Crane tie arm adjustment

A method for connecting a body of a crane to a structure by a crane tie assembly, said method comprising:

• (i) attaching a first arm of the crane tie assembly to a second arm of the crane tie assembly,
• said first arm comprising:
• a cylindrical female end portion having a plurality of internal, elongate protuberances separated by channels defined therebetween, which protuberances are aligned parallel to one another and arranged in axially extending columns and wherein regions defined between said axially extending columns are smooth;
• said second arm comprising:
• a cylindrical male end portion having a plurality of spaced external, elongate protuberances, which protuberances are arranged in axially extending columns on the external surface thereof for mating engagement with the channels of said female end portion, and wherein regions defined between said columns of the male end portion are smooth,
• (ii) locking the first arm and the second arm in place by aligning the protuberances of the male end portion with corresponding smooth regions of the female end portion, sliding the male end portion axially into the female end portion to a predetermined axial position and rotating the male or female end portion sufficiently to engage surfaces of the protuberances with complementary surfaces of the channels,
• wherein the first or second arm comprises a region that is axial to the axially extending columns, which region is free of protuberances and channels so that the second arm can be inserted into the first arm at the predetermined axial position along the first arm;
• (iii) connecting the first arm to the crane or the structure via a first connecting arrangement;
• and
• (iv) connecting the second arm to the crane or the structure via a second connecting arrangement.

A tie arm assembly for connecting two structures, said assembly comprising:

• (i) a first arm comprising:
• a cylindrical female end portion having a plurality of internal, elongate protuberances separated by channels defined therebetween, which protuberances are aligned parallel to one another and arranged in axially extending columns and wherein regions defined between said axially extending columns are smooth;
• (ii) a second arm comprising:
• a cylindrical male end portion having a plurality of spaced external, elongate protuberances, which protuberances are arranged in axially extending columns on the external surface thereof for mating engagement with the channels of said female end portion, and wherein regions defined between said columns of the male end portion are smooth,
• wherein, the axially extending columns on the first and second arms are dimensioned such that the assembly can be coupled by aligning the protuberances of the male end portion with corresponding smooth regions of the female end portion, sliding the male end portion axially into the female end portion and rotating the male or female end portion sufficiently to engage surfaces of the protuberances with complementary surfaces of the channels, thereby engaging the first and second arms in a locked position;
• and wherein the first or second arm comprises a region that is axial to the axially extending columns, which region is free of protuberances and channels so that the second arm can be inserted into the first arm at a desired axial position along the first arm,
• (iii) a first connecting arrangement for connecting the first arm to one of the two structures at a location on the first arm that is opposite the female end portion;
• (iv) a second connecting arrangement for connecting the second arm to one of the two structures at a location opposite the male end portion;
• (v) a stop element disposed on the female end portion or the male end portion for preventing over-elongation of the first arm with respect to the second arm, wherein the stop element is a protuberance formed at the terminal end of the female end portion or the terminal end of the male end portion, which protuberance is wider than adjacent protuberances on the female end portion or male end portion, respectively;
• and
• (vi) the first and second connecting arrangements comprising one or more members configured to receive a pin, thereby securing the first arm to one of the two structures and the second arm to another one of the two structures after the male and female end portions are locked in place.