US1645744A

US1645744A - Turntable crane

Info

Publication number: US1645744A
Application number: US8680A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin F Fitch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-02-12
Filing date: 1925-02-12
Publication date: 1927-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1944-10-18

Description

1927' B. F. FITCH TURNTABLE CRANE Filed Feb, 12, 1925 Sheets-Sheet 1' Oct. 18,1927.

B. F. FITCH TURNTABLE CRANE Filed Feb. 12, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG:

7/ FIG.'-8

Oct. 18, 1921. V 1,645,744 B. F. FITCH TURNTABLE CRANE Filed Feb. 12, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Flex 5 Oct. 18,1927. 1,645,744 B. F. FITCH TURNTABLE CRANE Filed Feb. 12, 19 25 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 we Mag @29 Patented Oct. 18, 1927. 1

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN r. FITCH, or GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT.

TURNTABLE CRANE.

Application filed February This invention relates to hoisting and conveying apparatus and is particularly concerned with a crane which is adapted to travelon an overhead track, and tobe used in connection with the operation of a system forhandling freight wherein the freight s stored in removable bodies or containers which may be transferred to and from automobile trucks. v

In handling freight by such a system it desirable to adaptthe apparatus to ex st-- ing structures without requiring extensive changes to be made in the construction of warehouses, platforms or runways achaccnt thereto. The height of a removable container which has been found to give most satisfactory results in handling fre ght, and the desirable amount of lift, precludes sufficient head room within the average warehouse or freight station for the use of standard traveling cranes. It is one of the oljects of my invention to obviate the necessity for expensive alterations to provide space or strength to render existing structures safe for handling loaded containers by means of an overhead crane.

One of the features of. my invention therefore, is the provision of a crane which possesses a minimum depth, yet w ll haye sufficient power to raise a loaded container in the form of a removable body and transport it alongan overhead trackway to or from a truck. Thus the crane may be satisfactorily used in existing warehouses, or freight stations, without altering the building construction, and without interfering with the normalfiow of traffic within the station. A

The means for carrying out my invention, is illustrated in the preferred form in the ac companyiiig drawings, wherein F g. 1s a plan view of a crane embodying my invention and showing one position of the supplemental frame with reference to. the main frame .Zis a similar view show ng the supplemental frame in a different posit on from that shown in Fig. 1; F ig. 3 1s a side elevation of the ranqlfi s. 4 to 6 are sections taken on. an enlarged scale on planes indicated ,by the lines- 44 to respectively in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the supplemental frame apart from the ma n frame, and Fig. 8 a section on an enlarged scale indicated by the line 88 in My invention is shown in connection with 12, 1925. Serial No. 8,680.

an overhead hoisting mechanism whichis employed-for engaging, rais ing and transporting removable automobile bodies. Accordingly, in the various figureslO indicates a set of overhead tracks along which wheels 11, journalled with an overhead crane, are adapted to travel. The crane asillustrated comprises amainframe and asupplemental frame, which is mounted within and is arranged to be turned with reference to the main frame. 7 The supplemental frame can ries load engaging and hoisting mechanism, wherefore a load may be engaged raised and turned with reference to the main frame and then transported along the trackway.

The main frame in the preferred form comprises longitudinally extending members 12 and transversely extendingmembers 13 which are arranged in the form of a rectangle. The frame work preferably c0ni A rises channel beams which are held together in any suitable manner and which are of such size as may be necessary to support the load. The, main frame as shown has a curved trackway 20 in the form of an endless beam. An inwardly extending flange on the beam supports wheels 43 which are journalled in the supplemental frame. To propel the mainframe along the trackway, I have illustrated one pair of wheels 11 as being operatively connected gears S and 9 to a motor 23. The motor preferably is reversible wherefore thefdirection of movement of the main rmm flmay be determined by the direction of rotation of the motor. p

The supplemental frame is indicated as having longitudinal members 40, which are connected at the ends by transverse mem bers 41, and are arranged to support wheels 43. which travel on the curyed trackway. The axes of thewheels extend radially of the trackway wherefore the ,supplemental frame may be turned a complete revolution withreferenceto the main frame. V

The supplemental frame supp rts the hoisting mechanism.which is illustrated c p si e flexible load

engagi g members

50, 51,- 52 and 53 which extend over

sheaves

54, 55, 56, and respectively, The sheaves therefore are arranged to define a rectangle wherefore the cables may engage a removable automobile body at; four points. Morem ne sheaves arenear. the radialsupporting wheels, wherefore the size of the' supplemental frame is determined by the dis tance between the sheaves, which in turn s controlledby the size of the automobile body in which the load is carried.

To raise and lower the cables as a unit, 1 have shown a drum which is mounted for rotation upon a vertically extending shaft 61. The shaft is indicated as being supported in

beams

62 and 63 which extend across the supplemental frame. One end of each flexible raising member or cable is arranged to be attached to the drum wherefore rotation of the drum in one direction causes the cables to be wound in simultaneously, while rotation of the drum in the opposite direction enables the cables to be payed out simultaneously.

To rotate the drum, I have indicated an electric motor 64 which is carried by the supplemental frame and which is connected by gearing 65 to a shaft 45. A member 66 splined to the shaft and forming the shiftable member of a dog clutch may be used for effecting rotation of shaft 67 through the medium of a driven clutch member 68 tight on that shaft. The shaft 67 is indicated as having a worm 69 connected with a worm wheel 70 on shaft 71. A pinion 72 on the shaft 71 meshes with a circular rack 73 mounted on the drum. The worm and worm wheel connection provide a lock for suspending the load when the motor drive is disconnected.

The clutch sleeve 66 is also adapted to be moved-out of engagement with the clutch member 68, and to engage a clutch member 74 which is rigid with 'a gear 75. This gear.

meshes with a gear 76 on a shaft 77, whereby one of the wheels 43 rigidly mounted on the shaft 77 is rotated whenever the gear 7 5 is turned. Since the motor 64 can be a reversible motor, then the direction of rotation of th supplemental frame can be controlled at will.

By employing a drum which has a relatively large diameter, then one revolution of the drum is ordinarily sufficient to raise the load the maximum distance. This permits the use of a narrow drum and provides a crane frame having a short overall depth. Accordingly the crane may be employed in low buildings without necessitating extensive changes in the construction thereof. More over the drum leaves ample space in the supplemental frame for the installation of mechanism to turn the supplemental frame and'to actuate the hoisting apparatus. Thus,

I obtain a crane which is quite simple in' construction and which is durable in use.

.Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a crane, the combination with a main frame, of a supplemental frame rotatably carried by the main frame, a drum mountedfor rotation upon a vertical axle coincident with the axis of rotation of the supplemental frame, and load engaging members leading from the drum.

2. In a crane, the combination with a frame, of ajdrum mounted to rotateupon a vertical axis within the frame, and flexible load engaging members leading from the drum to four points on the frame spaced respectively at the four corners of a rectangle.

3. In a crane, the combination with a frame, of sheaves rotatably mounted upon. the frame and disposed adjacent the corners of a rectangle, a drum mounted upon a vertical axis within the frame, and flexible load engaging members leading from thedrum and extending downwardly from the frame so as to engage the-load at four points.

4. In a crane, the combination with a main frame, of a supplemental frame rotatable therein, 'a drum mounted to rotate upon a vertical axis within the supplemental frame, and flexible load engaging members leading from the drum to spaced points on the supplemental frame.

5. The combination with a main frame, of a supplemental frame traveling substantially within the upper and lower confines of the main frame, one of said frames having an endless trackway and the other having rollers coacting therewith, a vertically positioned drum within the supplemental frame, cables leading from the drum and extending downwardly from the supplemental frame, and means for rotating the drum to wind 1n or pay out the cables simultaneously.

loo

6. In a crane, the combination with a main frame having an endless trackway thereon, of a supplemental framehaving wheels riding on the trackway, a drum mounted for rotation upon a vertical axis within the supplemental frame, cables leading outwardly fromthe drum to spaced points on the supplemental frame, the drum having such size that the maximum lift of the cables may be accomplished by substantially a complete revolution of the drum.

7. In acrane the combination with a main frame, of a supplemental frame mounted for rotation within the main frame, a drum mounted. for rotation upon a vertical axis within the supplemental frame and adapted to be rotated independently of the supplemental frame, sheaves carried by the supplemental frame and disposed adjacent the corners of a rectangle, cables each having one end attached to the drum and leading outwardly over one of the sheaves, and means on the supplemental frame for rotating it with reference to the main frame and for rotating the drum.

8. In a crane, the combination with a rotatable frame of a drum mounted to rotate upon a vertical axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the frame, cables leading from the drum to spaced points on the frame, said drum having gear teeth associated therewith, a pinion meshing with said teeth and means on the frame for rotating said pinion.

9. In a crane, the combination with a frame of sheaves carried thereby and disposed adjacent the corners of a rectangle, a drum mounted for rotation upon a vertical axis adjacent the mid-portion of the frame, cables leading outwardly from the drum over the respective sheaves and adapted to engage and suspend a load, the drum having gear teeth on the underside thereof, a pinion meshing with said teeth, an electric motor mounted on the frame and operat-ively connected to i l-3 pinion, there being a worm and worm wheel connection between the motor and pinion, the pitch of the worm teeth being such that a load suspended from the cables is prevented from rotating the drum when the motor is stopped.

10. In a crane, the combination with a main frame having a curved trackway carried thereby and disposed within planes defining the top and bottom of the main frame, a supplemental frame, wheels carried thereby and engaging the curved trackway, a drum mounted upon a vertical axis for rotation within the supplemental frame and adjacent the mid-portion thereof, cables leading outwardly from the drum to spaced points on the supplemental frame, an electric motor mounted on the supplemental frame, means for selectively effecting an operative connection between the motor and the drum, said means including mechanism for also effecting an operative connection be tween the motor and one of said wheels, whereby the supplemental frame may be turned independently of said drum.

11. In a crane, the combination with a main frame adapted to travel on an overhead trackway, an endless trackway carried by the main frame, a supplemental frame having wheels traveling on the trackway, the supplemental frame being disposed within planes which define the top and bottom of the main frame, a drum mounted for rotation upon a vertical axis within the supplemental frame, sheaves carried by the supplemental frame and disposed adjacent the corners of a rectangle, cables leading outwardly from the drum and extending downwardly from the said sheaves for engaging a load at four points, the diameter of said drum being such that the maximum lift can be attained on substantially one complete revolution of the drum, said drum having gear teeth associated therewith, a pinion meshing with said teeth, an electric motor carried by the supplemental frame, manually operable means for effecting a selective engagement either between the motor and said pinion to rotate the drum, or between the motor and one of said wheels to turn the supplemental frame with reference to the main frame.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

BENJAMIN F. FITCH.