Cantilevered crane system for a factory work station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10640335-B2
Application number	US-201715673531-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2017
Priority date	Aug 12, 2016
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

A workstation having a cantilevered crane system that includes one or more cantilevered header assemblies, with each cantilevered header assembly including an upright column and a horizontally oriented header, with the header extending from the column with a free end distal from the column. The headers support a pair of runway rails, with at least one bridge rail movably mounted to the runway rails and supporting a moveable hoist. The cantilevered crane system defines a workstation area bounded by the columns and headers, with the workstation area including an open side adjacent the free ends of the headers.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A workstation having a cantilevered crane system comprising:
a plurality of cantilevered header assemblies, with each said cantilevered header assembly including an upright column and a horizontally oriented header, wherein said header extends from said column with a free end distal from said column;
each said header supporting a pair of runway rails, wherein said runway rails are disposed transversely to each said header with said runway rails being supported by adjacent said headers; and
at least one bridge rail movably mounted to said runway rails for movement of said bridge rail transversely to said headers, said bridge rail supporting a moveable hoist for movement of said hoist along a length of said bridge rail;
said cantilevered crane system defining a workstation area bounded by said columns and said headers, with said workstation area including an open side adjacent said free ends of said headers.

2. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein said runway rails are disposed perpendicularly to said headers and said bridge rail is disposed perpendicularly to said runway rails.

3. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said cantilevered header assemblies comprises a T-shaped cantilevered header assembly with said T-shaped cantilevered header assembly including an additional header, and wherein said header and said additional header of said T-shaped cantilevered header assembly extend outwardly from said column of said T-shaped cantilevered header assembly.

4. The workstation of claim 3 , wherein at least one of said header and said additional header of said T-shaped cantilevered header assembly supports plant service equipment.

5. The workstation of claim 1 , further including at least one vibration dampening assembly mounted to a said cantilevered header assembly whereby said cantilevered header assembly comprises a tensioned cantilevered header assembly, wherein said vibration dampening assembly comprises a vertically oriented post extending above said header of said tensioned cantilevered header assembly and an elongate tension member extending angularly relative to said header from said post toward said free end of said header.

6. The workstation of claim 5 , wherein said post extends above said header of said tensioned cantilevered header assembly proximate to where said header connects with said upright column of said tensioned cantilevered header assembly.

7. The workstation of claim 6 , wherein said tension member is connected to said header of said tensioned cantilevered header assembly proximate said free end of said header.

8. The workstation of claim 5 , further including a tensioner connected to said elongate tension member, said tensioner configured to selectively adjust tension applied to said tension member.

9. The workstation of claim 5 , wherein said elongate tension member comprises a rod.

10. The workstation of claim 9 , wherein said rod comprises a threaded rod.

11. The workstation of claim 10 , further including a tensioner connected with said threaded rod, and wherein said tensioner comprises a turnbuckle.

12. A crane system installed in a building and comprising:
at least one cantilevered header assembly, said cantilevered header assembly including an upright column and a horizontally oriented header, wherein said header extends from said column with a free end distal from said column;
each said header supporting a pair of runway rails, wherein said runway rails are disposed transversely to said header with said runway rails being supported by adjacent said headers; and
at least one bridge rail movably mounted to said runway rails for movement of said bridge rail transversely to said headers, wherein said bridge rail is disposed perpendicularly to said runway rails and supports a trolley mounted hoist for movement of said hoist along a length of said bridge rail.

13. The crane system of claim 12 , further including a vibration dampening assembly mounted to said cantilevered header assembly, wherein said vibration dampening assembly comprises a vertically oriented post extending above said header of said cantilevered header assembly and an elongate tension member extending angularly relative to said header from said post toward said free end of said header.

14. The crane system of claim 13 , wherein said post extends above said header of said cantilevered header assembly proximate to where said header connects with said upright column of said cantilevered header assembly.

15. The crane system of claim 14 , further including a tensioner connected to said elongate tension member, said tensioner configured to selectively adjust tension applied to said tension member.

16. The crane system of claim 15 , wherein said elongate tension member comprises a threaded rod, and wherein said tensioner comprises a turnbuckle.

17. The crane system of claim 12 , wherein said at least one cantilevered header assembly comprises a plurality of cantilevered header assemblies.

18. The crane system of claim 12 , wherein said at least one cantilevered header assembly includes an additional header, and wherein said header and said additional header extend outwardly from said column, with said header and said additional header each having a free end distal from said column.

19. The crane system of claim 18 , wherein said header and said additional header are aligned with each other along their elongate axial lengths.

Assignees

• Konecranes Global Corp
• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Donahue Chad
• Torrey Derrick

Classifications

• B66C17/00 Primary

  Overhead travelling cranes comprising one or more substantially horizontal girders the ends of which are directly supported by wheels or rollers running on tracks carried by spaced supports · CPC title

• B66C5/02

  Fixed or travelling bridges or gantries, i.e. elongated structures of inverted L or of inverted U shape {or tripods} · CPC title

• B66C7/04

  Trackway suspension · CPC title

• B66C13/00

  Other constructional features or details · CPC title

• B66C19/00

  Cranes comprising trolleys or crabs running on fixed or movable bridges or gantries (B66C17/00 takes precedence; base supporting structures with legs B66C5/00; jib cranes B66C23/00) · CPC title