# US 2012/0074035 A1 · Temporary bridge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0074035 A1 - Document ID: US20120074035A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/319,143 - Filed: 2010-03-15 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-06 - Assignees: Ets A. Deschamps Et Fils - Inventors: Georges-Paul Deschamps - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120074035A1 ## CPC - E01D 15/124: {Folding or telescopic bridges; Bridges built up from folding or telescopic sections (E01D15/122, E01D15/127 take precedence; folding or telescopic girders in general E04C3/005)} - E01D 15/127: combined with ground-supported vehicles for the transport, handling or placing of such bridges or of sections thereof - E01D 15/20: collapsible, expandable, inflatable or the like {with main load supporting structure consisting only of non-rigid members}(E01D15/22 takes precedence) - E01D: CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, {ELEVATED ROADWAYS} OR VIADUCTS; ASSEMBLY OF BRIDGES (bridges extending between terminal buildings and aircraft for embarking or disembarking passengers B64F1/305; {tracks for special kinds of railways E01B25/00; culverts E01F5/005}) ## Abstract A temporary bridge includes two spans, each including at least three bridge elements to be stacked when the bridge is in a first so-called non-deployed position. The bridge elements are pivotably connected to one another, wherein two consecutive bridge elements are connected to one another by at least two linking arms mounted on the same side edge of the bridge elements. Two consecutive linking arms form a regular parallelogram with the two consecutive bridge elements connected by the arms, which can be deformed such that the movement of one bridge element relative to a bridge element immediately below in the stack of a span in the non-deployed position of the bridge causes the circular translation of the bridge element relative to the bridge element of the span immediately below. For at least one of the spans, at least one of the linking arms is shared by three consecutive bridge elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A temporary bridge comprising two spans (1, 2) each comprising at least three bridge elements (3-5) intended to be superposed when said bridge is in a first position known as the non-deployed position, said bridge elements (3-5) of each of said spans (1, 2) being articulated to one another, two consecutive bridge elements (3-5) being joined together by at least two linking arms (7-9, 12, 13) mounted on one and the same lateral edge of said bridge elements (3-5), characterized in that two consecutive linking arms (7-9, 12, 13) form, with the two consecutive bridge elements that they connect, a deformable regular parallelogram so that the movement of one bridge element with respect to a bridge element immediately below it in the stack of one span (1, 2) from said non-deployed position of said bridge causes a circular translational movement of said bridge element with respect to said bridge element immediately below it in said span, for at least one of said spans, at least one of said linking arms (8, 12, 13) is common to three consecutive bridge elements, said three consecutive bridge elements being connected to one another by said same linking arm (8, 12, 13), said bridge comprises means of moving each of said bridge elements (3, 4) which is superposed on another bridge element (4, 5) in said first position, between this first position and a second position known as the deployed position, in which said bridge elements are coupled together to form said bridge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one bridge element of one of said spans (1, 2) is connected to a corresponding bridge element of the other span. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bridge as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, with said linking arms (7-9, 12, 13) being common to the two spans (1, 2), a portion of a linking arm (7-9, 12, 13) connected in rotation to a bridge element of a first span is also connected in rotation to a corresponding bridge element of the other span. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The bridge as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it comprises one or more reinforcing elements connecting said spans (1, 2) together. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said linking arms are mounted on one and the same lateral edge of said bridge elements (3-5) of each span between the two spans (1, 2). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, with each one of said spans comprising n bridge elements with n≧3, the number of linking arms connecting each three consecutive bridge elements together is equal to n-2. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said movement means for moving each of said bridge elements (3, 4), comprise a single actuator (10) the moving end of which is connected removably or non-removably to said two spans (1, 2) so as to move the bridge elements (3, 4) of the two spans (1, 2) simultaneously. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bridge as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the moving end of said actuator (10) is connected removably or non-removably to a reinforcing element connecting said two spans (1, 2) together. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bridge as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, with the moving end of said actuator being connected to a linking arm (7-9, 12, 13) of each of said spans (1, 2), each of said linking arms to which said moving end is connected comprises a link rod connecting three consecutive bridge elements together and an element for driving said link rod to which the free end of said actuator is connected, said link rod being connected to said drive element by a flexible connection so that said actuator (10) is able to move the assembly comprising said link rod and said drive element from a rest position into a position of separation of said link rod in which position said link rod separates from said drive element to continue its movement while at the same time remaining connected to said drive element by said flexible connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bridge as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said drive element or elements each comprise a winding-unwinding device to accept said flexible connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least some of said bridge elements (3-5) of each of said spans (1, 2) comprises fastening means capable of retaining a lateral extension of said trackway. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, for each span, the bridge element intended to constitute the bottom end of the stack formed by the superposed bridge elements when the temporary bridge is in the non-deployed position comprises at least one jack for raising or lowering the temporary bridge in its deployed position with respect to the surface of the ground surrounding each of said bridge elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, with each of said spans (1, 2) comprising an added-on trackway, said trackway is a flexible trackway and said spans comprise fastening elements for securing this flexible trackway to said bridge elements (3-5), said trackway comprising at least one woven structure formed of warp threads laid in a single layer and of weft threads likewise laid in a single layer, said woven structure comprising first weft threads laid over the top of or underneath second weft threads defining a main plane, said first weft threads thus forming projections in the woven structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said temporary bridge comprises at least one buoyant structure on which said temporary bridge is intended to be placed when said bridge is launched onto water. ### Claim 15 A temporary bridge with several trackways, characterized in that it comprises at least one central span positioned between two end spans, each of said spans comprising at least three bridge elements (3-5) which are intended to be superposed when said bridge is in a first position known as the non-deployed position, said bridge elements (3-5) of each of said spans being articulated to one another, two consecutive bridge elements (3-5) being joined together by at least two linking arms (7-9, 12, 13) which are mounted on one and the same lateral edge of said bridge elements (3-5) between two spans, two consecutive linking arms (7-9, 12, 13) form, with the two consecutive bridge elements that they connect, a deformable regular parallelogram so that the movement of one bridge element with respect to a bridge element immediately below it in the stack of one span (1, 2) from said non-deployed position of said bridge causes a circular translational movement of said bridge element with respect to said bridge element immediately below it in said span, for at least one of said spans, at least one of said linking arms (8, 12, 13) is common to three consecutive bridge elements, said three consecutive bridge elements being connected to one another by said same linking arm (8, 12, 13), said bridge comprises means of moving each of said bridge elements (3, 4) which is superposed on another bridge element (4, 5) in said first position, between this first position and a second position known as the deployed position, in which said bridge elements are coupled together to form said bridge, said movement means comprising two actuators, each of these actuators being positioned at least partially between a distinct end span and said central span, the end of each of said actuators (10) being connected to one of said linking arms (7-9, 12, 13) of at least one of said corresponding spans or to a reinforcing element connecting the corresponding end span and the central span. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An assembly comprising a temporary bridge and a container to hold said bridge in the position known as the non-deployed position, characterized in that said bridge is a temporary bridge as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said container is a storage container (15) measuring 20 feet (6.058 m) or 40 feet (12.192 m) long. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The assembly as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said container comprises a floor structure comprising a housing that at least partially accepts said movement means for moving each of said bridge elements (3, 4) in a rest position such that said means can at least partially move aside in this position to allow said temporary bridge in its non-deployed position to be positioned in said container in a transport position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The assembly as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the bottom (18) of said container comprises an axis of pivoting (AP) of said temporary bridge in its non-deployed position so as to allow said bridge to be rotated with respect to said bottom in order to place said temporary bridge in a deployment position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The assembly as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that said container (15) also comprises means for rotating said temporary bridge in its non-deployed position about said axis of pivoting (AP). ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The assembly as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that said container comprises a supporting turntable, this turntable being turned by a rotary tooth-rack jack, said turntable being able to accept the temporary bridge in its non-deployed position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The assembly as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that said axis of pivoting is positioned in said container (15) in such a way that, with said temporary bridge in its non-deployed position having been rotated through approximately 90°, said temporary bridge is in a deployment position and is positioned at least partially projecting from the rear end of said container.