Load transport and restraining devices and methods for restraining loads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9809308-B2
Application number	US-201514875969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2015
Priority date	Oct 6, 2015
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

Load transport and retraining devices and methods for restraining industrial machines or heavy machinery, such as, turbines, to prevent displacement during adverse environmental conditions, such as, pitching and rolling seas, are provided. The devices include support structures adapted to support loads and having wheels positioned and adapted to engage rails. The wheels include a first set of wheels adapted to ride on top of the rails and a second set of wheels adapted to engage the sides of the rails and thereby retain the support structure to the rails. The devices may also include a third set of wheels adapted to also engage the sides of the rails. The devices may include brake and drive assemblies to facilitate handling. Aspects of the disclosure are uniquely adapted to turbines, but other aspects of the disclosure may restrain any industrial machine that may be exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A load transport and restraining device comprising:
a support structure adapted to receive a load;
a first plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, at least one of the first plurality of wheels positioned to contact a top of a first rail of a set of rails;
a first adjustable support mounting the first plurality of wheels to the support structure, the first adjustable support being configured to selectively engage and disengage the first plurality of wheels with the top of the first rail;
a second plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, at least one of the second plurality of wheels positioned to contact a first side of the first rail of the set of rails;
a second adjustable support mounting the second plurality of wheels to the support structure, the second adjustable support being configured to selectively engage and disengage the second plurality of wheels with the side of the first rail, wherein the second adjustable support is independently adjustable with respect to the first adjustable support;
wherein contact of the least one of the first plurality of wheels with the top of the first rail and contact of the least one of the second plurality of wheels with the first side of the first rail substantially prevents disengagement of the support structure from the set of rails.

2. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a third plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, at least one of the third plurality of wheels is positioned to contact a second side, opposite the first side, of the first rail.

3. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the device further comprises an adjustable support for the at least one of the third plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure.

4. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the adjustable support for the at least one of the third plurality of wheels is rotatably mounted to the support structure.

5. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 4 , wherein the rotatably-mounted, adjustable support for the at least one of the third plurality of wheels is adapted to engage and disengage the at least one of the third plurality of wheels with the first rail.

6. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first adjustable support is rotatably mounted to the support structure.

7. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of rails is mounted on a surface, and wherein each of the first plurality of wheels comprises an axis of rotation directed substantially parallel to a plane of the surface.

8. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of rails is mounted on a surface, and wherein each of the second plurality of wheels comprises an axis of rotation directed substantially perpendicular to a plane of the surface.

9. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of wheels is rotatably mounted to the support structure.

10. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises at least one transverse translation wheel assembly mounted to the support structure.

11. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a load elevation adjustment mechanism.

12. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises at least one of a brake assembly adapted to regulate rotation of at least one of the first plurality of wheels and at least one drive assembly adapted to rotate at least one of the first plurality of wheels.

13. The transport and restraining device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the load comprises a turbine.

14. A method of restraining a load, the method comprising:
a) mounting a transport and restraining device comprising a support structure, a first plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, a second plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, and a third plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, to a set of rails mounted on a surface, wherein the first plurality of wheels selectively engages or disengages a top of a first rail of the set of rails, and the second plurality of wheels selectively engages or disengages a first side of the first rail of the set of rails;
b) prior to or after a), mounting a load to the transport and restraining device;
c) adjusting a first support to engage at least one of the first plurality of wheels with the top of the first rail;
d) adjusting a second support to engage at least one of the second plurality of wheels with the first side of the first rail; and
e) engaging at least one of the third plurality of wheels with a set of transverse rails;
wherein the contact of the at least one of the first plurality of wheels with the top of the first rail and contacting at least one of the second plurality of wheels with the first side of the first rail at least partially restrains the load to the set of rails and the surface, and wherein the second adjustable support is independently adjustable with respect to the first adjustable support.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the transport and restraining device further comprises a rotatably mounted support structure for the at least one of the second plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, and wherein contacting the at least one of the second plurality of wheels with the first side of the first rail comprise rotating the rotatably mounted support structure wherein the at least one of the second plurality of wheels contacts the first side of the first rail.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises, prior to a) and b), d) transporting the load by rolling of the first plurality of wheels along the set of rails.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the transport and restraining device further comprises a brake assembly and a drive assembly each operatively connected to at least one of the first plurality of wheels, and wherein d) transporting the load by rolling of the first plurality of wheels along the set of rails comprises activating at least one of the brake assembly and the drive assembly.

18. A load transport and restraining device comprising:
a support structure adapted to receive a load;
a first plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, at least one of the first plurality of wheels positioned to contact a top of a first rail of a set of rails;
a second plurality of wheels mounted to the support structure, at least one of the second plurality of wheels positioned to contact a first side of the first rail of the set of rails; and
at least one transverse translation wheel assembly mounted to the support structure;
wherein contact of the least one of the first plurality of wheels with the top of the first rail and contact of the least one of the second plurality of wheels with the first side of the first rail substantially prevents disengagement of the support structure from the set of rails.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Aguilar Artemio Josue
• Oidor Juan Carlos
• Ramirez Mario Oscar

Classifications

• B64D9/003 Primary

  Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers · CPC title

• B61D45/001 Primary

  Devices for fixing to walls or floors · CPC title

• B61D3/16

  adapted for carrying special loads · CPC title

• B61C3/00

  Electric locomotives or railcars (characterised by power transmission B61C9/00; electrical features B60L; H02) · CPC title

• B64F5/50

  Handling or transporting aircraft components · CPC title