Crane counterweight and handling method
AssigneeKidde, Inc.
InventorsRamesh P. Patel, Alfred Bonnell, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An extremely massive mobile crain counterweight requiring demounting from the crane rotary superstructure for separate transport or storage has self-contained raising and lowering mechanism which may be powered from the crane carrier and which forms a part of the counterweight mass. The internal counterweight mechanism is shielded from ballast, such as shot, which fills the interior of the counterweight. A foot plate forming a part of the raising and lowering mechanism of the counterweight is lockable in extended and retracted positions and is constructed for interlocking engagement with a locator structure on the crane carrier. An efficient and simplified sequence of counterweight manipulating steps is enabled.
Claims16
A crane counterweight assembly comprising a body portion adapted for supportive attachment to a crane superstructure to counterbalance the superstructure, and raising and lowering means for the counterweight assembly wholly mounted on and carried by the counterweight assembly forming a part of the counterweight mass and enabling its separation from and mounting on a crane superstructure, said raising and lowering means being carried by said counterweight assembly during its separated and mounted positions and adapted to be powered by a power means on a crane.
In a mobile crane, a crane carrier having a counterweight locator and support means thereon, a turntable mounted superstructure and crane boom on said carrier, a counterweight assembly for the superstructure including means supportively and detachably engageable with the superstructure, and power raising and lowering means for the counterweight assembly wholly mounted on and carried by the counterweight assembly forming a part of the counterweight mass and including a foot element adapted to be extended into supportive engagement with the counterweight locator and support means, said raising and lowering means being carried by said counterweight assembly during its supported and detached positions and adapted to be energized by means on the crane carrier.
A method of handling a crane counterweight assembly comprising lifting the counterweight assembly by energizing power lifting means contained on the assembly to separate the assembly from supportive means on a crane superstructure, locking the counterweight assembly in a raised self-supporting state free of said superstructure and de-energizing the power lifting means, and then bodily lifting and transporting the locked counterweight assembly including the power lifting means to a required location.
A method of handling a crane counterweight assembly comprising lifting the assembly by energizing power lifting means contained within the assembly to separate the assembly from supportive means on a crane, locking the counterweight assembly in a raised self-supporting state free of said supportive means and de-energizing the power lifting means, and rotating the supportive means relative to the locked counterweight assembly to move a lifting and carrying part of the supportive means to an engaging position relative to the counterweight assembly, and lifting and carrying the counterweight assembly by operation of said part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.