Apparatus and method for bridge assembly
AssigneeFuchs Consulting, Inc.
InventorPaul A. FUCHS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed that may be integrated into a steel bridge fabrication shop to improve steel bridge fabrication. The apparatus and methods measures aspects of completely fabricated bridge girders and virtually assembles girders in order to design custom splice plates to fit girders together. The apparatus and method further comprises of a noncontact three-dimensional coordinate measurement apparatus and methods that measures aspects of a completely fabricated girder, stores measurements as a permanent record of the girder, and combines these measurements with measurements from other girders to create a virtual assembly for a steel bridge.
Claims16
An apparatus for steel bridge fabrication, including the fabrication of splice plates for girders, the apparatus comprising:
- a 3D coordinate measurement instrument for taking measurements of a bridge girder having splice holes fabricated therein,
- a processing computer interfacing with said 3D coordinate measurement instrument for receiving said measurements of said bridge girder having splice holes fabricated therein, and
- wherein said processing computer generates a 3D model of said bridge girder having splice holes fabricated therein and further generates the dimensions of one or more splice plates for the fabrication of said one or more splice plates.
A method of fabrication of splice plates for bridge girders in steel bridge fabrication comprising steps of:
- converting 2D bridge girder drawings to a 3D computer model of said bridge girder on a processing computer,
- taking measurements of a bridge girder having splice holes fabricated therein using an apparatus having a 3D coordinate measurement instrument,
- said processing computer interfacing with said 3D coordinate measurement instrument for receiving said measurements of said bridge girder having splice holes fabricated therein, and
- wherein said processing computer generates a 3D model of said bridge girder having splice holes fabricated therein and further generates the dimensions of one or more splice plates for the fabrication of said one or more splice plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.