TRANSITION STRUCTURE FOR BRIDGING A STRUCTURAL JOINT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transition structure 10B for bridging a structural joint 14 between two structure parts 12 and 12b of a structure 12. The transition structure 10B has at least two trusses 16 mounted on the edges of the structure and at least one slat 20 displaceably mounted thereon, wherein a primary sliding surface 22 is arranged between at least one truss 16 and at least one slat 20. The primary sliding surface 22 has at least two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b, which are each arranged in mutually angled sliding planes 34a and 34b, the sliding planes 34a and 34b meeting in a common line of intersection S which forms an axis of movement A along which the slat 20 can move relative to the truss 16. In this regard, at least one sliding plane 34a, 34b is arranged at an oblique angle to a plane of movement B of the transition structure 10B.

Claims

1. A transition structure for bridging a structural joint between two structure parts of a structure, having at least two trusses mounted on the structure edges and at least one slat displaceably mounted thereon, a primary sliding surface being arranged between at least one truss and at least one slat, characterized in that the primary sliding surface has at least two partial sliding surfaces, each of which is arranged in mutually angled sliding planes, the sliding planes meeting in a common line of intersection (S) which forms an axis of movement (A) along which the slat can move relative to the truss, and at least one sliding plane being arranged at an oblique angle to a plane of movement (B) of the transition structure.

2. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the two sliding planes enclose a first angle (α) which is selected such that, in the state of use of the transition structure, no gap occurs in the area of the primary sliding surface.

3. The transition structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the first angle (α) is selected in such a way that, in the ultimate limit state of the transition structure, no gap occurs in the area of the primary sliding surface.

4. The transition structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the first angle (α) is between 60 degrees and 160 degrees, or preferably at 90 degrees.

5. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the two sliding planes are arranged so that the line of intersection (S) is parallel to a longitudinal axis of a truss.

6. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that several primary sliding surfaces are arranged along a truss and form a common axis of movement (A).

7. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the truss has at least one sliding plate in the area of the primary sliding surface.

8. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the truss is made of a sliding material, optionally wherein the sliding material is metallic.

9. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the primary sliding surface comprises a permanently lubricated sliding material, optionally wherein the lubricated sliding material comprises PTFE, UHMWPE, POM and/or PA.

10. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two partial sliding surfaces angled relative to one another are arranged in such a way that the corresponding sliding planes form the shape of a pitched roof.

11. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two partial sliding surfaces angled relative to one another are arranged in such a way that the corresponding sliding planes form the shape of an upside-down pitched roof.

12. The transition structure according to clam 1, characterized in that at least two partial sliding surfaces angled relative to one another are formed symmetrically relative to one another with respect to a plane of symmetry (E) extending through the line of intersection (S) in the vertical direction relative to the plane of movement (B).

13. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sliding plane is inclined with respect to the plane of movement (B) by a second angle (β) between 10 degrees and 60 degrees, or preferably with 45 degrees.

14. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition structure has at least one intersection point (K) of a slat with a truss, at which a sliding bearing, preferably rotatable about an axis (V) vertical to the plane of movement (B), with a support plate is arranged between the truss and the slat, the primary sliding surface extending between the truss and the support plate.

15. The transition structure according to claim 14, characterized in that the support plate is deformable so that the primary sliding surface has at least one partial sliding surface which is horizontal to the plane of movement (B) as a function of the magnitude of the applied load.

16. The transition structure according to claim 14, characterized in that the sliding bearing further comprises a base plate via which the sliding bearing is attached to the slat, and optionally wherein the slat or the base plate comprises a first trunnion via which the sliding bearing is rotatably attached to the slat.

17. The transition structure according to claim 16, characterized in that the sliding bearing further comprises an elastomeric layer disposed between the support plate and the base plate.

18. The transition structure according to claim 16, characterized in that the sliding bearing has at least one shear surface which is arranged in a plane between the support plate and the base plate, the plane being arranged at an oblique angle to the sliding planes of the partial sliding surfaces which are angled relative to one another.

19. The transition structure according to claim 14, characterized in that the transition structure has, in the area of at least one intersection point (K), a bracket arranged on the slat and having a biasing unit with a sliding material and the bracket and the biasing unit are designed in such a way that the slat is biased at the intersection point (K) with respect to the truss and is displaceable and/or is mounted rotatably about the axis (V) vertical to the plane of movement (B), and optionally wherein the sliding material is a sliding spring.

20. The transition structure according to claim 19, characterized in that the bracket has a second trunnion via which the biasing unit is rotatably attached to the bracket, wherein the first trunnion and the second trunnion form a common axis of rotation (D) and the slat is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation (D) with respect to the truss at the intersection point (K).

21. The transition structure according to claim 19, characterized in that the biasing unit is designed to be guide-neutral for movements of the slat relative to the truss along the primary sliding surface.

22. The transition structure according to claim 19, characterized in that the sliding material of the biasing unit comprises a permanently lubricated sliding material, optionally wherein the lubricated sliding material comprises PTFE, UHMWPE, POM and/or PA.

23. The transition structure according to claim 19, characterized in that the biasing unit has a screw for biasing the biasing unit in an installed state.

24. The transition structure according to claim 19, characterized in that the biasing unit is designed in such a way that it can be installed biased and relieved to a predetermined biasing dimension in an installed state.

25. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition structure has at least one truss box in which one end of the truss is displaceably and/or rotatably mounted.

26. The transition structure according to claim 25, characterized in that the end of the truss has at least one bore and the truss box has at least one trunnion via which the end of the truss is mounted in the truss box.

27. The transition structure according to claim 25, characterized in that the truss box comprises an upper sliding bearing arranged above the truss, wherein a primary sliding surface designed according to the previous claims is arranged between the upper sliding bearing and the truss.

28. The transition structure according to claim 27, characterized in that the upper sliding bearing is rotatably attached to the truss box.

29. The transition structure according to claim 27, characterized in that the upper sliding bearing is a sliding spring.

30. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition structure is a swivel truss design.

31. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition structure is a guided cross-tie design for railroad bridge construction.

32. The transition structure according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of, preferably two, primary sliding surfaces, whose axes of movement (A) differ from one another, are arranged between a truss and a slat.

33. The transition structure of claim 32, characterized in that the axes of movement (A) are parallel to each other and are preferably arranged in the plane of movement (B) of the transition structure or in a plane parallel thereto.

Description

[0052] In the following, advantageous embodiments of the present invention will now be described schematically with reference to figures, wherein

[0053] FIG. 1 is a side view of a transition structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a transition structure according to a second embodiment;

[0055] FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view of the transition structure shown in FIG. 2;

[0056] FIG. 4 is a side view and exploded view of an intersection point of a slat with a truss of the transition structures shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0057] FIG. 5 is a section of the exploded view shown in FIG. 4;

[0058] FIG. 6 is a side view and exploded view of an intersection of a slat with a truss of a transition structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 7 is a section of the exploded view shown in FIG. 6;

[0060] FIG. 8 is a section of an intersection point K of a transition structure according to a fourth embodiment; and

[0061] FIG. 9 is a section of an intersection point K of a transition structure according to a fifth embodiment.

[0062] Identical components in the various embodiments are marked with the same reference signs.

[0063] FIG. 1 shows the schematic structure of a transition structure 10A according to a particularly advantageous embodiment. The transition structure 10A has three trusses 16 which are arranged between two structure parts 12a and 12b of the structure 12 and thus bridge the structural joint 14 between the two structure parts 12a and 12b. In this regard, the trusses 16 are each supported at their ends in a truss box 18 of the transition structure 10A. Thus, the transition structure 10A has a total of six such truss boxes 18 formed at the structure edges of the corresponding structure parts 12a and 12b of the structure 12. The transition structure 10A shown is formed as a pivoting truss structure. Thus, the trusses 16 are here all rotatably and longitudinally slidably supported in the respective truss boxes 18. Such a support point can be realized, for example, by a lower sliding bearing 52 arranged below the truss 16 and an upper sliding bearing 50 arranged above the truss 16. The upper sliding bearing 50 is designed as a sliding spring that can rotate about its vertical axis. The trusses 16 are mounted in the truss boxes 18 on the structure part 12a so as to be displaceable in their longitudinal direction with only a small play. This allows rotational movements of the truss 16 to be compensated for. It would also be possible for one end of a truss 16 to be held fixedly, while merely being rotatable, in the truss box 18. For example, the truss 16 could have a bore and the truss box 18 could have a trunnion to support the end of the truss 16 accordingly (not shown).

[0064] Further, the transition structure 10A has nine slats 20 and two edge slats 20a, the two edge slats 20a being fixedly connected to the corresponding truss boxes 18. The slats 20 and edge slats 20a are spaced apart and slidably mounted on the trusses 16. Thus, at each intersection point K of a slat 20 with a truss 16, a primary sliding surface 22 is located between the two components. In this embodiment, the primary sliding surface 22 is configured to allow the slat 20 to move along the longitudinal axis of the truss 16 relative thereto at the intersection point K. In addition, the slat 20 is rotatably mounted at the intersection point K relative to the truss 16 about the vertical axis V. For this purpose, a rotatable sliding bearing 24 is arranged between the slat 20 and the truss 16 at the respective intersection points K. The sliding bearing 24 is rotatably attached to the upper side of the slat 20 and rests on the lower side of the truss 16. Thus, the primary sliding surface 22 extends here between the sliding bearing 24 and the truss 16.

[0065] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a perspective view of a portion of a transition structure 10B according to a second embodiment. The transition structure 10B is substantially the same as the transition structure 10A of the first embodiment. The identical components will not be further discussed below.

[0066] The transition structure 10B differs only in that it has only three slats 20 and two edge slats 20a. As can be seen, in particular, from the bottom view of FIG. 3, in this embodiment the central truss 16 is mounted rectangular to the construction joint axis and thus also rectangular to the slats 20 and edge slats 20a. The two outer trusses 16, on the other hand, are aligned at an angle to the slats 20 and edge slats 20a.

[0067] In FIGS. 4 and 5, an intersection point K of a slat 20 with a truss 16 is shown in more detail as an example. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, the sliding bearing 24 includes a base plate 26, a support plate 28, and an elastomeric layer 30 therebetween. The base plate 26 includes a first trunnion 32, by means of which the sliding bearing 24 is attached to the slat 20 so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis V of rotation. Alternatively, the slat 20 may include the trunnion 32 (not shown). The support plate 28, on the other hand, rests on the cross-member 16 so that the actual primary sliding surface 22 is located between the support plate 28 and the truss 16.

[0068] The primary sliding surface 22 includes two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b, each arranged in mutually angled sliding planes 34a and 34b. In this regard, the two sliding planes 34a and 34b meet at a common line of intersection S that forms an axis of movement A along which the slat 20 can move relative to the truss 16. The two sliding planes 34a and 34b are arranged at an oblique angle to a movement plane B of the transition structure 10A, 10B. At the intersection point K, the plane of movement B is spanned by the axis of movement A and a line parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the slat 20. In this embodiment, the plane of movement B corresponds to the horizontal. All horizontal and vertical alignments of components and load actions described here therefore also refer to the plane of movement B. The two sliding planes 34a and 34b are arranged so that the line of intersection S is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truss 16. This allows the slat 20 to move uniformly relative to the truss 16 along both directions of the axis of movement A.

[0069] The two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b are arranged in such a way that the corresponding sliding planes 34a and 34b form the shape of a pitched roof. Here, the axis of movement A is to be understood as the ridge of the pitched roof. Furthermore, the two partial sliding planes 22a and 22b are of the same size and are formed symmetrically with respect to each other in relation to a symmetry plane E running through the line of intersection S in the vertical direction. It would also be conceivable to dimension the two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b differently (not shown) in order to design them for different loads in each case.

[0070] In addition, the primary sliding surface 22 includes a sliding material 36 to reduce friction between the slat 20 and the truss 16. In the present case, the support plate 28 includes a sliding pad 36a and 36b in the area of each of the two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b for this purpose. Both sliding pads 36a and 36b include a permanently lubricated sliding material such as PTFE. It would also be possible to use UHMWPE, POM and/or PA here. In addition, the truss 16 includes a sliding plate 38a and 38b made of stainless steel in the area of each of the two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b. The two sliding pads 36a and 36b thus rest on the sliding plates 38a and 38b to slide along them. This can reduce friction between the support plate 28 and the truss 16, as well as wear on the sliding material 36. Alternatively, lubricated polymer sliding disks with prefabricated lubrication pockets could be used here. For example, the truss 16 could also be made of a metallic sliding material. In this case, the two sliding plates 38a and 38b could also be omitted.

[0071] The special arrangement of the primary sliding surface 22 or the two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b allows a functional combination of vertical and horizontal load transfer. On the one hand, vertical loads can be absorbed via the two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b and transferred from the slat 20 to the truss 16. The same applies to horizontal loads directed transversely to the axis of movement A. Thus, on the other hand, these can also be absorbed by the two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b and transferred accordingly between the slat 20 and the truss 16.

[0072] The ratio of absorbable vertical loads and horizontal loads transverse to the axis of movement A can be adjusted by the inclination of the two partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b or the corresponding two sliding planes 34a and 34b. Thus, both sliding planes 34a and 34b include a first angle α selected such that no gap occurs in the area of the primary sliding surface 22 in the state of use of the transition structure 10A, 10B. The first angle α is even selected such that no gap occurs in the area of the primary sliding surface 22 even in the ultimate limit state of the transition structure 10A, 10B. In this embodiment, the first angle α is 90 degrees. However, if the transition structure 10A, 10B is to be designed for horizontal loads of lesser magnitude, a more obtuse first angle α can also be used.

[0073] Alternatively or additionally, the inclination of the two sliding planes 34a and 34b can also be indicated by their intersection angle with respect to the plane of movement B of the transition structure 10A, 10B. Thus, both sliding planes 34a and 34b are angled or inclined downwardly relative to the plane of movement B by a second angle β. In the present embodiment, both sliding planes 34a and 34b have the same second angle β, which here is 45 degrees. However, a somewhat flatter second angle β can also be selected in the case of horizontal loads of lesser magnitude.

[0074] Furthermore, the transition structure 10A, 10B has a bracket 40 with a biasing unit 42 in the area of the intersection point K. The bracket 40 is attached to the slat 20. Furthermore, the bracket 40 and the biasing unit 42 are configured such that the slat 20 is biased, displaceable and rotatable about the vertical axis V at the intersection point K relative to the truss 16 by means of the biasing unit 42. In this embodiment, the biasing unit 42 is designed as a sliding spring. The sliding spring is attached to the underside of the truss 16, so that a horizontal sliding surface 44 is located between the sliding spring and the truss 16. However, the sliding spring does not have any guiding surfaces. This enables the rotational movements about the vertical axis V.

[0075] In the area of the horizontal sliding surface 44, the sliding spring contains a sliding material 46 in the form of a lubricated sliding disk with PTFE. However, the use of UHMWPE, POM and/or PA would also be conceivable. Furthermore, the sliding disk has several prefabricated lubrication pockets in which the lubricant can be stored and evenly distributed in the area of the horizontal sliding surface 44.

[0076] Furthermore, the bracket 40 includes a rigid connecting element 48A. The connecting element 48A may alternatively be formed as a second trunnion 48B, via which the sliding spring is rotatably attached to the bracket 40. This is advantageous, for example, if the biasing unit 42 has any guiding surfaces adjacent the horizontal sliding surface 44. In this case, the first trunnion 32 of the sliding bearing 24 and the second trunnion 48B of the bracket 40 form a common axis of rotation D. As a result, the slat 20 is mounted so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation D, and thus about the vertical axis V, relative to the truss 16 at the intersection point K. Thus, despite preload, the degrees of freedom between the slat 20 and the truss 16 provided by the sliding bearing 24 are not further restricted.

[0077] In the present embodiment, the primary sliding surfaces 22 form a common axis of movement A at all intersection points K along a truss 16. In addition, the corresponding partial sliding surfaces 22a and 22b lie in the same sliding planes 34a and 34b. Thus, the truss 16 has a constant cross-section along its longitudinal axis in the sliding region. This can simplify the construction of the transition structure 10A, 10B and reduce costs in manufacturing.

[0078] The support plate 28 is designed to be deformable in the event of high loads being applied. Thus, if sufficiently high loads are applied to the support plate 28, its horizontal section comes into contact with a horizontal section of the truss 16. As a result, the primary sliding surface 22 has a further horizontal partial sliding surface 22c between the support plate 28 and the truss 16.

[0079] The advantages of the primary sliding surface 22 according to the invention can also be applied to the bearing of the trusses 16 in the truss boxes 18. As mentioned further above, the trusses 16 are received in the respective truss box 18 via an upper sliding bearing 50 or a corresponding sliding spring and a lower sliding bearing 52. Thus, the truss 16 can be biased relative to the lower sliding bearing by means of the slide spring. The sliding spring can be rotatably attached to the ceiling of the truss box 18 via a trunnion. In this embodiment, however, the trunnion is attached to the underside of the edge slat 20a, which adjoins the ceiling of the truss box 18. In addition, the sliding spring rests on the truss 16. Thus, between the sliding spring and the truss 16 there is another primary sliding surface as described previously.

[0080] In FIGS. 6 and 7, an intersection point K of a slat 120 and a truss 116 of a transition structure 110 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The transition structure 110 is substantially the same as the transition structure 10B of the second embodiment. The identical components will not be further discussed below.

[0081] However, the transition structure 110 differs from the transition structure 10B of the second embodiment in that the primary sliding surface 122 between the slat 120 or the sliding bearing 124 and the truss 116 is configured differently. Here, the two partial sliding surfaces 122a and 122b angled towards each other are arranged such that the corresponding sliding planes 134a and 134b form the shape of an upside-down pitched roof. Here, too, the axis of movement A forms the ridge of the pitched roof. The design of the components arranged in the area of the primary sliding surface 122, such as the sliding plates 138a and 138b and the sliding pads 136a and 136b, has been adapted accordingly. The same applies to the components of the sliding bearing 124, such as the base plate 126, the elastomeric layer 130 and the support plate 128. Their basic functions, however, remain as described above.

[0082] The advantages of this embodiment correspond essentially to those of the second embodiment. In addition, the sliding bearing 124 can be designed to be stronger at the most highly stressed center in the area of the axis of rotation D than in the peripheral area without requiring further installation space in the vertical direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment the point of zero torque, i.e. the intersection point of the three loads at right angles to the sliding surface in the biasing unit 42 or sliding spring and the sliding bearing 124, is shifted upwards to the height of the slat 120. This improves the torsional stiffness at the intersection point K.

[0083] In FIG. 8, a section of an intersection point K of a slat 120 and a truss 116 of a transition structure 210 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. The transition structure 210 is substantially the same as the transition structure 110 of the third embodiment. The identical components will not be further discussed below.

[0084] However, the transition structure 210 differs in that it has a different sliding bearing 224. Here, the support plate 228 is formed in two pieces. In addition, the sliding bearing 224 has two shear surfaces 254 and 256, each of which is arranged in a plane 258 and 260 between the support plate 228 and the base plate 226. In this regard, the two planes 258 and 260 are arranged at an oblique angle to the sliding planes 134a and 134b of the partial sliding surfaces 122a and 122b, which are angled relative to one another.

[0085] FIG. 9 shows a section of an intersection point K of a slat 120 and a truss 116 of a transition structure 310 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The transition structure 310 is substantially the same as the transition structure 110 of the third embodiment. The components of the same construction will not be further discussed below. Further, for clarity, not all details of the sliding bearing, truss and associated sliding surfaces in the figure are described.

[0086] The transition structure 310 differs from the transition structure 110 of the third embodiment in that two of the primary sliding surfaces 122, as described above, are arranged side by side between the truss 116 and the slat 120. In particular, the two primary sliding surfaces 122 are formed identically. Thus, the respective partial sliding surfaces 122a and 122b of the two primary sliding surfaces 122 are arranged such that the respective sliding planes 134a and 134b form the shape of an upside-down pitched roof. In this case, the two lines of intersection S and the two movement axes A of the two primary sliding surfaces 122 differ from each other, respectively. In this embodiment, the two axes of movement A are parallel to each other. Moreover, the two axes of movement A are arranged in the plane of movement B of the transition structure 310. The further primary sliding surface 122 further reduces the risk of a gap in the overall primary sliding surface at the intersection point K of the transition structure 310. At the same time, the slat 120 can move in the intersection point K with as little resistance as possible relative to the truss 116 due to the parallel arrangement of the two movement axes A relative to each other in the movement plane B.

[0087] The transition structure according to the invention can alternatively be designed as a guided cross-tie design for railroad bridge construction. Here, too, the basic principle of the described swivel truss design is applied.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0088] 10A, 10B,

[0089] 110, 210, 310 Transition structure

[0090] 12 Structure

[0091] 12a First structure part

[0092] 12b Second structure part

[0093] 14 Structural joint

[0094] 16, 116 Truss

[0095] 18 Truss box

[0096] 20, 120 Slat

[0097] 20a Edge slat

[0098] 22, 122 Primary sliding surface

[0099] 22a, 122a Partial sliding surface

[0100] 22b, 122b Partial sliding surface

[0101] 22c Partial sliding surface

[0102] 24, 124, 224 Sliding bearing

[0103] 26, 126, 226 Base plate

[0104] 28, 128, 228 Support plate

[0105] 30, 130 Elastomeric layer

[0106] 32 First trunnion

[0107] 34a, 134a Sliding plane

[0108] 34b, 134b Sliding plane

[0109] 36 Sliding material

[0110] 36a, 136a Sliding pad

[0111] 36b, 136b Sliding pad

[0112] 38a, 138a Sliding plate

[0113] 38b, 138b Sliding plate

[0114] 40 Bracket

[0115] 42 Biasing unit

[0116] 44 Horizontal sliding surface

[0117] 46 Sliding material

[0118] 48A Connecting element

[0119] 48B Second trunnion

[0120] 50 Upper sliding bearing

[0121] 52 Lower sliding bearing

[0122] 254 Shear surface

[0123] 256 Shear surface

[0124] 258 Plane

[0125] 260 Plane

[0126] A Axis of movement

[0127] B Plane of movement

[0128] D Axis of rotation

[0129] E Plane of symmetry

[0130] S Line of intersection

[0131] K Intersection point

[0132] L Longitudinal axis

[0133] V Vertical axis

[0134] α First angle

[0135] β Second angle