Bridge assembly and method
A bridge assembly includes a plurality of platform members which may be secured to support beams via individual platform chassis which are configured to allow tool-less attachment bolt heads thereto. A plurality of specially configured clamps are attached to the free ends of the bolts and the clamps are used to secure the platform members to the platform chassis. The platform chassis are each secured to the outer support beams via L-brackets that are mounted between the chassis and support beams. The support beams include flanged channels wherein the heads of a plurality of bolts may be attached without the need for tools. The platform members may be laid in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation with respect to the outer support beams with two different clamp styles being used depending on the orientation selected.
The present invention relates to bridge systems, and more particularly relates to a strong yet versatile bridge system especially adapted for vehicle and pedestrian use (e.g., cars, emergency vehicles, motorized golf carts, four wheelers, bicycles, foot traffic, etc.).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention addresses the above need by providing a bridge assembly having components specifically designed to minimize both the complexity and time it takes to complete the installation at the job site—all while providing an extremely strong, durable and long-lasting bridge assembly requiring little to no maintenance.
In an embodiment of the invention, the bridge assembly includes a plurality of platform members which may be secured to the support beams via individual platform chassis which are configured to allow tool-less attachment bolt heads thereto. A plurality of specially configured clamps are attached to the free ends of the bolts and the clamps are used to secure the platform members to the platform chassis. The platform chassis are each secured to the outer support beams via L-brackets that are mounted between the chassis and support beams. The support beams include flanged channels wherein the heads of a plurality of bolts may be attached without the need for tools.
The platform members may be laid in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation with respect to the outer support beams with two different clamp styles being used depending on the orientation selected.
Curbs and optional railings are configured for easy installation to create a finished bridge assembly.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring now to the drawing, there is seen in
One of the first steps in the bridge installation process requires mounting of each bearing plate 12 onto a respective support structure such as a pier 14 which are installed at the job site (not shown), for example. The pilings or piers 14 extend into the earth to a suitable depth in a known manner (e.g., using sono tubes, not shown) to provide the necessary structural support for bridge assembly 10.
The assembly of a single bridge span “S” will now be described. The opposite longitudinal sides of the bridge assembly span are formed with first and second outer support beams 16 and 18, respectively. A center support beam 20 is placed parallel to and midway between the first and second outer support beams 16, 18. It is noted that for a very narrow bridge (e.g., for bicycle and/or foot traffic only), a center support beam 20 might not be necessary. Conversely, for very wide bridge requirements, more than one center support beam 20 may be employed as needed.
Bolts 22 extend through aligned holes “h” formed in the bearing plates and support beams to securely connect the bearing plates to the support beams. Bearing plates 12 (and their respective earth supports) are located at each end of all the support beams and may optionally be placed in other locations along the support beams as necessary or desired.
Each bridge span “S” further includes one or more platform chassis 24 which are secured to and extend perpendicularly between the support beams. As seen best in
Referring again to
The first and second outer support beams 16, 18 are preferably identical in construction and include spaced parallel walls 44, 46 as seen best in
Each support beam 16, 18 may be even further strengthened via the use of an optional reinforcement plate 60. Plate 60 may be removably mounted to a respective support beam by inserting and sliding the opposite plate edges 60a and 60b into channels 50 and 52 formed on the inwardly facing surfaces of the beam end plates 54 and 56 within beam center space 58, respectively. Likewise, a reinforcement plate 60 may also be positioned in center support beam 20 by inserting and sliding the opposite plate edges 60A and 60B into channels 62 and 64 formed on the inwardly facing surfaces of the beam end plates 76 and 78 within beam center space 70, respectively.
As seen best in
The decking platform 80 comprises a plurality of individual platform members 82 arranged in parallel fashion and which are each uniquely configured for high strength and durability. Each platform member 82 is preferably constructed as a single extruded aluminum part with no welds. As seen best in
The first and third lower walls 82B and 82D include inwardly facing surfaces 82B′ and 82D′ which provide a ledge upon which a securing clamp 66 may engage to interconnect each platform member 82 to the platform chassis 24. As seen best in
Referring to
The platform members 82 may be laid in a direction either parallel to the support beams as shown in
Clamps 90 are mounted to a respective platform chassis by extending the bolt shaft 92B through clamp hole 90C as shown in
As seen best in
The adjacent platform member lower walls 82D and 82B are laid upon chassis 24 with the space 83 therebetween extending in colinear alignment with chassis channel 26B′. Although not shown in
Curbs and optional railings are mounted to the outer support beams 16 and 18. As seen best in
To mount curb beam 96 to outer support beam 16, the curb beam 96 is fit to the support beam 16 with wall segment 100A abutting platform member side wall 82F, wall segment 100B extending under and abutting support beam flange 16A and main body portion bottom wall 98B lying on top of platform segment upper wall 82A. Although only support beam 16 is shown in
If no railings are to be installed, the curbs are finished with elongated cover plates which may be of any desired ornamental shape and size such as the short rectangular and tall truncated gable versions 100 and 102 shown in
When railings 110 are to be installed, the curb cover plates 100, 102 are not used and the railings are bolted to the curb beam 96. Cover plates, which may be segments of cover plates 100, 102, are secured between the railings and a top hand rail 112 may be secured to the railings to create a finished look.
Most parts described herein are preferably made of extruded aluminum although other materials and manufacturing processes therefor may be utilized as desired.
While this bridge assembly and method have been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.
Claims
1. A bridge assembly comprising:
- a) first and second outer support beams configured to be installed over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel;
- b) a plurality of platform chassis configured to attach to and extend perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel;
- c) a plurality of platform members configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis;
- d) a plurality of clamps configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis and secure said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said platform member;
- e) a center support beam configured to be installed between and parallel to said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis being attached to and extending perpendicularly between said center support beam and said first and second outer support beams; and
- f) a plurality of L-shaped brackets attached to and interconnecting said plurality of platform chassis to said center support beam and said first and second outer support beams.
2. The bridge assembly of claim 1 wherein said center support beam includes at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending exteriorly of the channel, and wherein each of said L-shaped brackets is mounted to a respective said bolt shaft extending from said center support beam and wherein each of said platform chassis include at least one longitudinally extending channel wherein the head of a bolt may be removably and slidingly positioned with the shaft of the bolt extending exteriorly of the platform chassis channel, and wherein said L-shaped bracket is mounted to said bolt shaft extending from a respective platform chassis and thereby attaching the said respective platform chassis to said center support beam.
3. The bridge assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second outer support beams each include at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within said flanged channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel, and wherein each of said platform chassis include at least one longitudinally extending channel wherein the head of a bolt may be removably and slidingly positioned with the shaft of the bolt extending exteriorly of the platform chassis channel.
4. The bridge assembly of claim 3 wherein a respective said L-shaped bracket is mounted to a respective said bolt shaft extending from a respective said first and second outer support beam and also to said bolt shaft extending from a respective platform chassis, each said L-shaped bracket thereby attaching and interconnecting said respective platform chassis to said first outer support beam and another platform chassis to said second outer support beam, respectively.
5. The bridge assembly of claim 4 wherein said first and second outer support beams each include a beam center space defined between first and second beam end plates, said first and second beam end plates each including a channel, and further comprising a reinforcement plate having opposite plate edges configured for removable mounting to a respective support beam by inserting and sliding said opposite plate edges into said channels on said first and second beam end plates, respectively.
6. The bridge assembly of claim 1 wherein said platform members each include a truncated triangular center opening extending the full length of said platform member.
7. A method of bridge assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing and installing first and second outer support beams over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel;
- b) providing and attaching a plurality of platform chassis perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel;
- c) providing and attaching a plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis;
- d) providing and attaching a plurality of clamps to said plurality of platform chassis and securing said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis with said clamps, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said platform member;
- e) providing a center support beam between and parallel to said first and second outer support beams and perpendicularly extending and attaching said plurality of platform chassis to said center support beam and said first and second outer support beams; and
- f) providing and attaching a plurality of L-shaped brackets wherein the plurality of L-shaped brackets are attached to and interconnecting said plurality of platform chassis to said center support beam and said first and second outer support beams.
8. A bridge assembly comprising:
- a) first and second outer support beams configured to be installed over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel;
- b) a plurality of platform chassis configured to attach to and extend perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel;
- c) a plurality of platform members configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis, each said platform members including first and second outer walls each connected to a respective lower wall having an inwardly facing surface;
- d) a plurality of clamps configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis and secure said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said inwardly facing surface of each said lower wall of a respective said platform member;
- wherein said plurality of platform members extend parallel to said first and second outer support beams with said clamp finger portion extending in a direction parallel to a respective said platform chassis.
9. The bridge assembly of claim 8 wherein said main body portion of each of said clamps includes a hole and further including a bolt have a head portion positioned with said longitudinal channel of a respective said platform member, said bolt having a shaft extending from a respective said head which extends through said hole in said main body portion of a respective said clamp thereby securing said clamp to a respective said platform chassis.
10. A bridge assembly comprising:
- a) first and second outer support beams configured to be installed over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel;
- b) a plurality of platform chassis configured to attach to and extend perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel;
- c) a plurality of platform members configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis, each said platform members including first and second outer walls each connected to a respective lower wall having an inwardly facing surface;
- d) a plurality of clamps configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis and secure said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said inwardly facing surface of each said lower wall of a respective said platform member;
- wherein said plurality of platform members extend perpendicular to said first and second outer support beams with said clamp finger portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a respective said platform chassis.
11. The bridge assembly of claim 10 wherein said main body portion of each of said clamps includes a hole and further including a bolt have a head portion positioned with said longitudinal channel of a respective said platform member, said bolt having a shaft extending from a respective said head which extends through said hole in said main body portion of a respective said clamp thereby securing said clamp to a respective said platform chassis.
12. A method of bridge assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing and installing first and second outer support beams over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel;
- b) providing and attaching a plurality of platform chassis perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel;
- c) providing and attaching a plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis with all of said plurality of platform members positioned in either one of a parallel or perpendicular orientation with respect to said first and second outer support beams, each said platform members including first and second outer walls each connected to a respective lower wall having an inwardly facing surface; and
- d) providing and attaching a plurality of clamps to said plurality of platform chassis and securing said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis with said clamps, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said inwardly facing surface of each said lower wall of a respective said platform member.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 22, 2019
Date of Patent: Oct 13, 2020
Inventor: Patrick Revenew (Rochester, NY)
Primary Examiner: William C Doerrler
Application Number: 16/548,523
International Classification: E01D 21/00 (20060101); E01D 2/02 (20060101); E01D 2/00 (20060101); E01D 19/12 (20060101); E01D 19/00 (20060101); E01D 101/30 (20060101); E01D 15/133 (20060101);