Bridges assembled from ocean-mobile pontoon bridge modules
OwnerJames M. Powersinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bridge for long, deep water crossings is supported between spans by narrow, transverse, semi-submersible pontoons. The pontoons are oriented to present minimal cross section to tidal currents under the bridge. The pontoons are pivotally attached to the bridge allowing them to be turned a few degrees right or left as tidal currents change. During fabrication, a module of bridge deck/roadway can be assembled for transport upon each pontoon deck. After remote fabrication two or more complete bridge modules can be linked pontoon-to-pontoon into a seaworthy vessel that can be towed to the erection site. At site the roadway modules are rotated transverse to the pontoon, elevated to final position and joined to other modules, completing the bridge.
Claims17
A floating bridge having at least one bridge module deployed in a body of water, the bridge module comprising:
- a buoyant pontoon supported by the body of water;
- a tower assembly supported on the pontoon at a central location of the pontoon;
- a bridge deck assembly including a bridge deck section suspended from the tower assembly by a plurality of suspension elements and oriented generally perpendicular to the pontoon;
- and wherein
- the pontoon is coupled to the bridge deck assembly for pivotal movement relative to the bridge deck assembly, by a pivoting means, wherein the pontoon can move within the body of water relative to the bridge deck assembly so as to be positioned generally parallel to variable water currents in the body of water.
A method of fabricating a floating bridge, the method comprising:
- fabricating a bridge module by performing at least the following steps:
- assembling a support member to a mast to form a tower assembly in which the support member is movable along the mast and pivotable about the mast;
- joining the mast of the tower assembly to a central location on an upper surface of a pontoon with the mast extending upwardly from the pontoon;
- assembling a pair of brace members to the mast and the pontoon, wherein one end of each brace member is fastened to an upper end of the mast, the brace members extend in opposite directions downwardly and away from the mast and the opposite ends of the brace members are fastened to the pontoon;
- assembling a bridge deck section on the upper surface of the pontoon with the length of the bridge deck section being generally aligned with the length of the pontoon;
- and
- assembling suspension elements to the support member so as to be supported at a plurality of levels on the support member, and fastening ends of the suspension elements to spaced locations along the bridge deck section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.