Transportable machinery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9440823-B2
Application number	US-7341608-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2008
Priority date	Mar 5, 2008
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A transportable machine includes a frame that may be part of a motorized carriage and a machine for transport. The frame has, for example, one or more gaps defining an interface specially designed for engaging the machine. The machine includes elements adapted to fit within or otherwise engage the gaps of the frame. Fasteners join the machine and the frame, thus creating a transportable machine.

First claim

We claim:

1. A combined motorized carriage and machine wherein:
a) the motorized carriage comprises an engine, a drivetrain for propelling the motorized carriage, and a frame comprising at least two spaced apart frame members extending in a generally horizontal direction, the frame members each having a frame profile with an outside perimeter and being interconnected parts of a chassis independent of the machine;
b) said at least two frame members each having a cross section that varies along said horizontal direction and each comprising first portions that have a first cross section and at least one second portion that has a second cross section;
c) said at least one second portion defining a gap in each of said at least two frame members, said gap being positioned along the outside perimeter of the frame profile of said frame members, said second cross section at each said gap defining an interface engaging the machine;
d) said machine including one or more outriggers each comprising an outrigger housing and an extendable stabilizing leg, wherein one or more portions of the outrigger housing of said one or more outriggers provide machine elements that fit within and bridge each said gap in the motorized carriage frame members and flanges for overlapping a part of said motorized carriage frame members in the vicinity of said one or more gaps; and
e) a connection between the machine and the motorized carriage frame member at each said gap to secure the machine to said frame members, the connection comprising comprises bolts engaging said flanges and engaging said frame members.

2. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein said connection makes the frame more rigid than the frame would be if the machine elements were not connected.

3. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein said connection increases the load bearing capacity of the frame compared to the load bearing capacity of the frame without the machine elements connected.

4. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein fitting said elements of said machine within said gap in each of said at least two frame members lowers the position of said machine with respect to said frame, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the transportable machine compared to where the center of gravity would be if the machine were placed on an identical frame but without the gaps.

5. A combined motorized carriage and as in claim 1 , wherein fitting said elements of said machine within said gap in each of said at least two frame members lowers the position of said machine with respect to said frame, thereby lowering the height of the transportable machine compared to the height the machine would have if the machine were placed on an identical frame but without the gaps.

6. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein fitting said elements of said machine within said gap in each of said at least two frame members lowers the position of said machine with respect to said frame, thereby lowering a profile of the transportable machine compared to the profile the transportable machine would have if the machine were placed on an identical frame but without the gaps.

7. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein said gaps comprise areas with reduced height of the frame member cross-section.

8. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein said one or more outriggers extend in a direction perpendicular to the at least two frame members.

9. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein said one or more outriggers extend in a horizontal direction.

10. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein said motorized carriage is a motor vehicle and comprises a cab mounted on the front portion of the chassis and a plurality of wheels.

11. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein each of said at least two frame members comprises a beam, said first portions having multiple beam segments forming said first cross section, and said second cross section in said at least one second s portion comprising fewer beam segments than said first cross section to form said gaps.

12. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 11 , wherein said first portions comprise an I-shaped cross section, and said at least one second portion comprises a part of said I-shaped cross section.

13. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 11 , wherein said first portions comprise a box-shaped cross section, and said at least one second portion comprises a Ushaped cross section.

14. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 11 , wherein said first portions comprise a C-shaped cross section, and said at least one second portion comprises an L-shaped cross section.

15. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein said machine is a crane.

16. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 15 , wherein said one or more outriggers comprise a plurality of outriggers for stabilizing the crane during operation thereof, and said gap in each of said at least two frame members comprise a plurality of gaps at least equal in number to the number of outriggers.

17. A combined motorized carriage and machine as in claim 1 , wherein said gap in each of said at least two frame members comprise a plurality of gaps, and each gap comprises a notch in the upper portions of each of the at least two motorized carriage frame members, said machine elements that fit within said gaps comprise portions that fit within said notches, and fasteners connect said machine portions and said frame members at said notches.

18. A combined motorized carriage and machine comprising:
a) a motor driven carriage portion and a machine portion;
b) the motor driven carriage portion including an engine, a drivetrain for propelling the motorized carriage, and a frame for supporting said machine portion on said motor driven carriage portion, the frame comprising at least two spaced apart frame members extending in a generally horizontal direction, the frame members being interconnected parts of a chassis independent of the machine;
c) each frame member having a frame profile with an outside perimeter and comprising a first frame part having a first cross section;
d) each frame member further comprising a second frame part having a second cross section different from said first cross section, said second cross section defining a gap in the frame member positioned along the outside perimeter of said frame profile of said frame member, said second cross section at each said gap defining an interface engaging the machine;
e) said machine portion including at least one outrigger and flanges for overlapping a part of said frame members in the vicinity of said one or more gaps, said at least one outrigger comprising an outrigger housing and an extendable stabilizing leg, wherein a portion of the outrigger housing of said at least one outrigger constitutes a frame supplementing element for connection at said gap to said second frame part for supplementing the strength and rigidity of said frame of said motor driven carriage portion; and
f) a connection between said frame supplementing element of said machine portion and the first frame part and the second frame part for securing the frame supplementing element of the machine portion to the first frame part and to the second frame part, said connection between said frame parts and said frame supplementing element increasing the str

Assignees

• Johnston Gary Allan
• Benton John Fremont
• Manitowoc Crane Companies Llc

Inventors

• Johnston Gary Allan
• Benton John Fremont

Classifications

• B66C23/62 Primary

  Constructional features or details (of dredgers E02F) · CPC title

• B62D21/02 Primary

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B66C23/42 Primary

  with jibs of adjustable configuration, e.g. foldable · CPC title

• B66C23/78

  Supports, e.g. outriggers, for mobile cranes · CPC title