Scaffolding for bridges and other structures

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6264002
  • Patent Number
    6,264,002
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, August 24, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 24, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A work platform for use on bridges or other structures wherein a plurality of cables extend in spaced relation along a section of the structure and are supported by the structure and wherein a floor comprising a plurality of corrugated flooring panels or sections is supported on the cables and removably secured to the cables. The positions of the cables are adjustable in vertical and horizontal directions. A connector assembly releasably connects each of the platform flooring sections to a respective supporting cable on which it rests. Each connector assembly comprises a first part which rests on a bottom wall of the panel and has a portion which extends through an opening in the bottom wall and back through the opening and is connected to a second part to form an eyelet through which the cable passes. In aspects of the present invention, the first and second parts are connected by a lever or a wedge. The corrugated decking panels have hinged plates for covering the corrugations to provide a substantially flat surface over the panels while allowing nestability for storage and transport. In one aspect of the invention, a pair of floors are connected by a gutter and are inclined therefrom, and the cable positions are adjustable to vary the angle of inclination as well as to vary the height and spacing of the cables. The inclined floors are vibrated to effect removal of debris to the gutter where it may be more easily removed.
Description




This invention relates to the art of working platforms for supporting persons performing work on structures, and more particularly to a new and improved work platform installed below the deck or roadway of a bridge or next to a building or other structure. It is necessary to periodically clean, repaint, and rehabilitate the surfaces of steel bridges to prevent corrosion and deterioration of the steel supporting structure. This, in turn, creates the need to provide a safe and effective support for workmen performing the cleaning and painting of the surfaces beneath the deck or roadway of the bridge, along with concrete removal. In addition, environmental concerns and regulations give rise to the need for containing the debris from the cleaning operation as well as paint residue and spillage. A number of work platforms for bridges have been proposed, but many are complex structures and time consuming to erect and dismantle. Other prior art platforms are not sufficiently rigid or are limited in height, i.e., the distance between platform flooring and bridge steel structure, due to the manner in which they are attached to the bridge. Some prior platforms extend for only a short distance longitudinally of the bridge and are limited in that respect.




It would, therefore, be highly desirable to provide a new and improved work platform for use on bridges which is safe, provides a sufficiently rigid support for workmen standing and walking thereon, which is simple in structure, light in weight, and therefore quick, easy, and economical to erect and dismantle, which extends for a significant portion of the length of the bridge, and which is effective in containing debris from the cleaning and painting operations performed on the bridge.




A typical bridge includes a deck or roadway and steel structure therebelow which is supported on spaced-apart concrete abutments or piers or other structures. It would be highly desirable to provide a work platform which can be connected to such bridge structures with the platform in an optimum work position (even on bridges with skewed or angled sections).




It also would be highly desirable to provide a work platform wherein platform flooring panels are secured in place in a safe yet easily removable manner.




It would also be highly desirable to provide a work platform wherein debris may be removed therefrom easily and effectively.




It would further be highly desirable use corrugated panels but such as to provide a flat floor surface on workers to work on yet such that the panels are compactly stackable for storage and transport.




In accordance with the present invention, a work platform is provided for use on bridges wherein a plurality of cables extend along a section of the bridge in spaced relation below the deck or roadway and steel support structure of the bridge, which cables are supported at opposite ends by either the steel support structure of the bridge or by the spaced-apart vertical piers of the bridge, and wherein a plurality of platform flooring panels or sections are supported on the cables, extend laterally of the cables, are arranged side-by-side along the section of the bridge such as between the piers and are removably secured to the cables.




In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, means are provided for adjusting the height of the platform and the positions or spacings between the cables.




In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the platform flooring panels are corrugated to maximize the strength-to-weight ratio of the platform flooring. Flat cover members are hingedly connected to the panels to cover the corrugations respectively so as to provide a flat surface for walking on while allowing the panels to be compactly stacked.




In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, Each of the platform flooring sections is releasably connected at spaced locations to the supporting cables on which it rests. This is provided by connector assemblies comprising a first part which engages the upper surface of the flooring section and the cable and a second part which engages the upper surface of the flooring section, the two parts being removably connected together through a small opening in the flooring. As a result, individual flooring sections can be removed to provide access through the flooring in emergency or critical situations while at the same time allowing the remainder of the flooring to retain collected debris. One embodiment of such a connector assembly has a manually operated lever for selectively placing the connector assembly in clamped or unclamped positions relative to the cable and flooring section.




The foregoing and additional advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will be clearly apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly diagrammatic, of a bridge having a work platform according to the present invention installed thereon.





FIG. 2

is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, partly diagrammatic, of the work platform of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a plan view of the work platform of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a pair of clamp assemblies according to one embodiment of the present invention for use with the work platform of

FIGS. 1

to


3


.





FIG. 5

is a fragmentary end elevational view of one of the clamp assemblies of FIG.


4


.





FIG. 6

is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the means for providing horizontal adjustment of the cable locations in the assemblies of

FIGS. 4 and 5

.





FIG. 7

is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the means for providing vertical adjustment of the cable locations in the assemblies of

FIGS. 4 and 5

.





FIG. 8

is a fragmentary elevational view taken along line


8





8


in FIG.


7


.





FIG. 9

is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a clamp assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention for use with the work platform of

FIGS. 1

to


3


.





FIG. 10

is a fragmentary end elevational view of the clamp assembly of FIG.


9


.





FIG. 11

is a plan view showing a clamp assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention for use with the work platform of

FIGS. 1

to


3


.





FIG. 12

is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the clamp assembly of FIG.


11


.





FIG. 13

is a fragmentary plan view of the assembly of FIG.


12


.





FIG. 14

is a fragmentary side elevational view of an alternative form of the clamp assembly of

FIGS. 11 and 12

.





FIG. 15

is a fragmentary side elevational view of a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 16

is a plan view thereof.





FIG. 17

is a fragmentary end elevational view thereof.





FIG. 18

is a fragmentary side elevational view of a connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 19

is a plan view thereof.





FIG. 20

is a fragmentary end elevational view thereof.





FIG. 21

is a fragmentary side elevational view of a connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 22

is a fragmentary end elevational view thereof.





FIG. 23

is a plan view of the spacer plate in the connector of

FIGS. 21 and 22

.





FIG. 24

is a side elevational view of an alternative form of flooring for the work platform of the present invention.





FIG. 25

is a plan view thereof.





FIG. 26

is a partial schematic side edge view of the work platform of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 27

is a view similar to that of

FIG. 21

of a connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 28

is a plan view of the connector assembly of FIG.


27


.





FIG. 29

is an end view of the connector assembly of FIG.


27


.





FIG. 30

is partially schematic sectional view of a work platform in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 31

is an enlarged partial sectional view of the work platform of FIG.


30


.





FIG. 32

is an end view of the work platform of FIG.


30


.





FIG. 33

is a partial perspective view of the work platform of FIG.


30


.





FIG. 34

is a partial exploded view of the work platform of FIG.


30


.





FIG. 35

is an elevation side view of a post for the work platform of

FIGS. 32

to


34


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring first to

FIG. 1

, there is shown a portion of a bridge


10


including a deck or roadway


12


supported by structural steel


14


which, in turn, is supported above the ground


16


by concrete piers or pedestals at regular intervals along the length of the bridge. Three piers


18


,


20


and


22


are shown on the bridge section of

FIG. 1

, although many such piers are included along the total length of an actual bridge. A railing


24


is shown extending along the length of bridge deck


12


. The work platform


30


of the present invention in the situation illustrated herein is located below the bridge deck


12


and between the piers


18


,


20


and is supported from the piers


18


,


20


or the bridge structural steel


14


. The platform


30


, which will be described presently, includes a plurality of cables (not shown in

FIG. 1

) extending lengthwise of bridge


10


and supported at opposite ends by piers


18


,


20


or by steel structure


14


, and a plurality of flooring sections or panels supported by the cables, each extending transversely of the cables and also transversely of bridge


10


, and the sections are in side-by-side relation along the length of bridge


10


. Each flooring section is removably connected at spaced locations thereon to the cables. The platform can be supported additionally at spaced locations therealong by the bridge structural steel


14


by means of auxiliary support cables, some of which are designated


32


in FIG.


1


. While the present description is directed to the single platform


30


, a plurality of platforms, three of which are designated


30


′,


30


″ and


30


″′ in

FIG. 1

can be provided along the length of bridge


10


.




While the work platform of the present invention is described herein for use in connection with a bridge, it should be understood that it may also be provided as scaffolding in connection with buildings and other structures for such purposes as maintenance, repair, and cleaning thereof. Therefore, for the purposes of this specification and the claims, the term “structure,” unless another meaning is specified or the context indicates otherwise, shall mean “bridge, building, or other construction suitable for application of scaffolding.”




Referring now to

FIG. 2

, there is shown one of the bridge piers, for example pier


20


, which has a pair of vertical pedestals or columns


42


and


44


joined near the upper ends by a central body


46


. The bridge structural steel


14


includes sidewalls


50


and


52


which rest on the tops of pedestals


42


and


44


respectively and which are connected at spaced locations along the length of bridge


10


by a series of assemblies each including a horizontal frame member


54


and inclined frame members


56


and


58


joined at the lower ends to a central plate


60


fixed to frame member


54


and joined at the upper ends to the corresponding sidewalls


50


and


52


. Thus, the bridge roadway or deck


12


is supported by the combination of the piers and steel walls


50


,


52


and frame assemblies in a known manner. In addition, the walls


50


,


52


and frame assemblies provide the surfaces which must be periodically cleaned, such as by abrasive blasting or the like, and painted.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the supporting cables


70


of the platform


30


of the present invention extend longitudinally of bridge


10


between the piers and are spaced apart substantially equally in a transverse direction relative to bridge


10


. Thus, cables


70


are disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of bridge deck


12


. By way of example, in an illustrative bridge having a width of about 32 feet and a distance between piers of about 140 feet, seven steel cables


70




a


-


70




g


each one-half inch in diameter are provided. The cables


70


are secured to a structure of bridge


10


so that the plane of the cables is at a desired distance below the portion of bridge


10


upon which work is to be performed. In the platform illustrated in

FIGS. 1

to


3


, cables


70




a


to


70




g


are attached at opposite ends to piers


18


and


20


by compression clamp assemblies which will be described. The platform flooring, generally designated


74


in

FIG. 2

, rests on and is supported by cables


70




a


to


70




g


. Flooring


74


comprises a plurality of sections or panels each releasably connected to corresponding cables


70


in a manner which will be described in detail presently.




The plan view of

FIG. 3

illustrates a form of clamping assemblies for attaching opposite ends of cables


70


to the bridge piers


18


and


20


. The clamping assemblies shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


are the subject of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,248 and are described herein briefly for the purpose of providing a proper background for the detailed description of the cable connector assemblies of this invention which will follow. Another embodiment of the connector assembly uses a wedge to connect the two parts together so as to eliminate the difficulty of removing rusty nuts to disconnect the parts. The pedestals


42


and


44


of pier


20


are shown in FIG.


3


. Pier


18


likewise has two pedestals designated


76


and


78


in

FIG. 3. A

first compression clamping assembly generally designated


80


secures all of the cables


70


at one end thereof, i.e. the left-hand end as viewed in

FIG. 3

, to pedestals


76


and


78


of pier


20


. A second compression clamping assembly generally designated


82


and identical to assembly


80


secures all of the cables


70


at the opposite end thereof, i.e. the right-hand end as viewed in

FIG. 3

, to pedestals


42


and


44


of pier


20


. Clamping assembly


80


comprises a first member or I-beam


86


extending transversely of bridge


10


and contacting both pedestals


76


and


78


on one side thereof and second and third members or I-beams


88


and


90


also extending transversely but each contacting only a corresponding one of the pedestals


76


and


78


and on the opposite side thereof. Members


86


and


88


are clamped to pedestal


76


by a plurality of threaded connecting rods


92


which are tightened to provide the required amount of compression force. Similarly, members


86


and


90


are clamped to pedestal


78


by a plurality of threaded connecting rods


94


which are tightened to provide the required amount of compression force. Thus, I-beam


86


contacts the left-hand surfaces of pedestals


76


and


78


as viewed in FIG.


3


and I-beams


88


and


90


contact the right-hand surfaces of pedestals


76


and


78


respectively as viewed in FIG.


3


. Cables


70




b


and


70




f


are connected at one end to I-beams


88


and


90


respectively, and the remaining cables


70




a


,


70




c


to


70




e


, and


70




g


are connected to I-beam


86


. The clamping assembly and the manner of connecting cables


70


thereto will be described in further detail presently.




In a similar manner, clamping assembly


82


comprises a first member or I-beam


106


extending transversely of bridge


10


and contacting both pedestals


42


and


44


on one side thereof and second and third members or I-beams


108


and


110


also extending transversely but each contacting only a corresponding one of the pedestals


42


and


44


and on the opposite side thereof. Members


106


and


108


are clamped to pedestal


42


by a plurality of threaded connecting rods


112


which are tightened to provide the required amount of compression force. Similarly, members


106


and


110


are clamped to pedestal


44


by a plurality of threaded connecting rods


114


which are tightened to provide the required amount of compression force. Thus, I-beam


106


contacts the right-hand surfaces of pedestals


42


and


44


as viewed in

FIG. 3

, and I-beams


108


and


110


contact the left-hand surfaces of pedestals


42


and


44


as viewed in FIG.


3


. Cables


70




b


and


70




f


are connected at the ends to I-beams


108


and


110


respectively, and the remaining cables


70




a


,


70




c


to


70




e


, and


70




g


are connected to I-beams


106


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 4

to


8


, there is shown a clamp assembly according to the present invention for securing cables


70


of platform


30


, exclusively to the piers of a bridge. Depending upon the structure of a particular bridge and/or the work to be performed on it, there are situations where only the concrete piers and none of the bridge steel structure


14


can be utilized to support platform


30


. As shown in

FIG. 4

, a pair of piers


18


′ and


201


support the bridge structural steel


14


, below bridge deck


121


, and piers


18


′ and


201


have upper cap portions


118


and


120


respectively. A clamp assembly generally designated


124


is secured to pier cap


118


and an identical clamp assembly, generally designated


126


, is secured to pier cap


120


. The cables, one of which is designated


70


′ in

FIG. 4

, for supporting platform


301


are secured at opposite ends to clamp assemblies


124


and


126


. A corresponding plurality of cables, one of which is designated


130


, can be connected between clamp assembly


124


and an identical clamp assembly (not shown) on a neighboring pier (not shown) for supporting another platform (not shown) in an identical manner. Similarly, another corresponding plurality of cables, one of which is designated


132


, can be connected between clamp assembly


126


and an identical clamp assembly (not shown) on a neighboring pier (not shown) for supporting another platform (not shown) in an identical manner. Clamp assemblies


124


and


126


are identical, and for convenience only clamp assembly


124


will be described in detail in connection with

FIGS. 4

to


8


.




Clamp assembly


124


includes a plurality of pier brackets, each generally designated


140


, secured to upper cap portion


118


of pier


181


at laterally spaced locations therealong, as shown in FIG.


5


. By way of example, in an illustrative work platform, pier brackets


140


are spaced apart about 7 to 8 feet. Each pier bracket


140


comprises a pair of telescoping or relatively reciprocal hollow steel members


142


and


144


which fit relatively snugly but movably one within the other. The members


142


and


144


rest on the top surface of pier cap portion


118


and, after being adjusted to the width of pier cap portion


118


, are locked against any relative movement by pins or bolts


146


, as shown in

FIG. 4. A

pair of light duty I-beams or posts


150


and


152


depend from the outer ends of members


142


and


144


respectively and are fixed thereto such as by welding. Each I beam


150


and


152


and its corresponding member


142


and


144


respectively define substantially a right angle therebetween. The lower end of each I-beam


150


and


152


is provided with an opening to receive a hook


156


or the like to enable a cable


158


to be connected to the lower ends of I-beams


150


and


152


and to be tightened against the bottom of pier cap portion


118


to prevent tipping or similar movement of each pier bracket


140


.




The plurality of pier brackets


140


support a horizontally disposed beam


164


to which the plurality of platform supporting cables are secured at the ends thereof and which is vertically adjustable in the following manner. By way of example, in an illustrative work platform, beam


164


is a W6×16 beam that extends for the entire width of the work platform. Beam


164


is supported in a vertically adjustable manner on each pier bracket depending beam or part


150


by the arrangement shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

. Beam


164


is supported by a plurality of angle brackets


170


, one for each part


150


, which in turn is held in place by a pair of bolt


172


and nut


174


fasteners on each side of post


142


which engage a plate


178


on the opposite face of post


142


. Thus, by means of the arrangement shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, beam


164


is supported on posts


142


and can be raised or lowered simply by changing the location of each angle


170


and plate


178


combination on the corresponding part


142


.




The work platform supporting cables are connected at ends thereof to cable connector assemblies


180


, one assembly for each cable, which are mounted on beam


164


. The locations of connector assemblies


180


on beam


164


are adjustable in a horizontal direction so that the spacing between adjacent cables can be varied. As shown in

FIG. 6

, each connector assembly


180


includes a pair of plates


182


and


184


clamped on beam


164


by a plurality of bolt


186


and nut


188


type fasteners. A shackle plate


190


is provided as one of the plates


182


for connection to one end of the cable, designated


194


in FIG.


6


.




Thus, the clamp assembly shown in

FIGS. 4

to


8


secures the cables of the work platform exclusively to the piers of a bridge. The horizontal spacing between each of the cables is individually adjustable. The vertical location of all of the cables is adjustable simultaneously. In other words, the distance between the plane in which the cables lie and the plane of the bridge deck is adjustable. As a result, the vertical location of the platform flooring is adjustable relative to the location of the bridge deck and steel structure to accommodate various types of maintenance and repair operations on the bridge.





FIGS. 9 and 10

show a clamp assembly according to the present invention for securing cables


70


of platform


30


exclusively to the bridge steel structure. Depending upon the structure of a particular bridge and/or the work to be performed on it, there are situations where only the bridge steel structure and none of the bridge concrete piers or abutments can be used to support platform


30


. As shown in

FIG. 9

, a bridge girder or stringer


200


is supported at one end by a bridge concrete abutment or pier


202


, and stringer


200


, in turn, supports the bridge deck


204


. The opposite end of stringer


200


is supported on a similar pier or abutment (not shown) and a plurality of such girders are provided, extending longitudinally of the bridge and spaced apart laterally of the bridge at appropriate distances.




The clamp assembly according to this embodiment of the present invention comprises a generally vertically disposed post


210


which is mounted at one end to stringer


200


and depends therefrom. While for convenience in illustration only one post


210


is shown in

FIGS. 9 and 10

, the clamp assembly includes a plurality of such posts, one for each girder or stringer of the bridge on which the work platform is installed. Post


210


is mounted at one end thereof to stringer


200


in the following manner. A plate


216


is welded on the end of post


210


and is secured by bolt and nut type fasteners


218


to a pair of channel members


220


and


222


which extend longitudinally along and are mounted to opposite sides of stringer


200


. In particular, each channel member


220


and


222


has a pair of angle members, each designated


224


fixed thereto such as by welding and located at opposite ends thereof. One flange of each angle member


224


is welded to the web of the corresponding channel member, as shown in

FIG. 10

, and the other flange of each-angle member


224


rests on and is supported by the lower horizontal flange of girder


200


. Another angle member


234


is provided at the end of girder


200


adjacent pier


202


and fixed to the flanges of girder


200


and channel members


220


and


222


by bolt and nut type fasteners


236


to prevent movement longitudinal movement of channels


220


and


222


to the left as viewed in FIG.


9


. At the opposite ends of channels


220


and


222


an angle member


240


is fixed to the flanges of girder


200


and channels


220


and


222


by bolt and nut fasteners


242


to support the channels


220


and


222


in place.




The clamp assembly further comprises a generally horizontally disposed beam


250


connected to post


210


for receiving the ends of the cables which support the platform flooring. Beam


250


is connected at a selected vertical location to post


210


by bolt and nut type fasteners designated


256


. Vertical adjustment of the location of beam


250


on post


210


is provided by a series of openings


260


on the flanges of post


210


as shown in FIG.


10


. As previously mentioned, a plurality of posts like post


210


are provided, one depending from each girder or stringer of a bridge on which the work platform is installed, and beam


250


is connected to each of the posts in a manner identical to the connection to post


210


shown in

FIGS. 9 and 10

. Alternatively, a series of such beams can be provided, extending over the width of the platform and connected to the posts. Cables such as those designated


266


in

FIGS. 9 and 10

are secured to beam


250


in a suitable manner.




By way of example, in an illustrative bridge platform, post


210


is a WlO×33 I-beam having a length of about 4.0 feet, plate


216


has a thickness of about ½ inch, each channel member


220


and


222


is a ClO×l3 channel having a length of about 5.0 feet, each angle member


224


has flanges about 3.0 inches long and about 3.0 inches wide and about ½ inch thick, the flanges of angle member


234


are about 4.0 inch long and about 8.0 inch long respectively and about 1.2 inch thick, angle member


240


has the same dimensions as angle member


234


, beam


250


is a W8×18 I-beam, cables


266


have a diameter of about ⅝ inch, and the bolt and nut fasteners


218


,


236


, and


242


include ¾ inch bolts.





FIGS. 11

to


13


show a clamp assembly for securing cables


70


of work platform


30


exclusively to the bridge steel structure and having the added capability for installation on bridges with skewed or angled sections. A skewed or angled bridge section is illustrated in the plan view of

FIG. 11

wherein a pair of offset bridge piers or abutments


270


and


272


support a series of girders or stringers each designated


276


in a skewed or angled arrangement. A series of cables


280


, similar to cables


70


of platform


30


, which support the work platform of the present invention are connected at opposite ends thereof to cable connector assemblies


284


which, in turn, are mounted on horizontally disposed beams


286


and


288


located near corresponding ones of the bridge piers or abutments


270


and


272


respectively as viewed in FIG.


11


. Beams


286


and


288


, in turn, are supported by an arrangement including a plurality of vertically disposed post members


292


which are mounted at the upper ends of corresponding ones of the girders


276


in a manner which will be described. Post members


292


are connected to corresponding ones of the beams


286


and


288


by swivel connector assemblies


296


which will be described in detail presently.





FIG. 12

shows in further detail the arrangement including one of the post members


292


for supporting beam


286


. Abutment


270


supports girder


276


which along with the other girders and abutment


272


(shown in

FIG. 11

) supports bridge deck


300


. A plate


306


is welded to the upper end of post member


292


and is of sufficient size to extend across and outwardly of the lower flange


310


of girder


276


. A pair of plates, one of which is designated


312


in

FIG. 12

, is provided and placed on the top surfaces of girder flange


310


. The plates are of sufficient size to extend outwardly beyond the girder flange


310


. Then the combination of the larger plate


306


and pair of smaller plates is fastened together and against girder flange


310


by a series of bolt and nut type fasteners


316


on both sides of girder flange


310


, thus clamping the upper end of post member


292


to girder flange


310


. A swivel plate assembly


296


then is clamped by plates


318


bolted to post member


292


at a selected vertical location thereon. Post


292


is provided with a series of openings (not shown) to receive bolts at various vertical locations to provide vertical adjustment of the location of assembly


296


. As shown in

FIGS. 12 and 13

, each swivel plate assembly comprises a first part


320


clamped and bolted to post member


292


, a second part


322


secured to beam


286


by a clamp assembly


324


, and a pivotal connection between parts


320


and


322


provided by a headed bolt or pin


326


held therein by a nut


328


threaded thereon. Part


322


is a hollow member having aligned apertures to receive pin


326


, and part


320


is a plate with a central aperture to receive pin


326


and which is received in part


322


with room for pivotal movement therein.

FIGS. 12 and 13

also show in further detail one of the cable connector assemblies


284


comprising an apertured plate


330


welded to a clamp assembly


332


fixed to beam


286


by bolt and nut type fasteners


334


. The construction shown in

FIGS. 12 and 13

is the same for each of the posts


292


, cable connector assemblies


284


, and swivel connector assemblies


296


in the arrangement of FIG.


11


.




Thus, the swivel connectors


296


in the arrangement of

FIGS. 11

to


13


accommodate installation of the work platform of the present invention on angled or skewed bridge sections. By way of example, in an illustrative work platform, each post member


292


can be a W8×15 small I-beam or square tube. Each post


292


can be tied back to the bridge bearing by ⅝ inch cable for additional security if desired.





FIG. 14

shows an alternative form of post construction for use in an arrangement like that of

FIGS. 11-13

. Post


292


′ is similar to post


292


in the previous arrangement and is fastened to girder


276


′ by a similar arrangement of large plate


306


′, small plates


312


′, and fasteners


316


′. A reinforcing member


350


is fixed at one end to post


292


′ by welding or bolt and nut type fasteners (not shown) and extends upwardly at an angle whereupon it is fastened to the lower flange of girder


276


′ by a similar arrangement of large plate


354


welded to the end of member


350


and a pair of small plates


356


fastened in a clamp-like arrangement to the girder flange by bolt and nut type fasteners


358


. A swivel bracket


360


is welded to a plate


362


which is joined by bolt and nut type fasteners


364


to another plate


366


such that the two plates


362


and


366


clamp on post


292


′ to secure swivel bracket


360


thereto. The clamping arrangement allows vertical adjustment of the location on post


292


′. By way of example, in an illustrative arrangement, swivel bracket


360


is like the assembly


296


in

FIGS. 12 and 13

consists of a hollow steel member 4″×4″×¼″×4″ long welded onto a 7″×9″×½″ plate and two 4″×4″×½″ plates welded to another 7″×9″×½″ plate and connected by a ⅛″×7″ long bolt secured with a nut. Swivel bracket


360


also is welded to a plate


370


which is joined by bolt and nut type fasteners


372


to another plate


374


such that the two plates


370


and


374


clamp on a horizontally disposed beam


378


to secure swivel bracket thereto. Beam


378


extends for the entire width of the work platform and has the supporting cables (not shown) secured thereto in a manner similar to the preceding arrangements. By way of example, in an illustrative work platform, post


292


′ is a W8×l8 beam, and beam


378


is a W8×l5 beam. An apertured plate


380


can be fixed such as by welding to post


292


′ for connection of a reinforcing cable to the bridge abutment or pier, if desired for added security.




Referring again to

FIG. 3

, the platform flooring


74


comprises a plurality of elongated rectangular panels each designated


300


which are arranged in end-to-end overlapping relation transversely of bridge


10


and cables


70


, as indicated by the broken lines


302


in

FIG. 3

, and which panels


300


are arranged in side-by-side overlapping relation longitudinally of bridge


10


and cables


70


, as indicated by the broken lines


304


in FIG.


3


and as also shown in FIG.


26


. Panels


300


are corrugated decking panels with the corrugations extending transversely of cables


70


as indicated at


306


in FIG.


3


and as also shown in FIG.


26


. Having corrugations


306


extending transversely of cables


70


maximizes the rigidity and strength of flooring


74


and prevents any buckling of the panels


300


. Each of the platform flooring sections or panels


300


is releasably connected at spaced locations to the supporting cables


70


on which it rests. This is provided by connector assemblies generally indicated at


310


in FIG.


3


and which will be described in detail presently. As a result, individual flooring sections or panels


300


can be removed to provide access through the flooring in emergency situations. For example, if a worker becomes seriously ill or injured, one or more flooring sections


300


can be quickly and easily removed thereby allowing the worker to be lowered safely to the ground below. In addition, collected debris remains in the corrugations of the removed panel and is not lost from containment within the area of the platform. With the panels


300


overlapping, they may be attached together and to the respective cable


70


at their overlapping portions, as shown in

FIG. 26

, to provide a more secure structure.




Some of the connector assemblies, i.e., those designated


312


in

FIG. 3

, also have the capability of an additional or auxiliary connection to the bridge structural steel


14


and will be described in detail presently.




Each panel


300


has a pair of side edges which are joined by a pair of end edges. Corrugations


306


extend longitudinally along each panel


300


and substantially parallel to side edges thereof. The corrugations


306


of all the panels


300


in flooring


74


extend transversely of cables


70


so as to provide the required strength and rigidity of the platform


30


.




Each of the panels


300


comprising flooring


74


includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough for making connection to cables


70


. The number and location of openings will depend upon the size of panels


300


and the distance between cables. Each panel


300


includes a first pair of openings located near one end and a second pair of openings located near the opposite end. Each of the openings is elongated and disposed with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to corrugation


306


and thus transversely of cables


70


. The openings in the panels


300


enable the connector assemblies


310


and


312


to contact or engage both the cables


70


and panels


300


in a manner releasably connecting the panels to the cables.




One form of connector assembly according to the present invention is shown in

FIGS. 15

to


17


and includes a first part


320


in the form of a rectangular plate


322


which engages the upper surface of the platform flooring, indicated at


324


in

FIG. 15

, and a substantially U-shaped hook formation


326


extending from body


322


for engaging one of the cables, designated


330


in

FIG. 15

, and having a threaded free end


332


. The connector assembly includes a second part


334


generally in the form of a rectangular plate


336


having an opening


338


therethrough for receiving therethrough the threaded end


332


of hook formation


326


of the first part


320


so that a nut


340


can be threaded on the free end


332


to fasten the first and second parts together. A major portion of plate


336


engages the upper surface of flooring


324


and is substantially co-planar with plate


322


. The end portion


342


of plate


336


is bent or angled slightly, as shown in

FIG. 15

, and terminates in a lip or end flange


344


which contacts the upper surface of plate


322


. This provides a positive engagement between the two parts when nut


340


is tightened and precludes any sagging of the parts.




The connector assembly of

FIGS. 15

to


17


is installed in the following manner. First the part


320


is manipulated to insert hook formation


326


through the slot


325


in flooring


324


around cable


330


and back up through the slot


325


in flooring


324


. Next, the second part


334


is positioned to receive threaded end


332


through opening


338


whereupon nut


340


is installed and tightened on end


332


to fasten the assembly together. This assembly securely holds the flooring panels onto the platform support cables.




Another form of connector assembly according to the present invention is shown in

FIGS. 18

to


20


and includes provision for connection to auxiliary cables for extra support. The connector assembly includes a first part


350


in the form of a rectangular plate


352


which engages the upper surface of the platform flooring, indicated at


324


′ in

FIG. 18

, and a substantially U-shaped hook formation


354


which extends through body


352


for engaging one of the cables, designated


330


′ in

FIG. 18

, and having a pair of threaded free ends


356


and


358


. The connector assembly includes a second part


360


including a pair of rectangular plates


362


and


364


welded together in overlapping relation along the ends thereof to define a step-like structure. Plate


364


is provided with a pair of openings


366


and


368


therethrough to receive therethrough the threaded ends


356


and


358


respectively of hook formation


354


of the first part


350


so that nuts


370


and


372


can be threaded on the free ends


356


and


358


respectively to fasten the first and second parts together. Plate


352


of the first part


350


and plate


364


of the second part


360


contact the upper surface of flooring


3241


when the parts are fastened together, and the lower surface of plate


362


in the vicinity of opening


366


contacts the upper surface of plate


352


to provide a stable structure. A hook or loop formation


376


is welded on the upper surface of plate


362


to provide connection to an auxiliary support cable (not shown) extending from the bridge deck or steel structure.




The connector assembly of

FIGS. 18

to


20


is installed in the following manner. First the part


350


is manipulated to insert hook formation


354


through the slot


325


′ in flooring


324


′ around cable


330


′ and back up through the slot


325


′ in flooring


324


′. Next the second part is positioned to receive threaded ends


356


and


358


through openings


366


and


368


respectively in plate


362


whereupon nuts


370


and


372


are installed and tightened on ends


356


and


358


respectively to fasten the assembly together. This connector assembly securely holds the flooring panels onto the platform support cables. In addition, an auxiliary support cable (not shown), secured at one end to the bridge deck or steel structure, is provided with an eye hook on the opposite end which is hooked onto formation


376


to provide extra support for the platform. In the connector assembly of

FIGS. 18

to


20


, the auxiliary cable (not shown) is pulling the assembly upwardly in line with the platform supporting cable


330


′ thereby providing a balanced arrangement which avoids any torquing or bending of parts of the assembly of the auxiliary cable connection offset from the location of the supporting cable.




Another form of connector assembly according to the present invention is shown in

FIGS. 21

to


23


and is characterized by a manually-operated lever for tightening the connector and supporting cable together. The connector assembly includes a first part


380


in the form of a spacer plate


382


having an elongated slot


384


therein which corresponds in size to the slot


325


″ in flooring


324


″. The length and width of spacer plate


382


, however, are sufficient for plate


382


to cover slot


325


″. The connector assembly includes a second part


388


for engaging supporting cable


330


″ and which is generally in the form of a hook. In particular, part


388


includes a central body portion


390


, a curved, hooked-shaped portion


392


extending from one end of body


390


and shaped to engage cable


33011


, as shown in

FIG. 21

, and a connector portion


394


extending from another end of body


390


. The connector assembly also includes a lever or operator member


400


pivotally connected to connector portion


394


of the second part


388


. Lever


400


has a first position shown in solid lines in

FIG. 21

which tightens the second part


388


against cable


330


″ and a second position shown in broken lines in

FIG. 21

which releases the second part from cable


330


″. In particular, lever


400


has a generally U-shaped end-wise configuration, as shown in

FIG. 22

, having a pair of spaced-apart flange-like sections


404


and


406


joined by a curved central web-like section


408


. Each flange section, for example, section


404


shown in

FIG. 21

, includes an operator portion


410


having a curved, cam-like surface


412


for bearing against the upper surface of spacer plate


382


in the locked position shown in solid lines in

FIG. 21

, and a handle or grip portion


414


extending from operator portion


410


. Lever


400


is pivotally connected to part


388


by means of a bolt


418


which extends through aligned apertures in the end of connector portion


394


of part


388


and in the sections


404


and


406


of lever


400


.




The connector assembly of

FIGS. 21

to


23


is installed in the following manner. Spacer plate


382


is placed in position and part


388


is inserted through slot


384


in spacer plate


382


and slot


325


″ in flooring


324


″, and the hook-shaped portion


392


is engaged on cable


330


″, as shown in FIG.


21


. During this operation, lever


400


is in the broken line position shown in FIG.


21


. Next, lever


400


is moved by hand to the solid line position of FIG.


21


. This applies downward force on spacer plate


382


and pulls hook portion


392


upwardly against cable


330


″ thereby tightening the assembly. As a result, the connector assembly securely holds flooring


324


″ on the supporting cable


330


″. A pin


422


or nut and bolt can be inserted through the aligned apertures


424


and


426


in flange sections


404


and


406


respectively to hold lever


400


in place for added safety. When it is desired to disassemble the arrangement or to remove a flooring section, pin


422


is removed and lever


400


simply moved to the broken line position of

FIG. 21

whereupon the part


388


is removed from contacting cable


330


″.




The connector assembly of

FIGS. 21

to


23


has the advantages that no welding of parts is required, it can be assembled prior to installation on the work platform, i.e. does not have to be assembled on site, it is relatively light in weight, and it is relatively easy and quick to install.




The platform sections or panels


300


and the connector assemblies are installed to provide a completed platform


30


in the following manner. The panels


300


are placed and arranged on the cables


70


by workmen using scaffolds or the like supported by the bridge


10


. Panels


300


are placed on the supporting cables


70


so that the corrugations


306


are disposed transversely of the cables


70


. Panels


300


are arranged in a row and in end-to-end overlapping relation transversely of the cables


70


. The panels


300


are located so that the openings are aligned with various ones of the cables


70


. Furthermore, with adjacent ones of the panels


300


being in end-to-end overlapping relation, the openings of the overlapping portions of adjacent panels


300


in a row are aligned with each other and with the corresponding cables


70


.




Next, the connector assemblies are installed manually by the workmen. The connector assemblies can be any of the connector assemblies described in connection with

FIGS. 15

to


23


and


26


to


28


, and they are installed in the manner previously described. The foregoing operation is repeated for each of the connector assemblies in each of the panels along the row. Then the panels


300


of the next row are installed, the row extending transversely of the cables


70


and the panels of the next row being adjacent sideways to the panels of the first row. The panels of this next row are in end-to-end overlapping relation in the same manner as the panels of the first row. In addition, the panels of this next row are in side-to-side overlapping relation with the panels of the first row, as shown in FIG.


3


. The connector assemblies are installed in the panels of this next row in a manner similar to that of the first row. The foregoing installation of rows of panels


300


and installation of connector assemblies is continued in a direction longitudinally of the cables


70


until the platform


30


is completed. Connector assemblies of the type shown in

FIGS. 18

to


20


are installed at spaced locations, for example, about 20 feet, over the surface of platform


30


, and auxiliary cables such as cables


32


are connected between those assemblies and bridge structural steel


32


.




By way of example, in an illustrative platform, the overall width is about 32 feet or slightly less than the width of the bridge deck


12


, and the overall length of the platform is about 140 feet, which is approximately the span between piers


18


and


20


. Panels


300


are rigid type B corrugated steel decking panels each 11 feet in length and 3 feet in width. The panels


300


are 22 gage, 1½ inch deep ASTM A446 steel having a yield strength of FY=33KSI (minimum). A minimum panel overlap of 6 inches in longitudinal and lateral directions is provided. Cables


70


are seven in number, each ½ inch in diameter and spaced apart about 5 feet. Cables


70


are 6×19 IWRC cable of plain steel with a breaking strength of 41,200 pounds or greater. Each panel


300


is connected at two locations to the corresponding cable. The location of platform


30


is about 11½ feet below bridge deck


12


. The typical maximum applied load for which platform


30


is designed is 11 pounds per square foot. The cables


70


are supported every 20 feet by the auxiliary support cables such as those designated


32


.




Platform


30


of the present invention, by virtue of the combination of support cables


70


and corrugated decking panels


300


, is provided to be safe, provide a sufficiently rigid support for workmen to stand and walk on, and to be relatively simple in structure and light in weight. Rigidity is important in that workmen can walk along platform


30


with no lowering. The corrugations


306


enhance the strength to weight ratio of panels


300


. In addition, the corrugations facilitate containment of debris. The connector assemblies in cooperation with the openings in the panels are provided to achieve a quick, easy, and effective way to both erect and dismantle the bridge platform of the present invention. The individual panels


300


releasably connected to cables


70


are provided for convenient and quick access through the flooring


74


in emergency situations. Thus, in such situations, it is not necessary to cut through the platform flooring which otherwise could destroy the integrity of debris containment provided by enclosures, such as that shown in FIG.


16


. Furthermore, the time required to cut through flooring could have serious consequences in emergency and critical situations, and such cutting could impair the structural integrity of the platform and therefore its safety.





FIGS. 24 and 25

show an alternative form of flooring for the work platform of the present invention. The corrugated decking panels of flooring


74


include a series of flat upper surfaces, designated


440


in

FIG. 24

, which are separated by a series of troughs or depressions defined by downwardly inclined walls


442


and


444


which meet flat lower surfaces


446


. The connector assemblies previously described are located in the troughs below the plane of the upper surfaces


440


. In order to provide a more flat surface to walk on and to move equipment therealong, the flooring is modified by providing a series of flat, plate-like covers


450


for covering the troughs or depressions between the surfaces


440


. In particular, each cover


450


comprises a thin rectangular plate


450


having a length equal to that of flooring


74


and a width slightly greater than the maximum width of a trough or depression in flooring


74


.




Without such covers, the panels are compactly nestable so as to take up little space for storage and transport. With the covers covering the troughs, the panels are not nestable and thus take up a great deal of space (on an order of 5 to 10 times as much space or more) which significantly increases the storage and transport cost. In order to make the panels nestable for storage and transport compactly while providing the desired flat surfaces to the flooring made therewith, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the covers


450


are hingedly connected to the panels. Thus, one edge of cover


450


is joined to a hinge


452


which, in turn, is joined to a plate


454


of relatively shorter width and of the same length as plate


450


and which is fixed such as by welding to the adjacent upper surface


440


of the flooring. Actually, the entire combination may be viewed as a hinge with plates


450


and


454


each being a hinge leaf and joined by the hinge knuckle assembly


452


. The foregoing is provided on each of the troughs or depressions defined in flooring


74


. If desired, a strip of magnetic material, illustrated at


456


, can be provided along the lower portion of the free edge of each cover


450


to hold the cover down and prevent lifting as persons walk along flooring


74


. Thus, after the connector assemblies are installed, each of the hinged covers


450


is flipped over to the position shown in

FIG. 24

covering its corresponding corrugation thereby providing a flat uniform surface which is easier to walk on and move equipment therealong. In addition, by covering the corrugations, debris is confined to the flat upper surface, making cleanup easier. When a project is completed and the platform disassembled, the covers


450


are flipped to positions uncovering the troughs respectively and then compactly nested for transport and storage.




While the panels of flooring


74


are described herein for use as scaffold flooring, other uses are envisioned for such panels, for example, to provide a wall wherein insulation may be disposed in the enclosed or covered corrugations or for acoustics purposes.




Referring to

FIGS. 26

to


28


, There is shown generally at


500


an alternative embodiment of the connector assembly, which includes members or parts


502


and


504


. The first part


502


has a generally flat body portion


506


which engages the upper surface of the respective panel


300


, a substantially hook-shaped portion


508


which extends from the body portion


506


and downwardly into the respective opening or slot


325


to receive the respective cable


70


, and a free end portion


510


which extends upwardly out of the slot. The second part


504


is generally flat and overlies part of the portion


506


and the slot


325


and has an opening, illustrated at


512


, for receiving the free end portion


510


. Part


504


and portion


506


have a width greater than that of the generally rectangular slot


325


in order to suitably overlie the slot. Portions


508


and


510


have a reduced width in order that portion


508


may be received in slot


325


and portion


510


may be received in opening


512


. The parts


502


and


506


are connected, as hereinafter described, to form what may be called an eyelet, illustrated at


518


, for securely receiving the cable


70


for passage thereof therethrough, and a formation (not shown), similar to formation


376


, may be provided for attachment of an auxiliary tie-up cable such as shown at


32


in FIG.


1


.




In order to eliminate a welding step so that the cost of the product may be reduced, the part


502


is made from a single piece, i.e., by suitably cutting a plate to the flat shape corresponding to the and bending it to the finished product form, such as shown in

FIGS. 27

to


29


.




Free end portion


510


has an opening or slot, illustrated at


514


, whose bottom wall is approximately level with the upper surface of portion


506


and which extends above the part


504


when the connector is assembled as shown in

FIGS. 27

to


29


. The application and removal of nuts to and from the connectors is a time consuming process, especially the removal of nuts which may have rusted to the bolts, and the threads may also become damaged. In order to make the assembly and disassembly of the connector


500


easier and faster, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the parts


502


and


504


are connected together by a wedge


516


inserted into the opening


514


and driving it into place with a hammer. This also desirably eliminates the costly process of providing a threaded portion on the part


502


and the necessity of replacing parts whose threads become damaged. The wedge


516


is a generally U-shaped member with the bottom of the “U” resting on the part


504


when the connector is assembled. When it is time to disassemble the connector, it may just as easily and quickly be disconnected by merely striking the wedge


516


with a hammer.




Referring to

FIGS. 30

to


34


, there is illustrated generally a platform means in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 30

to


32


and

FIG. 33

show two different assemblies


600


and


601


respectively of the platform using generally the same parts. Thus, except as noted, the following description applies equally to both assemblies. It is considered difficult to clean up debris which accumulates on the floor of a platform. In order to congregate the debris at the center of the platform where it can be more easily removed, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the platform


600


is assembled to have a pair of inclined floor portions


602


which meet generally along a longitudinal centerplane, illustrated at


604


, and a gutter


606


is attached to the floor portions as described hereinafter. A suitable angle of inclination, illustrated at


608


, may be, for example, about 10 degrees. A suitable vibrator, illustrated at


610


, is suitably attached to each floor portion


602


to vibrate the debris toward the gutter


606


.




Each floor portion


602


is assembled similarly as described elsewhere in this specification, i.e., panels


300


are laid side-by-side on cables


70


which pass through eyelets


518


formed by connectors


612


, which may be any of the connectors heretofore shown and described, and auxiliary tie-up cables


32


are attached between the connectors


612


and existing bridge stringers


276


by means of a beam flange clamp hanger


614


or other suitable means. Other suitable auxiliary support means may be provided such as, for example, rigid tie-up assemblies, which comprise one tube telescopingly received within another tube to allow adjustment to the correct height. The upper end of one tube is connected to a bridge stringer


276


, and the lower end of the other tube is connected to the respective connector


612


. The tubes each have a number of apertures spaced over its length, and, after a pair of apertures in the tubes are aligned at the adjusted position, a pin is inserted in the aligned apertures. A suitable perimeter protection structure, illustrated at


615


, may be suitably erected along the sides of the floor portions. As seen in

FIG. 31

, the gutter


606


, which is a suitable shaped piece of sheet metal, has edge portions


616


which engage edge portions of the panels


300


and attached together by the connectors


612


.





FIGS. 32

to


34


show beam bracket assemblies, illustrated generally at


620


, for attaching the cables


70


at one end to the existing bridge structure, i.e., girders


276


, so as to adjustably allow flexibility in placement of the platform portions


602


in height and spacing of the cables as well as at any desired angle


608


of inclination, i.e., inclined, as shown in

FIGS. 30

to


32


, including level, as shown in FIG.


33


. It should be understood that like assemblies are provided for attaching the cables at their other ends. In

FIGS. 30

to


32


, one of the assemblies


620


is for attaching the cables for one of the floor portions


602


, and the other assembly is for attaching the cables for the other floor portion


602


. Thus, for the inclined platform of

FIGS. 30

to


32


, there are 4 assemblies which may be identical, but may not necessarily be identical, and the platform, whether inclined or level, may be erected differently using substantially the same components due to the particulars of the bridge structure. Each assembly


620


comprises a pair of posts


622


attached to opposite flanges


624


of one bridge stringer or girder


276


each by means of an upper flanged plate


626


and a lower plate


628


to which the post is welded or otherwise suitably attached to extend downwardly therefrom. Each assembly


620


also comprises another pair of posts


622


similarly attached to opposite flanges


624


of another girder


276


. Each girder flange


624


is sandwiched between the respective plates


626


and


628


, which have portions


632


which extend outwardly of the flange


624


. The flange


634


on the outer portion


632


of the upper plate


626


engages the outer portion


632


of the lower plate, and bolt and nut fasteners


630


are applied to the outer portions


632


to clamp the flange


624


between the plates


626


and


628


. Such a means for attaching the vertically downwardly extending posts


622


desirably allows for various girder flange thicknesses and widths.




A cable support beam


636


extends generally cross-wise to the posts


622


and is adjustably attached thereto by means, for each post, of upper and lower brackets


638


and


640


which are attached (by nut and bolt fasteners


642


or other suitable means) to both posts for the respective girder and between which the cable support beam


636


is sandwiched and attached (by nut and bolt fasteners


644


or other suitable means). Whereas two support beams


636


are used for the inclined platform


600


of

FIGS. 30

to


32


, a single support beam is preferred for the level platform


601


of FIG.


33


. The lengths of the support beams


636


will of course depend on the desired width of the platform. A cable attachment bracket


646


to which an end of a cable


70


is suitably attached is optionally disposed between a pair of posts


622


and attached to the brackets


638


and


640


by nut and bolt fasteners


648


or other suitable means. Each post


622


has a number of holes, illustrated at


650


in

FIG. 35

, along its length (and the brackets also have a number of holes


652


) for receiving bolts to allow the cable support beam


636


to be adjustably mounted at various heights as desired, including inclining the brackets


638


and


640


, as illustrated in

FIG. 32

, to achieve a desired angle


608


of inclination of the floor portions


602


.




A plurality of cable connector assemblies


180


are spaced along each of the support beams


636


and to which the ends of the cables


70


are attached. As more fully discussed with reference to

FIG. 6

, each assembly


180


comprises a shackle plate to which the respective cable is connected and a second plate connected to the shackle plate, the plates clampingly connected to the support beam


636


which is sandwiched therebetween.




In accordance with the present invention, the position of each of the cable connector assemblies


180


is adjustable along the length of the respective support beam


636


so that the number and spacings of the cables


70


may be varied as desired by merely loosening the assembly


180


and sliding it along the support beam


636


.




In order to brace the beam bracket assembly


620


against the forces applied by the cables, a bracing beam


652


is suitably attached such as by means of a suitable bracket


654


welded thereto and nut and bolt fasteners


656


to the lower end portion of each post


622


and extends therefrom upwardly and inwardly (in a direction toward the other end of the platform) at an angle with the vertical of, for example, about 45 degrees to the respective bridge girder flange


624


. The bracing beam


652


is connected to the flange


624


similarly as the post is connected, i.e., by a plate


658


welded to the bracing beam and a flanged plate


660


, which are similar to plates


628


and


626


respectively, and by nut and bolt fasteners


662


or other suitable means. A pair of spaced plates


664


are each attached to the respective pair of bracing beams


652


by suitable means such as nut and bolt fasteners


666


to keep them from spreading apart and otherwise brace them. A pair of plates


668


, spaced from brackets


626


and


628


, are attached to opposite sides of the respective pair of posts


622


by suitable means such as nut and bolt fasteners


670


to, along with the brackets


638


and


640


, keep them from spreading apart and otherwise brace them. Depending on the position of the brackets


638


and


640


, the plates


668


may be positioned below the brackets


638


and


640


, as seen for the outer posts


622


in

FIG. 32

, or above the brackets


638


and


640


, as seen for the inner posts


622


in FIG.


32


and in the assembly of FIG.


33


.




The assemblies of

FIGS. 30

to


32


and of

FIG. 33

are of substantially the same components assembled differently. In order to allow such flexibility as well as the flexibility of attaching the platform to bridge structures of various sizes and shapes, the various brackets and plates and posts have a multiplicity of fastener receiving holes to allow for various differences in bridge structure dimensions as well as various differences in shapes of platforms to be erected.




It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. In combination with a bridge having piers, a work platform extending along a portion of said bridge for supporting persons performing work on said bridge portion and for collecting debris resulting from the work, said platform comprising:a) a plurality of cables extending along said bridge and in spaced relation to each other and in a plane; b) means at each end of said cables for securing said cables to said bridge so that the plane of the cables is at a desired height; c) a plurality of flooring sections each extending transversely of said cables and resting on said cables, said flooring sections being arranged in side-by-side relation longitudinally of said cables; d) means for securing said flooring sections to said cables; and e) said means for securing said cables including means for adjusting positions of said cables, wherein said means for securing said cable comprises a plurality of assemblies for clamping to said piers respectively, each said clamp assembly including a pair of first and second brackets each having a vertical leg and an horizontal leg, means for joining said horizontal legs together adjustably so to space said vertical legs to accommodate different piers widths with joined horizontal legs overlying said respective pier, means for securing the joined pairs of brackets to said piers respectively, a beam attached to said vertical legs of said brackets, and means for attaching ends of said cables to said beams.
  • 2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said cable position adjusting means comprises said means for attaching ends of said cables for adjusting spacings between said cables.
  • 3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein said means for attaching ends of said cables includes, a plurality of cable connector assemblies on said beam, each assembly comprising a pair of plates on opposite surfaces of said beam and held on said beam by releasable fastening means, and means on one of said plates for connection to said cables, said releasable fastening means enabling adjustment of the location of said assembly along said beam for adjusting position of said respective cable.
  • 4. A platform comprising:a) a plurality of cables extending in spaced relation to each other and in a plane; b) at least one flooring section resting on said cables; and c) means for releasably securing said flooring section to said cables, said releasably securing means comprising at least one connector assembly including a first part which engages an upper surface of said flooring section, a second part having a portion located above the upper surface of said flooring section and a portion extending through said flooring section for engaging said cable, and manually operated lever means operatively associated with said first and second parts and having a first position causing the flooring section and the cable to be held together and a second position releasing the flooring section and the cable from being held together.
Parent Case Info

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 08/888,271, filed Jul. 3, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,793), which is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 08/506,685, filed Jul. 25, 1995 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,248), the disclosures of which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

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Number Name Date Kind
629935 Sfurgis Aug 1899
4660680 Potin Apr 1987
5299655 Margartis Apr 1994
5911288 Zafirakis Jun 1999
5954155 Panageotes Sep 1999
5957239 Marshak Sep 1999
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
S. Stanton, Letter (with attachments) re Project 174-200/201 Containment System Engineering & Time Extension, Mohawk Northeast, Inc. to State of Connecticut Dept. of Transporation-District IV, Sep. 29, 1993.
Continuation in Parts (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/888271 Jul 1997 US
Child 09/645242 US
Parent 08/506685 Jul 1995 US
Child 08/888271 US