US2607500A

US2607500A - Tower yarder assembly

Info

Publication number: US2607500A
Application number: US784919A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frink Gerald
Original assignee: Washington Iron Works Inc
Current assignee: Washington Iron Works Inc
Priority date: 1947-11-03
Filing date: 1947-11-03
Publication date: 1952-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1969-08-19

Description

Aug. 19, 1952 G. FRINK TOWER YARDER' ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 5 194') INVENTOR. Ger'qld Fr'lnK ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 ington- Iron Works, Seattle,

vtion of Washington Wash, a corpora- Application November 3, mam-summa-1784319 This invention relates to a tower .ya'r'der assembly, one more especially which is portable in nature, and it is one object of the invention to provide a tower yarder in which the tower, the spooling drums, andthe engine of the yarder are carried upon a mobile stand.

It is a further and important object to .pro vide a s the tower for the yarder, a spar member mounted upon the stand for vertical swinging movement from an approximately horizontal carrying position into ah upright operating position, and with the assembly so constructed and arranged .as to permit the engine of the yarder, when the spar is being erected, to be employed both ior hoisting the spar and for stabilizing the latter against lateral sway. 4

,a' further object still, the invention aims to providea tower yarder assembly in which the erected ,spar is stepped upon a thrust bearing and in which this bearing is independent of the pivot mounting which {swingablysupport's the The ;i nvention- -has the still further and important object of providing a yarder assembly o ia 'e swirlsab y m u d s a nd Which is "characterized in that the pivot axis lies close ih sr undl r A stil unn r ;and.;il-n e n Object de in so engineeringthe spar and its pivot mounting as to assure, whenthespar'occupies its lowered horizontal position, ample clearance for a tractor to :run under the spar and hook ontothe yaifder tor-towing the latter from one to another site.

Th o e oi-na to e h wi ot er fe s of the invention and the advantages attained thereby, -wi ll appear and be understood in the course of the following description and claims, the invention consisting, in thenovel construction and :in-the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanyingdrawings: V,

Figure l is a view inside elevation illustrating a tower yarder assembly constructed in accordance with the DOWeDIGfBIIZBdsEmbOdiHIGIlt of the present invention, :full and, dotted .lines being employed to represent the =sp1ar in elevated and lowered positions.

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary view-to an enlarged scaleup'rincipally infront elevation but partially in section, and with the spar being here shown as: occupying its lowered positionfln both'this and the preceding view, and for simplicity in illustration,'the crawler treads which give mobility to the vehicular body upon which the yarder is 11 Claims. (01. 212-144) )2 carried are-shown only iii-outline with noattempt at detail.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary-view to an enlarged scale and shown party in elevation and partly in section to detail the head end of the spar Fig ,4 is a horizontal sectionon line 4-41 of m y Fig. 5 is a fragmentary verticalsection to a yet larger scale and taken one line radial to the spar assembly fordetailing one of the several swivel-sheave units which accommodate the-main guy lines for the assembly.

The numeral to designates a vehicular body sides of the swivel center, upstanding spaced pairs of apertured 1ugs I1, andremov-ably received through the apertures of these lugs isa horizontal pivotpin 20. There is also carried upon the frontal end of the platform, but removed rearwardly from thechair and preferably such as to occupy a position proximate to but lying slightly behind the transverse vertical center of the front, crawler units H, a relatively heavy thrustplate ll formed to present a facing socket of semispherical form. In a manner which will be hereinafter described, the spar member of the present invention, and which I denote generally lay-23, is arranged when occupying its erected position to be stopped in this socket, the footing element comprising a mating ballshaped butt 24 made an integral part of the spar.

At the rear end and upon-opposite sides of the yarder there are provided standards25 between which isjournaled a sheave; 26, and placed below such sheave at or about the floor line of the-platform isa second sheave 2 The two sheaves act in complement to guide a spar hoisting line 28, this line-having one of its ends made fast to the yarder, passing therefromabouta sheave 39 carried upon an out-jutting framework 3i of the spar 23;, thence having a complete turn around the two sheavesjfi and 358 and, after again passing over the sheave 26, running downwardly to the sheave ,2! and thence iorwardly to a spooling drum, this spooling drum being one of a severalty of drums denoted 29 and which, together with a yarder engine 32, are carried upon the platform. The driving connections including control brakes and clutches between the engine and the several spooling drums are or may be conventional and require no illustration.

Now reverting to the spar member, the footing end therof, in addition to the rearwardly jutting framework 3 I, is also provided with a forwardly jutting outrigger frame 33. This frame 33 is composed of two matching trestle-like structures having the limbs of the trestles joined at the ends by gussets 34 and tied, one gusset'to the other, by a spreader bar 35.

The gussets 34 are apertured, and the location and spacing is such that, by slight lowering movement of the spar from the erected full-line position in which the same is'shown in Fig. 1, the gussets will lodge in the interstices between the paired lugs of the swivel-mounted chair It and, bringing the apertures of the gussets into registration with the apertures of the lugs, permit the pivot pin to be passed therethrough for coupling the one to the other, a continuation of the lowering movement then causing the spar to swing about the pin 20 as an axis with a coincidental lifting of the butt 24 out of its socket.

When completely lowered, the spar occupies the position in which it is shown by dotted lines'in Fig. 1, the spar then lying more or less horizontal to the ground. When moving the yarder, accomplished by coupling the draw-bar I3 to a tractor, such spar desirably has its front end supported upon the trailer bed of a lead truck travelling ahead of the tractor. It may be here pointed out that the outrigger frame 33 efiectively elevates the hinged end of the lowered spar to enable the tractor to work freely under the latter.

The-spar is hollow and, sectionally considered, is of a generally rectangular configuration framed from corner angle irons 36 faced with steel plates, and there is welded or otherwise secured upon the head end of the spar a collar 31 formed in its perimeter with a circumscribing groove 38. groove, and provided at diametrically opposite sides of this ring are spaced apertured ears 4! for the attachment, as by

pins

42 and 43, of a main lead block 44 at one side and tail guys 45 at the other side of the ring. The main line 0 which runs through this block and thence downwardly to a related one of the spooling drums is shown in Fig. 1 and designated 46.

Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the spar to lie in surmounting relation to the collar is a cage structure composed, as shown, of

horizontal plates

41 and 48 separated by web spacers 49, and at equidistantly spaced intervals about the circumference there is received between the top and bottom plates of this cage a severalty of vertical pins, eight being shown. Four of these pins, denoted 50, are solid and serve as bearings for swivel eyes 5| arranged and adapted to engage auxiliary, guy lines (not shown), and the other four pins, denoted 52 and alternating with 'the solid pins, are hollow and are made an integral part of swivel-yokes 53 supporting respective sheavesEd which, with outlying blocks 55, each serve as a differential take-up for associated main guy lines 56. The draw-line 5'! for this take-up tackle has one end anchored to the block 55 and, after making a complete turn about the sheave 54 and the block, is returned over the sheave and thence through the hollow pin 52 (see Fig. 5) into the spar, running downwardly A ring 40 is revolubly fitted in this 4 through the latter and at the base of the spar being passed under a sheave 58 and thence to a related one of the spooling drums of the yarder.

In addition to the main line 45 and the several guy lines, namely tail, main and auxiliary, provision must perforce be made for the haul-back line and also for the straw line, denoted by GE and El, respectively. At the very top of the spar I provide a swivel-mounted fair-lead 62 and a sheave 63, the haul-back line being arranged to pass through the fair-lead and over the sheave and, as with the lines 46 and 5?, thence running downwardly to a related one of the spooling drums. The straw-line, which likewise is spooled about a related one of the drums, works through a block 64 supported at or about the mid-height of the spar.

Assuming that the spar occupies the lowered position in which it is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the procedure in raising the spar is to first take up on the hoist line 28, causing the spar to swing upwardly about the pivot-pin 23 as an axis. Coincident with this elevational movement, the several main guy lines, which have been previously secured by their outer ends to suitably located anchoring stumps, are taken up or let out as may, in the respective instance, be necessary to stabilize the head-end of the spar. As the rising spar approaches its fully erected position, the swinging butt 24 will become seated in the socket of the step-bearing 2| and the hoisting drum is then momentarily set in this position while the pivot-pin 20 is withdrawn, following which the hoisting action is continued with the weight of the spar being now entirely borne by the step-bearing. The main guys are all drawn into taut conditions, their spooling drums locked, and the operation is then completed by running the outer ends of the auxiliary and tail guys around suitable anchoring stumps, this latter operation being accomplished in the customary manner, and which is to say by taking which should be expressly pointed out is that the.

two-point pivotal suspension by which the lowered spar is sustained upon a swivel-mounted chair, in conjunction with hoist and guy lines which lead from the spar to the spooling drums of the yarder and are at all times available for lifting the head end of the spar, make it possible when the yarder is being moved from one to another site to manipulate the yarder and its spar around bends which would be otherwise diflicult if not impossible to negotiate. With the described arrangement, and assuming that the turning arc of an encountered bend is too short to accommodate the reach of the spar when the latter occupies its lowered horizontal position, the procedure is simply one of starting up the engine of the yarder and raising the spar in'the degree necessary to shorten the horizontal span to the turning limit prescribed by the bend, coincidently stabilizing this elevational movement by staking out main guy lines at each side of the roadway, and then gradually taking in or playing out these guylines'on the related spooling drums as itheuy-arderq-is .manipulated around the bend therhereto annexed claims beread with -a scope" commensurate with the broadest interpretation which the employed language permits.

What I claim is: 1

1. In a tower mobile yarder assembly, a yarder carrying spooling drums together with a source of power for drivingthe drums, a straight spar swingably supported at its lower end by the yarder for movement .irom .a lowered approximately horizontal position into an erected approximately vertical position and upon its head end carrying a plurality of sheaves each of which is swivel-mounted for self-alinement with guy lines passing over the respective sheaves, a hoistinglin'e connected to the spar and powered from one of the spooling drumsfor elevating the spar, and a plurality of guy lines working through the sheaves, arranged to be secured by one end of each to anchoring stumps, and having their other ends operatively attached to others of the said spooling drums for stabilizing thehead end of the spar during the act of raising the latter.

.2. In a tower mobile yarder assembly, a-yar'der carrying spooling drums and an engine for driving the drums, .a straight spar supported by the yarder for vertical swinging movement from a lowered approximately horizontal position into an erected upright position, the swing axis of said yarder occupying a plane which approximately coincides horizontally with the plane ccupiecl by the drums and the engine, a hoisting line connected to the spar and powered from one of the spooling drums for, raising the spar, a plurality of sheaves carried upon the head end of the spar each of which is swivel-mounted for self-alinement with guy lines passing over the respective sheaves, and guy lines arranged to be secured by one end of each to respective anchoring stumps and running therefrom to the sheaves and thence to others of the said spooling drums for stabilizing the head end of the spar during the act of raising the latter.

3. In a tower yarder assembly, a yarder carrying spooling drums together with an engine for driving the drums and presenting a step bearing occupying a plane which approximately coincides with the plane occupied by the drums and the engine, a spar supported by the yarder for vertical swinging movement from a lowered inactive position whereat the same occupies an approximately horizontal position into an operating upright position, the spar when occupying its said upright position footing upon the step bearing, and a hoisting line connected to the spar and powered from one of the spooling drums for elevating the spar.

4. In a tower yarder assembly, a yarder carrying spooling drums and an engine for driving the drums, a spar supported by the yarder for vertical swinging movement from a lowered inactive position Whereat the same occupies an approximately horizontal position into an operating upright position, a step-bearing upon the yarder offset longitudinally from the swing axis of the spar 6 tothe side :of the latter opposite'from the slowered head of the spar, a hoisting,lineconnected to the spar and powered from iOIIG'LOf the spooling drums for elevating the spar, rand alfOOt provided upon theisparland "arrange'd gby upward swinging move ment pf the spar to register withandseat upon the step-bearing and th'ereby transfer from the swing axisto the step -bearing the vertical thrust ofthe'uprightspar. J

Ina tower yarder assembly, 'a ya'rder', a spar provided at its base GIIdjaWithl-fil'l. out-jutting framework, a :detachable hing'e connection between the yarder and the free extremity of saidout-jutting :framework end'a'ctin'g to .support the spar ff or vertical swinging movement from a "lowered approximately :horizontal. :position into an upright '-.position, a step -'bearing :upon the yarder off set :ilongitudina'lly fromsthe swing axis of the spar to the iside"oppositerthatcoccupied 'by the lowered head of 'thetspar,1 a foot providedcupon the spar and arranged by upward s'winging: movement of 'the spa'r to 'register'gwith and seat upon the .s'tep bearing, :and meansforrais-ingand owering 'said spar.

6. In a portable spar assembly-a mobileihase, a spar provided adjacent its bottom end With'Olltrigger structures jutting fore: and? aft from" diametrioa'lly oppositesides; a :hinge :cohnectibn be-" tween the base and the free. extremity-bf one of said outrigger structures supporting the spar :for

vertical swinging movement from a lowered ap occupieid 'by the lowered head of the spar-,and a foot provided upon the spar and arranged by upward swinging movement of the spar to'register with and seat upon the step-bearing.

7. In a tower yarder assembly, a mobile yarder carrying spooling, drums together with an engine for driving the drums, a chair upon the front end of the yarder mounted for swivel movement about a vertical axis, a spar provided at its bottom end with a forwardly jutting outrigger structure, a hinge connection between the chair and the free extremity of said outrigger structure supporting the spar for vertical swinging movement from a lowered approximately horizontal position into an upright position, a hoisting line connected to the spar and powered from one of the spooling drums for elevating the spar, a step-bearing upon the yarder off-set longitudinally from the swing axis of the spar to the side opposite that occupied by the lowered head of the spar, and a foot provided upon the spar and arranged by upward swinging movement of the spar to register and seat upon the step-bearing. I

8. In a tower yarder assembly, a yarder carrying spooling drums and an engine for driving the drums, a spar supported by the yarder for vertical swinging movement from a lowered approximately horizontal position into an upright position and presenting upon its head end a rigidly circumferentially grooved collar, a ring received for rotary shifting movements in the groove of said collar and providing means for the attachment thereto of stabilizing tail guys, a block suspended from the ring and arranged to handle a main line spooled by one of its ends about one of the drums, and means also provided upon the head end of the spar for the attachment of main guys and for handling a haul-back line which, as

'mately horizontal position into an upright position and presenting upon its head end a rigid circumferentially grooved collar, a ring received for rotary'shifting movements in the groove of said collar and providing means at one side thereof for the attachment thereto of stabilizing tail guys, a block suspended from the ring to lie diametrically opposite from said guy attachment and arranged to handle a main line spooled by one of its ends about one of the drums, a rigid cage surmounting the collar, a plurality of sheaves supported by the cage to lie at spaced intervals about the circumference of the latter and each acting to handle a main guy line spooled by one of its ends about a related one of the drums, and means also carried by the spar and placed in surmounting relation to the cage and acting tohandle a haul-back line which, like the main and guy lines, is spooled by one of its ends about one of the drums.

10. A tower yarder assembly according to claim 9 in which the spar is of hollow construction and wherein the sheaves for the main guys are swivelmounted with the swivel pins being hollow and opening by their bottom ends into the interior of the spar, access being provided to enable the inner ends of the guy lines to pass from the respective sheave into the bore of the related pin whence the line passes downwardly through the spar to the spooling drum.

11. In a tower yarder assembly, a yarder carrying spooling drums and an engine for driving the drums, a hollow upright spar supported by the yarder, and a plurality of sheaves swivel-mounted 4 upon the head end of the spar and each acting to handle a main guy line spooled by one of its ends about a related one of the drums, the swivel mountings comprising hollow pins each j ournaled to turn about a respective axis generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of the spar and having openings in the side and in the bottom of each said pin with said bottom opening being exposed to the interior of the spar, the side openings enabling the inner ends of the guy lines to pass from the respective sheave into the bore of the related pin and thence through the bottom opening downwardly through the spar to the spooling drum.

GERALD EFRINK.

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