Patent GB-190720023-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Bascule Bridges.
Inventor: SCHERZER ALBERT HENRY
Filed: 1907-09-07
Granted: 1908-01-30
Abstract: 20,023. Scherzer, A. H. Sept. 7. Bridges, - Relates to bascule bridges of the rolling-lift type. When two or more bridges are in close proximity, the arrangement may be either several single-leaf or several double-leaf spans located side by side. The motors for driving the operating-machinery of the bridges are controlled from one house, the bridges being either simultaneously or successively opened. Counterweights arranged laterally or transversely consists of metal casings which are rigidly secured to the bridge trusses and filled with concrete. The laterallyarranged counterweights are located in the planes of the trusses between the upper ends of the rolling segments and the upper chords of the bridge. The transversely-arranged counterweights extend between the trusses. The counterweight may be provided with pockets having covering - plates ; concrete is inserted in the pockets, in the requisite quantity, when the counterweight is finally adjusted. The rolling segments and track girders are either hollow or of I-section. In the former case, the interior is filled with concrete and reinforcing-bars are added if desirable ; in the latter case, the spaces at the sides of the central web are filled with concrete. Transverse and longitudinal bars embedded in the concrete masses serve as further reinforcement, the transverse bars serving to bolt together plates embedded in the outer faces of the concrete masses. The necessary tilting of the moving leaf is produced by pinions J, driven by suitable mechanism, and engaging with racks I fixed on the stationary part of the bridge. The pinions J are actuated by a train of mechanism driven from a shaft L<1> on the moving leaf. On the inner end of a hollow motor-driven shaft K<2> is a pinion k<3> meshing with a gear-wheel k<4> fixed to a sleeve K<5> which slides on a key on a shaft K<6>. The sleeve K<5> is adapted to swing with the shaft K<6> in a vertical plane, being mounted in a bearing k<5> attached to the shaft K<7>, which is contained by the hollow shaft K<2>. The upper end of the shaft K<6> has a bevelled pinion k<6> gearing with an idle wheel k<7>, which is mounted freely on an horizontal shaft k<8> fixed to the rolling segment of the bridge. The upper end of the shaft K<6> is mounted in a bearing in a hanger k<9> provided with a hub which surrounds the shaft k<8>. The hanger is thereby adapted to swing on an horizontal axis, thus permitting the lower end of the shaft K<6> to swing in a vertical plane on the bridge leaf. The shaft L', actuated through gearing by the shaft K<6>, is therefore always in driving connexion with the shaft K<6> in all positions of the bridge leaf. The leaves are locked together on closing the bridge by the engagement of a tongue H<2> on one leaf with a notch h on the other leaf ; this notch is formed between two unequal extensions H, H<1>, the shorter of which allows the tongue H<2> to swing into the notch, while the longer extension limits the downward movement of the leaf carrying the tongue, and also serves to guide the tongue into the notch as the leaves approach their closed position. In the case of a skew bridge, Fig. 1, in which one of the main piers D<1> is located nearer than the other D to the waterway, an auxiliary pier G is placed outside the shore line F and in longitudinal alinement with the pier D', which is located inside the shore line. The effective span of the bridge is thereby reduced, with consequent increase of loadbearing capacity. To prevent slipping when the segments are rolling, teeth on the track girders engage with corresponding sockets on the rolling segments.