IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM MORRIS of 2 Westminster Chambers, Westminster in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES "to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in bridges designed for foot passengers,
carriages railway or tramway traffic across rivers docks harbours channels and
waterways of every description and combined with apparatus whereby the bridge
traffic may be continued at all times without obstructing the river traffic or the
passage through the bridge of the largest vessels navigating the waterway.
My invention consists according to one arrangement in constructing a bridge
having an opening portion (arranged either on the swing, draw or other principle)
to permit of vessels passing up and down the channel or waterway and with one or
more piers placed on each side of and extending considerably above the opening or
swing portion-On these piers I place a fixed bridge at such a height that vessels
of all kinds can pass up and down the channel or waterway unobstructed without
lowering their masts and on the land side of each set of piers I arrange apparatus
for the purpose of transferring the passengers and traffic of all kinds from the low
level or swing portion of the bridge to the high level portion and vice versa.
This apparatus consists of elevators having platforms on to which the traffic is
passed and which may be arranged in pairs side by side one platform being raised
whilst the other is being lowered thus counterbalancing each other or they may be
raised and lowered simultaneously in which case they are provided with chains and
counterbalance weights-At the sides and ends of the platforms I may have
adjustable guards or sides which are raised into position on the ascent of the
platforms for protecting the vehicular and passenger traffic-I may also use specially
formed levers (weighted or not) hinged to the platforms and working into vertically
arranged racks or ratchet bars whereby any accidental an sudden descent of the
platforms would be prevented at any point of their travel or I may use any other
suitable locking device for this purpose.-The elevators may be worked by steam,
hydraulic, or other power.
By these means the bridge traffic can be carried on continuously during the
time that the opening or swing portion of the bridge is open for the passage of
vessels whereas with ordinary opening or swing bridges the bridge traffic is stopped
during the passage of vessels.

page_text: In the case where a drawbridge is used for the opening portion of the bridge
I relieve the overhanging weight of the drawbridge by means of chains one end of
which will be attached to the drawbridge and the other end to hydraulic rams,
fixed on girders or otherwise over the piers at a suitablo elevation these rams
working in combination with the rams for opening and closing the drawbridge.
According to another arrangement I dispense with the upper fixed portion of the
bridge and project a length of bridge at right angles to the main bridge on
each side of the opening or swing portion.
From the ends of these projecting portions of the bridge I sink vertical shafts
communicating with a tunnel or subway below the bed of the channel or waterway
and of about the same length as the opening or swing portion of the bridge--Or
I may dispense with the projecting portions at the sides of the bridge and
construct the vertical shafts in the piers of the main bridge-In the vertical shafts
I place elevating apparatus similar in construction to that above described for the
purpose of continuing the bridge traffic at all times during the passage of vessels
through the opening or swing portion of the bridge.
According to another plan I construct a bridge having steep inclines or approaches
at each end and employ combined therewith a low travelling platform or carriage
on rails and suitably jointed for enabling it to accommodate itself easily to tho
steep gradients on leaving the horizontal portion of the bridge or the adjoining
roadway This platform which receives the traffic is under the control of the
driver who connects it to an endless travelling chain or rope by which it is driven
over the bridge On the ascending sides of the latter may be fixed racks into
which pawls attached to the platform would fall, the latter being also provided-with-
powerful brakes to guard against accidents.

page_text: I WILLIAM MORRIS of 2 Westminster Chambers in the County of Middlesex
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BRIDGES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in bridges designed for conveying foot
passengers, vehicular and other traffic across rivers, harbours, channels, and
waterways of every description whereby the bridge traffic may be continued at all
times without obstructing the river traffic or the passage through the bridge of
the largest vessels navigating the waterway.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings whereon
figure 1. is a side elevation and figure 2 a plan of one arrangement of bridge in
which is an opening or swing portion A. to permit of vessels passing up and down
the channel or waterway-This opening or swing portion A. is supported on a
central pier B. and is composed of two projecting arms C. C. the outer ends of which
(when the bridge is closed) rest on the piers D. D. the latter being extended, or
carrying additional piers D'. D'. which extend, considerably above the roadway of
the bridge A-On the tops of these extended piers D¹. D¹. is carried an overhend
fixed bridge E at such a height that vessels can pass up and down the channel or
waterway, through the opening or swing portion A. of the bridge unobstructed and
without lowering their masts.
On, or in combination with the piers D. D. and D' D¹. at the extreme ends of the
arms C C. of the swing portion A. of the bridge I arrange apparatus for the
purpose of raising passengers and traffic of all kinds from the low level or spring
portion A. of the bridge to the high portion E. or vice versa.-This apparatus
consists of elevators or lifts a, a. having platforms b. on to which the traffic is
passed and which may be arranged in pairs side by side as shewn in figure 2 one
platform being raised whilst the other is being lowered thus counterbalancing each
other, or they may be raised or lowered simultaneously in which case they are
provided with chains and counterbalance weights--The lifts a. and platforms b. are
raised and lowered in suitable guides c. c the whole being worked by steam
hydraulic or any other suitable power.
By this arrangement the bridge traffic can be carried on continuously during the
time that the opening or swing portion A of the bridge is open for the passage of
vessels whereas with the ordinary opening or swing bridge the bridge traffic is
stopped during the passage of vessels through the bridge.
Figure 3 is a side elevation and figure 4 a plan of another arrangement of bridge
according to which I dispense with the overhead fixed bridge E. (figures 1 and 2.)
and in lieu thereof I sink vertical shafts F. F. from the bridge at the extreme ends
of the arms G. G. of the swing bridge A¹. the shafts F. F. communicating with a
tunnel or subway H. below the bed of the channel or river and of about the same
length as the opening or swing portion A¹ of the bridge-Or more than one set of
shafts and subways may be used if desired-In the vertical shafts F. F. I place
elevating apparatus similar to that described in figures 1 and 2 for the purpose of
continuing the bridge traffic at all times during the passage of vessels, through the
opening or swing portion A¹ of the bridge-Or if desired I may project a length of
bridge borizontally and at right angles to the main bridge at or near to each end of
the swing portion A¹ and from the ends of these projecting portions I sink the
vertical shafts F. F. with their combined tunnel or subway H as above described.

page_text: 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
1. In a bridge, the arrangement and combination of an opening or swing portion
with an overhead fixed bridge and with piers or supports for the latter substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by figures 1 and 2 on
the accompanying drawing.
2. In a bridge, the arrangement and combination of an opening or swing portion
with vertical shafts and with one or more tunnels or subways substantially as and
for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by figures 3 and 4 on the
accompanying drawing.