Military tactical bridge system, method and foldable modules

A vehicle transportable, multi-foldable, multi-sectional prefabricated bridge module comprising:

• a. multiple bridge units interconnected to constitute the foldable bridge module;
• b. each bridge unit comprising a roadway portion which includes dual laterally spaced, truss-supported, longitudinal medially divided, roadway segments which are foldable via
• i. first hinge means to pivotally connect and provide relative folding of separate laterally spaced trusses and corresponding divided roadway sections at laterally opposite edges about horizontal parallel axes;
• and
• ii. second hinge means at the centerline of said roadway portion and having an axis parallel to the axes of said first hinge means for pivotally connecting said medially divided roadway sections together and for permiting said roadway sections to be first foled into collapsed essentially vertical side-by-side relationship;
• c. third hinge means having vertical pivot axes and operatively connected to top and bottom end portion of said spaced trusses, to provide for both
• i. selective interconnection of adjacent bridge units, and
• ii. for permitting their respective pivotal folding around said vertical axes between two positions, one of which:
• (a)' is side-by-side compactly folded while in said vertically collapsed condition, and the second
• (b)' is a subsequent 180.degree. unfolded elongated aligned orientation also while still vertically collapsed preparatory to further unfolding and deployment;
• and
• d. each truss having an elongated high strength traversing beam coextensive therewith and with means for slidably mounting it within each truss, said beams having means for releasably interconnecting said beams in end-to-end relation when said bridge units are unfolded into 180.degree. alignment;
• means associated with said traversing beams for effecting beam projection out from said module and across a chasm to be bridged, with said module adapted to traverse the chasm on said traversing beams while receiving the traversing beams back interiorly therewithin;
• e. whereby said multi-foldable bridge units are uniquely characterized by their vertically collapsible and bilateral foldability and their self-contained traversing beams with the two distinct 90.degree. orthogonally oriented sets of hinges and hinge axes for the foldable units during related orthogonal folding precedures, thereby providing greater linear feet of bridging per module in more compact, prefabricated, readily transportable modular form.