Improved Military Bridge.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
Improved Military Bridge.
I, FERDINAND MÜHLBACHI, Statuary, of 1, Stiftstrasse, Dresden, in the Empire
of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement;
This invention for an improved military bridge has for its object to enable
the structure to be quickly effected and for this purpose the bridge is composed
of several sections which are fixed to blocks, or beams, in the pontoons.
A further object intended and effected by the improved bridge, is the dis-
pensing with all slings or straps.
The several sections of the bridge are placed one over the other on a suitable
carriage by means of which they are conveyed from place to place. In the
accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a carriage
of the kind employed, with three bridge sections a a¹ a² by way of example.
Fig. 2 is an end view. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevation and plan respec-
tively of a bridge in course of erection. Fig. 5 is a detail view of an adjusting
apparatus, Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of part of a bridge showing the manner
of effecting its removal and Fig. 7 is a detail view. Figs. 8 and 9 are part side
and end elevations respectively of the carriage. The carriage b is of the simplest
form of construction. It carries the bridge sections or principal divisions a a¹ a³
above, and several subsidary sections c c¹ below. The subsidiary sections are
of lighter construction than the principal sections, and are only intended to
facilitate the easy removal of the latter from the carriage.
In putting the bridge together, the upper subsidiary section is first pulled out
from the lower part of the carriage and hung by means of its hook d in an eye
or loop d. The other subsidiary section can be traversed down on to the one
first pulled out, for which purpose, each of the subsidiary sections is furnished
with rollers e, which run easily on rails e¹ of the other section. The letting
down of the bridge sections or principal divisions a a¹ a² from the carriage is
very easily effected, the two coupled subsidiary sections being hung on to the
eyes or loops f f f of the principal sections a¹ a² successively. It should be
observed that the width of the subsidiary sections c c has been previously
increased by being drawn out, this being easily effected, as the sides of these
sections are connected together by telescopic metal rods or tubes (Figs. 1, 2,
4, 8 and 9).
The principal sections a a¹ a³ are furnished like the subsidiary sections with
rails and rollers f and are so constructed that inner and side beams 9 g¹ are
connected by means of cross connections and covered by planking 93. The
planking does not entirely cover these beams, which project somewhat, in order
that the ends of two rows of such beams may be enabled to lie adjoining each
other when they take hold with their claws h in tie beams h¹.
The rails are of the same length as the planking.
In order that the several principal sections may be prevented from running

page_text: on the rails during transit, that is when they laid one over the other on the
carriage, the tie beams h¹ carried along therewith, are laid in under the claws h.
These beams raise the principal sections somewhat apart from each other and
relieve the rollers.
The putting together of a bridge is precisely illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.
The carriage b is pushed within a certain distance of the river of ravine to
be crossed with the back of it to the same.
A beam is partially sunk in the river bank, and the space between the same
and the carriage bridged over by the two subsidiary bridge sections partially
supported by a trestle, which, when the apparatus is not in use, is attached to
the particular section serving for the purpose. By the hanging of the subsi-
diary sections successively in the eyes or loops fl 2, the principal sections are
let down from the carriage in turn. The principal section a first let down
takes hold in the beam i and the tie beam h¹ placed on the pontoon ¹. The
subsidiary sections are then hung in the eyes or loops f2 of the principal sec
tion and the principal section is let down, and takes hold in the beams h¹
placed on the pontoons 1 22. After the subsidiary sections have been hung in
the loops or eyes the last section a² is caused to slide down.
The attaching of the principal sections to the pontoons is easily effected, the
particular section being carried so far on to the one then in advance of it that
it tips" and is caused to lie on the next pontoon held in this position. The
pontoon is now so far removed that the back claws of the side beams take hold
in the next pontoon. The tie beams are preferably placed in recesses in
the pontoons.
The gap in the planking covering the principal sections resulting from the
projection of the ends of the principal beams lying adjacent to each other, is
covered by two reserve or supplementary planks kk. These planks lie on both
sides of the pontoons and are put in by the detachment of men on service after
two principal sections have been put in, as are also the pieces of connecting
rail 1.
For the purpose of facilitating and expediting the conveyance of the principal
sections a a¹, a², bracing blocks m are provided, two of such on each side of the
girder. The bracing blocks are connected by means of a pair of small spur
wheels m with the transporting rollers, if one or both of the cords on one side
be pulled, a movement of the principal section will be brought about by the
bracing blocks and pair of spur-wheels.
By means of a single sharp pull, the principal section will thus be easily
brought into the position intended for it. The manner of applying the cords
is left to be settled in actual practice.
The beams of the principal sections lie adjacent to one another with the ends
lapping somewhat and as the arrangement of the beams is the same in all the
principal sections, the lapping causes the sections with their rails, when in
position, to be slightly out of line. In order to bring the rails into line, an
adjusting apparatus is attached to each principal section. This consists, as
shown in Figs. 1, 2 and of a double lever n, one arm of which forms a toothed
segment that, in order to ensure easy motion, engages in a double segment n¹,
which pushes the toothed rod or rack n² as soon as the lever n is actuated. By
means of a connecting piece o, the toothed rod or rack n² is connected with
the guiding or transporting rails f³, which by a pressure with the hand, can be
brought into a position communicating with that of the rails of another principal
section.
In order to render all cords and the like superfluous in connection with the
hand-rails necessary in any such bridge, these rails are attached firmly to the
principal sections like the planking, in such a manner that when the apparatus
is arranged for use, stays 9 can be brought from a lying to an oblique standing
position, by taking hold of the hand-rail p (Fig. 3) and held firmly by means
of cross-bars q', the rods 2 being likewise hooked into eyes or loops. In putting

page_text: the hand rails together, the rods q² are placed against the hand rail 2', braces pl
(Figs. 2 and 9) being employed for making fast.
Fig. 6 illustrates the method of taking down the bridge.
The part of the last bridge section, for instance is first raised by means of a
contrivance such as shown by way of example in Fig. 7 and thereupon, the two
connecting or reserve rails 1, which have been removed from the place hitherto
belonging to the left side of the section are used for bridging over the space
on the pontoon 72 not covered by the section in order that the section may
be drawn on to the section. The pontoon ¹ which still supports the section
is hereby drawn so far over, that the section tips up of itself.
In order that the edges of the beams belonging to the principal sections may
not wear away too rapidly, small rollers s are provided. The lever Fig. 7 enables
the sections to be easily raised.
When the bridge is put together for crossing a ravine or the like, the opera-
tion is as follows:-First a subsidiary section is drawn on to the blocks or
trestles and the bridge section or principal division is traversed down on to it.
After the principal bridge section has been raised the subsidiary section is drawn
forward and made fast to the second block or trestle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
1. A portable bridge, which can be rapidly put together or taken apart with-
out the aid of slings or straps, and comprising bridge sections a a¹ a² formed
by girders or beams g¹ and planking ³, such bridge sections, when in course
of conveyance on a suitable carriage b, being laid one over the other, and let
down when the bridge is put together, by means of two simultaneously conveyed
subsidiary bridge sections e c¹ in a continuous manner, these subsidiary sections
being hung in eyes or loops on the principal sections and connected by their
recesses h to the pontoon beams when the bridge is used for crossing water and
in trestles when employed on land for passing over ravines and the like.
2. In a bridge as claimed under Claim 1, the arrangement of the bridge sec-
tions a a¹ a² in such a manner that rails f³ are provided on the planking g³ and
rollers on the undersides of the beams g belonging to the principal bridge
sections, so that by pulling one of the cords wound around the bracing blocks m,
the particular bridge section or principal division can be quickly brought into
the position desired.
Dated this 10th dow of Annil 1800
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.