US155751A - Improvement in bridge-ladders - Google Patents

Description

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PAOLO POETA, OEl MILAN, ITALY, AssIGNOE To MIOHELE UDA ANDv MAEY BELLA soOTT UDA, OE SAME PLAOE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRIDGE-LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l55,751, datedOctober 6, 1874; application led 1 y March 25, 1874. v Y Y Bridge-Ladders or Flying Bridges; and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make a part of this specification. V

My invention relates to an improvement in bridges, which I term a bridge-ladder or flying bridge, in contradistinction to such bridges as require pier-support; and consists of the combination of devices and appliances, as hereinafter specified and claimed, consisting essentially of a truck, to which is pivoted and 'attached the lower section of the bridgeway, to which are added other sections of the same by suitable joining and bracing device, and the whole, so adjusted and arranged by suitable mechanism that, by the operation of said mechanism, my device can be used either for the purpose of a bridge, or can be raised to any desired angle, and made self-supporting by the system of adjustable counterpoise-weights Vand other devices, as ,will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the drawings', Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same.

A is the bed of a truck, at the rear part of which is pivoted the lower section B of the bridge. This section has a rigid leverarm, B1, projecting at an angle toward the rear, which bears the roller C at its extremity. A shaft or roller, D, placed upon the truck A, in front of the pivot b, is provided with a gear-wheel, c, that engages with the pinion D1 on the end of the crankshaft D2. I do not, however, limit myself to this method of operating the shaft or roller D, as any suitable equivalent mechanism may be employed for the purpose. One or more lines, E, pass down beneath the roller F, attached to the lower end of the descending brace F at the rear of the truck A; thence up to the roller G, and down again to the truckbed, to which they are securely attached. E are lines passing from the extremthey are attached to suitable winding shaftsA or rollers e2 in the forward portion of the truckbed. The rollers or shafts e2 are provided with suitable crank or gearing device. Y is a straining-line attached to the extremityof the second added section of the bridgeway, passing' from thence over the roller C of the angular lever-arm B; from thence downward around the pulley F of the descending brace F', and

thence forward, where it is attached to a suitable roller or shaft, y, operating in the truck.

bed A, and operated by suitable crank or gearing arrangement. The uprights Z upon the truck A, when in use, are suitably braced to withstand the strain put upon them. At their bases they are divided, but provided with theV hinge z upon their rear face, and the locking device z* upon their anterior face, so that when not in use they may be unlocked and turned backward upon the supports z2. To counteract any tendency to tip forward, the truck A is provided with suitable sliding or adjustable counterpoise-weights G, and, when necessary, the eXtra 'counterpoiseweights Gr', swung upon i the bars g, which are xed and braced to the truck A. When my bridge is ready for use, as shown in Fig. l, the brace-rods K K1 K2 K3 L, with their intermediate posts L', form a rigid and steady truss-support.

rlhe construction of the various parts of my bridgeway will be readily understood by reference to the drawings.

The posts L are situated at or near the ends of each section of the bridgeway, and the straining-rod K extends from the exterior end of each to the base of the next succeeding one, while a tie-rod, K1, in sections, unites the ends of all. The lever-arm B of the basesection is strongly secured by the straining rods or bars K2 K3 L. It will be `seen that the strains are all strains of extension, excepting those on the posts and upon the ways, which in both instances are longitudinal strains of compresor morel extra straining-rods, O, ,extending` from the top of the posts L to the middle portions of the way-sections, and acting in the same capacity as the rods K. The ends of the way-sections are provided with strapfloops b', Y

and are halved, mortised, or otherwise shaped so as to fit upon each other, and permit the key-bar M to be inserted. Other devices for uniting the sections and the tierods may be employed; but the devices shown are simple and effective. The truck is provided with suitable runnin g-gear and devices for braking and fixing the carriage rigidly in any desired place. The posts L are provided at their bases and upper extremities with the spurs jl, over which are slipped the extremities of the connecting tie-rods and straining-rods, and are provided with the pins or keys jl for securing the same.

My invention is susceptible of a double use, viz., of a bridge, as before described, and of a portable signallookout. The latter may be accomplished by unshipping the lines E and operating the shaft or roller D. This winds the cords E upon the shaft or roller D, and, by shortening the distance between the rollers U and F, brings the lever-arm B down and carries the section B, with all its attached sections, upward to any desired angle, as shown in my device for iiremens ladder, for which patent N o. 142,349 of the United States, dated September 2, 1873, was granted to me. In this condition the bridgeway is transformed into a ladder, at the top of which may be fixed any suitable plat-form or cage, from which observations may be taken. I have provided on the forward portion of. the truck-bed A the shaft l', with its line. This is to be used when the bridge is transformed into a si gnai-lookout, for the purpose of hoisting the platform or observatory to the top ot the elevated ladder by passing the line of the shaft I upward and throughsuitable pulley arrangement fixed to upper section of the ladder. It is also provided with suitable hooks and rests p, or other devices for depositing and carrying tie-rods, extra counterpoise-weights, removable braces, and other of the smaller detachable portions of the bridge, when said bridge is not in use, or is being transported from one place to another. When not in use all the sections of the `bridgeway, with their bracing-rods and lines,

are detached and placed upon the truck A, in which condition it will be seen that the entire structure is easily portable.

. V'lhe operation is as follows: The bridgeway is made to any desired length by the addition of a requisite number of sections thereto, which are adj usted in a horizontal position. The sections are then raised by depressing the rigid arm of the basefsection through its mechanism. In this elevated position the structure is moved to the bank ofthe stream to be crossed, when the bridge is lowered to the opposite bank. By my provision I am enabled to swing my bridge to an opposite bank of a different altitude from that on which the truck A stands. When the bridgeway has been lowered the operating parties go out upon the saine and adjust the suspension-cords in their proper position, after which they are made taut by their proper rollers, and act to sufficiently sustain the bridge.

What I claim is- The combination, with a self-supporting ladder and counterpoised portable truck, A, as described and shown, of adjustable uprights Z and adjustable suspension-cables E E', whereby said ladder may be readily transformed into a bridge, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of March, 1874.

PAOLO PORTA. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

BENJ. FRAILLE, Prof. OSCAR CoconDA.

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