PAVEMENTS/STRUCTURES

FIELD OF INVENTION

[01] The present disclosure relates to a sealing element. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the sealing element provided in a gap between concrete pavements/panels/structures. BACKGROUND

[02] It is known concrete is used to lay structures, i.e., concrete structures/panels such as pavements, roads, parking lot, airport runways, taxiways, proms, and the like. The concrete structures undergo a lot of stress due to temperature, shrinkage, creep and seismic conditions. As a result, the concrete structures may change its structure, such as the concrete structures may expand or contract. In order to facilitate the changes in the structure of the concrete pavements, generally the concrete pavements are cut to provide a gap. The gap is provided to accommodate changes in the structure. [03] Due to the environment in which the concrete structures are laid, they are prone to receive debris, water, dust and so on. The debris or water entering the gap may clog and hinder the expansion and contraction of the concrete structures. In order to overcome the problem of debris and water entering the gap provided between the concrete pavements, sealing elements are used.

[04] Typically, there are two types of sealing elements. The sealing elements may include liquid sealant and a solid seal. A liquid sealant is commonly used for sealing the gap. However, the liquid sealant has to be heated and then poured into the gap. The liquid sealant is heated at a temperature ranging from 177- 204 degree centigrade for proper sealing. It is important to control the temperature at the time of heating to obtain desired sealant properties. However, that requires trained personnel. Further, the liquid sealants are expensive to repair. [05] In another example, a liquid sealant may also be provided to seal the gap between the concrete pavements. Typically, the liquid sealant is provided as cold pour sealants. The cold pour sealant is provided in a single part, two parts or three parts. The cold pour sealant is obtained by operating one or more processes such as a chemical mixing process, a pouring process, and a curing process. However, these processes require trained personnel to pour the liquid sealant as ambient temperature, substrate moisture, other conditions influence performance of the cold pour sealants.

[06] The solid seal is typically made of rubber or plastic. The solid seal is compressed and inserted in the gap. Generally, the solid seal is provided in a hollow structure.

[07] It should be understood that the liquid sealants and the solid seal are usually provided to seal the gap having a width of lOmm to l2mm. However, the liquid sealants and the solid seal are not suitable for sealing the concrete pavements having a gap less than 5mm.

[08] None of the disclosures in the prior art disclosed a sealant or seal provided to seal the concrete pavements having a gap less than 5mm. It must be understood that it is very difficult to provide a solid seal having a hollow structure that can be compressed and inserted between the concrete pavements having a gap of less than 5mm.

[09] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a sealing element that can be used to insert between the concrete pavements having a gap of less than 5mm.

SUMMARY

[010] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a sealing element for sealing a gap between concrete pavements and the concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the disclosed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the disclosed subject matter. [Oil] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a sealing element for sealing a gap between concrete pavements is disclosed. The sealing element is made of polymeric materials, such as a plastic. The sealing element comprises a housing and a plurality of fins coupled to an outer surface of the housing. The housing is provided in a solid structure. The housing is compressed and inserted in a gap provided between the concrete pavements. The gap may be between lmm to 5mm. After insertion, the housing expands toward adjacent walls of the concrete pavements and exerts pressure through the fins against the adjacent walls of the concrete pavement. The fins and the housing of the sealing element, firmly grip with the adjacent walls of the concrete pavement and seal the gap. The sealing element enables to prevent the entry of water, moisture and debris, into the gap.

[012] The above summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, example embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, example embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[013] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the example embodiments will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

[014] FIG. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate schematic diagrams of sealing element comprising a plurality of fins in various shapes, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[015] FIG. 1D, 1E, and 1F illustrate schematic diagrams of the sealing element compressed, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; [016] FIG. 1G and 1H illustrate a front and a perspective view of the sealing element, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[017] FIG. 2A illustrates the sealing element placed in axis with a gap provided between concrete pavements, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[018] FIG. 2B illustrates the sealing element placed in the gap provided between the concrete pavements, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; [019] FIG. 2C illustrates a perspective view of the sealing element placed in the gap provided between the concrete pavements, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[020] FIG. 2D and 2E illustrate schematic diagrams of the concrete pavements having a cut section, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[021] FIG. 2F illustrates a perspective view of the concrete pavement having the cut section provided for placing the sealing element in the gap, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [022] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components. Appearances of the phrase“in an embodiment”,“in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. [023] In addition to the illustrative aspects, exemplary embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

[024] Referring to FIG. 1A, a sealing element 100 is shown, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The sealing element 100 comprises a housing 105. The housing 105 may be provided in a shape of square, a rectangle, and so on. The housing 105 may be made of an elastomer, a polymeric material, such as a plastic, a rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate, and a combination thereof. The housing 105 comprises a top end 106, a bottom end 107, a first side 108, and a second side 109. The distance between the top end 106 and the bottom end 107 defines a length of the housing 105. The distance between the first side 108 and the second side 109 defines a width of the housing 105.

[025] The housing 105 further comprises a plurality of fins 110 provided at outer surface of the housing 105. Specifically, the plurality of fins 110 are provided across the length of the housing 105. In one implementation, the plurality of fins 110 are provided in perpendicular to the first side 108 and the second side 109 of the housing 105. Further, the plurality of fins 110 are provided in symmetrical at the first side 108 and the second side 109 of the housing 105. The plurality of fins 110 may be placed at equal distance from one another. [026] Now referring to FIG. IB, the plurality of fins 110 provided in asymmetrical at the first side 108 and the second side 109 of the housing 105 is shown. As can be seen, the plurality of fins 110 may be placed at varied distance from one another. [027] Now referring to FIG. 1C, the plurality of fins 110 provided at an acute angle with respect to the first side 108 and the second side 109 of the housing 105 is shown. In one example, the plurality of fins 110 may be placed at 45 degrees with respect to the first side 108 and the second side 109 of the housing 105. It should be obvious to a person skilled in the art to place the plurality of fins 110 at equal or varied distance from one another and to position the plurality of fins 110 in a symmetrical or asymmetrical manner as explained above.

[028] Referring to FIG. ID, the housing 105 compressed is shown. It should be understood that width of the housing 105 becomes less than 5mm. In one example, the housing 105 is compressed to have a width of lmm. In another example, the housing 105 is compressed to have a width of 0.6mm. FIG. ID shows the housing 105 (shown in FIG. 1A) compressed which has a width of lmm. Similarly, FIG. IE is provided to show the housing 105 (shown in FIG. IB) compressed which has a width of lmm. Further, FIG. IF is provided to show the housing 105 (shown in FIG. 1C) compressed which has a width of lmm. [029] It should be understood that the housing 105 may compressed such that width of the housing 105 prior to compression and after compression can be in the ratio of 10: 1. As such, if the width of the housing 105 prior to compression is 6mm, then the width of the housing 105 after compression can be reduced to 0.6mm. [030] Referring to FIG. 1G, a front view of the sealing element 100 is shown. In one example, the length of the housing 105 is 10 mm. Further, the width of the housing 105 is 6 mm to 8mm. It should be understood that the width of the housing 105 may be selected in the range of 6mm to l5mm or more. Similarly, the length of the housing 105 may be selected in the range of 6mm to 15mm or more. [031] Now, referring to FIG. 1H, a perspective view of the sealing element 100 is shown. The housing 105 of the sealing element 100 is provided in a solid structure is shown. Further, the housing 105 is provided in the shape of rectangle. It should be understood that the shape of the housing 105 could be square, circular and the like.

[032] The sealing element 100 can be used to seal a gap provided between concrete pavements. Referring to FIG. 2 A, the sealing element 100 used with a concrete pavement 200 is shown. As known, the concrete pavement 200 may be separated by a cut as e.g., a first pavement SI and a second pavement S2 having a first wall 202 and a second wall 204, respectively. The distance between the first wall 202 and the second wall 204 defines a gap 205 provided between the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2 to accommodate changes in the concrete pavement 200 due to expansion and contraction. Generally, the gap 205 is provided having a width of 6 to 10 mm or more and liquid sealants or hollow seal are used to cover the gap 205. However, due to at least 8mm width, the edges of the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2 may get damaged when vehicles are moving over the concrete pavement 200. In order to overcome the problem specified above and to increase the life of the concrete pavement 200, the gap 205 between the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2 may be reduced. For instance, the gap 205 between the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2 may be reduced to 5mm or less.

[033] In order to cover the gap 205 of 5mm or less provided between the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2, the sealing element 100 is used. As can be seen from FIG. 2A, the housing 105 having a width e.g., 6mm may be used to insert in the gap 205 provided between the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2. In one example, the sealing element 100 is inserted using an applicator machine (not shown). Further, the sealing element 100 is inserted into a crack induction cut of the concrete pavements SI, S2. In order to insert the housing 105, at first, the housing 105 is compressed such that the width of the housing 105 becomes less than the width of the gap 205 provided between the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2. For example, the housing 105 may be compressed to have width of l-2mm and brought inside the gap 205 as shown in FIG. 2B. Subsequently, the housing 105 may be released such that the housing 105 expands thereby increasing the width of the housing 105. In order words, the housing 105 expands outwardly and moves closer to the walls (202, 204) of the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2. The housing 105 expands outward and the sealing element 100 is held against the walls (202, 204) of the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2. [034] As explained above, the housing 105 comprises the plurality of fins 110 provided at outer surface (length) of the housing 105. The plurality of fins 110 are used to provide additional grip to hold the sealing element 100 against the walls (202, 204) of the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2. It should be understood that the when the housing 105 expands outward, the plurality of fins 110 are also held against the walls (202, 204) of the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2 and provides additional grip.

[035] In one implementation, the sealing element 100 comprises an adhesive (not shown) provided at surface of the sealing element 100 i.e., across the length of the housing 105 to hold the sealing element 100 against the walls (202, 204) of the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2 and to provide additional grip.

[036] Referring to FIG. 2C, a perspective view of the sealing element 100 placed in the gap 205 provided between the concrete pavements SI, S2 is shown. The gap 205 is provided along the length of the concrete pavements Sl, S2, as shown. The concrete pavement 200 is separated by a predefined length of cut, for example, the length of the cut is l5mm. It should be understood that the length of the cut may be selected in the range of 15mm to 25mm or more.

[037] Referring now to FIG. 2D, 2E and 2F, the first pavement SI and the second pavement S2 comprising a cut section 210 is shown, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cut section 210 may be provided in bevel shape, slant, slope or any other shape. The cut section 210 may be a length of 3mm or less. The cut section 210 is provided to insert the sealant element 100 easily in the gap 205 provided between the first pavement Sl and the second pavement S2. Further, the cut section 210 is provided to reduce stress when the vehicle comes in contact with the first pavement Sl and the second pavement S2. [038] It should be understood that the above disclosure that the sealant element can be used to seal the gap between the concrete pavements of 5mm or less. The seal element can be made using a fabrication / extrusion process. The sealant element can be inserted in the gap as a continuous strip with ease. Further, the seal element can withstand high stress due to its expansion property as being in the solid structure.

[039] While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein.

[040] The figures and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

Sealing Element 100

Housing 105

Top End 106

Bottom End 107

First Side 108

Second Side 109

Fins 110

Concrete Pavement 200 First Wall 202

Second Wall 204

Gap 205

Cut Section 210

First Pavement SI

Second Pavement S2