System and method for connecting a crane suspension assembly to a support column

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053340-B2
Application number	US-201514600570-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2015
Priority date	Jan 20, 2014
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

An intermediate suspension connection column segment designed for use in constructing a column which is supported by a suspension that includes a first end having a first connection configured to connect to a first adjacent column segment; a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a second connection configured to connect to a second adjacent column segment; and an intermediate suspension connection between the first connection and the second connection, the intermediate suspension connection configured to couple an intermediate suspension between the suspension and the column.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An intermediate suspension connection column segment configured to be coupled to a first adjacent column segment and to a second adjacent column segment, wherein the intermediate suspension connection column segment is for use in constructing a column formed from a plurality of column segments, wherein the column is supported by a suspension assembly that is configured to be coupled to the intermediate suspension connection column segment with a pendant, the intermediate suspension connection column segment comprising:
a) a first end having a first connection configured to connect to the first adjacent column segment;
b) a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a second connection configured to connect to the second adjacent column segment;
c) a first lower chord, a second lower chord, a first upper chord, and a second upper chord, and a plurality of structural elements, wherein each of the plurality of structural elements is coupled to two of the first lower chord, the second lower chord, the first upper chord, and the second upper chord;
d) a lower cross member extending between the first lower chord and the second lower chord, wherein the lower cross member is positioned between the first end and the second end of the intermediate suspension connection column segment;
e) a first upper cross member and a second upper cross member, wherein each of the first upper cross member and the second upper cross member extend between the first upper chord and the second upper chord; and,
f) an intermediate suspension connection disposed upon the lower cross member, wherein the intermediate suspension connection is configured to couple the pendant between the suspension assembly and the intermediate suspension connection column segment, and wherein the pendant is configured to extend between the first upper cross member and the second upper cross member when the pendant is coupled between the suspension assembly and the intermediate suspension connection column segment.

2. The intermediate suspension connection column segment of claim 1 , wherein the first connection comprises two first column connectors and two second column connectors, and the second connection comprises two third column connectors and two fourth column connectors.

3. The intermediate suspension connection column of claim 1 wherein the intermediate suspension connection comprises a tab having an aperture disposed therein.

4. The intermediate suspension connection column segment of claim 1 further comprising at least one pendant storage assembly disposed within the intermediate suspension connection column segment.

5. The intermediate suspension connection column segment of claim 4 wherein the at least one pendant storage assembly comprises a box coupled to the intermediate suspension connection.

6. The intermediate suspension connection column segment of claim 1 further comprising at least a first strap assembly stored on an upper surface of the intermediate suspension connection column segment and the pendant stored within the intermediate suspension connection column segment.

7. A column assembly comprising a plurality of column segments coupled end to end with at least one column segment being the intermediate suspension connection column segment of claim 1 and the suspension assembly attached adjacent an end of the column assembly and coupled to the intermediate suspension connection column segment through an intermediate suspension.

8. A crane comprising:
a) a column formed of a plurality of column segments coupled end to end;
b) a suspension assembly coupled to an end of the column;
c) an intermediate suspension connection column segment positioned between and coupled to a first adjacent column segment and a second adjacent column segment of the plurality of column segments, the intermediate suspension connection column segment including:
i. a first end having a first connection configured to connect to the first adjacent column segment;
ii. a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a second connection configured to connect to the second adjacent column segment; and
iii. a first lower chord, a second lower chord, a first upper chord, and a second upper chord, and a plurality of structural elements, wherein each of the plurality of structural elements is coupled to two of the first lower chord, the second lower chord, the first upper chord, and the second upper chord;
iv. a lower cross member extending between the first lower chord and the second lower chord, wherein the lower cross member is positioned between the first end and the second end of the intermediate suspension connection column segment;
v. a first upper cross member and a second upper cross member, wherein each of the first upper cross member and the second upper cross member extend between the first upper chord and the second upper chord; and,
vi. an intermediate suspension connection disposed upon the lower cross member,

d) a pendant coupled to the suspension assembly and the intermediate suspension connection, wherein the pendant extends between the first upper cross member and the second upper cross member.

9. The crane of claim 8 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a first strap assembly and a second strap assembly, wherein the first strap assembly, the second strap assembly, and the pendant are coupled together.

10. The crane of claim 8 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a first strap assembly and a second strap assembly, and a link couples the first strap assembly, the second strap assembly, and the pendant together.

11. The crane of claim 8 , further comprising a mast extending laterally from the column and wherein the suspension assembly couples the mast to the end of the column.

12. The crane of claim 8 , wherein the intermediate suspension connection comprises a tab having an aperture disposed therein, and wherein the pendant has a connector configured to be coupled to the tab.

Assignees

• Manitowoc Crane Companies Llc

Inventors

• Albinger Timothy J
• Rucinski Joseph R
• Geiser Derrick L
• Fickau Ryan M
• Moore Ian M

Classifications

• B66C23/821

  Bracing equipment for booms · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B66C23/70 Primary

  constructed of sections adapted to be assembled to form jibs or various lengths · CPC title