Variable-Length Traverse Segments for Bridge Joint Adaptability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bridging devices in center beam designs face challenges in accommodating movement between structural parts, particularly in steel bridges where retrofitting truss boxes is often impossible, leading to space constraints and difficulties in maintaining uniform distances and load distribution.

Innovation Solution

A longitudinally variable traverse with displaceable segments, featuring a guide segment and a linkage segment, allows for adjustable length and anti-twist guidance, enabling easy alignment and movement of center beams without the need for separate receiving areas, and can be designed as a swivel traverse to accommodate various movements and load orientations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional one-piece traverse is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate movements of building components and requires large receiving areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of building component movementsVSAvoidtraverse structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The traverse is divided into multiple displaceable segments that can move relative to each other along the longitudinal axis. This segmentation allows the traverse to adapt to building component movements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, eliminating the need for large receiving areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The traverse segments are designed to be displaceable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of the traverse length to accommodate movements of building components. This dynamic capability provides adaptability without requiring complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Length of moving object

If telescopic arm segments with vertical offsets are used, then the traverse can be adjusted, but height offsets prevent uniform alignment of central girders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraverse length adjustabilityVSAvoidalignment precision of central girders
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The segments are designed to nest within each other with their lateral surfaces substantially flush, eliminating vertical offsets. This nested configuration allows length adjustment while maintaining uniform height alignment for central girders across all segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If separate receiving areas are provided for the traverse, then the traverse can be inserted, but the space requirement increases and installation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidreceiving area size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The displaceable segments can be dynamically adjusted during installation, allowing the traverse to be inserted without requiring pre-formed receiving areas. The segments can move relative to each other to accommodate installation constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Dividing the traverse into segments that can move independently eliminates the need for large receiving areas, as each segment can be positioned separately and then displaced into its final position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If the traverse length is fixed, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot accommodate relative movements of building components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement accommodation capabilityVSAvoidtraverse structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The traverse incorporates displaceable segments that enable dynamic length adjustment to accommodate building component movements. This dynamic design provides adaptability while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3074572B1Bridging apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.11.27 MAURER SOHNE ENGINEEERING GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3074572B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3074572B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3074572B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a central-support-type bridging apparatus (1) for a construction joint (2) between two structural parts (3, 4), having at least two peripheral supports (10, 11) and at least one central support (12), which is arranged between the peripheral supports (10, 11) and on at least one crossmember (5, 6), which bridges the construction joint (2) and, at each of its lateral ends (14, 15), has a crossmember bearing (16, 17) in order for the crossmember to be borne on the respective structural parts (3, 4). It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel bridging apparatus (1) which is of, in particular, space-saving design. The object is achieved in that the bridging apparatus (1) described in the introduction has a crossmember (5, 6) with at least two crossmember segments (7, 8) which are arranged along a longitudinal axis (9) of the crossmember (5, 6) and such that they can be displaced in relation to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis (9), and it is therefore possible to alter the length of the crossmember (5, 6).