Bearings for structures

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A supporting bearing for the support of a structure such as a bridge or elevated roadway from a supporting pier or embankment has two systems for accommodating misalignment of the bearing with the expected direction of longitudinal movement of the structure and/or non-linear movement such as may be obtained with a curved bridge. These systems may be used alternatively or in addition to one another. In the first system longitudinal guide means which are provided between two relatively longitudinally-movable plate members of the bearing are resiliently mounted to one of the plate members and accommodate the misalignment or non-linear movement by deformation of the resilient mounting, which …