Highway expansion joint strip seal

Abstract

An expansion joint strip seal for use between spaced apart ends of sections of a highway, bridge, or the like, the strip seal having an elongate metallic rail with a C-shaped cavity therein embedded in the end of one of the sections, a second elongate metallic rail with a reverse C-shaped cavity therein embedded in the end of an adjacent section, and an elastomeric, elongate membrane having ear portions extending along its opposed edges, each of the ear portions being sealingly engaged by one of the metallic rails. The membrane, which is formed integrally in a single piece, has a central web portion, which is generally V-shaped in cross section, and each ear portion has an enlarged end portion and a transitional portion between the enlarged end portion and the central web portion. The transitional portion has upper and lower planar surfaces which sealingly engage planar sealing surfaces of an entrance of each metallic rail that engages such ear portion. The entrance of the metallic rail leads into the cavity therein and the end portion of the membrane is engaged in the cavity. The end portion of the membrane is provided with spaced apart upper and lower voids to facilitate the compressing of the end portion to thereby facilitate its insertion into the cavity of the rail.