Weight relief transportation apparatus for construction equipment
AssigneeMarriott Construction, Inc.
InventorRandall O. Fell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transportation system for transporting construction equipment that rides on a driven element during ordinary operation. The transportation system relieves a portion or all of the operational weight of the construction equipment from the driven element during transportation of the construction equipment. The transportation system includes a frame, upwardly extending supports that support a chassis of the construction equipment, and a lifting device interface for loading and unloading the transportation system with respect to a vehicle or trailer for transporting the construction equipment.
Claims22
A transportation system comprising:
- construction equipment that includes a chassis, a prime mover supported by the chassis, and a driven element, the construction equipment having an operational weight that is borne by the driven element during ordinary operation of the construction equipment, the driven element adapted to be actuated under the influence of the prime mover during operation of the construction equipment to perform work;
- a frame;
- and
- a plurality of supports mounted to the frame, the supports adapted to receive a portion of the construction equipment chassis and support at least a portion of the operational weight;
- wherein the transportation system is adapted to be loaded on a transporter for transportation of the construction equipment.
A method of transporting construction equipment, comprising:
- providing construction equipment that includes a chassis, a prime mover supported by the chassis, and a driven element, the construction equipment having an operational weight that is borne by the driven element during ordinary operation of the construction equipment, the driven element adapted to be actuated under the influence of the prime mover during operation of the construction equipment to perform work;
- providing a transportation rack that includes a frame and a plurality of supports mounted to the frame;
- positioning the construction equipment on the rack with each of the supports receiving a portion of the construction equipment chassis;
- bearing with the supports at least a portion of the operational weight;
- loading the rack bearing the construction equipment on a transporter for transportation of the construction equipment;
- and
- transporting the construction equipment with the transporter to a desired location.
A method of transporting a power trowel, comprising:
- providing a power trowel that includes a chassis, a prime mover supported by the chassis, and plurality of trowel blades, the power trowel having an operational weight that is borne by the trowel blades during ordinary operation of the construction equipment, the trowel blades adapted to be actuated under the influence of the prime mover during operation of the power trowel to smooth concrete;
- providing a transportation rack that includes a frame and a plurality of supports mounted to the frame;
- positioning the power trowel on the rack with each of the supports receiving a portion of the chassis;
- bearing with the supports at least a portion of the operational weight such that such portion of the operational weight is not borne by the trowel blades;
- loading the rack bearing the power trowel on a transporter;
- and
- transporting the power trowel with the transporter to a desired location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.