IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Robert Kinipple at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1883.
WALTER ROBERT KINIPPLE of 2 Westminster Chambers.-Westminster in the
County of Middlesex-Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDGES”
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
bridges whether designed for foot passenger, carriage, or railway traffic over rivers,
canals, docks, harbours and waterways of every description and has for its object
to raise and lower such bridges for the passage of vessels with greater ease and
rapidity and without the delay and danger attending the use of swing or draw-
bridges now in vogue
In carrying out my Invention I arrange a bridge in three parts videlicet.-A
central portion which is level and two end portions which are. respectively hinged,
or otherwise jointed to, or combined with, each end of the central portion whilst
their free. or shore ends may be mounted on rollers, or move in guides or slideways
on the abutments or. approaches to the bridge.
At the sides of the central portion at or near each end thereof I arrange. piers,
columns, cylinders or guides between which the central and combined end. portions
are raised and lowered vertically by hydraulic rams. in combination (or not) with
adjustable counterbalance weights and gearing placed either immediately beneath
the central portion or on girders connecting the piers, columns cylinders or guides
above the central portion (or in the columns or cylinders themselves) with which
they may be connected by chains and pullies or gearing as found most suitable-Or
the central and combined end portions of the bridge may be raised and lowered by
steam or hydraulic engines, gas, compressed air, or other suitable motor from the
shore (or otherwise), or by hand according to location and circumstances
By this arrangement the central portion of the bridge may be raised to any
desired height above the water level for the passage of vessels,. the combined end
portions of the bridge, in so doing sliding towards each other from their free ends
and assuming a more or less inclined position or plane with the central portion and
with the shore-On the other hand the central portion may be lowered so as to
bring the entire bridge on a dead level throughout
If desired in lieu of the hydraulic or other power described for raising and
lowering my improved bridge pontoons may be used which rising and falling with
011

page_text: the tide will (in combination with the counterbalance weights) raise and lower the
bridge automatically with a minimum of friction whilst a constant headway will be
maintained By this arrangement during a great part of the day the bridge will
be easily accessible to traffic and the excessively steep inclined portions of the
bridge only encountered at high water
Amongst the advantages of this Invention are, that the expense of steep
approaches is obviated and in the case of foot passengers the traffic unimpeded
during the passage of vessels through the bridge-When used for railway traffic the
inclined end portions of the bridge would act as a check or break to an advancing
train during the passage of a vessel in case of neglect in signalling, fog, or other
accidental cause.