Lifter assembly and system for removing highway or railway bridges

A lifter assembly includes a base having a top and a bottom surface. Connectors are attached to the base extending outwardly from the bottom surface. Each of the connectors includes at least one rail wheel rotatably attached thereto. The base includes traveling wheels rotatably attached thereto. A post is attached to the base extending outwardly from the top surface to a distal end. An arm is disposed on the distal end, rotatably attached to the post, extending outwardly to a terminal end. A support is movably attached to the arm and extends outwardly to a support end. A trolley is slidably disposed on the arm and movable along the arm between the terminal end and the post. Each of the traveling wheels includes a leg pivotably attached to the base connecting the traveling wheel to the base and move the traveling wheel between a transport and a storage position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a lifter assembly and a system for removing or replacing highway or railway bridges.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Some steel bridges used in railway have been in use for nearly a century. Inevitably, some of the steel bridges shown signs of aging or corrosion. In order to guarantee safety use of the steel bridges, the bridges showing serious damages or corrosions need to be replaced or removed. As time goes by, the workload of replacing or removing bridges becomes greater and machines have been used to provide an efficient way of removing the bridges.

One such a machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,470,586. The machine includes a base having a top surface for receiving a bridge span and a bottom surface disposed opposite of the top surface. A pair of connectors is attached to the base, spaced from one another, extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the base. Each of the connectors includes at least one rail wheel, rotatably attached to the connector, for moving the base along the railway. A post is attached to the base and extends outwardly from the top surface of the base to a distal end. An arm is disposed on the distal end of the post rotatably attached to the post and extends radially outwardly from the post parallel to the base to a terminal end with the arm being rotatable about the post. A support is movably attached to the arm and extends outwardly from the arm to a support end for engaging a bridge support. A trolley is slidably disposed on the arm and movable along the arm between the terminal end and the post.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lifter assembly for removing or replacing highway or railway bridges that is simple in structure and lightweight. The present invention also provides for a lifter assembly that can be easily and efficiently transported to a desired location by switching between the rail wheels and traveling wheels. In addition, the present invention provides a lifter assembly that can adapt to different bridge spans having a variable width. Furthermore, the present invention provides an lifter assembly that can be easily handled making handling easier.

It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a lifter assembly for removing or replacing highway or railway bridges. The lifter assembly includes a base having a top surface for receiving a bridge span and a bottom surface disposed opposite of the top surface. A pair of connectors is attached to the base, spaced from one another, extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the base. Each of the connectors includes at least one rail wheel, rotatably attached to the connector, for moving the base along the railway. The base includes a plurality of traveling wheels, rotatably attached to the base, for transporting the base along the highway. A post is attached to the base and extends outwardly from the top surface of the base to a distal end. An arm is disposed on the distal end of the post rotatably attached to the post and extends radially outwardly from the post parallel to the base to a terminal end with the arm being rotatable about the post. A support is movably attached to the arm and extends outwardly from the arm to a support end for engaging a bridge support. A trolley is slidably disposed on the arm and movable along the arm between the terminal end and the post. Each of the traveling wheel includes a leg pivotably attached to the base and extends between the base and the traveling wheel to connect the traveling wheel to the base and move the traveling wheel between a transport position and a storage position. In the transport position, the traveling wheel and the leg is perpendicular to the connectors. In the storage position, the traveling wheel and the leg is parallel to the connectors.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a system for removing or replacing highway or railway bridges. The system includes a pair of lifter assemblies with each of the lifter assembly including a base having a top surface for receiving a bridge span and a bottom surface disposed opposite of the top surface. A pair of connectors is attached to the base, spaced from one another, extending outwardly from the bottom surface of the base. Each of the connectors includes at least one rail wheel rotatably attached to the connector for moving the base along the railway. The base includes a plurality of traveling wheels rotatably attached to the base for transporting the base along the highway. A post is attached to the base and extends outwardly from the top surface of the base to a distal end. An arm is disposed on the distal end of the post, rotatably attached to the post, and extends radially outwardly from the post, parallel to the base, to a terminal end with the arm being rotatable about the post. A support is movably attached to the arm and extends outwardly from the arm to a support end for engaging a bridge support. A trolley is slidably disposed on the arm and movable along the arm between the terminal end and the post. The terminal end of the arm of one of the lift assemblies is connected via a releasable connection to the terminal end of the arm of another one of the lift assemblies joining the lift assemblies to one another for moving the bridge span and allow the lift assemblies to operate as a gantry.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ENABLING EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, it is one aspect of the present invention to provide a lifter assembly20for removing or replacing highway or railway bridges. The lifter assembly20constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is generally shown inFIG. 1.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the lifter assembly20includes a base22, having a generally H-shape. The base22includes a first member24and a second member26disposed parallel to and spaced from one another. An intermediate member28extends perpendicularly between the first member24and the second member26to connect the first member24with the second member26for receiving a bridge span30. The base22has a top surface32for receiving the bridge span30and a bottom surface34disposed on an opposite side of the top surface32.

As best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the first member24and the second member26each includes at least one connector36attached to the bottom surface34of the base22and extending perpendicularly outwardly from the bottom surface34of the base22. It should appreciated that, in one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one connector36can include a pair of connectors36, each having a generally T-shape, spaced from one another, attached to the base22and extending outwardly from the base22. A plurality of rail wheels38is rotatably attached to the at least one connector36for engaging a railway and move the base22and the lifter assembly20along the railway. It should appreciated that, in one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of rail wheels38includes a pair of rail wheels38rotatably attached to each one of the connectors36for engaging the railway.

The first member24and the second member26each includes a pair of traveling wheels40rotatably attached to the first member24and the second member26of the base22for transporting the base22and the lifter assembly20along a road or a highway. In other words, the lifter assembly20includes two different sets of wheels38,40attached to the base—a set of rail wheels38and a set of traveling wheels40. By having two different set of wheels38,40, it allows the lifter assembly20to be easily transported to a desired location, e.g. moving either along the road (or highway) or along the railway for removing or replacing highway or railway bridges.

As best shown inFIGS. 4 through 6, a post42is attached to the first member24of the base22and extends perpendicularly outwardly from the top surface32of the base22to a distal end44. An arm46, having a generally rectangular shape, is disposed on the distal end44of the post42. The arm46is rotatably attached to the post42and extends radially outwardly from the post42, parallel to the base22to a terminal end48spaced from the post. In other words, the arm46is rotatably attached to the distal end44of the post42and is able to freely rotate about the post42. In one embodiment of the present invention, the arm46has a top50and a bottom52and includes a pair of top rails54and a pair of bottom rails56. The top rails54are disposed at the top50and extends perpendicularly outwardly from the arm46and away from one another. The bottom rails56are disposed at the bottom52, spaced from the top rails54, and extends outwardly from the arm46away from one another. It should be appreciated that the arm46can be telescopic and longitudinally extendable to a length that exceeds a width of the railway bridge to be replace or removed.

A support58is attached to the bottom rails56of the arm46and extends outwardly from the arm46to a support end58for engaging a bridge support62. A trolley64is slidably disposed on the top rails54of the arm46and movable along the arm46between the terminal end48of the arm46and the post42. The trolley64includes a winch66attached to the trolley64for movement with the trolley64. The winch66can be raise and lowered for engaging the bridge span30. A platform68, having a generally rectangular shape, is attached to the post42spaced from the base22and extends radially outward from the post42. An actuator70is disposed on the platform68and is connected to the trolley64and the winch66for moving the trolley64and the winch66longitudinally along the arm46and raising/lowering the winch66to engage the bridge span30. The actuator70includes a generator72disposed on the platform68, adjacent to the post42, for supplying power. The actuator70also includes an engine74disposed on the platform68, adjacent to the post42and electrically connected to the generator72, for receiving power from the generator72. The engine74is also connected to the trolley64and the winch66. The actuator70further includes a controller76electrically connected to the engine74and the generator72for controlling the engine74and the generator72. It should be appreciated that the controller76can be disposed on the platform68, or directly attached to the generator72or the engine74. In addition, the controller76can be disposed between the first member24and the second member24and attached to the base22.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 2-4, each of the traveling wheel40includes a leg78pivotably attached to the base22extending between the base22and the traveling wheel40to connect the traveling wheel40to the base22and move the traveling wheel40between a transport position and a storage position. In the transport position, the traveling wheel40and the leg78are perpendicular to the connectors36, the first member24, and the second member26. In the storage position, the traveling wheel40and the leg78are parallel to the first member24, the second member26, and the connectors36. The leg78includes an extension member80extending outwardly from the leg78, parallel to the connectors36and rotatably attached to the traveling wheel40. The extension member80is extendable in a direction perpendicular to the leg78for raising and lowering the traveling wheels40to adjust the height of the base22. The first member24and the second member26each includes a pair of fins82, spaced from one another, extending outwardly from the base22to receive the leg78between the fins82. A fastener84extends through the fins82to secure the leg78to the fins82of the base22and allow the leg78to pivot between the transport position and the storage position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the support58is slidably attached to the arm46and movable along the arm46between the post42and the terminal end48of the arm46. The support58is telescopic and movable between an extended position and retracted position. In the extended position, as best shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the support58extends perpendicularly outwardly from the arm46with the support end60extending beyond the traveling wheels40and the rail wheels38for engaging a bridge support62. In the retracted position, as best shown inFIGS. 2-4, the support58extends outwardly from the arm46with the support end60being disposed adjacent to the base22. The base22further includes a plate88extending outwardly from the second member26of the base22to receive the support end60in the retracted position.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the support58is pivotably attached to the terminal end48of the arm46and movable about the terminal end48of the arm46between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the support58extends perpendicularly outwardly from the arm46with the support end60being beyond the traveling wheels40and the rail wheels38for engaging the bridge support62. In the retracted position, the support58extends outwardly from the arm46with the support end60being disposed adjacent to the base22and at an oblique angle relative to the arm46. Alternatively, in the retracted position, the support58can be folded in parallel relationship to the arm46.

As best shown inFIGS. 7-10, it is another aspect of the present invention to provide a system90for removing or replacing highway or railway bridges. The system90includes a plurality of lifter assemblies20. As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, in one embodiment of the present invention, the system90includes a pair of lifter assemblies20. The lifter assembles20can be disposed in tandem relative to one another with the bridge span30being disposed on the base22of the lifter assemblies20for transporting the bridge span30along the railway. In the event that the bridge span30is too wide or too heavy for a single lifter assembly20to carry. The lifter assemblies20can be connected to one another to operate as a gantry for lifting the bridge span30. In particular, the terminal end48of the arm46of one of the lift assemblies20can be connected, via a releasable connection92, to the terminal end48of the arm46of another one of the lift assemblies20. In other words, the releasable connection92joins the lift assemblies20to one another for moving the bridge span30and allow the lift assemblies20to operate as a gantry for lifting and transporting the heavy bridge span30.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the releasable connection92can be defined as a collar94and bolts96type of engagement. The collar94extends about the terminal end48of the arm46of the lift assembles20and a plurality of bolts96, extending through the collar94and spaced from one another, to secure the collar94to arms46of the lift assemblies20to connect the lift assemblies20to one another. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the releasable connection92can be defined as a protrusion-slot type of engagement. For example, the terminal end48of the arm46of one of the lift assemblies20can define a plurality of slots spaced from one another. The terminal end48of the arm46of another one of the lift assemblies20can define a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the arm46and received by the slots to connect the lift assemblies20to one another.

As shown inFIG. 10, in the event that the bridge span30is too wide or too heavy for the pair of lifter assemblies20, two pairs of the lifter assembles20can be used to move the bridge span30. In this arrangement, the first pair of the lifter assemblies20are connected to one another via the releasable connection92and the second pair of the lifter assemblies20are also connected to one another via the releasable connection. The first pair and the second pair of the lifter assemblies, spaced from one another, work together to lift and transport the bridge span30.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. The use of the word “said” in the apparatus claims refers to an antecedent that is a positive recitation meant to be included in the coverage of the claims whereas the word “the” precedes a word not meant to be included in the coverage of the claims.