Modular bridge apparatus

A modular bridge apparatus, comprising:

• a) left and right trusses;
• b) each truss having a top and bottom, a longitudinal upper chord member at the top and a lower longitudinal chord member at the bottom;
• c) a plurality of laterally extending beams that extend between the left and right trusses;
• d) a plurality of inclined beams that include at least some diagonally extending beams, including some inclined beams that extend between and directly connect to an upper and a lower chord member on the left truss and some inclined beams that extend between and directly connect to an upper and a lower chord member on the right truss;
• e) a plurality of joints that connect beams together, including at least joints that connect a lower longitudinal chord member to a vertical beam and to at least one diagonal beam;
• f) a plurality of transverse horizontal beams extending at an elevation that is above the elevation of the lower longitudinal chord members, some of the transverse horizontal beams being longer beams that extend laterally beyond the longitudinal chord members;
• g) a plurality of diagonally and laterally extending inclined beams that each extend between an end portion of a laterally extending horizontal beam and a truss at a position near an upper chord member;
• and
• h) an expanse of bridge decking that is attached to the truss at the transverse horizontal beams.

A modular bridge apparatus, comprising:

• a) left and right truss sections, each truss section defining left and right truss side portions of the bridge apparatus;
• b) each truss section having a plurality of upper longitudinal chord members and a plurality of lower longitudinal chord members, and a plurality of inclined beams that include at least some generally vertical beams and some diagonally extending beams, including some inclined beams that extend between and directly connect to an upper and a lower chord member on the left truss and some inclined beams that extend between and directly connect to an upper and a lower chord member on the right truss;
• c) a plurality of laterally extending beams that extend between the left and right truss sections;
• d) a plurality of joints that connect beams and chord members together including a plurality of lower joints that connect a lower longitudinal chord member to a vertical beam and to at least one diagonal member and a plurality of upper joints that connect an upper chord member to an inclined beam;
• e) a plurality of laterally extending horizontal deck beams extending transversely between the left and right trusses by spanning between and connecting to a pair of generally vertical beams and at an elevation that is higher than the elevation of the lower joints, at least some of the laterally extending beams extending laterally beyond each lower longitudinal chord member;
• f) a plurality of diagonally and laterally extending inclined beams that each extend between an end portion of a laterally extending horizontal beam and a truss side at a position that is next to an upper chord member;
• and
• g) an expanse of bridge decking that is attached to the deck beams.

A modular bridge apparatus, comprising:

• a) left and right trusses;
• b) each truss having a top and bottom, a plurality of upper longitudinal chord members defining the top and a plurality of lower longitudinal chord members defining the bottom;
• c) a plurality of laterally extending beams that extend between the left and right trusses;
• d) a plurality of inclined beams that span between and directly connect to upper and lower chord members, and include at least some diagonally extending beams;
• e) a plurality of joints that connect beams together, including upper joints that connect one or more upper longitudinal chord members to an inclined beam and lower joints that connect one or more lower longitudinal beams to an inclined beam and at least one diagonal beam;
• f) a plurality of transverse horizontal beams extending between the left and right trusses, connecting thereto at intermediate joints above the elevation of the lower joints, some of the transverse horizontal beams being longer beams that extend laterally beyond the longitudinal chord members;
• g) a plurality of diagonally and laterally extending inclined beams that each extend between an end portion of a laterally extending horizontal beam and a truss at a position near an upper chord member;
• and
• h) an expanse of bridge decking that is attached to the truss at the transverse horizontal beams.