Jacking Force Transfer System for Bridges with Prefabricated Deck Units

Abstract

A jacking force transfer method to compress prefabricated deck units and to tension bridge girders. Prefabricated deck units are placed on top of bridge girders. Relative motion between girders and deck units is permitted along the direction of bridge girders while deck units are first installed. Subsequently, an end deck unit is made composite with the girders while jacking brackets are installed on top of the deck unit on the other end of the bridge. Hydraulic jacks react with jacking brackets to introduce a longitudinal compression in prefabricated deck units and, at the same time, a tension in the girders.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A jacking force transfer system, whereby a jacking force or forces originating from a jack or jacks may be transferred to compress prefabricated units with support means disposed on an element or elements oriented primarily in the direction of said jacking force or forces, comprising:
 a. a load-carrying member or members,
 i. wherein said load-carrying member or members are subjected to the jacking force or forces originating from a jack or jacks, 
 ii. wherein said load-carrying member or members have relative movement means disposed with the prefabricated units, 
 iii. wherein said load-carrying member or members are substantively oriented in the direction of the jacking force or forces, whereby said load-carrying member or members are subjected to axial and shear forces and bending moments, 
 iv. wherein said load-carrying member or members have affixment means disposed to the element or elements in a direction oriented primarily perpendicular to the direction of said jacking force or forces, 
 v. wherein said load-carrying member or members have contact means disposed to the element or elements in a direction oriented primarily perpendicular to the direction of said jacking force or forces, and 
 vi. where said affixment means and said contact means are substantively offset from one another in a direction oriented primarily parallel to the direction of said jacking force or forces, whereby two reactions result that act to stabilize said load-carrying members and act to resist overturning moments resulting from said jacking force or forces, and 
   b. a load-carrying member or members,
 i. wherein said load-carrying member or members have affixment means disposed to the element or elements, 
 ii. wherein said load-carrying member or members have contact means disposed with the load-carrying member or members of  claim 1 a, and 
 iii. wherein said load-carrying member or members are offset in a direction oriented primarily perpendicular to the direction of said jacking force, whereby said load-carrying member or members are subjected to substantively shear or compression forces. 
   
     
     
         2 . The jacking force transfer system  claim 1 , wherein a unity or a plurality of the prefabricated units are composite with a unity or a plurality of the element or elements, whereby said unity or plurality of the prefabricated units are subjected to the jacking force or forces. 
     
     
         3 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the element or elements are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of steel, concrete, wood, and composite materials. 
     
     
         4 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the element or elements of  claim 1  are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of I-girders, I-beams, box-girders, and box-beams. 
     
     
         5 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the element or elements of  claim 1  are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of bridge beams, bridge girders, and bridge slabs. 
     
     
         6 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the element or elements of  claim 1  are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of the same element or elements, contiguous elements, connected elements, and separate elements. 
     
     
         7 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated units are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of steel, concrete, wood, and composite materials. 
     
     
         8 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated units are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of bridge deck panels, budding floor panels, and building roof panels. 
     
     
         9 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the support means of  claim 1  are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of shims, rollers, sliders, spacers, pre-formed filler, blocks, bearing pads, forms, grit, grease, lubricant, direct contact, grout, concrete, and channels. 
     
     
         10 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the relative movement means of claim  1 a are comprised of any one of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of physical gap, block-outs, and pre-formed flexible filler. 
     
     
         11 . The jacking force transfer system load-carrying member or members of  claim 1 , wherein the affixment means of claim  1 a are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of post-tensioning rods, tie rods, pipes, tubes, plates, cables, tendons, chains, nuts, welds, threads, fasteners, hooks, clevis, pins, and couplers. 
     
     
         12 . The jacking force transfer system load-carrying member or members of  claim 1 , wherein the contact means of claim  1 a are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of shims, plates, blocks, spacers, bearing pads, and direct contact. 
     
     
         13 . The jacking force transfer system load-carrying member or members of  claim 1 , wherein the load-carrying member or members of claim  1 a are located substantively to one end of the element or elements. 
     
     
         14 . The jacking force transfer system load-carrying member or members of  claim 1 , wherein the load-carrying member or members of claim  1 b are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of steel, concrete, wood, and composite materials. 
     
     
         15 . The jacking force transfer system load-carrying member or members of  claim 1 , wherein the load-carrying member or members of claim  1 b are comprised of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of plates, blocks, and channels. 
     
     
         16 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the affixment means of claim  1 b are comprised of any one of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of nuts, welds, threads, and fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . The jacking force transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the contact means of claim  1 b are comprised of any one of any one member or any combination of members selected from the group consisting of shims, plates, blocks, spacers, and bearing pads.