Improvements in Corrugated Flooring for Bridges and other Structures.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corrugated Flooring for Bridges and other
Structures.
I, JOSEPH WESTWOOD, of Napier Yard, Millwall, London, E., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Iron or steel plates blocked to a trough like form are commonly used for the
flooring of bridges and like structures; these trough-like plates are supported at
their ends upon girders or other bearers and they are fixed one to the other edge
to edge.
The improvements consist in so forming the floor plates that the depth of the
trough is greater at the centre than at the ends where the flooring plates rest on
the girders or supports. Thus the form of the plate when blocked is that of an
inverted bowstring girder the top flanges being level while the bottom is curved.
The advantages so obtained are many;-the extra depth in the centre greatly
increases the strength of the plate to carry a load while the extra weight of
material necessary to give it the increased depth is a very small percentage.
The upper surface of plates being flat a level platform is obtained on which to
lay rail sleepers and the lower surface of plate being curved with the lowest point
at the centre of the span any surface water which may collect on the deck of the
bridge is immediately drained away; this is an advantage over other curved or
cambered floorings in which the surface water drains towards the main girders and
is liable to rust them through rapidly.
By thus increasing the depths of the flooring plates at the centre I am enabled
to make them of much greater span and in the case of bridges of moderate span
these improved plates are capable of carrying the full working load without the
assistance of main girders also in the case of bridges of large span where main
girders are necessary the flooring can be used of sufficient span between the outside
main girders to take a double liue of railway of the heaviest type and to comply
with the Government requirements.
In the case where transverse sleepers are preferred the increased depth of the
troughs offers facilities for laying transverse sleepers therein either in ballast or
concrete.
Dated this 7th day of November 1893.
CARPMAEL & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corrugated Flooring for Bridges and other
Structures.
I, JOSEPH WESTWOOD, of Napier Yard, Millwall, London, E. Engineer, 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 :-
Iron or steel plates blocked to a trough like form are commonly used for the
flooring of bridges and like structures; these trough like plates are supported at
their ends upon girders or other bearers and they are fixed one to the other edge
to edge.

page_text: The improvements consist in so forming the floor plates that the depth of the
trough is greater at the centre than at the ends where the flooring plates rest on
the girder or supports. Thus the form of the plate when blocked is that of an
inverted bowstring girder the top flanges being level while the bottom is curved.
The advantages so obtained are many, the extra depth in the centre greatly
increases the strength of the plate to carry a load while the extra weight of
material necessary to give it the increased depth is a very small percentage.
The upper surface of plates being flat a level platform is obtained on which to
lay rail sleepers and the lower surface of plate being curved with the lowest point
at the centre of the span any surface water which may collect on the deck of the
bridge is immediately drained away; this is an advantage over other curved or
cambered floorings in which the surface water drains towards the main girders and
is liable to rust them through rapidly.
By thus increasing the depths of the flooring plates at the centre I am enabled
to make them of much greater span and in the case of bridges of moderate span
these improved plates are capable of carrying the full working load without the
assistance of main girders also in the case of bridges of large span where main
girders are necessary the flooring can be used of sufficient span between the outside
main girders to take a double line of railway of the heaviest type and to comply
with the Government requirements.
In the case where transverse sleepers are preferred the increased depth of the
troughs offers facilities for laying transverse sleepers therein either in ballast cr
concrete.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawing is a side elevation of one of my improved
flooring plates. Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections of the same, the one taken
at the centre and the other near the end of the trough form plate.
Figure 4 shows plates connected as they are to form a flooring.
Figure 5 shows how a gutter may be attached to receive rain water draining
from the two sides to the middle of the floor.
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
Flooring plates for bridges and like structures in form substantially as
described viz. trough like, flat on the upper surface and deeper in the middle than
at the ends.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1894.
JUSEPH WESTWOOD