US2191181A

US2191181A - Portable collapsible crane

Info

Publication number: US2191181A
Application number: US224955A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry D Rogers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-08-15
Filing date: 1938-08-15
Publication date: 1940-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1957-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1940. H, D, ROGERS 2,191,181

PORTABLE COLLAPSBLE CRANE Filed Aug. l5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m34/W7 i I BY ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 20. 1940. H, D, ROGERS PORTALE coLLAPsIBLE CRANE Filed Aug. 15, 1938 N29 M .ich @D A 1' "if t f Q I N VEN TOR.

ATTRNEY Feb. Z0, 1940. H. D. ROGERS P ORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE CIRANE Filed Aug. l5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 5N V EN TOR.

Mam@

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT lOFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable collapsible crane. A 4

The heavy duty crane is indispensable wherever construction work is in progress, where a dam is being built, a bridge is being erected, a large diameter pipe line isbeing laid, heavy machinery is being removed or installed, etc. A large heavy duty crane is usually shipped on flatcars or heavy trucks to the site vwhere it is to be used. and is l0 there erected for the particular' workr in hand.

It must be taken down when the work is cornpleted or for transportation to another place.

The object of this invention is generally to improve the construction and operation of heavy 'l-'l duty cranes; to provide a crane which is wheel supported and adapted to be hauled by a tractor from place to place; to provide a crane having a triangularly-shaped base frame with a tongue for connection with a tractor at one end, and supported by wheels atthe opposite end; to provide a triangularly-shaped boom frame which is pivotally supported over the Wheels of the base frame and whichmay be raised from a horizontal trailing position with relation to the vbase frame to a vertical position for use; to provide a frame structure both for the base and for the boom which lhas pivotal connections at certain points, permitting the frame members to be brought together in substantial parallelism, or in other words materially contracted, for hauling over highways; and to provide a frame structure v which may be completely taken apart for shipment on ilatcars or trucks, and in which the frame members may be telescoped with relation to each other to consume as little longitudinal space as possible.`

The crane is shown by way of illustration inY the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l1 is a side elevation of the crane 4showingl it erected for use;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the base frame ofthe crane, showing the boom'frame removed; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the boom frame Vin erected position; f

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one ofthe wheel l supported carriages;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the crane showing the boom frame lowered for transportation; and

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the crane showing it.

sists of a drawhead 2 to which is. pivotally -attached as at 3--3 a pair oi rearwardly extending arms 44. The drawhead is adapted to be attached to and supported by a tractor such as shown at C, while the rear ends of the arms 4 are 5 attached to a pair of wheel-supported carriages D-D. These carriages are identical in construction, and are best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Each carriage consists of a horizontal frame 5` constructed in any suitable manner. At the opposite l0 ends are secured two downwardly extending frames or brackets 6 6, between which is secured a. shaft or axle 'i on which are journaled three or more wheels 8. At the inner end of the frame 5 and bracket 6 is a ange or plate 9, the lf function of which will hereinafter be described. At the top of the frame are two upwardly extending` lugs I0, and at the rear of the ange 9 and the frame 5 is a fork-shaped bracket 4il which is bracedwith relation to the frame by a a0 plate I 2; The rear ends of the base frame arms 4 iit between the forks Il, and pins M extend therethrough to form a pivotal connection between the carriages and the arms 4.

The booml frame B consists of a pair of leg '86 `members I5--I5 pivotally secured at their upper ends asat 6 to a sheave head I6. The lower ends of the boom legs are pivotally supported as at l'l-Jl between fork-shaped members Iii-I8, which in turn are pivotally supported between the lugs Ill-lil. 'Ihe pivotal connections llpermit spreading of the lower ends of the leg members I5, and the pivotal connections formed between the lugs vIIL-Ill permit vertical swinging movementrto raise or lower the boom frame, as will hereinafter be described.

The crane here illustrated is built so that it may be. pulled from place to place by the tractor. If the Vcrane, has been erected and the work performed has been on comparatively open or un- 40 obstructed land, the crane may be hauled about without taking it down; on the other hand, if it Vis to behauled over the highway to another loca? tion,it becomes essential to lower the boom frame fromfits Ivertical position to a horizontal 46 position such as shown in Fig. 6, so as to clear sufdciently narrow to permit hauling it over high- 50 ways without obstructing traic. Withthe crane erected` as shown in Fig. 1,

lbecomes possibleto raise and lower loads by means of the hook shown at 20,` as the hook is provided with a sheave 2|, and a similar sheave Il 22 is journaled'on the sheave head l5. 'I'he usual type of cable 23 is reeved through the sheave blocks 2| and 22. and is extended to a drum 24 mounted on and driven by the tractor. The boom may assume any position between the vertical position shown in Fig- 1 and the horizontal position shown in Fig. 6, the position being controlled by a cable 25 operated by a drum 26 mounted onand driven by the tractor. This cable passes over sheave blocks 21 and 23, and one end is anchored as at 23. By paying out on the cable 25, the boom is lowered or swung about the pivotal lugs I0 on the respective carriages to any position desired, while by applying power to the drum 26 and hauling on the cable it may be raised. 'I'he boom legs I5, the wheel-supported carriages D-D, and the arms 4-4 of the base frame normally assume their spread position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when the boom is erectedv for use. To prevent contraction of the arms of the base frame during operation, a cross-beam 30 is bolted between the anges 3-9 of the carriages D, and extra cross-braces may be bolted between the arms as shown at 3l and 32. Simi#- lar cross-braces 33 and 34 are also secured between the legs of the boom, and a rigid structure is thus provided, each frame being substantially triangular in shape and presenting the widest support at the point where the heaviest` load is applied.

When the boom B is swung from horizontal to upright position as shown in Fig. 1, means must be provided to prevent the boom from swinging beyond vertical position, as it would otherwise swing about the pivotal lugs I0-I0 and fall back on the base .frame and tractor. and completely wreck the entire structure. To prevent this, stop arms 35 are pivotally secured to the boom legs l5 as shown at 35. The lower ends o! the arms slide in channel-shaped track members 31 lpivotally secured as at 33 to the base frame arms 4. The outer ends of said track members are supported by and secured to the crossbrace 3l. A shoulder 33 is formed at the inner end ofl each track member; hence as the boom is being raised, and the lower ends oi' the arms 35 slide rearwardly on the tracks 31, a point will finally be reached when they engage the shoulders 39, and further movement of the boom is stopped, thus preventing movement of the boom beyond a vertical position. There is a -double swivel connection between the upper ends of the arms 35 4and the boom legs i5, so as -to permit them to be moved into parallelism with the legs I5. i

Ii the boom is to be lowered and transported to another site, and particularly if it is to be lhauled overta highway by means ot the tractor;

a frame such as shown at 42 will rst be placed on the cross-bar 33 and there secured. This frame carries a wide roller `43 at its upper end, whichwlll receive the

cables

23 and 25 as the boom frame is being lowered. The boom frame, as previously stated, is lowered by merely paying out on the cable 25, and as it lowers; the cables will nally rest on the roller 43 in a manner similar to the cable support shown in Fig. 5.

vThe supportthere shown is another support which will hereinafter be described.

After the boom has beenlowered to horizontal positio`n\a dolly or similar support will be placed under the sheave head, and the cables which l., lower the.; boom will be'slackened to 'remove the strain. 'The several cross-beams, 3|, 32 33 .75.

and 34 are then unbolted-'and removed. A pair oi' chains such as shown at 44 are then connected between the outer ends of the carriages and the adjacent ends of the arms 4. There 'is a turn-buckle 45 intermediate the ends of each chain, and these turn-buckles are tightened so as to swing the carriages about the pivots I4 just a sufilcient amount to cause the wheels 3 to toe inwardly, then by hauling the entire structure in a forward direction by means of the tractor, each carriage will tend to move inwardly and swing the arms 4-4 about their pivots 3 3, and the boom legs I5-I5 about their pivots 8, until they assume a substantially parallel position such as shown in Fig. 5. At this point the turn-buckles are released and the chains are changed from the ilrst position to the second position indicated at 5i); that is, they to their original position where they remain during the towing or hauling operation. This connection is essential, particularly when tow,- ing, as it reduces swinging movement of the carriages about the pivots I4. When the frame arms and boom legs have been brought together as shown in Fig. 6, a pair of stanchions 52 permanently secured at the rear ends of the arms 4-4 are connected by a cross-shaft and a roller such as shown at 53. The cables are passed over this rollerv and a strain is put on the cable 25 suillcient to hold the boom in a horizontal'posivtion without any support under the sheave head. In this position the entire crane may' be hauled over a highway, as its normal width has been reduced to a minimum and is such that ample clearance is given for traillc.

When the crane reaches its new destination, the turn-buckles onA the chains 44 are again tightened to toe in the wheels. The tractor is now backed up and as the wheels assume aA tween the boom legs. The frame 43 vis again placed on -the crossfbrace 33, and 'the cables placed over the roller 43. The strain is then put on the cable 25 by applying power to the drum 25, and the boom is raised to any position desired. The frame 42 may remain in position at all times except when the base is contracted to assume the position shown in Fig. 6. During hauling of the crane, the brace -members 30 to 34 may be placed on a heavy truck, and so may'the irame 42-, as these are the only parts which are detached.

If the crane as a whole is to be shipped a considerable distance, for instance on heavy trucks or on atcars, it is possi-ble to disconnect it completely. By removing the pivot pins 3, the drawhead 2 may be removed. All the cross-braces 33 to 34 may beremoved as previously described; the carriages may be separated from the 'arms l by removing the pivot pins Il; and the arms I may themselves be separated by unbolting them at the points indicated at 60. The arms may be box girders, and as such are hollow, and as the forward 4ends of the arms 4 are smaller than their rear portions, it is possible to slip the smallest sections within the larger sections so as to reduce longitudinal space. may be similarly taken apart. IPlainly speaking, the entire crane is constructed of parts which may be quickly taken apart' or assembled, and which may be stored or piled in comparatively little space during transportation.

Having thus `described and illustrated my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable collapsible crane comprisinga pair of wheel-supportedcarriages, a base frame supported at its rear end by said carriages, means for attaching and supporting the front end 'of the baserframe to a tractor, a boom -Irame supported by the carriages, 'and pivotal connections i'or attaching and supporting the front end of the base frame to atractor, aiboom `frame supported by the carriages, pivotal connections between the base frame and the respective car-` riages, pivotal connections between the boom frame and the respective carriages, and means for imparting lateral movement to the carriages in opposite directions lto simultaneously widen or narrow 'the space between the ends of the base frame and the boom frame which are pivotally attached to the carriages.

3. A portable collapsible crane comprising a pair of wheel-supported carriages, a base frame supported at its rear end by said carriages, means for attaching and supporting the front end of the.base frame to a tractor, a boom frame supported by the carriages, pivotal connections between the base frame and the respective carriages, pivotal connections between the boom frame and the respective carriages, means for imparting lateral movement to the carriages to simultaneously widen or narrow the space between the ends of the base frame and the boom frame which are pivotally attached to the carriages, and a second pivotal connection between the boom frame and the respectivecarriages to permit vertical swinging movement of the boom frame .with relation to the base frame.

4. A portable collapsible crane comprising a pair of wheel-supported carriages, a base frame supported at its rear end by said carriages, means for attaching and supporting the front end of the base frame to a tractor; a boom frame supportedbythe carriages, pivotal connections between the base frame and the respective carriages, Apivotal connections between the. boom frame and the respective carriages, means forl 4imparting lateral movement to the carriages to widen or narrow the space between the endsot the frames which are pivotally attached to the carriages,a second pivotal connection between the boom frame and the respective carriages, and means for swinging the boom.y frame about said second pivotail connection from a horizontal trailing position with relation to the basel trame- The boom itself 'l imparting lateral movement to the carriages to widen or narrow the space between the ends of the frames which are pivotally attached to the carriages, a second pivotal connection between the boom frame and the respective carriages,

means for swinging the boom frame about said second pivotal connection from a horizontal trailing position with relation to the base frame to a vertical'position, or to any intermediate point, and means for stopping swinging movement of lthe boom frame beyond a verticall position. between the carriages and the respective frames 6. A portable collapsible crane comprising a pair of wheel-supported carriages, aboom frame comprising a pair of boom legs supported and connected at their lower ends one to each carriage, said connections permitting both horizontal and vertical pivotal movement of the legs with relation to the carriages, a sheave head pivotally .head adapted to be connected to and supported by a tractor, said carriages being laterally movable to spread the lower ends of the boom legs and the rear ends of the base frame arms, and means -for securing the carriage against lateral movement when a predetermined spread is reached.

7. A portable collapsible frame comprising a pair of wheel-supported carriages, a boom frame comprising a pair of boom legs supported and connected at their lower ends one to each carriage, said connections permitting both hurlzontal-and vertical pivotal movement of the legs wtih relation to the carriages, a sheave head pivotally connecting the upper ends of the boom legs, a base trame comprising a pair of arms supported and pivotally connected at their `rear ends one to each carriage, a drawhead pivotally connecting the forward ends of said arms,` said drawhead adapted to be connected to and supported by a tractor, said carriages being laterally movable to-spreadthe lower ends of the boom legs and-the rear ends of the base frame arms, means for securing the carriages against lateral movement when a predetermined spread 'is reached, andmeans for supporting and swinging the boom legs and sheave head from a horizontal trailing position with relation to the base frame to a vertical position, or to any intermediate position.

vconnected at their lower ends one to each carriage, said connections permitting both horizontal "and vertical pivotal movement of the legs with relation to the carriages, a sheave head pivotally connecting the upper ends of the boom legs. a

basefi'rame 'comprising a pair. of arms supported andpivotally connected at their rear ends vone to each carriage,a drawhead pivotally connecting 'Kfthe forward ends of said arms, said drawhead adapted to be connected to and supported by a tractor, said carriages, together with the boom legs and base frame arms, adapted to assume a position parallel and in substantial contact with each other,l means for imparting lateral movement to the carriages to spread the lower ends of.

the boom legs Aand, the rear ends of the base frame A arms, and means ifor securingi v`the carriages against lateral movement when a predetermined spread is reached.

9. A portable collapsible crane comprising a pair of wheel-supported carriages, a boom trame vcomprising a pair of boom legs supported and connected at their lower ends one to each carriage, said connections permitting both horizontal and ,vertical pivotal movement of the legs with relation to the carriages, a sheave head pivotally connecting the upper ends of the boom legs, a base frame comprising a pair of arms supported and pivotally connected at their rear ends one to each carriage, a drawhead pivotally connecting-the forward ends of said arms, said drawhead adapted to be connected to and supported by a tractor, said carriages, together with the boom legs and base frame arms, adapted to assume a position parallel and in substantial contact with each other, the wheels on said carriages being also parallel to the boom legs and the base frame arms, means for swinging the carriages with relation to the base frame arms, so that the wheels will assume a slight angle withrelation thereto, said angular position oi' the wheels causing lateral movement oi' the carriages and spreading of the base frame arms and boom legs when the crane as a whole is moved by the tractor, means .for straightening out the carriages, and other means for securing them against lateral movement when a predetermined spacing has been obtained between the carriages.

10. In a crane of the character described a base frame comprising a pair oi arms pivotally connected at their front ends and adapted to be connected with and supported by the drawbar of a tractor, a wheel-supported carriage at the rear end of each arm and supporting each arm, said carriages Apermitting the rearl ends of the arms of the base frame to be spread apart to form a base frame narrow at the i'ront and wide at the rear, a pair of boomlegs pivotally supported at their lower ends to 1,the respective carriages, a pivotal connection between the upper ends oi the boom legs, said legs adapted to be spread in unison with the frame arms to present a two-legged boom with their lower` ends spread apart, and means for raising or lowering the boom legs from a horizontal trailing position to a position at right angles to the -base frame arms. or to anyrintermediate position.

11.l In a crane ofthe character described a base frame comprising a pair' of arms pivotally connected at their iront ends and adapted to he connected to and supported by the drawbar of a.

tractor, a wheel supported carriage at the rear end of each arm and supporting each arm, a` pivotal connection between each carriage and the larm supported thereby, means for swinging each supported at their lower ends to the respective carriages, and a pivotal connection between the upper ends of the boom legs, said legs adapted to be swung toward each other or to be spread, in unison with the frame arms, to present a twoleggedboom with the lower ends of the'legs 'spread apart.

12. In a crane oi'\the character described a base frame comprising a,pair ot arms pivotally .connected at their front \ends `and adapted to be connected to and supported,- by the drawbar of a tractor, a wheel supported carriage at the rear end of each arm and supporting each arm, a pivotal connection between each carriage and the arm supported thereby, means for swinging each carriage about its pivot to cause`the wheels of Veach carriage to swing from a :positionrparallel to the arms to a position angular thereto, whereby when the arms and carriages are pulled by the tractor the can'iages will travel in a line angular to the direction of movement of the tractor and either swing the rear .ends oithe arms together or spread them apart, a pair of boom legs pivotally supported at their lower ends to the respective carriages, a pivotal connection between lframe comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected at their front endseand adapted to be connected to and` supported by the drawbar of 'a tractor, a'wheel supported carriage at the rear end of. each arm/and supporting each arm, a

pivotal connection between each carriage and the l arm supported thereby, means for swinging each carriage about its pivot to cause the wheels of each carriage to swing from a position parallel to the arms to a position angular thereto, whereby when the arms and carriages are pulled by the tractor the carriages will travel in a line angular to the direction of movement of the tractor and either swing the rear ends of .the arms together or spread them supported at carriages, a pivotal connection between the upper ends of the boom legs, said legs adapted to be swung toward each other or to be spread, vin unison with the trame arms, to present a twolegged boom with the lower ends of the legs spread apart, a second pivotal connection between the lower end o! each boom leg and each y carriage, and means for swinging the boom legs about said last named pivots from a horizontal positionzto a substantially vertical position.

' 14. In a crane of the character described a/base frame comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected at teir front ends and adapted to be apart, a pair of boom legs pivotally their lower ends to the respective connected to andv supported by the drawbar of a tractor, a wheel supported carriage at the rear end of each arm and supporting each arm, a pivotal connection `between each carriage and the arm supported thereby, means for swinging each carriage about its pivot to cause the wheels of each carriage to swing from a position parallel to the arms to a position angular thereto, whereby when the arms and `carriages are pulled by the tractor the' carriages will travel in a line angular to the direction of movement of. the tractor andeither swing the rear ends of the arms together or -spread them apart, a pair oi boom legs pivotally supported at their lower ends to the respective carriages, a pivotal connection between the upper ends of the boom legs, said legs adapted to be swung toward each other or to be spread, in unison with the frame arms, to piesent a two-legged boom with the lower ends of the legs spread apart, a second pivotal connes tion between the lower end of reach boom lem and each carriage, means for swinging the boom legs about said. last named pivots from a horizon tal position to a substantially vertical position, and. means for securing the boom legs and the arms of the base frame in a predetermined spreaoi 5 position,

' mi? D. ROGERS.