US1966974A

US1966974A - Method and apparatus for use in connection with the setting of bridge pier caissons

Info

Publication number: US1966974A
Application number: US678561A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vermont Cornelius
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-07-01
Filing date: 1933-07-01
Publication date: 1934-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1951-07-17

Description

July 17, 1934. Q VERMONT r 1,966,974

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTING OF BRIDGE PIER CAISSONS Filed July 1, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l l jig i' m A TTORN E Y5.

M' MW July 17, 1934. Q VERMONT 1,966,974

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTING OF BRIDGE PIER c IssoNs Filed July 1, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR Z Z ww Sm I ATTORNE S.

.Fuiy 17, 1934. Q VERMONT 1,966,974

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTING OF BRIDGE PIER CAISSONS Filed July 1, 1933 3 Sheets$heet v5 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNE S.

Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION, WITH THE SETTING OF BRIDGE PIER CAISSONS Cornelius Vermont, Ridgefield Park, N. J.

Application July 1, 1933, SerialNo. 678,561 8 Claims. (Cl. 6163) My invention relates to the setting of bridge pier caissons, and one of the objects thereof is the provision of a method and apparatus whereby a great deal of the labor and trouble incident i to the methods now'employed in the setting of bridge pier caissons are eliminated, my invention providing a falsework structure adapted to be assembled on shore or in drydock and floated to the caisson site and used for steadying and guiding and preventing lateral movement of the caisson as the same is being set or sunk, this falsework comprising cylinders which are employed in floating the falsework to the pier site, and thereafter to moor the falsework, the necessity of employing the anchors and the like that are now employed in placing or setting caissons being eliminatedJ Briefly my improved construction provides a fabricated steel framework erected in drydock or from barges, this framework being of the proper dimensions to bound or surround or enclose the caisson at the pier site. The framework is equipped with bulkheaded water-tight cylinders providing the necessary buoyancy to enable the falsework, i. e. the framework and cylinders to be floated to the pier site. When the falsework is on exact location the'cylinder bulkheads are removed, the cylinders sunk to bottom one by one, dredged to a previously calculated depth into firm material and then filled with sand or earth taken from the river or bay bottom to provide additional rigidity and stability. The caisson may then be floatedin'place over the site and the fourth side of the falsework brought into position, secured in place to the rest of the falsework and moored by its cylinders. The caisson may then be sunk in the usual manner. In sinking or setting the caisson the falsework acts as a guide as will be understood, serving to insure setting of the caisson on exact location, and during the sinking operation guide blocks are interposed between the caisson'and the false-work and maintained approximately ten feet above the cutting edge of the caisson, to steady the caisson and hold it' in correct position as it is being sunk. These guide blocks move down with the caisson until the cutting edge of the caisson enters the bay or river bottom, the blocks thereafter continuing to function in restraining the caisson against lateral movement.

After the caisson has been sunk to thejdesired elevation the cylinders are out 01f adjacent the bottom, the cylinders raised, and new bulkheaded bottom sections added permitting the falsework to be floated to another caisson site.

It will be" seen, therefore, that my invention provides for the erection of the mooring apparatus forthe caisson on shore where the work may be done expeditiously and at minimum expense and eliminates the necessity of employing the anchors, tackle, etc. commonly used in the placing of caissons. This alone is of material advantage as will be appreciated by those skilled in this art, inasmuch as it permits of the placing of the caisson with the desired degree of accuracy and with the minimum of effort and expense.

In the drawings accompanying this application and which show one embodiment of the invention:

'Fig. 1 is a plan view of the falsework' employed in the practice of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of Fig. 1 showing the sinking of one of the mooring cylinders;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows the falsework on location and the caisson in position therein;

Fig. 6 is a detail View of one form of roller block employed between the sides of the caisson and the falsework;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 7'7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 'is a sectional elevation of one of the mooring cylinders;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the permanent attachment of a cylinder to the falsework; and

' Fig. 11 is a view of another form of roller block. Referring to the drawings in detail, my im proved apparatus comprises a fabricated steel falseworkcomposed of a framework comprising upper and lower trusses, the upper trusscomprising braced chords 1 and 2, the lower truss braced chords 3, the two trusses being braced with X-bracing 4 and 5, although it will be understood that truss bracing may be employed if desired. The top trussof the framework as shown'in Fig. 1, for instance, is of substantial width and can be used as a working platform when the apparatus is in use.

.The framework is four sided, the sides which are designated 6, 7, Sand 9 being divided into sections tied together by heavy pins or bolts or other suitable device.

' Each of the sections 6, '7, 8 and 9 of the framework is equipped with sectional mooring cylinders 11, the lower section of each of these cylinders being bulkheaded as shown at 12. Each cylinder section also is equipped exteriorly with vertically .extending reinforcing I -beams l3 welded to the cylinders 90 apart and interiorly with a vertically extending truss diaphragm 13. These truss diaphragms as will be seen from Fig. I extend across the cylinders from one I-beam to the other, and are connected thereto so that the whole structure is aninte'gral unit. The adjacent ends of the cylinder sections may conveniently be provided with peripheral flanges 15 to permit of boltingthe sections together, and

the truss diaphragms terminate flush with the ends of the cylinder sections so'that these diaphragms may be bolted together also thereby providing in effect a rigid unitary structure, giving a through truss effect.

Each bay 16 of the framework which is to re-- ceive a cylinder is composed of the top chords 1 and 2 and cross members; 17 and 18.

The reinforcing I-beams 13 of each cylinder section ride or bear against the top chord 2 and the side members 17 and 18 of the bay of the framework which receives the cylinder.

The bottom truss of theframework' is provided with a bracelet structure for receiving the cylinders as illustrated in Fig. 4, which is slightly different from that in the upper truss of the framework in that the inner of the lower-chords 3 is divided at its-end into two parts designated 21 and 22, the adjacent ends of these two parts being spaced a substantial distance apart as plainly shown in Fig. 4. This is for the purpose of accommodating two I-beams 23 and- 24; with which the sections of some of the cylinders on the side adjacent the inner face'of the falsework are provided. These I-beams, one function of which is to stiffen the cylinders, are disposed in pairs slightly spaced from each other circumferentially of the cylinder sections. This construction provides for avoiding catching of the guide blocks on the chord of the lower truss as the guide blocks are being lowered into position.

The two

parts

21 and 22 of thechord3 are tied together with a removable structural steelmember 27.

In the practice of my invention the falsework is erected in drydock, enough cylinder sections being set in place in the bays 16 and bolted together so that the cylinder sections will extend at least from the upper to the lower truss of the framework. The lower section of each mooring cylinder is bulkheaded at its lower end as shown at 12 as above pointed out.

The cylinders 11 may be made fast to the .framework'temporarily by the construction shown in Fig. 9, from which it will. be seen that wooden filler wedges 2' are placed behind the web of the chord 2, and bolts B passed through the web of structure to be floated to the site.

In some cases a drydock' may not be available for assembling the falsework, in which event scows can be used to form a floating platform approximating the plan area of the caisson from which the falsework. can be assembled.

When the falsework is on exact location' it may be made fast to barges 30 which temporarily support the falsework during the progressive lowering' of the cylinders 11. Sinking of the cylinders is accomplishedby admitting water therein, sections being added as the cylinderssink, until. the bay or river bottom is reached. This operation is shown in Fig. 2: for example. In sinking, the cylinders may be supported from the upper truss of the framework, by falls 31, the truss in turn being supported at that point by barges 30.

The bulkheads 12 which may be of comparatively light construction are now removed or broken out and the cylinders dredged to any desired elevation into the material of the bottom, say for example thirty feet, cylinder sections being addedas required. On the completion of the installation of the cylinders the top of each cylinderis flush, or approximately so, with the top plane of the upper truss of the framework.

The cylinders are finally permanently attached to-the' falsework as illustrated in Fig. 10 by bolting. the I-beam 13 to the web of chord 2, metal wedges 32 being interposed between the Web of the'chord and the flange of the I-beam. Concrete is next preferably placed in the cylinders for a depth of several feet and then material taken from the bay or river bottom to give additional mass and strength to the cylinders.

Temporary strut 25 can now be removed and the caisson, designated 26,- floated into the three sided falsework enclosure, The end section 9 of the falsework is then towed into position, the cylinders 11 of this section sunk as above described andthis section. secured to the adjacent sections of the falsework already in place. We now have the. caisson enclosed by the framework of the falseworkand braced by the cylinders which support it.

I next lower roller blocks 27 by wire rope falls 28 into position between the I-

beams

23 and 24 of the cylinders of the end sections of the falsework and the sides of the caisson. As will be seen from Fig. 6- each of these blocks is made upof structural steel, the outer face of each block riding against the I-

beams

23 and 24 while the inner face which is provided with rollers 29 bears against the sides of the caisson 26.

The side members 6 and 8 of the falsework are preferably equipped with pairs ofcylinders 11 instead of the single cylinders shown for the end members '7 and 9, althoughfor that matter these end members may be similarly equipped if desired, the number of cylinders employed depending to a large extent upon the current at the site and the size of the caissonto be handled.

When the cylinders 11 are used in pairs, as seen in. Fig. 11, then single I-beams 13 are employed instead of equipping each cylinder with pairs of I-beams such as show-nat23 and 24 in Fig. i. In this case also I employ a guide block 33 of structural steel bridging I-beams. 13 on adjacent cylinders, and equipped on its outer face with rollers 34. Theguide blocks are lowered into position in much the. same wayas described in connection with the blocks'27.

The caisson 26 may now be sunk tothe desired elevation in the usual manner, the immovable falsework allowing minimum lateral displacement of the caisson so that the latter will be sunk or set with precision.

After the caisson has been sunk to the desired elevation the. guide blocks 27 and 33 are removed, the cylinders emptied of fill, the lowermost cylinder sections cut off at the first joint, a new bulkheaded lower. section attached to provide the necessary buoyancy for floating, the falsework which may then be towed to another caisson site. 1

It is to be understood that by making the falsework in sections, I may remove or add sections, as desired, to vary the size of the framework .to-accommodate caissons of different dimensions.

It is to be understood ofcour-se also that the number of. mooring cylinders and their location with respect to the falsework may be varied to suit the particular job being worked on.

It will be appreciated from all of the foregoing that my invention provides a relatively inexpensive method and apparatus useful in connection with the sinking of caissons, well adapted for use in waters where there may be considerable current and where under existing methods difficulty would be experienced in holding the caisson against shifting during sinking or setting of the same to the desired elevation.

What I claim is:

1. In the sinking or setting of caissons the method which involves erecting a falsework, composed of a framework and mooring cylinders, remote from the site, floating the falsework to the site or location employing the cylinders as the supporting medium, lowering the cylinders vertically relatively to the framework to sink the cylinders, adding sections to the cylinders as the same move downwardly, after the cylinders are down in firm material permanently attaching the cylinders to the framework and then adding material to the cylinders taken from the site until the cylinders have acquired the desired mass to moor the falsework frame, floating the caisson over the site into position to be surrounded or enclosed by the frame of the falsework, and finally sinking the caisson to the desired elevation, the falsework restraining the caisson against lateral displacement during the sinking operation.

2. A structure for use in connection with the sinking of caissons, said structure comprising a framework adapted to receive and surround the caisson, bulkheaded cylinders attached to and providing sufficient buoyancy to float the framework, said cylinders being movable vertically of the framework and said bulkheads being removable to permit the cylinders to be sunk into the bay or river bottom to hold the framework and caisson against movement.

3. A structure for use in connection with the sinking of caissons, said structure comprising a framework adapted to surround the caisson and composed of upper and lower trusses, bracing connecting the trusses, and sectional cylinders mounted in said trusses and movable vertically thereof into the bay or river bottom to hold the framework and caisson against movement.

4. In combination a caisson, a structure comprising a falsework frame adapted to surround the caisson, cylinders carried by the falsework and movable vertically thereof to permit of sinking the same in the bay or river bottom to hold the frame and caisson against movement, and guide blocks intermediate the caisson and cylinders to take the lateral thrust of the caisson.

5. In combination a caisson, a sectional falsework frame adapted to surround the caisson, and composed of upper and lower trusses with means for connecting the same to each other, sectional cylinders carried by said frame and movable vertically thereof to permit of sinking the same in the bay or river bottom to hold the frame and caisson against movement, guide blocks intermediate the caisson and cylinders to take the lateral thrust of the caisson and truss partitions within said cylinder sections secured to said cylinder sections and to each other.

6. A structure for use in connection with the sinking of caissons, said structure comprising in combination a falsework frame composed of upper and lower trusses and means for tying the trusses to each other, sectional cylinders passing vertically through said trusses and movable therein to permit of the cylinders being sunk in the bay or river bottom, means for attaching the cylinders to the frame whereby the frame is held against movement, reinforcing beams on the exterior of said cylinders, and truss diaphragms within the cylinders, said beams and diaphragms being so disposed as to take the lateral thrust of a caisson enclosed by said frame.

7. In combination a caisson, a framework composed of upper and lower trusses adapted to surround the caisson, cylinders mounted in the framework and adapted to be moved vertically thereof into the bay or river bottom to restrain the framework and caisson against movement, reinforcing beams along the exterior of the cylinders, roller blocks intermediate the cylinders and the caisson to take the lateral thrust of the caisson, said cylinders being arranged in pairs, and each block bridging the beams of adjacent cylinders.

8. A structure for use in connection with the sinking of caissons, comprising in combination a framework adapted to enclose or surround the caisson, cylinders mounted in the framework for supporting the same, said cylinders extending below the bottom of the framework so as to be sunk into the bay or river bottom to restrain the framework against shifting, said cylinders being made in sections secured to each other to provide a unitary structure, reinforcing and stiffening beams extending lengthwise of the cylinders and secured to the exterior thereof, sectional truss diaphragms within each cylinder, the several sections of the diaphragms being secured to each other and to the cylinder sections and each diaphragm extending transversely of the cylinder from one of said beams to the beam at the opposite side of the cylinder, thereby to provide a rigid unitary cylinder structure to take the lateral thrust of a caisson enclosed or surrounded by the framework.

CORNELIUS VERMONT.