GB864857A - Multi-purpose amphibious craft for use in constructing floating bridges or ferries - Google Patents

Abstract

864,857. Bridges. BETEILIGUNGS UND PATENTVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT. Oct. 26, 1959, No. 36225/59. Class 20(1) [Also in Group XXXIII] An amphibious craft for use in constructing bridges comprises a floatable body 1 having retractable wheels 2 and an upper surface 4 which forms a road surface. Hinged to the body at 6 is at least one rigid float 5 which is capable of folding down to the position indicated by chain-dotted lines Fig. 5. A platform 12 is hinged to the float at 14 and adapted to be foldable upwardly, to the position indicated by chain-dotted lines Fig. 5, and to be joined to the platform 12 of an adjacent similar craft by suitable means 22 to form a bridge. During travel over land the float 5 and platform 12 are stowed above the body 1 as indicated by full lines in Fig. 5. The floats 5 are secured in the folded position by members 11 which may be constructed so that the upper surfaces 10 form with the surface 4 an adjustable angle of less than 180 degrees. The road surfaces of the body 1, float 5 and platform 12 are provided with removable partitions for one or two way traffic. Further platforms may be linked to the bow and stern of the body 1, which may also serve as entry and exit ramps, and to the platforms 12. The folding of the floats and platforms may be effected hydraulically. The craft may be tracked as an alternative to having wheels. The parts 1, 5 and 12 may be filled with a foamed plastic material and the parts 1 and 5 may be used independently of the body 1 for supporting a trench-bridge. In a further embodiment an I-section beam is contained in a recess in the float 5 and adapted to be drawn out of or to be folded through 90 degrees to support a platform and be coupled to a similar beam of a similar adjacent craft.