Apparatus and method for bridge assembly
AssigneeFuchs Consulting, Inc.
InventorPaul A. Fuchs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed that may be integrated into a steel bridge fabrication shop to improve steel bridge fabrication. The apparatus and methods measures aspects of completely fabricated bridge girders and virtually assembles girders in order to design custom splice plates to fit girders together. The apparatus and method further comprises of a noncontact three-dimensional coordinate measurement apparatus and methods that measures aspects of a completely fabricated girder, stores measurements as a permanent record of the girder, and combines these measurements with measurements from other girders to create a virtual assembly for a steel bridge.
Claims15
An apparatus for steel bridge fabrication, including the fabrication of splice plates for joining at least two bridge girders, the apparatus comprising:
- a 3D coordinate measurement instrument for taking measurements of at least two bridge girders having splice holes fabricated therein wherein said measurements include for each of said at least two bridge girders (a) measuring splice hole locations at a girder end and measuring surfaces of the girder end thereby characterizing the girder end, (b) measuring the length of the girder, and (c) measuring camber along the length of the girder,
- a processing computer for receiving said measurements of said at least two bridge girders having splice holes fabricated therein wherein said processing computer will through computer software manipulate said measurements of said at least two bridge girders including adjusting a web gap between said at least two girder ends of said at least two bridge girders and rotating said at least two girder ends about a common plane of a web of each of said at least two bridge girders, and
- wherein said processing computer generates a 3D model of said at least two bridge girders having splice holes fabricated therein and further generates the dimensions of one or more splice plates, including generating the splice hole locations on the one or more splice plates, for the fabrication of said one or more splice plates.
A method of fabrication of splice plates for joining at least two bridge girders in steel bridge fabrication comprising steps of:
- taking measurements of at least two bridge girders having splice holes fabricated therein using an apparatus having a 3D coordinate measurement instrument wherein said measurements include for each of said at least two bridge girders (a) measuring splice hole locations at a girder end and measuring surfaces of the girder end thereby characterizing the girder end, (b) measuring the length of the girder, and (c) measuring camber along the length of the girder,
- a processing computer for receiving said measurements of said at least two bridge girders having splice holes fabricated therein wherein said processing computer will through computer software manipulate said measurements of said at least two bridge girders including adjusting a web gap between said at least two girder ends of said at least two bridge girders and rotating said at least two girder ends about a common plane of a web of each of said at least two bridge girders, and
- wherein said processing computer generates a 3D model of said at least two bridge girders having splice holes fabricated therein and further generates the dimensions of one or more splice plates, including generating the splice hole locations on the one or more splice plates, for the fabrication of said one or more splice plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.