Boom Hoist Transportation System and Crane Using Same

A method of dissembling a mobile lift crane, the lift crane comprising, during operation, i) a rotating bed, ii) a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed, iii) a boom hoist drum mounted in a frame, the frame being connected to the rotating bed, iv) a lower equalizer connected to the rotating bed, v) an upper equalizer, vi) fixed length pendants connected between the upper equalizer and the boom top, and vii) a boom hoist line wound on the boom hoist drum and reeved through the lower equalizer and the upper equalizer such that rotation of the boom hoist drum changes the amount of boom hoist line between the lower equalizer and the upper equalizer, thereby changing the angle between the rotating bed and the boom;

• the method comprising:
• a) disconnecting the fixed length pendants from between the boom top and the upper equalizer;
• b) disconnecting the lower equalizer from the rotating bed;
• c) disconnecting the boom hoist drum frame from the rotating bed;
• d) leaving the boom hoist line reeved between the lower equalizer and the upper equalizer and wound on the boom hoist drum;
• and
• e) connecting the lower equalizer and upper equalizer to the boom hoist drum frame to form a combined transport assembly.

A mobile lift crane comprising:

• a) a carbody having moveable ground engaging members;
• b) a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members;
• c) a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed;
• d) a load hoist line trained over a pulley on the boom and wound on a load hoist drum connected to the rotating bed;
• e) a boom hoist drum mounted in a frame, the frame being connected to the rotating bed;
• and
• f) a boom hoist line wound on the boom hoist drum and connected to an upper equalizer and a lower equalizer, with the upper equalizer connected to the top of the boom by fixed length pendants, such that rotation of the boom hoist drum changes the amount of boom hoist line between the lower equalizer and the upper equalizer, thereby changing the angle between the rotating bed and the boom;
• g) the boom hoist drum frame, the lower equalizer and the upper equalizer each including cooperating attachment structures whereby the lower and upper equalizers can be detachably connected to the frame so that the boom hoist drum, the lower equalizer, the upper equalizer and the boom hoist line can be transported as a combined assembly.

A method of setting up a mobile lift crane, comprising:

• a) providing a carbody having moveable ground engaging members, and a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members;
• b) providing a combination of a boom hoist drum secured to a frame, a first equalizer having a plurality of sheaves, a second equalizer having a plurality of sheaves, and a boom hoist line, wherein the first equalizer is detachably connected to the boom hoist drum frame, the second equalizer is also detachably connected to the boom hoist drum frame, and the boom hoist line is wound on the boom hoist drum and reeved between the sheaves of the first and second equalizers;
• c) connecting the combined boom hoist drum, frame and equalizers to the rotating bed;
• d) disconnecting the first and second equalizers from the boom hoist drum frame while leaving the boom hoist line reeved between the pluralities of sheaves;
• e) connecting the first equalizer to the rotating bed;
• f) pivotally connecting a boom having a boom top to the rotating bed;
• and
• g) connecting the second equalizer to the boom top with fixed length pendants.