US1461795A - Bridge-reenforcing means - Google Patents

Description

R. z. BRAKE BRIDGE REE'NFORCING MEANS Filed Jn.4 19.

1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 17, 1923- R. Z. DRAKE BRIDGE REENFORCING MEANS Filed Jan. 19 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 hurt xpm@ R. z. DRAKE BRIDGE REENFORCING MEANS July 17, 1923 Filed Jan. 19. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5v Prakej MW. am.,

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Patented .July l?, i923.

ROBERT Z. BRAKE, OF OIMAHA, NEBRASKA.

BRIDGE-REENFRCING- IVIENS.`

Application filed January 19, 1923. Serial No. 613,567.

To all whom t may Concern:

Beit known that ROBERT ZDRAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha,'in the countyA of Douglas and Sbtate 5 of Nebraska,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge-Reenforcing Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its objects to provide means for reenforcing truss span bridges, andto correct defects in their alignment, and includes, for a single bridge, two girdersf-adapted to be supported at their ends upon the same ground supports, such as bents, piers or abutments, which support the truss span, for use in sustaining vertically applied stresses or loads independently of truss span, but adaptedwhen depressed by a certain amount of weight or load, to be sup- 2o ported by the truss span bridge, so that the latter will co-operate with the girders in sustaining -an excessive or required load, said girders and posts of the truss span being provided with attachments by means of which the truss span may be adjustedand placed in perfect alignment.

In many instances it occurs that truss bridges which may have been in use for a considerable time are found to be in-` and vtruss span of an old bridge may be utilized, said reenforcing` means being of such construction and arrangement that 1t will co-operatev with the old structure for sustaining the required weight, and at,

comparatively, a moderate cost, the align'- nient attachment'operating to dispose and maintain the reinforced bridge in symmetrical form truss.

With the foregoing objects in view the `invention presents a novel and useful con and increasing the value of the struction, combination and arrangement of parts, as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,-

Fig. 1 is a view showing a part of the re- 60 inforced bridge in longitudinal section and the remaining figures are enlarged detail views relating to Fig. 1. Fig; 2 shows an U end portion of the reinforced bridge in longitudinal section. F ig. 3 shows a side view 65 of a locking-plate of the aligning attachment, mounted on a reinforcing girden Fig. l is a broken away view in transverse section, showing one of the aligning attachments which connects a reinforcing girder with a post of a truss span. F ig. 5 is a side view of the parts shown n Fig. 4. i Fig. 6 is a plan view of a locking-plate and part of a girder. F ig. 7 shows the ends of -a girder and truss span mounted on a ground support. p

Referring now t0 the drawing for a more particular description, the invention is shown and described in connection with the truss 6 and ground-supports or piers 30 7 of an old bridge, said parts being utilized Vin connection with the reinforcement and aligning means now provided.

In the practice 0f the invention, the joists `and floor of an old truss bridgeare removed, 35i

one of the objects being to reduce the weight of the old bridge since the joists and Hoor formerly used will not be needed; then alignment boX-frames 8 lare provided for connecting the posts y9 0f the old bridge 90 span with the cross-beams 10, said vframes furnishing a suitable mounting for the ad- `justing or aligning-bolts 11. However, any

lidly connecting the posts 9 with the beams 10, and will have such strength that ,the weight, when applied to said beams will be sustained by the truss span 6, and will provide a mounting for the bolts 12 upon which 105 i the stayrods 13 for the truss `.span are mounted, and will also provide a stationary mounting for the horizontal aligning-bolts, as mentioned. `ln the present instance I haveV shown the box frame 8 to consist of a `pair 110 of side plates a which provides amounting for the bolts 11 and12, said plateshaving.

flanges Z1 and being connectedand reinforced by means of brace-blocks c, the upper ends of the frames 8 being secured to the posts 9, and the lower ends of said frames being seated on the beams 10 and secured thereto by the inverted U-bolts ci which engage the bolts 12. V It will be understood that if the endbraces-14 for the truss span aresuitably-secured ,to the ground supports or piers at the respective-ends of a bridge, the function for the truss span in supporting a weight may be Vfully discharged, said weight being appliedtothebeams 10, and the invention includesymeanswwhich, co-operate with` lthe' truss` span-whereby a greater weight may r be supported than; formerly.

This is laccomplished by the usefof a pair of .girders'l and parts mounted thereon, saidgirders being disposedadjacent to the innersidesiof jthe boi; framesS and supported at theirfends by the piers or groundsupports 7, spacingfplates 16 preferably be ing used at the ends of the rI-beams or girdersl 15 :and disposed between said girders and thecaps 17 of the piers, the thickness of said plateslG beingzsuchthat spaces fr will norlmallylbe maintained between the lower flanges of the girders 15 and the upper flanges-of the beamsl Numerals 18 indicatev floor-joists which arevdisposed transverselyof ythe girders-15 t"andnare supported at their ends upon the strips ofcangle'ironlQwhich vare securedto the girders, said floor joists also being secured to the girders by means of angle plates jallel with the girders and parallel with the linev of vehicle travel being a decided ad;

vantagelsincethe planks will present a more even surface-for the vehicle wheels, and

lwhen -thusydispofsed a lesser number 'of planlgsyobviously, will be exposed to wear.

It will alsobe'seen thatthe placing of the floor joists 18 transversely of the girders 15 and securingthemy rigidly-to said girders atv shortmintervals, faddsimmeasurably to the v,carryingvalue of the girdersbypreventing side-deflection and torsion usually'found iny longgirders under load` The present construction permits the girders to move downward/freadily` lwhen, loaded beyond their fixedcapacity. v

It rwill-,thusbe seen that the girders "15 whichsupport the-floor 22 may support a load f of certain weight-without any stresses bei-ng L. directed to the old truss span. Howfeverwm operation,the lloadon the floor 22 a locking-plate or block,` 23 each block 23 roadway of the old truss spanandy-the `greatly-to its valuefor-f-,usein aligningkthemfg.

may Vbe so great that thegirders, between their ends, maybe bent downwardlyror ,defiected until the ylower flanges of saidgird-` ers areA pressed upon the beams 10, sothat said beams, togetherwith the truss span 6 70 will sustain stresses, and by the construction described,1the -old and new parts co-operate to great advantage; and by use of the invention, oldgbridgesfmay be so reinforced that they may sustain any required weight, at comparatively, a limited cost@ ,Y

Any suitable means maybe provided for;A maintaining they posts ;9, and bo'X frames-5,8m, .1 in vertical alignment'Vl andinin ::uni-fo r 1nlyfg-1 spaced relation with the girdersgl aItldL-par 18 allel vwith the webs of g said,` girdersgissafl; means, of course, p'ermittingna depression; of the girders, the means shown hereincoOns; sisting of the threaded,stationarygaligningf j Vbolts '11, each being adjustably!v mounted ngiwff" theA side plates-a by means of suitable; keepg-'i` `ers efand each being'providednwithia hea engaging in a vertical-channel AgI for-medal;

being secured toagirderll and".beingpIO l. vided with a vertical V4slot .It openingffoV channel g for receivinga reduced:partrornv neck 7c of a bolt,11theseipartsbeing of suchfis. proportions that expansion or :contraction of the girders'or other-metalliczparts-will$5 not prevent or interfere withfoperation'; and it will be understood l that the girdersgma move freely to a depressed-,positioninto-engi gagement with :the beamsqlO,when,sustainfaG4 ing a certain weight,-;Y o r may,I move togtheirfloov normal position, thebolts 11 remaining st tionary with their,headsfyloosely engagin in the channels g, the resugltgbeingthat y posts 9 willl be maintained-in:avertical o sition, equidistant from the girders, wliethf; 105e er the girdersare d epressedor at lnormaljpo-` e, sition.y

1t willA be `understood ,f that, asdeserti-bed, the .bolts 11A operate asA coupleing;-fmembers,,-l and since the websof thewgirders willems-1102 main in ar verticalposition',they-keepers c, may be rotated for adjusting-the positionpsI4 of the box framesiS to;cause said fra-rnesgand; posts 9 to move to a vertical positioni and tjoj be thus maintained, Y

Since the joists `are disposedfatyshort yiii-p tervals transversely-'of the girders and sea`V cured thereto, as described, theseqpartsao erate as a unit-and` forma rigid-v,baser hev -width of which lis equaltothegwidth ofth rigid construction .mentioned-,- in; A oonneetiori Y with the bolts 11 andtheirfgoperttion,addgm members of` the old truss span.A s., 1253s WhileVin theydrawing, piers have;dieene1.-` shown for supporting-the old-truss spaniand;,y4 reinforcing girders, it will of course be un1;- derstood that they invention LVis operative in instances where A other ground ifsupportsearepnaz employed, and in they claims, the piers, bents or abutments, tor convenience, are desigi nated as groundfsupports-- While l have specifically shown and described construction, it will be understood thatchanges may be made in size, form,

truss span and provided with a floor, said girders being normally disposed above and adjacent to the cross-beams and engagingy said ground supports and adapted to -be deflected downwardly into engagement with said cross-beams.

2. The combination with the ground sup-y ports and truss span or a bridge, said truss span being provided with posts arranged in pairs at its opposed sides and having crossbeams extending between and connected with the posts of each pair, of girders connected with and adapted to have vertical movcf ments independently of the truss span and provided with a iloor, said girders be-` ing disposed above and normally `disengaged from the cross-beams with their ends on said ground supports and adapted to be deflected between their ends for engaging said cross-beams` K 3. The combination with the truss span of a bridge, said truss span being mounted on ground supports and having crossbeams adapted `to and adapted tohave movements independently of said truss span, joists disposed transversely oiand secured to the girders,

planks parallel with the girders and secured to said joists, said girders` being mounted on the ground supports and adapt` ed to support an applied weight while dis-` posed above and adjacent `to the crossbeams and adaptedto` be pressed downwardly upon the cross-beams when an additional weight is .applied thereto to `permit the crossbeams to support said additional weight.y A v v e. The combination with the ground supports and truss span of a bridge, said truss span including posts arrangedin ,pairs at its opposed sides, oi' a: plurality oiitranies` each extending below and secured to a post, cross-beams having their endssecuredmto the trames of the posts of each pair, girders provided with a iioor, said girders being diposed abo-ve and normally disengaged from the cross-beams with their ends engaging said ground supports, and a plusupport an applied weight,iot a pair ot girders connected with rality` of bolts for coupling the `frames `with the girders and for maintaining them in spaced relation and permitting the girders to be pressed downwardly into engagement with the cross-beams. t

5. JThe combination with the ports and truss span ot a bridge, said truss span being provided at its sideswith posts arranged in pairs opposite to each other ground supand having cross-,beams connecting the` posts ot each pair, of a plurality of gird-V ers, joists disposed transverselyof and secured to the girders, planks secured to the joists and disposed parallelwith the girdn ers, said `girders being disposed above in normal disengagement with the crossbeams@` with-their ends upon said ground supy ports, and a plurality of aligning-bolts connecting the posts with the girders tor maintaining them in spaced `relation and permitting the girders to engage the crossbeams when said girders are pressed downwardly.

6. ln reentorcing means for a bridge, the u combination with a truss span having its ends mounted on ground supports, ,said` truss span including postsandbeing provided withj cross-beams` which extend -be-` `tween and are: secured to the lower ends ot the'posts, `of a pair of girders above and normally disengaged from the `cross-beams and mounted at their ends upon said ground supports, iioor joists disposedtrans-l versely of and secured `to the girders, planks on the floor joistsfhavingtheir upper sides disposed approximately in line roo with the uppermost parts of `the girders,"

and elements connecting the posts with the girders `for maintaining them in spaced re? lation and permitting thev girders to engage the cross-beams when deflected by a suicient weight applied thereto. Y

7. The combination with the truss span of a bridge, said truss span having its ends mounted `on ground` supports kand `provided ywith cross-beams adapted to resist stresses, of a pair of girders loosely connectedwith rand adapted to haveverticalmovements inn dependently of the truss spany and provided with a ioor and mounted at their ends upon said ground supports, said girders being adapted to resist stresses directed `thereto by a weight whiledisposedabove and disengaged from `the cross-beams and adapted to move `into engagement with the cross-beams `when additional stresses 4are,

directed thereto'to` permit said additional stresses to be resisted by said truss span.

ln'testimony` whereof, Ihave atiixed `my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT Z. DRAKE.

` "Witnesses:`

Hman A. S'riniens.` ARTHUR H. `S'ru'iiens.

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