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US 6,785,925 B1Granted
Bridge system
OwnerCurtis L. Donaldsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modified suspension bridge which comprises a continuous cable in which tension is developed by operation of turnbuckles or the like, instead of hanging weights.
Claims7
A bridge system comprising:
- an elongated lower support which comprises cable directing means at each end thereof;
- a cantered right support;
- a cantered left support;
- a tension cable with a tension producing means therein;
- and
- suspension cables;
- said right and left cantered supports being cantered toward the longitudinal center of the bridge span, said right and left cantered supports being affixed to underlying right and left abutments respectively;
- at least one suspension cable being fixed to the top of said right cantered support and another of said at least one suspension cable being affixed to the left cantered support, and each cable thereof being affixed to the elongated lower support centrally between said right and left cantered supports;
- said tension cable being affixed to the tops of said right and left cantered supports and being continuously strung under said elongated lower support through said cable directing means at the ends of said lower support.
6 more elements
A bridge system comprising right and left half-bridge systems, each of which comprises:
- a cantered right support;
- a cantered left support;
- a tension cable with a tension producing means therein;
- and
- suspension cables;
- said right and left cantered supports being cantered toward the longitudinal center of the bridge span, said right and left cantered supports being affixed to underlying right and left abutments respectively;
- said bridge system further comprising an elongated lower support which comprises cable directing means at each end thereof;
- each of said right and left half-bridge systems having at least one suspension cable affixed to the top of said right cantered support and another of said at least one suspension cable being affixed to the left cantered support, and each of said cables being affixed to the elongated lower support centrally between said right and left cantered supports;
- each of said right and left bridge half-sections having said tension cable affixed to the tops of said right and left cantered supports and continuously strung under said elongated lower support through said cable directing means at the ends of said lower support;
- said right and left half-bridge systems being offset from one another and supporting a bridge deck disposed therebetween;
- and
- said right and left half-bridge systems being secured in relative position with respect to one another, via interconnection means and said elongated lower support.
9 more elements
A method of constructing a modified suspension bridge comprising the steps of:
- a. providing right and left abutments separated by a distance;
- b. mounting two right and two left cantered supports, upon respective right and left abutments;
- such that said cantered supports are cantered toward the longitudinal center of the bridge span, which is disposed between said cantered supports;
- c. above said right and left abutments;
- mounting corresponding right and left lower support assemblies, which each comprise cable directing means at the peripheral ends of said lower supports, one of said cable directing means being substantially in-line with one right or left cantered support and the other of said cable directing means being substantially in-line with the other right or left cantered support near the associated abutment;
- and
- at the left or right abutment location mounting a left or right length of a lower support, or functional equivalent, which comprises two cable directing means at the lateral end thereof, one of said cable directing means being substantially in-line with one left or right cantered support and the other of said cable directing means being substantially in-line with the other left or right cantered support near the associated abutment;
- d. attaching a tension cable to the tops of said right and left cantered supports which are in front of the other right and left cantered supports and causing it to proceed through the respective cable directing means;
- and
- attaching a tension cable to the tops of said right and left cantered supports which are behind the other right and left cantered supports and causing it to proceed through the respective cable directing means at the ends of the lengths of the lower supports at the right and left;
- and
- e. placing additional lengths of lower support between the right and left cantered supports of lower supports;
- and
- securing suspension cables between the tops of both said right and left cantered supports to said lower support centrally between both said right and left cantered supports.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.