Splice Joint
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure US20260234884A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in part that claims the benefit of U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 17 / 992,471 filed Nov. 22, 2022 titled “SPLICE JOINT” which Nonprovisional Patent Application in turn claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 63 / 282,479 filed Nov. 23, 2021 and titled “SPLICE JOINT.”BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 9,279,224 by one of the inventors of the present invention describes a passive self-erecting system involving buoyant metal panels extending over water and rotating upward between flanking permanent end walls to form a floodwater barrier. A more recent U.S. patent by such inventor is U.S. Pat. No. 10,619,317 respecting flood barrier panel assemblies in land near a water frontage shoreline that have panels actively erectable into a continuous barrier preventing flooding of the land.
[0003] Barrier panels are often constructed of a metal such as aluminum. Thermal heating of such panels can cause the panels to expand and move laterally toward each other. Thermal cooling has the opposite effect, causing the panels to contract and move way from each other. Individual panels rotationally erectable once erected can move transversely to each other under the influence of external forces. These movements have the potential to interfere with the water sealing function of gaskets lining the lateral sides of next adjacent panels.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates to splice joints and more particularly to a flexible and movable splice joint between edge aligned adjacent panels to allow the panels to move laterally and transversely without damaging each other and is particularly applicable to a plurality of assemblies of so joined panels that form raisable flood barriers to prevent flooding of land and improvements on the land by water rising from an adjacent body of water without permanently blocking a view of the often attractive waterscape.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, reference is made in some embodiments to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and in which are shown by way of illustration non-limiting embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. Certain features of the invention are shown in exaggerated scale or in somewhat schematic form and in some drawing some details of elements shown in other drawings are omitted in the interest of clarity and conciseness. Referring to the drawings:
[0006] FIG. 1 depicts in isometric view a linear arrangement of exemplary embodiments of a flood barrier series of panels in accordance with this invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 depicts in isometric view an enlargement of end panels at the right end of the flood barrier of FIG. 1
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts in isometric view a pair of next adjacent edge aligned panels connected by a splice joint as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a splice joint connecting a pair of next adjacent edge aligned panels, indicating where cross sections FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 are taken.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross section of a splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 across fasteners 147, 148 visible at the exterior of the splice joint, and shows nominal spacing at the splice joint.
[0011] FIG. 6 is also a cross section of a splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 across fasteners 147, 148 visible at the exterior of the splice joint showing thermal contraction lateral movement of next adjacent panels relative to one another producing a taut splice joint.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a cross section of the splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4 where fasteners 145, 146 are not visible at the exterior of the splice joint and showing thermal contraction lateral movement of next adjacent panels relative to one another producing a taut splice joint.
[0013] FIG. 8 is another a cross section of a splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 across fasteners 147, 148 showing thermal expansion lateral movement of next adjacent panels relative to one another producing a slack splice joint.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a cross section of the splice joint along the same lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing structural loading across the splice joint from transverse movement of one said panel relative to the next adjacent panel.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a cross section of another embodiment of a splice joint of this invention in the same view as FIG. 5 in which a tensile member is incorporated in a gasket member of the splice joint.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a perspective partial view of next adjacent panels linked by the splice joint of FIG. 5 in which the splice joint is in nominal spacing.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a cross section of a splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 in which the tensile member of the splice joint is a cable, showing nominal spacing at the splice joint.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a cross section of the splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 in which the tensile member of the splice joint is a cable, showing thermal contraction lateral movement of next adjacent panels relative to one another producing a taut splice joint.
[0019] FIG. 14 is a cross section of the splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 in which the tensile member of the splice joint is a cable, showing thermal expansion lateral movement of next adjacent panels relative to one another producing a slack splice joint.
[0020] FIG. 15 is a cross section of the splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 in which the tensile member of the splice joint is a cable, showing structural loading across the splice joint from transverse movement of one said panel relative to the next adjacent panel.
[0021] FIG. 16 is a perspective partial view of next adjacent panels linked by the splice joint of FIG. 12 in which the tensile member of the splice joint is a cable and in which the splice joint is in nominal spacing.
[0022] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the next adjacent edge aligned panels in a lowered position recumbent in concrete encased support pans separated by an expansion joint, the panels being linked over the expansion joint by a splice joint and as in FIG. 1 flanked by wiping walls.
[0023] FIG. 18 is an elevated view of next adjacent edge aligned panels recumbent in support pans, showing a U-shaped channel under a support pan for anchoring the support pan to a concrete foundation before an encasement pour. The U-shape channel is also seen in FIG. 3.
[0024] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the underside of the support pans of FIG. 18 showing the U-shaped channel of FIG. 18 and a slide plate fastened to next adjacent support pans across the expansion joint separating the support pans.
[0025] FIG. 20 is a perspective top side view of next adjacent support pans for the next adjacent panels showing a smaller U-shaped channel mounted vertically inside the larger U-shaped channel of FIG. 19.
[0026] FIG. 21 is a front side view of next adjacent panels resident in a lowered position in next adjacent support pans after an encasement pour.
[0027] FIG. 22 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the continuation of the water impervious gasket of FIGS. 5-16 across the expansion joint between the support pans.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0028] In accordance with this invention, a splice joint moveably connected between edge aligned structural panels allows lateral and transverse movement between the panels, sealing the junction between adjacent panels from water penetration between the panels when raised from support pans while providing tensile loading limiting the panels'ability to swing separately from each other. The splice joined panels are preferably in a series of next adjacent flood barrier panels in support pans arranged on land near a water frontage shoreline, when resident in the support pans providing a surface not interfering with a view of the water while being erectable manually prior to a flooding vent or automatically by buoyancy in a flooding event to provide a continuous vertical barrier, preventing flooding of land on the dry side of the barrier.
[0029] Specific details described herein, including what is stated in the Abstract, are in every case a non-limiting description and exemplification of embodiments representing concrete ways in which the concepts of the invention may be practiced. This serves to teach one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner consistent with those concepts. Reference throughout this specification to “an exemplary embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in an exemplary embodiment” or similar expression in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Various changes and alternatives to the specific described embodiments and the details of those embodiments may be made within the scope of the invention. One or more of the elements depicted in the drawings can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concepts herein described and in the exemplary embodiments herein detailed, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not as limiting the invention to that which is illustrated and described herein.
[0030] The various directions such as “upper,”“lower,”“back,”“front,”“vertical”, “upright”, “horizontal,”“length,”“laterally”, “proximal”, “distal” and so forth used in the detailed description of exemplary embodiments are made only for easier explanation in conjunction with the drawings. The components may be oriented differently while performing the same function and accomplishing the same result as the exemplary embodiments herein detailed embody the concepts of the invention, and such terminologies are not to be understood as limiting the concepts which the embodiments exemplify. The terms “horizontal” or “horizontally” include but are not limited to literal horizontal and generally mean not out of level with respect to immediately adjacent land to a degree that will materially adversely affect the function of the element described as horizontal. Similarly, the terms “vertical” or “upright” include but are not limited to literal vertical and generally mean substantially up and down with respect to immediately adjacent land to a degree that will not materially adversely affect the function of the element described as vertical or upright.
[0031] As used herein, the terms “comprises,”“comprising,”“includes,”“including,”“has,”“having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. That is, unless otherwise indicated, the term “or” is generally intended to mean “and / or”. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
[0032] As used herein, the use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” (or the synonymous “having” or “including”) in the claims and / or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,”“at least one,” and “one or more than one.” In addition, as used herein, the phrase “connection to” or “connected to” means joined to, either directly or through intermediate components.
[0033] Exemplary apparatus embodiments of the invention comprise a plurality of next adjacent structural panels moveably connected by a splice joint. More particularly, each panel has a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back end, and lateral sides in non-contacting edge alignment with the next adjacent panel. The next adjacent panels mount orthogonal flanges on lateral sides of the next adjacent panels facing each other. Each flange has an upper arm and a lower arm. The lower arm attaches the flange to the lateral side of the panel. The upper arms of the flanges on the lateral sides of the next adjacent panels facing each other are separated by a gap between them. The next adjacent panels are moveably connected across that gap by a splice joint running the length of the flanges and comprising (a) a flexible gasket having a segment spanning that gap and having portions distal to such segment secured to the upper arms of the flanges, and (b) a tensile member having end segments secured to the upper arms of the flanges and an intermediate flexible joint segment spanning the gap, the flexible joint segment allowing thermal expansion and contraction lateral movement of the next adjacent panels relative to one another and allowing transverse rotational movement of one panel relative to the next adjacent panel, spreading a tension load over the flexible joint segment spanning the gap.
[0034] In an exemplary embodiment the panels have a length (a height when raised) that runs from the back end to at least proximate the front end of the panels, and the flanges have a length that runs the length (height) of the panels.
[0035] More particularly, in an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of next adjacent structural panels are longitudinally arrayed as part of a flood barrier assembly arranged on land proximate a water frontage shoreline. The panels each reside in a lowered substantially horizontal position recumbent in or on a substantially horizontal support pan among a plurality of next adjacent support pans situated in or on a surface of the land, such plurality of support pans preferably being the same as the plurality of panels. Each panel is hingedly rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis of rotation at the back end of the panel to rotate upwardly from the support pan to a raised position where invading flood water will be impounded behind the bottom surface of the panel. The upper arms of orthogonal flanges on the lateral sides of the next adjacent panels facing each other are separated by the gap between them both when the panels are substantially horizontally disposed in said lowered position and when the panels are in said raised position. The panel lateral sides when resident in the support pan have an imagined projected intersecting angle to the shoreline. In an exemplary embodiment the panels are buoyant and rotate upward buoyantly on invasion of water from the shoreline. The next adjacent panels are laterally moveable relative to one another by thermal expansion and contraction and transversely moveable relative to one another on the axis of rotation of the panels.
[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, one lateral side of the end-most of the next adjacent edge aligned panels in a longitudinal array does not face a lateral side of a next adjacent panel but instead is next adjacent a wiping surface and mounts a wiping gasket for sealingly wiping the wiping surface. The other lateral side of the end-most panels and both lateral sides of all other panels in the array are in non-contacting edge alignment with the lateral sides of the next adjacent panel. The other lateral side of the end-most panels and both lateral sides of the panels that do not mount a wiping gasket have an attached orthogonal flange running the length the panels with a substantially horizontal upper arm and a substantially vertical lower arm. The lower arm attaches the flange to the lateral side of the panel. The upper arms of the flanges of the next adjacent panels are separated by a gap between them both when the panels are recumbent resident in the support pan as well as when the panels are in the raised position. As mentioned, the next adjacent panels are moveably connected across the gap by a splice joint and are laterally moveable relative to one another by thermal expansion and contraction and transversely moveable relative to one another. The splice joint comprises a flexible water impermeable gasket and a tensile member. As mentioned, the flexible water impermeable gasket has a segment spanning the gap. Portions of the gasket distal to the spanning segment are secured to the upper arms of the flanges of the next adjacent panels. The gasket runs the length of the upper arms that run the length of the panel lateral sides to prevent water impounded behind the bottom surface of the panels from penetrating between the next adjacent panels. The tensile member of the splice joint runs the length the panels and has end segments also secured to the upper arms of the flanges of the next adjacent panels. As mentioned, the tensile member has an intermediate flexible joint segment spanning the gap. The flexible joint segment allows thermal expansion and contraction lateral movement of the next adjacent panels relative to one another and allows transverse movement of one the panel relative to the next adjacent panel. The contraction and transverse movements spread a tension load over the flexible joint segment spanning the gap.
[0037] More particularly, in an exemplary embodiment in which the lateral sides of the next adjacent edge aligned panels each have a orthogonal flange attached by lower arms to the panels lateral sides, the upper arms defining a gap between the upper arms of the flanges (in this part of the description called the first gap), the next adjacent panels being moveably spliced together by a flexible gasket and a flexible tensile strap, the flexible gasket spanning across the first gap is supported by both flanges atop the upper arm of the flanges and is partially covered by separate first and second spaced apart gasket cover plates atop the gasket. The cover plates define between them a second gap. The flexible tensile strap extends from adjacent the flanges across the first gap and is held under the upper arms of the flanges by separate first and second spaced apart splice plates defining a third gap between them. The first, second and third gaps separate the next adjacent panels. A first set of fasteners fastens the flexible tensile strap between the underside of the upper arms of the flanges and the first and second splice plates. A second set of fasteners spaced from the first set of fasteners fastens together the first and second gasket cover plates, the gasket, the upper arms of the flanges, the strap, and the first and second splice plates. The flexible tensile strap allows thermal expansion and contraction lateral movement of the next adjacent panels relative to one another and also allows structural loading across the splice joint from transverse rotational movement of one panel relative to the next adjacent panel, spreading a tension load over a section of the strap crossing the third gap.
[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, the tensile member in the above-described embodiments is a strap comprising a fiber reinforced material. The fiber may be a metal. In a particular exemplary embodiment, the strap comprises an interwoven polyester fabric. In an exemplary embodiment, the tensile member of the apparatus is metal wiring incorporated in the flexible gasket.
[0039] In another exemplary embodiment using an orthogonal flange, the tensile member is a cable or chain. A set of projections is attached to lower arms of the flanges of the next adjacent panels, a gap separating the attached projections, one projection extending from one lower arm of one flange in the direction of the gap separating the projections, and a second projection extending from the lower arm of the other flange in the direction of the gap separating the projections, terminal ends of said cable or chain being attached to the set of projections.
[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the support pans each have a top, a bottom, a front end, a back end, and lateral sides between said front and back ends. The lateral sides of the support pans are in separated edge alignment with the next adjacent support pan. The plurality of next adjacent support pans are each anchored to separate underground concrete foundations. An expansion joint downwardly separates each foundation and upwardly separates the next adjacent support pans between their lateral sides. The gasket of the next adjacent panels continues onto the next adjacent support pans and includes a segment spanning the expansion joint separating the support pans. Segments of the gasket distal to the segment spanning the expansion joint are secured to the tops of the support pans proximate lateral sides of the support pans.
[0041] In an exemplary embodiment a poured concrete encasement over an earlier poured concrete foundation is located under each the support pan bottom and along the front and back ends of each support pan anchored to its foundation. A connecting member extends to each next adjacent support pan across a lower portion of the expansion joint separating the next adjacent support pans. The connecting member is secured proximate the lateral sides of the next adjacent support pans. The connecting member has a length that runs the length of the lateral sides of the support pans. The support pans are moveable on the connecting member relative to one another due to movement of (i) either one or both of the foundations, or (ii) thermal expansion and contraction of one or both of the next adjacent support pans, or (iii) both the movements. In an exemplary embodiment the above-mentioned connecting member is a slide plate secured by adhesion to the encasement that is next under each support pan bottom proximate the lateral sides of the next adjacent support pans. The support pans are laterally moveable on the slide plate. In another exemplary embodiment the above-mentioned connecting member is a tensile member secured by fasteners, for example, bolts fastened to the bottom of the next adjacent support pans proximate the lateral sides of the next adjacent support pans over the encasement that is next under each the support pan bottom. This tensile member has a flexible joint segment spanning the expansion joint. The flexible joint segment of the tensile member allows thermal expansion and contraction lateral movement of the next adjacent support pans relative to one another and allows substantially vertical movement of one support pan relative to the next adjacent support pan. These contraction and substantially vertical movements spread a tension load over the flexible joint segment spanning the expansion joint separating the support pans. In an exemplary embodiment, the tensile member is a strap comprising a fiber reinforced material. This fiber may be a metal. In another exemplary embodiment, the tensile strap is an interwoven polyester fabric. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the tensile member is metal wiring incorporated in the gasket spanning the pans.
[0042] Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 reference numeral 100 depicts a plurality of flood barrier assemblies comprising a series of connected next adjacent panels raised from pans and arranged on an on-land levee 102 near a water frontage shoreline indicated by reference numeral 104, the dry side of the land guarded by the flood barrier being indicated by the reference numeral 106.
[0043] FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the panels at the right end of the flood barrier of FIG. 1. Next adjacent edge aligned panels 108, 110 are connected by a splice joint 112 and are held upright by tensioning members 114 connected to a support pan 116 and to the bottom surface 118 (FIG. 3) of each panel 108, 110. Tensioning members 114 when loaded by hydrostatic pressure of water contained on the bottom surface 118 of the raised panels 108, 110 prevent the panels from rotating past a predetermined raised position. A wiper wall 120 is located at the end of the flood barrier 100, wiped by a wiping gasket when the panels elevate, the wiping gasket preventing water from passing between the end panel 110 and the wiper wall 120. Reference numerals 101 and 103 (FIGS. 1 and 2) indicate a wiper wall support structure.
[0044] FIG. 3 is an enlargement of two next adjacent edge aligned panels 108, 110 connected by splice joint 112 and raised from support pan 116. Panels 108, 110 have a top surface 121 (better seen on FIGS. 5, 6 and 7), a bottom surface 118, a front end 123, a back end 124, and lateral sides 125 in edge alignment with the next adjacent panels 108, 110. When resident in pan 116, the sides 125 have an imagined projected intersecting angle to shoreline 104. Panels 108, 110 have a height 126 that runs from back end 124 to at least near front end 123 of panels 108, 110. The panels 108, 110 reside in support pan 116 hingedly rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis of rotation 127 at the back end 124 of the panels to be manually rotated to an upright position prior to invasion of water so invading water will be impounded behind bottom surface 118 of the panel, or in another exemplary embodiment in which the panels are buoyant, rotatable on the substantially horizontal axis of rotation on invasion of water into pan 116 under bottom surface 118 of the panels raising the panels to an upright position where invading water will be impounded behind bottom surface 118 of the panels.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of edge aligned next adjacent panels 108, 110 connected by splice joint 112 and resident in support pan 116.
[0046] FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross sections of splice joint 112 taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 across fasteners 147, 148 visible at the exterior of the splice joint. FIG. 7 is a cross section of the splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4 where fasteners 145, 146 are not visible at the exterior of the splice joint.
[0047] In FIGS. 5-9, similar structures are numbered the same. Flanges 128, 129 are attached to the lateral side 125 of each of panels 108, 110 adjacently below the panel top surfaces 121. Suitably the flanges 128, 129 are a right-angle flange as illustrated. A first gap 130 is defined between the upper arms 131, 132 of the two flanges 128, 129. A flexible gasket 134 extends from adjacent the lateral side edges 125 of next adjacent panels 108, 110 and spans across first gap 130, supported by the upper arms 131, 132 of the two flanges 128, 129. Gasket 134 serves as a water seal between next adjacent panels 108, 110. Gasket 134 is partially covered by separate first and second spaced apart gasket cover plates 136, 137 atop gasket 134. Cover plates 136, 137 define between them a second gap 138. A flexible tensile strap 140 extends from adjacent flanges 128, 129 across first gap 130, held under the upper arms 131, 132 of the two flanges 128, 129 by separate first and second spaced apart splice plates 142, 143 defining a third gap 144 between them.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 7, a first set of fasteners 145, 146 fastens strap 140 between upper arms 131, 132 of flanges 128, 129 and first and second splice plates 142, 143. Referring back to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second set of fasteners 147, 148 spaced from the first set of fasteners 145, 146 fastens together first and second gasket cover plates 136, 137, gasket 134, upper arms 131, 132 of flanges 128, 129, strap 140, and splice plates 142, 143.
[0049] As seen from FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9 the first, second and third gaps, respectively 130, 138 and 144 separate next adjacent panels 108, 110 and are spanned by the splice joint comprising flexible gasket 134 and a tensile member 140. FIG. 5 shows nominal spacing at the splice joint. FIG. 6 shows thermal contraction lateral movement of next adjacent panels 108, 110 producing a taut splice joint. FIG. 8 is the same cross-sectional view as FIGS. 5 and 6 and shows thermal expansion lateral movement of next adjacent panels 108, 110 producing a slack splice joint. FIG. 9 is the same cross-sectional view as FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 9, panels 108, 110 are depicted with flexible tensile strap 140 providing structural loading across splice joint 112 from transverse rotational movement of panel 110 relative to next adjacent panel 108, third gap 144 spreading a tension load over an intermediate section of strap 140.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 10, the functions of flexible gasket 134 and flexible tensile strap 140 are combined into a single component 150 in which the component provides both sealing and structural loading. Component 150 is a wire-reinforced rubber strip (wires indicated by reference numeral 151) between the next adjacent panels 108, 110, which provides good tensile loading (e.g., limits the panels' ability to swing separately from each other) but also permits the panels to thermally contract or expand.
[0051] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the next adjacent panels linked by the splice joint of FIG. 5 in which the splice joint is in nominal spacing.
[0052] FIGS. 12-15 are cross section of the splice joint of this invention taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 in which the tensile member of the splice joint is a cable 154. A first gap 161 is defined between the upper arms 131, 132 of the two flanges 128, 129. Gasket 134 is partially covered by separate first and second spaced apart gasket cover plates 136, 137 atop gasket 134. Cover plates 136, 137 define between them a second gap 138. Fasteners 152, 153 fasten flexible gasket 134 between gasket cover plates 136, 136 and upper arms 131, 132 of flanges 128, 129. Gasket 134 serves as a water seal between next adjacent panels 108, 110 (not numbered in FIGS. 12-15 but understood from FIGS. 2-11 and FIG. 16). A projection 155 extends in the direction of gap 161 from lateral side 125 or from flange 128 proximate lateral side 125 of next adjacent edge aligned panel 110, and another projection 156 extends in the direction of gap 161 from lateral side 125 or from flange 129 proximate the other said lateral side 125 of next adjacent edge aligned panel 108. The terminal ends of cable 154 formed into loops are connected at 159, 160 and are attached to projections 155, 156 by fasteners 157, 158
[0053] FIG. 12 shows nominal spacing at the splice joint. FIG. 13 shows thermal contraction lateral movement of next adjacent panels 108, 110 relative to one another producing a taut splice joint. FIG. 14 shows thermal expansion lateral movement of next adjacent panels 108, 110 relative to one another producing a slack splice joint. FIG. 15 shows structural loading across the splice joint from transverse movement of one panel 110 relative to the next adjacent panel 108.
[0054] FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of the next adjacent panels 108, 110 linked by the splice joint of FIG. 12 in which the tensile member of the splice joint is cable 154 and in which the splice joint is in nominal spacing.
[0055] FIG. 17 depicts next adjacent edge aligned panels 108, 110 resident in a lowered position in support pans 116, 116′ and linked by splice joint 112 across a gap separating the panels, the panels being flanked by wiping walls 120. Reference numeral 170 indicates slotted screens in support pans 116, 116′ for admitting floodwaters that can elevate buoyant panels 108, 110 upward. Reference numerals 172, 172′ indicate concrete encasements of the front and backs of pans 116, 116′. The encasements are separated by an expansion joint 174 between the pans 116, 116′ that extends upward to the gaps that separate the next adjacent support pans 108, 110 between their lateral sides 125, 125′.
[0056] FIG. 18 depicts next adjacent panels 108, 110 of FIG. 17 recumbent in support pans 116116′ before an encasement pour. Panels 108, 110 are linked by splice joint 112, in which gasket 134 is partially covered by separate first and second spaced apart gasket cover plates 136, 137 atop gasket 134. A U-shaped channel 176 is for anchoring support pan 116′ to an underground concrete foundation. A smaller U-shaped channel 178 better seen in FIG. 20 is positioned in larger U-shaped channel 176 to fasten larger U-shaped channel 176 to the bottom of pan 116′. Also depicted is an upturned face of slide plate 180 more fully described in connection with FIGS. 19 and 20.
[0057] FIG. 19 depicts the underside of the support pans 116, 116′ before attachment of next adjacent panels 108, 110, showing slide plate 180 temporarily fastened to support pans 116, 116′ by bolts 182. Slide plate 180 bridges expansion joint 184 separating support pans 116, 116′. With slide plate 180 bolted by bolts 182 to support pans 116, 116′, the support pans are unable to move relative to one another. Also depicted are the undersides of U-shaped channel 176, drain channel 188, drain channel outlet 190 and the front end of support pan 116b, the top sides of which are seen in FIG. 20.
[0058] FIG. 20 depicts the top side of next adjacent support pans 116, 116′, their back ends 116a, 116′a, and their front ends 116b, 116′b, before attachment of next adjacent panels 108, 110. Support pans 116, 116′ are spanned at their bottom sides by slide plate 180 temporarily fastened to support pans 116, 116′ by bolts 182. After the back ends 116a, 116a′ and front ends 116b, 116b′ of support pans 116, 116′ are encased in concrete as more fully described below, slide plate bolts 182 are removed, allowing the adjacent pans 116, 116′ to “slide” and move relative to one another. Also depicted are mounts 184 for tensioning members 14, supports 186 for water entrance slotted screens 170, drain channel 188, and drain channel outlet 190. Drain channel outlet 190 is suitably connected to a drain line stubbed up through the underground foundation and into drain channel outlet 190. Smaller U-shaped channel 178 inside larger U-shaped channel 176 has an upper arm 178a and a lower arm 178b. Upper arm 178a is welded to the bottom of the support pans 116, 116′. Lower arm 178b is welded to the base 176a of larger U-shaped channel 176.
[0059] FIG. 21 depicts the next adjacent panels 108, 110 resident in a lowered position in support pans 116116′ after an encasement pour. As in FIG. 18, panels 108, 110 are linked by splice joint 112, with gasket 134 partially covered by separate first and second spaced apart gasket cover plates 136, 137 atop gasket 134. Concrete encasements 172, 172′ are separated by expansion joint 174 that downwardly separates an underground concrete foundation and upwardly separates next adjacent support pans 116, 116′ as well as concrete encasements 172, 172′.
[0060] FIG. 22 depicts the bottom side of next adjacent panels 108, 110 attached to encased support pans 116, 116′ and raised and braced by tension members 114, with splice joint 112 between them, depicted splice plates 142, 143 securing flexible tensile strap 140 of splice joint 112, and illustrates the continuation of the water impervious gasket 134 from splice joint 112 onto encased pans 116, 116′, secured by cover plates 194, 195 fastened to the top of pans 116, 116′. Gasket 134 continued onto encased pans 116, 116′ spans across the portion of expansion joint 174 between support pans 116, 116′. The continuation of gasket 134 and the fastening of cover plates 194, 195 occurs after the slide plate bolts are removed and the encasing concrete is placed, as more fully explained below.
[0061] An order of construction of the next adjacent panels 108, 110 attached to prepared support pans 116, 116′ having a slide plate 180 is as follows:
[0062] As described, a smaller U-shaped channel 178 resides inside a larger U-shaped channel 176 with the smaller channel's base vertically disposed and its arms horizontally disposed. The lower arm 178b is welded to the base of the larger U-shaped channel. The upper arm 178a is welded to the bottom of a support pan 116 along the support pan length in which a panel 110 will horizontally reside hingedly connected to the back end 116a of support pan 116.
[0063] A concrete foundation is poured for each support pan 116, 116′. The foundations are separated by a concrete “expansion joint”174.
[0064] Next each support pan 116, 116′ is fastened to its concrete foundation by bolts passed through the base of the larger U-shaped channel 176. When the support pans 116, 116′ are bolted to their respective foundations, next adjacent support pans 116, 116′ are separated by a support pan expansion joint 174 extending down to the concrete foundation expansion joint 174. For a multiplicity of support pans each bolted to a separate foundation, there are expansion joints 174 between each support pan.
[0065] Bolts 182 passed though the top to the bottom of each of adjacent support pans 116, 116′ fasten a slide plate 180 to the bottom of the adjacent support pans along the length of the support pans. Because the support pans are bolted to the slide plate, the support pans are unable to move on the slide plate.
[0066] Next an encasement concrete is poured encasing the back end 116a and front end 116b and bottom of next adjacent support pans 116, 116′ but not the lateral sides next to the support pan expansion joint 174. A sacrificial cardboard form placed along each support pan lateral side next to the support pan expansion joint 174 prevents the pour from entering the support pan expansion joint from the lateral sides of the support pan. The slide plate 180 connecting the bottoms of next adjacent support pans prevents the pour entering the bottom of the support pan expansion joint. The cardboard form disintegrates as the pour hardens.
[0067] After the encasement of the support pans, slide plate 180 is held in place by the encasing concrete at the bottom of the support pans. Bolts 182 holding slide plate 180 to the next adjacent support pans 116, 116′ are then removed, allowing the support pans to move relative to each other on the slide plate.
[0068] After removal of the slide plate bolts 182, panels 108, 110 are hingedly connected to support pans 116, 116′. A support pan splice joint comprising a water impervious flexible gasket 134 continuous with gasket 134 of panel splice joint 112 is installed spanning support pan expansion joint 174 above slide plate 180. Portions of gasket 134 not spanning expansion joint 174 are fastened to the next adjacent support pans 116, 116′ by gasket retainer plates 194, 195 bolted to the top surface of the next adjacent support pans along the lateral sides of the next adjacent support pans.
[0069] The disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fall within the true scope of the present invention, which to the maximum extent allowed by law, is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, unrestricted or limited by the foregoing detailed descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising a plurality of flood barrier assemblies arranged on land proximate a water frontage shoreline, each assembly comprising a plurality of next adjacent structural panels, each panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back end, and lateral sides in non-contacting edge alignment with the next adjacent panel, each said panel residing in a lowered substantially horizontal position recumbent in or on a substantially horizontal support pan situated in or on a surface of said land, said lateral sides when resident in said support pan having an imagined projected intersecting angle to said shoreline, said panels being hingedly rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis of rotation at said back ends of the panels to rotate upwardly from said support pan to a raised position where flood water invading said land will be impounded behind said bottom surfaces of the panels,said next adjacent panels mounting orthogonal flanges on lateral sides of the next adjacent panels facing each other, the flanges running the length of the lateral sides, each flange having an upper arm and a lower arm, the lower arm attaching the flange to the lateral side of the panel, the upper arms of the flanges on said lateral sides facing each other being separated by a gap between them both when the panels are substantially horizontally disposed in said lowered position and when the panels are in said raised position, said next adjacent panels being laterally moveable relative to one another by thermal expansion and contraction and transversely moveable relative to one another on said axis of rotation, said next adjacent panels being moveably connected across said gap by a splice joint running the length of said flanges and comprising:(a) a flexible water impermeable gasket having a segment spanning said gap and portions distal to said segment secured to said upper arms of said flanges, and,(b) a tensile member having end segments secured to said upper arms of said flanges and an intermediate flexible joint segment spanning said gap, said flexible joint segment allowing thermal expansion and contraction lateral movement of said next adjacent panels relative to one another and allowing transverse movement of one said panel relative to the next adjacent panel, said contraction and transverse movements spreading a tension load over said flexible joint segment spanning said gap.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tensile member is a strap comprising a fiber reinforced material.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said fiber is a metal.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said strap comprises an interwoven polyester fabric.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said tensile member is metal wiring incorporated in said gasket.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said tensile member is a cable or chain and further comprising a set of projections attached to said lower arms of said flanges of said next adjacent panels, a gap separating said projections, one projection extending from one said lower arm of one flange in the direction of the gap separating said projections, and a second projection extending from one said lower arm of the other flange in the direction of the gap separating said projections, terminal ends of said cable or chain being attached to said set of projections.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which a lateral side of the end-most of said next adjacent panels not facing a lateral side of a next adjacent panel is next adjacent a wiping surface and mounts a wiping gasket for sealingly wiping said wiping surface, the other lateral side of said end-most panels mounting an orthogonal flange the same as mounted on facing lateral sides of next adjacent panels that are not end-most.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each support pan has a top, a bottom, a front end, a back end, and lateral sides between said front and back ends,said lateral sides of said support pans being in separated edge alignment with the next adjacent support pan and having an imagined projected intersecting angle to said shoreline substantially the same as the intersecting angle of the lateral sides of said panels,said support pans each being anchored to separate underground concrete foundations,an expansion joint downwardly separating each said foundation and upwardly separating said next adjacent support pans between their lateral sides,said gasket of said next adjacent panels continuing onto said next adjacent support pans, a gasket segment continuing onto said next adjacent support pans spanning said expansion joint separating said support pans, and gasket segments distal to said segment spanning said expansion joint being secured to said tops of said support pans proximate said lateral sides of the support pans.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising(a) a concrete encasement over each said foundation and next under said bottom and along said front and back ends of each support pan anchored to said foundation, and(b) a connecting member having a length that runs the length of said lateral sides of said support pans and extends to each next adjacent support pan across a lower portion of said expansion joint separating said next adjacent support pans,said member being secured proximate the lateral sides of the next adjacent support pans,said support pans being moveable on said connecting member relative to one another due to movement of (i) either one or both of said foundations, or (ii) thermal expansion and contraction of one or both of said next adjacent support pans, or (iii) both said movements.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said connecting member is a slide plate secured by adhesion to the encasement that is next under each support pan bottom and concrete under the slide plate, said support pans being laterally moveable on said slide plate.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said connecting member is a tensile member secured by fasteners to the bottom of said support pan and having a flexible joint segment spanning said expansion joint, said flexible joint segment allowing thermal expansion and contraction lateral movement of said next adjacent support pans relative to one another and allowing substantially vertical movement of one said support pan relative to the next adjacent support pan, said contraction and substantially vertical movements spreading a tension load over said flexible joint segment spanning said expansion joint separating said support pans.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said tensile member is a strap comprising a fiber reinforced material.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said fiber is a metal.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said strap comprises an interwoven polyester fabric.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said tensile member is metal wiring incorporated in said gasket.
16. An apparatus comprising a plurality of next adjacent structural panels, each panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back end, and lateral sides in edge alignment with the next adjacent panel, said lateral sides of said next adjacent edge aligned panels each having an orthogonal flange with upper and lower arms, said lower arms being attached to said panel lateral side adjacently below said panel top surface, said upper arms of said flanges defining a first gap between them, said next adjacent panels being moveably connected across said first gap by a splice joint comprising:(a) a flexible water impermeable gasket extending from adjacent said lateral side edges of said next adjacent panels and spanning across said first gap, supported by said upper arms of both said flanges, and partially covered by separate first and second spaced apart gasket cover plates atop said gasket, said cover plates defining between them a second gap, and(b) a flexible tensile strap extending from adjacent said flanges across said first gap and held under said upper arms of said flanges by separate first and second spaced apart splice plates defining a third gap between them, said first, second and third gaps separating the next adjacent panels, a first set of fasteners fastening said flexible tensile strap between said flanges and said first and second splice plates, and a second set of fasteners spaced from said first set of fasteners fastening together said first and second gasket cover plates, said gasket, said flanges, said flexible tensile strap, and said splice plates, said flexible tensile strap allowing thermal expansion and contraction lateral movement of said next adjacent panels relative to one another and structural loading across said strap from transverse rotational movement of one said panel relative to the next adjacent panel, said contraction and transverse movements spreading a tension load over a section of said flexible tensile member spanning said third gap.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said flexible tensile strap comprises a fiber reinforced material.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 in which said flexible tensile strap comprises an interwoven polyester fabric.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 in which said panels comprise flood barriers arranged on land proximate a water frontage shoreline and resident in at least one support pan situated in or on said land, said lateral sides of said panels have an imagined projected intersecting angle to said shoreline, said panels having a height that runs from said back end to at least proximate the front end of the panels, said panels residing in said support pan hingedly rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis of rotation at said back end of the panels for said panels to be rotated upwardly to an upright position where water invading from said shoreline will be impounded behind said bottom surface of the panels, said gasket running said height of the panels to prevent water impounded at said bottom surface of the panels from penetrating between said next adjacent panels.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which said panels are buoyant and rotate upward buoyantly on invasion of water from said shoreline.