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US 4,017,932 AGranted
Temporary, modular, self-erecting bridge
OwnerSergio Lotto, Francesco Saggininventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temporary, modular, self-erecting bridge which can be transported from place-to-place by collapsing the side, top and bottom elements about pivot points to achieve a narrow and shorter unit. Hydraulic jacks or other fluid actuated mechanisms are used to expand and contract the elements.
Claims23
A temporary, modular self-erecting bridge comprising:
- a. At least one module for spanning a distance, said module being mobile for movement from place to place,
- b. said module comprising a pair of load-bearing side elements, a base element and a top element,
- c. a number of mechanical means for opening said module by changing the height and width of said module,
- d. said side elements comprising a number of diagonal elements including a number of elements pivotable about a point between their ends and responsive to said mechanical opening means, wherein
- e. the number of pivotable elements is greater than the number of mechanical means,
- whereby said bridge is transportable as a single structure having smaller physical dimension in its collapsed, transported state than in an open, erected state, and
- whereby a small number of mechanical means are used to erect a module comprising a substantially larger number of pivotable elements.
4 more elements
A self-erecting transportable module for spanning a distance and permitting vehicular traffic to travel thereover comprising:
- a two load-bearing side elements, a base element and a top element,
- b said side elements comprising a plurality of pivoted diagonal members, alternating diagonal members being pivotable at a point between the ends thereof,
- c each side element having mechanical means operatively connected to one of said alternating diagonal members for causing said element to expand, thereby causing others of said alternating diagonal elements to expand, thereby causing said side element to change its height,
- d said base and top elements comprising members pivotable at a point between the ends thereof,
- e mechanical means in said top and base elements for causing said pivotable elements to expand, thereby causing said top and base elements to change their widths,
- f upper and lower bridles in said side element, and
- g extension means for joining said module to another such module when said module's span is shorter than said distance.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.