Bridge device

Abstract

Bridge device (1) with a supporting structure comprising two lower chords (2) between which crossbeams (10) are arranged, on which roadway slabs (16) are supported, wherein at least one shear force coupling (11) is provided between two adjacent crossbeams (10) to equalize the deflection of the roadway slabs (16) when a vehicle passes over the roadway slabs (16) and the shear force coupling (11) comprises a spring plate connected to both crossbeams (10), wherein the spring plate is plate-shaped and vertically oriented between the crossbeams (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bridge device with a supporting structure comprising two lower chords, between which crossbeams are arranged, on which roadway slab elements are supported, wherein the shear force coupling comprises a spring sheet connected to both crossbeams.

[0002] DE 20 2017 103 150 U1 discloses a bridge structure with a superstructure consisting of truss elements, a top chord, a bottom chord, and diagonals. Roadway slab elements, resting on crossbeams, can be supported in the truss cones of this superstructure. To mount the roadway slab elements to the superstructure in a statically determinate and restraint-free manner, the end crossbeams of adjacent roadway slab elements can deflect and are hinged. While this enables a statically determinate design, the roadway slab elements deflect when a vehicle passes over them. Furthermore, when a vehicle leaves one slab element and approaches the next, the tire rubs against an end edge of the slab element. Only when the tire is fully on the slab element do the vehicle's weight forces act, causing the slab element to deflect again.Especially with heavy vehicles, this can lead to problems and damage that reduces the service life of the bridge equipment and the road surface elements.

[0003] US patent 2008 / 0244841 A1 discloses a modular bridge structure in which crossbeams are provided between two bottom chords. Two crossbeams can be connected to each other under two adjacent roadway slabs via a bolted shear coupling.

[0004] US 2006 / 0272110 A1 discloses a bridge device in which adjacent shear beams are supported by strips extending parallel to the bottom chords.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a bridge device that ensures the most statically determinate possible support of the roadway slab elements and has an extended service life.

[0006] This problem is solved with a bridge device having the features of claim 1.

[0007] In the bridge structure according to the invention, roadway panels are supported on crossbeams, with at least one shear force coupling, particularly without moment transmission (moment hinge), being provided between two adjacent crossbeams to equalize the deflection of the roadway panels when a vehicle drives over them. This allows deflections in a first roadway panel to be transferred via the shear force coupling to a deflection in an adjacent second roadway panel without generating a bending moment at the panel joint, thus preventing the vehicle from colliding with an edge of an adjacent roadway panel. This reduces fatigue stress and leads to a higher durability of the bridge structure.

[0008] According to the invention, the transverse force coupling comprises at least one spring plate connected to both crossbeams. The spring plate can be connected to the first crossbeam of a roadway panel via an upper screw connection and to the adjacent crossbeam of the next roadway panel via a lower screw connection. To allow movement in the horizontal direction, the spring plate is plate-shaped and vertically aligned between the crossbeams. The spring plate can also be cranked. A bending moment cannot develop at the joint because the elasticity of the spring plate allows for tangent rotation at the joint.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, an upper connecting plate is provided on a first crossbeam and a lower connecting plate on a second crossbeam, to each of which a section of the spring sheet is fixed. The distance between the upper and lower connecting plates in the vertical direction can be at least 30 mm, and in particular over 50 mm, so that the spring sheet possesses a certain degree of elasticity with respect to rotation of the crossbeams. The vertical forces or stresses are transferred from the first crossbeam to the second crossbeam by the substantially vertical arrangement of the spring sheet.

[0010] Preferably, several spaced-apart shear force couplings with moment hinges are provided between two adjacent crossbeams, whereby, depending on the width of the roadway slabs, two, three or more shear force couplings with moment hinges can be arranged.

[0011] A horizontal gap is preferably formed between two adjacent roadway slabs, the width of which is greater than 5 mm, in particular between 10 and 20 mm.

[0012] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a bridge device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the bridge device of the Fig. 1 from the bottom; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the bridge device of the Fig. 1 from another side; Fig. 4 An enlarged detail view of a shear force coupling on the bridge device of the Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 a side view of the shear force coupling with moment hinge between two adjacent crossbeams.

[0013] A bridge structure 1 comprises a supporting structure with two longitudinally extending lower chords 2, which are connected to each other via crossbeams 10. Each lower chord 2 is connected to a top chord 3 via vertical struts 4 and diagonal struts 5, forming truss elements that can be assembled in any desired length. The vertical struts 4, diagonal struts 5, and the top chord 3 are fastened to each other at nodes via connecting elements 9, preferably bolted. The lower chord 2 is provided at opposite ends with a gusset plate 6, which can be supported against a structure or a pier.

[0014] Each crossbeam 10 is provided at opposite ends with a bearing element 7, which has a plate 8 bolted to a bottom flange 2. Roadway panels 16 or roadway panel elements are supported on and welded to two or more crossbeams 10, and are arranged between the bearing elements 7 or panel connections. When vehicles drive over the roadway panels 16, the crossbeams 10 can deflect to a certain extent between the opposing panel connections or bearing elements 7.

[0015] To prevent vehicles from striking the end face of an adjacent roadway slab 16 due to deflection when crossing it, one or more shear couplings 11 with moment hinges are provided on the crossbeams 10. Each shear coupling 11 with moment hinge is formed from a spring steel plate, which is essentially plate-shaped. The shear coupling 11 with moment hinge is connected to the two adjacent crossbeams 10 via bolted connections 13. A lower connecting plate 14 is fixed to a cantilever bracket 15 on a first crossbeam 10 ( Fig. 3), and on an adjacent crossbeam an upper connecting plate 12, which is fixed to a cantilever bracket 15 ( Fig. 4) In the assembled position, a vertical gap of at least 30 mm, preferably over 50 mm, exists between these two connecting plates 12 and 14, allowing for some rotation of the crossbeams 10. The shear force coupling 11, in the form of a spring plate, is fixed to the contact surfaces of the two connecting plates 12 and 14 via four screw connections 13, the number of which can also be modified.

[0016] The shear force coupling 11 allows deflection when a roadway slab element 16 is driven over, but before the vehicle reaches an adjacent roadway slab 16, the weight loads are transferred to the adjacent roadway slab 16 via the shear force coupling 11, so that the adjacent roadway slab 16 is also held by curved crossbeams 10. This reduces the load caused by impacting the end face of an adjacent roadway slab 16, as the height of the roadway slab 16 is reduced by the transfer of the weight forces. The longitudinal tangent rotation of the roadway slab 16 is not restrained because the elasticity of the shear force coupling 11, being designed as a spring plate, allows the horizontal rotation of the crossbeam 10.

[0017] Several shear force couplings 11 can be provided across the crossbeam 10. Between two and five shear force couplings 11 can be provided along the length of a crossbeam 10, depending on the length of the crossbeam 10 and the loads.

[0018] In Fig. Figure 5 shows a side view in which two crossbeams 10 are connected to each other via a shear coupling 11. The shear coupling 11 is connected to the upper connecting plate via upper screw connections and to the lower connecting plate 14 via lower screw connections 13. The deck panels 16 do not lie directly against each other, but with a certain horizontal gap, preferably in a range between 10 mm and 20 mm. The shear coupling 11 is connected to the web of the crossbeam 10 via cantilever brackets 15, into which the shear forces must be introduced. Reference symbol list 1 bridge device 2 Lower belt 3 Upper chord 4 vertical struts 5 diagonal brace 6 Gusset plate 7 Bearing element 8 plate 9 Connecting element 10 crossbeams 11 Shear force coupling (with moment hinge) 12 Connecting plate 13 Screw connection 14 Connecting plate 15 Cantilever bracket 16 roadway slabs

Claims

[1] Bridge device (1), comprising a supporting structure comprising two lower chords (2) between which crossbeams (10) are arranged, on which roadway slabs (16) are supported, wherein at least one shear force coupling (11) is provided between two adjacent crossbeams (10) to equalize the deflection of the roadway slabs (16) when a vehicle passes over the roadway slabs (16), and wherein the shear force coupling (11) comprises a spring plate connected to both crossbeams (10), wherein the spring plate is plate-shaped and vertically oriented between the crossbeams (10). [2] Bridge device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the spring plate is connected to the first cross member (10) via upper screw connections (13) and to the second cross member (10) via lower screw connections (13). [3] Bridge device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that an upper connecting plate (12) is fixed to the first crossbeam (10) and a lower connecting plate (14) is fixed to the second crossbeam (10) for contact with the spring sheet. [4] Bridge device according to claim 3, characterized by , that a distance of at least 30 mm, preferably more than 50 mm, is provided in the vertical direction between the upper and the lower connecting plate (12, 14). [5] Bridge device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that several spaced-apart shear force couplings (11) are provided between two adjacent crossbeams (10). [6] Bridge device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the two adjacent roadway slabs (16) are arranged with a distance of more than 5 mm, in particular between 10 mm and 20 mm. [7] Bridge device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the crossbeams (10) are hinged to the lower chords (2) via bearing elements (7). [8] Bridge device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the supporting structure includes above each lower chord (2) an upper chord (3) which is connected to the lower chord (2) via vertical struts (4) and diagonal struts (5).

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