CA2172200C - Crane trolley having pivotal arms - Google Patents
Crane trolley having pivotal armsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2172200C CA2172200C CA 2172200 CA2172200A CA2172200C CA 2172200 C CA2172200 C CA 2172200C CA 2172200 CA2172200 CA 2172200 CA 2172200 A CA2172200 A CA 2172200A CA 2172200 C CA2172200 C CA 2172200C
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- Prior art keywords
- trolley
- platform
- arms
- rails
- arm
- Prior art date
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Abstract
A trolley having an operating position suspended from an overhead load carrying beam of a crane. The trolley has upward extending arms having wheels mounted at their upper ends for supporting the trolley on rails affixed to the beam. Drive motors are mounted on the arms adjacent the wheels for moving the trolley along the beam. The arms are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a trolley platform which carries a hoist.
The arms may be pivoted outward and downward during factory assembly of the trolley to facilitate mounting of the wheels and drive motors on the arms. During shipment of the trolley, the arms may be pivoted inwardly of the platform to minimize the trolley width. The arms may also be pivoted to assist in mounting the trolley on the beam.
The arms may be pivoted outward and downward during factory assembly of the trolley to facilitate mounting of the wheels and drive motors on the arms. During shipment of the trolley, the arms may be pivoted inwardly of the platform to minimize the trolley width. The arms may also be pivoted to assist in mounting the trolley on the beam.
Description
` - 21 722(30 CRANE TROLLEY HAVING PIVOTAL ARMS
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a trolley for use in large cranes and, in particular, to a trolley suspended from the overhead load carrying beam of a gantry crane.
Background of the Invention Cranes of the larger sizes typically present shipping problems from the facility at which they are fabricated to their installation destination. The large dimensions of these cranes require that they be shipped in a number of disassembled separate pieces and components and be assembled at their destination. In particular, gantry cranes of the portal type in which the loads lifted by the crane are moved between the legs of the crane are of a very large size which makes them difficult to ship and assemble. These cranes thus require a design which enables shipping of the load carrying beam, the trolley and the legs in several sections and assembly (or reassembly) and connecting of the major sections at the time of erection of the crane.
A further problem which arises where the crane or components of it are assembled at the factory and then disassembled for shipment is that, at the time of reassembling of the crane at the operation site, there are a large number of interfitting parts which must be marked at the factory to enable reassembling at the operation site. The markings of parts is quite time-consuming.
However, it is particularly necessary where there are parts which are similar, but not identical, and therefore not interchangeable ~ 2~ 722D~
~t the time of reassembling at the operation site.
Although the load carrying beam and the legs of large portal cranes present the greatest problems for shipment due to their size, the trolleys of such large cranes are frequently also of a size which makes it difficult to efficiently transport them to the operation location. The applicant's invention is an improvement in a large crane trolley which minimizes the shipment problems due to the large size of the trolley and assists with the factory assembly and mounting of the trolley onto the load carrying beam at the operating site.
Summary of the Invention It is a general object of this invention to provide a trolley suspended from the overhead load carrying beam of a crane with depending arms which can be pivoted to decrease the size of the trolley during shipment and pivoted subsequent to shipment to a position at which the arms support the trolley when mounted on the crane. It is a further object of the invention to provide the trolley with supporting arms which can be pivoted to assist with affixation of equipment on the trolley and to assist with mounting of the trolley on the crane beam.
The invention is carried out by providing, in a crane having an overhead beam and a pair of parallel rails, a trolley platform positioned below the beam for carrying a crane hoist, a plurality of trolley drive means each having a wheel rotatable on one of the rails for supporting the drive and the trolley on the rails, and a plurality of arms each having an upper end affixed to and supporting a drive means and a lower end pivotally connected to 21 7`22(~0 ~che platform. Each arm has a position pivotal towards the platform for decreasing the width of the trolley during shipment and a second position pivotal away fro~ the platform for locating the drive means at the support positions on the rails. The drive means may be mounted on the arms such that the drive means projects laterally away from the platform. The arms of the trolley consequently are pivotal inward towards the platform such that the drive means project away from the platform laterally no further than the width of the platform.
The arms of the trolley may also have a further position extending laterally of the platform at which position they become relatively accessible for the affixing of the drive means to the arms.
Subsequent to shipment of the trolley to the crane operating site with the arms pivoted inward toward the platform, the trolley may be mounted onto the rails of the load carrying beam of the crane by moving the arms outward away from the platform to a position at which the wheels of the drive means will engage the crane rails when the trolley is rolled onto the rails at an end of the load carrying beam. Alternatively, the trolley may be mounted onto the crane by pivoting the arm to a position such that the wheels on the arms are outward and adjacent to the rail with which they will be engaged and also slightly above such wheel and then pivoting each arm inward and lowering the trolley downward to engage each wheel with a rail.
- Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinqs Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portal crane having an overhead load carrying beam on which a trolley according to the invention may be mounted;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the crane and trolley, with portions removed, illustrated in FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the trolley according to the invention illustrating the support arms of the trolley pivoted downward to a position near a floor during the fabrication of the trolley;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the trolley shown in FIGS.
1-3 with the support arms folded in toward each other on the flatbed of a truck during transporting of the trolley;
FIG. S is a side view of the trolley shown in FIGS. 1-4 illustrating the mounting of the trolley onto the beam of a portal crane;
FIG. 6A is an end view of the load carrying beam and trolley as shown in FIG. 1 with the beam positioned near ground level during assembly of the crane and trolley; and FIG. 6B is an end view similar to that shown in FIG. 6A with the support arms of the trolley engaging the rails of the load carrying beam.
- Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a crane of the portal type with which the invention operates is illustrated as having an overhead load carrying beam 2 disposed generally horizontally and overlying two spaced apart legs 4 and 6 affixed to the beam 2. Rails 8 and 10 run through a storage area for material which is to be lifted and transported into and out of the storage area by the crane. The leg 4 includes elongated members 12 and 14 respectively and the leg 6 includes elongated members 13 and 15. The members 12 and 13 are connected to lower base ends 16 and the members 14 and 15 are connected to lower base ends 18. The base ends 16 and 18 respectively have a pair of spaced apart wheel assemblies 20 and 22. The wheel assemblies 20 and 22 on leg 4 and the wheel assemblies 20 and 22 on leg 6 respectively engage and ride on the tracks 8 and 10, thus permitting the crane to travel along the tracks 8 and 10 through the material storage area. Drive motors 24 are mounted on the wheel assemblies 20 of lower bases 16 and lower base 18 for moving the crane along the tracks 8 and 10.
The overhead beam 2 includes a pair of chords 27 and 29 on which parallel rails 28 and 30 are respectively mounted and on which a trolley 40 is supported for travel along the length of the beam 2. The trolley 40 includes a platform 42 positioned below the beam 2 and the rails 28 and 30, and further includes arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 which extend downward from adjacent the rails 28 and 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and are pivotally connected to the platform 42. At least one wheel 44 is mounted 2l 72200 ~n the upper end 45 of each of the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 and is engagable with one of the rails 28 or 30 to permit the trolley 40 to travel along the length of the beam 2 on the rails above the storage area.
Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 2, a lifting beam 80 is suspended from the trolley 40 by a reeving apparatus 82 which is affixed to the platform 42 of the trolley, to a rotatable drum means 84 mounted on the trolley platform 42, and to the lifting beam 80. The drum means 84 includes a winding drum and drum drive motor. A load carrying means such as a grapple 86 is rotatably connected to the lifting beam 80 and to the winding drum 84 for raising and lowering, and grasping and releasing material to be carried. The operation of the grapple 86, the winding drum 84, the movement of the trolley 40, and the movement of the crane on the tracks 8 and 10 is controlled by an operator in a cab 52 to lift, transport and set down material within the travel range of the crane and the trolley, in a manner well known in the art.
With reference generally to the drawings, the trolley 40, in addition to the platform 42, arms 32, 34, 36, 38 and wheels 44, includes a trolley drive means 46 mounted on the upper end 45 of one or more of each of the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38. Each of the drive means 46 includes a motor 48 and gear box 50 connected to and driving one of the wheels 44. Each of the drive means 46 is mounted on a bracket 52 on the outward side, that is, the side of the arm away from the platform 42 and has an outward end 54 projecting laterally away from the platform 42.
The arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 are respectively pivotally ~ounted at their lower ends 58 on ears 60, 62, 64 and 66 affixed to and extending from the side edges 68 or 70 of the platform 42.
Pins 71 extend through each arm and ear, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6A and 6B. The arms 32, 36 and the arms 34, 38 are respectively connected by reinforcing members 72 and 74. In addition, when the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 are in their upright position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6B, the arms 32, 34 and the arms 36, 38 are respectively connected by a reinforcing member 90.
As previously mentioned, the platform 42 has projecting ears 60, 62, 64 and 66 and opposite side edges 68 and 70. The trolley 40 has a transverse width a as best shown in FIG. 6B, which is transverse to the direction of travel of the trolley on the rails 28 and 30. This is the operating width or position of the trolley and includes the widths of the platform 42, ears 60, 62, 64 and 66, and drive means 46 out to the end projections 54.
The arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 are pivotal on the ears 60, 62, 64 and 66 of the platform 42 to various positions for purposes of assembly of the trolley 40 at the factory, transporting the trolley 40 to a customer's operating site, and mounting of the trolley onto the overhead carrying beam 2. Depending on the assembly method used, the arms may be pivoted downward to an assembly position, as shown in FIG. 3, near the floor of a fabricating facility to permit easy access to the upper ends of the arms for mounting the drive means 46.
Where the trolley 40 is of a particularly large size for a very large portal crane, difficulties in shipment due to the large size of the trolley can be alleviated due to the pivoting of the arms on ears 60, 62, 64 and 66 of the platform 42. As 21 i2200 own in FIG. 4, in which the trolley is shown loaded for shipment on a truck bed 88, the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 have a position in which they have been pivoted laterally inward toward the platform 42 with the arms 32 and 34 positioned toward each other and the arms 36 and 38 positioned toward each other. In these positions of the arms, the width of the trolley can be minimized to a transverse width or position b not greater than the combined width of the platform 42 and the pairs of ears 64, 66 or 60, 62 so that components of the trolley mounted on the arms outward of the platform and ears will not increase the width of the trolley during shipment. The trolley is shown in FIG. 4 with the arms pivoted inward a distance such that the outward projecting ends 54 of the drive means 46 mounted on the arms extend no farther outward than the transverse width b of the trolley. The arms could, of course, be pivoted further inward if components of the trolley other than the drive means are mounted on the arms projecting outward from the trolley.
Following the transporting of the trolley to the customer's operating site, it must be mounted onto the rails 28 and 30 of the overhead beam 2. As part of the erection of the entire crane, the beam 2 is initially assembled adjacent ground level and later elevated on the legs 4 and 6 to an erect position substantially as shown in FIG. 1. However, while the beam 2 is supported adjacent ground level 92, as shown in FIG. 5, the trolley may be mounted onto the beam 2. In FIG. 5, the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the trolley are in an upright position at which the wheels 44 can be rolled onto the rails 28 and 30 to thereby mount the trolley on the beam.
2l 72~GO
- At the time of the mounting of the trolley onto the beam, the reinforcing members 90 and 72, 74 may also be connected to the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38. Subsequently, when the beam 2 is raised to its operating position on the legs 4 and 6, the trolley will be in a position on the rails 28 and 30 to function as previously described.
An alternative method of mounting the trolley 40 onto the beam 2 is illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In this mounting method, the trolley is first supported with the wheels 44 on the upper ends 56 of the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 slightly above the rails 28 and 30, and pivoted slightly outward of the rails 28 and 30, as shown in FIG. 6A. The arms are then pivoted inward toward the platform 42 so that the wheels are directly above the rails 28 and 30, as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 6B. The trolley is then lowered so that the wheels 44 move downward into engagement with the rails 28 and 30. The beam 2 with the trolley 40 may then be elevated to its operating position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Due to the assembly of the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 to the platform 42 at the factory, and the ability of the arms to pivot to decrease the width of the trolley to assist with its shipment, and to pivot outward to enable mounting the trolley to an operating position, there is no need to mark various parts at the factory and then match various similar parts when assembling in the field. Thus differences in measurements for the positioning of openings for bearings, shafts or pins, which require close matching of parts when assembling, are not a problem when assembling in the field. Also, slight changes in shape or ~sition of parts due to warping during cooling following welding also are not a problem. Although positioning differences between parts due to these fabricating problems may sometimes be small, the resulting increase in wear can be significant and require relatively early maintenance and replacement.
It will be understood that the foregoing description of the present invention is for purposes of illustration only and that the invention is susceptible to a number of modifications or changes, none of which entail any departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the hereto appended claims. -::
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a trolley for use in large cranes and, in particular, to a trolley suspended from the overhead load carrying beam of a gantry crane.
Background of the Invention Cranes of the larger sizes typically present shipping problems from the facility at which they are fabricated to their installation destination. The large dimensions of these cranes require that they be shipped in a number of disassembled separate pieces and components and be assembled at their destination. In particular, gantry cranes of the portal type in which the loads lifted by the crane are moved between the legs of the crane are of a very large size which makes them difficult to ship and assemble. These cranes thus require a design which enables shipping of the load carrying beam, the trolley and the legs in several sections and assembly (or reassembly) and connecting of the major sections at the time of erection of the crane.
A further problem which arises where the crane or components of it are assembled at the factory and then disassembled for shipment is that, at the time of reassembling of the crane at the operation site, there are a large number of interfitting parts which must be marked at the factory to enable reassembling at the operation site. The markings of parts is quite time-consuming.
However, it is particularly necessary where there are parts which are similar, but not identical, and therefore not interchangeable ~ 2~ 722D~
~t the time of reassembling at the operation site.
Although the load carrying beam and the legs of large portal cranes present the greatest problems for shipment due to their size, the trolleys of such large cranes are frequently also of a size which makes it difficult to efficiently transport them to the operation location. The applicant's invention is an improvement in a large crane trolley which minimizes the shipment problems due to the large size of the trolley and assists with the factory assembly and mounting of the trolley onto the load carrying beam at the operating site.
Summary of the Invention It is a general object of this invention to provide a trolley suspended from the overhead load carrying beam of a crane with depending arms which can be pivoted to decrease the size of the trolley during shipment and pivoted subsequent to shipment to a position at which the arms support the trolley when mounted on the crane. It is a further object of the invention to provide the trolley with supporting arms which can be pivoted to assist with affixation of equipment on the trolley and to assist with mounting of the trolley on the crane beam.
The invention is carried out by providing, in a crane having an overhead beam and a pair of parallel rails, a trolley platform positioned below the beam for carrying a crane hoist, a plurality of trolley drive means each having a wheel rotatable on one of the rails for supporting the drive and the trolley on the rails, and a plurality of arms each having an upper end affixed to and supporting a drive means and a lower end pivotally connected to 21 7`22(~0 ~che platform. Each arm has a position pivotal towards the platform for decreasing the width of the trolley during shipment and a second position pivotal away fro~ the platform for locating the drive means at the support positions on the rails. The drive means may be mounted on the arms such that the drive means projects laterally away from the platform. The arms of the trolley consequently are pivotal inward towards the platform such that the drive means project away from the platform laterally no further than the width of the platform.
The arms of the trolley may also have a further position extending laterally of the platform at which position they become relatively accessible for the affixing of the drive means to the arms.
Subsequent to shipment of the trolley to the crane operating site with the arms pivoted inward toward the platform, the trolley may be mounted onto the rails of the load carrying beam of the crane by moving the arms outward away from the platform to a position at which the wheels of the drive means will engage the crane rails when the trolley is rolled onto the rails at an end of the load carrying beam. Alternatively, the trolley may be mounted onto the crane by pivoting the arm to a position such that the wheels on the arms are outward and adjacent to the rail with which they will be engaged and also slightly above such wheel and then pivoting each arm inward and lowering the trolley downward to engage each wheel with a rail.
- Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinqs Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portal crane having an overhead load carrying beam on which a trolley according to the invention may be mounted;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the crane and trolley, with portions removed, illustrated in FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the trolley according to the invention illustrating the support arms of the trolley pivoted downward to a position near a floor during the fabrication of the trolley;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the trolley shown in FIGS.
1-3 with the support arms folded in toward each other on the flatbed of a truck during transporting of the trolley;
FIG. S is a side view of the trolley shown in FIGS. 1-4 illustrating the mounting of the trolley onto the beam of a portal crane;
FIG. 6A is an end view of the load carrying beam and trolley as shown in FIG. 1 with the beam positioned near ground level during assembly of the crane and trolley; and FIG. 6B is an end view similar to that shown in FIG. 6A with the support arms of the trolley engaging the rails of the load carrying beam.
- Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a crane of the portal type with which the invention operates is illustrated as having an overhead load carrying beam 2 disposed generally horizontally and overlying two spaced apart legs 4 and 6 affixed to the beam 2. Rails 8 and 10 run through a storage area for material which is to be lifted and transported into and out of the storage area by the crane. The leg 4 includes elongated members 12 and 14 respectively and the leg 6 includes elongated members 13 and 15. The members 12 and 13 are connected to lower base ends 16 and the members 14 and 15 are connected to lower base ends 18. The base ends 16 and 18 respectively have a pair of spaced apart wheel assemblies 20 and 22. The wheel assemblies 20 and 22 on leg 4 and the wheel assemblies 20 and 22 on leg 6 respectively engage and ride on the tracks 8 and 10, thus permitting the crane to travel along the tracks 8 and 10 through the material storage area. Drive motors 24 are mounted on the wheel assemblies 20 of lower bases 16 and lower base 18 for moving the crane along the tracks 8 and 10.
The overhead beam 2 includes a pair of chords 27 and 29 on which parallel rails 28 and 30 are respectively mounted and on which a trolley 40 is supported for travel along the length of the beam 2. The trolley 40 includes a platform 42 positioned below the beam 2 and the rails 28 and 30, and further includes arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 which extend downward from adjacent the rails 28 and 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and are pivotally connected to the platform 42. At least one wheel 44 is mounted 2l 72200 ~n the upper end 45 of each of the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 and is engagable with one of the rails 28 or 30 to permit the trolley 40 to travel along the length of the beam 2 on the rails above the storage area.
Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 2, a lifting beam 80 is suspended from the trolley 40 by a reeving apparatus 82 which is affixed to the platform 42 of the trolley, to a rotatable drum means 84 mounted on the trolley platform 42, and to the lifting beam 80. The drum means 84 includes a winding drum and drum drive motor. A load carrying means such as a grapple 86 is rotatably connected to the lifting beam 80 and to the winding drum 84 for raising and lowering, and grasping and releasing material to be carried. The operation of the grapple 86, the winding drum 84, the movement of the trolley 40, and the movement of the crane on the tracks 8 and 10 is controlled by an operator in a cab 52 to lift, transport and set down material within the travel range of the crane and the trolley, in a manner well known in the art.
With reference generally to the drawings, the trolley 40, in addition to the platform 42, arms 32, 34, 36, 38 and wheels 44, includes a trolley drive means 46 mounted on the upper end 45 of one or more of each of the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38. Each of the drive means 46 includes a motor 48 and gear box 50 connected to and driving one of the wheels 44. Each of the drive means 46 is mounted on a bracket 52 on the outward side, that is, the side of the arm away from the platform 42 and has an outward end 54 projecting laterally away from the platform 42.
The arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 are respectively pivotally ~ounted at their lower ends 58 on ears 60, 62, 64 and 66 affixed to and extending from the side edges 68 or 70 of the platform 42.
Pins 71 extend through each arm and ear, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6A and 6B. The arms 32, 36 and the arms 34, 38 are respectively connected by reinforcing members 72 and 74. In addition, when the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 are in their upright position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6B, the arms 32, 34 and the arms 36, 38 are respectively connected by a reinforcing member 90.
As previously mentioned, the platform 42 has projecting ears 60, 62, 64 and 66 and opposite side edges 68 and 70. The trolley 40 has a transverse width a as best shown in FIG. 6B, which is transverse to the direction of travel of the trolley on the rails 28 and 30. This is the operating width or position of the trolley and includes the widths of the platform 42, ears 60, 62, 64 and 66, and drive means 46 out to the end projections 54.
The arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 are pivotal on the ears 60, 62, 64 and 66 of the platform 42 to various positions for purposes of assembly of the trolley 40 at the factory, transporting the trolley 40 to a customer's operating site, and mounting of the trolley onto the overhead carrying beam 2. Depending on the assembly method used, the arms may be pivoted downward to an assembly position, as shown in FIG. 3, near the floor of a fabricating facility to permit easy access to the upper ends of the arms for mounting the drive means 46.
Where the trolley 40 is of a particularly large size for a very large portal crane, difficulties in shipment due to the large size of the trolley can be alleviated due to the pivoting of the arms on ears 60, 62, 64 and 66 of the platform 42. As 21 i2200 own in FIG. 4, in which the trolley is shown loaded for shipment on a truck bed 88, the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 have a position in which they have been pivoted laterally inward toward the platform 42 with the arms 32 and 34 positioned toward each other and the arms 36 and 38 positioned toward each other. In these positions of the arms, the width of the trolley can be minimized to a transverse width or position b not greater than the combined width of the platform 42 and the pairs of ears 64, 66 or 60, 62 so that components of the trolley mounted on the arms outward of the platform and ears will not increase the width of the trolley during shipment. The trolley is shown in FIG. 4 with the arms pivoted inward a distance such that the outward projecting ends 54 of the drive means 46 mounted on the arms extend no farther outward than the transverse width b of the trolley. The arms could, of course, be pivoted further inward if components of the trolley other than the drive means are mounted on the arms projecting outward from the trolley.
Following the transporting of the trolley to the customer's operating site, it must be mounted onto the rails 28 and 30 of the overhead beam 2. As part of the erection of the entire crane, the beam 2 is initially assembled adjacent ground level and later elevated on the legs 4 and 6 to an erect position substantially as shown in FIG. 1. However, while the beam 2 is supported adjacent ground level 92, as shown in FIG. 5, the trolley may be mounted onto the beam 2. In FIG. 5, the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the trolley are in an upright position at which the wheels 44 can be rolled onto the rails 28 and 30 to thereby mount the trolley on the beam.
2l 72~GO
- At the time of the mounting of the trolley onto the beam, the reinforcing members 90 and 72, 74 may also be connected to the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38. Subsequently, when the beam 2 is raised to its operating position on the legs 4 and 6, the trolley will be in a position on the rails 28 and 30 to function as previously described.
An alternative method of mounting the trolley 40 onto the beam 2 is illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In this mounting method, the trolley is first supported with the wheels 44 on the upper ends 56 of the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 slightly above the rails 28 and 30, and pivoted slightly outward of the rails 28 and 30, as shown in FIG. 6A. The arms are then pivoted inward toward the platform 42 so that the wheels are directly above the rails 28 and 30, as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 6B. The trolley is then lowered so that the wheels 44 move downward into engagement with the rails 28 and 30. The beam 2 with the trolley 40 may then be elevated to its operating position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Due to the assembly of the arms 32, 34, 36 and 38 to the platform 42 at the factory, and the ability of the arms to pivot to decrease the width of the trolley to assist with its shipment, and to pivot outward to enable mounting the trolley to an operating position, there is no need to mark various parts at the factory and then match various similar parts when assembling in the field. Thus differences in measurements for the positioning of openings for bearings, shafts or pins, which require close matching of parts when assembling, are not a problem when assembling in the field. Also, slight changes in shape or ~sition of parts due to warping during cooling following welding also are not a problem. Although positioning differences between parts due to these fabricating problems may sometimes be small, the resulting increase in wear can be significant and require relatively early maintenance and replacement.
It will be understood that the foregoing description of the present invention is for purposes of illustration only and that the invention is susceptible to a number of modifications or changes, none of which entail any departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the hereto appended claims. -::
Claims (11)
1. A trolley for a crane having an overhead beam and first and second substantially horizontal parallel rails, the trolley being supportable below the beam on the rails for travel along the rails, comprising:
a platform including a plurality of ears extending laterally from and transverse to the direction of travel of the trolley, the platform being positioned below the beam for carrying a crane hoist;
a plurality of trolley drive means each having a support position on a rail and including a wheel rotatable on one of the rails for supporting and driving the trolley on the rails;
and a plurality of arm means each having a lower end pivotally connected to the platform at one of said ears and having an upper end affixed to and supporting a drive means, each arm means having a first position pivotal toward the platform for decreasing the width of the trolley during shipment and a second position pivotal away from the first position for locating the drive means at said support position on the rails.
a platform including a plurality of ears extending laterally from and transverse to the direction of travel of the trolley, the platform being positioned below the beam for carrying a crane hoist;
a plurality of trolley drive means each having a support position on a rail and including a wheel rotatable on one of the rails for supporting and driving the trolley on the rails;
and a plurality of arm means each having a lower end pivotally connected to the platform at one of said ears and having an upper end affixed to and supporting a drive means, each arm means having a first position pivotal toward the platform for decreasing the width of the trolley during shipment and a second position pivotal away from the first position for locating the drive means at said support position on the rails.
2. The trolley according to claim 1 wherein:
each drive means has an end projecting laterally away from the platform;
the trolley has a shipment width transverse to the direction of its travel on the rails; and the first position of each of the arm means is such that the end of each drive means projects away from the platform laterally no further than the shipment width of the trolley.
each drive means has an end projecting laterally away from the platform;
the trolley has a shipment width transverse to the direction of its travel on the rails; and the first position of each of the arm means is such that the end of each drive means projects away from the platform laterally no further than the shipment width of the trolley.
3. The trolley according to claim 2 wherein:
the trolley has an operating width transverse to the direction of its travel on the rails;
each arm means has a third position pivotally extending laterally of the platform; and the second position of the arm means is intermediate the first and third positions, and extends away from the platform no further than the operating width of the trolley.
the trolley has an operating width transverse to the direction of its travel on the rails;
each arm means has a third position pivotally extending laterally of the platform; and the second position of the arm means is intermediate the first and third positions, and extends away from the platform no further than the operating width of the trolley.
4. The trolley according to claim 3 wherein:
the platform has first and second sides spaced laterally of the direction of travel of the trolley; and the plurality of arm means comprises a first pair of arm means spaced apart in the direction of travel of the trolley and pivotally connected to the first side and a second pair of arm means spaced apart in the direction of travel of the trolley and connected to the second side, each of the pair of arm means being rigidly connected by a cross-arm and pivoting together to their first, second and third positions.
the platform has first and second sides spaced laterally of the direction of travel of the trolley; and the plurality of arm means comprises a first pair of arm means spaced apart in the direction of travel of the trolley and pivotally connected to the first side and a second pair of arm means spaced apart in the direction of travel of the trolley and connected to the second side, each of the pair of arm means being rigidly connected by a cross-arm and pivoting together to their first, second and third positions.
5. A trolley for a crane having an overhead beam and first and second substantially horizontal parallel rails affixed to the beam, the trolley being supportable below the beam on the rails for travel along the rails, comprising:
a platform including support ears and having a width transverse to the direction of travel of the trolley, the platform being supportable at a position below the beam on the support ears;
a plurality of trolley drive means each including a wheel rotatable on one of the rails for supporting and driving the trolley on the rails;
a plurality of trolley support arm means each including an upper arm end rigidly affixed to a drive means and a lower arm end pivotally connected to the platform on a designated one of the support ears for pivoting each arm means between an operating position and a shipment position, whereby each arm means may be connected to the platform at a factory, pivoted to the shipment position, and subsequently pivoted to the operating position at an operating site; and each arm means is substantially identical to each of the other arm means but has sufficient dimensional differences from at least one of the other arm means such that the plurality of arm means are not interchangeable in said positions, whereby the ability of each of the arm means to pivot to a shipment position and to an operating position for installing the trolley on the beam rails eliminates the problem of differing dimensions of each of the arm means in assembling the trolley and installing it on the beam.
a platform including support ears and having a width transverse to the direction of travel of the trolley, the platform being supportable at a position below the beam on the support ears;
a plurality of trolley drive means each including a wheel rotatable on one of the rails for supporting and driving the trolley on the rails;
a plurality of trolley support arm means each including an upper arm end rigidly affixed to a drive means and a lower arm end pivotally connected to the platform on a designated one of the support ears for pivoting each arm means between an operating position and a shipment position, whereby each arm means may be connected to the platform at a factory, pivoted to the shipment position, and subsequently pivoted to the operating position at an operating site; and each arm means is substantially identical to each of the other arm means but has sufficient dimensional differences from at least one of the other arm means such that the plurality of arm means are not interchangeable in said positions, whereby the ability of each of the arm means to pivot to a shipment position and to an operating position for installing the trolley on the beam rails eliminates the problem of differing dimensions of each of the arm means in assembling the trolley and installing it on the beam.
6. The trolley according to claim 5 wherein:
each drive means has an end projecting laterally away from the platform; and the shipment position of each of the arms is such that the end of each drive means projects away from the platform laterally no further than the width of the platform.
each drive means has an end projecting laterally away from the platform; and the shipment position of each of the arms is such that the end of each drive means projects away from the platform laterally no further than the width of the platform.
7. The trolley according to claim 6 wherein:
each arm means has an assembly position pivotally extending laterally of the platform for attaching a drive means to the arm means; and the operating position of the arm means is intermediate the shipment and assembly positions, the arm means being pivotal from the assembly position to the shipment position prior to shipment of the trolley.
each arm means has an assembly position pivotally extending laterally of the platform for attaching a drive means to the arm means; and the operating position of the arm means is intermediate the shipment and assembly positions, the arm means being pivotal from the assembly position to the shipment position prior to shipment of the trolley.
8. A method of transporting and assembling a trolley for a crane onto the load carrying beam of the crane, the trolley having a platform and a plurality of arms depending from the beam to the platform below the beam, the steps comprising:
pivotally connecting the arms to the platform for pivotal movement of the arms toward and away from the platform;
pivoting the arms toward the platform;
maintaining the arms pivoted toward the platform to minimize the width of the trolley while transporting the trolley to a crane assembly site;
at the assembly site, pivoting the arms away from the platform to a position at which the arms are engagable with the beam; and moving the trolley onto the beam with the arms supported on and depending from the beam.
pivotally connecting the arms to the platform for pivotal movement of the arms toward and away from the platform;
pivoting the arms toward the platform;
maintaining the arms pivoted toward the platform to minimize the width of the trolley while transporting the trolley to a crane assembly site;
at the assembly site, pivoting the arms away from the platform to a position at which the arms are engagable with the beam; and moving the trolley onto the beam with the arms supported on and depending from the beam.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the arms has a drive means mounted on an upper end extending in a direction away from the platform and the step of pivoting the one arm includes pivoting the arm a distance such that the drive means does not extend beyond the width of the platform.
10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the beam has a pair of spaced apart parallel rails extending along the length of the beam and each of the arms has an upper end and a wheel at the upper end positioned for travel along one of the rails, and the step of moving the trolley onto the beam includes pivoting the arms to a position at which each wheel is engagable with a rail and rolling the trolley onto the end of the rails.
11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the beam has a pair of spaced apart parallel rails extending along the length of the beam and each of the arms has an upper end and a wheel at the upper end positioned for travel along one of the rails, and wherein the step of moving the trolley onto the beam includes pivoting each of the arms to a position such that the wheel on the arm is outward of and above the rail with which the wheel is engagable and then pivoting each arm inward and lowering the trolley downward to engage each wheel with a rail.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US54069995A | 1995-10-11 | 1995-10-11 | |
| US08/540,699 | 1995-10-11 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2172200A1 CA2172200A1 (en) | 1997-04-12 |
| CA2172200C true CA2172200C (en) | 1999-02-09 |
Family
ID=24156575
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2172200 Expired - Fee Related CA2172200C (en) | 1995-10-11 | 1996-03-20 | Crane trolley having pivotal arms |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2172200C (en) |
| MX (1) | MX9603400A (en) |
-
1996
- 1996-03-20 CA CA 2172200 patent/CA2172200C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-08-14 MX MX9603400A patent/MX9603400A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2172200A1 (en) | 1997-04-12 |
| MX9603400A (en) | 1997-04-30 |
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