Pyramid Lifting Structure for Truss Bridge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for lifting truss bridges with cranes face challenges such as difficult and costly attachment of heavy steel girders, interference with overhead lines, and disruption of railway operations, with the added issue of these girders being non-reusable due to welding during lifting.

Innovation Solution

A lifting structure comprising four trusses with a hanger forming a pyramid shape, where the suspension point is located above the center of the truss bridge, allowing for attachment of lower brackets on the underside, reducing the height of the suspension point and enabling the use of smaller cranes, and allowing for easy disassembly and reusability of components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If steel girders are attached to the bridge from above using a crane, then the lifting structure can be assembled, but the attachment becomes difficult and costly due to the weight of the girders and interference with overhead lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidinterference with overhead lines
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting structure is inverted by attaching the lower brackets to the underside of the bridge instead of from above. This inversion allows the structure to be assembled from below, avoiding interference with overhead lines and making the attachment process easier and safer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If steel girders are welded to the bridge for lifting, then the bridge can be lifted securely, but the girders cannot be reused and must be recycled with the excavated bridge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting securityVSAvoidreusability of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting structure is divided into separate modular components (lower brackets, upper brackets, rod structures) that can be independently attached and detached. This segmentation allows the components to be reused for future lifting operations rather than being permanently welded and discarded

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting structure components are designed to be recovered and reused after the bridge lifting operation. The lower brackets can be removed from the bridge and the entire lifting structure can be reused for subsequent lifting projects, reducing material waste and costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Length of stationary object

If a high suspension point is used for the crane, then the lifting structure can accommodate the bridge height, but a larger and more expensive crane is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspension point heightVSAvoidcrane size
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting structure utilizes the vertical dimension by attaching lower brackets to the underside of the bridge at a lower elevation. This dimensional change allows the suspension point to be positioned lower, enabling the use of smaller cranes while still accommodating the bridge height through the pyramid-shaped rod structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3782949B1Lifting structure and method for lifting bridge
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 ING HANS BODNER BAU GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3782949B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3782949B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3782949B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a lifting structure (1) and a method for lifting a truss bridge (2) using this lifting structure (1) suspended from a crane with a sling (3), wherein the suspension point (1') of the sling (3) is located above the center of the truss bridge (2), wherein the truss bridge (2) has two parallel upper main girders and two parallel lower main girders arranged below them, wherein crossbeams connect the two lower main girders and crossbeams connect the two upper main girders, and wherein the upper and lower main girders are connected to each other by a truss, wherein the lifting structure (1) comprises four frame structures (4), characterized in that each of the frame structures (4) comprises a lower support (5), an upper support (6) and a connection (4') between the supports, wherein each lower support (5) is mounted on a lifting surface.wherein two lifting surfaces are located at a distance from each other on the underside of one of the parallel lower main beams and two lifting surfaces are located at a distance from each other on the underside of the other of the parallel main beams, wherein the lifting surfaces form a rectangle, wherein bores are provided in the lifting surfaces, wherein the respective upper support (6) and the respective lower support (5) are connected by means of a rod (4') which is pushed through the respective bore, wherein the suspension (3) is attached to the upper supports (6) and the ropes of the suspension (3) with the extension of the rods (4') from the lifting surface towards the suspension point (1') form approximately a right rectangular pyramid, wherein the suspension point (1') forms the apex of the pyramid and the lifting surfaces form the vertices of the base of the pyramid.