IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BRIDGES PIERS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BRIDGES PIERS AND
SIMILAR STRUCTURES" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bridges, piers, and similar structures which, whatever
be their dimensions and resistance, are made up or built of a number of rectangular
elements or parts made of iron or steel and all alike 'in shape and size. These
elements or parts are placed one above another or connected at their sides, or
arranged perpendicularly or obliquely with respect to each other and they thus'
form very rigid bridges of trellis work or open work, whose height, length, width
and resistance can be varied as desired.
With the object of varying the resistance of this system without being compelled
to augment the height of the elements or parts of which the main girders are
composed, I employ two other elements or parts in the construction of these
bridges; which parts consist of iron or steel plates, one of which serves as a tie-rod
or connecting piece and the other and shorter one as a cover-plate for the joints, or
as a gusset or strengthening piece for the first named elements or parts upon the
supports, in order to increase the resistance to the crushing thereof.
The first-named elements or parts are of rectangular form and are provided with
diagonals.
The second named elements or parts consist of iron or steel plates perforated in
such a manner as to adapt them for attachment to either the long or short side of
the rectangular part.
The element or part which is used as a cover plate, gusset, rib, or strengthening
piece can be applied in any position to the first and second parts on the outside in
connection with the ribs of the first part, or on the inside, or extending in a
transverse direction.

page_text: It is evident that the rectangular parts, whether strengthened or not, according
to requirements, by the plates forming the second and third parts, can be connected
with each other in a great many different manners.
All the elements or parts are united by means of bolts, when the bridge is
designed for temporary use, so that it can be taken to pieces and afterwards erected
in another place; but when it is to be a permanent structure rivets can be
substituted for the bolts.
It will thus be seen that by employing a number of the above named three
elements or parts, which for each group or series are all alike, and a certain number
of bolts which, if required, may also be like, a bridge can be erected which has
any desired span, width and resistance, whatever may be its purpose, for instance
as a foot way for pedestrians, or for an ordinary thoroughfare, or for railway traffic,
the greatest rigidity and stability being obtained in each case and the first named
elements or parts can be employed as main girders, small girders, beams and
cross-ties; and these bridges may be either temporary or permanent structures.
By reason of the different manners in which the second elements or parts may
be arranged, it is possible to construct bridges of several continuous bays which
cannot be effected with the type of portable bridges heretofore employed.
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With the elements or parts above described piers or frame-work having a great
height and great rigidity may also be built, and moreover, the weight of each of
these elements or parts being relatively speaking very small, they can be very
easily carried by a man, and they constitute a really useful mechanical structure
which, in many cases, is indispensable for war purposes and for the construction of
temporary passages to be employed instantaneously either for railway lines
in use or those in construction, either for an ordinary thoroughfare or a foot way.
It must be remarked that a characteristic feature of this system is that by means
of the arrangement or combination of the above described elements or parts the
moment of inertia of the main girders can be proportioned in accordance with the
moments and the strains or stresses which are produced under the effect of those
loads which it is designed to bear, so that when the span or the width of the bridge
is to be increased, there is no necessity for diminishing the load, as may be said of
all other systems, which always have the same moment of inertia for the principal
girders without its being possible to increase it in any manner.
With a number of the said elements or parts, a bridge may at any time be
erected of any desired span, width and resistance on the shortest notice; and piers
or intermediate supports may likewise be built for the said bridges in cases where
the subdivision of the structure is of importance.

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BRIDGES, PIERS, AND
SIMILAR STRUCTURES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to bridges piers and similar structures which, whatever be
their dimensions and resistance, are made up or built of a number of rectangular
elements or parts made of iron or steel and all alike in shape and size These
elements or parts are placed one above another or partially connected with each
other, or arranged perpendicularly or obliquely with respect to each other and they
thus form very rigid bridges of trellis work or open work, whose height, length,
width and resistance can be varied as desired.
To enable me to vary the resistance of this system without being obliged to
augment the height of the aforesaid elements or parts of which the main girders
are composed, I employ other elements or parts in the construction of these bridges
which elements or parts consist of iron or steel plates, one of which serves as a
tie-rod or connecting piece and the other and shorter one as a cover-plate for the
joints or as a gusset or strengthening piece for the first named elements or parts.
upon the supports, in order to increase the resistance to the crushing thereof.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 shews a rectangular element or part A.
Figure 2 shews an element or part B to serve as a tie-rod or connecting piece.
Figure 3. shews an element or part C to serve as a cover-plate for the joints.
Figure 4 shews the application of my invention to the construction of a metal
pier.
Figures 5, 6. and 7 illustrate different modes of combining the elements or
parts A.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 shew other applications to the construction of metal piers.
Figure 11 shows a bridge whose principal girders are formed by the elements or
parts A arranged longitudinally.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 are transverse sections through a bridge of this type.
Figure 15 is a general elevation of a bridge for variable spans and with the
elements or parts A laid either simply end to end, or doubled or one overlapping
another the joints either coinciding or being shifted longitudinally.
Figure 16 is a plan of a bridge of the type shewn in Figure 11.
Figure 17 is a plan of a bridge of the type shewn in Figure 15.
Figure 18 shews a bridge with the elements or parts A placed vertically.
Figures 19, 20 and 21 are transverse sections through a bridge of the type
shewn in Figure 18.
Figure 22. is a general elevation of a bridge for variable spans and with the
elements or parts A placed vertically and either simply side by side, or doubled or
overlapping the joints either coinciding or being shifted longitudinally,
Figure 23 is a plan of a bridge of the tone shown in Figure 18

page_text: Figures 25, 26, and 28 are different transverse sections of bridges for railways of
which the general elevation is also illustrated by Figures 11 and 22.
Figure 27. is a transverse section of a railway bridge with a large span (for still
greater spans the number of elements or parts A may be augmented).
Figure 29 shews by its left hand portion a transverse section of a bridge of
great width (this width can be increased by the addition of other elements or
parts A B and C), and by its right hand portion a transverse section of a bridge of
great width and large span.
•
Figure 30 is a general elevation of a bridge of the type shewn in Figure 27 or in
the right hand half of Figure 29.
Figure 31 is a plan of a bridge of either of the types shewn in Figures 25, 26, 27
and 28. In this plan it will be observed that the elements or parts A are employed
as horizontal cross-ties.
The first element or part A is of rectangular form as shown in Figure 1.
The second element or part B, has the form shown in Figure 2, and consists of 1
an iron or steel plate perforated in such a manner as to adapt it for attachment
to either the long or the short side of the rectangular part A.
The third element or part C which is used as cover plate, gusset, rib or
strengthening piece is represented by Figure 3 and can be applied in any position
to the elements or parts A and B, either on the exterior of the ribs of the element A,
or on the inside, or extending in a transverse direction.
It is evident that the rectangular elements whether strengthened or not according
to requirements by the elements B and C, can be connected with each other in a
great many different manners, for instance as indicated in Figures 5 to 31.
All the elements or parts are united by means of bolts, when the bridge is
designed for temporary use, so that it can be taken to pieces and re-erected in
another place; but when it is to be a permanent structure, rivets can be substituted
for the bolts.
It will thus be seen that by employing a number of the above-named three
elements or parts, which for each group or series are all alike, and a suitable
number of bolts (which if required may also be alike) a bridge can be erected which
has any desired span, width and resistance, whatever purpose it is to serve, for
instance as a foot-way for pedestrians, or for an ordinary thoroughfare, or for
railway traffic, the greatest rigidity and stability being obtained in each case,
and the elements or parts A can be employed as main girders, small girders, a
beams and cross-ties; and these bridges inay be either temporary or permanent
structures.
In the accompanying drawing some of the principal applications of this system
are illustrated. These applications may be greatly varied apart from the fact that
by reason of the different manners in which the elements or parts may be arranged,
it is possible to construct bridges of several continuous bays, which cannot be
effected with the type of portable bridges heretofore employed.
With the elements or parts A B C piers or frame-work having a great height
and great rigidity may also be built; moreover, the weight of each of these elements
or parts being relatively speaking very small, they can be easily carried by a man
and constitute a really useful mechanical structure which, in many cases, is indispens-
able for war purposes, and for the construction of temporary passages to be employed
instantaneously either for the lines of railways in use or for those in course of
construction, or for an ordinary thoroughfare or foot-way.
It must be remarked that a characteristic feature of this system is that by means
of the arrangement or combination of the elements or parts A B C, the moment of
inertia of the main girders can be proportioned in accordance with the moments
and the strains or stresses which are produced under the effect of those loads which
it is designed to bear, so that when the span or the width of the bridge is to be
increased, there is no necessity for diminishing the load, as is the case with all
other systems, which always have the same moment of inertia for the principal
girders without its being possible to increase it in any manner.

page_text: With a number of the three elements or parts A B C a bridge may at any time
be erected of any desired span, width and resistance on the shortest notice and
piers or intermediate supports may likewise be built for the said bridges in cases
where the sub-division of the structure into a number of spans is of importance.
The element or part A is rectangular and is provided with diagonals; it is flat
on one side and all the ribs are on the other side; the element or part B consists
of a plate formed with holes which correspond with those in the outer sides of the
element or part A; and the element or part C is also a plate and can be used as a
cover-plate for the joints in combination with the elements or parts A or B as a
connecting plate for these elements or parts. These three parts are of iron or
steel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The construction of a bridge, of any span and resistance, with straight
girders and with simple or multiple trellis-work, for foot-passengers, ordinary road-
ways or railways by means of a number of the elements or parts A B and C,
connected by bolts or rivets substantially as set forth.
Second. The construction of cross-girders, longitudinal girders, string-pieces,
cross-stays or bracing pieces, and corbelling for the said bridges, by means of a
number of the said elements or parts A B and C, substantially as set forth.
Third. The construction of metal piers or supports (temporary or permanent) for
the said bridges by means of a number of the elements or parts A B and C,
substantially as set forth.
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