Apparatus for servicing the main cable of a suspension bridge
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B61B-007/00
B61B-012/04
B61B-012/00
출원번호
UP-0699865
(2007-01-30)
등록번호
US-7552685
(2009-07-09)
발명자
/ 주소
Frangos, Emanouel
Silberman, Scott
출원인 / 주소
Easy Access Systems, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Herberger, Robert J.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
4인용 특허 :
14
초록▼
A trolley travels in response to rotation of a winch along a main cable of a suspension bridge having a tower and support cables extending along and substantially parallel to the main cable. The trolley includes a support assembly engaged with the support cables, first and second enclosures suspende
A trolley travels in response to rotation of a winch along a main cable of a suspension bridge having a tower and support cables extending along and substantially parallel to the main cable. The trolley includes a support assembly engaged with the support cables, first and second enclosures suspended from the support assembly, each enclosure located at a laterally opposite side of the main cable, and a tugger cable engaged with the winch and connected to the support assembly for pulling the enclosures along the main cable toward the tower and/or allowing the enclosures to move along the main cable away from the tower.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A system for transporting a trolley along a first main cable of a suspension bridge having a tower, the system comprising: first and second support cables, each support cable located above the first main cable and extending along and substantially parallel to the first main c
What is claimed is: 1. A system for transporting a trolley along a first main cable of a suspension bridge having a tower, the system comprising: first and second support cables, each support cable located above the first main cable and extending along and substantially parallel to the first main cable; a trolley that includes lead and trail support assemblies engaged with the support cables, the lead support assembly having first and second enclosures suspended therefrom, each first and second enclosure located at a laterally opposite side of the first main cable, so that the first main cable is positioned between the first and second enclosures, the trail support assembly having third and fourth enclosures suspended therefrom, the third and fourth enclosures being spaced laterally with respect to the first main cable, so that the first main cable is positioned between the third and fourth enclosures, the third and fourth enclosures being spaced longitudinally from the first and second enclosure, and a first platform is secured to the first and third enclosures, and a second platform is secured is to the second and fourth enclosures; a winch; and a tugger cable engaged with the winch and connected to the support assembly for pulling the enclosures along the first main cable toward the tower to service the first main cable. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the winch is located at an elevation lower than an elevation of the trolley, the system further comprising: pulleys defining a path for the tugger cable between the winch and the support assembly, each pulley providing a rotating surface on which the tugger cable turns around corners along the path. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the support assembly includes: a framework including sheaves engaged with the first and second support cables, connected to and located above the enclosures, and secured to the tugger cable, for transporting the enclosures along the support cables in response to rotation of the winch. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the bridge includes a second main cable substantially parallel to and spaced laterally from the first main cable at a lateral side of a roadway supported by the bridge, the system further comprising: third and fourth support cables, each support cable located above the second main cable and extending along and substantially parallel to the second main cable; and a fifth enclosure suspended from the support assembly, located adjacent the second main cable and at a laterally opposite side of the second main cable from the location of one of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, so that the second main cable is positioned between the fifth enclosure and said one of the first and second enclosures. 5. The system of claim 1, the bridge includes a second main cable substantially parallel to and spaced laterally from the first main cable at a lateral side of a roadway supported by the bridge, the system further comprising: third and fourth support cables, each support cable located above the second main cable and extending along and substantially parallel to the second main cable; a fifth enclosure suspended from the support assembly, located at a laterally opposite side of the second main cable from the location of one of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, so that the second main cable is positioned between the fifth enclosure and said one of the first and second enclosures; and a framework including sheaves engaged with first, second, third and fourth support cables, connected to and located above the enclosures, and secured to the tugger cable, for transporting the first, second and third enclosures along the support cables in response to rotation of the winch. 6. A trolley for traveling along a main cable of a suspension bridge having a tower and support cables extending along and substantially parallel to the main cable, the trolley comprising: a support assembly engaged with the support cables having: a first beam extending longitudinally and located at a first lateral side of the support assembly; a second beam extending longitudinally and located at a second lateral side of the support assembly opposite the first side; a first laterally extending tube located at a leading side of the support assembly and secured to the first beam and the second beam; a second laterally extending tube located at a trailing side of the support assembly and secured to the first beam and the second beam; a third laterally extending tube located between the first tube and the second tube and secured to the first beam and the second beam; sheaves mutually spaced laterally and mounted for rotation on the first tube and the second tube, each sheave engageable with one of the support cables; multiple connection assemblies, each connection assembly secured to one of the first enclosure, the second enclosure, and the third enclosure, and supported on the third tube; and a stabilizing frame having a first member secured to the first beam and third tube, with the first member extending diagonally and being secured to the first tube, a second member secured to the first beam and third tube, with the second member extending diagonally and being secured to the second tube, a third member secured to the second beam and third tube, with the third member extending diagonally and being secured to the first tube, and a fourth member secured to the second beam and third tube, with the fourth member extending diagonally and being secured to the second tube; and first and second enclosures suspended from the support assembly, each enclosure located at a laterally opposite side of the main cable; a third enclosure suspended from the support assembly and spaced laterally from the first and second enclosures; a winch; and a tugger cable engaged with the winch and connected to the support assembly for pulling the enclosures along the main cable toward the tower. 7. The trolley of claim 6, wherein at least one of the enclosures comprises: a floor; posts extending upright from the floor; lateral members mutually spaced along and secured to at least two posts; and longitudinal members mutually spaced along and secured to at least two posts, said members and posts surrounding the enclosure and providing an opening above the floor. 8. The trolley of claim 6, wherein the support assembly further includes: bearings supported on the frame; and wherein each sheave is mounted on one of the bearings and engaged with the first and second support cables, for transporting the enclosures along the support cables in response to rotation of the winch. 9. A trolley for traveling along first and second main cables of a suspension bridge having a tower, support cables extending along and substantially parallel to each of the main cables, the trolley comprising: a leading support assembly engaged with the support cables; first, second and third enclosures suspended from the leading support assembly and spaced laterally with respect to the main cables; a trailing support assembly engaged with the support cables; fourth, fifth and sixth enclosures suspended from the trailing support assembly, spaced laterally with respect to the main cables, and spaced longitudinally from the first, second and third enclosures; and first, second and third platforms, the first platform releasably secured to the first and fourth enclosures, the second platform releasably secured to the second and fifth enclosures, and the third platform releasably secured to the third and sixth enclosures; and a tugger cable connected to the leading support assembly for pulling the enclosures along the main cables. 10. The trolley of claim 9, wherein at least one of the enclosures comprises: a floor; posts extending upright from the floor; lateral members mutually spaced along and secured to at least two posts; and longitudinal members mutually spaced along and secured to at least two posts, said members and posts surrounding the at least one enclosure and providing an opening above the floor. 11. The trolley of claim 9, wherein: the leading support assembly further includes: a first frame connected to and located above the first, second and third enclosures, and secured to the tugger cable; first bearings supported on the first frame; and multiple first sheaves, each first sheave mounted on one of the first bearings and engaged with one of the support cables; and the trailing support assembly further includes: a second frame connected to and located above the fourth, fifth and sixth enclosures; second bearings supported on the second frame; and multiple second sheaves, each second sheave mounted on one of the second bearings and engaged with one of the support cables. 12. The trolley of claim 9, wherein the leading support assembly includes: a first beam extending longitudinally and located at a first lateral side of the leading support assembly; a second beam extending longitudinally and located at a second lateral side of the leading support assembly opposite the first side; a first, laterally extending tube located at a leading side of the leading support assembly and secured to the first beam and the second beam; a second, laterally extending tube located at a trailing side of the leading support assembly and secured to the first beam and the second beam; a third, laterally extending tube located between the first tube and the second tube and secured to the first beam and the second beam; first sheaves mutually spaced laterally and mounted for rotation on the first tube and the second tube, each first sheave engaged one of the support cables; and multiple connection assemblies, each connection assembly secured to one of the first, second and third enclosures and supported on the third tube. 13. The trolley of claim 12 further comprising a leading stabilizing frame including: a first member secured to the first beam and third tube, extending diagonally, and secured to the first tube; a second member secured to the first beam and third tube, and extending diagonally, and secured to the second tube; a third member secured to the second beam and third tube, extending diagonally, and secured to the first tube; and a fourth member secured to the second beam and third tube, extending diagonally, and secured to the second tube. 14. The trolley of claim 9, wherein the trailing support assembly includes: a third beam extending longitudinally and located at a first lateral side of the trailing support assembly; a fourth beam extending longitudinally and located at a second lateral side of the trailing support assembly opposite the first side; a fourth, laterally extending tube located at a leading side of the trailing support assembly and secured to the third beam and the fourth beam; a fifth, laterally extending tube located at a trailing side of the trailing support assembly and secured to the third beam and the fourth beam; a sixth, laterally extending tube located between the fourth tube and the fifth tube and secured to the third beam and the fourth beam; second sheaves mutually spaced laterally and mounted for rotation on the fourth tube and the fifth tube, each second sheave engaged one of the support cables; and second connection assemblies, each second connection assembly secured to one of the fourth, fifth and sixth enclosures and supported on the sixth tube. 15. The trolley of claim 14 further comprising a trailing stabilizing frame including: a fifth member secured to the third beam and sixth tube, extending diagonally, and secured to the fourth tube; a sixth member secured to the third beam and sixth tube, and extending diagonally, and secured to the fifth tube; a seventh member secured to the fourth beam and sixth tube, extending diagonally, and secured to the fourth tube; and an eighth member secured to the fourth beam and sixth tube, extending diagonally, and secured to the fifth tube. 16. The trolley of claim 9, wherein: the first enclosure, fourth enclosure and first platform are located laterally adjacent the first main cable; the second enclosure, fifth enclosure and second platform are located between the first and second main cables; and the third enclosure, sixth enclosure and third platform are located laterally adjacent the second main cable. 17. A system for transporting a trolley along a first main cable of a suspension bridge having a tower, the system comprising: first and second support cables, each support cable located above the first main cable and extending along and substantially parallel to the first main cable; a winch; and a tugger cable engaged with the winch and connected to a support assembly for pulling the first, second, third and fourth enclosures along the first main cable toward the tower; and p1 wherein the trolley includes the support assembly engaged with the support cables, the support assembly having a frame connected to and located above the enclosures, the trolley having bearings supported on the frame, and multiple sheaves, each sheave mounted on one of the bearings and engaged with the first and second support cables for transporting the enclosures along the support cables; and wherein the support assembly further includes: a leading support assembly having the first and second enclosures suspended therefrom, the first and second enclosures being spaced on a laterally opposite side of the first main cable, so that the first main cable is positioned between the first and second enclosures; a trailing support assembly having the third and fourth enclosures suspended therefrom, the third and fourth enclosures being spaced laterally with respect to the first main cable, so that the first main cable is positioned between the third and fourth enclosures, and wherein the third and fourth enclosures are spaced longitudinally from the first and second enclosures; and first and second platforms, the first platform releasably secured to the first and third enclosures, the second platform releasably secured to the second and fourth enclosures. 18. A system for transporting a trolley along first and second main cables of a suspension bridge having a tower, with support cables extending along and substantially parallel to each of the main cables, the system comprising: a trolley having: a leading support assembly engaged with the support cables; first, second and third enclosures suspended from the leading support assembly and spaced laterally with respect to the main cables; a trailing support assembly engaged with the support cables; fourth, fifth and sixth enclosures suspended from the trailing support assembly, spaced laterally with respect to the main cables, and spaced longitudinally from the first, second and third enclosures; and first, second and third platforms, the first platform releasably secured to the first and fourth enclosures, the second platform releasably secured to the second and fifth enclosures, and the third platform releasably secured to the third and sixth enclosures; and a winch; and a tug cable engaged with the winch and connected to the support assembly for pulling the enclosures along the first and second main cables toward the tower to service the first and second main cables.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (14)
Kelly Terence (Birmingham GB2), Cable supported personnel carrier.
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