A New or Improved B *
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
A New or Improved B *
I WILLIAM ERRINGTON, of 47 Modern Chambers, Collins Street, Melbourne,
in the Colony of Victoria, Consulting 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 :—
This invention consists of a new or improved bridge, the bridge proper or
platform of which is made preferably in two parts or lengths so constructed,
arranged and supported that one part or length can be launched or moved outwards
from each opposite bank of a river or water way until their ends meet at about the
centre of the river or over the centre of its deep water channel, the parts being
thereat supported on attached movable piers and held firmly for use as a bridge
for the passage of vehicular and other traffic, again when so desired each part of
the bridge can be simultaneously and rapidly withdrawn from over the river and
placed above or over the bank and as every part of the bridge and its supports or
piers are taken with it, no obstruction whatever to the river traffic is left standing
in or over the river. Another advantage of this type of bridge is that it may be
placed on the bank should the river become flooded and overflow its banks and thus
there can be no carrying away of the structure.
In the attached drawings-
Fig. 1 is a general plan, Fig. 2 a side elevation and Fig. 3 an end view of a
bridge constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figs. 4 and 5 are end and side views respectively, drawn to an enlarged scale, of
the movable river pier E¹ shewn in Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of bridge with the river piers
arranged to run on a track laid on the bed of river.
Figs. 7 and 8 are end and side views respectively, also drawn to an enlarged
scale of the movable piers shewn in Fig. 6.
The bridge is constructed preferably in two equal parts or lengths A and A' the
roadway or platform A² being between longitudinal side girders A³, and the land
end of each half of bridge being carried by strong rollers A sunk in roadway in a
line with the bridge. Supported or centred on pivots in the pier wall B or in
strong foundations in or on the bank of river and at each side of bridge are strong
booms or derricks C which are diagonally braced together, the booms at each end
of bridge being at their upper end attached to strong cables or link rods C¹ the
inner or land ends of which are connected to powerful hydraulic rams D that are
supported on suitable horses or brackets D'. The upper end of the booms C have
sway link braces C2 attached to them the lower ends of which are centred at C³ on
a journal at the sides of the bridge platforms. To support the booms in their
backward inclined positions, when the bridge is withdrawn to its position on the
river bank, said booms rest against the upper ends of the hydraulic ram horses.
E is a movable pier shewn hinged or centred on the bridge girder at C³ whilst the
pier shewn at E (see Figs. 2, 4 and 5) is supported by rollers e from the bottom
plate of the girders whilst the girder itself bears upon a series of rollers e' carried
by the piers as shewn. e² are side runners to support the piers upon rails laid on
the pier wall.
The before mentioned river piers E, E¹ for supporting the bridge rest upon
foundation plates E' placed in the bed of river the pier E as the bridge is with-
drawn being swung upwards to a horizontal position within the line of girders to
allow each half of the bridge to pass over the abutment or river wall, whilst the
pier E' is arranged to pass into a niche in said river wall. In the latter case the
piers are so constructed that they also travel with the platform of the bridge and
on being withdrawn into the niche or recess they are disengaged and then the plat-
form continues its travelling motion riding on the rollers provided on pier heads.

page_text: The outer rollers carry the piers when entering the recess or niche and supporting
them in position therein.
heads
In the modified form of my invention shewn in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the movable
piers E³ travel on rails es laid on the bed of river consequently this design of bridge
is applicable where the formation of the bed of river or stream is uniformly level
and capable of sustaining the load. The movable piers E3 in this instance are not
hinged to the girders but they are formed with a broad head and base the latter
mounted on a cluster of sheaves or runners e' that traverse on aforesaid rails whilst
the broad heads carry the bridge girders. The said movable piers are also capable
of a semi-rotation upon pivots in their head and base also the piers have hinged
stays F springing from their base the upper ends of which are formed with
to fit slotted cheek plates on the platforms. When the bridge is in its normal
position that is with the two parts jointed or placed together over the stream the
movable piers support its river ends; then when the two parts are being withdrawn
to a position over the bank clear of the river the piers also travel back with them
and into niches provided in the wharf or pier wall said piers are then disengaged
and the bridge is still further withdrawn clear of the wharf traffic, the piers are
then partially rotated to bring their diagonal braces or guys into the back of the
niches so that they will not project towards the river.
In both forms of bridge, booms and hydraulic gears are employed to bring the
bridge to shore, and to place it in position over the river.
As an alternative for either of above forms of bridge when used for rivers or
water ways where only a narrow passage is requisite the movable part of bridge is
in one piece and worked from one side only of the river embankment or pier wall.
Again in some rivers the movable portion of bridge may be at one side of the river
and if constructed in two parts one part would be withdrawn to above the
approach viaduct whilst the other part would be withdrawn above the bank as
before stated. In this latter case the approach viaduct is constructed of a
suitable strength and form to receive the movable girder or part of bridge.
Upon each bank of the river and under the position occupied by each half of
bridge when not thrown over the water way a set of hydraulic rams may be
arranged the purpose of which is to lift the half bridge, when so required, to a
height clear of the road traffic. These hydraulic rams not forming a novel feature
in my invention are not shewn in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. A bridge constructed in two parts or lengths and supported in position over a
river or water way by its shore ends resting on the quay or pier walls and with its
river ends supported by movable piers or supports that are attached to the girders
of bridge substantially as and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated
in my drawings.
2. The combination of each half part of a bridge as above claimed with strong
boom or jib gear that is operated by suitable hydraulic rams to enable the half part
of bridge to be partially lifted and launched on to or above the quay or river wall
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated in my
drawings.
3. In a two part bridge, or bridge that is launched from one side of a river,
supporting the river or projecting end of bridge by movable piers that are either
seated on plates in the bed of river or are arranged to be carried on rails laid on
the bed of river said piers having sheaves to suit the rails or track substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated in my drawings.
Dated this 5th day of June 1802