A system and method transports a load across an expanse between first and second locations. The first and second locations can be on land and/or water and having a base surface of ground, waterbed, and/or vessel between them. The system includes supports, ramps, and a bridge assembly. The supports mounting on the base surface and are disposed on first and second sides of the expanse. The ramps mount on adjacent ones of the supports and/or on at least one the supports and the base surface. The bridge assembly has one or more longitudinal girders configured to extend parallel to one another across the expanse. Each girder has beams being modular and being hingedly connected end-to-end. Each girder has a first end supported on a first support, has a second end supported on a second support, and has an entire length between the ends that is self-supported. The entire self-supported length supports and transfers weight of the load to the ends supported on the supports. In this way, weight from the load is not transferred to a levee or the like in the expanse.

In one embodiment, a female wedge mount is attached to a first surface vehicle. The female wedge mount has a concave contact surface including three or more female contact surface segments an at least two female wedge slots. A male wedge mount is attached to the second surface vehicle. The male wedge mount has a convex contact surface including three or more male contact surface segments and at least two male wedge slots that are aligned with the at least two female wedge slots, respectively, when the convex contact surface of the male wedge mount and the concave contact surface of the female wedge mount are in aligned contact with one another to form an adjacent connection between the first and second surface vehicles. A mechanism includes at least two pins that are movable along the at least two male and female wedge slots, respectively, between unlocked and locked positions.

In one embodiment, a female wedge mount is attached to a first surface vehicle. The female wedge mount has a concave contact surface including three or more female contact surface segments an at least two female wedge slots. A male wedge mount is attached to the second surface vehicle. The male wedge mount has a convex contact surface including three or more male contact surface segments and at least two male wedge slots that are aligned with the at least two female wedge slots, respectively, when the convex contact surface of the male wedge mount and the concave contact surface of the female wedge mount are in aligned contact with one another to form an adjacent connection between the first and second surface vehicles. A mechanism includes at least two pins that are movable along the at least two male and female wedge slots, respectively, between unlocked and locked positions.

A portable bridge includes a first end segment and a second end segment spaced apart. The first end segment and the second end segment are placed on opposite sides of an obstacle to be spanned by the portable bridge. A spanning segment is coupled between the first end segment and the second end segment for spanning the obstacle. The first end segment, the second end segment, and the spanning segment each include a plurality of parallel beams distributed across a width of the portable bridge. The plurality of parallel beams are aligned along a length of the portable bridge and the plurality of parallel beams are fixed to a top plate and a bottom plate.

A portable bridge includes a first end segment and a second end segment spaced apart. The first end segment and the second end segment are placed on opposite sides of an obstacle to be spanned by the portable bridge. A spanning segment is coupled between the first end segment and the second end segment for spanning the obstacle. The first end segment, the second end segment, and the spanning segment each include a plurality of parallel beams distributed across a width of the portable bridge. The plurality of parallel beams are aligned along a length of the portable bridge and the plurality of parallel beams are fixed to a top plate and a bottom plate.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile bridge apparatus, comprising: one or more mobile bridge modules; and a plurality of sensors for sensing a deformation of the one or more mobile bridge modules.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile bridge apparatus, comprising: one or more mobile bridge modules; and a plurality of sensors for sensing a deformation of the one or more mobile bridge modules.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile bridge module comprising a reinforcement applied in a non-destructive manner. This might alternatively and/or additionally be defined as a non-destructively reinforced mobile bridge module.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile bridge module comprising a reinforcement applied in a non-destructive manner. This might alternatively and/or additionally be defined as a non-destructively reinforced mobile bridge module.

A bridge assembly includes a plurality of platform members which may be secured to support beams via individual platform chassis which are configured to allow tool-less attachment bolt heads thereto. A plurality of specially configured clamps are attached to the free ends of the bolts and the clamps are used to secure the platform members to the platform chassis. The platform chassis are each secured to the outer support beams via L-brackets that are mounted between the chassis and support beams. The support beams include flanged channels wherein the heads of a plurality of bolts may be attached without the need for tools. The platform members may be laid in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation with respect to the outer support beams with two different clamp styles being used depending on the orientation selected.