WO1998041692A1

WO1998041692A1 - Modular bridge and its constructing method

Info

Publication number: WO1998041692A1
Application number: PCT/GE1998/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elgudja V. Medzmariashvili; Grigori G. Kinteraia; Gurami V. Bedukadze; Leri S. Datashvili; Konstantine A. Odishvili; Nodari N. Khatiashvili; Nugzari A. Khachidze; Konstantine T. Chkhikvadze; Mikheili B. Janikashvili
Original assignee: Georgian Politechnical Intellect
Priority date: 1997-03-19
Filing date: 1998-03-18
Publication date: 1998-09-24

Abstract

The present invention relates to the obstacle crossing technology, particularly to rapidly assembled modular bridges. Technical result of the present invention is: to simplify the modular bridge; to reduce labor needed for its installation and to facilitate the suiting of its supporting members to the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface. The modular bridge comprises modules (1) hinged (2) with one another each module end being connectable to its preceding module. The module (1) is crescent-shaped and the modules hinging device is arranged at the end of each module and at several places along the longitudinal direction thereof. Each module (1) end connection with its preceding module is effected at a certain connecting point of said latter module, the point dividing the module into overpass (3) and supporting (4) portions and selected to obtain the suitable profile of the surface of the bridge overpass portion and to suit its supporting portion to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface. Method for constructing the modular bridge comprises the steps of successive installation of modules (1) and hinging (2) thereof with one another by connecting each module end to its preceding module. In the role of the modules crescent-shaped units are used, and the connection of each module (1) end to its preceding module is effected at a certain connecting point of said latter module, the point selected to obtain the suitable profile of the surface of the bridge overpass portion and to suit its supporting portion to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface. The method further comprises the step of resting the module free ends upon the obstacle surface.

Description

Modular Bridge and Its Constructing Method

The present invention relates to the obstacle crossing technology,particularly to rapidly assembled modular bridges. There in the field of the present invention the "Device for Installation of the Transportable Bridges with Prefabricated Parts " [German Application N OS 3106140] is known which comprises modules interconnected by hinges each module end designed to be connected to its preceding module, and the method of installing such a device is provided thereto which comprises the steps of successive installation of the modules and hinging thereof by connecting each module end to its preceding module.

The device is rather complicated as its module consists of two joint portions. The installation of the device is labor consuming as it involves the steps of opening and adjusting the modules supporting members until they have been suited the surface of an obstacle; and the suiting of the device supporting members to the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface is difficult as it requires to adjust the module supporting members.

The "Bridge Setting Device" [USSR Inventors Sertificate N 1206363] is regarded as a prototype of the present invention which comprises joint modules each module end designed to be connected to its preceding module and in which the method of said device installation is provided which comprises the steps of successive installation of modules and hinging thereof by connecting each module end to its preceding module.

The device is complicated as its module consists of two joint portions. Installation of the device is labor consuming as it involves the steps of opening and adjusting the modules supporting members until they have suited an obstacle surface; and the suiting of the device supporting members to the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface is difficult as it requires to adjust the module supporting members. The present invention ensures not to suffer from the disadvantages described above. The technical result achieved by the present invention is: to simplify the modular bridge; to reduce labor needed for its installation and to facilitate the suiting of its supporting members to the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface. The modular bridge according to the invention comprises hinged modules each capable of being connected to its preceding module.

The modular bridge according to the invention is characterized in that the modules are crescent-shaped, and the modules connecting devices are arranged at the ends and along the longitudinal directions of the modules at the several places each module end connection to its preceding module being effected at a single connecting point of the preceding module, the point dividing the module into overpass and supporting portions and being selected to obtain the suitable profile of the bridge oveφass portion and to suit the supporting portion to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface.

The modules according to the invention are provided with supporting members capable of being suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface. The supporting members are arranged at least at one end of a module and are designed in the form of pullable supports.

The modules according to the invention are provided with supporting members capable of being self-suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface. The supporting members are arranged at least at one ends of the modules and are designed in the form of a slider or lever.

One end of each module is provided with a supporting member capable of being suited both to the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle simultaneously and arranged at its one side either left hand side or right hand side, the side alternating in each following module.

The method for the modular bridge construction according to the invention comprises the steps of successive installation of modules and interconnection with hinges thereof by connecting each module end to its preceding module. The method for the modular bridge construction according to the invention is characterized in that the crescent- shaped members are utilized in the role of the modules, each module end being connected to its preceding module at a certain point of said latter module, wherein the point is selected to obtain suitable profile of the surface of the bridge overpass portion and to suit the supporting portion to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surfaces and where the free end of the module is rested upon the obstacle surface.

Simplification of the modular bridge according to the invention is effected by that "the modules are crescent-shaped". Such a shape enables each module to be constituted as one-piece block which in turn causes the simplification of the block itself and respectively of the bridge composed of such blocks. In addition, the following essential features of the present invention: "the modules connecting devices are arranged at the ends of the modules and along the longitudinal directions thereof, the connection of each module end with its preceding module being effected at a certain connecting point of said latter module, the point dividing the module into the oveφass portion and supporting portion and selected to obtain the suitable profile of the surface of the bridge oveφass portion and to suit the supporting portion to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface" are the indispensable condition for the connection of the bridge modules.

Reduction of labor-consuming character of installation of the modular bridge is effected by that in the modular bridge constructing method, comprising the steps of successively installation of the modules and hinging thereof by connecting each module end to the preceding module, the crescent-shaped units are used in the form of modules and with that said connecting to the preceding module is performed at a certain point of said latter module, the point being selected to suit the oveφass and supporting portions of the bridge to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface and the free end of each module being supported upon an obstacle surface, the described method does not involve the steps other then successively connecting the modules and supporting their supporting portions onto an obstacle surface thus causing to reduce the labor consumption needed for constructing the bridge. Facilitation of suiting of bridge supporting members to the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface is achieved by several different embodiments of the bridge supporting members.

Facilitation of suiting the cross profile of an obstacle surface is effected by the supporting members of a bridge which are capable of being suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface, the member being defined by the following features of the present invention: "The modular bridge is provided with the supporting members which are capable of being suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface, the members being arranged at least at one ends of the modules and designed in the form of pullable supports". The suitableness of the pullable supports to the cross profile is provided by pulling the supports until they have been leaned to an obstacle surface and due to this fact in turn the suiting to the cross profile of an obstacle is facilitated.

By the self-suiting supporting members provided in the modular bridge the suiting to the cross profile of an obstacle surface is facilitated and in particular it is effected by the following features of the present invention: "the modular bridge is provided by the self-suiting supporting members capable of being self-suited to the cross profile on an obstacle surface, the members being arranged at least at one ends of modules and made in the form of a slider or lever". Suiting of the said supporting members to the cross profile of an obstacle surface is achieved by self-adjusting the supporting members with respect to an obstacle surface until they have been suited the obstacle surface thereby causing to facilitate suiting the cross profile of the obstacle surface.

By the simultaneously suiting of the single supporting member to both longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle the facilitation of suiting to the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle as well as the simplification of the modular bridge is achieved and in particular it is effected by the following features of the present invention: "each module end is provided with a single supporting member capable of being suited to both longitudinal and cross profiles simultaneously, the member being arranged at one side of the module end either left hand side or right hand side, the side alternating in each following module. By suiting each module of a bridge to both longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface simultaneously with a single supporting member the suiting to the longitudinal and cross profiles of the obstacle is ensured. In addition, due to the fact that the supporting members are arranged at one sides alternating in each following module simplification of the modular bridge is realized.

The present invention will now be described with reference to figures 1 to 14 in which:

Figure 1 shows a constructed modular bridge;

Figure 2 shows the modular bridge constructing process; Figure 3 shows a modular bridge with oveφass portion composed of flat plates;

Figure 4 shows a bridge module;

Figure 5 shows a partial view of a module with pullable supporting members capable of being suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface;

Figure 6 shows the scheme of supporting of pullable supporting members upon an obstacle surface;

Figure 7 shows connections of the modules;

Figure 8 shows the modules connecting link;

Figure 9 shows a partial view of a module with the pullable supporting member;

Figure 10 shows a module with self-suiting supporting members to the cross profile of an obstacle surface (yet not suited);

Figure 1 1 shows the module shown in figure 10 already suited;

Figure 12 shows the second embodiment of the module with the supporting members capable of being self-suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface;

Figure 13 shows the third embodiment of the module with the supporting members capable of being self-suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface;

Figure 14 shows a modular bridge with a single supporting member capable of being suited to both the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface simultaneously. The modular bridge comprises modules 1 (fig.1 , 2 and 3) hinged 2 with one another by connecting each module 1 end with its preceding module. The module 1 is crescent- shaped and the modules 1 connecting means are arranged at the end of each module and at several places along the longitudinal direction thereof. Connection of each module 1 end with its preceding module is made at a certain point of said latter module, the point dividing this module into oveφass 3 and supporting 4 portions and being selected to obtain the suitable profile of the bridge oveφass portion surface and to suit the supporting portion to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface, the module 1 is a dimensioned crescent-shaped unit composed of a bearing body (fig.4) assembled with longitudinal 5 and cross 6 members. The longitudinal members 5 consist of e.g. two rows of interconnected double T-section bobbins (crescent-shaped) which in particular are obtained by bending them under the high temperature or connecting their pieces. The module 1 is provided with two tracks 7 attached to its bearing body. Each track 7 can either have curved surface or it can be composed of plates with flat surfaces. On the sides of a module 1 crescent-shaped plates are arranged. The openings 9 are provided on the plates 8 so as to reduce the weight of a module 1. The sidelong boarders of the oveφass portions 10 are attached to the crescent-shaped plates 8. The supporting portion of a module 1 is provided with detaining members 11 set onto the axis 12. The axes 12 are fixed at both ends of a module 1. The detaining members 11 are provided with members 13 restricting the motion onto the axes 12. On the detaining members 11 of the module 1 supporting portion a connecting member 14 for connecting with preceding module is provided, the member being made in the form of an extension, and the module 1 connecting member 15 provided on and along the lateral boarders of the module oveφass portion is an opening which is intended to receive the connecting member 14 and to fix it when it has turned.

The module 1 is provided with supporting members capable of being suited to the cross profile of an obstacle, made in the form of pullable supporting members 16 (fig.5- 8). The supporting members 16 are arranged at the ends of a module 1, each being hollow. In the cavity of the pullable supporting member 16 a wall 17 is provided, the wall dividing the cavity into two portions; In the upper portion of the cavity a contractable spring 18 is accommodated, the spring leaning against the wall 17 with its one end and leaning against a detainer 19 with its another end, the detainer 19 being housed within the module 1 frame. The detaining members 11 are hinged 20 to the 5 pullable supporting member 16, which is provided with guides 21 and a device for leaner motion of the guides. The device is a ratchet whose rack 22 is fixed on the pullable supporting member 16, and the pawl 23 is mounted on the module 1 frame. The pullable supporting member 16 is provided with a locking mechanism comprising a tie-rod 24 which is accommodated within the internal cavity of the pullable supporting member 16.

10 One end of the tie-rod 24 is connected with the detaining member 11 by means of unfastening connection 25, and its another end is hinged 26 to a bell-crank 27 which in turn is hinged 28 to the pullable supporting member 16 from the inside. The bell-crank 27 end leans against the stop 30 by means of the opening 29 in the pullable supporting member 16. the stop with its one end being fastened to the module 1 frame and with its

15 another end leaning against the stopper 31 mounted on the supporting member 16 surface. The detaining member 11 is connected to the pullable supporting member 16 by means of an extension spring 32 so as to maintain its compact state locking position.

On fig.9 another embodiment of pullable supporting members 33 which can be provided in the module 1 can be seen. The members are arranged at least at one end of

20 the module 1. One end of the member 33 is hinged 34 to the detaining member 11, and its another end is connected to a crank 35 which in turn to the module frame is hinged 36. On the crank 35 a pawl 38 is hinged 37, and on the module 1 frame a round rack 39 is provided. The pullable supporting member 33 is provided with guides 40 mounted on the module frame by means of a motion locking device. The device comprises a tie-rod

25 41 accommodated in the cavity of the member 33. The tie-rod 41 is connected to the detaining member 11 with its one end and hinged 43 to a bell-crank 44 with its another end. The bell-crank 42 is hinged 45 to the supporting member 33 and its end leans against a stop 46 by means of an opening in the pullable member. The stop 46 with its one end is fastened to the module 1 frame and with its another end it leans against a stopper 47 mounted on the surface of the pullable member 33. The pullable member 33 is provided with an extendible spring 48 whose one end on the crank 35 is fastened and its another end on the module 1 frame is secured from below.

Various supporting members can be used in the module 1, e.g. with members capable of being self-suited to an obstacle cross profile. Each self-supporting member 49 (fig. 10, 11 ) is made in the form of a slider which is provided with guides 50. A self- suiting supporting member 51 shown in fig. 12 is made in the form of a bell-crank and it is hinged 52 with the module 1 end. Hinged 54 with the self-supporting members 49 and 51 by means of rods 53 are the detaining members 11. The self-suiting members 55 shown in fig. 13 are made in the form of slidable pullable members provided with guides 56. The self-suiting supporting members 55 which are arranged at one end of the module 1 are interconnected by means of a flexible connection means 57 running onto rollers 58. The rollers are secured on the module 1 frame and are arranged pairwise between the self-suiting members 55 at the same distances along each member 55. The arrangement of each pair of the rollers 58 with respect to the supporting members 55 is such that one of them above the member 55 top is disposed and another below the top is disposed. The top of the self-suiting member 55 is linked to the middle of the flexible connection section 57 between each pair of the rollers 58. Besides, the lengths of the flexible connection 57 section from the self-suiting member 55 linkage point to the upper and lower rollers 58 must equal to or be greater than the maximum motion length of the self- suiting members 55. The member 55 with the detaining member 11 is hinged 59.

A single supporting member 60 can be used in the modules 1 which is capable of being suited to longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface simultaneously (fig.

14), and is placed at the end of the module 1 at its one side. The arrangement of the supporting members 60 is such that it is alternating in each following module to left hand side or right hand side.

Modules 1 are provided with ramps 51 and 62 (fig. 1-3) made in the form of plates. The ramp 61 is provided with teeth 63 for fixing in the soil.

Construction of the bridge is performed as follows: Each module 1 is unloaded from a lorry or other kind of vehicle manually or by means of a crane. The end of the first module 1 is rested upon or fixed in the soil at the beginning of an obstacle. Fixation of the module 1 end in the soil of the obstacle is effected by means of a ramp 61 hinged 64 with the module end, the ramp being fixed by means of its teeth 63 in the soil. Afterwards, the free end of the module 1 is lowered and rested upon the obstacle surface. Then the next module is unloaded from the lorry and its connecting member 12 end is brought to a certain connecting device - opening 16 and the above mentioned connection point is selected to obtain a suitable profile of the bridge oveφass portion and to suit its supporting portion to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface. The connecting member 14 of a module 1 is accommodated into the opening 15 of its preceding module, and the free end of the module 1 is rested upon the obstacle surface thereby making the oveφass and supporting portions of the preceding module.

In case of use the pullable supporting members 16 in the module 1 which are capable of being suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface they are pulled out. To this effect the tie-rod 24 end is unfastened from the connection 25 which causes the bell- crank 27 turn around the hinge 28. The bell-crank end pushes the stop 30 whose end moves upward and leaves the stopper 31 of the supporting member 36. The pullable supporting member 16 gradually and linearly pulls out of the module 1 end with the aid of the contractible spring 18 and ratchet while the pawl 23 moves along the rack 22, the pulling out motion being continued until the detaining members 11 of the supporting members have suited the cross profile of an obstacle surface.

The pullable supporting members 33 are pulled out in case of their use in the modules 1. To this effect the tie-rod 40 end is unfastened from the connection 42 which causes the bell-crank 44 turn around the hinge 45. The bell-crank 44 end pushes the stop 46 whose end moves upward and leaves the stopper 47 of the pullable supporting member 33. With the aid of the spring 48 the crank 35 moves around the hinge 36. The pawl 38 moves onto the round rack 39 and pullable supporting member 33 draws gradually and linearly out of the module 1 end until its detaining member 11 has suited the cross profile of an obstacle surface.

In case of the self-suiting supporting members 49 and 51 in modules 1 which are capable of being self-suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface the support- slider 49 displaces in guides 50 until their detaining members 11 have suited the cross profile of an obstacle surface, and the support - bell-crank 51 tilts until the detaining members

11 have suited the cross profile of an obstacle surface.

In case of the sliding pullable members 55 in the modules 1 which are capable of being self-suited to the cross profiles of an obstacle surface they continue the movement in guides 56 until their detaining members 11 have suited the cross profile of an obstacle surface.

In case of the single supporing member 60 in modules 1, which is capable of being suited to both longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface simultaneously the module laying is performed taking into consideration that if in preceding module the member 60 is arranged at right hand side than it should be arranged at the left hand side in the following module.

Utilization of the present invention allows the modular bridge to be constructed by little labor consumption. In particular, vehicles for the modules transportation, a crane and an installer are necessary for the construction of the bridge. A hoisting means which is placed at the bank takes a module from a vehicle when an installer has tied a rope onto the module and then puts it upon the bank, the installer unties the rope and the process repeats several times.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A modular bridge which comprises modules hinged with one another each module end being connectable to its preceding module, characterized in that the modules are crescent-shaped and said modules connecting device is arranged at the ends of said module and at several places along the longitudinal direction thereof, the connection of each module end with it is preceding module being effected at certain connecting point of said latter module, the point dividing said module into ove╧åass and supporting portions and selected to obtain a suitable profile of the surface of the bridge ove╧åass portion and to suit the supporting portion to the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface.

2. Modular bridge according to the claim 1, characterized in that the modules are provided with supporting members capable of being suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface, the members being arranged at least at one ends of the modules and made in the form of pullable supports.

3. Modular bridge according to the claim 1 characterized in that the modules are provided with supporting members capable of being self-suited to the cross profile of an obstacle surface, the members being arranged at least at one ends of the modules and made in the form of a slider or lever.

4. Modular bridge according to the claim 1 characterized in that one end of each module is provided with a single supporting member capable of being suited both to the longitudinal and cross profiles of an obstacle surface simultaneously, the member being arranged at one side of said end the side alternating to the left hand side and right hand side in each following module.

5. A method for constructing the modular bridge comprising the steps of successive installation of modules and hinging thereof with one another by connecting each module end to its preceding module, characterized in that said modules are crescent-shaped, said connecting of each module end to its preceding module is effected at a certain connecting point of said latter module, the point being selected to obtain the suitable profile of the surface of the bridge ove╧åass portion and to suit the longitudinal profile of an obstacle surface, and it further comprises the step of resting the free end of each module upon the obstacle surface.