US443714A

US443714A - Bridge

Info

Publication number: US443714A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1907-12-30

Description

(No Model.)

I N, W. MOG'IFPIN.

BRIDGE.

Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

v I I fbeflcoz J WW/Z3 3513 whom w,

,B 1 94 644, eooeo UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

NATHANIEL IV. MQGIFFIN, OF CANAL LEWISVILLE, OHIO.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,714, dated December 30, 1890. Application filed June 17, 1890. Serial No. 355,756. (F0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL W. MoG1F- FIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canal Lewisville, in the county of Coshocton and Stateof Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in bridges; and it consists in the novel features of construction and combination hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification I have shown one form in which I have contemplated embody- -ing my invention, and the same is fully disclosed in the following specification and claims.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved bridge. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one side of the same. Fig. 3 is a crosssection of the bridge adjacent to one end of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a bridge which by its construction will dispense almost entirely with mortises, which weaken the timbers employed, and thereby secure the full strength of the material, and an arrange ment for bracing the bridge so as to render it as strong at the center as at. the ends.

My invention further contemplates a construction by which my improved bridges may be placed in position to any angle where the cavity to be bridged extends at an angle across the road-bed by pivoting together the members of the weight-sustaining frame.

In the drawings, A A A A represent a series of parallel stringers upon which the flooring is to rest. These stringers are pivotally secured at each end to the cross-beams B B by means of bolts b or other suitable connection. The stringers A A are arranged at each side of the bridge at a short distance apart, and the stringers A A may be placed at the same or a greater distance apart, as found desirable.

At each end of the bridge are two posts 0 O and C C,the lower extremities of which are shouldered at c c, as shown, and extend down between the two outer stringers, which may be slightly recessed to engage the same, as shown in Fig. 3. The posts 0 C are con nected by the rails D, which are suitably secured to the same by bolts or spikes or other preferred means.

Each side of the bridge is provided with the inclined braces E E, which extend from the foot of each post 0 C to the centerof the top rail D, thus supporting the said rail at the center from the ends of the bridge, as clearly shown in the drawings. These braces E E have their lower ends shouldered at e e, leaving a tongue which extends down between the two outer stringers A A, thus giving them a secure base of resistance.

Beneath the center of the bridge is located the cross-brace F, which is held in position to support the centers of the stringers A A by vertical bolts G, extending from the top rail, where they preferably extend through suitable plates II down between or at one side of the stringers A A and through the crossbrace F. This rod or bolt G is provided with a nut or nuts, by means of which the crossbrace may be drawn up very tightly to engage and support the stringers A A. I also provide the brace-rods K K, which extend from the top rail D or the plate H, as shown, down to the outer extremity of the cross-brace F, where each engages a staple f. The lower ends of the brace-rods K are provided with adj Listing-nuts 7a, which are screwed up, so as to draw the parts very tight and assist in supporting the cross-brace. The sides' of the bridge may be provided with one or more longitudinally-extending rails L L, and may be weather-boarded at the sides or left open, as desired.

\Vhen it is desired to set a bridge constructed as above over a stream or across an opening, the ends of the bridge are suitably supported on abutments in any usual or preferred manner. It will .be seen that the top rail is braced in the center from the ends of the bridge, which rest upon such abutments, and the centers of the stringers are supported from the center of the top rail, thus giving great strength at the center of the bridge,

which is usually the weakest point, and making it as strong at the center as adjacent to the ends.

It often happens that a stream or gully crosses a highway at an angle thereto instead of perpendicular thereto, and as different bridges must be made at different angles it has been necessary to construct each bridge for the particular location it is to occupy.

My object is to provide a bridge which can be built and afterward adjusted to any angle when it is placed in position. This I acco1nplish by pivoting the stringers A A to the cross-bars B, as before described. The bridge is made and put together, and when put in place it can be quickly adjusted to the exact angle which the stream makes with the road, thus facilitating the placing of the bridge in position and rendering it possible to construct the same without particular reference to the angular position it must occupy. By this construction bridges might be ordered and shipped to different localities, where they can be quickly put together and placed as they can be readily adjusted, according to the circumstances of the case. I also by my construction dispense with lnortiscs, and thereby ain enabled to obtain the full strength of the material without the weakening effect of mortises.

hen the frame has been placed in position the flooring is spiked down upon the stringers in the usual manner, which will secure the said frame rigidly in its adjusted position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In the herein-described bridge, the COlllbination, with the stringers, of the cross-bars pivoted thereto, substantially as described.

2. In the herein-described bridge, the combination, with the stringers, of the shouldered supporting-posts and braces engaging two adjacent stringers, the top rail supported by said posts and braces and the cross-brace engaging the stringers adjacent to their central portions and supported from the top rail, substantially as described.

In the herein-described bridge, the C011]- bination, with the stringers, of the posts and braces, the top rail supported thereby, the cross -brace engaging and supporting said stringers adjacent to their central portions,

the vertical bolt, and ad just-able brace-rod for u supporting said cross-brace, substantially as described.

Al. In the herein-described bridge, the combination, with the stringers and cross-bars pi voted together, of the side posts and braces, the top rail supported thereby, the cross-brace engaging and supporting said stringers adjacent to their central portions, and the vertical belt for supporting said cross-brace and forming a pivotal connection for the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NATHANIEL \V. MQGIFFIN.

Witnesses:

T. J. SMITH, B. L. SHAW.