Chimney demolition device and method

A chimney demolition apparatus for demolishing concrete chimneys from the top downward, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first pair of spaced apart horizontal girders,
• (b) a second pair of spaced apart horizontal girders,
• (c) at least one jack interconnecting said first pair of girders and said second pair of girders for power actuated vertical movement of said pairs of girders relative to each other,
• (d) a carriage supported by one of said pairs of girders, said carriage comprising a horizontal ring rail,
• (e) a crane rotatably attached through an upright to said carriage, said crane comprising a horizontal boom having a pair of wheels engaged with said ring for riding thereon, and
• (f) means for power actuated rotation of said crane boom about said upright axis.

A method for demolishing a concrete chimney from the top down, said method comprising

• (a) placing an apparatus on the top of the chimney, said apparatus comprising:
• (i) a first support,
• (ii) a second support,
• (iii) means for power actuated vertical movement of said first support relative to said second support,
• (iv) a crane supported by said first support,
• (v) means for power actuated rotation of said crane about an upright axis, and
• (vi) means for demolishing portions of said chimney,
• (b) demolishing sections of said chimney under said second support,
• (c) lowering said second support until said second support is support by portions of said chimney remaining under where the demolished sections had been,
• (d) demolishing sections of said chimney which are at an elevation of the previously demolished sections leaving sections directly beneath first support,
• (e) raising the first support,
• (f) demolishing the sections directly beneath the first support, and
• (g) repeating steps (b)-(f) to demolish the chimney in step-wise fashion.

A method for demolishing a concrete chimney, said method comprising:

• (a) placing an apparatus on the top of the chimney, said apparatus comprising:
• a first support, a second support, a crane carried by said first support and rotatable about an upright axis, a saw carried by said crane for positioning thereby,
• (b) using said saw to remove any sections directly beneath said second support to a uniform elevation beneath said second support,
• (c) lowering said second support to said uniform elevation to be supported by sections beneath said uniform elevation,
• (d) using said saw to remove the remaining sections above said uniform elevation leaving sections directly beneath said first support,
• (e) raising said first support,
• (f) removing said sections beneath said first support to said uniform elevation,
• (g) lowering said first support to said uniform level,
• (h) repeating steps (a)-(f) to remove sections of said chimney above a lower uniform elevation.