GB2174132A

GB2174132A - Device for raising and lowering bridge structures

Info

Publication number: GB2174132A
Application number: GB08609900A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Schardey; Carsten Schmitz
Original assignee: Fried Krupp AG
Current assignee: Fried Krupp AG
Priority date: 1985-04-25
Filing date: 1986-04-23
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: DE3514898C1; SE8601795D0; FR2581099A3; SE8601795L; GB8609900D0; GB2174132B

Abstract

A device for the raising and lowering of bridges (1) having at least two attachment points (4, 5) at the end to be moved for the flexurally rigid attachment of a bridge extension means supportable outside the bridge, said device comprising a bearing piece (12) to which there are pivotably articulated, about horizontal spindles (10, 11), two links (8, 9) arranged one above the other and provided with a joint at both ends, the other ends of these links each being attachable pivotably about horizontal axes (6, 7) to the bridge (1), two of the joints (7, 10) of the links (8, 9) lying diagonally oppositely being connected with one another by an actuating element (e.g. a hydraulic cylinder (15) of variable length. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for raising and lowering bridge structures The invention relates to a device for raising and lowering bridges or the like structures comprising at least two attachment points at the end to be moved for the flexurally rigid attachment of a bridge extension means supportable outside the bridge.

Bridges or bridge-like structures must be lowered into their bearings in assembly and conversely lifted in dismantlement. Ordinarily for this purpose hydraulic assembly rams and stackers are used.

It is however already known, especially for bridges which have to be rolled forwardly, to attach lengthening means of various kinds rigidly to the ends of the bridges which have to be moved, that is to the end sides. Hydraulic rams act for the execution of the raising and lowering movements upon the lengthening means, which are removed again after assembly of the bridge. The lengthening means must be adapted to each bridge and to the conditions in each case, and thus constitute a considerable expense which substantially increases the building costs and lengthens the assembly time.

The invention is therefore concerned with producing a device of the above mentioned kind in which the assembly operation is simplified.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for raising and lowering bridges or the like structures having at least two attachment points at the end to be moved for the flexurally rigid attachment of a bridge extension means supportable outside the bridge; said device comprising a bearing piece to which there are pivotably articulated, about horizontal spindles, two links arranged one above the other, each link having a joint at both ends, the other ends of said links each being connectable pivotably about a horizontal axis to the bridge, and an actuating element of variable length, in which two joints of the links, lying in each case diagonally opposite to one another, are connected with one another by said actuating element.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the device attached to one bridge end in the raised condition, and Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the device with the bridge lowered.

The advantages achievable with the aforementioned embodiment consist primarily in that with it the raising and lowering of bridge structures can be carried out quickly and safely. The device can be used, if necessary by simple measures of adaptation, for a large number of the bridges which are in execution. It therefore also renders the raising of the bridge possible at any time, as can be necessary for example for the replacement of bridge bearings.

The embodiment is usable especially advantageously for the assembly of bridges which can be rolled forwardly.

The end which is to be lowered of a bridge 1, formed as a pioneer bridge, comprises an end piece 2. An attachment piece 3 of the device is attached to the end piece 2 by means of a push-in bolt connection 4, provided at the lower end to take up the traction forces, and a bolt catch 5 provided at the upper end to take up only compression forces. The end of the attachment piece 3 remote from the bridge has an upper and lower joint 6 and 7 on each of the two sides, to each of which joints a link 8 and 9 is connected. At their other ends the links 8 and 9 are attached each through respective horizontal spindles 10 and 11 to a bearing piece 12 so that a parallelogram articulation is formed.The links 8 and 9 are formed each as a link pair and each link pair consists of two lateral plates, each provided with the joint bores, which are connected with one another in each case through a stiffening element.

A double rod 13, which extends around the lower link 9 and together with a hydraulic cylinder 15 forms an actuating element 14 of variable length, is articulated to the attachment piece 3 coaxially with the joint 7. Two lateral legs of the double rod 13 are provided in the region of the spindle 10, each having a slot 20. These legs are prolonged beyond this region and are connected with one another at their free end through a yoke-type strut 21. The singleacting hydraulic cylinder 15, bearing through two bearing legs 22 against a joint bolt 16 forming the spindle 10, is actuated with its piston rod 23 bearing against the strut 21 to vary the length of the actuating element 14.

The end position into which the links 8 and 9 are lifted and in which the under side of the lower link 9 forms one straight surface with the under side 17 of the bearing piece 12, is shown in Figure 1. In this position the bridge with the attached device can be rolled forward on roller trestles 18 which are arranged close to the bridge position.

To lower the bridge 1 the hydraulic cylinder 15 is retracted by relaxation of the pressure medium, until the lowered position as shown in Figure 2 is reached.

In this movement the bearing piece 12 shifts in the bridge longitudinal direction towards the bridge 1.

For security against rolling further, an end stop 19 acting against the rollertrestle 18 is arranged at the end remote from the bridge 1 on the under side of the bearing piece 12. If the bridge is to be raised again the hydraulic cylinder 15 is pushed out again.

In place ofthe roller trestle 18 the bearing piece can be provided for example with rollers, a vehicle mechanism or rocker bearings. In place of the actuating element 14, where advantageously a hydraulic cylinder acting only under pressure can be used, it is possible to interpose a similarly singleacting hydraulic cylinder. This cylinder constitutes an actuating element directly between the joint 7 and the joint bolt 16, which then acts as a traction element. The spindle 11 and the spindle of the joint 6 can also be used alternatively or additionally as points of action of the actuating element or of a further actuating element of variable length.

l . A device for raising and lowering bridges or the like structures having at least two attachment

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

SPECIFICATION Device for raising and lowering bridge structures The invention relates to a device for raising and lowering bridges or the like structures comprising at least two attachment points at the end to be moved for the flexurally rigid attachment of a bridge extension means supportable outside the bridge.

Bridges or bridge-like structures must be lowered into their bearings in assembly and conversely lifted in dismantlement. Ordinarily for this purpose hydraulic assembly rams and stackers are used.

It is however already known, especially for bridges which have to be rolled forwardly, to attach lengthening means of various kinds rigidly to the ends of the bridges which have to be moved, that is to the end sides. Hydraulic rams act for the execution of the raising and lowering movements upon the lengthening means, which are removed again after assembly of the bridge. The lengthening means must be adapted to each bridge and to the conditions in each case, and thus constitute a considerable expense which substantially increases the building costs and lengthens the assembly time.

The invention is therefore concerned with producing a device of the above mentioned kind in which the assembly operation is simplified.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for raising and lowering bridges or the like structures having at least two attachment points at the end to be moved for the flexurally rigid attachment of a bridge extension means supportable outside the bridge; said device comprising a bearing piece to which there are pivotably articulated, about horizontal spindles, two links arranged one above the other, each link having a joint at both ends, the other ends of said links each being connectable pivotably about a horizontal axis to the bridge, and an actuating element of variable length, in which two joints of the links, lying in each case diagonally opposite to one another, are connected with one another by said actuating element.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the device attached to one bridge end in the raised condition, and Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the device with the bridge lowered.

The advantages achievable with the aforementioned embodiment consist primarily in that with it the raising and lowering of bridge structures can be carried out quickly and safely. The device can be used, if necessary by simple measures of adaptation, for a large number of the bridges which are in execution. It therefore also renders the raising of the bridge possible at any time, as can be necessary for example for the replacement of bridge bearings.

The embodiment is usable especially advantageously for the assembly of bridges which can be rolled forwardly.

The end which is to be lowered of a bridge 1, formed as a pioneer bridge, comprises an end piece 2. An attachment piece 3 of the device is attached to the end piece 2 by means of a push-in bolt connection 4, provided at the lower end to take up the traction forces, and a bolt catch 5 provided at the upper end to take up only compression forces. The end of the attachment piece 3 remote from the bridge has an upper and lower joint 6 and 7 on each of the two sides, to each of which joints a link 8 and 9 is connected. At their other ends the links 8 and 9 are attached each through respective horizontal spindles 10 and 11 to a bearing piece 12 so that a parallelogram articulation is formed.The links 8 and 9 are formed each as a link pair and each link pair consists of two lateral plates, each provided with the joint bores, which are connected with one another in each case through a stiffening element.

A double rod 13, which extends around the lower link 9 and together with a hydraulic cylinder 15 forms an actuating element 14 of variable length, is articulated to the attachment piece 3 coaxially with the joint 7. Two lateral legs of the double rod 13 are provided in the region of the spindle 10, each having a slot 20. These legs are prolonged beyond this region and are connected with one another at their free end through a yoke-type strut 21. The singleacting hydraulic cylinder 15, bearing through two bearing legs 22 against a joint bolt 16 forming the spindle 10, is actuated with its piston rod 23 bearing against the strut 21 to vary the length of the actuating element 14.

The end position into which the links 8 and 9 are lifted and in which the under side of the lower link 9 forms one straight surface with the under side 17 of the bearing piece 12, is shown in Figure 1. In this position the bridge with the attached device can be rolled forward on roller trestles 18 which are arranged close to the bridge position.

To lower the bridge 1 the hydraulic cylinder 15 is retracted by relaxation of the pressure medium, until the lowered position as shown in Figure 2 is reached.

In this movement the bearing piece 12 shifts in the bridge longitudinal direction towards the bridge 1.

For security against rolling further, an end stop 19 acting against the rollertrestle 18 is arranged at the end remote from the bridge 1 on the under side of the bearing piece 12. If the bridge is to be raised again the hydraulic cylinder 15 is pushed out again.

In place ofthe roller trestle 18 the bearing piece can be provided for example with rollers, a vehicle mechanism or rocker bearings. In place of the actuating element 14, where advantageously a hydraulic cylinder acting only under pressure can be used, it is possible to interpose a similarly singleacting hydraulic cylinder. This cylinder constitutes an actuating element directly between the joint 7 and the joint bolt 16, which then acts as a traction element. The spindle 11 and the spindle of the joint 6 can also be used alternatively or additionally as points of action of the actuating element or of a further actuating element of variable length.

l . A device for raising and lowering bridges or the like structures having at least two attachment points at the end to be moved for the flexurally rigid attachment of bridge extension means supportable outside the bridge; said device comprising a bearing piece to which there are pivotably ariculated, about horizontal spindles, two links arranged one above the other, each link having a joint at both ends, the other ends of said links each being connectable pivotably about a horizontal axis to the bridge, and an actuating element of variable length, in which two joints of the links, iying in each case diagonally opposite to one another, are connected with one another by said actuating element.
2. A device according to Claim 1, in which the actuating element is connected to the joint of the lower link facing the bridge.
3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the two links are articulatedly connected to an attachment piece connectable to the bridge.
4. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the four joints of the links are so arranged that their axes form the corners of a parallelogram.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the bearing piece is supported on a horizontal guide.
6. A device according to Claim 5, in which the horizontal guide is a roller guide.
7. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the actuating element comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder.
8. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the two links are each formed by double links arranged parallel to one another.
9. A device substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.