Patent Publication Number: US-2005123349-A1

Title: Temporary ramp

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to temporary ramps for use on roadways under construction, wherein the roadways have obstructions such as manhole structures which are temporarily positioned at slightly higher elevations than the existing roadway.  
      During roadway construction, various structures such as manholes, storm sewer inlets and structures which allow access to water mains are constructed at a raised elevation corresponding to that of the finished roadway. The roadway is then built up such that the surface of the roadway is at the same elevation as the manholes, storm sewers and other structures, resulting in a smooth roadway with all structures being at the proper elevation.  
      Other roadway construction projects involve removing the top layer of roadway by grinding and then replacing it with a new surface layer. Removal of the top layer of these roadways leaves the structures such as manholes and sewer inlets slightly elevated. These elevated structures are obstructions to automobiles traveling the roadway during the period of time when the top surface is not in place on the roadway.  
      Similarly, during construction of a roadway the area of road under construction is often at a lower elevation than an adjacent area of roadway. The roadway under construction is eventually raised to the level of the adjacent roadway. But during the period of construction the higher elevation of the adjacent finished roadway is an elevated structure that automobile traffic encounters. This type of elevated structure created by the temporary difference in roadway elevation creates an obstruction to vehicular traffic.  
      It is known to provide temporary ramps positioned against the edge of the elevated structures so that automobiles may drive up the ramps and over the obstruction. This helps eliminate damage to automobiles as they drive over the elevated structures. One type of ramp is comprised of asphalt that is installed at the edge of the elevated structure and tapers down to the roadway. The installation and removal of this type of temporary ramp involves a variety of machinery and many workers and is therefore a relatively labor intensive and costly process. Also, the asphalt material is only used once and therefore involves disposal of a relatively large amount of waste material.  
      It is also known to provide elevated structures such as manholes with a single piece temporary ramp that can be placed around the manhole. Some single piece ramps are relatively small and therefore define a relatively steep incline. These steep single piece ramps are therefore best adapted for use in slow traffic areas. These single piece temporary ramps have the advantage of being reusable and therefore eliminate waste. The smallest of these single piece ramps are small enough that they do not require a large number of persons to install or remove them from the manhole. But larger single piece ramps may require more than one person to handle the ramp during installation, removal and transport. Relatively steep ramps are not well adapted for use on elevated manholes in roadways where traffic is moving at higher speeds. Higher speed roadways require a relatively gradual incline on ramps in order to hinder damage to the car as it rides up over the elevated structures.  
      It would therefore be desirable to provide a temporary ramp that is adapted for use on roadways where traffic moves at relatively high speeds. It would be desirable for such a ramp to have a relatively gradual inclined surface adapted for relatively high-speed roadways. Such a ramp would be relatively large when in place on the roadway next to the elevated structure. It would be desirable for such a temporary ramp to allow a single person to relatively easily install and remove the temporary ramp, even if the ramp is relatively large when in place on the roadway. Such a temporary ramp would therefore not be labor intensive to install or remove. It would also be desirable for such a temporary ramp to involve little or no heavy machinery to install. It would also be advantageous to provide a temporary ramp that is reusable, thereby eliminating waste and reducing the cost of providing temporary ramps during roadway construction.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a temporary ramp adapted for use on roadways under construction. The roadways have elevated obstructions such as manholes located in the roadway. The temporary ramp includes a plurality of elastomeric ramp segments positioned adjacent each other, each having a lower surface which contacts the roadway when installed and an upper inclined surface that vehicle wheels contact during use. The ramp segments each have at least one edge portion along which each ramp segment is coupled with an adjacent ramp segment during use. The ramp segments are positionable adjacent the elevated obstruction for allowing vehicles traveling the roadway to ride up and over the elevated obstruction.  
      The ramp segments are removably coupled together by way of interlocking mating shapes which are formed in abutting edge portions of adjacent ramp segments. The mating shapes comprise male and female shapes which fit together to secure the adjacent ramp segments together when the ramp segments are installed for use on a roadway under construction. The mating shapes extend substantially the entire vertical height of the edge portions of the ramp segments proximate the mating shape. The temporary ramp can be disassembled so that the ramp segments are detached from each other, thereby allowing an operator to handle individual ramp segments. This allows a single operator to assemble and disassemble an entire temporary ramp relatively easily. And the temporary ramp according to the present invention is re-usable so that materials are not wasted.  
      The ramp segments can be provided with a core of rigid and relatively heavy material such as metal that adds weight to the segment for helping the segment resist shifting that may be caused by forces imparted by vehicles traveling over the temporary ramp.  
      Hinge mechanisms can be positioned between adjacent edge portions of adjacent ramp segments for allowing the adjacent ramp segments to pivot with respect to one another when removed from the roadway. The hinges allow an operator to fold adjacent ramp segments about the hinge axis to allow an operator to transport the ramp segments relatively easily.  
      The ramp segments according to the present invention can also include fastener openings through which fasteners can be positioned. Fasteners positioned within the fastener openings can be coupled with the roadway beneath the ramp segments and operatively abut the ramp segments to help the ramp segments resist shifting due to forces transmitted to the ramp segments by vehicles traveling across the temporary ramp. Fasteners such as nails can be placed within the fastener openings and driven into the underlying roadway. The head of the nail will abut a washer or directly abut the top surface of the ramp segment for helping to secure the ramp segment in place on the roadway. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a temporary ramp according to the present invention in position around a manhole structure, said temporary ramp having a plurality of ramp segments coupled together by way of mating shapes which interlock.  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a single ramp segment shown in  FIG. 1  in position adjacent a manhole structure.  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the single ramp segment shown in  FIG. 2  in position adjacent a manhole structure.  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a temporary ramp according to the present invention in position around a manhole structure, said temporary ramp having two ramp segments coupled together by way of a hinge mechanism.  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the temporary ramp of  FIG. 4  with the segments folded about the axis of the hinge mechanism.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the temporary ramp of  FIG. 4  having a hinge mechanism and in position around a manhole structure.  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a temporary ramp according to the present invention in position against a butt joint, said temporary ramp having a hinge mechanism which pivotally couples the ramp segments together.  
       FIG. 8  is a top view of a temporary ramp according to the present invention in position against a butt joint, said temporary ramp having mating interlocking shapes which couple adjacent ramp segments together.  
       FIG. 9  is a top view of a pair of ramp segments shown in  FIG. 7  having a hinge mechanism that pivotally couples the ramp segments together.  
       FIG. 10  is side view of a ramp segment similar to that shown in  FIG. 7 , but with a metal core located within the ramp segment.  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of first and second ramp segments according to the present invention having mating shapes which interlock to secure the first and second ramp segments together when the ramp segments are assembled adjacent a raised structure on a roadway under construction. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1-11 , there is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 1-3  show a round manhole structure  10  which extends upwardly above the top surface of a roadway  12 . The roadway  12  as shown is under construction, and the top layer of roadway has not yet been installed. Therefore the manhole structure  10  temporarily extends above the elevation of the roadway surface  12 . The manhole structure  10  creates an obstruction to vehicles traveling the roadway. A temporary ramp  14  according to the present invention is provided for allowing vehicular traffic to smoothly and easily ride up and over the circular manhole structure  10 . The temporary ramp  14  shown in  FIG. 1  includes four ramp segments  16  that can be fitted together to form a single ramp structure  14  around the manhole  10 . The ramp segments  16  are made of a material such as plastic, rubber, or high strength composite material.  
      Each ramp segment  16  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  includes edge portions  18  that define mating shapes  20  that interlock to secure adjacent ramp segments  16  together. The mating shapes include male tabs  22  and female openings  24  that fit together in snug fashion for tightly securing adjacent ramp segments  16  together when in place around the manhole structure  10 . The mating shapes  20  are defined in the edge portions  18  of the ramp segments  16 , and, as best seen in  FIG. 11 , extend the entire vertical height or dimension  26  of the ramp segments  16  in that vicinity. This maximizes the size of the mating shapes  20  to thereby increase the amount of material that absorbs the forces transmitted between mating shapes  20  when the ramp  14  encounters loads associated with a vehicle driving over the ramp  14  and manhole  10 . All portions of the mating shapes  20  are as thick as the ramp segment  16  in that location, and therefore the mating shapes  20  utilize a mass of material as thick as the entire vertical height  26  of the segment  16  to maximize the amount of material through which forces are transmitted from one segment  16  to the next. The large size of the mating shapes  20  enhances the strength of the interlocked mating shapes  20 , thereby enhancing the ability of the adjacent ramp segments  16  to withstand the forces transmitted through the mating shapes  20  during operation.  
       FIG. 11  shows first and second ramp segments  28 ,  30  that have edge portions  18  that abut each other when the temporary ramp  14  is assembled on a roadway  12  under construction. The edge portions  18  are provided with mating shapes  20  which interlock to secure the first and second ramp segments  28 ,  30  together when assembled on a roadway  12 . The mating shapes  20  include a bulbous portion  32  connected via a neck portion  34  to the first ramp segment  28 . An opening  36  defined in the edge portion  18  of the second ramp segment  30  corresponds to the shape of the bulbous portion  32  and neck  34 . The bulbous portion  32  and neck  34  are tightly received in the opening  24  for securing the first and second ramp segments  28 ,  30  together. The opening  24  is defined by the full vertical height  26  of the second ramp segment  30  in that location, and the bulbous portion  32  and neck  34  extend the entire vertical dimension  26  of the first ramp segment  28  in that location.  
      The ramp  14  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  is formed of four interlocking segments  16  which can be assembled and disassembled by an operator. Since the ramp  14  can be broken down into a plurality of relatively small segments  16 , a single operator can relatively easily handle the segments  16  and carry them to and from a transport vehicle or truck. Furthermore, a single operator can easily manipulate the relatively small segments  16  during assembly of the ramp  14  around a manhole  10 . The ramp segments  16  are therefore a manageable size that allows a single operator to transport, manipulate, assemble and disassemble a relatively large ramp  14 . Preferably the ramp segments  16  are large enough that they extend radially outwardly from the manhole  10  a relatively large distance such that they define a relatively gradual slope or ramped surface well adapted for relatively high speed roadways. If such a ramp were a single unitary structure, a single operator may not be capable of handling such a large structure. Such a unitary structure might also be too large to fit in conventional vehicles such as a pickup truck. But the ramp  14  according to the present invention is divided into interlocking segments  16  so that a single operator can disassemble and assemble the ramp  14  relatively easily, and so that the segments  16  easily fit within the width of the bed of a conventional pickup truck, for example.  
      The ramp segments  16  can also be provided with fastener holes  38  that allow an installer to attach fasteners  40  such as nails through the holes  38  and into the underlying pavement  12 . A washer  42  can be placed around the nail  40  before being driven. Once the nail  40  is driven into the underlying pavement  12  in this manner the head of the nail  40  abuts the washer  42 , which abuts the top surface  44  of the ramp segment  16 . The nail  40  and washer  42  help secure the segment  16  in place as vehicular traffic drives over the temporary ramp  14 .  FIG. 2  shows in phantom a single fastener opening  38  positioned in the ramp segment  16  adjacent the manhole  10 , and a pair of fastener openings  38  positioned in each ramp segment  16  adjacent the radially outer edge  46  of the segment  16 .  
      The ramp segments  16  can be provided with a 1:20 incline. For a manhole  10  that extends 1.75 inches above the existing roadway surface  12 , the segment  16  would extend radially 30 inches from the manhole  10 . The radially outer edge  46  of the segment is approximately 0.25 inches high.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 7-10  there is shown a temporary ramp  14  according to the present invention adapted for use against a straight edge  48  of an obstruction, otherwise known in the construction field as a butt joint.  FIG. 7  shows the surface of a roadway  12  under construction. A top surface layer (not shown) will be installed on top of the lower surface  12  shown. A finished roadway surface  50  is shown adjacent to the portion of the roadway  12  under construction. The temporary ramp  14  is utilized for allowing vehicular traffic on the roadway  12  to drive from the finished roadway surface  50  to the lower surface  12 , and vice verse, without causing damage to the vehicle. The ramp  14  is positioned in close abutment with the drop-off or edge  48  of the finished surface  50  to provide a relatively smooth transition between the upper and lower surfaces  50  and  12 .  
      The temporary ramp  14  shown in  FIGS. 7-10  includes numerous ramp segments  16  that all fit together to form an assembled temporary ramp  14 . The edges  18  of the ramp segments  16  include mating shapes  20  that fit together to securely couple the segments  16  together after assembly. The mating shapes  20  include male shapes  22  and female shapes  24  that fit snuggly together. The mating shapes  20  extend the entire vertical dimension of the edge of the segment  16 , and thereby provide a relatively large amount of material through which forces can be dispersed. The mating shapes  20  are formed on the lateral outer edges  52  of the segments  16  for securing the segments  16  across the width of the roadway  12 . The temporary ramp  14  shown in  FIG. 8  also includes mating shapes  20  formed in the laterally extending edges  54  of the segments  16  to securely couple the adjacent segments  16  together that are aligned in the direction of vehicle travel. The temporary ramp  14  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9  are provided with hinge mechanisms  62  which coupled the laterally extending edges  54  together. The segments  16  are assembled together to form a ramp  14  having the proper width desired. Outer ramp segments  56  can be provided having a smooth outer edge  58  with no mating shape formed therein. Ramp segments  16  having different widths can be provided to allow a person to assemble the temporary ramp  14  in varying widths depending on the widths of the segments used. Ramp segments  16  are also coupled together to form a relatively long ramp  14  in the direction of vehicle travel, which allows the slope of the ramp  14  to be relatively gradual and is well adapted for use on high-speed roadways. The segments  16  are detachable from each other to allow a single person to disassemble the temporary ramp  14  and easily load the individual ramp segments  16  into a vehicle such as a pickup truck.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The temporary ramp segment  16  shown in  FIG. 10  includes a core  60  of a metal material such as steel or iron. The metal core  60  is relatively heavy, and therefore serves to increase the weight of the segment  16 . A temporary ramp  14  assembled of segments  16  having metal cores  60  such as this are relatively heavy, which can be advantageous for maintaining the temporary ramp  14  in position when relatively high speed traffic drives over the ramp  14 . The higher speed traffic tends to impart larger impact loads to the temporary ramps  14 , and therefore the heavier weight of the temporary ramp  14  with the metallic cores  60  is well adapted to resist these impact loads and hold the ramp  14  in the proper position.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6 ,  7  and  9 , there is shown temporary ramps  14  which include a hinge mechanism  62  that allows adjacent ramp segments  16  to be folded at the axis of the hinge  62 . The folded ramp segments  16  are relatively compact for easy handling by a person assembling or disassembling a temporary ramp  14 .  
       FIG. 4, 5  and  6  shows a temporary ramp  14  designed for use around a raised manhole structure  10 . The hinge mechanism  62  allows the temporary ramp  14  to be folded about the axis of the hinge  62  to thereby decrease the size of the temporary ramp  14  to facilitate handling. The folded temporary ramp  14  will more readily fit into common vehicles such as into the bed of a conventional pickup truck. The hinge mechanism  62  can be attached to the segment  16  by a belt splice type of joint or other suitable means.  
       FIGS. 7 and 9  show a temporary ramp  14  that is designed to extend across the width of a roadway  12  against a linear butt joint  48 . The hinge mechanisms  62  couple ramp segments  16  together that are adjacent each other and aligned with the direction of vehicle traffic. These adjacent ramp segments  16  can be folded about the axis of the hinge mechanism  62  to thereby make the segments  16  easy to handle by a person assembling, disassembling or transporting the temporary ramp  14 . Mating shapes  20  are provided between laterally adjacent ramp segments  16  to secure the ramp segments  16  together when installed on the roadway  12 .  
      All the ramp segments  16  shown in the drawing figures can be provided with fastener openings  38  similar to those shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 . These fastener openings  38  help further secure the temporary ramps  14  and individual segments  16  against movement as impacts and other loads are encountered when vehicle traffic drives over the temporary ramps  14 .  
      The temporary ramps  14  adapted for use against a linear surface or butt joint  48  as shown in  FIGS. 7-10  can be manufactured having an upper surface  44  that is inclined approximately 1:20, or as little as 1:80 for use on higher speed roadways.  
      The temporary ramps  14  shown in  FIGS. 1-11  can be manufactured in colors such as red, orange or yellow to increase their visibility to oncoming drivers and thereby warn them of the approaching variation in roadway.