Bridge
OwnerMark G. Tansleyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bridge and method of installing the bridge for spanning a hydrological surface feature. The bridge includes a deck spanning the hydrological surface feature, at least one tower, and a tensile support system connecting the deck with the tower under tension to provide a tensile force for supporting the deck. A density and surface area of the deck, and the tensile force provided by the tensile support system, are selected to facilitate flotation of the deck on the hydrological feature with a top surface of the deck at a selected elevation above a surface the hydrological surface feature while supporting a selected load and while the deck is supported by the tensile force.
Claims54
A bridge comprising:
- a deck defining a length and a width perpendicular to the length, the deck extending along the length across a hydrological surface feature between a first stable terrain location and a second stable terrain location;
- a first tower configured to support the deck;
- and
- a tensile support system connected with the first tower and with the deck for supporting the deck with a tensile force;
- wherein the deck has a sufficiently low deck density and a sufficiently high surface area relative to a hydrological surface feature density to rest on the hydrological surface feature with a top surface of the deck at a selected elevation above a top surface of the hydrological surface feature while supporting a selected load and while the deck is supported by the tensile force.
A method of assembling a bridge across a hydrological surface feature between a first stable terrain location and a second stable terrain location, the method comprising:
- providing a deck defining a length and a width perpendicular to the length;
- extending the deck across the hydrological surface feature along the length between the first stable terrain location and the second stable terrain location;
- providing a first tower for supporting the deck;
- and
- connecting a tensile support system with the first tower and with the deck for supporting the deck with a tensile force;
- wherein the deck has a sufficiently low deck density and a sufficiently high surface area relative to a hydrological surface feature density to rest on the hydrological surface feature with a top surface of the deck at a selected elevation above a top surface of the hydrological surface feature while supporting a selected load and while the deck is supported by the tensile force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.