US 2014/0174018 A1Published application

Column connector system

AssigneeManitowoc Crane Companies, LLC

InventorsRobert J. Walker, David J. Pech

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Abstract

A connector for a column segment, such as a boom segment, of a crane includes n extensions, where n is a positive integer. Each extension has a first base and an aperture extends through the extension from a first side to a second side. The first connector also includes at least (n+y) plates, where y is selected from the group consisting of (−1, +1) such that the sum of (n+y) is a positive integer. The plate or plates are positioned in and coupled to the extensions in an alternating arrangement. Each plate includes a plate base aligned substantially in a plane with the first base of the extension to form a first connector mounting surface. A plurality of welds couple the plates to the extensions and the fabricated connector is then welded to the column segment. At least one extension is formed of steel having a grain structure elongated in a direction of rolling that is substantially perpendicular to the first base.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A column segment of a column of a crane, the column having multiple segments coupled together with a column connector system, the crane having an upper works rotatably mounted on a lower works, the upper works including a load hoist winch, the column segment comprising:

a) a plurality of chords in which a lattice structure couples each chord to at least another chord, each chord having a first end and a second end;
b) a first connector on the second end of at least one of the chords, the first connector including:
n extensions, where n is a positive integer, each extension having:
a first base;
a first side extending away from the first base;
a second side extending away from the first base, the second side being spaced apart from the first side;
and;
a first aperture extending through the extension from the first side to the second side;
at least (n+y) plates, where y is selected from the group consisting of (−1, +1) such that the sum of (n+y) is a positive integer, the plates positioned in and coupled to the extensions in an alternating arrangement, the plates having:
a plate base aligned substantially in a plane with the first base to form a first connector mounting surface;
a first plate side extending away from the plate base, the first plate side being positioned adjacent to one of the first side and the second side of one of the extensions;
and,
a second plate side extending away from the plate base, the second plate side being spaced apart from the first plate side.

10 more elements

A column connector system for a crane having a column with multiple segments coupled together with the column connector system, the crane having an upper works rotatably mounted on a lower works, the upper works including a load hoist winch, the column connector system comprising:

a) a first column segment having a first end and a second end;
b) at least a second column segment having a first end and a second end;
c) a first connector on the second end of the first column segment, the first connector including:
at least two exterior extensions, each exterior extension having:
a first base;
a first side perpendicular to the first base;
a second side perpendicular to the first base, the second side being spaced apart from the first side;
and,
a first aperture through the exterior extension;
at least one interior plate coupled to at least one of the exterior extensions, the interior plate having:
an interior plate base aligned substantially in a plane with the first base to form a first connector mounting surface;
a first interior plate side perpendicular to the interior plate base, the first interior plate side being positioned adjacent to one of the first side and the second side of one of the exterior extensions;
and,
a second interior plate side perpendicular to the interior plate base, the second interior plate side being spaced apart from the first interior plate side;
d) a second connector on the first end of the second column segment, the second connector including:
at least one interior extension having:
a second base;
a first side perpendicular to the second base;
a second side perpendicular to the second base, the second side being spaced apart from the first side;
and,
a second aperture through the interior extension
a first exterior plate and a second exterior plate, at least one of the first exterior plate and the second exterior plate being coupled to the at least one interior extension, each of the exterior plates having:
an exterior plate base aligned substantially in a plane with the second base of the at least one interior extension of the second connector to form a second connector mounting surface;
a first exterior plate side perpendicular to the exterior plate base;
a second exterior plate side perpendicular to the exterior plate base, the second exterior plate side being spaced apart from the first exterior plate side;
and,
e) a pin inserted through the first aperture of each exterior extension and the second aperture of each interior extension of the first connector and the second connector, the pin coupling the first connector to the second connector.

24 more elements

A boom connector system for a crane having a boom with multiple segments coupled together with the boom connector system, the crane having an upper works rotatably mounted on a lower works, the upper works including a load hoist winch, the boom connector system comprising:

a) a first boom segment having a first end and a second end;
b) at least a second boom segment having a first end and a second end;
c) a first connector on the second end of the first boom segment, the first connector including:
two exterior extensions, each exterior extension having:
a first base;
a first side perpendicular to the first base;
a second side perpendicular to the first base, the second side being spaced apart from the first side;
and,
a first aperture through the exterior extension;
at least one interior extension having:
a second base;
a first side perpendicular to the second base;
a second side perpendicular to the second base, the second side being spaced apart from the first side;
and,
a second aperture through the interior extension;
an interior plate disposed between and coupled to the interior extension and one of the exterior extensions, another interior plate disposed between and coupled to the interior extension and the other exterior extension, each of the interior plates having:
an interior plate base aligned substantially in a plane with the first base and the second base to form a first connector mounting surface;
a first interior plate side perpendicular to the interior plate base, the first interior plate side being positioned adjacent to the second side of the exterior extension;
and,
a second interior plate side perpendicular to the interior plate base, the second interior plate side being spaced apart from the first interior plate side, the second interior plate side being positioned adjacent to one of the first side and the second side of the interior extension;
d) a second connector on the first end of the second boom segment, the second connector including:
at least two interior extensions;
at least one interior plate disposed between and coupled to each of the two interior extensions of the second connector, the interior plate base being aligned in a plane with each of the first bases of the two interior extension of the second connector to form a second connector mounting surface, the first interior plate side being positioned adjacent to the second side of one of the interior extensions of the second connector, and the second interior plate side being positioned adjacent to the first side of the other interior extension of the second connector;
an exterior plate coupled to one of the interior extensions, another exterior plate coupled to the other interior extension, each of the exterior plates having:
an exterior plate base aligned substantially in a plane with the second base of each of the interior extensions of the second connector to form a second connector mounting surface;
a first exterior plate side perpendicular to the exterior plate base;
and,
a second exterior plate side perpendicular to the exterior plate base, the second exterior plate side being spaced apart from the first exterior plate side, the second exterior plate side being positioned adjacent to one of the first side and the second side of one of the interior extensions of the second connector;
and,
e) a pin inserted through the first aperture of each exterior extension and the second aperture of each interior extension of the first connector and the second connector, the pin coupling the first connector to the second connector.

27 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.