Bridges – Suspension – Compound system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-05
2002-06-11
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3673)
Bridges
Suspension
Compound system
C014S022000, C014S025000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06401285
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a design for a bridge having a suspended deck.
The problem of constructing a bridge presents a challenge on a number of intersecting intellectual planes. A bridge design should be easy-to-construct, durable, able to withstand the assaults of nature, including traumatic events such as earthquakes, and should be aesthetically pleasing. To fill these needs a number of different designs have been created. Two designs of particular interest are the double tower suspension bridge and the arch suspension bridge.
In the typical suspension bridge a pair of main cables are suspended between the tops of a pair of towers. A set of substantially vertical cables suspend the deck of the bridge from the main cables. In an arch suspension bridge, a set of vertical cables typically suspend a deck from an arch. Both of these designs represent popular favorites, as they have a minimum of support structure beneath the deck that would therefore interfere with navigation.
FIG. 1
shows a prior art bridge
10
that was invented by the inventor of the present invention. In bridge
10
a sinusoidal support structure
12
rises above and falls below a deck
14
of bridge
10
, by turns forming a first arch
16
and a second arch
18
. A first tower
20
and a second tower
22
support structure
12
(a further portion of structure
12
, extending off of the right side of
FIG. 1
, is rooted into the earth). A pair of tower extensions
24
and
26
directly support deck
14
. In addition, support structure
12
supports deck
14
at a set of crossing points
27
and, further, forms a loop
28
and a shelf
30
for support of deck
14
. A set of cables
40
, lend further support to deck
14
. Unfortunately, the support of column extensions
24
and
26
and at crossing points
27
could prove to rigid and brittle during an earthquake. In the ideal, a bridge design should have built into it great flexibility, so that it can withstand earthquakes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a bridge, comprising a set of bases, a deck, an undulating support structure having above-the-deck arch sections and below-the-deck inverted arch sections and being supported by the set of bases at the below the deck sections. The bridge also includes at least two arrays of load-bearing connectors extending from the above-the-deck arch sections to the deck and supporting substantially the entire weight of the deck.
In a preferred separate embodiment, the present invention is a bridge comprising a deck, an arch and an array of load-bearing connectors extending downwardly and longitudinally inwardly from the arch to the deck and supporting the deck in tension.
In an alternative preferred separate embodiment, the present invention is a bridge comprising a deck, a wishbone arch section, including a single topmost middle portion branching transversely into two support legs on either longitudinal side of the topmost middle portion and a set of connectors extending from the wishbone arch to the deck and supporting the deck.
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Proposal for Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge, May 5, 1997, David C. Morris.
Addie Raymond W
Law Office of Timothy E. Siegel
Morris David C.
Pezzuto Robert E.
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