Carbody connection system and crane using same
AssigneeManitowoc Crane Companies, LLC
InventorsBronson E. Foust, David J. Pech
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile lift crane includes a carbody made from two side members and two end cross members connected to each other with a carbody connection that can be disconnected such that the side members and end cross members can be individually transported between job sites and reassembled at a new job site. Preferably the two side members are interchangeable with each other when making the carbody, and the two end cross members are also interchangeable with each other. Further, each of the side members and end cross members preferably has a section of a roller path and section of a ring gear attached to them while being transported and assembled.
Claims27
A lift crane comprising:
- a) a carbody made from two side members and two end cross members such that each side member is connected to each end cross member with a carbody connection that comprises at least two pins and that can be disconnected such that the side members and end cross members can be individually transported between job sites and reassembled at a new job site;
- b) ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground;
- c) a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members;
- and
- d) a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed.
A lift crane comprising:
- a) a carbody made from a plurality of members, with each member connected to another member with a carbody connection that can be easily disconnected such that the members can be individually transported between job sites and reassembled at a new job site, at least two of the members each having a section of a roller path and a section of a ring gear attached to the carbody member;
- b) ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground;
- c) a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody, including rollers positioned on the roller path supporting the rotating bed on the carbody and at least one drive gear engaging teeth on the ring gear, such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members;
- and
- d) a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed.
A method of assembling a lift crane having, during operation, i) a carbody, ii) ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground, iii) a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging member, and iv) a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed, with a load hoist line extending there from;
- the method comprising:
- a) providing first and second side members that are interchangeable with each other when making the carbody, and providing first and second end cross members that are interchangeable with each other when making the carbody, wherein each side member is connectable to each end cross member with a carbody connection that can be disconnected such that the side members and end cross members can be individually transported between job sites and reassembled at a new job site;
- b) orienting the first side member and the first end cross member so that they are spaced apart longitudinally but are at the same relative vertical position with respect to one another that they will be once connected to form the carbody;
- c) moving the first side member and first end cross member only horizontally into a connected position;
- d) securing the first side member to the first end cross member;
- and
- e) connecting the second side member and second end cross member to the combined first side member and first end cross member.
A lift crane comprising:
- a) a carbody made from two side members and two end cross members such that each side member is connected to each end cross member with a carbody connection that can be disconnected such that the side members and end cross members can be individually transported between job sites and reassembled at a new job site;
- b) ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground;
- c) a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members;
- and
- d) a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed;
- e) wherein the carbody connection comprises at least one first vertical flange having a base connected to either the side member or the end cross member and a protruding front surface, and at least two second vertical flanges spaced apart by a distance greater than the thickness of the first vertical flange and each having a base connected to the other of the side member or the cross member and a protruding front surface, each of the first and second vertical flanges having at least one horizontal hole through the flanges sized and spaced so that when the first vertical flange is placed between the second vertical flanges the hole allows a pin to be placed through the flanges, connecting the side member to the end cross member;
- and wherein either the first or second flanges include a notch formed in the protruding front surface of the flange at an elevation, and the other of the first and second flanges include a pin captured in the protruding front surface at an elevation, the depth of the notch, the position of the pin and the respective elevations of the pin and notch cooperating so that when the carbody members are brought together with the pin in the notch, the holes in the flanges can be aligned.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.