Patent Publication Number: US-10774484-B2

Title: Bridge support bracket placement device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to prior Application No. 62/641,944 filed Mar. 12, 2018 and to Application No. 62/794,790 filed Jan. 21, 2019. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This application is directed to bridge building, and, more particularly, to the use of bridge overhang support brackets used in bridge construction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , modern-day bridges use steel or concrete I-beams  10  to support bridge loads. After placement of the I-beams, concrete roadways  14  are formed on top of the I-beams. Further, a portion  18  of the concrete roadway extends over the outside edges of the I-beam. When constructing the bridge, concrete forms  22  and the concrete  18  are supported by bridge overhang support brackets  30  secured to the I-beam  10 . Each support bracket  30  includes a horizontal component  32 , a vertical component  34 , and an angled component  36  attached at one end to an end of the horizontal component, and another end attached to an end of the vertical component. As shown in  FIG. 2 , this process begins with the placement of a hanger  50  on the top of the I-beam  10 . The hanger  50  is secured to the I-beam  10  in a conventional fashion, such as by attaching the rear of the hanger to the back side of the I-beam  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and a hanger end clip  52  is positioned just at the edge of the I-beam where the support bracket  30  is to be positioned. 
     The next step in this process is to support the bridge overhang support bracket  30  on the side of the I-beam  10  so a coil rod  54  can be inserted through an opening (not shown) in the hangar clip  52 , and also inserted into a support bracket bolt holder  56  in the support bracket  30 . After being inserted through openings in the hanger clip  52  and the bolt holder  56 , the coil rod  54  is then secured in place by coil nuts  58  on the ends of the coil rod  54 . 
     Placing each support bracket  30  in a position to receive the coil rod  54  is a challenge in modern day bridge making. Most often, workers beneath the new bridge must be lifted up with the support bracket to bridge level using a bucket truck or similar device. This requires for all traffic currently under the bridge to be diverted away from the bridge. Since many bridges are being made over active roadways, this requires highway lanes to be closed. This is an expensive and inconvenient situation. Further, supporting the bracket on the side of the I-beam usually requires at least two workers working together, with one on the side of the I-beam and one on top of the I-beam. This is strenuous and dangerous work. Further, this process when performed over water requires the need for water craft to support the mechanism used to raise the support bracket to bridge level. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is a device for assisting to secure a bridge support bracket to a beam, the device comprising: a support frame, securing means to secure the support frame to the beam, holding means to grasp and hold the bracket, and pivot means pivotally connecting the holding means to the support frame. With this device, a bridge builder can secure the device to the beam, use the clamp to grasp and hold the bracket, and then pivot the clamp and support frame relative to the support frame so that the support bracket can be secured to the beam. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view illustrating bridge construction. An I-beam is show, with an attached bridge support bracket, and forming for the concrete bridge. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a portion of an I-beam, a hanger, and a coil rod passing through a hanger end clip and a bracket bolt holder. A portion of a vertical component of the bridge support bracket is shown attached to a bridge support bracket horizontal component. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view showing a construction worker attaching a bridge support bracket to a concrete I beam. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of a bridge support bracket placement device attached to a concrete I beam, with a bracket clamp open and about to receive an end of the bridge support bracket. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view similar to  FIG. 4 , only with the end of the support bracket now received within the clamp. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view similar to  FIG. 4 , only with the end of the support bracket now secured within the clamp. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view similar to  FIG. 4 , only now with the clamp beginning to pivot to place the support bracket in its final position. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view similar to  FIG. 4 , only now with the clamp having pivoted about 90 degrees to place the support bracket in its final position. 
         FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view similar to  FIG. 4 , only now with the clamp nearly finished pivoted to place the support bracket in its final position. A lever arm attached the clamp helps slow and control the pivoting of the clamp. 
         FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the bridge support bracket placement device according to this disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the bridge support bracket placement device shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom rear first end perspective view of the bridge support bracket placement device shown in  FIG. 10 , showing a hanger clamp in an open position. 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom rear second and perspective view of bridge support bracket placement device shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 14  is a side perspective view of the bridge support bracket placement device. 
         FIG. 15  is an end perspective view of the clamp and its pivot connection to the device support. 
         FIG. 16  is in bottom perspective view of the bridge support bracket placement device. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective side view of an alternate clamp. 
     
    
    
     Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Further, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward”, “rearward”, “left”, “right”, “upward” and “downward”, etc., are words of convenience in reference to the drawings and are not to be construed as limiting terms. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 17  is a method of and a metal device  60  for securing a bridge support bracket  30  to an I-beam  10 . With the disclosed device  60 , a bridge overhang support bracket  30  can be placed in position by one individual. Once in place, the individual can secure the coil rod  54  to the support bracket  30  and to the hanger clip  52 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bridge support bracket placement device  60  is secured to the steel or concrete I-beam. In the illustrated embodiment, the device  60  is attached to the hanger  50  already secured to the I-beam  10 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . In other embodiments (not shown), the back of the device  60  can be clamped to the I-beam  10  on the side opposite the support bracket  30 , by having the device have extensions which hook over the backside of the I-beam. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the support bracket placement device  60  includes a device support frame  64 , securing means  66  to secure the support frame to the beam, holding means in the form of a clamp  68  to grasp and hold the bracket  30 , and pivot means  70  pivotally connecting the clamp  68  to the support frame  64 . The pivot means includes spacing means  74  (see  FIG. 13 ) for varying the spacing of the clamp  68  relative to the support frame  64  in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction and controlling means  76  for controlling the pivoting of the clamp  68  relative to the support frame  64 . 
     More particularly, the securing means  66  is adapted to secure the device  60  to the hanger  50  attached to the top of an I-beam  10 . The securing means in the disclosed embodiment is in the form of a hook  66  (see  FIG. 12 ) mounted for rotation in a hanger slot  78  in the rear of the device support frame  64 . The hook  66  is rotatable between a first position, where the hanger slot  78  in the bottom rear of the device support frame  64  is open as shown in  FIG. 12  to receive the hanger  50 , and a second position where the hook  66  holds the hanger  50  in the hanger slot  78 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, as shown especially in  FIG. 13 , the clamp  68  is in the form of rectangle box, with one side  82  pivotable between a bracket receiving open position, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and a bracket securing position, as shown in  FIG. 6 . An over center hook shaped lock  84  on the side of the clamp  68  is used to releasable secure the one side  82  of the clamp  68  in the bracket held position. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), another holding means to grasp and hold the bracket  30 , such as the beam clamp  90  illustrated in  FIG. 17 , can be used. The beam clamp  90  in  FIG. 17  has the advantage of being more readily able to be used with support brackets of different widths. 
     Mounted for relative sliding movement within the clamp rectangle box is a clamp base  92 . The clamp base  92  is mounted within the clamp rectangle box and is moveable relative to the bottom of the clamp rectangle by a threaded rod  94  that extends through a threaded hole  96  (see  FIG. 15 ) in the bottom of the rectangle. More particularly, the clamp base  92  is U shaped, with sides that mate using a tongue in grove arrangement with the sides of the rectangular box so the clamp base can slide relative to the sides of the rectangular box. One end of the threaded rod  94  is held at the clamp base  92  and is free to rotate. As the threaded rod  94  turns, the position of the clamp base  92  relative to the bottom of the rectangle changes. In this fashion, the position of the support bracket  30  relative to the support frame  64  and relative to the top of the I-beam  10  can be adjusted. As shown in  FIG. 15 , a rod handle  96  is attached to the threaded rod  94  to aid in the turning of the threaded rod  94 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , the pivot means  70  is in the form of a pivot connection between the clamp  68  and the support frame  64 . More particularly, the support frame  64  has a U shape, with a base portion  100  and two arm portions  102  and  104 . In each arm portion, there is positioned for sliding movement a clamp hanger  106  in the form of a flat rectangular piece. The clamp hanger  106  is received in a bottom slot  110  and is secured in the bottom slot  110  by a clamp hanger bolt  112  that extends through a side slot  114  (see  FIG. 14 ) in the arm portion. The clamp hanger bolt  112  is secured in place by a clamp hanger bolt nut  118  which can be loosened or tightened as desired. When loose, the clamp hanger  106  can be slide along the support frame arm portion so as to adjust the position of the clamp  68  relative to the support frame base portion  100 , and relative to the edge of the I-beam  10 . Extending between the clamp hangers  106  is a clamp pivot axle  120 . Each clamp pivot axle end extends through a respective clamp hanger through hole (not shown). The ends of the clamp pivot axle  120  are secured in place by a by a clamp pivot axle bolt nut  124 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the spacing means  74  for varying the spacing of the clamp  68  relative to the support frame  64  in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction is in the form of the movable clamp hanger  106 , and the movable clamp base  92 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 8, 9 and 13 , the controlling means  76  for controlling the pivoting of the clamp  68  relative to the support frame  64  is in the form of a handle  126  pivotally attached to the clamp base  92 . When a user holds on to the handle  126 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the rotation of the support bracket  30  relative to the I-beam  10  can be slowed and done in a controlled manner. In other embodiments (not shown), other means for slowing and controlling the rotation of the support bracket  30  relative to the I-beam  10  can be used. For example, a friction disk between the clamp pivot axle bolt nut  112  and the clamp hanger  106  can be used to slow the rotation of the clamp pivot axle  120  relative to the clamp hanger  106  and would provide a slow controlled rotation of the support bracket  30  relative to the I-beam  10 . 
     In operation, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4-9 , a construction worker would begin using the support bracket placement device  60  by securing the support frame  64  to the I-beam  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hanger  50  is already available and is attached to the I-beam  10 . The hanger clip  52  is at the outside edge of the I-beam  10 . The support frame  64  is then secured to the hanger  50  by the hook  66  being rotated in the rear of the device support  64  to the first position where the hanger slot  78  is open to receive the hanger  50 . The hook  66  is then rotated to the second position where the hook  66  holds the hanger  50  in the hanger slot  78 . The support frame  64  is positioned on the hanger  50  so that the hanger clip  52  is inside the support frame  64  adjacent the support frame base portion  100 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The worker then continues by using the clamp  68  pivotally connected to the support frame  64  to grasp and hold the bridge overhang support bracket  30 . The support bracket  30  is positioned in the clamp  68  so that the bracket bolt holder  56  is on the worker side of the clamp  68  so that once rotated, the bracket bolt holder  56  will be adjacent the I-beam  10  and by the hanger clip  52 . The worker then continues by pivoting the clamp  68  and support bracket  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 to 9 , through 180 degrees relative to the support frame  64  and the I-beam  10 . Once the support bracket  30  is placed on the side of the I-beam  10 , or even before rotation of the support bracket  30 , the end position after rotation of the support bracket  30  can be adjusted both horizontally or vertically so that the hole in the bracket bolt holder  56  is aligned with the hole in the hanger end clip  52 . The construction worker can then pass the coil rod  54  through the bracket bolt holder  56  and through the hanger end clip  52 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , and then secure the coil nuts  58  to the ends of the coil rod  54 . 
     Trials with device  60  have shown that one worker can perform in half the time the work formerly done by two, with greater safety and without needing to stop traffic under the bridge under construction, or to provide water craft to support the mechanism used to raise the support bracket to bridge level. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
     Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following claims.