AN IMPROVED MEANS OF PROTECTING LOFTY OR EXPOSED BRIDGES AND OTHER STRUCTURES FROM THE DIRECT FORCE OF THE WIND."
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Albert Macklin at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1880.
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ALBERT MACKLIN, of Belsize Road, Saint John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex. AN IMPROVED MEANS OF PROTECTING LOFTY OR EXPOSED BRIDGES
AND OTHER STRUCTURES FROM THE DIRECT FORCE OF THE WIND."
The object of my Invention is to prevent the wind from exercising its force
directly upon a bridge or other structure, and I propose to divert its action therefrom
by means of pivoting shields or wind guards so arranged that the action of the
wind itself will cause them to move and set themselves at the best angle for
diverting its force.
Taking for example a bridge, such as the "Tay bridge," I may carry stays from
the top and bottom girders on each side of the bridge converging towards each
other to support a rod or bar, upon which I may hinge or otherwise set to pivot
my shields or wind-guards, setting them at such a distance outside the girders that
when moved by the wind those on the windward side will come against the top
girders or buffers placed at intervals thereon, when they have inclined to the angle
desired for the deflection of the wind, those on the leeward side coming against
stops or buffers on the lower girders. Or I may make my shields or wind-guards
to pivot upon trunnions on any support, which I may construct for this purpose
either in connection with or independent of the bridge.
I may make my shields or wind-guards of any dimensions, but in the case I have
taken for example I should propose to make them of such a vertical height that
when inclined to an angle of forty five degrees they would entirely shield the whole
of the girders or superstructure of the bridge, and therefore any train which might
be running thereon, from the direct action of the wind; or I may apply my
pivoting shields or wind-guards to the protection of parts only of the bridge.
The length of each shield or wind-guard will be regulated by the construction
of the bridge and other circumstances, and they will be placed end to end to
form a continuous line, or it might be found desirable to leave spaces between
them.
I may construct my shields or wind-guards of wood set in an iron framework, or
of any material or combination of materials which I may find more advantageous,
as giving great strength combined with lightness.

page_text: Instead of setting my shields or wind-guards to pivot upon a rod or bar or any.
kind of bearing supported from the superstructure of the bridge, I may carry them
upon supports resting upon the foundation or springing from the abutments of the
bridge, so that the force of the wind upon the shields or wind-guards, already
greatly lessened or broken by deflection from the angular plane surface which they
present to it, will not be in any way borne by the superstructure or roadway of the
bridge, which it may wholly protect from the direct force or power thereof.
It will be readily understood that this principle or means of protecting lofty
bridges, and particularly those with long spans, otherwise exposed to the action of
heavy gales or gusts of wind, by the application of pivoting shields or wind-guards
is applicable to the protection of a variety of structures, the details of construction
being modified to suit each particular case.