# US 2016/0355380 A1 · Bridge span replacement system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2016/0355380 A1
- Document ID: US20160355380A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/238,433
- Filed: 2016-08-16
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-06
- Assignees: Western Mechanical Electrical Millwright Services Ltd.
- Applicants: Western Mechanical Electrical Millwright Services Ltd.
- Inventors: Mark Carney; Rob Doucet; Larry Elisses
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355380A1

## CPC

- B66C 17/20: for hoisting or lowering heavy load carriers, e.g. freight containers, railway wagons
- B66C 5/04: with runways or tracks supported for movements relative to bridge or gantry
- B66C 13/04: Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or preventing cable slack
- B66C 19/002: {Container cranes (B66C19/007 takes precedence)}
- B66C 19/005: {Straddle carriers (B66C19/007 takes precedence)}
- B66C 19/02: collapsible {(B66C19/002, B66C19/005 takes precedence)}
- E01D 21/06: by translational movement of the bridge or bridge sections {(E01D15/127, E01D15/133 and E01D21/10 take precedence)}
- E01D 22/00: Methods or apparatus for repairing or strengthening existing bridges {(electrochemical desalination or re-alkalisation C04B41/00); Methods or apparatus for dismantling bridges}
- G06F 9/45558: {Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects}
- G06F 9/4856: {resumption being on a different machine, e.g. task migration, virtual machine migration (G06F9/5088 takes precedence)}
- G06F 9/5027: {the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals}
- G06F 9/5088: {involving task migration}
- H04L 67/1001: for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
- H04L 67/1095: Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
- H04L 67/1097: for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
- H04L 67/133: Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]
- G06F 11/1458: {Management of the backup or restore process}
- G06F 2009/45562: {Creating, deleting, cloning virtual machine instances}
- G06F 2009/4557: {Distribution of virtual machine instances; Migration and load balancing}
- B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21)
- 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})
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A vertically-adjustable gantry assembly installation adapted for removal or placement of a train bridge-span of the type which spans and is supported by two piers, comprises a gantry assembly positioned on load-bearing first ground-support locations, the gantry assembly comprising a gantry and a ground-engaging vertical support and lift system, the vertical support and lift system adapted for supporting a combined weight of the gantry and a bridge span in at least one operational vertical position above respective bridge span support-surfaces of the piers including a position corresponding to a disembarking plane in which the leg portions are extended from a stowed position to an extent at least sufficient for the gantry assembly to self-liftoff the pre-installation conveyance system onto the first ground-support locations to effect the gantry assembly installation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of removing an existing train bridge span, of the type supported on two piers of a train bridge, when installing a replacement train bridge span, the existing train bridge span supporting a length of track overlying the existing bridge span that is in line with a railroad track extending between railroad service areas on either side of the bridge, the method comprising:
(a) using the railroad track to bring a gantry assembly including a gantry, on a rail vehicle, from one side of the train bridge into horizontal alignment with ground-support locations such that the gantry assembly is positioned over the existing bridge span, the ground support locations supporting a vertical load predetermined to accommodate lifting the existing bridge span with the gantry assembly and located to provide support at positions on both sides of the bridge and on both sides of the railroad track, the positions predetermined to accommodate lifting the existing train bridge span from beneath the gantry assembly and conveying the existing train bridge span away from beneath the gantry assembly; and
(b) causing the gantry assembly to self-lift off the rail vehicle onto the ground support locations.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the ground support locations on opposite sides of the bridge are positioned at a distance from one another which spans a section of the railroad track that is greater than the length of track overlying the existing train bridge span.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the ground support locations, on immediately opposite sides of the railroad track, are positioned at a distance from one another which allows a rail conveyance system carrying a bridge span with a footprint wider than the gantry to pass in and out from beneath the gantry assembly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2, wherein the ground support locations, on immediately opposite sides of the railroad track, are positioned at a distance from each other which allows a rail conveyance system carrying a bridge span with a footprint wider than the gantry to pass in and out from beneath the gantry assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of installing support beams under the track at both ends of the predetermined section of the railroad track.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of securing ground engaging portions of the gantry assembly to the support beams.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of lifting the existing train bridge span, conveying the existing train bridge span underneath the gantry and lowering the existing train bridge span onto a rail conveyance system positioned beneath the gantry assembly; and removing the existing train bridge span from beneath the gantry assembly on the rail conveyance system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of conveying the replacement train bridge span underneath the gantry assembly on a rail conveyance system; lifting the replacement bridge span; conveying the replacement train span underneath the gantry into a position overlying bridge span support surfaces of the piers; and lowering the replacement train bridge span onto the bridge span support surfaces.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4, wherein the gantry assembly includes a vertical support and lift system including outrigger portions and leg portions extending vertically from the outrigger portions, wherein the leg portions are in a retracted position above the railroad track when the gantry assembly is first brought in on the rail vehicle from one side of the train bridge, and wherein the vertical support and lift system is operable to extend the leg portions from the retracted position to cause the gantry assembly to self-lift onto the ground-support locations.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9, wherein outrigger portions are movable between a stowed position in which the outrigger portions are rotated towards the gantry and a laterally extended position, and wherein the outrigger portions are in a stowed position when the gantry assembly is first brought in on the rail vehicle from one side of the train bridge, and wherein the outrigger portions are moved into and secured in laterally extended positions before the vertical support and lift system causes the gantry assembly to self-lift onto the ground-support locations.

### Claim 11

A gantry assembly installation adapted for removing an existing train bridge span, of the type supported on two piers of a train bridge, and installing a replacement train bridge span, the existing train bridge span supporting a length of track overlying the existing bridge span that is in line with a railroad track extending between railroad service areas on either side of the bridge, the gantry assembly installation comprising:
a gantry assembly including a gantry and vertical support and lift system, the gantry assembly including leg portions, the leg portions including ground engaging portions secured to ground-support locations, the ground engaging portions positioned to provide vertical support for the gantry assembly at positions on both sides of the bridge and on both sides of the railroad track such that the existing train bridge span can be lifted from beneath the gantry assembly and conveyed away from the bridge from beneath the gantry assembly;
the ground support locations supporting a vertical load predetermined to accommodate lifting the existing bridge span with the gantry assembly and predetermined to align with ground engaging portions of the leg portions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 11, wherein the ground engaging portions, on the same side of the railroad track, are positioned at a distance from one another across the bridge which spans a section of the railroad track that is greater than the length of track overlying the existing train bridge span.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 11, wherein the ground engaging portions, on immediately opposite sides of the railroad track, are positioned at a distance from one another which allows a rail conveyance system carrying a train bridge span with a footprint wider than the gantry to pass in and out from beneath the gantry assembly.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 12, wherein the ground engaging portions, on immediately opposite sides of the railroad track, are positioned at a distance from each other which allows a rail conveyance system carrying a train bridge span with a footprint wider than the gantry to pass in and out from beneath the gantry assembly.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 12, wherein the ground engaging portions are secured to support beams under the track located at both ends of the section of the railroad track.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 14, wherein the vertical support and lift system includes outrigger portions, the leg portions extending vertically from the outrigger portions.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 16, wherein the outrigger portions are configured to be movable between a stowed position in which the outrigger portions are rotated towards the gantry and a laterally extended position, and wherein the outrigger portions are secured in laterally extended positions when the gantry assembly is installed at the ground support locations.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 16, wherein the vertical support and lift system is operatively connected to a power system and a control system, the power system and control system operable to vary the linear vertical distance between the ground engaging portions of the leg portions and the gantry, and to control the vertical height of the gantry when the existing train bridge span or the replacement train bridge span is suspended from the gantry.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 11, further comprising a gantry conveyance system, the gantry conveyance system including a track and at least one vehicle configured to ride along the track.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 19, wherein the gantry conveyance system is operatively associated with a bridge span connection system for suspending the bridge span from the gantry conveyance system, the gantry conveyance system and bridge span connection system configured to provide at least two conveyable, separately locatable, suspension means for suspending the bridge span beneath the gantry.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 19, wherein the gantry conveyance system includes two independently locatable vehicles.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 16, further comprising a rail conveyance system operable to convey an existing bridge span away the train bridge from beneath the gantry assembly.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 22, wherein the rail conveyance system includes two rail cars, the two rail cars having a combined length which allows both rail cars to be positioned underneath the gantry assembly, on one side of the train bridge, between the positions of the ground engaging portions and the length of track overlying the existing train bridge span.

### Claim 24 (depends on 16)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 16, further comprising a rail conveyance system operable to convey the replacement train bridge span towards the train bridge under the gantry assembly.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A gantry assembly installation according to claim 24, wherein the rail conveyance system includes two rail cars, the two rail cars having a combined length which allows both rail cars to be positioned underneath the gantry assembly, on one side of the train bridge, between the positions of the ground engaging portions of the leg portions and the length of track overlying the existing train bridge span.