Pin puller for crane connections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9815674-B2
Application number	US-201313841082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Feb 21, 2013
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A pin puller is mounted between first and second connectors, preferably connectors on a lift crane, each of the connectors having a hole there though. The pin puller includes: a) first and second support frame members; b) a first pin with a first end located in the hole of the first connector and a second end inside the first support frame member; c) a second pin with a first end located in the hole of the second connector and a second end inside the second support frame member; d) at least one linear actuator connected to the first and second pins; and e) a length adjustment device between the first and second support frame members, with its length adjusted so as to force the first support frame member into contact with the first connector and the second support frame member into contact with the second connector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pin puller mounted between first and second connectors, each of the connectors having a hole there though, the pin puller comprising:
a) first and second support frame members;
b) a first pin with a first end located in the hole of the first connector and a second end inside the first support frame member;
c) a second pin with a first end located in the hole of the second connector and a second end inside the second support frame member;
d) at least one linear actuator connected to the first and second pins, the at least one linear actuator moveable between i) an extended state wherein the pins are extended all of the way though the holes in the first and second connectors and ii) a retracted state wherein the first ends of each of the pins do not extend out of the holes of the connectors; and
e) a length adjustment device comprising first and second spacer plates attached to the first and second support frame members, respectively, and jacking bolts extending between first and second spacer plates and engaged therewith, the length adjustment device configured to adjust the distance between the first and second spacer plates by turning the jacking bolts, such that the first support frame member is forced into contact with the first connector and the second support frame member is forced into contact with the second connector.

2. The mounted pin puller of claim 1 wherein the at least one linear actuator is supported by the first and second support frame members.

3. The mounted pin puller of claim 1 wherein the at least one linear actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder having:
i) a housing having a first sealed end, a second end and an inside cylindrical surface,
ii) a piston slidably contained within the housing in a sealing engagement with the inside cylindrical surface of the housing, and
iii) a piston rod having a first end connected to said piston and a second end extending out of the second end of the housing with a sliding sealing engagement at the second end of the housing.

4. The mounted pin puller of claim 3 wherein the piston rod is connected to the first pin and the housing is connected to the second pin.

5. The mounted pin puller of claim 4 wherein the sealed end of the housing includes a threaded hole and a connection shaft is threaded into said threaded hole and connects to the second pin to provide the connection between the housing and the second pin.

6. The mounted pin puller of claim 3 wherein the piston rod is connected to the second pin and the first pin has a hollow space with an inside cylindrical surface forming the housing of the hydraulic cylinder.

7. The mounted pin puller of claim 6 wherein the piston rod is fitted with hydraulic connectors and includes hydraulic flow channels between the hydraulic connectors and the hollow space within the first pin.

8. The mounted pin puller of claim 7 wherein the second support frame member is provided with a slot though which the hydraulic connectors can travel axially as the piston rod moves within the first pin.

9. The mounted pin puller of any one of claims 4 and 5 wherein the first support frame member includes an access opening configured to accommodate a tool inserted to connect the piston rod to the first pin.

10. The mounted pin puller of any one of claims 1 to 5 further comprising at least one keeper that can be engaged when the linear actuator is in said extended state to keep the pins extended though the holes of the connectors.

11. The mounted pin puller of claim 10 wherein the length adjustment device comprises first and second spacer plates with jacking bolts between them and wherein the at least one keeper comprises a first keeper plate that can be held in place between the first pin and the first spacer plate and a second keeper plate that can be held in place between the second spacer plate and the linear actuator.

12. The mounted pin puller of claim 10 wherein the at least one keeper comprises a first retaining pin inserted through holes in the first support frame member adjacent the second end of the first pin when the first pin is in an extended position, and a second retaining pin inserted through holes in the second support frame member adjacent the linear actuator.

13. The mounted pin puller of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein each connector comprises first and second spaced plates that each have a hole there through, and when the pins are fully extended, the first end of the first pin extends through the hole of the first plate of the first connector and at least into the hole of the second plate of the first connector, and the first end of the second pin extends through the hole of the first plate of the second connector and at least into the hole of the second plate of the second connector.

14. The mounted pin puller of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the first and second connectors comprise connectors that are used to connect two parts of a lift crane together.

15. The mounted pin puller of claim 14 wherein the first and second connectors comprise connectors that are used to connect two lattice column sections together.

16. The mounted pin puller of claim 15 wherein the lattice column sections comprise sections of a luffing jib strut.

17. The mounted pin puller of claim 15 wherein the pin puller further comprises extensions that are sized and placed so as to engage a banding lacing on the lattice section to which the pin puller is carried to prevent rotation of the support frame members.

18. The mounted pin puller of claim 14 wherein the first and second connectors comprise connectors on a crane rotating bed to which a boom butt is connected.

19. The mounted pin puller of claim 18 further comprising a first guide pin through the first connector on the rotating bed and connected to the first pin to keep the first pin from rotating with the boom butt, and a second guide pin through the second connector on the rotating bed and connected to the second pin to keep the second pin from rotating with the boom butt.

20. The mounted pin puller of claim 14 wherein the pin puller further comprises extensions that are sized and placed so as to engage structure on a part of the lift crane to which the pin puller is attached to prevent rotation of the support frame members relative to that crane part, and wherein the support frame members each include a slot and the first and second pins each include a tab on the second end of the pin that engages with one of the slots to prevent the pin from rotating with respect to the support frame member in which the second end of the pin is located.

21. The mounted pin puller of claim 14 wherein the first and second connectors comprise connectors on a crane carbody that are used to connect a crawler frame to a carbody.

22. A crane utilizing the mounted pin puller of claim 14 .

23. The mounted pin puller of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the support frame members are tubular.

24. The mounted pin puller of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the at least one linear actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder and the second support frame member is provided with a slot though which hydraulic line connectors on the hydraulic cylinder extend radially and can travel axially as the hydraulic cylinder moves within the second support frame member.

25. The mounted pin puller of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the connectors comprise unmachined castings.

Assignees

• Foust Bronson E
• Porubcansky Kenneth J
• Manitowoc Crane Companies Llc

Inventors

• Foust Bronson E
• Porubcansky Kenneth J

Classifications

• B25B27/04

  inserting or withdrawing keys · CPC title

• B66F19/00 Primary

  Hoisting, lifting, hauling or pushing, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B66C23/68

  foldable or otherwise adjustable in configuration · CPC title

• B23P19/025

  For detaching only · CPC title

• B66C23/70 Primary

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