Lattice panel structures
AssigneeMabey & Johnson Limited
InventorsRichard Charles Edward Forsyth, Bevil Guy Mabey, John Meynell Richardson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular system for the construction of a lattice panel for a bridge, comprises first and second chord members (20, 28) and a plurality of web members (1). Each web member comprises three legs forming a triangle. One leg (2) extends perpendicularly between the chord members. The second and third legs (3, 4) are joined to each other and to the ends of the first leg. The ends of the first leg (1) are provided with means for connecting the web member to the chords (20, 28). Interlocking means (13, 19) are provided at the joint between the second and third legs, and mid way along the first leg, so that adjacent web members can be connected together.
Claims34
A modular system for the construction of a lattice panel for a structure, comprising first and second elongate chord members and a plurality of web members for attachment to the chord members so as to hold them apart transversely, wherein each web member comprises three legs forming a triangle, a first leg being adapted to extend perpendicularly between the chord members, and second and third legs being joined to each other and to adjacent the ends of the first leg, and wherein there are provided the following means for interlocking each web member to the chord members and to like web members:
- first interlocking means adjacent one end of the first leg to interlock with corresponding second interlocking means provided at intervals along the first chord member;
- third interlocking means adjacent the other end of the first leg to interlock with corresponding fourth interlocking means provided at intervals along the second chord member;
- fifth interlocking means adjacent the join between the second and third legs;
- and
- sixth interlocking means intermediate the ends of the first leg;
- the arrangement being such that the fifth interlocking means of one web member is adapted to interlock with the sixth interlocking means of an adjacent like web member
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first leg is provided at each end with a junction unit, one being attached to the second leg and having the first interlocking means for connection to a chord member, and one being attached to the third leg and having the third interlocking means for connection to a chord member.
A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one of the first and second interlocking means comprises a spigot and the other comprises a recess adapted to receive the spigot.
A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one of the third and fourth interlocking means comprises a spigot and the other comprises a recess adapted to receive the spigot.
A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one of the fifth and sixth interlocking means comprises a spigot and the other comprises a recess adapted to receive the spigot.
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first leg comprises a pair of parallel, spaced elements.
A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first leg of at least some of the web members comprises means for attachment to a transom.
A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one of the chord members is provided with apertured flanges at its ends to form compression joints with chord members of like panels by the use of fasteners passing through the apertures.
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of the chord members is provided with apertures at its ends to form tension joints with chord members of like panels by the use of splice plates and fasteners passing through the splice plates and the apertures.
A lattice panel constructed from a system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising the upper and lower chord members and a plurality of the web members connected to the chord members and to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.