U.S. patent number 3,923,407 [Application Number 05/440,120] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-02 for mechanism for connecting and disconnecting crane sections.
This patent grant is currently assigned to FMC Corporation. Invention is credited to Lyle B. Jensen, Robert E. Thune.
United States Patent |
3,923,407 |
Jensen , et al. |
December 2, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Mechanism for connecting and disconnecting crane sections
Abstract
There is disclosed a crane having a base section, and an upper
section separable from the base section. An anti-friction bearing
on which the upper section swings relative to the base section has
an outer race member connected to the base section. The inner race
member of the bearing receives therein a ring on the upper section
when the upper section is mounted on the base section. Opposing
circumferential grooves in the ring and inner race member receive a
locking ring which is expanded and contracted by a power actuator.
When the ring bridges the grooves, the upper crane section is
locked to the crane base section, and when the ring is contained
entirely in one of the grooves, the crane upper section is released
from the crane base section for separation of the sections.
Inventors: |
Jensen; Lyle B. (Cedar Rapids,
IA), Thune; Robert E. (Cedar Rapids, IA) |
Assignee: |
FMC Corporation (San Jose,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23747524 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/440,120 |
Filed: |
February 6, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/165; 212/181;
403/322.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66C
23/84 (20130101); F16C 19/163 (20130101); F16C
35/073 (20130101); Y10T 403/593 (20150115); F16C
2326/00 (20130101); Y10T 403/32983 (20150115); F16C
2300/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B66C
23/84 (20060101); B66C 23/00 (20060101); F16C
35/04 (20060101); F16C 35/073 (20060101); F16G
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;403/322,326,316,317,165,321 ;308/221,230,136 ;212/66,67,68,69,70
;248/349,425 ;285/321,277 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kundrat; Andrew V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Verhoeven; J. F. Tripp; C. E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a crane having a base section and having an upper section,
said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and
outer portions interposed between said sections, one of said
bearing portions connected to one of said sections, the improvement
comprising a locking member mounted in the other of said sections
and shiftable relative thereto, and a power operated actuator
connected to said locking member to shift said member into and out
of locking engagement with the other of said bearing portions.
2. In a crane having a base section and having an upper section,
said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and
outer portions interposed between said sections, said outer bearing
portion connected to said base section, the improvement comprising
a locking member mounted in the upper section and shiftable
relative thereto, and a power actuator connected to said locking
member to shift said member into and out of locking engagement with
the inner bearing portion.
3. In a crane having a base section and having an upper section,
said crane having an antifriction bearing with inner and outer race
rings interposed between said sections, said outer race ring
connected to said base section, the improvement comprising a
locking member mounted in the upper section and shiftable relative
thereto, and a power actuator connected to said locking member to
shift said member into and out of locking engagement with the inner
race ring.
4. In a crane having a base section and having an upper section
with a depending ring, said crane having an antifriction bearing
with inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections,
said inner race ring receivable over said depending ring and said
outer race ring connected to said base section, the improvement
comprising, means defining opposing grooves in said depending ring
and said inner race ring, a locking ring received in said grooves,
and a power actuator to expand and contract said locking ring from
a position bridging both grooves to a position within one of said
opposing grooves.
5. In a crane having a base section and having an upper section
with a depending ring, said crane having an antifriction bearing
surrounding said depending ring, said antifriction bearing having
an inner ring surrounding said upper section depending ring and
having an outer race connected to said base section, a groove in
said upper section depending ring and a groove in said antifriction
bearing inner race, said grooves in registration when the upper
section of the crane is mounted on the base section, a locking ring
mounted in the groove of the upper section depending ring, and a
power actuator connected to said locking ring to expand said ring
to bridge both grooves and to contract said ring into the groove of
the upper section depending ring.
6. In a crane having a base section and having an upper section,
said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and
outer race rings interposed between said sections, one of said race
rings connected to one of said sections, the improvement comprising
a locking ring mounted in the other of said sections for expansion
and contraction relative thereto, and a power operated actuator
connected between the ends of said locking ring to change the
diameter thereof for locking engagement with the other of said race
rings.
7. In a crane having a base section and having an upper section
removably mounted on the base section, said crane having a bearing
with relatively rotatable inner and outer race rings interposed
between said sections, one of said race rings connected to one of
said sections, the improvement comprising a peripheral groove in
the other of said sections and in the other of said race rings,
said peripheral grooves being in alignment when the upper section
of the crane is mounted on the base section of the crane, a locking
ring mounted in one of said peripheral grooves, and a power
actuator connected between the ends of said locking ring to alter
the diameter of the locking ring to bring the locking ring into
bridging relationship with both of the grooves.
8. In a crane having a base section and having an upper section,
said upper section having a depending portion and said crane having
a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer portions
interposed between the base section and the depending portion of
said upper section, said outer bearing portion connected to said
base section, the improvement comprising a peripheral groove
encircling the inner bearing portion and a peripheral groove
encircling the depending portion of said upper section, said
peripheral grooves being in alignment when the upper section of the
crane is mounted on the base section of the crane, a locking ring
mounted in one of said peripheral grooves, and a power actuator
connected between the ends of said locking ring to alter the
diameter of the locking ring to bring the ring into bridging
relationship with both of the grooves and exert a locking action
between, and completely around, the inner bearing portion and the
depending portion of said upper section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Because of the size and weight of large cranes, it is often
necessary to disassemble the cranes to transport them from one job
site to another. The disassembly of the crane is usually
accomplished by removing the upper section, or superstructure, of
the crane from the base section of the crane.
Commonly, the upper section of the crane is connected to the lower
section of the crane by a large number of high torque bolts which
must be removed to separate the upper section of the crane from the
lower section thereof. The removal of the bolts on disassembly
takes considerable time and effort.
In another method of securing the upper crane section to the lower
crane section, a series of cotter type joints are used wherein
tangs on one section extend through the base plate of the other
section. Each tang has an opening to receive a wedge member which
acts as a cotter. Again, removal and replacement of a multitude of
wedge members takes time and effort.
Still another method of assembly and disassembly of the upper
section of a crane with the lower section thereof has been proposed
in the copending United States patent application of Petrik and
Dvorsky to Disconnect Mechanism For Upper Section of Crane, filed
Feb. 6, 1974, U.S. Ser. No. 440,233 assigned to the same assignee
as the present invention. In this latter method, an interrupted
ring member on the upper crane section fits within the inner race
member of the turntable bearing which is mounted in the crane base
section. Interrupted surfaces on the ring member and on the inner
race member, in the form of teeth, define locking surfaces when a
power-operated actuator rotates the inner race member relative to
the upper crane section to place the teeth of the race member in
overlying relationship to the teeth of the ring member. The upper
crane section is released from the lower crane section when the
power-operated actuator reverses the rotation of the inner race
member to a position where the teeth of the race member are in
staggered relation to the teeth of the upper section ring member to
permit removal of the ring member from the race member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, the upper crane section is detachably
secured to the crane base section by means of a power-actuated
locking member which, in the locking position, bridges members
connected, respectively, to the upper crane section and the crane
base section. One of the bridged members, however, as in the Petrik
and Dvorsky application Ser. No. 440,233, is not connected rigidly
to one of the sections but is rotatable with respect thereto. In
the preferred form of the invention, the locking member is in the
form of a ring which is received in the external groove of an
annular ring member housing secured to the upper crane section. The
crane turntable bearing on which the upper section of the crane
swings relative to the base section has an outer race member
secured to the crane base section and an inner race member into
which the ring member housing of the upper crane section is
received when the crane sections are assembled. A power actuator
extends between the ends of the locking ring member and can
selectively expand or contract the ring. A groove in the inner race
member of the turntable bearing, in opposing relation to the groove
in the upper section ring member when the crane sections are in
assembled relation, receives a portion of the ring member when the
ring member is expanded, thus bridging the grooves and locking the
crane upper section to the inner race of the turntable bearing on
the crane base section. When the ring member is contracted entirely
into the ring member housing, the crane upper section can be
separated from the crane base section.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide
mechanism for easy locking and releasing of the crane upper section
with the crane base section.
It is another object of the present invention to detachably secure
the upper crane section to the crane base section by means of a
power actuated locking member bridging the two sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crane embodying the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of portions of the
crane upper section and the crane base section when the sections
are separated.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism, shown in lock position,
connecting the crane upper section to the crane base section.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, taken as the view of FIG. 3, showing
the mechanism in release condition.
FIG. 5 is a view taken on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are views taken as the view of FIG. 5 but showing
different embodiments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
There is shown in FIG. 1, a crane 10 having a base section 12 and
an upper, or superstructure, section 14 which is mounted on the
base section for rotation relative thereto. In the crane disclosed
for illustrative purposes, the base section 12 is mounted on wheels
18, but it should be understood that other motive means, such as an
endless crawler track, could be used instead. Alternatively, the
base section could be fixed, as on a pedestal on an off-shore
drilling platform or on a floating ship or barge. The base section
12 has a cab 20 for drilling the crane, or at least the base
section thereof, over the highway. The upper section 14 also has a
cab 22 which is for the crane operator during operation of the
crane on the job site.
As shown best in FIG. 2, an outer race member 24 of a anti-friction
bearing 26 is secured to the base section 12 by bolts 28. As shown
best in FIG. 5, the bearing has an annular inner race member 30
which is rotatably supported on the outer race member through a
circle of balls 32.
The upper section 14 of the crane has a depending ring portion, or
member, 34 which has an external circumferential groove 36. The
inner race member 30 has an internal circumferential groove 38
which, when the upper crane section is assembled with the base
section resting on the inner race member 30 as shown in FIG. 5, is
in registration with the groove 36 in the upper section ring
34.
A locking ring 40 is carried in groove 36 of ring 34. As shown best
in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the locking ring 40 is split, at 42, and a tab
44 is secured at each end to extend inwardly therefrom. A hydraulic
ram 46 is connected between the tabs and is selectively extendable
and retractable to expand and contract the ring 40. The ring 34 is
cut away, as at 34a, to accommodate the tabs 44 and ram 46.
The ring 40 is shown fully contracted (that is, with minimum
diameter) in FIGS. 2 and 4. When contracted, the ring 40 fits
entirely within the groove 36 of the upper crane section ring 34,
which constitutes a housing for the locking ring 40. When the
locking ring 40 is entirely within housing 34, the upper crane
section 14 can be raised or lowered (as by removable jacks 48 or
with an auxiliary crane or hoisting device), with ring 34 moving
telescopically with respect to the inner race member 30.
When the ram 46 is extended, the ring 40 expands, increasing the
diameter thereof, and the ring 40 moves into the groove 38, to
bridge both grooves 36 and 38 as shown in FIG. 5. The groove 38 is
wedge-shaped, with tapered upper and lower surfaces 38a and 38b.
The top and bottom edges 40a and 40b of ring 40 are tapered toward
the outer periphery 40c of the ring to form a wedge. When the ring
40 is expanded, the upper portion 30a of race member 30 is gripped
between the ring 14a on upper section 14 and the upper surface 40a
of locking member 40, as shown in FIG. 5. When the ring 40 tightly
grips the inner race member 30, an adjustable link 50 is connected
between the ends of the ring, adjacent to ram 46, as shown in FIG.
3. The link 50 is adjusted to hold the ring 40 and race member 30
in gripping relationship.
When ring 40 is held tightly with race member 30, as shown in FIG.
5, the upper section of the crane will be resting on, and secured
tightly to, the inner race member 30. At that time, the weight of
the upper crane section is transmitted through inner race member
30, the ring of balls 32, the outer race member 24, to the crane
base section 12.
It should be noted that the upper section of the crane, when
assembled to the base section, is rotatable about an axis A through
the center of the bearing. The rotary power is supplied by a
hydraulic motor (not shown) or other suitable swing drive mechanism
mounted in the upper crane section. The hydraulic motor has a motor
shaft 52 with a pinion 54 mounted thereon. Pinion 54 is engaged
with teeth 56 on the outer periphery of the outer race 24 of
bearing 26. Operation of the hydraulic motor, which is reversible,
rotates the upper section of the crane in one direction and the
other.
In order to release the upper crane section from the crane base
section, the link 50 is removed and then the locking ring 40 is
contracted by the ram 46, which constitutes a power operated
actuator. After the ring 40 is contracted entirely within groove 36
of ring 34, the upper crane section can be lifted off the inner
race member 34 of the bearing and transported separately from the
base section to a new job site.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the
bearing is mounted in the base section of the crane, and the upper
crane section is selectively locked to the inner race member
thereof by means of an expandable locking ring. It will be evident
from FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 that other arrangements of the bearing and
locking ring can be used to releasably lock the upper crane section
to the base section.
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the bearing 126 has an inner race
member 130 which is secured to the upper crane section 114 by bolts
128. The outer race member 124, which is separated from the inner
race member by a ring of balls 132, has a tapered groove 138
therein. A ring 134 is secured to the crane base section 112, and
has a diameter slightly greater than a necked lower portion 124a of
outer race member 124. The necked portion 124a defines a shoulder
124b, with the main portion of the outer race member 124, which
rests on the upper surface 134a of the ring 134 when the upper
crane section is mounted on the lower crane section in assembled
relation.
The ring 134, which defines a housing for a locking ring 140, has a
groove 136 which is in registration with groove 138 when the crane
sections are in assembled relation. The locking ring 140 is split,
as ring 40, and has a ram (not shown) connected between its ends in
the same manner as ram 46. When the ring is expanded by extension
of the ram, the ring is held entirely within the groove 136, and
the upper section of the crane can be lowered onto, or raised from,
the base section. When the ram is contracted, the ring 140, which
has tapered upper and lower edges like the ring 40, can be wedged
into groove 138, thereby bridging the two grooves 136, 138, to
force the outer race member 124 of the bearing down onto the upper
surface 134a of ring 134, thereby holding the upper crane section
on the base section. An adjustable link, similar to link 50, is
secured between the ends of the ring 140 to hold the ring in the
locking position.
In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the inner race member 230 of a bearing
226 is secured to the base section 212 by bolts 228. The outer race
member 224 is supported on the inner race member by a circle of
balls 232. A ring 234 on the upper section of the crane fits over
the outer race member 224 when the crane sections are in assembled
relation.
A tapered groove 238 in the outer periphery of the outer race
member 224 is in registration with a groove 236 in ring 234 when
the crane sections are in assembled relation, with the upper crane
section 214 resting on the upper surface 224a of the outer race
member 224. A ring 240 is housed in groove 236 of the ring-shaped
housing 234. The ring 240 is split, as ring 40, and has a ram (not
shown) between its ends as the ram 46. When the ram is contracted
to wedge the ring 240 into groove 238, the ring will bridge the
grooves 236 and 238 to force the upper crane section 214 down onto
the upper surface 224a of outer race member 224, thereby locking
the crane upper section to the crane base section. When the ring is
expanded to fit entirely within groove 236, the upper section of
the crane will be released from the base section for separation
therefrom.
In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the outer race member 324 of a bearing
326 is secured to the upper section of the crane 314 by bolts 328.
The inner race member 330 of the bearing is separated from the
outer race member by a circle of balls 332. The inner race member
has a necked portion 330a which is received around a ring 334
secured to the crane base section 312 when the crane sections are
in assembled relation. A shoulder 330b, which is formed where the
necked portion of the inner race member joins the main portion of
the race member, seats on the upper portion 334a of the ring 334
when the crane sections are joined.
A groove 336 in the ring 334 houses a locking ring 340 which is
split, as ring 40, and which has ends connected by a ram, in the
same manner as ram 46 joins the ends of ring 40. A tapered groove
338 in the inner race member is in registration with groove 336
when the crane sections are assembled, and the locking ring is
wedged into tapered groove 338 when the ram is extended. At that
time, the locking ring will bridge the grooves and lock the crane
sections together by forcing the shoulder 330b onto the upper
surface 334a of the ring. An adjustable link, similar to link 50,
holds the locking ring in the locking position. When the link is
removed and the ram contracted, the locking ring will lie
completely within groove 336. With the locking ring inside groove
336, the crane sections can be disassembled for separate
transportation to a new job site.
It will be noted that in each embodiment of the invention, a socket
member is defined on one of the crane sections (inner race member
30 on base section 12 in FIG. 5; ring 134 on base section 112 in
FIG. 6; ring 234 on upper section 214 in FIG. 7; inner race 330 on
upper section 314 in FIG. 8), and a fitting member is defined on
the other crane section (ring 34 on upper section 14 in FIG. 5;
outer race 124 on upper section 114 in FIG. 6; outer race 224 on
base section 212 in FIG. 7; ring 334 on base section 312 in FIG.
8).
Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present
invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent
that modification and variation may be made without departing from
what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.
* * * * *