BRIDGE CONNECTION SYSTEM

[0001] The present invention relates to bride structures, and more particularly to a bridge connection system.

[0002] The construction of bridges is an often complicated and time-consuming process. The ability to quickly and easily assembly a bridge structure would be of greatly benefit the construction industry.

[0003] The present invention, as disclosed and described herein, in one aspect thereof comprises a bridge connection system includes a base platform having a long pair of edges and a short pair of edges for crossing a predetermined area. The base platform includes a plurality of mounting plates extending perpendicularly from the long pair of edges of the base platform. A pair of side rail assemblies configured to connect with the base platform via the plurality of mounting plates to secure the pair of side rail assemblies along the long pair of edges of the base platform.

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout, the various views and embodiments of a bridge connection system are illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments are described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations based on the following examples of possible embodiments.

[0017] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a perspective view of an assembled, modular bridge with rails (vehicle path delimiting rails or handrails, functionally depending on the chosen height above the bridge deck surface level). The depicted bridge designed and constructed according to the bridge connection system of the present disclosure.

[0018] The bridge structure 102 will be described herein as a completed structure, whereas structure has constituent, modular components that, in the intended mode of implementation by a user, will be site-delivered for assembly by the end user or a contractor at the intended bridge site. Bridge structure 102 includes a base platform (or “deck”) 104 that extends across a geographic feature to be bridged such as a ditch, creek, hole, river, etc. Extending perpendicularly upward from the base platform 104 are rails 106. The rails 106 extend upward from and connect along the edges of the base platform 104 that extends over the geographic structure to be bridged. In a preferred embodiment, there are rails 106 each on opposite sides of the long axis of the base platform 104.

[0019] Each of the rails 106 include a plurality of vertical stays 108 that connect with the base platform 104 at a bottom end thereof and connect to a rail tube 110 at a top end thereof. The rails 106 may further include a plurality of horizontal cables 112 parallel to the rail for filling the space between the base platform 104 and the rail tube 110 to prevent larger items from inadvertently falling between the vertical stays 108.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a side view of the rails 106. As described previously, the rails 106 comprise a plurality of vertical stays 108 that are separated by a predetermined distance along the long axis of the base platform 104. The vertical stays have a first end 202 that connects with a support rail 204 of the base platform 104. The second end 206 of the vertical stays 108 connect to the rail tube 110. A series of horizontal cables 112 run perpendicularly between the support rail 204 and the rail tube 110 in order to block the open spaces between vertical stays 108 and prevent items from inadvertently passing between the vertical stays 108 off the edge of the base platform 104. The connection between the bottom of a vertical stay 108 and the support rail 204 as indicated generally at 210 is more particularly illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the area indicated generally at 210 in FIG. 2. The vertical stay 108 includes a tubular member defining two holes 302 therein for receiving a pair of bolts 304. The vertical stay 108 is placed up against a mounting flange 306 that extends perpendicularly from the side of the support rail 204. The mounting flange 306 in one embodiment is welded to the side of the support rail 204 and comprises a rectangular member made of the same material as the support rail 204. The mounting flange 306 defines a pair of openings 308 for receiving the pairs of bolts 304 inserted through the vertical stay 108. The vertical stay 108 is placed next to the mounting flange 306 such that the holes 302 of the vertical stay align with the holes 308 of the mounting flange. The bolts 306 are then inserted through the aligned holes of the vertical stay 108 and the mounting flange 306 and a washer 310 and nut 312 are used to secure the vertical stay to the mounting flange in a fixed orientation. This means of connection is repeated for each of the vertical stays 108 on each side of the long axis of the base platform 104.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 4A, there is illustrated an end view of the bridge structure 102. As discussed previously, the vertical stays 108 are connected with the support rail 204 on both sides of the bridge structure 102. The rail tubes 110 are connected to the top end 206 of each of the vertical stays 108 via, in a preferred embodiment, a ½ inch carriage bolt 414 [STEEL GRADE] with a washer 416, nut 418 and optional cotter key as shown in FIG. 4B. The top end 206 of the vertical stay 108 slide into an opening 410 defined within the bottom side 412 of the rail tube 110. The rail tube 110 is then secured to the vertical stay 108 using the carriage bolt 414, washer 416 and nut 418 assembly. The support rails 204 are connected to each other via platform cross-members 402. The platform cross-members 402 extend perpendicularly from the support rails 204 and are connected at each end to the support rails 204 on each side of the base platform 104 using a ½ inch carriage bolt with a washer and nut that pass through the platform cross members 402 to connect the platform cross member to a mounting flange 306 similar to that discussed previously for connecting the vertical stays 108 to the support rails 204.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is more particularly illustrated the interconnection between the support rails 204 and the vertical stays 108 and cross-member 402 as shown generally at 404 of FIG. 4. As noted previously, the vertical stay 108 are connected to the support rail 204 using mounting flanges 306 and is secured in place via a pair of ½ inch carriage bolts. Similarly, the end of the crossmember 402 is secured to the support rail 204 via mounting flanges 306 and a pair of ½ inch carriage bolts with washer and nut.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a top view of the bridge structure 102. From the top view of bridge structures 102, the rail tubes 110 running from one end of the base platform 104 to the other may be seen. The support rails 204 are interconnected along their length using a plurality of perpendicular crossmembers 402. The crossmembers 402 further define a plurality of holes 404 therein through which planks may be secured to the crossmembers using ½ inch carriage bolts with washer and nut.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bridge with bump rails constructed according to the bridge connection system of the present disclosure. The bridge structure 702 includes a base platform 704 that extends across a geographic feature to be bridged such as a ditch, creek, hole, river, etc. Extending perpendicularly upward from the base platform 704 are bump rails 706. The bump rails 706 extend upward from and connect to the edges of the base platform 704 that extends over the geographic structure to be bridge. There are a pair of bump rails 706 on opposite sides of the long axis of the base platform 104. Each of the bump rails 706 include a plurality of vertical stays 708 that with with the base platform 704 at a bottom end thereof and connect to a bump rail tube 710 at a top end thereof in a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4B.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a side view of the bump rails 706. As described previously, the bump rails 706 comprise a plurality of vertical stays 708 that are separated by a predetermined distance along the long axis of the base platform 704. The vertical stays have a first end 802 that connects with a support rail 804 of the base platform 704. The second end 806 of the vertical stays 708 connect to the bump rails 706. The connection between the bottom of a vertical stay 708 and the support rail 804 as indicated generally at 810 is more particularly illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0027] As discussed previously with respect to the rails, FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the area indicated generally at 810 in FIG. 8. The vertical stay 708 includes a tubular member defining two holes 302 therein for receiving a pair of bolts 304. The vertical stay 708 is placed up against a mounting flange 306 that extends perpendicularly from the side of the support rail 704. The mounting flange 306 in one embodiment is welded to the side of the support rail 704 and comprises a rectangular member made of the same material as the support rail 704. The mounting flange 306 defines a pair of openings 308 for receiving the pairs of bolts 304 inserted through the vertical stay 108. The vertical stay 708 is placed next to the mounting flange 306 such that the holes 302 of the vertical stay align with the holes 308 of the mounting flange. The bolts 306 are then inserted through the aligned holes of the vertical stay 708 and the mounting flange 306 and a washer 310 and nut 312 are used to secure the vertical stay to the mounting flange in a fixed orientation. This means of connection is repeated for each of the vertical stays 708 on each side of the long axis of the base platform 804.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated an end view of the bridge structure 702. As discussed previously, the vertical stays 708 are connected with the support rail 804 on both sides of the bridge structure 702 using mounting flanges 306. The bump rail tubes 710 are connected to the top end 806 of each of the vertical stays 708 via a ½ inch carriage bolt with a washer and nut. The support rails 804 are connected to each other via platform cross-members 902. The cross-members extend perpendicularly from the support rails 204 and are connected at each end to the support rails 804 on each side of the base platform 704 using a ½ inch carriage bolt with a washer and nut and the mounting flanges discussed previously.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is more particularly illustrated the interconnection between the support rails 704 and the vertical stays 708 and cross-member 902 as shown generally in FIG. 9. As noted previously, the vertical stay 708 are connected to the support rail 704 using mounting flanges 306 and is secured in place via a pair of ½ inch carriage bolts. Similarly, the end of the crossmember 902 is secured to the support rail 704 via mounting flanges 306 and a pair of ½ inch carriage bolts with washer and nut.

[0030] Referring now back to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a top view of the bridge structure 702. Similar to the first embodiment including rails rather than bump rails, the top view of the rail tubes 710 running from one end of the base platform 704 to the other may be seen. The support rails 804 are interconnected along their length using a plurality of crossmembers 602. The crossmembers 602 further define a plurality of holes 604 therein through which planks may be secured to the crossmembers using ½ inch carriage bolts with washer and nut.

[0031] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this bridge connection system provides a more efficient manner of bridge assembly. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, included are any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.