Bridge span replacement system

A gantry assembly for removal or placement of a train bridge-span of the type which spans and is supported by two piers, comprising:

• a gantry;
• and
• a ground-engaging vertical support and lift system;
• the gantry assembly configured to be transported in a horizontal position to a site for placement or removal of a bridge span by a pre-installation conveyance system including at least one rail car;
• the vertical support and lift system including:
• a load bearing first vertical support assembly operatively connected to the gantry proximal to a first end thereof;
• and
• a load-bearing second vertical support assembly operatively connected to the gantry proximal to a second end thereof;
• the gantry assembly adapted to support a gantry conveyance system which supports the weight of a bridge span, and is configured for conveying a bridge span in a horizontal transport plane along at least a portion of the length of the gantry, the gantry conveyance system adapted to be operatively associated with a bridge span connection system for supporting the bridge span from at least two positions on the bridge span proximal to the ends of the bridge span;
• each vertical support assembly including at least one leg portion having a ground engaging portion and a gantry connection portion for connecting the leg portions to the gantry, the gantry connection portion including an outrigger portion, the vertical support and lift system including or adapted to be operatively associated with a power system and a control system to vary the linear vertical distance between the ground engaging portion of a leg portion and the gantry to control the vertical height of the gantry, the vertical support and lift system adapted for supporting a combined weight of the gantry and a bridge span in an operational vertical positions above the respective bridge span support-surfaces of the piers including at least one position corresponding to the horizontal transport plane.

A gantry assembly for removal or placement of a train bridge-span of the type which spans and is supported by two piers, comprising:

• a gantry;
• and
• a ground-engaging vertical support and lift system;
• the gantry assembly configured to be transported in a horizontal position to a site for placement or removal of a bridge span by a pre-installation conveyance system including at least one rail car;
• the vertical support and lift system including:
• a load bearing first vertical support assembly operatively connected to the gantry proximal to a first end thereof;
• and
• a load-bearing second vertical support assembly operatively connected to the gantry proximal to a second end thereof,
• each vertical support assembly including at least one leg portion having a ground engaging portion and a gantry connection portion for connecting the leg portions to the gantry, the vertical support and lift system including or adapted to be operatively associated with a power system and a control system to vary the linear vertical distance between the ground engaging portion of a leg portion and the gantry to control the vertical height of the gantry, the vertical support and lift system adapted for supporting a combined weight of the gantry and a bridge span in at least one operational vertical position above the respective bridge span support-surfaces of the pier, the at least one position corresponding to a horizontal transport plane in which the bridge span is conveyable by a gantry conveyance system including at least one vehicle along at a least portion of the length of the gantry, and corresponding to a disembarking plane in which the leg portions are extendable by the power system from a stowed position on the pre-installation conveyance system to an extent at least sufficient for the gantry assembly to self-liftoff the pre-installation conveyance system onto the first ground-support locations to effect a gantry installation.

A system for removal or placement of a train bridge-span of the type which spans and is supported by two piers, comprising:

• a gantry assembly comprising a gantry and a vertical support and lift system including leg portions having ground engaging portions adapted to be supported on first ground support locations;
• the gantry assembly adapted to be transported in a horizontal position to a site for placement or removal of a bridge span by a pre-installation conveyance system including at least one rail car;
• the gantry assembly adapted to support a gantry conveyance system, the gantry conveyance system adapted to cooperate with a load-bearing ground conveyance system and with a bridge span connection system, the gantry conveyance system and bridge span connection system cooperating to provide at least two conveyable separately locatable suspension means for supporting the bridge span from two positions on the bridge span proximal to the ends of the bridge span;
• the vertical support and lift system adapted for supporting a combined weight of the gantry and a bridge span in at least one operational vertical position above the respective bridge span support-surfaces of the piers, including the at least one operational vertical position corresponding to at least one horizontal transport plane and a disembarking plane in which the leg portions are extended from a stowed position on the pre-installation conveyance system to an extent sufficient for the gantry assembly to self-liftoff the pre-installation conveyance system onto the first ground support locations to effect a gantry installation;
• at least one of the gantry assembly and the gantry conveyance system defining suspension means position limits that delimit a maximum horizontal travel distance that the suspension means can travel in the horizontal transport plane when supporting a load comprising at least a portion of the weight of the bridge span;
• the ground conveyance system adapted to be transported on a path extending away from a ground position adjacent to an edge of an existing bridge span, a suspension means position limit and/or the path accommodating conveyance of the bridge through at least a threshold horizontal conveyance distance required for transferring load support from the gantry conveyance system to the ground conveyance system and/or from the ground conveyance system to the gantry conveyance system.

A method of organizing installation or replacement of a train bridge span of the type which spans and is supported by two piers of a train bridge, each pier having a bridge span support-surface, the method comprising:

• (1) using a pre-installation conveyance system including at least one rail car to convey a gantry assembly, supported in a horizontal position, into horizontal alignment with a plurality of load-bearing first ground-support locations, wherein the gantry assembly overlies an existing bridge span supporting a train track, the pre-installation conveyance system defining a pre-installation conveyance system footprint area having forward, rearward and lateral perimeters;
• the gantry assembly comprising a gantry and a ground-engaging vertical support and lift system including leg portions each having a ground engaging portion for supporting the leg portions on respective first ground-support locations;
• the gantry assembly adapted to be operatively associated with a gantry conveyance system and a bridge span connection system adapted for horizontally conveying a raised existing bridge span in a horizontal transport plane relative to the gantry assembly over distance sufficient to transfer a load corresponding to the weight of the existing bridge span in stages onto a support portion of a ground conveyance system;
• the vertical support and lift system configured for supporting a combined weight of the gantry and a bridge span in operational vertical positions above the respective bridge span support-surfaces of the piers, and extending the leg portions into installed positions from stowed positions on the pre-installation conveyance system, the operational vertical positions including at least one position corresponding to:
• (a) the horizontal transport plane;
• and
• (b) a pre-installation conveyance system disembarking plane, in which the gantry legs are extendable to enable the gantry assembly to self-lift off the pre-installation conveyance system to effect a gantry installation;
• and
• (2) controlling the vertical support and lift system to lift the gantry assembly off the pre-installation conveyance system to position the first and second vertical assemblies on the first ground locations.

A system for removal or placement of a train bridge-span of the type which spans and is supported by two piers, comprising:

• a gantry assembly comprising a gantry, a vertical support system, and a lift system, the lift system adapted to raise the bridge span from the piers into a horizontal transport plane and to lower a bridge span from a horizontal transport plane onto the piers, the vertical support system including leg portions having ground engaging portions adapted to be supported on first ground support locations;
• the gantry assembly adapted to be transported in a horizontal position to a site for placement or removal of a bridge span by a pre-installation conveyance system including at least one rail car;
• the gantry assembly adapted to support a gantry conveyance system, the gantry conveyance system adapted to cooperate with a load-bearing ground conveyance system including a support portion for supporting the bridge span, the gantry conveyance system operatively associated with a bridge span support system adapted to provide at least two points of support for supporting a bridge span from two positions on the bridge span proximal to the end portions of a bridge span;
• the gantry conveyance system adapted for horizontally conveying a bridge span in a horizontal transport plane relative to the gantry assembly over distance sufficient to transfer a load corresponding to the weight of a bridge span, in stages onto the support portion of a ground conveyance system;
• the vertical support system and lift system adapted for supporting a bridge span from the first ground-support locations in at least one operational vertical position above the respective bridge span support-surfaces of the piers, the at least one operational vertical position corresponding to at least one horizontal transport plane and to a disembarking plane in which the leg portions are extendable from a stowed position on the pre-installation conveyance system to an extent sufficient for the gantry assembly to self-lift off the pre-installation conveyance system onto the first ground support locations.