Improvements in the Flooring or Roadways of Bridges and other Structures.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Flooring or Roadways of Bridges and other
Structures.
I, THOMAS WHITAKER, of Horsforth, near Leeds, in the County of York,
Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the construction of bridge flooring it is now usual to construct the same of a
number of channels or the like formed of sections riveted or bolted together to give
the required shape and stability.
In some of these no means of strengthening the cross members are adopted, while
in others the strengthening is obtained by rolling the plate of two thicknesses or by
forming the joint there with two thicknesses of metal lapped. In neither of the
present forms do I consider that the best distribution of the material is obtained
and this invention is designed to provide a better and stronger flooring than at
present constructed.
It consists essentially in constructing the flooring of channel or similar sections
each of which are corrugated at the crown or in its transverse member and preferably
riveted together each alternate one being inverted to form a series of channels.
In carrying out the invention 1 roll press or otherwise form the plates into
channel or approximate shape with the crown or transverse member thereof
corrugated to add stiffness and rigidity thereto. These I prefer to put together
each alternate one inverted and rivet one to the other with a side joint upon which
water cannot lie. If desired however each section may be made with a flange or
double flange by which the two may be riveted together forming a channel at the
joint.
I prefer however to form the joint at the side as the possibility of water lodging
at the joint is obviated though the second form will be the easiest and quickest to
construct, as hydraulic or other riveting machines may be employed.
By this construction a strong and reliable flooring or structure will be produced
in a continuous series of channels or approximate shape with a maximum amount of
strength for the material employed.
I am aware that corrugated metal in different forms have been used for flooring,
roofing and other structures and also that corrugations gradually increasing in depth
towards the centre have been applied for the purpose of giving greater rigidity and
such do not constitute any part of my invention.
Dated this 17th day of Angust 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Flooring or Roadways of Bridges and other
Structures.
I, THOMAS WHITAKER, of Horsforth, near Leeds, in the County of York,
Contractor, 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 :-
In the construction of bridge flooring it is now usual to construct the same of a
number of channels or the like formed of sections riveted or bolted together to give
the required shape and stability.
In some of these no means of strengthening the cross members are adopted, while

page_text: in others the strengthening is obtained by rolling the plate of two thicknesses or by
forming the joint there with two thicknesses of metal lapped. In neither of the
present forms do I consider that the best distribution of the material is obtained
and this invention is designed to provide a better and stronger flooring than at
present constructed.
It consists essentially in constructing the flooring of channel or similar sections
each of which are corrugated at the crown or in its transverse member and preferably
riveted together each alternate one being inverted to form a series of channels.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. side elevation of bridge flooring constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2. plan of same.
Figs. 3 and 4. side elevations of two modifications thereof.
The plates or channels A are preferably formed into shape by rolling though
they may be pressed or otherwise formed if found convenient to do so.
The crown or central transverse member a of the plate or channel is corrugated
as shown to give stiffness or rigidity thereto.
The channels A with the corrugated crown a are preferably put together as
shown each alternate one inverted and riveted one to the other with the joint at the
side so that water cannot lodge thereon and forming a series of alternating channels.
The joints may be formed by lapping one over the other or by riveting a plate
over the joint or in other way commonly adopted for riveted joints.
The corrugation a of the crown of channels A may be on one side of the plate
only as shown in Figs. 3 & 4.
By this construction a strong and reliable flooring or structure will be produced
in a continuous series of channels or approximate shape with a maximum amount of
strength for the material employed.
I am aware that corrugated metal in different forms have been used for flooring,
roofing and other structures and also that corrugations gradually increasing in depth
towards the centre have been applied for the purpose of giving greater rigidity and
such do not constitute any part of my invention.
Having now particularly described ano ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A flooring or roadway for bridges or other structures constructed of alternating
channel or similar section the crown or central member of each channel being
corrugated to give strength and rigidity substantially as described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.

page_text: Fig. 2.