Apparatus and method for rebuilding a spreader beam
AssigneeSteel Equipment Specialists LLC
InventorsJohn W. Sanor, William Jacob Eyer, IV, David D. Gingerich, David J. Render
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spreader beam and related method provide a simplified repair or rebuilding capability for wear parts of the spreader beam. The disclosed spreader beam includes removable sheave nests containing sheaves, which are the wear parts in a spreader beam. The disclosed spreader beam saves time and costs since an entire spreader beam need not be transported to a repair shop, rather only the removable sheave nests, or only the sheaves. In one embodiment, sheaves and sheave nests may be removed and replaced without the need for unwinding supporting cables.
Claims12
A method of reconditioning a spreader beam, the spreader beam including a main frame, a sheave nest releasably engaging the main frame, and a first plurality of sheaves releasably engaging the sheave nest, the method comprising:
- disassembling the spreader beam, the step of disassembling the spreader beam including removing the sheave nest from the main frame;
- maintaining an operating orientation of a plurality of suspension cables, wherein the plurality of suspension cables are engaged with the first plurality of sheaves of the spreader beam while the sheave nest is disassembled from the first plurality of sheaves;
- removing the sheave nest from the plurality of suspension cables;
- and
- reassembling the spreader beam using a new, rebuilt, or repaired sheave nest, the spreader beam receiving the new, rebuilt, or repaired sheave nest therein.
A method of reconditioning a spreader beam, comprising:
- disassembling the spreader beam;
- maintaining an operating orientation of a plurality of suspension cables, wherein the plurality of suspension cables are engaged with a first plurality of sheaves of the spreader beam;
- removing the sheave nest from the plurality of suspension cables;
- reassembling the spreader beam using a new, rebuilt, or repaired sheave nest, the spreader beam receiving the new, rebuilt, or repaired sheave nest therein;
- wherein the step of disassembling the spreader beam comprises:
- disassembling a sheave nest of the spreader beam from a main frame of the spreader beam;
- and disassembling the sheave nest from the first plurality of sheaves of the spreader beam while maintaining the operating orientation of the plurality of suspension cables;
- wherein the step of disassembling the sheave nest from the main frame comprises:
- removing at least a first securement assembly from the sheave nest and a receiver of the spreader beam, the first securement assembly including a first pin;
- and
- removing at least a second securement assembly from the sheave nest and the receiver, the second securement assembly including a second pin.
A method of reconditioning a spreader beam, the spreader beam including a main frame, a sheave nest releasably engaged with the main frame, and a first plurality of sheaves releasably engaged with the sheave nest, comprising:
- disassembling the sheave nest from the main frame;
- maintaining an operating orientation of a plurality of suspension cables, wherein the plurality of suspension cables are engaged with the first plurality of sheaves of the spreader beam;
- disassembling the sheave nest from the first plurality of sheaves while the first plurality of sheaves engages the plurality of suspension cables and while maintaining the operating orientation of a plurality of suspension cables;
- removing the sheave nest from the plurality of suspension cables;
- and
- reassembling the spreader beam using a new, rebuilt, or repaired sheave nest, the spreader beam receiving the new, rebuilt, or repaired sheave nest therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.