Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF · · Bridges, ViaduCTS, PIERS, JETTIES, AND SUCH LIKE STRUCTURES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Martyn Kennard, of the Viaduct Works,
Crumlin, in the County of Monmouth, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF · · Bridges, ViaduCTS, PIERS, JETTIES,
AND SUCH LIKE STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 1st September 1871, and dated the 4th March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Martyn Kennard
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 4th March 1871.
I, HENRY MARTYN KENNARD, of the Viaduct Works, Crumlin, in
the County of Monmouth, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, VIADUCTS,
PIERS, JETTIES, AND SUCH LIKE STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to an improved mode of constructing the
flooring or roadway of bridges, viaducts, and such like structures which
shall combine simplicity and cheapness of construction with the requisite
strength, and shall at the same time be capable of being readily fixed
in localities where the facilities of the workshop are not available. For

page_text: this purpose I construct the flooring or roadway of a number of iron
plates, each having an angle iron frame running all round its edges
rivetted thereto in such a manner as to form flanged panels. The angle
iron flanges have bolt holes in suitable positions for fixing together the
contiguous panels forming the flooring by means of screw bolts, the
panels being constructed of convenient sizes for transport separate from
each other to the locality where the bridge is to be created, where they
are bolted together as described. The panels may be further strengthened
by angle or T iron ribs rivetted across them either longitudinally or
transversely.
In fixing together the said panels they are arranged so as to form
an arch in compression, the arch being held in position by ties in the
following manner:-Between the joints of the said arch either longi-
tudinally or transversely to the bridge or floor stiffening feathers of slicet
iron are introduced having bolt holes in their upper edges corresponding
with those in the flanges of the panels so as to be secured by the same
bolts that hold these together. These feathers serve to distribute any
unequal load on the floor over a number of the said panels of the arch,
and they may run either only in the longitudinal direction of the arch,
or similar feathers may be introduced transversely to the arch at certain
intervals apart. In the latter case the transverse feathers may have
fixed to their lower edges the ties for tying the arch across and also act
as tics themselves. The ties may be of flat bars, rods, angle or T iron,
the ends of which are attached to the girders of the bridge against which
the arched flooring abutts.
In cases where only longitudinal stiffening feathers are employed the
centre of the arched flooring may be supported by an intermediate
longitudinal girder, through the web of which the said tie bars or rods
nass.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Martyn Kennard, Her special
licence that I, the said Henry Martyn Kennard, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Martyn
Kennard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, VIADUCTS, PIERS,
JETTIES, AND SUCH LIKE STRUCTURES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Henry Martyn Kennard, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Martyn Kennard, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say:—
My Invention has reference to an improved mode of constructing
the flooring or roadway of bridges, viaducts, and such like structures,
) which shall combine simplicity and cheapness of construction with
the requisite strength, and shall at the same time be capable of being
readily fixed in localities where the facilities of the workshop are not
available. For this purpose I construct the flooring or roadway of a
number of iron plates, each having an angle iron frame running all
5 round its edges rivetted thereto in such a manner as to form flanged
panels. The angle iron flanges have bolt holes in suitable positions for
fixing together the contiguous panels forming the flooring by means of
screw bolts, the panels being constructed of convenient sizes for trans. .

page_text: compression abutting against the longitudinal girders H, H, of the bridge,
as shown at Figure 1, longitudinal feathers or web plates E, E, being
introduced between the longitudinal joints of the panels, above which
joints are fixed the rails F, F, and transverse web plates G are intro-
duced between the transverse joints at certain intervals apart. To these
transverse web plates are rivetted angle iron tics I, the ends of which
are rivetted to the bottom flange of the girders H, so as to take the
lateral thrust put upon these by the arched flooring. The abutting
flanges of the arch are also secured to the girders by rivets or bolts.
Figure 5 shews a cross section; Figure 6 shews a part plan of an
ordinary roadway for large span bridges, the construction of which is
similar to that of the preceeding arrangement. A, A, being the panels
between which are fixed the longitudinal web plates E, E, and the
transverse web plates G, G, with angle iron tics I secured to the
girders H, H. The panels A, A, are in this case formed with a curva-
ture corresponding with that of the arch, upon them is laid the metalling
or other road material K.
Figure 7 shews a cross section of a roadway for small span bridges.
In this case the arched flooring rests upon the tops of the side girders
H, H, and upon a central longitudinal girder L. The transverse web
plates are dispensed with and the longitudinal web plates E, E, arc
supported at intervals upon transverse trusses M, M, secured to the
girders H, H, and L so as to act as tics, and a transverse tie bar N is
also secured to the top flanges of the girders H, so as to take any thrust
put upon them by the arched flooring. To the end flanges of the
latter are fixed longitudinal stringer plates O, O, for confining the
metalling K.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not claim generally the construction of flooring for roadways of
arched sheet metal with transverse ties for taking the thrust thereof,
as I am well aware that this has been proposed before, but what I
claim is,―
First. Constructing the roadway or flooring of bridges, viaducts, and
such like structures of a number of separate sheet metal flanged panels
secured together in the form of an arch with or without the interposition
of transverse and longitudinal web plates between the joints and with

page_text: the provision of tics for taking the thrust of the said arch, substantially
as herein-before described.
Second. The special arrangements of such aforesaid panelled sheet
metal flooring herein-before described with reference to the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Martyn Kennard, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of August
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
onc.