MX2008000184A - Composite bridge structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A composite bridge structure (20) suitable for use in golf-courses, parks and similar settings comprises at least one corrugated metal plate (24) having corrugations generally oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the bridge structure. Applied to the upper surface (50) of the at least one corrugated metal plate (24) is a layer of settable material (28) to provide a support surface. The at least one corrugated metal plate is provided with a plurality of devices (48) adapted to engage the settable material so as to yield a resulting structure capable of supporting light to medium-duty loads.

Description

STRUCTURE OF PU ENTE DE COM POSITO Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to bridge structures and, in particular, to a composite bridge structure for light to medium workloads. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Golf courses, parks and other similarly landscaped environments often require bridge structures to bridge waterways, pedestrian paths or other obstructions. It will be appreciated that in such environments, the use of an unpleasant or intrusive bridge structure is less than desirable. The light-to-medium work bridge structures are particularly suitable for these applications. Typically, light duty bridge structures employ structural members such as I-beams to provide the required span. I-beams serve to support an upper support surface on which a concrete or asphalt raceway surface is laid. An example of such a light work bridge structure is shown in the E Patent. OR . No. 501, 534 for Palmer. Another light weight bridge structure is shown in the E patent. OR . No. 3,768, 1 08 for Wadswoth and comprises a pair of arcuate structural members, between which extend a plurality of clamp members and a suitable load bearing surface (i.e. planks or timbers). For golf courses, parks and the like, it is desirable to provide a light-to-medium bridge structure that is easily installed, requires minimal disturbance to the surrounding environment, and can be used as a replacement bridge for aged structures. The provision of such a bridge structure in the form of a package would be particularly advantageous, since it would simplify transport and the installation process. For years, corrugated sheet metal or plates have proven themselves to be a durable, economical and versatile engineering material. The use of corrugated metal sheets and plates in bridge structures is known, for example, coo is shown in the U.S. Patent. Nos. 4, 1 29,91 7 for Sivachenko et al. , and the Patent of E. U. No. 6,578,343 to Dumler et al. The corrugated metal plate is particularly suitable for light to medium duty applications as it can be easily transported and installed on site, facilitating the total installation process. There is a need, however, for a light to medium bridgework structure design. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel composite bridge structure. Brief Description of the Invention Accordingly, in one aspect a composite bridge structure is provided, comprising: At least one corrugated metal plate having corrugations oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bridge structure, said at least one corrugated metal plate having an upper surface on which is applied a layer of material suitable for defining a support surface, said at least one corrugated metal plate which is provided with a plurality of devices adapted for coupling with said sealable material to give a resulting structure capable of supporting light to medium workloads. The bridge structure may comprise a plurality of corrugated metal plates interconnected in a side-by-side configuration, a plurality of corrugated metal plates interconnected in an end-to-end configuration and a plurality of interconnected corrugated metal plates in a configuration both a from side to side as one end to end. The bridge structure may further comprise at least one rail guard extending along one side of the bridge structure. In one embodiment, the rail guard comprises a plurality of vertical post members at separate locations along the bridge structure and a generally continuous rail that spans the pole members. An anti-bevel device may be provided in the at least one corrugated metal plate to maintain the inclination of the at least one corrugated metal plate under load. One or more passages can also be provided through the sealable material. In a modality, the devices are shear bolts with shear force pins that are placed in at least one of the tangents, ridges and channels of the at least one corrugated metal plate. The density of the shear bolts may be greater toward each end of the at least one corrugated metal plate. The composite bridge structure is lightweight but still provides an adequate structure for light to medium duty loads. It is easily managed by favoring transportation to the installation site with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a composite bridge structure comprising a corrugated metal plate assembly which includes interconnected corrugated metal plates on which a layer of sealable material is disposed. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the composite bridge structure of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a top view of the corrugated metal plate assembly.

Figure 4a is a cross-sectional view of the composite bridge structure of Figure 1 taken along line 4a-4a. Figure 4b is a side view of the composite bridge structure of Figure 1. Figure 5a is a cross-sectional view of the composite bridge structure showing an alternative rail guard configuration. Figure 5b is a side view of the alternative rail guard configuration shown in Figure 5a. Figure 6 is a cross section of the composite bridge structure showing an alternative configuration of sealable material, in which a landscape section is incorporated in the upper surface of the bridge structure. Figure 7 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the composite bridge structure showing an alternative embodiment of a corrugated metal plate assembly. Figure 8 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the corrugated metal plate assembly of Figure 7 topped with a top plate. Figures 9a and 9b are perspective views showing additional embodiments of a corrugated metal plate assembly; and Figures 10a and 10b are views showing additional embodiments of a corrugated metal plate assembly. Detailed Description of the Modalities A lightweight to medium-sized composite bridge structure to bridge watercourses and the like of up to about 1.5 m, comprises at least one corrugated metal plate on which a layer of sealable material is laid. . The bridge structure is particularly suitable for use on golf courses, or in other similar environments, which require a light to medium bridgework structure. Although it is very well suited for new installations, the composite bridge structure is also suitable as a replacement bridge structure in existing areas. The structural components of the bridge structure are lightweight and easily manageable to facilitate transport of the disassembled bridge structure to the desired location. Once assembled, the resulting bridge structure is capable of withstanding light to medium workloads (ie, pedestrian traffic, golf carts, small tractors, etc.). Turning now to Figure 1, a bridge structure of assembled composite suitable for use in light to medium duty applications is shown. In this embodiment, the bridge structure 20 generally comprises an assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates formed of a plurality of interconnected corrugated metal plates and defining crests and alternating channels. Applied to the upper surface of the corrugated metal plate assembly 22 is a layer of sealable material 28 which defines a generally smooth support / run surface. In this embodiment, the sealable material 28 is concrete, reinforced concrete or a similar material. A further layer of asphalt 29 is then applied over the sealable material layer 28 to provide a wear surface that is durable and quickly repaired / replaced as needed. The bridge structure 20, as shown, is also provided with guard rails 30 extending along opposite sides thereof. A coating 32 is provided, such as, for example, brick tiles, concrete with design or other suitable coating material on the sidewall surfaces 34 of the bridge structure 20 to increase the aesthetic qualities of the bridge structure, particularly in finely decorated environments. As illustrated, the bridge structure 20 is formed by rolling in a shallow arc making the bridge structure 20 more suitable for larger applications of medium work. The bridge structure 20 can, of course, be flat making it suitable for light duty applications. Although it is not shown, the bridge structure 20 is set on suitable foundations according to standard engineering techniques. Figures 2 and 3 best illustrate the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates. As mentioned before, the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates is formed from a plurality of corrugated metal plates 24 arranged in a side-by-side and end-to-end configuration. Each plate 24 of corrugated metal in this embodiment is formed of galvanized steel of a defined thickness. The corrugations are generally oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the bridge structure 20. The thickness of each corrugated metal plate 24 is generally in the range of about 1 4 to about 3 ga. (ie, from 2 mm to approximately 9 mm). In this mode, the thickness of the corrugated metal plate is 5 ga. (5.45 mm). The depth of the corrugation generally fluctuates from about 51 to about 203 mm. In this mode, the depth of the ripple is 140 mm. The inclination or pitch of the corrugation generally fluctuates from about 1 52 mm to about 457 mm. In this mode, the pitch is 381 mm. Each plate 24 of corrugated metal comprises two crests 40a, 40b, complete, a full channel 40c and two half channels 40d and 40e. The corrugated metal plates 24 are interconnected so that the half channels 40e, 40d overlap to form a complete channel. The number of corrugated metal plates 24 arranged side by side determines the width of the bridge structure. To secure the underlying half channels of the corrugated metal plates 24 together, suitable fasteners 36 (ie, bolts) are used. It will be appreciated, however, that the corrugated metal plates 24 may be welded or melted by other suitable means known in the art. It will also be appreciated that corrugated metal plates 24 having smaller or larger numbers of ridges can be used as long as the corrugated metal plates are configured to allow side-to-side interconnection. The number of corrugated metal plates 24 that are arranged end to end determines the span of the bridge structure 20. As can be seen in Figure 3, each run of end-to-end corrugated metal plates 24 comprises a long corrugated metal plate 24 and a short corrugated metal plate 24 which overlap at adjacent ends as identified by reference numeral 44 The fasteners 46 (ie, bolts) are used to secure the corrugated metal plates 24 together. In this particular embodiment, each long corrugated metal plate is twice the length of each short corrugated metal plate. The positions of the long and short corrugated metal plates 24 are staggered from run to run so that the end-to-end connections 44 do not pass through the bridge structure 20. As a result, each end-to-end connection 44 is reinforced by an adjacent uninterrupted section of corrugated metal plate. To structurally secure the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates and the sealable material 28 and provide a shear bond between the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates and the sealable material 28, the upper surface 52 of each corrugated metal plate 24 is provided with a plurality of cutting pins 48 at separate locations. In this embodiment, the cutting pins 48 are galvanized or coated with zinc and are bonded to tangent regions 50 of the upper surface 52 of the corrugated metal plates 22. The cutting pins 48 act in a composite reinforcing manner to provide a solid superstructure capable of withstanding light to medium working loads placed on the bridge structure 20. The sealable material 28 is applied to the upper surface of the corrugated metal plate assembly 22 to provide a generally smooth support / run surface. The sealable material 28 extends above and above the crests 40a and 40b of the corrugated metal plates 24 to cover the cutting pins 48 and 62. The interface between the metal and the sealable material 28 acts in a composite reinforcing manner to provide a solid superstructure capable of withstanding light to medium working loads placed therein. The bridge structure 20 is thus provided with the layer 29 of wear resistant material, such as for example asphalt, to provide a running or wearing surface. As mentioned before, although optional, the bridge structure 20, in this embodiment, includes guard rails 30 running along opposite sides of the bridge structure. Figures 1, 2, 4a and 4b illustrate guard rails 30. As can be seen, each rail guard 30 comprises a plurality of generally vertical post members 54 at separate locations along bridge structure 20 and a rail 56 continuous encompasses the post members 54. The continuous rail 56 is arched to equalize the arc of the bridge structure 20. A rail plate 58 is welded to the outermost half channels of the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates 24. Each rail plate 58 can be attached, however, to the outermost 60 channel channel using alternate means. The vertical arm of the rail plate 58 defines the side wall surface 34 of the bridge structure 20. The post members 54 and the decorative covering 32 are mounted on the side wall surface 34. To further increase the composite reinforcing characteristics of the bridge structure 20, as well as to provide an anchor to the rail plate 58, the inner face of the inner wall surface defined by the rail plate 58 is provided with bolts. 62 cutting or other suitable coupling means for coupling the sealable material 28, as shown in Figure 4a. In addition to providing a safety and / or aesthetic feature to the bridge structure 20, it will be appreciated that the guard rails 30 can be configured to serve as a structural role where the placements serve to increase the overall capacity of the bridge structure. . The continuous rail 56, in concert with the vertical pole members 54 can serve as stiffening members thus reinforcing the overall bridge structure 20. Other rail guard configurations are possible to reinforce the overall bridge structure.

Although the undulations of the corrugated metal plate assembly 22 are shown as uniform continuous curves with connecting tangents, other wave configurations such as sinusoidal, trapezoidal, etc. are possible. Also, although particular dimensions are described, the corrugated metal plates 24 of larger or smaller dimensions can also be used depending on the application and loading requirements of the composite bridge structure 20. It will further be appreciated that aluminum corrugated metal plates with the fitting dimensions (ie, deeper corrugations) can be used according to the particular application and loading requirements. Although the corrugated metal plate assembly 22 is shown including side-to-side runs of corrugated metal plates 24 arranged end-to-end, in shorter bridge structure applications, corrugated metal plates 24 may be used side by side, each one of sufficient length to provide the desired bridge structure. A simple corrugated metal plate 24 of suitable width and length can also be used to provide the desired width and span of the bridge structure. Although the cutting pins 48 are shown as being applied to the tangent regions 50 of the corrugated metal plates 24, alternating arrangements of the cutting pins are possible. For example, the cutting pins 48 may be placed on the crests, or within the channels of the corrugated metal plates 24. A combination of at least two tangent, ridge and channel-mounted cutting pins 48 is also possible. To increase the composite nature of the bridge structure 20, it is also possible to vary the density of the cutting pins (ie, # of bolts / corrugated metal plate area) according to the target application. For example, in certain applications, it may be advantageous to increase the density of the cutting pins 48 in the corrugated metal plates 24 toward each end of the bridge structure, thereby improving loading characteristics in these regions. In other applications, an increase in the density of the cutting pins 48 in the central region of the bridge structure 20 may be more advantageous. It will also be appreciated that the cutting pins 48 may be integral with the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates, or secured thereto by means of suitable fasteners. Turning now to Figures 5a and 5b, an alternative rail guard configuration is shown. In this configuration, the rail plate 58 is present. However, instead of using separate post members joined together by an extension rail, a concrete wall structure 64 is provided in the sealable material layer 28. As shown, a cover 66 and decorative rails 68 are secured to the upper part of the concrete wall structure 64 to further increase the aesthetics, as well as the functional qualities of the rail guard 30 and the bridge structure 20. To enhance the overall aesthetic qualities of the bridge structure 20, a decorative coating 32 is applied to the side wall surface 34 and the exterior surface of the concrete wall structure 64. The arm 58a of the rail plate 58, which extends outwards, supports the decorative covering 32. It will be appreciated that in certain applications, the sealable material layer 28 can only be sufficient, and, in certain circumstances, can be provided with additional thickness to increase the structural characteristics. It can further be appreciated that the sealable material 28 can be applied in a manner that provides a decorative effect to the upper side of the bridge structure. For example, as shown in Figure 6, sections of the sealable material 28 may be absent or depressed to provide a "strip" of grass, cobble or other suitable landscape. The sealable material 28 can also be provided with integral box sections for the placement of vegetation or flower panoramas. It will be appreciated that the use of the sealable material makes it possible to incorporate a variety of integrated aspects that serve to enhance the overall appearance of the bridge structure. To lighten the global bridge structure 20, as shown in Figure 7, hollow tubes 78 can be placed in the channels of the corrugated metal plate assembly 22. The hollow tubes 78 serve to reduce the overall amount of sealable material 28 which covers the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates, thereby decreasing the overall weight of the bridge structure 20. The tubes 78 may be configured to allow the passage of irrigation, electrical or other services as deemed necessary for the particular application. The tubes 78 can be formed of any suitable material, including steel, but in this embodiment they are constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or similar polymeric materials. To anchor the tubes 78 in position, the tubes are configured with anchoring devices that engage the sealable material 28. For example, the external surfaces of the tubes 78 can be configured with depressed regions receiving the sealable material, thus preventing rotation and / or removal of the tubes relative to the sealable material 28 once installed. In the case that the tubes 78 are constructed of steel, it may be advantageous to provide anchoring devices such as cutting pins in the upper section of the outer surfaces of the tubes. Alternatively, it may be advantageous in certain applications to remove the tubes 78 once the sealable material 28 is placed, thus leaving empty engineering spaces in the sealable material layer 28. As shown in Figure 8, each end of the corrugated metal plate assembly 22 of Figure 7 is topped with a lid plate 80 to provide increased strength as well as to facilitate the emptying of the sealable material 28. The cover plate 80 can be joined to the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates by any suitable means such as by adhesive welding. The cover plate 80 comprises an angle section 82 that seats adjacent to the underside of the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates. The cover plate 80 the cover plate 80 further comprises cutting pins (not shown) for engaging the sealable material 28 and thus contributing to the overall nature of the composition of the bridge structure 20. In the embodiment shown, the cover plate 80 is dimensioned with a height corresponding to the full thickness of the layer of sealable material 28. It will be appreciated, however, that other heights of the lid plate are possible. For example, in certain applications, the height of the cover plates 80 may be limited to the height of the ridges of the corrugated metal plates 24. The cover plates 80 are configured with a corresponding hole (s) to allow the passage of irrigation, equipment or other (ie electrical) services from one end of the bridge structure 20, through the tubes or empty spaces, and out through the other side of the bridge structure. Of course, if the layer of sealable material 28 does not surround the tubes 78 or have engineering gaps therein, the cover plates 80 without holes can be used. To inhibit the flattening or separation of the corrugations of the assembly 22 from corrugated metal plates under load, the bridge structure 20 may optionally comprise an anti-separation device. In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 9a, the anti-separation device comprises tie bars 84 which encompass the ridges of the corrugated metal plates 24. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9b, the anti-separation device is a lanyard 86 that covers the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates. The tie rods 84 and the tie folder 86 encompass the corrugations and are properly secured (ie, bolted, welded, riveted, pinned, etc.) to the ridges by means of fasteners 87 thus helping to maintain the inclination of the corrugations under load (ie, avoiding separation). The tie bars 84 or the tie-down folder 86 can also serve as an additional cutting device, thus contributing to the natural nature of the composition of the bridge structure 20. In addition, the mooring rods or mooring folder reinforce the sealable material 28 thus serving to reinforce both the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates and the layer of sealable material. The tie bars 84 may be of any suitable configuration (ie, re-bar, flat, box, L-shaped, U-shaped, I-shaped, etc.). It will be appreciated that the number of mooring rods used in any particular bridge structure 20 will depend on the load requirements, but basically any number of mooring rods is possible. To further enhance the structural characteristics of the bridge structure, a second set of shaped corrugated metal plates may be interconnected to the assembly 22 of corrugated metal plates, as shown in Figures 10a and 1b, and as described in FIG. Patent of E. U. No. 6, 595, 722 of the applicant, incorporated herein by reference. In the embodiment shown in these Figures, the second set of corrugated metal plates 88 each has a defined thickness with an inclination equal to that of the first set of corrugated metal plates 24. The crests of the second set of corrugated metal plates 88 are suitably secured (ie, bolted, welded, riveted, etc.) to the channels of the first set of corrugated metal plates 24 by fasteners. The second set of corrugated metal plates 88 may comprise a single corrugation, or may comprise multiple corrugations, depending on the design of the bridge structure and the loading requirements. In the case of multiple corrugated metal layers 88, the corrugations may be separated from one another on the underside of the first set of corrugated metal plates (i.e., placed in each third channel of the first set of corrugated metal plates 24). ), or they may be placed in adjacent channels (ie, side by side). The second set of corrugated metal plates 88 may extend over the effective length of the bridge structure, or only a portion thereof, as deemed necessary, to support a load. As shown in Figure 1 0b, the cavity 90 defined between the first and second sets of corrugated metal plates 24 and 88 can optionally be filled with sealable material 92, such as concrete, thereby forming a hardening member.

The light to medium work bridge structure described above can be provided as a package and is adapted for both new installations and replacements. As a package, the components of the bridge structure 20 can be easily transported to the site of the installation, with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment, and the components can be easily handled to ensure proper alignment and replacement. Once the underlying corrugated metal plate assembly 22 is in position, the sealable material 28 is laid, resulting in a solid superstructure capable of withstanding light to medium working loads placed thereon. A further aspect of the light to medium work bridge structure described above, is that it can be provided in both configurations, flat and arched, with or without guard rails, to address the particular need, whether safety, functionality or aesthetics. Although particular embodiments have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove, those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes and modifications can be made, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (26)

1. CLAIMS 1. A composite bridge structure, comprising: at least one corrugated metal plate having corrugations oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bridge structure, said at least one corrugated metal plate having a top surface onto which a layer of sealable material is applied to provide a support surface, said at least one corrugated metal plate being provided with a plurality of devices adapted to couple with said sealable material to give a resultant structure capable to support light to medium workloads. The bridge structure according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of corrugated metal plates interconnected in a side-by-side configuration. 3. The bridge structure according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of corrugated metal plates interconnected in an end-to-end configuration. The bridge structure according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of corrugated metal plates interconnected in a side-by-side and end-to-end configuration. The bridge structure according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising at least one rail guard extending along one side of said bridge structure. The bridge structure according to claim 5, which comprises guard rails extending along opposite sides of said bridge structure. 7. The bridge structure according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each of said guard rails comprises a plurality of vertical post members at spaced locations along said bridge structure and a generally continuous rail that spans said post members. The bridge structure according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein each of said guard rails is mounted on a rail plate secured to said bridge structure. The bridge structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one corrugated metal plate is formed by rolling in a shallow arc to provide an arched bridge structure. 1 0. The bridge structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one corrugated metal plate is formed of galvanized steel. eleven . The bridge structure according to claim 1, further comprising at least one passage provided through said sealable material. The bridge structure according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-separation device in said at least one corrugated metal plate for maintaining the locking of said at least one corrugated metal plate under load. The bridge structure according to claim 1, further comprising an end cap positioned on at least one end of said at least one corrugated metal plate. The bridge structure according to claim 13, comprising an end cap positioned at each end of said at least one corrugated metal plate. The bridge structure according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second corrugated metal plate placed in channels of said at least one corrugated metal plate, thereby defining a cavity therebetween. The bridge structure according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is filled with concrete. The bridge structure according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein said sealable material is concrete, reinforced concrete or the like. The bridge structure according to claim 1, wherein said devices are cutting pins. 1 9. The bridge structure according to claim 1 8, wherein said cutting pins are positioned on at least one of tangents, ridges and channels of said at least one corrugated metal plate. The bridge structure according to claim 1 8 or 1 9, wherein the density of said cutting pins is greater toward each end of said at least one corrugated metal plate. twenty-one . The bridge structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one corrugated metal plate has a thickness in the range of about 2 mm to about 9 mm, a ripple depth in the range of about 51 mm to about 203 mm and a corrugation inclination of approximately 1 52 mm to 457 mm. The bridge structure according to claim 1, wherein said at least one corrugated metal plate has a thickness of about 5.5 mm, a ripple depth of about 1 40 mm and a ripple inclination of about 381 mm . 23. The bridge structure according to any of claims 1 to 22, further comprising a layer of weather resistant material on said support surface. The bridge structure according to claim 8, 1 3 or 14, wherein at least one of said rail plate and each said end cap comprise devices adapted to couple with said sealable material. 25. The bridge structure according to claim 24, wherein said rail plate and each said end cap comprise said devices. 26. The bridge structure according to claim or 25, wherein said devices are cutting pins.