Bridge failure alarm
US5479150A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B21/10
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A bridge failure alarm system designed to be used with bridges has a plurality of spans across the length of the bridge, activates an alarm whenever the distance between any two adjacent spans is greater than a predetermined safe distance. This is accomplished by providing a conduction path extending from one end of the bridge along a first side of the bridge to the other end of the bridge and then back to the first end of the bridge by a conduction path located on the other side of the bridge. Between every expansion joint located between each adjacent span of the bridge are two jumpers to provide electrical connection across the expansion joints, one jumper located on each side of the bridge proximate to each expansion joint. In this manner, should any one of the expansion joints exceed a predetermined width placing two adjacent spans at a distance greater than the predetermined safe distance, at least one of the jumpers located therebetween will break the conduction path causing the alarm to be activated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.