IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0126188
(2002-04-19)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Moore, Donald E.
- Wilms, Steven F.
- Suzuki, Yukitsugu
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co. L.P. , LLLP
- Sumitomo Construction Machinery
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
Disclosed are systems and related methods for mounting a ground-engaging motive device, such as a crawler track assembly, to a vehicle, such as a crane or the like, in either an extended or a retracted position. The systems and methods are adapted to ensure that proper alignment is reliably achieved
Disclosed are systems and related methods for mounting a ground-engaging motive device, such as a crawler track assembly, to a vehicle, such as a crane or the like, in either an extended or a retracted position. The systems and methods are adapted to ensure that proper alignment is reliably achieved between the mounting structures on the motive device and the corresponding mounting structures on the vehicle in both the extended and retracted positions. In one embodiment, the system and method are especially adapted for use in extending the crawler track assemblies on certain types of existing cranes without the need for extensive retrofitting.
대표청구항
▼
1. A system intended for use in at least partially connecting a removable ground-engaging motive device to a vehicle in either an extended or a retracted mounting position using a plurality of connectors, comprising:a first stable mounting structure associated with one of the motive device or the ve
1. A system intended for use in at least partially connecting a removable ground-engaging motive device to a vehicle in either an extended or a retracted mounting position using a plurality of connectors, comprising:a first stable mounting structure associated with one of the motive device or the vehicle, the first mounting structure capable of supporting a first connector in a first position corresponding to the retracted position or supporting the first connector or another connector in a second position corresponding to the extended position, and including a first aperture for receiving a second connector in the retracted position and a second aperture for receiving the second connector in the extended position; and a first linking structure associated with the other of the motive device or the vehicle for engaging the first mounting structure in both the extended and retracted positions, the first linking structure including a first receiver for receiving and guiding the first connector into place such that a third aperture formed in the first linking structure aligns and registers with the first aperture in the retracted position or receiving and guiding either the first connector or another connector mounted in the second position such that the third aperture aligns and registers with the second aperture; whereby the guidance provided by the first receiver in aligning the third aperture with the first or second apertures facilitates connecting the motive device to the vehicle in both the extended and refracted positions. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting structure is provided on the vehicle and the first linking structure is provided on the motive device.3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle is a crane, the motive device is a crawler track assembly, the first mounting structure forms part of a stub axle projecting from a carbody of the crane, and the first linking structure forms part of an arm projecting from the crawler track assembly transverse to a direction of crane travel.4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first linking structure includes a fourth aperture for aligning and registering with the second aperture when the motive device is in the retracted position.5. The system according to claim 4, wherein a third connector is positioned in the aligned second and fourth apertures.6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first stable mounting structure includes a pair of spaced plates having openings for slidably receiving the first connector.7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first connector is a pin generally aligned with a direction of vehicle travel and the first receiver includes an open-ended, specially contoured slot generally extending transverse to the direction of travel at an angle relative to a vertical plane and forming a hook-like projection, wherein the linking structure including the hook-like projection is lowered between the spaced plates such that the first receiver receives the pin and the contour of the slot guides the pin into a resting position.8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second connector is manually inserted or withdrawn from the first or second and third apertures when aligned and registered in the retracted or extended positions, respectively.9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises the head end of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, whereby the connector is inserted or withdrawn from the first or second and third apertures when aligned and registered by actuating the cylinder.10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is positioned above the second connector in an operative position.11. The system according to claim 1, further including a stopper for positioning between a face of the first linking structure and an opposing face of the first mounting structure in the extended position.12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first mounting structure includes a pair of spaced plates including openings for receiving the first connector in the retracted position, wherein the stopper includes a depending portion having an opening that aligns and registers with the openings in the plates for receiving a third connector in the extended position.13. The system according to claim 1, further including:a second stable mounting structure associated with one of the motive device or the vehicle, the second mounting structure supporting a third connector and including a fifth aperture for receiving a fourth connector in the retracted position and a sixth aperture for receiving the fourth connector in the extended position; and a second linking structure associated with the other of the motive device or the vehicle for engaging the second mounting structure, the second linking structure including a second receiver for receiving and guiding the third connector such that a seventh aperture formed in the second linking structure is in alignment and registered with the fifth aperture in the retracted position and in alignment and registered with the sixth aperture in the extended position. 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the first and second mounting structures are provided on the vehicle, the corresponding first and second linking structures are provided on the motive device, the motive device is a first crawler track assembly, and the system further includes a second crawler track assembly having third and fourth linking structures identical to the first and second linking structures for engaging third and fourth stable mounting structures identical to the first and second mounting structures on a different side of the vehicle.15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first aperture is formed in and the first connector is supported by a portion of the first mounting structure associated with the vehicle in both the first and second positions, and the first mounting structure further comprises:an extension component having the second aperture, a fourth aperture, and a second receiver for receiving and guiding the first connector such that the fourth aperture is in alignment and registers with the first aperture; and a third connector supported by the extension component, the first receiver of the first linking structure receiving and guiding the third connector such that the second aperture formed in the extension component and part of the first stable mounting structure aligns and registers with the third aperture for receiving a fourth connector. 16. A system intended for use in connecting at least one ground-engaging motive device to a vehicle in either an extended or a retracted position using a plurality of connectors, comprising:a first stable mounting structure associated with one of the motive device or the vehicle; a first linking structure associated with the other of the motive device or the vehicle for engaging the first mounting structure in the retracted position; and an extension component for attachment to both the first mounting structure and the first linking structure to connect the motive device to the vehicle in the extended position, wherein the extension component includes a receiver for receiving a hook on the end of a hoisting line used for raising and lowering the extension component. 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein:the first stable mounting structure is capable of receiving and supporting a first connector and includes a first aperture for receiving a second connector in the retracted position; the first linking structure includes a first receiver for receiving and guiding the first connector such that a second aperture in the first linking structure is in alignment and registered with the first aperture for receiving the second connector in the retracted position; the extension component includes a third aperture, a fourth aperture, and a second receiver for receiving and guiding the first connector such that the fourth aperture is in alignment and registers with the first aperture in the extended position, wherein the extension component is capable of receiving and supporting a third connector and the first receiver receives and guides the third connector such that the second aperture is in alignment and registered with the third aperture for receiving a fourth connector in the extended position; whereby the guidance provided by the first or second receiver in aligning the first, second, third, and fourth apertures facilitates insertion of the corresponding connectors and hence mounting of the motive device to the vehicle in both the extended and retracted positions. 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the extension component comprises a pair of spaced plates including a pair of aligned openings for receiving the third connector.19. The system according to claim 18, wherein:the first linking structure includes a member in which the first receiver and the second aperture are formed; and a first of the pair of spaced plates includes the third aperture, a second of the spaced plates includes a matching aperture, and the member in which the second aperture is formed is received between the plates, whereby the fourth connector extends through the third aperture, the matching aperture, and the second aperture when the three are aligned and registered to form a secure connection. 20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first connector is a pin generally aligned with a direction of vehicle travel and the second receiver includes an open-ended, specially contoured slot generally extending transverse to a direction of vehicle travel at an angle relative to a vertical plane and forming a hook-like projection, wherein the extension component including the hook-like projection is lowered between the spaced plates such that the second receiver receives the pin and the contour of the slot guides the pin to a resting position.21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the first mounting structure includes a pair of spaced plates having aligned openings for receiving the first connector corresponding to the second receiver.22. The system according to claim 21, wherein:the extension component includes a member in which the second receiver and the fourth aperture are formed; and a first of the plates includes the first aperture, a second of the plates includes a matching aperture, and the member of the extension component is received in the space between the plates, whereby the fourth connector extends through the first aperture, the matching aperture, and the fourth aperture when the three are aligned and registered to form a secure connection. 23. The system according to claim 16, wherein the extension component includes a stopper for abutting with a face of the first mounting structure and an opposing face of the first linking structure in an operative position.24. A system intended for connecting a crawler track to a crane in either an extended or retracted mounting position using first and second connectors, comprising:a stub axle associated with the crane, the stub axle capable of supporting the first connector in a first position corresponding to the retracted position and supporting the first connector or another connector in a second position corresponding to the extended position, and including a first aperture for receiving the second connector in the retracted position and a second aperture for receiving the second connector in the extended position; and an arm carried by the crawler track for engaging the stub axle in both the extended and retracted positions, the arm including a first receiver for receiving and guiding the first connector into place such that a third aperture formed in the arm aligns and registers with the first aperture in the retracted position or receiving and guiding either the first connector or another connector mounted in the second position such that the third aperture aligns and registers with the second aperture; whereby the guidance provided by the first receiver in aligning the third aperture with the first or second apertures facilitates connecting the crawler track to the crane in both the extended and retracted positions. 25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the first aperture is formed in and the first connector is supported by a portion of the stub axle in both the first and second positions, third and fourth connectors are provided, and the stub axle further comprises:an extension component having the second aperture, a fourth aperture, and a second receiver for receiving and guiding the first connector such that the fourth aperture is in alignment and registers with the first aperture, a third connector supported by the extension component, the first receiver receiving and guiding the third connector such that the second aperture formed in the extension component and part of the stub axle aligns and registers with the third aperture for receiving the fourth connector. 26. A system intended for use in connecting at least one ground-engaging motive device to a vehicle in either an extended or a retracted position using a plurality of connectors, comprising:a first stable mounting structure associated with one of the motive device or the vehicle; a first linking structure associated with the other of the motive device or the vehicle for engaging the first mounting structure in the retracted position; an extension component for attachment to both the first mounting structure and the first linking structure to connect the motive device to the vehicle in the extended position, said extension component including a stopper for abutting with a face of the first mounting structure and an opposing face of the first linking structure in an operative position. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the stopper is removable from the operative position apart from the extension component.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.