Claims
- 1. A centering guide for a drawbridge having at least one movable leaf, a guide housing having an opening with vertically opposed cushioned shoes mounted near the outer end of said leaf, an elongate lock bar reciprocative between the shoes in a direction parallel to the span of the drawbridge, and a receiver housing having an opening with vertically opposed cushioned shoes mounted on another leaf of the drawbridge facing the guide housing when the drawbridge is closed, said centering guide comprising:a first pair of vertical columns projecting from the guide housing on opposite sides of the opening thereof; and a second pair of vertical columns projecting from the receiver housing on opposite sides of the opening thereof; the distance between said proximal sides of said second pair of columns exceeds the distance between said distal sides of said first pair of columns by an amount corresponding to a specified maximum horizontal misalignment.
- 2. The centering guide apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:the upper and lower edges of said first pair of columns are beveled on their distal sides; and said upper and lower edges of said second pair of columns are beveled on their proximal sides for initially capturing said first pair of columns as the drawbridge nears full closure.
- 3. A span lock system for drawbridges having at least one movable leaf, said system comprising, in combination:a guide housing having an opening with vertically opposed cushioned shoes mounted near the tip of said leaf; an elongate lock bar slidably extendable between said shoes in a direction parallel to the span of the drawbridge; a receiver housing having an opening with vertically opposed cushioned shoes mounted on another leaf of the drawbridge facing the guide housing when the drawbridge is closed; a first pair of vertical columns projecting from said guide housing on opposite sides of the opening thereof; and a second pair of vertical columns projecting from said receiver housing on opposite sides of the opening thereof for capturing said first pair of vertical columns when the drawbridge nears closure; the distance between the proximal sides of said second pair of columns exceeds the distance between the distal sides of said first pair of columns a predetermined specified maximum misalignment.
- 4. The span lock system according to claim 3 wherein:said upper and lower edges of said first pair of columns are beveled on their distal sides; and said upper and lower edges of said second pair of columns are beveled on their proximal sides for initially capturing said first pair of columns as the drawbridge nears full closure.
- 5. For use in a drawbridge having an elongate member axially movable along the length of the drawbridge span for interlocking adjoining leafs, an alignment apparatus comprising:a first housing formed to be mounted on the tip of a first leaf with a first opening for slidably supporting said elongate member; a second housing formed to be mounted on a second leaf and facing said first housing and with a second opening for slidably receiving said elongate member; and operatively interlocking facing surfaces of said first and second housings for horizontally aligning said openings.
- 6. The alignment apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said interlocking means comprises:a first pair of vertical elements projecting from said first housing opening on opposite sides of said first opening; and a second pair of vertical elements projecting from said second housing on opposite sides of said second openings for registering with said first pair of vertical elements.
- 7. The alignment apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first pair of vertical elements are beveled at the upper and lower ends of their distal sides; andsaid second pair of elements are beveled at the upper and lower ends of their proximal sides for capturing said first pair of elements as the drawbridge closes.
- 8. The alignment apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the distance between the proximal sides of said second pair of elements exceeds the distance between the distal sides of said first pair of elements by an amount determined for a specified maximum misalignment of said housing openings.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/341,509 filed on Dec. 12, 2001 and to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/367,997 filed on Mar. 26, 2002.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Provisional Applications (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/367997 |
Mar 2002 |
US |
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60/341509 |
Dec 2001 |
US |