U.S. patent number 3,612,201 [Application Number 05/047,299] was granted by the patent office on 1971-10-12 for self-propelled platform tower.
Invention is credited to Richard H. Smith.
United States Patent |
3,612,201 |
Smith |
October 12, 1971 |
SELF-PROPELLED PLATFORM TOWER
Abstract
This invention relates to a deck or work platform supported so
that it can be moved in a selected direction and to a selected
extent over the ground both under water and on land. It may be used
on the sea bottom, particularly in an offshore location. It may
also be used on tundra, muskeg, swampy locations and the like.
Inventors: |
Smith; Richard H.
(Hillsborough, CA) |
Family
ID: |
21948193 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/047,299 |
Filed: |
June 18, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/8.6; 440/36;
405/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B
17/022 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E02B
17/00 (20060101); E02B 17/02 (20060101); B62d
057/02 (); E02b 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;61/46.5,45D,63
;180/8C,8E,8R,4 ;115/9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Shapiro; Jacob
Claims
I claim:
1. In a movable platform comprising:
a. a flat generally horizontal rectangular deck,
b. a first set of four corner posts provided at each corner of said
deck,
c. each of said first corner posts including and supporting a
movable ground-engaging member therein,
d. means for raising and lowering each movable ground-engaging
member (c) with respect to its supporting corner posts,
e. a rectangular frame,
f. means supporting said frame on said deck for movement
selectively fore and aft of said deck and transversely of said
deck,
g. means for moving said frame selectively in each such
direction,
h. a second set of four corner posts provided at each corner of
said frame,
i. each of said second corner posts including and supporting a
movable ground-engaging member therein, and
j. means for raising and lowering each movable ground-engaging
member (i) with respect to its supporting corner posts.
The improvement comprising:
k. track means mounted at each corner of the deck and extending
transversely of the deck at each such corner,
l. a movable frame supported on the track means and movable
thereon,
m. and means for moving each movable frame selectively with respect
to the deck,
n. each movable frame supporting a member of the rectangular frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Exploitation of various materials which are found offshore, such as
minerals, oil, deposits of oyster shells and the like, are gaining
in extensiveness. The provision of a suitable platform or work
surface has been met in various ways, usually by erecting a
structure in one location.
In accordance with this invention, I provide a work platform which
can be moved over the ground from one location to another so that
the area undergoing exploitation, such as construction, exploration
or the like, can be changed from time to time as desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is in general the broad object of the present invention to
provide a movable platform which can be moved over ground as
desired from time to time.
A further object of the invention is to provide a platform which
can be moved fore and aft and transversely as desired.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the movable platform or work deck
of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the work platform.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the work platform.
FIG. 4 is an end view of the work platform.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view showing a support for the frame
which is utilized to move the work deck.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the double roller support.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In accordance with this invention, I provide a work deck or
platform 7. This is generally rectangular in shape and provides a
solid working surface to support suitable tools such as the
derrick, generally indicated at 8. Mounted on the surface of the
deck is a control panel 9 which includes suitable controls for
operation of hydraulic pump 11 which is utilized to supply pressure
for the operation of various hydraulic rams as will be presently
described.
In accordance with this invention, I provide a first set of
vertical corner posts 12 at each of the four corners of the work
deck. Each corner post includes and supports a movable
ground-engaging member 13. Each ground-engaging member can be
selectively raised and lowered with respect to its supporting
corner post by means of the hydraulic ram, indicated at 14, this
being supplied with fluid under pressure from pump 11 through line
16 under the supervision of control panel 9. As appears in FIG. 2,
the several ground-engaging members may be at different elevations
depending upon the contour of the sea bottom, generally indicated
at 17.
In accordance with this invention, I provide a rectangular frame 18
which is selectively movable in a fore-and-aft direction as
indicated by arrows 15 with respect to the deck and in a direction
transverse to the deck as indicated by arrows 20. The frame 18 is
made up of longitudinal cylindrical members 19 and transverse
cylindrical members 21 joined together to form a rectangular frame.
At each corner of the frame, a second set of four corner posts 22
is provided. These are similar in construction to each of the four
corner posts previously described and which are attached to the
deck 7; each of corner posts 22 supports a movable ground-engaging
member 23 which is raised and lowered by an hydraulic ram 24 with
fluid from pump 11.
At each corner of the deck 7, a rectangular frame, generally
indicated at 26, is mounted, this having an upper channel rail 27,
a lower channel rail 28 supported on one side by a corner post 12
and at the other end by the vertical member 29. Each of the
horizontal members 19 is supported in a hexagonal frame 31 (FIG. 5)
having vertically extending rollers 32 mounted therein on opposite
sides to support one of the tubular members 19. At the top and
bottom of each tubular member 19, tracks 33 are provided and are
engaged with horizontal rollers 34. At the top and bottom of the
hexagonal frame 31, rollers 36 ride in the channel rails 27 and 28
to permit the hexagonal frame and the supported frame 18 to be
moved transversely of the deck by the hydraulic ram, generally
indicated at 39. To move the frame 18 fore and aft, another ram
structure, generally indicated at 37, is mounted on the underside
of each of the frame members 19 as appears in FIG. 3, each of the
piston rods 38 being connected to one of the corner posts 12.
In operation, with the platform 7 being suitably supported only on
the sea bottom by the corner posts 12 and it being desired to move
the platform forward to another location, fluid would be supplied
to the hydraulic rams 37 to move the frame 18 forward of the
platform to the greatest extent permissible as indicated in the
dotted line position of the frame and corner post 22 on the right
of FIG. 2. When this forward movement has been completed, the
ground-engaging members 23 in corner posts 22 being elevated, such
members 23 would then be moved downwardly to engage the sea bottom.
When this engagement has been attained, the movable elements 13 in
each of the corner posts 12 would be retracted and the platform 7
moved forwardly by the rams 37. When this forward movement has been
completed, the movable elements 13 in each of the corner posts 12
would be lowered to engage bottom following which the retraction of
movable elements 23 in each of the corner posts 22 of the movable
frame would be effected and the further forward movement of frame
18 would then be effected.
When it was desired to move the structure transversely or sideways,
this would be achieved by moving the frame 31 by the ram 39, the
movable elements 23 being in a retracted position in each of the
corner posts 22.
The forward and transverse movement of the platform 7 on the frame
18 can be achieved simultaneously, that is, platform 7 can be moved
forwardly and transversely at the same time because the platform 7
is adequately supported by the frame 18.
From the foregoing, I believe it will be apparent that I have
provided a novel and simple movable platform construction which can
be moved fore and aft and transversely as desired over sea bottom
which may be of quite an uneven contour.
* * * * *