Bridges – Truss – Arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-21
2001-02-06
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Bridges
Truss
Arrangement
C014S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182319
ABSTRACT:
This application claims priority from German Application 198 06 145.5 filed Feb. 14, 1998.
The invention relates to an arrangement on which it is possible to walk and/or drive and which is intended for bridging over and/or under, for example, roads, comprising a bottom member which is connected, via cross-struts, to handrails and/or a top flange.
An arrangement of this type is known, for example, from DE 196 25 819.7 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,152. An essential feature of this invention is the fact that virtually the entire arrangement can be produced in modular fashion. The arrangement essentially comprises aluminum profiles which are lightweight and can be produced cost-effectively. The object of the present invention is further to improve this arrangement on which it is possible to walk, and is known from DE 196 25 819 A1, and also to make it suitable for new applications.
In order to achieve this object, a cross-strut comprises, at least in part, a box profile. The intention is for this box profile to be used preferably at a large number of locations of the arrangement according to the invention, these being, in addition to said cross-struts, also top flanges or additional tension struts or rods, roof struts, etc. The components are to be standardized as far as possible in order that the arrangement as a whole manages with a minimum number of different components.
A box profile has the advantage that it has considerably improved stability. It is also possible, however, for additional profilings to be integrally formed on the box profile, these profilings being used for receiving and/or the insertion of further structural elements. The various possibilities are described hereinbelow.
The box profile, however, also makes it possible for a cross-strut to be better connected to a bottom member than has been the case hitherto. For this purpose, the invention provides a Y-shaped connecting piece which is fixed on the bottom member. For example, fixing can take place on a joint rod which, at the same time, connects two panels of the bottom member to one another in the manner of a piano hinge. Projecting to the side from the connecting piece are two branches, onto which in each case one cross-strut is plugged. In this case, the branches are configured such that they are supported by their spine and supporting fingers in the interior of the cross-strut.
A push-in depth of the cross-strut is limited by a stop on the branch. The cross-strut is further fixed by means of the securing bolt.
A further problem of the arrangement according to the invention is in the task of making sides safe, it being the case that the triangles formed by the cross-struts are usually too large. These triangles should also be filled with a side panelling, with the result that it is no longer possible for even a child to fall through them.
The material of which the side panelling consists is of secondary importance, but a plastic panel or safety glass is conceivable, in particular.
Serving for securing the side panelling, on the one hand, are parts of the above-mentioned profiling on the box profile, for example receiving channels, into which the side panelling is inserted. For the purpose of fixing the side panelling with respect to the bottom member or with respect to a handrail, specific clamping devices are also provided and these, in the present, preferred exemplary embodiments, comprise a clamping holder and a clamping piece. In this case, it is intended that the clamping devices can be used both in relation to the handrail and in relation to the bottom member.
The clamping piece and clamping holder are connected to one another such that it is possible to change a spacing between the two. It is thus also possible to use the same clamping devices for side panellings of different thicknesses. For example, the clamping piece may be connected to the clamping holder in an articulated manner if there is a second connection via a tension bolt, by means of which the spacing between the clamping piece and clamping holder is changed.
In many cases, it is not sufficient for the bottom member to be stiffened by the cross-struts alone. In this case, it has proven to be advisable also to arrange a tension bar between two cross-struts, said tension bar being connected vertically to the bottom member. The tensile forces, which act essentially on the bottom member, are better absorbed as a result. The same also applies to the buckling forces, which also act essentially in the downward direction.
The vertical tension bar may also advantageously be used, in particular, when the arrangement on which it is possible to walk and/or drive is enclosed. In this case, the cross-struts and the tension bar extend to a height of approximately 2.40 meters and are connected, at this level, to a top flange. Connection preferably takes place at a joint location which is covered over by corresponding side elements.
In order to improve the stability, two parallel top flanges are connected to one another by roof struts. Additional roof surfaces may also be positioned on the top flanges and the roof struts. In order that these roof surfaces are supported in relation to the top flanges, elastic material strips, for example foam-rubber strips, may be introduced into corresponding profilings of the top flanges.
In another use example, an arrangement according to the invention on which it is possible to walk and/or drive serves for bridging over, for example, areas at risk of flooding. For this purpose, it is provided that a corresponding bottom member is assigned supports for providing support on an underlying surface. These supports have brackets which are arranged in a displaceable manner along the supports. The bottom member rests on the brackets, with the result that it can be adjusted in height in relation to the underlying surface. Furthermore, it is also intended for the supports themselves to be designed such that they can be telescoped, with the result that the bottom member can be raised.
Two supports are each connected to one another at their top end via an articulation, it being the case that a suspension means, in turn, hangs down from this articulation, the bottom member being fastened on said suspension means.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 6444 (1875-05-01), Eads
patent: 682500 (1901-09-01), Shafer
patent: 4015303 (1977-04-01), Eyb et al.
patent: 4200946 (1980-05-01), Lawerence
patent: 4253210 (1981-03-01), Racicot
patent: 5065467 (1991-11-01), Forsyth
patent: 5724691 (1998-03-01), Wiedeck et al.
patent: 5924152 (1999-07-01), Maier
Kmet Branislav
Maier Peter
Addie Raymond W
Bachman & LaPointe P.C.
Lillis Eileen D.
Peter Maier Leichtbau GmbH
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