and contraction. The second module unit forms two first support parts upward to support the load transmitted by the third module unit. The third module unit includes a lower cover plate, a middle support plate, and an upper cover plate, and is disposed above the second module unit and the bridge deck pavement layer; one lower cover plate is disposed on each side of the upper surface of the bridge deck pavement layer on both sides of the expansion joint; the middle support plate is disposed above the lower cover plate and has a free end extending out of the end face of the bridge deck pavement layer; the upper cover plate overlaps the upper part of the two middle support plates; the two first support parts of the second module unit are supported on the free ends of the two middle support plates.

2. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second module unit also has a second support portion located between the two first support portions and supported below the upper cover plate.

3. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second module unit includes a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector; the second connector is located at both ends of the first connector; two first support parts are located on the second connector, the second support parts are located on the third connector, and the load-bearing force on the second connector and the third connector is transmitted to the first connector.

4. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first connecting member is a connecting rod; the cavity provides free space for the radial and axial movement of the connecting rod; both ends of the connecting rod are first connecting parts, and the ends of the connecting rod are located in the cavities of the first connecting parts.

5. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second connecting member is a crossbeam, and the first support portion is located at the upper ends of both sides of the crossbeam; the third connecting member is a column bearing plate, and the second support portion is located at the upper end of the column bearing plate.

6. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 5, characterized in that, A limiting hole is provided on the bottom plate of the crossbeam; an opening is provided near the lower end of the column bearing plate for the first connector to pass through; the column bearing plate passes through the limiting hole to form the second module unit as a whole.

7. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first module unit includes: The front wall panel is located on the end face of the bridge deck pavement layer on both sides of the expansion joint; the front wall panel is provided with the first connecting part for connecting the second module unit.

8. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first module unit also includes: A sleeve is installed on the connection part of the front wall panel; the sleeve extends into the bridge deck pavement layer on both sides of the expansion joint to form a cavity.

9. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first connecting part of the front wall panel is a connecting hole; the second module unit is inserted into the connecting hole.

10. A bridge expansion joint according to claim 1, characterized in that, The third module unit also includes a sliding plate, which is disposed between the lower cover plate and the middle support plate.

11. A continuous asphalt concrete structure for bridge decks, characterized in that, include: Several intervals are arranged in the bridge deck pavement layers; Bridge expansion joints as described in any one of claims 1-10; The bridge expansion joint is set between two adjacent bridge deck pavement layers, and the bridge deck pavement layers are connected through the bridge expansion joint; Asphalt surface layer; The upper surface of the bridge deck pavement layer is provided, which is connected by the bridge expansion joint.

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