US 5,466,068 AGranted

Articulated bearing for heavy loads

OwnerHans P. Andra, Wolfhart Andrainventors

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Abstract

An articulated bearing for the articulated transfer of heavy loads, e.g., from a bridge superstructure to a bearing pad, includes a pot connected to the bearing pad and a cover connected to the bridge. The cover extends vertically into the pot to form a sealed space vertically therebetween. A deformable, non-compressible cushioning medium (e.g., liquid or plastic) occupies the space and is loaded by the cover. Horizontal forces are withstood by a journal formed on the cover (or on the pot) and extending into a recess formed in the pot (or in the cover). The journal extends within the recess for less than the recess height to form a gap which is also occupied by the deformable medium to maximize the supporting area of that medium. A channel communicates the gap and space to equalize the pressure of the medium.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An articulated bearing for the articulated transfer of heavy loads from an upper supported member and a lower supporting member, said bearing comprising:

a bearing pot mounted to one of said supporting member and said supported member and including a generally horizontal end wall and a generally vertical side wall forming a space, said space having an opening situated opposite said end wall;
a cover mounted on the other of said supporting member and said supported member and including a portion extending into said space through said opening to close said space;
a seal formed between said side wall and an outer periphery of said cover portion;
and
a deformable medium filling said space and being loaded vertically by said supported member;
one of said cover portion and said end wall including a recess disposed substantially centrally in said space;
the other of said cover portion and said end wall including a bearing journal extending into said recess along only a portion of the height of said recess to form a vertical gap between said bearing journal and said recess, said gap filled by said medium and being in communication with said space.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.