Crane support assembly

Abstract

A crane support system includes two spaced apart longitudinal members couplable with a vehicle frame. Two spaced apart groups of tubes are coupled with and extend between the longitudinal members and outboard relative to one member to define an outboard subassembly portion. A tower frame is mounted atop the outboard subassembly portion. A first brace extends angularly between the groups of tubes, the brace extending from a one of the groups forward relative to the vehicle frame toward the other group aft relative to the vehicle frame and toward the tower frame. A horizontal arm extends transversely beneath the outboard subassembly portion. A vertical support has a top end coupled with the arm and a bottom end couplable with an outrigger. A second brace extends angularly between the vertical support and the arm for transferring bending moment and/or shear from the cantilever to the outrigger via the vertical support.

Claims

1. A crane tower support subassembly comprising: two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members couplable with a vehicle frame; two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes coupled with the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members and extending between the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members and outboard relative to one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members to define an outboard support subassembly portion for supporting a crane tower assembly; and a brace extending angularly between the two groups of parallel rigid tubes, the brace coupled with at least one tube of each of the two groups of parallel rigid tubes for extending from a one of the two groups of parallel rigid tubes forward relative to the vehicle frame toward another one of the two groups of parallel rigid tubes aft relative to the vehicle frame and toward the crane tower assembly, the brace restricting movement of one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes relative to the other one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes during crane operation.

2. The subassembly as in claim 1, further comprising at least two brackets each coupled with a corresponding one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members, each one of the at least two brackets for coupling the corresponding one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members with the vehicle frame.

3. The subassembly as in claim 2, further a horizontal support member coupled with the outboard support subassembly portion parallel relative to the longitudinally extending members, the horizontal support member extending between the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes of the outboard support subassembly portion and spaced apart from the one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members for supporting at least a portion of the crane tower assembly.

4. The subassembly as in claim 1, wherein: the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes include a forward group of parallel rigid tubes and an aft group of parallel rigid tubes; and a forwardmost tube of the forward group of parallel rigid tubes and an aftmost tube of the aft group of parallel rigid tubes extend outboard relative to the other one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members for each supporting at least one component of a vehicle.

5. The subassembly as in claim 1, wherein: the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes include a forward group of parallel rigid tubes and an aft group of parallel rigid tubes; and a forwardmost tube of the forward group of parallel rigid tubes of the outboard support subassembly portion and an aftmost tube of the aft group of parallel rigid tubes of the outboard support subassembly portion are longer than other tubes of the forward group of parallel rigid tubes and the aft group of parallel rigid tubes.

6. The subassembly as in claim 1, wherein: the two groups of parallel rigid tubes, the brace, and the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members are coplanar.

7. The subassembly as in claim 1, wherein: the two groups of parallel rigid tubes, the brace, and the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members are each formed from rigid tubes having the same dimensions in cross-section.

8. A crane tower support system comprising: two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members couplable with a vehicle frame; two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes coupled with the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members and extending between the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members and outboard relative to one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members to define an outboard support subassembly portion; a crane tower frame mounted atop the outboard support subassembly portion; a first brace extending angularly between the two groups of parallel rigid tubes, the first brace coupled with at least one tube of each of the two groups of parallel rigid tubes for extending from a one of the two groups of parallel rigid tubes forward relative to the vehicle frame toward another one of the two groups of parallel rigid tubes aft relative to the vehicle frame and toward the crane tower frame, the first brace restricting movement of one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes relative to the other one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes during crane operation; a horizontal arm coupled with and extending transversely relative the two groups of parallel rigid tubes of the outboard support subassembly portion from beneath the outboard support subassembly portion; a vertical support having a top end portion coupled with the horizontal arm and a bottom end portion couplable with an outrigger assembly; and a rigid second brace extending angularly between the vertical support and the horizontal arm for supporting the horizontal arm and for transferring at least one of bending moment and shear acting on the horizontal arm during crane operation to the outrigger assembly via the vertical support.

9. The system as in claim 8, further comprising: a bracket coupled with the bottom end portion of the vertical support for rigidly coupling the bottom end portion of the vertical support with the outrigger assembly.

10. The system as in claim 9, wherein the bracket further comprises: a vertically extending outrigger coupling portion for coupling the bracket with the outrigger assembly; and a horizontally extending support portion extending perpendicularly from the outrigger coupling portion and coupled with the bottom end portion of the vertical support from beneath the bottom end portion of the vertical support.

11. The system as in claim 10, wherein the bracket further comprises: at least one aperture extending through the outrigger coupling portion for alignment with at least one corresponding aperture in the outrigger assembly, the at least one aperture and the at least one corresponding aperture, when aligned, providing passage for a fastener from the outrigger coupling portion to the outrigger assembly for coupling the bracket with the outrigger assembly.

12. The system as in claim 8, wherein the crane tower frame further comprises: two pair of vertically extending corner members, each corner member having a bottom corner member end portion and a top corner member end portion, the bottom corner member end portion of each vertically extending corner member of each pair of vertically extending corner members coupled with a corresponding one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes of the outboard support subassembly portion; and at least one horizontal member extending between each vertically extending corner member of each pair of vertically extending corner members.

13. The system as in claim 12, further comprising: at least one horizontal brace extending between the at least one horizontal member of each pair of vertically extending corner members.

14. The system as in claim 13, further comprising: a crane plate mounted atop and supported by the two pair of vertically extending corner members.

15. The system as in claim 12, wherein: the at least one horizontal member extending between each vertically extending corner member of one pair of vertically extending corner members includes two spaced apart spacer bars each extending between each vertically extending corner member of the one pair of vertically extending corner members.

16. The system as in claim 8, further comprising: a horizontal support member coupled with the outboard support subassembly portion parallel relative to the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members, the horizontal support member extending between the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes of the outboard support subassembly portion.

17. The system as in claim 16, wherein: the horizontal support member is spaced apart from the one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members.

18. The system as in claim 8, wherein: the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes include a forward group of parallel rigid tubes and an aft group of parallel rigid tubes; and a forwardmost tube of the forward group of parallel rigid tubes and an aftmost tube of the aft group of parallel rigid tubes both extend outboard relative to the other one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members.

19. The system as in claim 8, wherein: the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes include a forward group of parallel rigid tubes and an aft group of parallel rigid tubes; and a forwardmost tube of the forward group of parallel rigid tubes of the outboard support subassembly portion and an aftmost tube of the aft group of parallel rigid tubes of the outboard support subassembly portion are longer than other tubes of the forward group of parallel rigid tubes and the aft group of parallel rigid tubes.

20. The system as in claim 8, wherein: the two groups of parallel rigid tubes, the first brace, and the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members are coplanar and are each formed from rigid tubes having the same dimensions in cross-section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention reference may be had by way of example to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the crane support system;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the crane support system;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top down view of the crane support subassembly;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the two groups of parallel rigid tubes shown in FIG. 3, taken along line A-A;

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the crane tower assembly;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of the crane tower assembly bracket;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the crane tower assembly bracket and the outrigger assembly;

(9) FIG. 8 is a top down view of the crane tower assembly coupled with the crane tower support subassembly and the outrigger assembly; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view of the crane tower assembly coupled with the crane tower support subassembly and the outrigger assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) The present disclosure relates to a crane support assembly for mounting a crane system to a utility vehicle and more specifically to a crane support assembly which provides increased support against operational forces acting on the crane system.

(12) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the crane support system 10 includes a crane tower assembly 12 and a crane tower support subassembly 14. The crane tower assembly 12 and the crane tower support subassembly 14 may be coupled together to support a crane system (not shown) which may be mounted on top of the crane tower assembly 12. The crane support system 10 may be mounted to a vehicle frame or chassis (not shown) for transporting the crane system to and from work sites. The crane support system 10 may be coupled with outrigger assembly 16. Outrigger assembly 16 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 coupled with the crane support system 10 in a non-deployed state for transportation. Legs 18 of outrigger assembly 16 may be telescopically extended during crane operation for engagement with the ground surrounding the vehicle in order to provide greater stability to the crane system during crane system operation.

(13) The crane tower support subassembly 14 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The crane tower support subassembly 14 includes two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 which may be coupled with the vehicle frame. The vehicle frame may include two parallel spaced apart vehicle frame members (not shown) which extend longitudinally from the forward end of the vehicle to the rear. Each one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 of the crane tower support subassembly 14 is coupled with a corresponding one of the two parallel spaced apart vehicle frame members. As shown in FIG. 2, such a coupling may be facilitated by brackets 22 which may couple one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 with a corresponding one of the two parallel spaced apart vehicle frame members. For example, brackets 22 may be bolted between the parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 and a corresponding one of the two parallel spaced apart vehicle frame members.

(14) The crane tower support subassembly 14 also includes two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 coupled with the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20. The two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 extend between the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 and outboard relative to one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 to define an outboard support subassembly portion 26. In a manner described further herein, the crane tower assembly 12 may be mounted atop the outboard support subassembly portion 26. Each of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 shown in FIG. 3 include three parallel rigid tubes 28. It should be understood that two or more parallel rigid tubes 28 may be used in each of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24. The parallel rigid tubes 28 are coupled together such as by welding, for example, in order to provide further rigidity to the outboard support subassembly portion 26 and thereby providing rigid support for the crane tower assembly 12 and further resistance to crane system operational forces.

(15) Of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24, one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 is further forward relative to the vehicle frame than the other one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 which is further aft relative to the vehicle frame. A brace 30 extends angularly between the forward group of parallel rigid tubes 32 toward the aft group of parallel rigid tubes 34 and toward the outboard support subassembly portion 26. The brace 30 provides further rigidity to the crane tower support subassembly 14 and also provides further resistance to forces acting on the crane tower support subassembly 14 such as for example bending moment and shear stresses which may arise during crane operation. During crane system operation, the forces acting on the two groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 may be limited to bending moment and shear forces. The brace 30 restricts relative movement between the two groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 and in particular restricts longitudinal movement of one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 relative to the other one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 during crane system operation in a direction transverse relative to the two longitudinally extending members 20. This in tum restricts unwanted bending forces from being transferred to the vehicle frame during crane system operation.

(16) In one aspect shown in FIG. 4, all of the parallel rigid tubes of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 may be rectangular in cross-section and have the same dimensions in width and height. The tubes may be fabricated from any rigid material. However the tubes may be fabricated from aluminum and may be 3″ by 8″ rectangular tubes. Moreover the tubes of each of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 are welded together by stitch welding. Stitch welding limits or reduces the amount of heat put into the tubes during welding which in tum reduces weakening or deformation of the structure of the tubes as a result of the welding operation. Moreover, stitch welding reduces the materials used and time required and hence the overall cost of the welding operation when compared to continuous welding along the length of the tubes.

(17) The crane tower assembly 12 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. The crane tower assembly 12 includes a crane tower frame 42 which may include two pair 44 of vertically extending corner members 48. Each corner member 48 has a bottom corner member end portion 50. Each pair 44 of the vertically extending corner members 48 is coupled with a corresponding one of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 of the outboard support subassembly portion 26 to mount the crane tower frame 42 atop the outboard support subassembly portion 26. Each vertically extending corner member 48 also has a top corner member end portion 52. At least one horizontal member 54 extends between each top corner member end portion 52 of the vertically extending corner members 48 of each pair 44 of vertically extending corner members 48. The at least one horizontal member 54 extending between each vertically extending corner member 48 of one pair 44 of vertically extending corner members 48, may include two spaced apart spacer bars 100. Spacer bars 100 extend between the vertically extending corner members 48 of the outboard pair 45 of vertically extending corner members 48. Spacer bars 100 may be flat bars which allow for access to bolts (not shown) for coupling door 90 with the crane tower frame 42. A crane plate 58 having a crane plate opening 60 extending there through may be mounted atop and supported by the two pair 44 of vertically extending corner members 48. Spacer bars 100 and the crane plate 58 form a C-shaped channel. At least one horizontal brace 56 may extend between the at least one horizontal member 54 extending between the vertically extending corner members 48 of each pair 44 of vertically extending corner members 48. FIG. 5 includes two such horizontal braces 56. Horizontal braces 56 may also be flat bars similar to spacer bars 100. This allows clearance for rear bolts (not shown) of the crane system when the crane system is mounted to crane plate 58 and also allows access to the rear bolts of the crane system. Horizontal braces 56 also support the crane plate 58 during crane system operation such as for example when the crane boom is rotated about the crane plate 58.

(18) Crane tower assembly 12 may also include a rear panel 84 a first side panel 86 a second side panel 88 and a door 90 coupled with the vertically extending corner members or aides to form a crane tower housing 92 the interior of the crane tower housing 92 is accessible via the door 90. A drip tray 94 is coupled with a top edge portion 97 of the door 90. The drip tray 94 redirects water or other fluids or debris away from the door 90. The crane tower housing 92 may also include a bottom plate 96 coupled with bottom portions of each of the rear panel 84, the first side panel 86, the second side panel 88 and the door 90. Bottom plate 96 has an opening 98 passing therethrough. Vertical support 64 passes through the bottom plate 96 via the opening 98.

(19) With further reference to FIG. 3, a forwardmost tube 36 of the forward group of parallel rigid tubes 32 and an aftmost tube 38 of the past group of parallel rigid tubes 32 may extend outboard relative to the other one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 or outboard on the non-crane side of the support subassembly 14. The forwardmost tube 36 outboard relative to the other one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 extends beneath a compartment (not shown) to support the compartment. The aftmost tube 38 outboard relative to the other one of the two parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending members 20 extends out to the extent of the vehicle and structurally ties the rear end of the vehicle with the support subassembly 14.

(20) The forwardmost tube 36 and the aftmost tube 38 of the outboard support subassembly portion 26 may also be longer than the other tubes of the forward group of parallel rigid tubes 32 and the aft group of parallel rigid tubes 34 forming the outboard support subassembly portion 26. The greater length of the forwardmost tube 36 and aftmost tube 38 relative to the other tubes of the forward and aft groups of parallel rigid tubes 32 provides a space or cutaway portion 102 which may be occupied by the door 90 and any associated hardware when it is in a closed or nearly closed position.

(21) Also shown in FIG. 3 is a horizontal support member 40 which may also be coupled with the outboard support subassembly portion 26 parallel relative to the parallel longitudinally extending members 20. The horizontal support member 40 is spaced apart from the nearest one of the parallel longitudinally extending members 20 and extends between the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 of the outboard support subassembly portion 26. The horizontal support member 40 is coupled with each of the two innermost members of the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24. As shown in FIG. 8, rear panel 84 and horizontal support member 40 are parallel relative to one another and the horizontal support member 40 supports the rear panel 84 of the crane tower assembly housing 92 from beneath the rear panel 84.

(22) Returning to FIG. 5, the crane tower assembly 12 also includes a horizontal arm 62 which is coupled with the outboard support subassembly portion 26 from beneath the outboard support subassembly portion 26 and transversely relative to the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24. The crane tower assembly 12 further includes a vertical support 64. Vertical support 64 has a top end portion 66 and a bottom end portion 68. The top end portion 66 is coupled with horizontal arm 62. The bottom end portion 68 may be coupled with outrigger assembly 16. A rigid brace 70 extends angularly between the vertical support 64 and the horizontal arm 62 to rigidly support the horizontal arm 62.

(23) The coupling of the bottom end portion 68 of vertical support 64 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. A bracket 72 may be coupled with the bottom end portion 68 of the vertical support 64 and with the outrigger assembly 16 for rigidly coupling the vertical support 64 with the outrigger assembly 16. The bracket 72 includes a vertically extending outrigger coupling portion 74 for coupling the bracket 72 with outrigger assembly 16 and also includes a horizontally extending rigid support shelf 76 extending perpendicularly from the outrigger coupling portion 74. The bottom end portion 68 of vertical support 64 is coupled with or mounted on top of the horizontally extending rigid support shelf 76. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of apertures 78 extends through the outrigger coupling portion for alignment with a plurality of corresponding aperture is 80 in the outrigger assembly 16. When the apertures 78 and the corresponding apertures 80 are aligned, a fastener 82 such as a bolt or rivet for example, may pass through the outrigger coupling portion 74 and the outrigger assembly 16 for coupling the bracket 72 relative to the outrigger assembly 16. Accordingly, there is provided a rigid support upon which the vertical support 64 may be mounted. It should be understood that bracket 72 may have other configurations provided that the bracket couples the vertical support 64 with the outrigger assembly 16.

(24) FIGS. 8 and 9 show the crane tower assembly 12 coupled with the crane tower support subassembly 14 and the outrigger assembly 16. The crane tower support subassembly 14 with the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 and the brace 30 provide a highly rigid structure upon which the crane tower assembly 12 may be mounted. The crane tower support subassembly 14 provides rigid support for the load of the crane tower assembly 12 as well as the crane system including the crane boom which is to be mounted to the crane tower assembly 12. The crane tower support subassembly 14 also provides rigid support against operational forces acting on the crane system during crane system operation. However, when operating at or near maximum load capacity, the crane tower support subassembly 14 may be subject to bending moment forces, shear forces, or other forces associated with the operation of the crane system. The coupling of the horizontal arm 62 beneath and transversely relative to the two spaced apart groups of parallel rigid tubes 24 of the outboard support subassembly portion 26, the coupling of the vertical support 64 with the outrigger assembly 16 and the rigid brace 70 together provide a means for transferring bending moment acting on the crane tower support subassembly 14 to the outrigger assembly 16. Forces acting on the crane tower support subassembly 14 are transferred to the horizontal arm 62 which in tum are transferred to the vertical support 64 by way of the horizontal arm coupling with the top end portion 66 of the vertical support 64 and the rigid brace 70 also coupled with the vertical support 64. Since the vertical support 64 is rigidly coupled with the outrigger assembly 16 by way of bracket 72, forces acting on the horizontal arm 62 are transferred to the outrigger assembly 16. Accordingly, at least some of the load on the crane support system before, during, or after crane operation may be transferred to the outrigger assembly 16.

(25) While there have been described herein what are considered to be exemplary aspects of the present invention, other modifications of these aspects falling within the invention described herein shall be apparent to those skilled in the art.