US2029121A

US2029121A - Method for adjusting the length of structural members

Info

Publication number: US2029121A
Application number: US582840A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seeman Robert; Allen R Wilson
Original assignee: ERNEST H PACY
Current assignee: ERNEST H PACY
Priority date: 1931-12-23
Filing date: 1931-12-23
Publication date: 1936-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 1953-01-28

Description

Jan. 28, 1936- R. SEEMAN ET AL METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Fil ad Dec. 25, 1931 mgr INVENTORS ww Patented Jan. 28, 1936 METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Robert Seeman, Merrick, N. Y., and Allen R. Wilson, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Ernest H. Pacy, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application December 23, 1931, Serial No. 582,840

13 Claims. (01. 29-151) Our invention relates to the adjusting of the length of structural members, and is particularly useful for adjusting the length of the eye-bars for bridges, although it has numerous other applications.

In certain structures it sometimes becomes desirable to adjust the length of certain of the structural members. For instance, many bridges employ eye-bar members in their construction. These eye-bars have eyes at each end, which eyes are engaged by pins. After a period of time, the eye-bars become loose and rattle, due to wear on the edges of the bar or on the pins passing through these eyes, or due to an increase in the length of the members, or to a combination of thesecauses. Due to the fact that the members do not wear evenly, some members are increased in length, which throws too large a proportion of the strain on certain members, and as a consequence, the bridge as a whole is weakened. The strength of the structure can be increased and its life materially lengthened if this wear can be taken up. Occasionally it is necessary to increase the length of these eye-bars, and sometimes it is necessary to replace one.

It has heretofore been customary to construct devices of the general nature herein contemplated, in such manner that the device has to I be left in position on the structural member when the repair is completed. This is both unsightly and expensive, particularly in a structure where several of its members have been adjusted by the method disclosed, for instance, in U. S. Patent No. 1,714,187, granted May 21, 1929, to Ernest H. Pacy, and over which the present invention is an improvement.

According to our invention, we provide a method for adjusting or changing the length of structural members, whereby such means can be used over and over again for this purpose. It is particularly useful for taking up slack in the eye-bars of bridges. It can also be used in operations in which the length of such eye-bars is to be increased, and it has numerous other applications.

This invention contemplates the use of a takeupdevice or an adjustable connector utilizing a screw-thread adjustment which can be removably connected at spaced points to the structural members, the length of which it is desired to adjust or change. In practice, shoulder plates are connected to the members, preferably by welding. The take-up device is removably connected to such shoulder plates and the threaded members tightened so as to test the connections.

The eye-bar may then be severed as by a cutting torch, and the overall length of the bar adjusted by means of the threaded members. The severed portions of the eye-bar are then fastened together by splice plates which are secured in position, preferably by welding. The take-up device may then be removed.

In the accompanying drawing, we have shown for purposes of illustration only, one form of apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the method of practicing the invention with the take-up device in position on the structural element to be adjusted, the drawing showing the parts after the adjusting operation has been completed;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line IIII of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal center line section of the adjusted eye-bar after the take-up device has been removed;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line IV-IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line VV of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the take-up device in position.

In practicing our invention, we provide a device which may be secured to the structural element, the length of which is to be adjusted, after which the structural element is severed at a point intermediate the length of said device, said device then taking the tension. The device which we have shown for this purpose comprises two sets of plates, one set being designated 2 and the other set being designated 3. The two plates of each set are provided with registering holes through which bolts 4 are passed, these bolts being provided with nuts so that the plates can be clamped onto the structural member 5 which is to be repaired. Inserted between the plates 2 are the flattened end portions 8 of rods 1 having threaded portions 8. Similar rods 9 with fiattened end portions and threaded portions II are bolted to the plates 3. The threaded portions 8 and I l of these rods are reversely threaded and are engaged by a turnbuckle I 2.

In the use of this device, the point is first selected along the length of the eye-bar at which the repair is to be made. Shoulder plates or buttresses I3 are first welded onto both faces of the eye-bar some distance from the point where the eye-bar is to be severed. These plates are preferably bifurcated as shown in order that to their respective platesj After the take-up device comprising the winggplates and the adjustable rods, has been thus secured to the eye-bar, it is severed at E31. If the eye-bar is too long, or it is desired to shorten it to take up for wear at its ends, a definite length of metal is removed at the point l4, whereas if itis desired to lengthen the eyeT-bar, a single cut at this point is made; After the cutting has been completed, the turnlgiuckles are operated either to draw the severed ends towgrd each other or to let them move apart to the necessary extent, depending on whether the operation is one of shortening or lengthening the bar. After the proper adjustment has been made, splice plates !5 arefwelded to the opposite faces of the severed ends of the bar. These splice plates also preferably have bifurcated end portions in order to increase the length of the edge weld. The splice plates having been secured in place, the jjtake-up device may then be removed. In reme-ving them, the turnbuckles are preferably slacked off gradually in order that thestrain will be gadually applied to the splice plates so that if there is any Weakness in the splice it may, be detected before the take-up device has been ompletely removed. In operating in this way, the same take-up device can be used over and ovfer again;

It may frequently happen that the eye-bars are of greater thicknesthan the width of the flattened terminal portions of the threaded rod members. In case the eye-bars 5 are thicker than the flattened end portions 6 and I0 of the threaded rod members, shims l6 should be inserted between the flattened ends and the wing plates 2 and 3, is shown in Figure 5. After the splicing of the ends has been completed, the joint comprises merely the two splice plates connectinggi he adjacent ends of the bar, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The shoulder plates l3 remain impositionlon the bar and are available for use in the event that any further adjustment should ever be required.

7 It will be appreciated that the invention may Joeused in a like manner for joining the' ends of @any two structural members, particularly when ;such members are placed in a structure where they are under tension.

g The method provides a convenient and satisfactory process for adjusting the length of the structural members, or joining the ends of two structural members. It has a considerable advantage over methodsi'as heretofore practiced wherein the take-up device, which is necessarily heavy and expensive, must remain as a permanent, integral part of the structure, these take-up devices being unsightly .:as well as expensive.

' It will be understood'that we have illustrated and described in detail a preferred embodiment,

removable take-up device to the member spaced points thereon, tightening the take-up Will device to put it under strain to test 1t, thereafter severing the structural member in'the por tion spanned by the take-up device, adjusting the severed ends with respect toeach other, joining the severed ends, and removing the take-up device from the member.

2. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, which comprises fastening shoulder plates'lthereto at spaced. points, applying a removable take-up device to'the member to cooperate with the shoulder plates, tightening the taise-up device so'as to test the shoulder plates severing the structural member between the connections, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, applying splice plates tp the severed ends to joint them, and removing the take-up device from the member.

3. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, which comprises :iastening shou der plates to the member as spaced points, applying a removable take-up device to the shoulder plates, tightening the take-up device so as to test the welds, severing the structural member between the shoulder plates, welding a splice plate to the severed ends to join them, and removing the take-up device from the member.

4. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, which comprises fastening shoulder plates to the member at spaced points, applying a removable take-up device to the shoulder plates, tightening the take-up device so as to test the welds, severing the structural member between the shoulder plates, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, welding a splice plate with bifurcated ends to the severed portions and on each side thereof, and removing the take-up devicefrom the member.

5. The method of adjusting the length Ora structural member, which comprises applying a removable take-up device to the member at spaced points thereon, severing the structural member between the spaced points, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, joining the severed ends and removing the take-up device from the member.

6. The method of "adjusting the ;length of structural members, which comprises fastening shoulder plates thereto at spaced'points thereon, applying wing plates adapted: to cooperate with and bear against the ends of the shoulder plates, connecting the wing plates by means of adjusting members, and thereafter varying the length of the adjusting members tonnove the parts .to which the shoulder plates are attached toward or away from each other. H

'7. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, which comprises welding shoulder plates to the member on opposite sides thereof and at spaced points thereon, removably connecting a? take-up device to cooperate'with and bear against the shoulder plates, severing the structural member between the shoulder plates, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, joining the severed ends and iremoving the take-up device from the member.

8. The method of adjusting the length or a structural member, which comprises welding shoulder plates to the member at spaced points thereon, removably connecting a take-up device to cooperate with theshoulder plates, severing the structural member between the shoulder plates, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, applying splice plates to join the severed ends of said member, and removing the take-up device from the member. I

9. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member, which comprises welding shoulder plates with one end bifurcated to the member at spaced points thereon, removably connecting a take-up device to cooperate with the shoulder plates, severing the structural member between the shoulder plates, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, applying splice plates with bifurcated ends on each side of the structural member to join the severed ends of said member, and removing the take-up device from the member.

10. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member in the structure, which comprises forming buttresses thereon at spaced points in the length of said member, applying an adjustable connector to said member in such manner as to cooperate with the buttresses, taking up on said connector to exert a strain on the buttresses to test the security thereof, severing the structural member between the buttresses, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, and thereafter joining the ends and remov- Eng the adjustable connector.

11. The method of adjusting the length of a structural member in the structure, which comprises forming buttresses thereon at spaced points in the length of said member, applying an adjustable connector to said member in such manner as to cooperate with the buttresses, severing the structural member between the buttresses, adjusting the severed ends with respect to each other, and thereafter joining the ends and removing the adjustable connector.

12. A method of the class described, comprising the formation of buttresses on a structural element at each side of a point where said element is to have a joint, applying an adjustable connector to said element in such manner as to bear against the buttresses thereon, adjusting said connector to bring the portions of said element to be joined into the desired relation, forming a joint between such portions, and removing the adjustable connector.

13. A method of the class described, comprising welding shoulder plates on a structural member to form buttresses at each side of a point where said member is to have a joint, applying an adjustable connector to said element in such manner as to bear against the buttresses thereon, adjusting said connector to bring the portions of said element to be joined into the desired relation, applying splice plates to the two portions of said element to join them, and removing the adjustable connector.

ALLEN R. WILSON. ROBERT SEEMAN.