BRIDGE DESIGN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 167, 13 October 1941, Page 2

BRIDGE DESIGN

BRITISH DEVELOPMENT

CAN BE BUILT I\ T SIX HOURS

A bridge of OOP" span can now be built bv V 2 men in six i.ov.rs as a re-

sult of the application in a novel design of standardised biidge units by British engineer.

The basis of the construction consists of five standardised steel parts —a standard girder a eucular bobbin or drum to which all crossgirders can be fixed, u U-shaped hangar plate, a cross- t;ii der (for roadway and heavy bridges), and standardised floor plaice, 10ft long and 2%ft wide. In spile of the fact that spans 130 ft long can be built for heavy loads, all these parts are comparatively light. The components have been designed without projections, and large numbers can thus be stacked and packed in small warehouse or ship sp'^e.

The aim has been tc provide a series of simple standard components all interchangeable, f■ cm which every type of br'dge i*;*n be built. In Avar, when bridges may have to be replaced with all the advantages of such * rjuipmc nt are evident. Equally imi-vtant is the case with which permanent Liidges can now be built in difficult "up-coun-try" territory whore transport may be limited to naliv-3 comers using quite primitive appliances. Girders can be assembled with ease. The different parts cat: be immediately identified. Even the mils and bolts which grip the structure are of a standardised size throughout. Cocoa: —£11,00,000 foul ETA HUGE PURCHASES OF WOOL The British Government has spent round about £17.1,000.000 on cotton from Eigypt and on cocoa and wool from the British Empire since war broke out, Lord Moyne, Colonial Secretary, told Lord Parnby in the House of Lords. Of the total, £11,000,000 has gone on cocoa, almost all of it from Nigeria and the Gold £25,000,000 on cotton and cotton seed from Egypt; and £135,000,000 on wool from the Dominions and certain of the Colonies. The wool figure covers two complete wool years for Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Falkland Islands and one year wool for Kenya.

Much of the cocoa, cotton and wool has now been re-sold.