GB2166477A

GB2166477A - Bridge unit for transportable bridge assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2166477A
Application number: GB08522359A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jurgen Mahncke
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 1984-09-10
Filing date: 1985-09-10
Publication date: 1986-05-08
Also published as: GB2166477B; DE3433178A1; FR2570103B1; FR2570103A1; GB8522359D0

Abstract

A bridge assembly which is positioned for transporting on a displacement vehicle (1) comprises two bridge elements (2, 3) arranged above one another and which are displaceable from the transport position into the operating position by means of a displacement device on the vehicle side via extension arms (4, 5). A front main extension aim (4) of the displacement device is pivotable about a horizontal axis and has spaced support rollers (6, 7) which engage in running rails (23) of the bridge or the rollers are provided on the bridge element and engage in the main extension arm (4). The extension arm (5) is arranged at the rear end and is detachably connected to the lower bridge disposed element (3). A bridge unit (10) includes at least one centrally disposed bridge portion (11) which is connected to a front support (12) and to the bridge elements (2, 3) via end face coupling elements (14, 15). The front support (12) is guided in the bridge assembly (2, 3, 10) and is displaceable from the centre portion (11) to a bridge element (2, 3) in such a way that the front support (12) has a freely projecting position (A) and an inserted rest position (B). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bridge unit The invention relates to a bridge unit assembly which is positioned for transporting on a displacement vehicle and comprises two bridge elements arranged above one another.

A bridge laying armoured vehicle "Biber" is known (Periodical "Soldat und Technik" 2/1976, pages 62 to 68), which combines and sets down two bridge elements arranged above one another provide to a continuous bridge which is ready to be driven across.

The displacement device is part of the vehicle and includes a front end and rear end extension arm for supporting the bridge during connection and displacement. An advance pinion which is connected to the main extension arm, engages in drive shaft gearing of the bridge. A detachable connection of the elements from one another is produced via coupling devices between the bridge elements.

Because of the specially adapted design of the displacement device bridge element of predetermined length, the use of the known bridge is limited only to crossing rivers or the like of a certain width. In order to cross wider rivers and the like a bridge is disclosed in German Patent No.29 29 208 which comprises more than two bridge elements which are interconnected in a horizontal plane. To guide and support this relatively long bridge assembly a front support is used which is connected to a displacement beam held on the vehicle so as to be longitudinally displaceable. In comparison with the displacement device according to the Biber system, no arrangement of bridge elements disposed above one another is disclosed in this known arrangement.

The object of the present invention is to provide a bridge assembly unit to complete a conventional bridge of the above-mentioned type, by which a displacement bridge of limited length can be extended simply.

The present invention consists in a bridge assembly which is positioned for transporting on a displacement vehicle and comprises two bridge elements arranged above one another, which are displaceable from the transport position to an operating position by means of a displacement device on the vehicle side via extension arms, a front main extension arm of the displacement device being pivotable about a horizontal axis and having spaced support rollers which engage in guide rails, or rollers are provided on the bridge which engage in the main extension arm and hold the bridge, and a rear extension arm which is connected, in a detachable manner, to the lower bridge element, wherein a bridge unit which forms at least one centrally disposed bridge portion is connected to a front support and to the bridge elements via end face coupling elements, the front support being is guided in the bridge assembly and displaceable from the central portion into either bridge element in such a way that front support has a freely projecting support position and an inserted rest position.

The main advantages obtained with the invention consist in that the bridge of the known bridge laying armoured vehicle Biber (Periodical "Soldat und Technik" 2/1976, Page 62 to 68) can be extended rearwardly from the armoured vehicle in a simple manner by using the substantially unaltered displacement device. A bridge is thus formed with at least one section and a connecting element or ramp in each case at the front end, which are part of the known bridge laying armoured vehicle. By means of the front support which is held in the completed assembly and is freely displaceable along the entire length of the bridge, a guide and support element is provided for the bridge to be laid, which can be retracted when the bridge is returned to its starting position and does not therefore constitute an obstruction.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view of a bridge laying armoured vehicle "Biber" according to the prior art; Fig. 2 is a side view of a bridge completion unit according to the present invention comprising a centre bridge portion and a front support; Fig. 3 is a side view showing the transfer of the centre bridge portion and the connection to a lower bridge element on the bridge laying vehicle; Fig. 4 is a side view showing the front support advanced to a support position; Figs. 5 to 8 are side views showing the further displacement sequence of the bridge; Fig. 9 is a section showing the front end main extension arm with the front support guided so as to be disposed therebelow; Fig. 10 is an end view onto a rear extension arm seen in the direction shown in the arrow Z of Fig. 1;; Fig. 11 is a plan view of a coupling between the centre bridge portion and the bridge element, and Figs. 12 and 13 are side views showing a further embodiment with a front support which can be attached from the front.

Fig. 1 shows a bridge laying armoured vehicle 1 "Biber" having two bridge elements 2, 3 arranged above one another according to the prior art. A displacement device includes a front main extension arm 4 and a rear extension arm 5, the main extension arm 4 having bogie wheels with spaced support rollers 6, 7 which run in longitudinally extending, U-shaped tracks 23 provided inside the bridge. On the main extension arm 4 an advancing device V2 is provided for the bridge, which includes a pinion 8 engaging in a drive shaft gearing (not shown) of the bridge. The rear extension arm 5 lifts and advances the upper bridge element 2 during the coupling and displacment operation, to which end the said extension arm 5 is connected to the upper bridge element in a detachable manner via a holding element 9 which is only shown diagrammatically.

In Fig. 2 is shown a bridge unit 10 which, in the assembled bridge, forms an additional, centrally disposed bridge portion 11 having an internal front suppport 12. The bridge unit 10 can be arranged on a wheel or a chain-driven vehicle.

The bridge portion 11 is rigidly connected via a coupling device 13 (Fig. 11) to the lower bridge 3, the device 13 including coupling elements 14 and 15. One element 14 comprises a receiving space 1 4a formed between pivotally mounted limbs 16, 17 which swing out and between which an enlarged head portion 18 formed on the end of a stern 15a, is held in a locking manner. After coupling, the front support 12 is moved forwards in the direction of travel F, as shown in detail in Fig. 4. To this end, the front support has a plurality of support rollers 19 disposed behind one another and which run in longitudinally extending grooves 20 of the bridge guide tracks 21 and 22. The grooves 20 can have other forms for example, rolling tracks.The front support 12 preferably arranged above the main extension arm 4 and is partially embedded therein.

The support 12 is displaceable in such a way as to be free of and unobstructed by, the extension arms 4 and 5. Below the longitudinal grooves 20, additional longitudinally extending grooves 23 are arranged at the side of the guide tracks 21 and 22, in which the support rollers 6, 7 of the main extension arm 4 run.

The front support 12 is detachably secured in its freely projecting position support A in the bridge half 3 in a holding device 25. It has groove-shaped receivirlg means 26, in which the last support rollers 19 lock in position A.

After the front support 12 has been set down on the bank, the support roller 19 is released from the the receiving means 26 and the bridge is displaceable in the direction of the arrow 27 in the rest position B as shown in Fig. 6. The support via the front support reduces the load on the vehicle and the displacement device.

After the other end of the bridge (element 2) has been set down via the main extension arm 4, the bridge is ready to be driven across. For the bridge to be lifted again, the front support 12 is pushed into the bridge element 2 to the opposite side.

In order to secure the front support 12, a tension element 28, e.g. a rope, rod, or the like, provided. These means are connected to the main extension arm 4 and prevent the front support from sliding away on the opposite bank.

In comparison with the known displacement device, the rear extension arm 5 is not arranged between the guide tracks 21 and 22, but surrounds the guide tracks from outside, as shown in Fig. 10 This therefore permits a continuous bridge roadway 29.

In a further embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, after the bridge portion 11 has been coupled to the bridge element 3, the front support 12 can also be inserted into the front end of the bridge element 3 and locked via the holding device 25.

This has the advantage that the main extension arm 4 of the known bridge laying armoured vehicle "Biber" remains unaltered.

Claims

1. A bridge assembly which is positioned for transporting on a displacement vehicle and comprises two bridge elements arranged above one another, which are displaceable from the transport position to an operating position by means of a displacement device on the vehicle side via extension arms, a front main extension arm of the displacement device being pivotable about a horizontal axis and having spaced support rollers which engage in guide rails, or rollers are provided on the bridge which engage in the main extension arm and hold the bridge, and a rear extension arm which is connected, in a detachable manner, to the lower bridge element, wherein a bridge unit which forms at least one centrally disposed bridge portion is connected to a front support and to the bridge elements via end face coupling elements, the front support being is guided in the bridge assembly and displaceable from the central portion into either bridge element in such a way that front support has a freely projecting support position and an inserted rest position.

2. A bridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the front support is disposed above the main extension arm via support rollers disposed in longitudinally extending grooves in bridge track guides and is freely displaceable along the entire length of the assembled bridge.

3. A bridge assembly according to claim 1 or 2, the front support is detachably connected in the freely projecting position support via a holding device so that the support rollers are held in receiving parts in a locking manner and there is automatic release of the support rollers when the support is on the ground.

4. A bridge assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front support and the bridge assembly co-operate with an advancing device, which allows for single or collective advancing.

5. A bridge assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the end faces of the bridge elements and bridge unit to be connected have coupling elements which include a stern connected to the central portion and which is held by an enlarged head portion in a receiving part of a bridge element said receiving part including pivotally mounted limbs which surround and lock the head portion in the connected position.

6. A bridge assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a traction and thrust element is connected between the front support and the main extension arm of the displacement vehicle.

7. A bridge assembly according to any of claims 4 to 6 in their appendancy to claim 3, wherein the front support inserted into the front bridge element opposite the direction of travel and is secured via the holding device.

8. A bridge assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear extension arm has two portions which surround the lower bridge element from outside and are detachably connected therewith.