Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Modular Scissors Bridge, Placement Device and Method of Placing
Modular Scissors Bridges
Description
The present invention relates to a foldable modular scissors bridge that
in a folded-together state can be transported by a transport vehicle,
and which is comprised of two bridge modules, each of which is formed
by a pair or by two pairs of spaced-apart track supports, whereby the
track supports of each pair of track supports can be connected to one
another by track rods, and whereby the bridge modules are provided
with run-up ramps at both ends.
The present invention furthermore relates to an installation, setting or
placement device, and to a method of setting or placing modular
scissors bridges.
Scissors bridges of the aforementioned type are brought to their
location of use in the folded-together or collapsed state by a transport
vehicle, and are there unfolded and deposited by means of a
placement device that is located on the transport vehicle. The upper
sides of the two bridge modules are embodied as tracks or similar
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travel surfaces for those vehicles for which the scissors bridge is
designed.
With one known scissors bridge, which is designated as a foldable,
transportable bridge, two bridge modules are provided that are
designated as bridge sections and which are coupled to one another at
their ends via hinges, whereby the hinges enable the scissors bridge to
be folded together and to be unfolded (DE 689 08 893 T2). In this
connection, one of the ends of each bridge section is provided with a
run-up ramp, while the two other ends of the two bridge sections are
pivotably interconnected by a joint that is disposed in the lower chord
region. Such scissors bridges are easy to manufacture; they are sturdy
and can be placed by technically simple placement devices. However,
these bridges have the drawback that when short obstacle widths are
encountered, the two bridge sections thereof cannot be used
individually as short bridges. That means that even for small
obstacles, it is always necessary to place both of the coupled-together
bridge sections, and to use them only in this manner.
A considerable improvement was achieved by a different modular
scissors bridge where the bridge modules were embodied in such a
way that they could be used not only individually as short bridges (for
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small obstacle widths) but also - in the coupled-together state - as
long two-modular bridges (EP 0 356 561 B1). With this known scissors
bridge, each bridge module is embodied as a short bridge, both ends of
which are provided with run-up ramps. One of the run-up ramps is
rigid, and the other run-up ramp is pivotably connected with the bridge
module, so that the two bridge modules, after pivoting up of the bridge-
centered run-up ramps that are movable due to the hinged mounting,
can be connected in such a way that in the coupled state, a planar
bridge deck results. Since these known scissors bridges involve short
and extremely light bridges having little carrying capacity, the short
bridges can still be placed manually. For longer bridges, formed by
both bridge modules, auxiliary mounting or assembly means must be
available due to the greater overall weight. Furthermore, additional
preparation work is necessary, for example pivoting of the movable
run-up ramp into the coupling position. For bridges having a greater
carrying capacity and a larger span width, accompanied by greater
construction weight, at the present time no solutions exist that make it
possible to place, with a placement device, two bridge modules that
form a scissors bridge and are usable as short bridges. Known is only
a scissors bridge system with which foldable scissors bridges and also
individual short bridges that cannot be coupled can be transported and
deposited as double packages, whereby after being deposited the
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double package is separated (Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics,
1995-96).
It is an object of the present invention to improve the aforementioned
scissors bridge that is known from EP 0 356 561 B1 in such a way that
its economical or commercial use is also possible with required higher
carrying capacity and greater span width, and correspondingly greater
construction weight, not only with single but also with two-modular
manner of placement.
With a modular scissors bridge of the aforementioned general type, the
realization of this object is comprised in that
- all of the run-up ramps of both bridge modules are rigidly
connected with the bridge,
- the tip of each run-up ramp is provided with a ramp end tube
that is embodied as a hinge part,
- each run-up ramp is provided, at a distance from its tip, with a
coupling tongue,
- the coupling tongue of the upper bridge module forms an
articulated joint with the ramp end tube, which is in the form of a
hinge part, of the lower bridge module.
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By coupling the two bridge modules, by means of the inventive
articulated connection, and the thereby resulting overlapping of the run-
up ramps of each of the two bridge modules, a particularly rigid or
resistant to bending connection results between the two bridge
modules. The scissors bridge can thereby also be used for crossing or
spanning greater obstacle widths.
Pursuant to one embodiment of the invention, in the transport state
also the coupling tongue of the lower bridge module is hingedly
connected with the ramp end tube, which is in the form of a hinge part,
of the upper bridge module, whereby this hinged or articulated joint
serves as a transport securement that protects against raising or lifting-
off of the upper bridge module. This ensures a safe and reliable
transport of the scissors bridge.
The inventive scissors bridge can be improved still further if each
articulated joint can be locked by means of a coupling bolt that is
connected to a coupling cable by means of a tension spring, whereby
this cable is actuated by the device for the placement of the scissors
bridge via the coupling levers that are disposed on the bridge modules.
As a result, the coupling points of the two bridge modules can be
mechanically actuated by the placement device.
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Pursuant to a further improvement of the inventive scissors bridge, a
lower line can be provided between the two bridge modules, the ends
of which are secured to the underside of a respective one of the two
bridge modules, and the line is guided through the loop of a support
cable that is suspended in the articulated joint between the two bridge
modules. The carrying capacity of the scissors bridge is increased by
the lower line.
For placement of modular scissors bridges of the aforementioned type
a placement device is advantageously used that, pursuant to the
invention, is provided with an adapter frame that can be connected to
the transport vehicle and that includes a support arm, a support
cylinder, a placement arm, and a placement arm cylinder. The adapter
frame, as a universal split-off relative to the transport vehicle, makes it
possible to adapt the placement device to different transport vehicles.
In the case of shipment per aircraft, a rapid assembly and disassembly
of the placement device is possible.
The inventive placement device can be improved by disposing the
device for actuation of the coupling cable of the coupling device of the
articulation joint in the placement arm of the placement device. This
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facilitates the actuation of the coupling cable for the coupling or
uncoupling of the articulation joint between the two bridge modules.
For the placement of modular scissors bridges of the type under
discussion, pursuant to a further embodiment of the invention a method
is used according to which
- the transport vehicle is parked or stopped at such a distance
from the obstacle that the forward part of the placement device
is disposed just short of or behind the obstacle,
- by actuating the support cylinder, the support arm is deposited
on the ground so that on the one hand a tipping point is provided
for the scissors bridge, and on the other hand the transport
vehicle is secured in position, whereby during the placement of
the scissors bridge the transport vehicle serves as a
counterweight,
- by actuating the placement arm cylinder, the placement arm is
pivoted forwardly in a direction toward the obstacle, whereby the
scissors bridge first automatically opens and during further
extension of the placement arm cylinder a deployment cable
becomes taut, one end of which is secured to the adapter frame
of the placement device and the other end of which is secured to
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the tip of the upper bridge module, and thus the now forward
bridge module is forced into the nearly horizontal position of use.
This method, in conjunction with the inventive placement device,
ensures a reliable placement of a modular scissors bridge in a manner
free of disruption.
During the placement of modular scissors bridges of the type under
discussion, whereby the individual bridge modules are placed as short
bridges, pursuant to another feature of the invention a method is used
according to which
- the transport vehicle is parked or stopped at such a distance
from or in front of the obstacle that a distance remains between
the forward part of the placement device and the obstacle that is
greater than the length of a bridge module,
- by actuating the support cylinder, the support arm is deposited
on the ground, so that on the one hand a tipping point is
provided for the scissors bridge and on the other hand the
transport vehicle is secured in position, whereby during
placement of the scissors bridge the transport vehicle serves as
a counterweight,
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- by actuating the placement arm cylinder, the placement arm is
pivoted forwardly in a direction toward the obstacle, whereby the
scissors bridge first automatically opens and during further
extension of the placement arm cylinder a deployment cable
becomes taut, one end of which is secured to the adapter frame
of the placement device and the other end of which is secured to
the tip of the upper bridge moduie, and thus the now forward
bridge module is forced into the nearly horizontal position of use,
- the deployment cable is removed and the articulation joint
between the two modules is released,
- the transport vehicle is backed away to such an extent that the
forward bridge moduie no longer rests upon the rear bridge
module,
- by actuating the placement arm cylinder, the placement arm
raises the remaining bridge module, so that this bridge module
can be received by the transport vehicle in order to be used at a
different site.
In conjunction with the inventive placement device, this method
ensures a reliable placement of the bridge in a manner free of
disruption, even with scissors bridges where the individual bridge
modules are placed as short bridges.
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The present invention will be explained in greater detail with the aid of
several embodiments that are illustrated in the drawings, in which:
Fig.1: is a side view of a scissors bridge that is
comprised of two bridge modules and is in the
folded-together state on a transport vehicle that is
provided with a placement device;
Fig. 2: is a side view of an individual bridge module;
Fig. 3: is a plan view of the bridge module illustrated in
Fig. 1;
Fig. 4: shows the tip of a run-up ramp of a bridge module
in a section through the ramp end tube that is
provided there, whereby a coupling bolt that is
present there is in the normal position;
Fig. 5: shows the tip of a run-up ramp illustrated in Fig. 4
in a section corresponding to that of Fig. 4,
whereby the coupling bolt is in the coupling
position;
Fig. 6: is a side view of a further bridge module in a
somewhat larger scale;
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Fig. 7: shows details in the region of the run-up ramp, in a
larger scale, whereby a coupling tongue is
illustrated in the retracted state;
Fig. 8: shows the tip of a run-up ramp illustrated in Fig. 7,
whereby the coupling tongue is illustrated in the
extended state;
Fig. 9: is a side view of the transport vehicle, having a
placement device, illustrated in Fig. 1 during the
raising of the scissors bridge;
Fig. 10: shows the transport vehicle, having a placement
device, illustrated in Fig. 1 after the deposit of the
support arm of the placement device;
Fig. 11: shows the transport vehicle, having a placement
device, illustrated in Fig. 1 during the placement of
the scissors bridge via the placement device,
again in a side view;
Fig. 12: shows a transport vehicle, having a placement
device, illustrated in Fig. 1 after the placement of
the scissors bridge via the placement device,
again in a side view;
Fig. 13 shows the transport vehicle, having a placement
device, illustrated in Fig. 1 during the placement of
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the individual bridge modules of a scissors bridge
as short bridges, after the placement of the
forward bridge module on the opposite side of the
obstacle that is to be crossed or spanned;
Fig. 14 shows the transport vehicle, having a placement
device, illustrated in Fig. 1 during the placement of
the individual bridge modules of a scissors bridge
as short bridges, after the release of the
articulation joint that connects the two bridge
modules, and after the removal of the deployment
cable as well as after backing the transport vehicle
away from the obstacle;
Fig. 15 shows the transport vehicle, having a placement
device, illustrated in Fig. 1 during placement of the
individual bridge modules of a scissors bridge as
short bridges, after lowering of the rear bridge
module;
Fig. 16 shows the transport vehicle, having a placement
device, illustrated in Fig. 1 during the placement of
the individual bridge modules of a scissors bridge
as short bridges, during the placement of the
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remaining bridge module on the opposite side of
the obstacle;
Fig. 17 shows the transport vehicle, having a placement
device, illustrated in Fig. 1 during the placement of
the individual bridge modules of a scissors bridge
as short bridges, after the placement of the
remaining bridge module on the opposite side of
the obstacle.
The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 shows a transport vehicle 1 on
which is disposed a scissors bridge 2 that is comprised of two bridge
modules and is in the folded-together or collapsed state. An
installation, setting, or placement device 3 is provided in the forward
region of the transport vehicle 1. The upper bridge module 4 and the
lower bridge module 4' of the scissors bridge 1 are connected to one
another by hinge connections or articulated joints 5 and 5'. The
articulated joint 5' actually serves only as a transport securing means
to prevent the bridge module 4, which is the upper bridge module in the
transport state, from lifting off.
As can be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the upper bridge module 4 is
formed from a pair of track carriers or supports 6, which are
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interconnected by track support rods 7. Both ends of the linear central
portion 8 of the bridge module 4 are provided with run-up ramps 9, the
tips of which are provided with a ramp end tube 10 embodied as a
hinge part. Each run-up ramp 9, at a distance from its tip, is provided
with a coupling tongue 11, 11'. In the illustrated embodiment, one of
the coupling tongues 11 is shown in an extended position, and the
other coupling tongue 11' is shown in a retracted position. The lower
bridge module 4' has a corresponding configuration.
Figs. 4 and 5 show the tip of one of the run-up ramps 9 of the bridge
module 4 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and also show the ramp end tube
10 that is provided at the tip. Disposed in the ramp end tube 10, at
each side, is a coupling bolt 12 that is connected to a coupling cable 14
via a tension spring 13. By actuating the coupling cable 14, the
coupling bolts 12 can be brought into the normal position (Fig. 4) or into
the coupling position (Fig. 5). In the normal position, the receiving slot
15 is closed, whereas in the coupling position the receiving slot 15 is
open and is free to receive the coupling tongue 11, 11' (see Fig. 2).
From the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, it can be seen that the ends
of the coupling cable 14 (Figs. 4 and 5) that exit the ramp end tube 10
are secured to coupling levers 16, by means of which, and by means of
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the coupling cable 14, actuation of the coupling devices of the
articulated joints 5 and 5' (Fig. 1) is effected. Upon actuation of the
coupling levers 16, by means of the coupling cable 14 the coupling
bolts 12 are drawn into the coupling position (see Fig. 5). In this
connection, the tension springs 13 are biased, and after release of the
coupling levers 16 bring the coupling bolts 12 into the normal position
(see Fig. 4).
The function of the coupling tongues 11, 11' (Fig. 2) can be seen from
Figs. 7 and 8. In this connection, Fig. 7 shows the coupling tongue 11'
in the retracted position, and Fig. 8 shows the coupling tongue 11 in
the extended position, in other words in the coupling position. The
coupling tongues 11, 11' are preferably each comprised of a sheet-
metal strip having a transverse piece 17, whereby the steel sheet-metal
strip is provided with a slot. For the guidance of the coupling tongues
11, 11' in the lower region, a receiving bolt 18 is provided that is guided
through the slot and is mounted in the bridge module 4. the coupling
tongues 11, 11' are guided in their upper region by a tongue chute 19
in which the transverse piece 17 glides in order to prevent a rotation
about the receiving bolt 18. In the transport state, the coupling tongues
11, 11' are retracted in the region in which the undersides of the bridge
modules 4, 4' rest on one another (see Fig. 1). A similar situation
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exists for each coupling tongue 11, 11' that is disposed in the region of
the supports when the bridge modules 4, 4' are in place. In this
connection, tension springs 20 that are secured to the transverse piece
17 are tensioned to ensure that the coupling tongues 11, 11' are again
extended into the coupling position for the coupling process.
The placement process during setting or placing of a two-modular
scissors bridge is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12.
Fig. 9 shows the transport vehicle 1 with the scissors bridge 2 (Fig. 1)
disposed thereon after the obstacle that is to be crossed is approached
and the support cylinder 21 of the placement device 3 has been
actuated. By actuating the support cylinder 21, the support arm 22 is
pivoted toward the front, thereby raising the scissors bridge 3, which is
comprised of the two bridge modules 4 and 4' that are connected to
one another by the articulated joint 5, from the transport vehicle 1.
Prior to actuation of the support cylinder 21 of the placement device 3,
the articulated joint 5', which serves as a transport securement or
protection, is released by means of the pertaining coupling lever 16
(see Fig. 6).
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The placement device 3 is connected to the transport vehicle 1 via an
adapter frame 23. The adapter frame 23 is secured to the transport
vehicle 1 by bolt connections 24. An unfolding or deployment cable 25
is disposed between the adapter frame 23 and the rear tip of the upper
bridge module 4.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10, the support cylinder 21 has
been extended to such an extent that the support arm 22 rests upon
the ground. The transport vehicle 1 thereby forms the counterweight
for the further steps of the placement process. In this connection, the
tipping point is the point of support of the support arm 22 upon the
ground. Transport vehicle 1, support arm 22 and support cylinder 21
thereby form a unit that is resistant to bending. Due to the extension of
the support cylinder 21, the two bridge modules 4 and 4' automatically
opened.
A further step of the placement process can be seen from Fig. 11. By
actuating the placement arm cylinder 26, the placement arm 27 is
pivoted out toward the front in the direction of the obstacle, whereby
the bridge modules 4 and 4' have automatically opened even further,
so that finally the deployment cable 25 has become taut. With this
embodiment, a lower line 28 is provided, the ends of which are secured
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to the undersides of the bridge modules 4 and 4', and in particular one
of the two ends is secured to the forward tip of the bridge module 4 and
the other end to the -in the illustrated position- rear tip of the bridge
module 4'. In this connection, the lower line 28 is disposed in the loop
of a support cable 29 that is suspended in the articulated joint 5. The
ends of the lower line 28 could also be secured to the coupling tongues
11, 11'. In this case, the lower line 28 would be somewhat shorter.
Upon further extension of the placement arm cylinder 26, the taut
deployment cable 25 forces the bridge module 4 into the nearly
horizontal position of use, as can be seen from Fig. 12. In this
connection, due to the coupled connection and the overlapping
abutment of the two run-up ramps 9 of the bridge modules 4 and 4' in
the region of the middle of the bridge, an arched support structure
having the height of the arch 30 has been formed. The lower line 28 is
now taut, and the support cable 29, the length of which in this case
corresponds to the magnitude of the height of the arch 30, is disposed
in the region of the height of the arch 30.
The placement process for placing the individual bridge modules 4, 4'
as short bridges is shown in Figs. 13 to 17. Here the placement
process first proceeds similar to the placement of a two-module bridge.
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As shown in Fig. 13, in this connection the forward bridge module 4 is
placed in such a way that it comes to rest over the obstacle that is to
be crossed. In this position, the articulated joint 5 is released by
actuating the coupling lever 16 (see Fig. 6) by means of a mechanism,
for example a hydraulic cylinder, disposed in the placement arm 27
(Fig. 11), so that the coupling bolts 12 (see Figs. 4 and 5) are pulled
out of the position "closed" (normal position) and into the position
"open" (coupling position), thereby releasing the coupling tongues 11
(see Fig. 2) in the bridge module 4'.
From Figs. 14 and 15, it can be seen that after the release of the
deployment cable 25, and after the transport vehicle has been backed
up, the two bridge modules 4 and 4' are separated from one another.
Figs. 16 and 17 show the picking-up and placement respectively of the
remaining bridge module 4' at another location.
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