Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
7S~
--3--
In the past, it has been known to construc~ elevated
structures such as platforms in relatively shallow bodies of
water utilizing buoyant members of a type used to form barges
and the like. In some cases, several such buoyant members would
be connected together by lock assemblies carried thereon to
form a platform. Pilings could be driven through suitable
guides on the platform, whereafter the platform waæ jacked up
on these pilings and ultimately locked to the pilings for
support thereby.
This scheme still remains desirable for many applica-
tions. However, there has been room for improvement in this
prior method in connection with the construction of certain
types of structures, e.g. long bridges, and/or under certain
working conditions or circumstances.
s~7~2
Summary of the Invention
According to the invention there is provided a
transportation and construction method comprising the steps
of: transporting a plurality of construction components
to a construction site at least part way in the manner of
ISO standard freight containers; emplacing a first such
general construction component at the construction site
with said first component supported by an underlying earth
formation in a fixed position as part of a structure to be
built; then positioning a second such general construction
component adjacent said first component; temporarily sup-
porting said second component in cantilever Eashion on said
first component to generally locate said second component
as part o~ said structure; then extending second support
means downwardly from said structure adjacent said second
component into load bearing engagement with said earth
formation in a fixed position as part of said structure;
then interlocking said second component to said second
support means for support thereby in a fixed position as
part of said structure; then positioning a third such
general construction component adjacent said second com-
ponent distal said first component; temporarily supporting
said third component in cantilever fashion on said second
component to generally locate said third component as part
of said structure; then extending third support means down-
wardly from said structure adjacent said third component
into load bearing engagement with said earth formation in a
fixed position as part of said structure; then interlocking
said third component to said third support means for sup-
port thereby in a fixed position as part of said structure;and continuing to enlarge said structure by temporarily
supporting additional general construction components
in cantilever fashion on already fixed portions of said
structure to generally locate said additional components
as parts of said structure/ then extending respective
support means downwardly from said structure adjacent said
~"~ additional components into load bearing engagement with
~ZS~'7~2
-4a-
said earth formation in fixed positions as part of said
structure, and then interlocking said additional components
to the respective support means for support thereby in fixed
positions as parts of said structure, until said structure
is enlarged generally to a desired size.
In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present
invention, the first two components are longitudinal compon-
ents, and the first is so emplaced with both ends thereof
supported by the earth formation. The second component is
positioned with one end thereof adjacent one end of the Eirst
component, whereafter the adjacent ends are locked together
to effect the aforementioned temporary cantilevering oE the
second component from the first component. When the support
means are extended from the second component, they are so
extended distal that end which is locked to ~he first compon-
ent, so that, after the second component is interloc~ed to
the support means, it is then fully supported, i.e. supported
at both ends, on the earth formation, whereafter it can be
used as a base for further building out of the third
component.
Even more specifically, in a preferred embodiment, at
least the one end of the first longitudinal component to
which the second longitudinal component is connected is
elevated abo~e the earth formation. Preferably, the support
means comprise pilings extending generally through guide
assemblies carried on the longitudinal components and driven
into their load bearing engagement with the earth formation.
The method may be performed using a construction system,
. ~ .
lZS~S~
including relatively simple girders, t~ansom members, and
T-head locks, all as disclosed more fully in United States
Patent No. 4,647,257 issued March 3, 1987, Robishaw
Engineering, Inc. In another preferred embodiment, the
longitudinal components may be of the type disclosed in
Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 513,~90 ~iled July
10, 1986 and having lock assemblies of the type likewise
disclosed therein. Spud well components, also disclosed in
Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 513,490 may be
connected to the general components by such locks to serve
as guides for driving the a~orementioned pilings. These
spud well components are preferably connected to the
general components adjacent their longitudinal ends, either
directly on their end ~aces, or on the end portions of
their side faces.
More specifically, at least three basic types of con-
struction components may be used in the context of the present
invention. These are: (1) the general construction component,
a fairly simple component of generally rectangular paralle-
piped form, which forms one of the basic building blocks of the
construction system; ~2) rake components, whose undersides are
graduated or tapered, e.g. for use at the ends of a bridge which
rest on the opposite shores being bridged or on the ends of
docks or piers; and (3) spud well components, which are adapted
to receive elongate spuds of either the load bearing or locating
type, and which can be connected to the other components to
adapt them for appropriate association with load bearing or
locating spuds or pilings.
A general construction component of the present invention
has thereon a plurality of male and female lock assemblies,
generally similar to the lock assemblies disclosed in prior
U.S. Patents No. 2,876,726, No. 3,057,315, and No. 3,805,721,
arranged in vertically spaced pairs of like gender. These
assemblies are adapted for engagement with respective female5 ~ and male lock assemblies of a similar construction component
for locking the two components together, for various purposesr
~LZ5~75Z
--6--
including the temporary cantilevering described above.
One of the main differences between the locking system of
the present invention and those of the aforementioned prior
U.S. patents is that, in each of the male lock assemblies, the
generally horizontally disposed pin member is reciprocable
with respect to the construction component between an advanced
position in which it protrudes significantly from a lateral
wall of that component and a retracted position in which it lies
generally within the gross dimensions of the component ~i.e. in
which it does not protrude from the component by a distance
suf~icient to interfere with its handling in the manner of a
standard freight container). Accordingly, the gross dimen-
sions of the component may be chosen to generally coxrespond to
those of a standard freight container.
Thus, for shipping and handling, the pin members may be
disposed in their retracted positions, and the component on
which they are carried may further be provided with standard
container fittings whereby the container may be lifted, lashed,
and otherwise handled in generally the same manner as such
freight containers. However, when the construction component
has been unloaded at the construction site, the pin members may
be placed in their advanced positions for engagement with
mating female assemblies of another component to be connected.
The male lock assemblies of each construction component
are arranged in tandem pairs, the two male lock assemblies of
each such pair being vertically spaced from each other along a
lateral wall of the construction component. The female lock
assemblies are similarly arranged in tandem vertical pairs.
Furthermore, the pin members of the male lock assemblies are
rigid. Thus, the present invention is designed to specifically
prevent any substantial hinging action between adjacent con-
nected construction components. Nevertheless, the pin members
and other movable parts may be made sufficiently small so as to
be manually movable with simple hand tools~
It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a
scheme which allows the profile of the lock assemblies to be
reduced so as not to interfere with shipping and handling of the
construction component on which they are carried in the manner
' 125q~7S2
--7--
of a standard freight container. Nevertheless, after such
shipping and handling, substantially horizontally extending
pin members may be advanced to provide all of the advantages of
the types of lock assemblies generally disclosed in prior U.S.
Patents No. 2,B76,726, No. 3,057,315, and No. 3,805,721.
As compared with the general construction components
described above, the specialized construction components of
the present invention, specifically the rake components and
spud well components, are preferably somewhat smaller than
standard freight containers. Nevertheless, it is not practical
to place these specialized components within standard freight
containers for transportation. Accordingly, the present in-
vention includes a system whereby two or more of these smaller
components can be connected together, in some cases along with
other auxiliary elements of the transportation system, to form
an assembly which, in turn, can be handled and shipped as a
standard fxeight container. Then, when the assembly has
reached the construction site, the components can be dis-
connected from the transportation configuration and recon-
nected with one another and~or with additional components, ofeither the general or specialized type, in different con-
figurations so as to form the structure being constructed.
It is highly desirable that the connection means which are
used to connect the small specialized components to one another
in their transport assemblies be the same connection means
which are used to connect various construction components
together to form the structure being constructed. More par-
ticularly~ it is preferred that these connection means include
the improved, retractable pin, lock assemblies described here-
inabove. As is the case with the general, container sized,
construction components, the retractability of the pins pre-
vents those pins not used to connect the transport assembly from
interfering with handling of that assembly as a standard
reight container.
Furthermore, the rigidity of the pins utilized in these
preferred locX assemblies, and the fact that the lock assem-
blies are arranged in tandem pairs, provides a sufficiently
rigid assembly for transportation and handling without the need
lZS~SZ
for the assembly to be enclosed within a container. This is
( largely due to the aforementioned features of the tandem lock
assemblies, with their rigid pins, which tend to prevent
relative pivotal movement of components connected thereby, and
this effect is further enhanced by shear bearing formations.
It is an important object of the present invention to
provide an improved method of forming an elevated structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such
a method which includes transporting and handling the con-
struction components in the manner of standard freight con-
tainers prior to formation of such structure.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
such a method in which pin members of the lock assemblies on
such construction components are retracted for such trans-
portation and handling, and extended for the formation of suchstructure, including locking of components in cantilevered
configuration.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide such a method in which at least some of said con-
struction components are connected together to form assemblieswhich may be transported and handled as standard freight
containers.
a~
~ZS~)~S2
Brief DescriPtion of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a first span of a structure
being formed, without decking and prior to elevation to its
intended height.
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure of Fig.
1.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the
structur~ elevated to its intended height.
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing a second span of
the structure being built out from the first span.
Fig. S is a top plan view taken on the line 5-S of Fig. 4
in which, for convenience of illustration, various portions of
the second span are shown in different stages of completion.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal view, partly in section and paxtly
in elevation, of a jack assembly which may be associated with
one of the guide means and its support member for elevating the
first span to its intended height, and showing the apparatus
prior to elevation.
Fig. 7 is a view, similar to that of Fig. 6, after
elevation-
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another t~pe of generalconstruction component which may be used in practicing the
present invention.
Fig. 9 is a top plan view of several construction compo-
nents, of the type illustrated in Fig. 8, positioned for
prospective connection in one of several possible configura-
tions.
Fig. 10 is a transverse view through the construction
component of Fig. 8 taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 is a side view, partly in cross section and partly
in elevation, oE a pair of tandem male lock assemblies of the
construction component of Fig. 8.
Fig. 12 is a front view of the tandem male lock assemblies,
taken generally on the line 12-12 o~ Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is a view, similar to that of Fig. 11, showing a
pair of tandem female lock assemblies.
Fig. 14 is a view of the tandem female lock assemblies
similar to that of Fig. 12 and taken generally on the line 14-
12S~75~
--10--
14 of Fig. 13.
Fig. 15 is a side view, partly in cross section and partly
in elevation, showing the tandem lock assemblies of Figs. 11 and
13 in mated and locked condition.
Fig. 16 is an enlarged detailed view, taken along the line
16-16 of Fig. 15.
Fig. 17 is an enlarged detailed side view, in cross
section, of one of the male lock assemblies with the pin member
thereof locked in its retracted position.
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of one end of a dock or pier
of a type which can be constructed using the components and
system of Figs. 8 et. seq.
Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the pier of Fig. 18.
Fig. 20 is a side elevation view of the pier o~ Fig. 18.
Fig. 21 is a top plan view of a transport assembly
according to the present invention comprising two rake com-
ponents.
Fig. 22 is a side elevation view of the transport assembl~
of Fig. 21.
Fig. 23 is a top plan view of another embodiment of
transport assembly comprising two rake components.
Fig. 24 is a side elevation view of the transport assembly
of Fig. 23.
Fig. 25 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of
transport assembly comprising two rake components.
Fig. 26 is a side elevation view of the transport assembly
of Fig. 25.
Fig. 27 is a side elevation view of a transport assembly
comprising five spud well components.
Fig. 28 is a top plan view of the transport assembly of
Fig. 27.
-~2~S2
--11--
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to the drawing, there is shown one embodi-
ment of the present invention illustrated in the context of an
exemplary construction project involving the building of an
elevated platform in a shallow body of water. Various aspects
of the invention may also be used in connection with many other
types of projects, and in other environments, in some cases
involving modifications of the exemplary embodiment shown. As
used herein, "elevated structure" will mean any structure of
which at least part is spaced above the underlying earth
formation as by pilings or other supports. Non-exclusive
examples include: ~ridges, overpasses, offshore platforms and
piers.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is
shown a first span of the platform to be constructed. This
first span comprises five longitudinal construction components
11 connected side-by-side by transom components 29. Each
longitudinal component 11 comprises an elongate girder 13 and
a pair of pile guide assemblies 15, each of which is affixed to
a respective one of the two ends of the girder 13.
More specifically, and referring now also to Figs. 2-7,
each end of each of the girders 13 has a pair of arms 17
extending longitudinally outwardly from opposite lateral sides
thereof to define a channel 19 therebetween. The respective
pile guide assembly 15 is square in transverse cross section,
and the channel 19 is correspondingly shaped to abut the outer
sides of the pile guide assembly 15 on three sides. Arms 17 are
sized to extend approximately half way across the pile guide
assembly 15, so that half the pile guide assembly protrudes
endwise from the girder 13.
The outer ends of arms 17 carry primary locking means. At
each end of each girder 13~ one of the two arms 17 carries a pair
of vertically spaced primary femQle locks 21, and the other arm
carries a pair of vertically spaced male locXs 23 so that there
are a total of four locks on each end of the girder 13.
Each girder 13 also has a plurality of auxiliary female
locks 25 mounted on its lateral sides. Transom construction
components 29 have, on their ends, auxiliary male locks 27 de-
12S~75Z-12-
signed for cooperation with auxiliary female locks 25.
Each of the transom members 29 is generally in the form of
a truss including upper and lower horizontal members diagonal
bracing members and vertical end members. These members are
rigidly affixed to one another in any suitable manner, as well
known in the art, e.g. by welding. The girders 13 may take
various forms, as will be apparent to one of skill in the art,
and in particular may be provided with closure skins o~ sheet
metal so that they may be made buoyant. Girders 13 would
typically also include suitable internal struts and/or other
reinforcing means, as would be apparent to one of skill in the
art.
Referring to Figs. 6-7, one of the pile guide assemblies
15 is illustrated in greater detail. The assembly 15 includes
a housing or casing comprising side walls 41 which define the
aforementioned square transverse cross-sectional con~igura-
tion. Upper and lower end walls 43 and 45, respectively, are
rigidly affixed to side walls 41 in a suitable manner, e.g. by
welding.
Upper wall 43 has a central opening 47. Slightly below the
upper extremity of upper wall 43, and integral therewith, are
a plurality of lips 49 circumferentially spaced from one
another about opening 47 and extending radially thereinto.
Upper wall ~3 is also provided with slots 51 located outwardly
of central opening 47 near the four corners of upper wall 43.
Lower wall 45 has a central opening 59 in register with
opening 47 of upper wall 43. A short cylindrical skirt or lip
63 extends upwardly adjacent opening 59, and a sleeve 65 of like
inner and outer diameters is affixed to and extends upwardly
from lip 59 to a point spaced somewhat below upper wall 43. The
upper end of sleeve 65 is braced against side walls 41 by a
horizontal plate 3. Thus, a central throughway is defined in
assembly 15 by opening 59, the interior of sleeve 65, the hollow
gap between sleeve 65 and wall 43, and opening 47. A flange 67
integral with lower wall 45 extends laterally outwardly beyond
lateral walls 41 so as to form a square rim extending about the
entire periphery of the pile guide assembly 15 at its lower
extremity. Flange 67 underlies and abuts the end of the
~ ~ZS(~7S~
-13-
attached girder 13 and its arms 17.
An interlock member 69 is associated with upper wall 43 of
the pile guide assembly 15. Interlock member 69 includes an
upper horizontal plate 71 having a centxal bore 73 with slots
extending radially outwardly therefrom. Member ~9 further
comprises a cylindrical skirt 77 extending downwardly from
plate 73 and spaced inwardly from the outer extremity of plate
71 so that it can pass through lips 49. A plurality of lugs 79
formed integrally with skirt 77 extend radially outwardly
therefrom, spaced circumferentially from one another. Lugs 79
are sized so that, if aligned with the portions of opening 47
between lips 49, skirt 77 can be lowered through opening 47
until the outer edge of plate 71 rests on lips 49. Then, if
member 69 is rotated so that lugs 79 undexly lips 49, member 69
cannot be withdrawn from bore 49, and conversely, if member 69
is suitably supported, the entire assembly 14 may in turn be
supported thereon by virtue of the interengagement of lips 49
and lugs 79 (see Fig. 7).
As will be explained more fully hereinafter, such support
of member 69 is provided by support means in the form of
cylindrical pilings 81, each of which is associated with a
respective one of the assemblies 15. For purposes of the
present discussion, it is sufficient to note that skirt 77 is
sized to surround piling 81, and that if piling 81 is disposed
within assembly 15, plate 71 may rest on its upper end, and with
lugs 79 underlying lips 49, member ~9 may thus interlock
assembly 15 to piling ~1 for support thereby. Skirt 77 has a
relatively loose fit about piling 81, to avoid jamming-, while
sleeve 65 and rim 62 may have a closer fit for guiding piling
81.
The primary locks 20 and 22 and the auxiliary locks 24 and
26 may be of any suitable type including rigid, horizontal pins
adapted to serve as at least one means to prevent pivotal or
hinging action between adjacent connected construction com-
ponents, particularly when the lock assemblies are arranged invertically spaced pairs, as shown~ This prevention of hinging
or pivoting allowr~ the cantilevering, to be described more
~ully hereinafter. The lock assemblies may be of the T-head
125(~
type more fully described in United States Patent No.
4,647,257 or of the type described more fully below in
connection with Figs. 8 et. seq. other types o~ lock
assemblies may also be utilized.
S Referring now again to Figs. 1 and 2, an exemplary con-
struction procedure in accord with the method of the present
invention will be described. In particular, the exemplary
construc~ion procedure will be that of forming an elongate
elevated platform in a shallow body of water.
A first span, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed by
assembling constructio~ components in accord with the present
invention. This first span includes five of the elongate
primary construction components 13, 15 arranged parallel, side
by side, and laterally spaced apaxt. Components 13, 15 are
connected in such relation by transom components 2~. In parti-
cular, each transom component 29 may be lowered into the space
between a pair of adjacent girders 13, ~ut offset along the
length of the girders 13 from the locus of the auxiliary female
locks 25 to which it will be connected.
The transom member is lowered in this offset position
until the lower male locks 27 have cleared the upper female
locks 25, i.e. are disposed lower than such female locks. Then,
the transom member may be moved lengthwise along the girders 13
until it is aligned with the female locks 25. Next, the transom
member is further lowered and suitably guided until the upper
lock assemblies, 25 and 27, are aligned and the lower lock
assemblies 25 and 27 are aligned, whereafter each pair of
aligned lock assemblies 25 and 27 are locked together.
The first span may either be pre-assembled or assembled at
the construction site. In any event, th~ span is positioned
over the construction site, in this case floating on the body
of water 153. Either before or a~ter such positioning, the
interlock members 69 are removed from their respective guide
assemblies 15, and a piling 81 is lowered through the central
throughway of each guide assembly 14. The first span is
temporarily anchored in a proper orientation with respect to
the bottom 155 of the body of water 153, by well known means (not
shown) while pilings Rl are driven downwardly into load bearing
~zS`075~
--15--
relation with bottom 155. This may be done, for example, by
suitable power hammer means either supported on the first span
itself or on an adjacent platform or vessel. Decking (not shown
in Figs. 1 and 2) may be emplaced on the top of the first span
to bridge gaps between the various construction components.
Next, the pilings 81 are cut off at their upper ends, if
necessary, so that each extends upwardly by a distance corres-
ponding to the intended height of the finished platform, and
interlock members 69 are placed on the tops of respe~tive
pilings 81. Then, the first span is elevated on the support
pilings 81 by use of jacks. Such jacks may be of any suitable
form, and do not, per se, comprise a part of the present
invention. However, to clarify the method of the present
invention, a simplified form of jack is shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
Each jack includes a hydraulic cylinder 157 within which
is a piston having a piston rod 159 e~tending outwardly through
the lower end of cylinder 157. The lower end of piston rod 159
is provided with a fitting 161 adapted to engage the central
opening 73 of a respective one of the interlock members 69.
Rigidly affixed to cylinder 157 is a support frame 163. Tie
rods 165 are attached to frame 163 and extend downwardly through
slots 51 in the upper wall of guide assembly 15. The lower ends
of the tie rods 165 are connected to upper wall 43 as by enlarged
T-heads 167 which engage the underside of wall 43.
Comparing Figs. 6 and 7, it can be seen that~ as the piston
is reciprocated in cylinder 157 in such a direction as to extend
rod 159, because rod 159 cannot move downwardly, cylinder 157
will move upwardly, carrying with it frame 163, rods 165 and
guide assembly 15. To elevate the first span, a number of such
jacks are operated simultaneously in association with respec-
tive ones of the guide assemblies 15, until the span has reached
the desired height.
Preferably, pilings 81 are pre-cut to an appropriate
length so that, when the first span has been elevated to the
desired height, their upper edges lie generally flush with the
upper surfaces of tongues 49. In any event~ with pilings 81
adjusted to the appropriate height, and interlock members 69 in
place on their upper ends, the interlock members 69, having been
~L~S~)7S2
-16-
first positioned with their lugs 79 circumferentially offset
from tongues 49 for passage therethrough, are rotated to bring
lugs 79 into underlying relation to tongues 49. Thus, the
interlock members 69 rest on their respective support pilings
81, and the guide assemblies 15 in turn rest on the interlock
members 69, specifically their lugs 79, thereby supporting the
first span on the pilings.
If decking 5 has not been previously emplaced on the first
span, it is emplaced at this tima. The structure is now ~eady
for building out a second span from the first span.
The second span will be similar to the first span in that
it will be comprised of five parallel longitudinal components
interconnected by transom components. However, the primary
construction components of the second span will differ from
those of the first span in that they will have guide assemblies
15 at only one end of each girder 13'. Using a crane or the like
(not shown) which may be supported on the first span, each
girder 13' of the second span is positioned in end-to-end
relation with a girder of the first span, and in particular,
that end of the girder 13' which has no guide means therein is
positioned adjacent one end of a girder of the first span so
that its channel 19 may surround the portion of the guide
assembly 15 protruding from the first girder and the end of the
second girder and its arms 17 may rest on flange 67.
A worker standing on the first span may then operate the
primary locking means to connect the second girder 13' to the
first girder 13 in cantilever fashion. Some vertical shear
loading can be transmitted through the locks. However, most of
the vertical load may be taken through flange 67 of guide
assembly 15 to piling 81.
All girders 13' of the second s~an are connected endwise
to respective girders 13 of the first span in like manner, then
to one another by transo~ components 29. Pilings 81 are then
driven downwardly through the guide assemblies 15 distal the
first span into load bearing relation with the floor 155 of the
body of water 153. Then, utilizing interlock members 69
identical to those described hereinabove, the second girders
13' are interlocked, via guide assemblies 15, to the support
~z~
-17-
pilings 81. When all of the second girders 13' have been
emplaced and interconnected by transom members 29, decking 5
may be placed on top of the second span to bridge the gaps
between the girders and/or transom components.
The order of construction o~ ~he second span is preferably
as just described. However, for convenience, Fig. 5 shows
laterally adjacent portions of the second span in various
stages of completion. Additional spans can be similarly added
on to construct a platform of any desired length.
Disassembly and removal, when desired, can be accom-
plished, in essence, by reversing the steps outlined above.
However, the pilings 81 would not ordinarily be completely
removed from the underlying earth formation. Rather, a longi-
tudinal construction component to be removed would be dis-
engaged from its piling(s) by removal of interlock member(s)
69. The girder in question would be suitably supported, as by
a crane or the like resting on a portion of the structure not
yet being disassembled, and the primary locking means would be
disengaged to free the longitudinal construction component.
The longitudinal construction component would then be lifted
vertically upwardly and out of engagement with piling(s) 81 by
the aforementioned crane or the like. After a given longi-
tudinal component has been thus removed, any piling or pilings
previously associated therewith can be severed at an appro-
priate level, e.g. adjacent the surface of the underlying earthformation, or in some cases, may simply be left in place.
It will be appreciated that the method may be varied
somewhat depending upon the type of structure being ~ormed and
the type of earth ~ormation underlying that structure. For
example, in some cases, it is not necessary to elevate the first
span before adding the second span. In other cases, the entire
first span need not be supported on pilings. For example, in
constructing a bridge, one end of the first span may rest
directly on a bank (and be suitably anchored thereto), and the
distal end, below which the bank slopes down toward the body of
water, can be supported on pilings, and a second span built ou~
therefrom.
It is particularly noted tùat the structure can be ex-
~ZSV~5;~
tended laterally in an incrcmental fashion using basically thesame method as is used for the incremental longitudinal build-
( ing of the structure, i.e. by supporting a first construction
component on the underlying earth formation, locking a second
component to the first component in cantilever fashion, ex-
tending support means downwardly from the second component into
load bearing engagement with the earth formation, and finally
interlocking the second component to its support means for
support thereby. However, due to the fact that the lateral
connections between girders 13 are adapted to be made via the
transom members 29, the step of locking the second component to
the first in canti}ever ~ashion will preferably be accomplished
by first locking two or more transom components to the ~irst
component and then locking the second girder in turn to the
transom components. Such a modification might be used, for
example, where an elongate structure such as a bridge is being
built out lengthwise according to the present invention, and at
selected points along its length, widened areas are desired,
e.g. to serve as pull-ou~ points for vehicles whi~h must, for
one reason or another, stop on the bridge. Such modification
might also be employed where a structure of irregular con-
figuration is desired for some other reason.
The method of the present invention can also be practiced
utilizing the types of construction components and lock assem-
blies illustra~ed in Figs. 8-28. Fig. B represents a general
construction component 10 according to the present invention
incorporating improvements in the apparatus described and
illustrated in prior U.S. Patents No. 2,876,726, No. 3,~57,315,
and No. 3,805,721. Such improvements will be described in
detail hereinafter. Otherwise, the component 10 and the lock
assemblies carried thereby may be assumed to incorporate the
various features disclosed in said prior U.S. patents.
The construction component 10, as shown, is a buoyant
type, so that it may be used in constructing floating bridges,
barges, floating piers or docks, floating platforms, and the
- (
12S~75~
--19--
like. It will be appreciated, however, that the component 10,
along with similar components, could likewise be used in the
construction of various non-floating structures, such as land
supported bridges, platforms, etc. Construction components
specifically intended for the latter type usage may or may not
~e made buoyant, as desired.
More specifically, component 10 is in the ~orm of a
rectangular parallelepiped. Component 10 includes an internal
force bearing framework, to be described hereinafter, which is
1~ generally encased within an outer covering including an upper
wall 12, a lower wall 13, and four lateral walls. The lateral
walls in turn are subdivided into end walls 14 and side walls
16.
In each corner of the component 10, there is mounted a
standard container fitting 18. Such fittings are well known,
and in particular, are of the same type which are ~sed in the
corners of standard freight containers. Each of the fittings
18 has three intersecting bores 19 into which lifting tools,
lash lines and the like can be inserted for lifting and handling
the component 10, lashing it in place in racks on a freighter,
and otherwise handling the component 10 in the same manner as
standard freight containers are handled.
The gross dimensions ~f component 10, measured between the
outer surfaces of its various pairs of opposite walls, gener-
ally correspond to those of a standard freight container. Forexample, the gross dimensions of component 10 may correspond to
those of any of the standard size containers listed in the
leaflet "ISO Container Dimensions" filed herewith and hereby
expressly incorporated by reference. However, it is contem-
plated that the present invention could be adapted to othercontainer sizes which may become standard in the future.
More specifically, most of the facilities for handling
standard freight containers today require standardi~ation only
as to the length and width of such containers, whereas vertical
depth is not critical. For example, it can be appreciated that,
in a storage rack for holding such containers on shipboard,
vertical depth would not be critical, as the containers simply
stack on top of one another. However, length and width would
~2~ S2
-20-
have to be standardized in order for the containers to fitproperly in the racks. Thus, for such standardized systems, a
component such as the component 10 would be considered to have
gross dimensions generally correspondin~ to those of a standard
freight container if its length and width are approximately
equal to the length and width of a standard freight container.
However, if for some particular installation, or in some future
freight handling system, there is a need to standardize ver-
tical depth, the present invention contemplates that the depth
of the components according to the present invention could
likewise be chosen to fit such standards.
When it is said that the gross dimensions of component 10
"generally" correspond to those of a standard freight con-
tainer, it is meant that any projections formed by the container
fittings 18 or the various parts of the lock assemblies to be
described hereinafter, when those lock assemblies are placed in
suitable positions for transport, do not project beyond the
outer surfaces of the walls of component 10 by distances such
as to interfere with the shipping and handling of component 10
in generally the same manner as a standard freight container.
A plurality of upper and lower male lock assemblies 20 and
20', respectively, and upper and lower female lock assemblies
22 and 22', respectively, are carried adjacent the upper and
lower edges of the lateral walls, i.e. end walls 14 and side
~5 walls 16. The lock assemblies are arranged in tandem pairs, the
assemblies of each pair being vertically spaced so that they are
disposed respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges of the
particular lateral wall on which they are lccated. Terms such
as "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "upper," and "lower" are
used herein or convenience; they refer to the apparatus as
shown and as normally used, and should not be construed as
further limiting the scope. The assemblies of each pair are of
the same gender, and the male and female assemblies are alter-
nated along the length of each lateral wall, and are of an even
number. Thus, on each end wall 14 there are two pairs of
assemblies, one pair of male assemblies 20 and 20' and one pair
of female assemblies 22 and 22'.
Furthermore, the male assemblies 20 and 20' on one of the
~LZ5~52
-21-
end walls 14 are disposed across from and aligned with thefemale assemblies 22 and 22' of the other of the end walls 14.
Thus, as may be seen in Fig. 2, one end of a component 10 can
be aligned with either end of another similar component 10, and
the male assemblies of each of said ends will automatically be
aligned with the female assemblies of the other of said ends so
that the two can be connected. Similarly, there are eight pair
of lock assemblies, alternately male and female, arranged along
the length of each of the side walls 16, and each male assembly
on one side of the construction component is located across from
a female assembly on the other side. Thus, a given side of a
component 10 can be connected to either side of another similar
component 10.
This differs from the arrangements disclosed in said prior
U.S. Patents No. 2,876,7~6, No. 3,057,315, and No. 3,805,721,
wherein all of the assemblies on any given side of the device
were of the same gender, and consequently, a given end or side
of one component could only be connected tG one end or one side
of a similar component. Of course, it will be appreciated that
Fig. 9 illustrates only one, and that a relatively simple one,
of the many configurations in which such components can be
connected. It will be noted, in particular, that among the
variations are those in which components are connected end-to-
side and those in which they are connected side-to-side, but in
an offset or staggered manner.
As previously mentioned, the construction component 10
includes an internal structural framework which, as more fully
described in the aforementioned prior U.S. patents, may include
a plurality of interconnected trusses. An exemplary truss, and
more specifically a transverse truss extending from side-to-
side within component 10, is shown in Fig. 10. As mentioned,
each tandem pair of male assemblies on one side of the con-
struction component is located across from a tandem pair of
female assemblies on the other side of the component.
As shown in Fig. 10, such complementary pairs of male and
female lock assemblies are mounted at opposite ends of a given
transverse truss. The truss shown in Fig. 3 includes parallel
upper and lower cords 24 and 26, interconnected by struts 2~.
-`` 12~ S~
-22-
As fully explained in prior U.S. Patent No. 3,057,315, struts
28 are arranged so as to abut cords 24 and 26-at spaced apart
locations, so as to enhance the flexibility of the truss.
Similarly, rails 30, which space upper wall 12 from the upper
extremity of cord 24 and similar cords in other trusses
throughout the construction component, abut cord 24 at posi-
tions spaced longitudinally from those at which the trusses 28
abut cord 24. Likewise, rails 32 which are disposed between the
bottom of lower cord 26 and the bottom wall 13 of the con-
struction component are longitudinally spaced from the loca-
tions of abutment of struts 28 with cord 26.
Referring now jointly to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, each of the
male lock assemblies 20 and 20' of the tandem pair shown
includes a body in the form of a housing 34 or 34', respec-
tively. Housing 34 will be described in greater detail herein-
after. ~ousings 34 and 34' are identical, but reversed in
orientation so that they are mirror images across a horizontal
plane. At this point, it is further noted, that any part of
lower male lock assembly 20' which is identical to a part of
upper male lock assembly 20 will be designated by the same
reference numeral with the character ""' appended thereto. To
the extent that the upper and lower male lock assemblies are
identical, the lower assembly will not be described in great
detail. The same scheme will be utilized in describing upper
and lower female lock assemblies 22 and 22'.
Housing 34 has a front wall 36 located near the outer end
of the truss in position for general alignment with the respec-
tive side wall 16, and a rear wall 38 spaced therefrom inwardly
with respect to the truss. Cord 24 is channel-shaped and is
welded to one side of the housing 34 of the upper male lock
assembly 20 of the tandem pair. Cord 24 is oriented so that its
channel faces laterally outwardly with respect to the connected
male housing 34. The weld lines 4~ extend along housing 34 for
a substantial distance in the front-rear directional mode. In
addition, there is a weld 41 across the end of cord ~4.
As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, another channel-shaped cord
~2 is welded to the opposite side of the housing 34 from cord
24. Cord 42 forms a part of another truss, which is a mirror
' 12S~7S~
-23-
image of the truss shown in Fig. 3, and which further includes
lower cord 44 and interconnecting struts (not shown). Thus, the
housing 34 of the upper male lock assembly 20 is sandwiched
between the upper cords 24 and 42 of two adjacent trusses.
Similarly, housing 34' of lower male lock assembly 20' is welded
between the ends of the lower cords 26 and 44 of the two adjacent
trusses.
Referring now to Figs. 10, 13 and 14, there is shown a pair
of tandem female lock assemblies 2~ and 22', each of which
includes a female body in the form of a female housing 46 or 46',
respectively. (Hereinafter, parts of the male and female lock
assemblies which are more or less similar or analogous will be
designated "male" or "female" to distinguish between the parts
of the two genders of assemblies, and this is not intenaed to
imply that these parts are necessarily of a projecting or
receiving type configuration.)
Female housing 46 has a front wall 48 and a rear wall 50
spaced therefrom. Thus, when the upper female housing 46 is
welded between the ends of cords 24 and 42 opposite the ends
~0 which mount the upper male assembly 20, the weld lines 52 may
extend a substantial distance in the front-rear directional
mode. There is also a weld 53 across the end of the cord. The
female housing 46' of the lower female lock assembly is likewise
welded between the ends of cords 26 and 44 opposite those which
mount the lower male lock assembly 20'.
Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, the male lock assemblies
20 and 20' will be described in greater detail, and it will be
understood that all other tandem pairs of male lock assemblies
on the component 10, are identical~
The front wall 36 of male housing 34 has a thickened
portion 54 which serves as the male socket means and has rear
and front walls 54a and 5~b, respectively. Male socket means
54 defines a rectangular male socket opening 56 extending
therethrough in the front-rear directional mode. (As used
herein, the "front-rear directional mode" will generally refer
to a position or direction of orientation parallel to front-to-
rear and rear-to-front directions.) As shown in Fig. 12, the
transverse horizontal dimension of male socket opening 56 is
:~L2~ S2
-24-
substantially greater than its transverse vertical dimension.
The male lock assembly 20 further includes a monolithic
cast metallic pin member 58 which is slidably received in
opening 56 for reciprocation, in the front-rear directional
mode, between an advanced position, as shown in Fig. 11, and a
retractea position, as shown in Fig. 17. The portion of pin
member 58 whi~h is received in opening 56 is generally of a
complementary rectangular cross-sectional configuration, of
greater horizontal dimension than vertical dimension.
Comparing Figs. 11, 12, 16 and 17, the outermost or head
end of pin member 58 is tapered, as shown at 60, to a somewhat
smaller rectangular cross section. Head end 60 has a notch 61
in its upper surface. ~t the juncture o~ head end 60 and the
larger rectangular portion 64 of pin member 58, there is a first
lock engagement region or necked down area including a pair of
grooves 62 extending vertically along opposite sides of-pin
member 58 and opening laterally outwardly. Rearward of grooves
62 is the relatively large rectangular portion 64 of pin member
58, forward or rear portions of which are disposed in opening
56, depending upon whether pin member 58 is in its retracted or
advanced position.
Portion 64 of pin member 58 has recesses 66 in its upper
and lower surfaces, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.
Recesses 66 are not sufficiently large to unduly detract from
the load bearing capabilities of portion 64 of pin member 58.
At the rear extremity of large rectangular portion 64 of
pin member 58, there is a second lock engagement region or
necked down area including vertical grooves 68 substantially
identical to grooves 62. Rearward of grooves 68 is a small
tapered section 70, which in turn adjoins the cylindrical tail
end 72 of the pin member 58. It should be noted that the
diameter of tail end 72 does not exceed the vertical dimension
of rectangular portion 64 of pin member 58.
Male lock assembly 20 further comprises lock means in the
form of a pla~e-like lock member 74. The male lock member 74
is substantially identical to the female lock member 116 of
female lock assembly 22, to be described more fully herein-
below. Thus, comparison of Figs. 11 and 1~, which show male
~; ~Z5l3 ~52
-25-
lock member 74 in its lower or locking position, with Figs. 13
and 14, which show the identical female lock member 116 in its
upper or release position, may facilitate understanding of both
male and female lock members.
More particularly, lock member 74 is generally in the form
of an inverted U, havin~ downwardly extending tines or rails 76
sized to slidably fit in respective locking grooves 68, or
alternatively, in respective locking grooves 62. Rails 76 are
joined at their upper ends by a bridge section 78. A tab 80
extends rearwardly from the upper end of bridge section 78.
Lock member 74 is disposed just rearwardly of male socket
means 54 in sliding abutment with the rear face 54a thereof. An
opening 84 in the upper wall 35 of male housing 34 allows lock
member 74 to b~ raised from the locking position shown in Fig.
4, wherein rails 76 are disposed in one or the other of the two
pair of locking grooves 62 or 68, to a raised release position,
wherein the locking member 74 clears the pin member 58. For
this purpose, a suitable tool such as a crowbar, can be inserted
in a notch 84a in opening 84 and engaged undex tab 80.
~ The lower male lock assembly 20' of the tandem pair has a
male housing 34' which is a mirror image of housing 34 across
a horizontal plane. Assembly 20' further includes a pin member
58' which is identical to the pin member 58 of the upper male
lock assembly 20 and oriented in the same manner. ~ecause the
pin members 58 and 58' are identical, and because their locking
grooves, e.g. 62 and 68, extend completely therethrough in the
vertical direction, it is possible for the lock member 75 of
lower male lock assembly 20' to be oriented in the same manner
as the lock member 74 of upper male lock assembly 20, i.e. with
its bridge section uppermost and its rails or tines extending
downwardly therefrom. Lock member 75 is identical to lock
member 74, except that it lacks the tab 80 and its rails 77 are
longer.
The two lock members 74 and 74' are connected for joint
reciprocation between their locking positions and release
positions by lock extension means in the form of rods 82 welded
to the laterally outer sides of the two male lock members. The
lower end of the housing 34 of the upper male lock assembly, and
~ Z ~ 2
-26-
the identical upper end of the housing 34' of the lower male
lock assembly are open to permit the necessary movements of rods
82. These open ends of housings 34 and 34' are further rigidly
interconnected by body extension means in the form of a channel
member 86, as by welding. Guides 73 are welded to housing 34'
for cooperation with the rear surface of lower male lock member
75.
A male lock retainer, which is substantially identical to
the device 61, 62, 63, 64 shown in prior U.S. Patent No.
3,805,721, is provided. Briefly, the device includes a base
plate 87 which is welded between the sides of channel 86 in a
position to slidably engage the front surfaces of rods 82. A
nut and bolt assembly 89 connects plate 87 to a spring 88 which
is thereby clamped against the rear surfaces of rods 82 to fric-
tionally engage the rods, and thereby, indirectly frictionally
engage the lock members 74 and 75. The force with which the
device 87, 88, 89 frictionally engages rods 82 is generally
sufficient to prevent separation of the lock members 74 and 75
from their respective lock assemblies. In addition, positive
stop bars 91 are welded between rods 82, for abutment with
blocks 93 carried on plate 87, to positively limit vertical
movement and prevent such separation. In addition, the fric-
tion device 87, 88, 89 urges the lock members 74 and 75
forwardly against their respective sockets 54 and 54'. Fi-
nally, friction device 87, 88, 89 will temporarily maintain the
tandem lock member 74 and 75 in any position in which they are
placed, and in particular, if they are raised, will temporarily
maintain them in a raised position against the force of gravity.
Nevertheless, the force with which the friction device engages
rods 82 is not so great as to interfere with selective manual
raising or lowering of the lock members, with simple tools such
as crowbars and hammers, when desir~d.
To more securely hold the male lock members 74 and 75 in
their lowered or locking positions, an inverted-U-shaped latch
spring 90 is mounted on rods 8~. Spring 90 is substantially
identical in structure and ~unction to that of prior U.S. Patent
No. 3,805,721, and thus, will not be described in great detail
herein. Briefly, spring 90 is biased rearwardly so that, when
~I Z~'752
-27-
the locking members 74 and 75 are in their locking positions,
as shown in Fig. 11, the upper end of spring 90 is disposed
beneath the upper wall 35 of housing 34 just adjacent opening
84. When it is desired to raise the lock members 74 and 75, a
tool can be inserted in notch 84a to pry spring 90 forward so
that the lock members can be raised. Then, whenever the lock
members are again lowered to their locking positions, spring ~0
will automatically snap back into a latching position under the
upper wall of housing 34.
The rear wall 38 of housing 34 has a pocket 92 extending
rearwardly therefrom for sliding receipt of the tail end 72 of
pin member 58. A helical compression spring 94 is interposed
between the bottom of pocket 92 and a shoulder 96 on the tail
end 72 of pin member 58 to bias pin member 58 forward. To retain
pin member 58 from being ejected through socket opening 56 or
falling out from that opening when the lock member 74 is raised
to its release position, a pin retainer in the form of spring
98 is carried on the underside of pin member 58. Spring 98
extends generally longitudinally along pin member 58. Its rear
end is anchored on pin member 58, while its forward end is free
and ~iased outwardly away from pin member 58. However, spring
98 can be biased inwardly so that it fits into a groove 100 ~see
Fig. 16) in the underside of pin member 58.
Thus, in assembling the male lock assembly ~0, spring 94
can be inserted through socket opening 56 and into pocket 92.
Pin member 58 is then inserted through socket opening 56, such
insertion being permitted by the fact that the vertical dimen-
sion of pin member 58 nowhere exceeds that which might pass
through socket opening 56. As the pin member 58 is being
inserted into housing 34 through socket opening 56, spring 98
is cammed inwardly by the lower surface of opening 56 into
groove 100. Once groove 1~0 passes completely through socket
opening 56, the forward end of spring 98 will spring outwardly
and abut the rear face 54a of socket means 54, thereby pre-
venting pin member 58 from falling back out of opening 56.
Abutment of spring 98 with rear face 54a of socket means 54 also
limits forward movement of pin member 58 under influence of
spring 94 to a proper advanced position wherein grooves 68 are
~ZS~'7S~
positioned for engagement by rails 76 of locking me~ber 74. If
it is necessary to disassemble the lock assembly, a suitable
tool can be inserted through opening 84 to force spring 98
upwardly into groove 100 until pin member 58 has been advanced
sufficiently for spring 98 to be held in its groove 100 by the
lower surface of socket opening 56.
The rear wall 38' of housing 34' of lower male lock
assembly 20' has a pocket 92' identical to pocket 92. As
previously mentioned, the pin members 58 and 58' of the upper
and lower male lock assemblies are identical, and the pin member
58' of the lower male lock assembly 20' has associated therewith
springs identical, both in form and in interrelation with other
parts of the lock assembly, to springs 94 and 98. Thus, these
springs in the lower male lock assembly 20' will not be shown
or further described in detail.
The front wall 36 of housing 34 has a pair of shear bearing
lugs 102 formed thereon. Lugs 102 are disposed on opposite
sides of socket opening 56. Lugs 102 project forwardly from the
remainder of front face 54b of socket means 54, but by a
distance sufficiently small that they will not interfere with
the handling of the construction component 10 on which the lock
assembly is carried in the manner of a standard freight con-
tainer. The upper and lower surfaces 101 of each lug 102 are
planar surfaces extending generally horizontally but slightly
vertically inclined toward each other for a purpose to be
described more fully hereinbelow. Housing 34' of lower male
lock assembly 20' has identical lugs 102' thereon.
Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, upper female lock
assembly 22 will be described in greater detail. The housing
46 of upper female lock assembly 22 is similar to the housing
34 of upper male lock assembly 20 in many respects. Its front
wall 48 includes a female socket means 104 having rear face 104a
and front face 104b. A female socket opening 106, substantially
identical in size and shape to opening 56 of male lock assembly
20, extends through socket means 104 in the front-rear direc-
tional mode.
Front wall 48 of housing 46 differs from front wall 36 of
housing 34 in that, rather than the lugs 102, wall 48 has a pair
( ~ 2SU~5Z ~
-29-
of lugs 108 formed thereon and disposed immedia~ely above and
below socket opening 106. For convenience, lugs 108 extend
completely laterally across the socket means 104~ However,
since the purpose of lugs 108 is to engage lugs 102 when the male
and female lock assemblies are mated, each lug 108 could be
replaced by a pair of lugs spaced apart by a distance corres-
ponding to socket opening 106. Lugs 108 define therebetween a
space 110 for receipt of lugs 102. The planar surfaces of lugs
1~8 which define space 110 are slightly vertically inclined to
correspond to the taper 101 of lugs 102.
The rear wall 50 of housing 46 is similar to the rear wall
38 of housing 34 of upper male lock assembly 20 except that it
lacks the inte~ral pocket 92. The upper wall of housing 46 is
similar to that of the male housing 34, and in particular,
includes an opening 112 identical to opening 84 and including
a notch 112a identical to notch 84a. The bottom of housing 46
is identical to that of housing 34, and in particular, is open
and is connected by a channel member 114 to the upper end of
housing 46' of the lower female lock assembly 22'.
A female lock member 116, identical to male lock member 74,
is mounted for reciprocation with respect to socket means 104
and its socket opening 106 between a raised release position as
shown and a locking position in which the rails 118 of locking
member 116 are disposed generally on opposite sides of opening
106 and overlapping therewith. In addition to the rails or
tines 118, locking member 116 includes a bridge section 120
connecting the upper ends of rails 118, and a tab 122 extending
rearwardly therefrom. The structure of member 116 is identical
to that of male lock member 74, and the relationships between
the member 116 in its locking and release positions, with
respect to opening 106, are precisely the same as the analogous
positions of members 74 with respect to opening 56.
Locking member 116 is likewise connected to a similar
locking member 117 of the lower female lock assembly 22' by rods
124, by welding, for joint reciprocation between locking and
release positionsO The assembly 116, 124, 117 is identical to
the assembly 74, 82, 75 of the tandem male lock assemblies 20
and 20'. Likewise, a frictional retaining device 125, 126, 127
--" ( lZ~ X~
-30-
identical to device 87, 88, 89 is provided for assembly 116,
124, 117, as are stops 129, 131 and a latch spring 128,
identical to stops 91, 93 and spring 90, both in structure and
function.
As with the tandem male lock assemblies, the tandem female
lock assemblies shown in Figs. 13 and 14 differ in that their
housings 46 and 46' are reversed or arranged as mirror images
of each other, while their respective locking members 116 and
117 are oriented in the same direction, i.e. with their tines
extending downwardly. Likewise, locking member 117 of the
lower female lock assembly has longer tines 119 but lacks a tab
analogous to tab 122 of member 116. Otherwise, the female lock
assemblies are identical, and in particular, it i~ noted that
shear bearing lugs 108', identical to lugs 1~8, are formed on
front wall 46', and guides 109 are provided for lower female
lock member 117.
The operation of the male and female lock assemblies is as
follows. For transport to the construction site, the pin
members of the male lock assemblies would be placed in their
retracted positions. Fig. 17 shows the pin member 58 of upper
lock assembly 2~ in its retracted position, and the retracted
position of the pin member 58' of the lower male lock assembly
would be analogous. As shown in Fig. 17, pin member 58 has been
forced rearwardly, compressin~ spring 94, until the grooves 62
of its first lock engagement region are disposed behind the rear
face 54a of socket 54 where they are engaged by respective rails
76 of locking member 74, which has been lowered .o its locking
position.
As will be explained more fully below in connection with
the advanced position of the pin 58, rails 76 are sized to
project laterally outwardly from grooves 62 beyond the sides of
opening 56 so that they may abut the rear face 54a of socket 54.
Thus, the rear-to-front force exerted on pin member 58 by
compressed spring 94, or any other rear-to-front force which
might be exerted on pin member 58, is transmitted through
locking member 74 to socket 54, whereby pin member 58 is
prevented from advancing from the position shown in Fig. 17.
Although further retraction of pin 58 rearwardly from the
752
-31-
position of Fig. 17 is not a par~icular problem, i~ might be
noted that such movement will be limited by abutment of tab 80
of lock member 74 with the edge of opening 84 in housing 34 and
abutment of lock member 75 with guides 73.
The locking member 74 is latched into its lowered or
locking position, as shown, by virtue of the fact that spring
90 underlies the top wall 35 of housing 34 adjacent opening 84.
It should be noted that, when the lock member 74 is in its
locking position, it lies generally flush with the upper
extremity of housing 34, which in turn is generally flush with
the top wall 12 of the construction component 10 (sho~n in Fig.
17 but broken away in other Figs. for clarity). The head end
of pin member 58 projects forwardly from the front face 54b of
socket 54 only by a very small distance, generally comparable
to that by which the lugs 102 project. As previously mentioned,
this distance is not great enough to interfere with transport
and other handling of the construction component 10 in the
manner of a standard freight container. Thus, with the appa-
ratus in the position of Fig. 17, it will be said that all parts
Of the male lock assembly lie generally within the gross
dimensions of the construction component 10. The pin member 58'
will be held in a similar retracted position by its respective
locking member 75, as will all other pin members of all male
lock assemblies on the construction component 10.
When the component 10, and similar components to be
connected thereto, have reached the construction site~ the pin
members of those male lock assemblies which will be used to make
up the connections between the construction components will be
placed in their advanced positions, as shown in Fig. 11, and the
locking members of the female lock assemblies to be connected
therewith will be raised to their release positions as shown in
Figs. 13 and 14.
More specifically, with respect to the male loc~ assem-
blies, and beginning from the position of Fig. 17, a crowbar or
other suitable tool is inserted into notch 84a in opening 84 in
the top wall 35 of housing 34 of the upper male lock assembly
20. In a manner more fully explained in the aforementioned
prior U.S. patents, the tool is used to force the upper end of
5~
-32-
spring 90 forward, until it clears the underside of the top
housing wall and is forced under tab 80. By continued movement
of the tool, tab 80 can be pryed upwardly, thereby raising
locking memb~r 74 and the connected locking member 75 of the
lower male lock assembly 20'. Continued upward movement may be
effected, either with the same or another tool, or by hand, once
the upward movement has been started in the aforementioned
manner.
When the locking members 74 and 75 have been raised a
sufficient distance to clear their respective pin members 58
and 58', i.e. to their release positions (which are analogous
to those shown in Figs. 13 and 14 for the female lock assem-
blies) pin member 58 will be urged outwardly by spring 94, and
pin member 58' will likewise be urged outwardly by a similar
compression spring (not shown) in pocket 92'. If, for any
reason; e.g. breakage of such compression springs, the pins 58
and 58' do not advance from their retracted positions, a simple
tool can be engaged in notch 61, or in any of the recesses 66,
depending on the current position of the pin member, to force
the pin member outwardly or forwardly to its advanced position.
Since housing 34' is identical to housing 34, and in particular,
has an opening (not shown) in its lower wall identical to
opening 84 in the upper wall of housing 34, a similar technique
may be used to force pin 58' outwardly or forwardly.
As the portion of pin 58 which, in its retracted position,
is dis~osed in pocket 92, moves forwardly, spring 98 will
automatically emerge from its groove 100 in the underside of pin
member 58. Spring will engage rear face 54a of socket 54 when
the pin member 58 is in its advanced position, i.e. with grooves
62 located well beyond front face 54b of socket 54 and with
grooves 68 located just behind rear face 54a, under influence
of spring 94. Although spring 9~ would not be sufficient to
take high tensile loading, it will stop the movement of pin
member 58 in the forward direction under the relatively low
force exerted by spring 94, and temporarily hold the pin member
58 in that position until lock member 74 can be lowered to its
locking position, as shown in FigO 11. Pin member 58' has an
identical spring (not shown) which similarly stops the forward
2 `-
-33-
movement of pin member 58' at its advanced position.
When locking member 74 is lowered, as by striking it with
a hammer, the connected locking member 75 will automatically be
lowered therewith. Rails 76 of locking member 74 will enter
5grooves 68, and rails 77 of locking member 75 will enter
analogous grooves in lower pin member 58'. Since locking member
74 is sandwiched between rear face 54a of socket 54 and the edge
of upper housing wall 35 adjacent opening ~4, and lock member
75 is sandwiched between socXet 54' and guides 73, this position
locks the pin members in their advanced positions. The locking
rails 76 or 77 of each pair have their inner sides flared
outwardly and downwardly, as explained in the aforementioned
prior U.S. patents ~see also 118a and ll9a in Fig. 14), to
tighten the locking engagement gradually. Also, as shown in
Fig. 11, for example, the lower end of each rail 76 has its front
and rear surfaces tapered inwardly and downwardly to guide tha
rails into the locking grooves. During the aforementioned
lowering of the assembly 74, 82, 75, spring 90 will snap into
place beneath the upper wall of housing 34 adjacent opening 84.
20The locking members 116 and 117 of the tandem female lock
assemblies 22 and 22' will be raised to their release positions,
as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, in the same manner as was done with
the male lock assemblies. Then, with the male lock assemblies
in the positions shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and the female lock
assemblies in the positions shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the
construction components on which these assemblies are carried
are drawn toward each other, as by ropes or the like, so that
pin members 58 and 58' enter socket openings 106 and 106',
respectively. The tapered areas 60 on the head end of pin
member 58 help to gradually guide the pin member into the female
socket opening 106. Because the lugs 108 extend completely
across the front face of female housing 46, and in particular,
across the upper and lo~er borders of socket opening ln6,
tapered areas 110 likewise help to gradually guide pin member
58 into socket opening 1~6. The same type action occurs in the
lower locX assemblies 20' and 2~'.
When the assemblies have been thus mated, the grooves 62
of the first lock engagement region of pin 58 will be disposed
'75~
-34-
just behind rear face 104a of socket 104 of the mating female
lock assembly. Analogous grooves of pin member 58' will be in
a like position with respect to lower female lock assembly 22'.
By striking the locking member 116 of the upper female lock
assembly 22, both locking members 116 and 117 are lowered to
their locking positions, to place the apparatus in the condi-
tion illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16.
It 7 S specifically noted that, as the assembly 116, 124,
117 is being lowered, long rails 119 of the lower female lock
member 117 will begin to engage their respective pin member 58'
before rails 118 of upper female lock member 116 engage pin 58.
Because of the downward and outward flaring of the laterally
inner edges ll9a of rails 119 (see Fig. 14), and the downward
and inward tapering of the front and rear surfaces of the rails
119 at their lower ends (see ll9b in Fig. 13), the lower lock
assemblies 20' and 22' will be gradually cammed or wedged into
firm mating engagement by the lowering of lock member 117. If
the components are connected while floating, this will overcome
any tendency of the lower edges of the lateral walls on which
the lock assemblies are carried to splay (as the weight of the
workers standing near those lateral walls on the upper deck tips
or rocks the respective construction components)~ Thereafter,
the upper lock member 116 may readily be fully lowered and
engaged with its respecti~e pin member. It is noted, in
~5 particular, that if the upper female lock member 116 were
permitted to engage its respective pin member too soon, it could
provide a pivot point which would increase the tendency of the
lower edges of the lateral w~lls of the two construction
components to splay thereby making it difficult to properly
mate and lock the lower assemblies.
With the apparatus in the condition illustrated in Figs.
15 and 16, because rails 118 of upper female locking member 116
are disposed in grooves 62 of pin member 58 r but extend
laterally outwardly therefrom to abut rear face 104a of female
socket 104, any front-to-rear force exerted on pin member 58
will be transmitted through locking member 118 to socket 104,
whereby pin member 58 is locked into female lock assembl~ 22~
If a rear-to-front tensile force is exerted on pin member
3~Z5~ i2
58, e.g. if the construction component on which t~e female lock
assembly 22 is carried tends to pull away from the construction
component on which the male assembly 20 is carried, such force
will be transmitted from the rear face 104a of socket 104
through locking member 118 to pin member 58, and from pin member
58 through male locking member 74, to male socket 54.
When the male and female lock assemblies have been mated
and locked together, the shear bearing lugs 102 and 108 of the
male and female lock assemblies, respectively, are meshed.
Because the shear bearing formations 102 and 108 project and
receive in a generally front-rear directional mode with respect
to pin member 58, they are capable of transmitting shear forces
transverse to pin member 58 independently of that pin member.
In particular, the upwardly and downwardly facing ~urfaces of
lugs 102, and the opposed surfaces of lugs 108, while tapered
or vertically inclined to help guide the lock assemblies into
proper engagemant and to ensure, through a wedging action,
contact between the male and female shear bearing formations,
face generally vertically, and therefore, are capable of
transmitting vertical shear loads between the housing 34 and 46
independently of pin member 580
This arrangement is chosen, especially for components to
be used in constructing floating structures such as barges,
because the vertical shear ~orces tend to be greater than the
transverse horizontal shear forces~
Likewise, where the components being connected are ini-
tially floating, and are later jacked up into an elevated
position, as described hereinabove, and thereafter additional
components are supported in cantilevered fashion thereon, the
shear bearing formations arranged to take vertical loads sub-
stantially bear the forces involved in such cantilevered sup-
port, particularly since the lock assemblies are arranged in
tandem pairs, until pilings can be installed in supporting
relation to the temporarily cantilevered parts.
It will be appreciated that the principles of the present
invention can likewise be applied to provide shear bearing
formations which would transmit horizontal shear forces inde-
pendently of the pin member. In general, it is desirable that
lZ5a~S2
-36-
the shear bearing formations be arranged so as to traDsmit shear
loads transverse to the pin member in a direction generally
parallel to the path of reciprocation of the locking means, thus
they should face generally in such direction.
Returning to the exemplary embodiment illustrated, where-
in the shear bearing formations are arranged to transmit
vertical shear loads, it can be seenf most notably in Fig. 12,
that the transverse vertical dimension of pin member 58 can be
substantially smaller than its transverse horizontal dimen-
sion, since pin member 58 is relied upon to transmit only
horizontal shear loads (which are usually relatively low in the
types of construction in question). ~hus, a given locking
system, comprising a male and female lock assembly, is capable
of handling generally greater loads than were previously pos-
sible, without a corresponding increase in the overall size and
weight of the pin members. Furthermore, by minimizing the
vertical thickness of pins 58 and 58', it is possible to
maximize the distance between their centers of gravity, and
thereby better resist hinging action of the connected com-
ponents on a horizontal axis.
Because of the use of tandem pairs of lock assemblies, the
assemblies of each pair being vertically spaced, and further
due to the use of pin members which are formed (preferably
monolithically) of metal or like rigid material throughout, the
locking system of the present invention is defined to posi-
tively prevent any substantial hinging, about a horizontal
axis, as between adjacent connected components. This enables
such components to be assembled into many types of structures
~hich could not be properly formed with the articulated types
of connections exemplified by certain prior art systems. Not
only is it possible, with the present invention, to orm more
stable floating structures, such as bridges, drilling plat-
forms, etc., but it is also possible to form non-floating
structures such as land supported bridges and the like, even
using the temporary cantilevering technique described above.
Nevertheless, and again due to the rigidity o~ the pin members
and their arrangement in vertical tandem pairs, it is not
necessary to use unduly large force-transmitting parts in the
~2~b7~Z
-37-
lock assemblies, and in particular, all moving parts of the lock
assemblies, including the pin members and the male and female
lock means, are easily manually movable using simple hand
tools. The planar configuration of the meshed shear bearing
surfaces 101 and 110 further resists any such hinging action.
Another feature which enhances the load handling charac-
teristics of the apparatus is the fact that each of the housings
34 and 46 is integral -- preferably monolithic -- and has a
substantial front-to-rear dimension, i.e. includes a front
wall whicb defines the respective socket means and a rear wall
spaced from that front wall. Referring again to Fig. 10, it
will be recalled that the weld lines 40 and 52 extend along a
substantial front-rear extent of the respective housings 34 and
46. This differs from prior art arrangements in which a single
plate-like socket (for a female assembly) or pin base (for a
male assembly) was welded to the construction component. The
new arrangement provides a better force distribution, and in
particular, provides a welded attachment at a position spaced
from the socket means, where substantial forces are felt,
thereby lessening the chance of failure of one type or another.
All of the above force transmitting interrelationships in
the upper assemblies 20 and 22 are duplicated in the analogous
parts of the lower assemblies 20' and 22', so that the latter
will not be further described in detail. However, it is noted
that in Fig. 15, the meshing relationship between the shear
bearing lugs 1~2' and 108' is further illustrated in elevation.
If it is desired to separate the construction components
which have been thus connected together, the upper ~emale lock
member 116 is raised to its release position, carrying the lower
female lock member 117 with it via rods 124. The construction
components can then be separated. To provide low profiles for
any additional transport or handling of the components, the
female lock members can then be relowered into their locking
positions, but without any pin members disposed in their
respective sockets.
To return the male lock assemblies to a low profile
position, the upper male lock member 74 is first raised to its
release position, carrying the lower member 75 therewith.
::LZ~ 5~
-38-
Lower pin member 58' of the tandem pair of male lock assemblies
is pushed rearwardly or inwardly to its retracted position and
temporarily held there manually or by any suitable means. The
interconnected lock members 74 and 75 are partially lowered, by
striking the upper member 74. Because the rails 77 of lower
male lock member 75 are longer than the rails 76 of upper male
lock member 74, rails 77 will engage partially within groo~es
62' of their respective pin member 58' while rails 76 of upper
lock member 74 are still clear of their respective pin member
58. This will temporarily hold pin member 58' in its retracted
position while pin member 58 is urged rearwardly to its re-
tracted position. Then, while temporarily holding pin 58 in its
retracted position, e.g. manually, the lock members 74 and 75
are further lowered to their ~ull locking positions, wherein
both pin members 58 and 58' are firmly locked in their retracted
positions, and the locking assemblies 74, 82, 75 in turn is
latched in place by engagement of spring 90 with the underside
of the top wall of housing 34.
In addition to the general components 10, a complete
system according to the present invention may also include
various specialized components. Figs. 18-20 illustrate one end
of a pier or dock which has been constructed using general
components 10 together with two types of smaller specialized
components, i.e. rake components 200 and spud well components
202 and 204. Components 202 have bearing type spud wells
similar to those of assemblies 15 of the embodiments of Figs.
1-7, while components 204 have holding type spud wells. The
difference in this regard is a difference in the function of the
particular spud well component in the pier or dock, while the
spud well components 202 and 204 are otherwise equivalent in
terms of the manner in which they are connected to other
components either in a construction project or in a transport
assembly such as is described more fully below.
The structure of Figs. 18-20 is only one example of the
many uses which can be made of the construction components
according to the present invention. In particular, a pier or
dock has been constructed with the major portion of its length
being formed by general components 10 arranged in spans three
125~'7~
-39-
abreast. ~nly the outermost span is shown. It will be
understood that there will be as many spans of ge~eral com-
ponents 10 as necessary to construct the dock or pier to the
desired length.
The bearing spud well components 202 are each in the form
of a rectangular parallelepiped having a rectangular top 20~,
a bottom 208 and four lateral sides including two relatively
long sides 210 lying opposite each other, and two shorter sides
212, likewise lying opposite each other. Each of the components
202 also has a well or throughway 214 extending ~ertically
therethrough, i.e. through its top 206 and its bottom 208.
The longer sides 210 of components 202 each carry two pair
of lock assemblies of the type described in detail hereinabove,
more specifically, a vertically spaced pair of male lock
assemblies, upper ones of which are shown at 20, and a pair of
vertically spaced female lock assemblies, upper ones of which
are shown at 22. Each of the male lock assemblies 20 lies
directly across from a female lock assembly 22, and the spacing
between the male and female lock assemblies on a given side 2~0
of the component is the same as the lateral spacing between
pairs of lock assemblies on the general component 10.
Accordingly, each of the bearing spud well components 702
has one of its longer sides 210 connected to the end wall of a
respective one of the general components 10 in the outermost
span of the pier. ~longate spuds in the form of pilings 216
extend through the wells 21~ of respective components 202 and
into load bearing relation with the bottom of the body of water
over which the pier lies. An interlocking means 218 similar to
member 69 of the first embodiment, is installed in each w~ll 214
to interlock the respective component 202 to the respective
spud 216, so that the weight of components 202 and adjacent
components to which they are attached is borne by the spuds 216.
Alternatively, spuds 216 might simply be pinned or welded to
components 202. Therefore, members 218 have been shown only
diagrammatically, and will not be described in detail herein.
~ igs. 18-20 show only one span of bearing spud weLl
components 202. It should be understooa that, throughout the
length of the pier or dock whose outer end is shown in the
lZS~
--~o--
figures, spans of bearing spud well components 202 could be
interconnected between spans of general components 10 to pro-
vide load bearing capacity at as many points as necessary along
the length of the pier. As alternatives to, or in conjunction
with such spans of bearing spud well components, and depending
on the parameters of the pier or other structure, bearing spud
well components 202 could be used at the outboard sides of the
spans of general components 10.
In any case, it can readily be seen how the structure could
be formed utilizing the method described in connection with
Figs. 1-7. In particular, a first span consisting of several
of the general components 10, connected side by side, and with
bearing spud well components 202 connected adjacent o~posite
ends of the span, would be formed. ~he ~irst span could be
elevated to its desired height, supported at that height by the
pilings passing through the bearing spud well components 202,
and used as a starting point. Next, a second span consisting
of components 10 connected side by side, and with bearing spud
well components 202 at only one end thereof, could be assembled,
emplaced adjacent one end of the first span by a crane or the
like supported on that span, and then supported on the first
span in cantilever fashion using the lock assemblies 20, 20',
22 and 22'. Pilings would then be placed in supporting relation
with the end of the second span distal the first span, via the
bearing spud well components, the crane would be advanced onto
the second span, and assembly would continue in like manner
until the entire structure was completed.
Depending upon the width of the structure being formed,
each span would preferably be pre-assembled from components
floating on the body of water, by way of contrast to the
embodiment of Figs. 1-7 in which the components to be connected
side-by-side in a given span are supported individually on
respective components of a previously constructed span, and
then locked to one another side by side.
~olding spud well component 204 is virtually identical to
the bearing spud well components ?02, except that it~ well 220
need not be adapted to cooperate with an interlocking member to
allow the vertical load o the component to be placed on the
1~ 5~
-41-
spud 222 which extends through well 220. Rather, the well 220
need only laterally retain or hold spud 222. Spud 222 in turn
extends through a hole 224 of a floating bumper member 226 and
into the floor of the bod~ of water therebelow. Thus, spuds 222
laterally position bumper member 226 with respect to the pier
and also laterally position the pier with respect to the floor
of the body of water. Bumper 226 provides an appropriate
abutment for vessels docking at the pier.
In every other respect, component 204 is identical to
component 202, and in particular, includes the same number and
arrangemen~ of male and female lock assemblies 20, 20', 22 and
22', whereby it is connected to the outermost side of one o~ the
general components 10.
A respective rake component 200 is connected to the
outermost side 210 of each of the load bearing spud well
components 202. Each rake component 200 has a rectangular top
228 and four lateral sides lying perpendicular to top 228, more
specifically, a pair o~ opposite longer sides 230 and a pair of
shorter sides 232 and 234. The bottom 236 of each of the rake
components 200 is tapered or graduated, so that the rake
component has a deep end adjacent side 234, of the same depth
as the other components 10, 202 and 204, and a shallow end
adjacent side 232, which forms the outermost extremity of the
pier or dock. ~s used herein, the term "rake component" will
generally refer to the types of components illustrated at 200
as well as to ramp-like components which are tapered even more
to form a more nearly pointed shallow end.
Side 234 of each rake component 200 has a pair of ver-
tically spaced male lock assemblies 20 and 20', and a pair of
vertically spaced female lock assemblies 22 and 22'. The
vertical spacing of the lock assemblies in each such pair is the
same as that between the components of the various tandem pairs
described thus far, and the lateral spacing between the male and
female components on side 234 is likewise similar to the lateral
spacing between adjacent pairs of lock assemblies in the
components described hereinabove. Thus, each rake component
200 can be locked to a respective bearing spud well component
202 as illustrated. In many installations, the cantilever
lZ~)75,'2
-42-
method of support can be used as the only method or permanentmethod of supporting a span of rake components at one end of a
structure, as shown in Figs. 18-20.
The side 232 of the rake component 200 adjacent the shallow
S end thereof likewise carries a tandem pair of male lock assem-
blies 20 and 20' and a tandem pair of female lock assemblies 22
and 22'. Because of the shallow depth of the adjacent end of
the rake component, the lock assemblies in each of the two pair
carried on side 232, while still vertically spaced apart, are
not spaced by as great a distance as the lock assemblies in the
other pairs described thus far. This is not disadvantageous in
the dock or pier structure, since rake components 200 usually
either de~ine a free end of such a structure, as shown, or are
connected, shallow end to shallow end, with similar rake
components.
A major use of the lock assemblies on side 232 of the rake
component 200 is in connecting two such rake components to-
gether to form a transport assembly. A preferred form of such
a transport assembly is shown in Figs. 21 and 22. It can be seen
that two rake components 200 have been connected together, with
their sides 232 facing each other, utilizing the lock assem-
blies 20, 20', 22 and 22' on those sides. Even though the lock
assemblies effecting this connection are not spaced apart
vertically by as great a distance as the other lock assemblies
described thus far, the facts that they are at least somewhat
vertically spaced, that their pin members are rigid, and that
they include the shear bearing formations in their housings as
described hereinabove, enable them to connect the two ra~e
components 200 in such a manner that they will not pivot
relati~e to one another.
Thus, the transport assembly of Figs. 23 and 24 can be
lifted and otherwise handled in the same manner as a standard
freight container. In particular, the maximum value of that
dimension of each rake component 200 which is measured hori-
3~ zontally parallel to sides 232 and 234, e.g. adjacent top 228,
is generally equal to the width of a standard freight contain~r.
A second dimension of each component 200, measured perpen-
dicular to the first dimension, but likewise horizontally, i.e.
12S~'75Z
-~3-
parallel to sides 230, has a maximum value, adjacent top 228,generally equal to one half the length of a standard freight
container. Thus, when the two components 200 are connected as
shown to form the transport assembly, its gross dimensions
generally correspond to those of a standard freight container.
As previously explained, for most current container handling
apparatus and the like, the third of the three mutually per-
pendicular dimensions, i.e. the vertical depth, need not be
standardized, but can be chosen as desired.
Figs. 23 and 2~ show another transport assembly of two rake
components which might be used, for example, if the rake
components in question have their shallow ends equipped with
some type of fitting or accoutrement, diagrammatically illus-
trated at 242, which protrudes horizontally from the shallow
end, and thereby prevents the shallow ends of the two components
from being directly connected together by their lock assem-
blies. On the other hand, the scheme of Figs. 23 and 24 could
also be used where it is desired to handle, in the manner of a
standard freight container, an assembl~ of two rake components,
where the length of each such component is somewhat less than
half the length of a stand~rd freight container~
More specifically, the transport assembly of Figs. 23 and
24 comprises two rake components 200', which are identical to
components 200 except in size and except for the provision of
fittings 242. To form the transport assembly, the two com-
ponents 200' are placed with those sides 232' which lie adjacent
their respective shallow ends, facing each other, but not
abutting. Sides 232' are connected by means of the male and
female lock assemblies carried thereon, but rather than being
directly connected, they are connected by spacers in the form
of struts 244. Each strut 244 has a pair of male lock assemblies
2Q and 20' at one end thereof, and a pair of female lock
assemblies 22 and 22' at the opposite end. The pairs of lock
assemblies on struts ?44 are vertically spaced by the same
distance as the lock assemblies in the pairs carried on sides
232' of the rake components. Thus, each strut 244 has one end
connected to a pair of lock assemblies on one of the rake
components 200', and the other end connected to a pair of lock
~LZ5~75~ (
-44-
assemblies on the other of the two rake components 200'.
The length or second dimension of each of the components
200', i.e. that dimension which is measured horizontally and
parallel to sides 230', is less than half the length of a
standard freight container, but greater than one-third the
length of a standard freight container. The length of the
spacers or struts 244 is chosen so that the length of the
complete transport assembly is generally equal to that of a
standard freight container. As in the preceding embodiment,
the first dimension, measured horizontally parallel to sides
232' and 234', has a maximum value (and in this case a constant
value) approximately equal to the width of a standard freight
container.
Although it is sometimes preferable to utilize lock as-
semblies of the type employ~d in connecting the componentstogether for construction purposes for the dual purpose of
connecting the components together in transport assemblies, it
is feasible to use other forms of connection means, parti-
cularly at the shallow ends of two rake components, since such
20 - ends are frequently not con~ected to other components in the
structure ultimately to be constructed. Thus, an alternative
embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 25 and 26. In that embodi-
ment, the transport assembly includes two rake components 200l'
which, except for length and manner of connection in the
assembly, are identical to components 200. The sides 232" of
these modified components adjacent their shallow ends carry,
toward one lateral edge, a clevis 246, and toward the other
lateral edge, a tongue 248. When the components 200" are placed
with their sides 232" facing each other, each tongue 248 can be
received in the clevis 246 of the opposite component~ Then, the
tongues and clevises can be pinned together by pins 250, held
in place in any suitable manner, as well known in the art. To
brace the assembly against relative pivoting of the two com-
ponents, pins 250 and the mating holes in tongues 248 and
clevises 246 are s~uare in transverse cross section. Suitable
bracing members may be used to supplement the anti-pivoting
effect of pins 250.
Once again, the first dimension of each component 200",
'~ 1 Z~ ;JS;~ !
--45--
measured horizontally and parallel to sides 232" and 234", has
a maximum value approximately equal to the width of a standard
fr~ight container. The second dimension of each component
200", measured horizontally and parallel to sides 230", has a
5 maximum value, adjacent top 228", slightly less than half the
length of a standard freight container. The dimensions of the
tongue and clevis connections 246, 248, when mated, and mea-
sured in the same direction as said second dimension, is such
as to make the overall length of the transport assembly ap-
proximately equal to that of a standard freight container.
Referring finally to Figs. 27 and 28, there i5 shown a
transport assembly comprised of spud well components. The
assembly illustrated is comprised of bearing spud well com-
ponents 202. However, it will be appreciated that similar
assemblies could be formed utilizing holding spud well com-
ponents 204, or combinations of the two types of spud well
components.
As previously mentioned, the dimension, i.e. first dimen-
sion, of each component 202 which is measl~red horizontally and
parallel to its longer sides 210, is equal to the width of a
standard freight container. Said sides 210 of the components
are also the sides which carry the lock assemblies 20, 20', 22
and 22'. Thus, by placing a set of components 202 in alignment,
with each component having a side 110 facing a similar side of
the next component or components, and by choosing an appro-
priate number of the components 202, an assembly can be built
up to have gross dimensions generally corresponding to those of
a standard freight container. It is particularly convenient to
simply connect adjacent components together utilizing the same
lock assemblies 20, 20', 22 and 22', which are used to connect
the components to other components in construction jobs As was
the case with the rake components 200, any male lock assemblies
which are facing outwardly and unused in the transport assem-
bly, should have their pins placed in the retracted or low
profile positions.
It is particularly convenient to design the components 202
so that their second dimensions, measured hori20ntally paral~
lel to short sides 212, is approxilrately one-fifth the length
-- ~Z~ S2
-46-
of a standard freight container. Thus, when five of these
components are connected together as shown, the overall length
of the resulting transport assembly is approximately equal to
that of a standard freight container. Since each of the
components 202 is already generally in the form of a rectangular
parallelepiped, such sizing permits the assembly to be formed
without the need for spacers or the like.
Of course, other relative sizing arrangements are possi-
ble. For example, the shorter of the horizontal dimensions of
each component could be made approximately one-fourth the
length of a standard freight container, with four components
being connected together to form each transport assembly. In
any event, however, and whether referring to the spud well type
components or the ra~e components, or even other types of
specialized components, the requirements for sizing can be ge-
neralized as follows.
Each such component must have a first horizontal dimension
with a maximum value generally equal to Cl/x, where Cl is the
width of a standard freight container, and x is less than or
equal to 1. In other words, the first dimension of each
component must be less than or equal to the width of the
standard freight container. However, in order to minimize or
even avoid the need for spacers, frame members and the like, it
is highly preferable that x be an integer, and in most cases,
that x be equal to 1.
Each component should have a second hori20ntal dimension,
measured perpendicular to the first dimension, having a maximum
value generally equal to C2/y, where C2 is the length of a
standard freight container, and y is less than 1, i.e. that the
second dimension of the component be less than the length of a
standard freight container. It is highly preferable that y be
less than or equal to 2, so that at least two such components
can be joined together in each transport assembly, and it is
even more highly preferable that y be an integer, again to
minimize the need for supplemental elements for the transport
assembly, e.g. spacers.
Of course, in the general component 10, x - 1 and y = 1.
It can be seen that virtually the entire construction
- 12S~75;~--
--47--
system, including all types of construction components de-
scribed-hereinabove, can be shipped to a construction site in
the manner of standard freight containers. Specifically, each
of the general components 10 can be shipped and handled as a
single freight container, while the rake components 200 can be
formed into transport assemblies by twos, and the spud well
components 202 and 204 can be formed into transport assemblies
by fives. Each such transport assembly is likewise shipped and
handled in the manner of a standard freight container, but
without the need for trying to place these components within
actual freight containers. Other small components, such as
parts of the bumper 226, can be shipped within standard freight
containers, or in any other suitable manner, while the spuds,
216 and 222, being simple pilings, can be shipped in some
conventional manner, or in many instances obtained locally at
the construction site. When the components have reached the
construction site, the various transport assemblies are dis-
connected or broken down into individual components, and the
components are then reassembled to form a structure, ~nly one
example of which has been described and illustrated in Figs. 18-
20.
Still other variations will suggest themselves to those of
skill in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope
of the present invention be limited only by the claims which
follow. The order in which steps are recited in the following
method claims is not intended to limit the scope of the claims,
unless so indicated by terms such as "then," "next," "prio~ to,"
etc., or unless the particular steps in question must, of
necessity, be performed in a given order.
