US3204269A

US3204269A - Bridge

Info

Publication number: US3204269A
Application number: US81600A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thornton L Urquhart
Original assignee: BYRNE DOORS Inc
Current assignee: BYRNE DOORS Inc
Priority date: 1961-01-09
Filing date: 1961-01-09
Publication date: 1965-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-07

Description

BRIDGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1961 INVENTOR.

THOR/V70 A. (/RQ (/HART Sept. 7, 1965 T. L. URQUHART BRIDGE Filed Jan. 9, 1961 P 7, 1965 T. L. URQUHART 3,204,269

BRIDGE Filed Jan. 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

THORNTON z. wequmqer United States Patent O 3,204,269 BRIDGE Thornton L. Urquhart, Farmiugton, Mich, assignor to Byrne Doors, Inc, Ferndale, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Jan. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 81,600 Claims. (Cl. 14-1) This invention relates generally .to bridges.

One object of the invention is to provide a bridge which is particularly adapted for temporary use. One such use might, for example, be to span freshly laid concrete.

Another object is to provide a bridge which is inexpensive to manufacture, composed of only a few simple parts and easy to assemble and disassemble, yet which is of sturdy construction capable of supporting buses, fireengines, or other heavy vehicles. Need for a temporary bridge of this sort to carry necessary traffic, including buses and emergency equipment, has been increasingly obvious with the growing amount of paving of metropolitan and urban streets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a temporary bridge as described above having a minimum clearance with respect to the ground underneath.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bridge composed of road sections arranged end-to-end to provid a continuous road surface, in which the remote outer ends of the road sections are adapted to engage and rest upon the ground and the adjacent inner ends of the road sections are coupled together and supported above and clear of the ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bridge as described above in which the means for coupling together the adjacent inner ends of the road sections includes a center splice extending beneath the road sections, the adjacent inner ends of the road sections resting on and being supported by the center splice and the ends of the center splice being connected to and suspended from the respective road sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bridge in which the center splice is suspended from the road sections by means of hooks provided on the ends of the center splice adapted to engage over pins provided on the road sections.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a bridge embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the bridge shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of one of the structural members making up a section of the bridge.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of a center splice.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the bridge is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and is shown in FIG. 2 spanning a width of concrete 12. The bridge is composed of the

identical road sections

14 and 16, and the two identical center splices 18 which couple together the adjacent inner end portions of the road sections. The assembled bridge is supported only at the remote outer ends 19 of the road sections along opposite edges of the concrete, as viewed in FIG. 2. The

3,204,269 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 outer ends of the road sections simply rest upon the ground so that no elaborate preparations are required to be made vfor the bridge.

Since the

road sections

14 and 16 are identical, only one will be described in detail. The road section 14 is composed of a rigid frame made up of suitable I-beams and channels, and planking over the frame which provides the road surface. The frame composed of the channels and I-beams is generally designated 20 and the planking or planks over the top of the frame is generally designated 22.

Four main laterally spaced parallel longitudinally extending I-beams are included in the frame 20 of road section 14. These I-beams are designated 24, 26, 28 and 30. These I-beams are identical and are arranged in pairs as shown in FIG. 1 with the

beams

24 and 26 adjacent one longitudinal edge of the road section in spaced relation and the

beams

28 and 30 along the other longitudinal edge of the road section likewise in spaced relation. A plurality of parallel transversely extending longitudinally spaced I-beams 32 extend between the I- lbea-

ms

24 and 26, and at their ends are rigidly welded thereto. Similar I-beams 32 extend between and are welded at their ends to the I-bea-ms 2 8 and 30. These I-beams are likewise parallel and extend transversely of the road section in longitudinally spaced relation. 1- beams 34 extend transversely of the road section in parallel longitudinally spaced relation and at the their ends are rigidly welded to the I-

be'ams

26 and 28.

At either end of the road section 14 there is a channel 36 extending between and welded at its ends to the I-

beams

24 and 26. Similar channels 36 likewise extend between the I-

beams

28 and 30 at either end of the road section and are welded at their ends to such I-beams. Somewhat longer channels 38 extend between and are welded at their ends to the I-

beams

26 and 28. The channels 38 are provided at either end of the road section 14.

Between the outermost transverse I-beams 34, as well as between the outermost transverse I-beams 32, it will be noted that the I-beams 243tl are of uniform height. However, beyond the outermost I-beams 34 and to the ends of the road section the I-beams 24- 30 taper as illustrated. A tapering center longitudinally extending Lbeam 40 is provided at either end of the road section '14. One end of each channel 40 is welded to a transverse I-beam 34 and the other end is welded to a channel 38. Transverse parallel I-beams 42 extend between the longitudinal I-

bearns

26 and 40 and between the longitudinal I-

beams

28 and 40, being rigidly welded thereto at the ends. Transverse parallel I-bearns 42 also extend between and are rigidly welded at the ends to the longitudinal I-

beams

24 and 26 as well as longitudinal I-

beams

28 and 30.

The planks 22 are laid over and supported by the top flanges of I-

beams

32, 34, 40 and 42, and the top flanges of the I-beams 24- 3%) lie flush with or in the plane of the top road-forming surface of the planks. Since the planking is supported on the top flanges of the I-

beams

32, 34, 40 and 42, these top flanges lie in a plane spaced beneath the top flanges of the I-beams 24-30 by a distance equal to the thickness of the planking.

As indicated above, the I-beams 24-30 are tapered at the ends, and the I-beams 40 are correspondingly tapered throughout their length. The transverse I-beams at the tapered end portions of the road section are of a smaller height to conform with this tapering configuration. The road sections are tapered at the ends in order to keep the road surface as low as possible. The planks 22 are bolted with carriage bolts to the I-beams and to the channels 38 at the ends, suitable spacer blocks 44 3 being provided at the ends where the planks a-re bolted to the channels. Wood curbing strips 46 may be provided along both longitudinal edges of road section 14. The curbing strips are placed over the planking 22 and secured thereto in any suitable manner. The curb is shown along one longitudinal edge only in FIG. 1, although it will be understood that, if used ,at all, it will be used along both edges. The curb is not shown in FIG.

Pins 48 near one end of the road section extend between the I-

beams

24 and 26 and between the I-

beams

28 and 30 and are rigidly secured at their ends thereto. The pins 48 are aligned with one another. Additional aligned pins 50 near the other end of the road section extend between and are secured at their ends to the Iabeams 24 and 26 and the I-

beams

28 and 30. The pins support the center splices 18 described more fully hereinafter. In FIGURE 3 the center splices are shown engaging pins 48, but it will be understood that they will engage pins 50 if the road sections are reversed. Plates 50 welded to the I-beams provide added support for the pins. Pad eyes 51 are secured to the I-

beams

24 and 30 at the mid-points thereof, which is on a transverse line through the center of gravity of section 14, to be engaged by hooks for lifting and moving an assembled bridge. The I-

beams

24 and 30 also have sockets 52 for receiving the posts 53 of a fence along either side of the bridge section.

The means .for coupling the two road sections together includes a pair of identical center splices 1-8. Each center splice is composed of the parallel laterally spaced I-beams 54 which are secured together at the ends by plates 56. A pair of laterally spaced hooks 58 are provided at each end of the center splice being rigidly secured to the corresponding end plate '56. The hooks 58 at each end are transversely aligned and as seen, the upper hooked ends open downwardly and inwardly in alignment with those at the other end and are disposed above the I-beams 54. At the center of each center splice, a channel 60 is provided extending across and secured to the tops of the I-ebeams 54. The channel 60 provides a seat for the adjacent inner ends of the road sections of the assembled bridge as will become more apparent hereinafter.

Each road section is identical and each is reversible end for end since it is symmetrical about a transverse median plane. In order to assembly the bridge, the center splices are supported 'in laterally spaced parallel relation and in elevated position. The spacing between the center splices will be equal to the spacing between the aligned pins 48 or 50. Then one road section is laid over the center splices withone end disposed above and beyond the channel seat, and it is then backed off until the pins 48 thereof engage the hooks 58. The other road section is assembled in the same way, that is it is laid over the center splices from the opposite end with its inner end projecting beyond the channel support and it is then backed off until its pins 48 engage the hooks 58 at the other end of the center splices. The road sections may of course be reversed end for end in which event the hooks of the center splices will engage pins 50 instead of pins 48. Preferably an elongated spacer member, which may [be a 4 x 4 wood strip is placed on the channel support between the adjacent inner ends of the road sections to hold them spaced apart so that the bridge cannot accidentally become disassembled. The spacer is indicated at 65.

The assembled road section may be picked up by a crane having hooks which engage the pad eyes 51, and installed where desired as for example over a freshly laid concrete road. The remote or outer ends of the road sections of the assembled bridge simply rest upon the ground, and no other supporting provisions are required.

The adjacent inner ends of the road section rest on the.

channel seats 60, and the center splices are suspended beneath the road sect-ions from the pins 48. The center splices are thus supported above and clear of the road, and the bridge is supported only at its outer ends.

Since each road section is reversible end for end, it makes no difference in assembly which end is assembled with the center splices.

Since the bridge ismade of separable sections, an individual section may be used separately where a shorter span will serve the purpose. Then, of course, the in dividual road section will constitute the entire bridge and its opposite ends will be supported on the ground or on suitably raised foundations on either side of the span.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A temporary bridge comprising separate road sec- ,tions arranged end-to-end to provide a continuous road surface, the remote outer ends of said road sections being adapted to engage. and rest upon the ground, said road sections being inclined upwardly from their outer ends toward their inner ends, means for supporting the adjacent inner ends of said road sections above said outer ends thereof so that said inner ends will be above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engage and rest upon the ground, including separate rigid elongated laterally spaced center splices extending lengthwise of and beneath said road sections across the inner ends thereof, said center splices being spaced above the outer ends of said road sections so as to be above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engage and rest upon the ground, the adjacent inner ends of said road sections resting on and being supported by intermediate portions of said center splices, means for connecting the ends of saidcenter splices to and suspending the same from said respective road sections at points spaced outwardly from the supported inner ends thereof, said last-mentioned means including generally downwardly and inwardly opening hooks on said center splices at the inner ends thereof and transverse pins on said road sections adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the inner ends thereof over which said hooks respectively engage, the inner ends of said road sections being spaced apart, and a filler member wedged bewteen the inner ends of said road sections to cooperate with said hooks and pins in maintaining a predetermined spacing between said road sections.

2. A temporary bridge comprising separate'road sections arranged end-to-end to provide a continuous road surface, the remote outer ends of said road sections being adapted to engage and rest upon the ground, said sections being inclined upwardly from their outer ends toward their inner ends, means for supporting the adjacent inner ends of said road sections above the outer ends thereof so that said inner ends will be above and clear of the ground whensaid outer ends engage and rest upon the ground including a separate rigid center splice extending lengthwise of and beneath said road sections across the inner ends thereof, said center splice being spaced above 7 the outer ends of said road sections so as to be above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engage and rest upon the ground, the adjacent inner ends of said road sections resting on and being supported by an intermediate portion of said center splice, and means for connecting the ends of said center splice to and suspending the same from said respective road sections at points adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the supported inner ends thereof, said last mentioned means comprising generally downwardly opening hooks an said center splice at the ends thereof and transverse pins on said road sections adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the inner ends thereof over which said hooks respectively engage.

3. A temporary bridge comprising separate road sections arranged end-to-end to provide a continuous road surface, the remote outer ends of said road sections be ing adapted to engage and rest upon the ground, said road sections being inclined upwardly from their outer ends toward their inner ends, means for supporting the adjacent inner ends of said road sections above the outer ends thereof so that said inner ends will be above and clear of the ground when said inner ends engage and rest upon the ground including a separate rigid center splice extending lengthwise of and beneath said road sections across the inner ends thereof, said center splice being spaced above the outer ends of said road sections so as to be above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engage and rest upon the ground, the adjacent inner ends of said road sections resting on and being supported by an intermediate portion of said center splice, and means for connecting the ends of said center splice to and suspending the same from said respective road sections at points adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the supported inner ends thereof, said last mentioned means including generally downwardly and inwardly opening hooks on said center splice at the ends thereof, and transverse pins on said road sections adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the inner ends thereof over which said hooks respectively engage.

4. The bridge defined in claim 3, wherein the inner ends of said road sections are spaced apart and a filler member is disposed therebetween to cooperate with said hooks and pins in maintaining a predetermined spacing between said road sections.

5. A temporary bridge comprising separate road sections arranged end-to-end to provide a continuous road surface, the remote outer ends of said road sections being adapted to engage and rest upon the ground, said road sections being inclined upwardly from their outer ends toward their inner ends, means for supporting the adjacent inner ends of said road sections above the outer ends thereof so that said inner ends will be above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engage and rest upon the ground including a separate rigid center splice extending lengthwise of and beneath said road sections across the inner ends thereof, said center splice being spaced above the outer ends of said road sections so as to be above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engage and rest upon the ground, the adjacent inner ends of said road sections resting on and being supported by an intermediate portion of said center splice, and means for removably connecting the ends of said center splice to and suspending the same from said respective road sections at points adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the supported inner ends thereof, said last mentioned means comprising elements on said road sections adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the inner ends thereof, and members at the ends of said center splice removably engaging and suspended from said transverse elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 18,196 9/57 Earle 14-1 157,238 11/74 Stafford 50-55 297,863 4/84 Smith 20-2 414,976 11/89 Harvey 20-2 788,424 4/05 Ochs 119-82 822,581 6/06 Campbell 14-4 1,232,437 7/17 Simpson 14-72 1,378,448 5/21 Gilbert 20-2 1,733,517 10/29 Siddens 119-82 1,900,867 3/33 Olds 14-1 2,141,529 12/38 Gravelle 14-72 2,327,640 8/42 Hendry 94-11 2,827,016 3/58 Jenkins 119-82 2,912,909 11/59 Hart 94-4 X 3,066,332 12/62 Sedlacek 14-27 FOREIGN PATENTS 75,967 3/19 Australia. 300,791 9/32 Italy.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A TEMPORARY BRIDGE COMPRISING SEPARATE ROAD SECTIONS ARRANGED END-TO-END TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS ROAD SURFACE, THE REMOTE OUTER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND REST UPON THE GROUND, SAID ROAD SECTIONS BEING INCLINED UPWARDLY FROM THEIR OUTER ENDS TOWARD THEIR INNER ENDS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE ADJACENT INNER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS ABOVE SAID OUTER ENDS THEREOF SO THAT SAID INNER ENDS WILL BE ABOVE AND CLEAR OF THE GROUND WHEN SAID OUTER ENDS ENGAGE AND REST UPON THE GROUND, INCLUDING SEPARATE RIGID ELONGATED LATERALLY SPACED CENTER SPLICES EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF AND BENEATH SAID ROAD SECTIONS ACROSS THE INNER ENDS THEREOF SAID CENTER SPLICES BEING SPACED ABOVE THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS SO AS TO BE ABOVE AND CLEAR OF THE GROUND WHEN SAID OUTER ENDS ENGAGE AND REST UPON THE GROUND, THE ADJACENT INNER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS RESTING ON AND BEING SUPPORTED BY INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS OF SAID CENTER SPLICES, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID CENTER SPLICES TO AND SUSPENDING THE SAME FROM SAID RESPECTIVE ROAD SECTIONS AT POINTS SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM THE SUPPORTED INNER ENDS THEREOF, SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY OPENING HOOKS ON SAID CENTER SPLICES AT THE INNER ENDS THEREOF AND TRANSVERSE PINS ON SAID ROAD SECTIONS ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM THE INNER ENDS THEREOF OVER WHICH SAID HOOKS RESPECTIVELY ENGAGE, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS BEING SPACED APART, AND A FILLER MEMBER WEDGED BETWEEN THE INNER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS TO COOPERATE WITH SAID HOOKS AND PINS IN MAINTAINING A PREDETERMINED SPACING BETWEEN SAID ROAD SECTIONS.