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Bascule Bridge
*** Shopping-Tip: Bascule Bridge
{{BridgeTypePix|
|type_name= Bascule bridge
|image=MovableBridge_draw.gif
|image_title=This animation shows the movement of a double leaf bascule.
|sibling_names=
Lift bridge,
swing bridge
|descendent_names= None,
lift bridge
|ancestor_names=
Truss bridge,
cantilever bridge
|carries= Pedestrian, automobile, truck, light rail, heavy rail
|span_range= Short
|material= Steel
|movable= Yes
|design= Medium
|falsework= Site and prefabrication specific
|}}
A
bascule bridge is a
drawbridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf", throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic.
Bascule is a
French term for
seesaw and
balance, and bascule bridges operate along the same principle. They are the most common type of movable
bridge in existence because they open quickly and require relatively little energy to operate.
Although the bascule bridge has been in use since ancient times, it was not until the
1850s that engineers developed the ability to move very long, heavy spans quickly enough for practical application.
Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge across
Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge across
Neva_in_
Saint Petersburg was the first large bascule bridge, opened
1850. Since then, all bridges across Neva and other major rivers in the city (total 21) were bascule, to provide navigation, and not allowing city inhabitants to travel across the river at night (this remained so until
2003 when the first
cable-stayed bridge across Neva was open).
Probably the most famous bascule bridge in the world is
Tower Bridge across the
Thames in
London. Originally, the Tower Bridge was a hydraulically operated bridge, using steam power from coal-burning boilers which was stored in six accumulators so that power was readily available when required. The water for the boilers was provided by a well. The steam accumulators fed the engines, which powered the bascules. Today, the bascule mechanism is driven by oil and electricity rather than by steam.
The variant that has below deck counterweights and no superstructure is called a
Chicago bascule as this type was developed there and is used for many of that city's river crossings.
Types of bascule bridges
- Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge [http://discover.edventures.com/functions/termlib.php?action=&termid=3563&alpha=s&searchString=]
- Rall bascule bridge - patented by Theodore Rall in 1901. [http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dbcs/LUT/bridges/bridge_operations/bascule/rall/rall_bascule_brdg_ops.shtml]
- Strauss bascule bridge - patented by Joseph Strauss.[http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dbcs/LUT/bridges/bridge_operations/bascule/strauss/strauss_bascule_brdg_ops.shtml]
- Chicago' or 'fixed-trunnion bascule bridge[http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dbcs/LUT/bridges/bridge_operations/bascule/chicago/chicago_bascule_brdg_ops.shtml]
See also
- List of bascule bridges
Category:Bascule bridges
The
Bascule Bridge is a paved one-lane highway bridge in
Westport, Massachusetts|Westport,
Massachusetts,
USA.
Massachusetts Route 88 passes over the bridge from Westport Point and Wood Point in southern
Massachusetts Route 88 passes over the bridge from Westport Point and Wood Point in southern
Westport, Massachusetts|Westport to the
Horseneck Beach State Reservation, connecting with John Reed Road. The bridge passes over the water between
Westport Harbor and
Horseneck Channel. There is a section of the bridge that is specially-built for the intent purpose of regulating the water flow between
Westport Harbor and
Horseneck Channel & the
East Branch (Massachusetts)|East Branch river.
*** Shopping-Tip: Bascule Bridge
