Innovative Bridge Launch Linkage Assembly

The US Army currently uses the Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge (AVLB) to temporarily span gaps in the terrain such as rivers, ravines or replace blown-up bridges. The launch system utilizes an in-bridge hydraulic cylinder and cable-pulley system to deploy and retrieve the 63-foot-long scissor type bridge. This hydraulic cylinder and cable- pulley system is bulky, heavy and adds significant load to the bridge (approximately 5,000 lbs.). Furthermore, the hydraulic system requires heavy maintenance to the hydraulic lines. In this submission we propose an innovative solution to replace the current heavy hydraulic cylinder and cable/pulley system in deploying and retrieving the bridge within the time limits set by the Army. The actuation system for the proposed solution includes a power screw, a DC motor, a gear box and a power modulator (converter). The required power will be provided by a set of batteries.It is expected that the structure of the proposed solution and the components necessary for actuation and power will weigh less than the current hydraulic cylinder and cable/pulley system with an estimated weight savings of 35%. In addition, the proposed solution will require less maintenance and will be more reliable.