Systems and methods for precast slab construction and maintenance

1 . A method of constructing a precast slab roadway, the method comprising:

passing an electrical conductor through a subgrade conduit so that a distal end of the electrical conductor extends out of a distal end of the subgrade conduit and so that a proximal end and an adjacent proximal end slack portion of the electrical conductor extend out of a proximal end of the subgrade conduit, the slack portion having a length equal to or greater than a height difference between a maintenance position of a corresponding distal slab and an installed position of the corresponding distal slab;

installing the subgrade conduit beneath a proximal slab;

pulling a distal portion of the electrical conductor adjacent the distal end of the electrical conductor from the distal end of the subgrade conduit so that the slack portion is drawn into the subgrade conduit;

electrically connecting the electrical conductor to an electrical component of a junction box;

electrically connecting an electronic component of the corresponding distal slab to the distal end of the electrical conductor;

lowering the distal slab onto a substrate adjacent to the proximal slab; and

pulling the slack portion of the electrical conductor out of the subgrade conduit so the distal portion of the electrical conductor is drawn into the subgrade conduit.

2 . The method of claim 1 , the step of electrically connecting the electrical component of the corresponding distal slab to the distal end of the electrical conductor including mating an electrical connector of the distal slab and an electrical connector of the electrical conductor.

3 . The method of claim 2 , the distal slab including a recess for receiving the electrical connector of the electrical conductor.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising a step of orienting the electrical connector of the distal slab and the electrical connector of the electrical conductor at an angle between thirty degrees and sixty degrees from horizontal.

5 . The method of claim 1 , the distal end of the subgrade conduit having a flared opening.

6 . The method of claim 1 , the subgrade conduit including curved portions to aid movement of the electrical conductor therein.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of assembling the subgrade conduit from a plurality of conduit pieces.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after the step of pulling the slack portion, additional steps of:

lifting the distal slab from the installed position to the maintenance position;

pulling the distal portion of the electrical conductor from the distal end of the subgrade conduit so that the slack portion is drawn into the subgrade conduit;

performing maintenance on or modifying the distal slab;

lowering the distal slab from the maintenance position to the installed position; and

pulling the slack portion from the proximal end of the subgrade conduit so the distal portion of the electrical conductor is drawn into the subgrade conduit.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of storing the slack portion in the junction box.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising steps of moving load transfer connectors to extend between cavities of adjacent proximal slabs to connect the adjacent proximal slabs together and moving additional load transfer connectors to extend between cavities of adjacent distal slabs to connect the adjacent distal slabs together.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component of the corresponding distal slab is a wireless charger.

12 . A method of maintaining a precast slab roadway, the method comprising:

lifting a distal slab adjacent to a proximal slab from an installed position to a maintenance position so that the distal slab pulls a distal portion of an electrical conductor out of a distal end of a subgrade conduit underneath the proximal slab, the lifting drawing a slack portion of the electrical conductor from a junction box adjacent the proximal slab opposite the distal slab into a proximal end of the subgrade conduit, the slack portion having a length equal to or greater than a height difference between the maintenance position and the installed position;

performing a maintenance action or a modification action on at least one of the distal slab, the proximal slab, an electrical component, and a substrate configured to support the distal slab;

lowering the distal slab from the maintenance position to the installed position on the substrate adjacent to the proximal slab; and

pulling the slack portion of the electrical conductor out of the proximal end of the subgrade conduit so the distal portion of the electrical conductor is drawn into the distal end of the subgrade conduit.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising steps of:

disconnecting the electrical conductor from the distal slab before performing the maintenance action or modification action; and

reconnecting the electrical conductor to the distal slab after performing the maintenance action or modification action.

14 . The method of claim 13 , the electrical conductor including an electrical connector, the distal slab including a recess for receiving the electrical connector.

15 . The method of claim 13 , the distal slab including an electrical connector oriented at an angle between thirty degrees and sixty degrees from horizontal and the electrical conductor including an electrical connector, the method further comprising a step of orienting the electrical connector of the electrical conductor at an angle between thirty degrees and sixty degrees from horizontal to mate the electrical connector of the electrical conductor and the electrical connector of the distal slab together.

16 . The method of claim 12 , the distal end of the subgrade conduit having a flared opening.

17 . The method of claim 12 , the subgrade conduit including curved portions to aid movement of the electrical conductor therein.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of storing the slack portion in the junction box.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of moving load transfer connectors extending between cavities of adjacent distal slabs including the distal slab to be lifted to disconnect the adjacent distal slabs.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical component is a wireless charger.

21 . A precast slab roadway comprising:

a plurality of proximal slabs arranged end-to-end forming an inner lane;

a plurality of distal slabs arranged end-to-end adjacent to the proximal slabs forming an outer lane, each of the plurality of distal slabs being configured to be raised from an installed position to a maintenance position; and

a roadway electrical component system comprising:

a plurality of junction boxes adjacent to the proximal slabs opposite the distal slabs, each of the plurality of junction boxes including one or more electrical components;

a plurality of electrical components embedded in the distal slabs;

a plurality of subgrade conduits extending below the proximal slabs from the plurality of junction boxes to the plurality of distal slabs, each of the plurality of subgrade conduits including a proximal end; and

a plurality of electrical conductors extending respectively through the plurality of subgrade conduits and electrically connecting the corresponding plurality of electrical components in the distal slabs to the corresponding plurality of electrical components of the plurality of junction boxes, each of the plurality of electrical conductors including a proximal end including a slack portion extending out of the corresponding proximal end of one of the plurality of subgrade conduits, the slack portion having a length equal to or greater than a height difference between the maintenance position of a corresponding distal slab and the installed position of the corresponding distal slab.

22 . The precast slab roadway of claim 21 , each of the plurality of electrical conductors including an electrical connector, each of the plurality of distal slabs including a recess for receiving one of the electrical connectors.

23 . The precast slab roadway of claim 21 , each of the plurality of subgrade conduits including a flared distal end.

24 . The precast slab roadway of claim 21 , each slack portion being stored in one of the plurality of junction boxes.

25 . The precast slab roadway of claim 21 , further comprising load transfer connectors extending between cavities of adjacent proximal slabs thereby reversibly connecting the adjacent proximal slabs together and additional load transfer connectors extending between cavities of adjacent distal slabs thereby reversibly connecting the adjacent distal slabs together.

26 . The precast slab roadway of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of electrical components embedded in the distal slabs are wireless chargers.