Abstract:
A hydraulic device is provided capable of moving heavy loads along a slotted track. The hydraulic device has a cylinder and piston unit, a jack that is connected to one or more ratcheting claws, and a sliding member having slots for placement of one or more ratcheting claws. To prevent brittle fracture of the hydraulic device during the movement of heavy loads under extreme cold conditions, the hydraulic device has a chamber for placement of heatable members that heat various elements of the hydraulic device, thereby reducing the likelihood of brittle fracture of the hydraulic device during operation. The hydraulic device may have one or more pairs of tandem ratchet claws that evenly distribute load forces along the slotted track. The device may also have detachable side weldments that hold the jack and claws for easy placement and removal of the device on a beam.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a hydraulic device, and more specifically, to a hydraulic device for ratcheting forward heavy loads for use in extremely cold temperatures. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    It is frequently necessary to move heavy objects, many times in excess of a million pounds, from one location to another. One way to move these heavy objects is to place such objects on skids and push or pull the objects along a track. The use of hydraulic pumps to facilitate movement of these objects along tracks is common, yet there still remains room to improve the structural stability of these hydraulic devices, especially in extreme environmental conditions, where stress and strain on the devices can break such devices. 
         [0006]    The use of hydraulic cylinders to effectuate movement of extremely heavy loads is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,450 to Lambert is directed to a hydraulic-cylinder-driven jacking apparatus moving on a rail with slots and a pawl carriage. The apparatus comprises a load frame adapted to move relative to a rail having single slots longitudinally spaced there along. The reciprocating strokes of the hydraulic actuator produce alternate incremental movements of the load frame and of the carriage as the pawl members fall into successive slots as the apparatus moves along the rail. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,135 to Albaugh is directed to a skidding system having thick cover plates pre-cut with holes fixed to the tops of skid beams, which engage holes in the cover plates to anchor the ends of a hydraulic cylinder. Yet another hydraulic device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,174 to Loechner, which is directed to an apparatus for bi-directionally moving heavy objects along rails using a hydraulic ratcheting device. However, these and other devices have not been specifically designed to be used in extremely cold temperatures, which can cause breakdown of the devices. Devices in the prior art have also not been designed to operate smoothly if there is ice buildup along the track or directly on the hydraulic device itself. 
         [0008]    For these reasons, there is a need for devices that can move heavy objects in extremely cold conditions without the fear that these devices will undergo brittle fracture when exposed to high load forces. The claimed invention provides for device that reduces brittle fracture during exposure to high loads under low temperature conditions, as well as provide a means for smooth movement of heavy objects along a track having ice buildup. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to a hydraulic ratcheting device that pushes or pulls objects on a skid, the devices having a chamber for insertion of a heatable member. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a hydraulic ratcheting jack that can withstand extreme load forces at low temperatures without breaking. By providing one or more heating chambers within the hydraulic ratcheting device, the likelihood of brittle fracture is reduced. 
         [0010]    The present invention is comprised of a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit with a jack connected to the cylinder and piston unit on one end. A dog (such as a ratchet claw) is rotatably mounted to the jack and adapted to be received within spaced recesses (or slots) that are longitudinally spaced along the skid beam or track. The jack is integral or connected to a sliding member that moves along the skid beam. The sliding member is capable of slidably engaging with the beam, which allows the ratcheting device to push or pull objects on the beam. The slide is comprised of a top plate having slots that are adapted to allow rotation of dogs within the slot. To prevent brittle fracture of the slide (or other elements of the device), one or more hollow chambers are disposed within the slide. Heatable members are placed within the chambers that transmit heat via conduction to the rest of the device. By heating the device, the occurrence of brittle fracture is reduced and ice build up on the device is prevented, which allows for smooth movement of objects on the beam. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, dogs on the hydraulic device include are a first pair of opposing dogs on the sides of the jack. In another embodiment, dogs on the hydraulic device include a first pair of opposing dogs and a second pair of opposing dogs on the opposing side of the jack. The pairs of dogs on opposing sides of the jack are in tandem with each other. This arrangement of the dogs is advantageous because its spreads load forces to multiple locations on the slide and/or beam, thereby reducing the likelihood that the hydraulic device will fracture under heavy loads. 
         [0012]    In yet another embodiment, the hydraulic ratcheting device comprises a plurality of side weldments that attach together around the beam in its assembled form. One side weldment has the jack, a pair of dogs, slots for the pair of dogs, and a portion of the slide that sandwiches on the beam. The second side weldment has a portion of the slide, and slots for dogs. The side weldments sandwich the beam and are attached to each other to form the assembled hydraulic ratcheting device. The side weldments can be separated from each other and pulled apart to remove the jack and other parts of the hydraulic ratcheting device from the beam without having to move the entire ratcheting device along length of the beam. The detachable side weldments therefore allow for easier assembly and disassembly of the device on the beam. 
         [0013]    While the foregoing describes the present invention in relation to illustrations and examples, it is understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the illustrations and examples described herein. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternative modifications and equivalents that may be included in the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above and various other objects and advantages of the invention will be described and understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a duel ratchet jack with cartridge heaters. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a dual ratchet jack. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is front view of a dual ratchet jack. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first side weldment of the ratchet jack. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second side weldment of the ratchet jack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0021]    It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0022]    It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. 
         [0023]    As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” and “have” and/or “having,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom,” and “upper” or “top,” and “inner” or “outer,” may be used herein to describe one element&#39;s relationship to another elements as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. 
         [0025]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
         [0026]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1  an assembled duel ratchet jack  10  is shown in perspective with the beam  40  and heating elements  12 .  FIG. 2  shows the duel ratchet jack  10  in side view, and  FIG. 3  shows that duel ratchet jack  10  in front view. Objects, such as skids, are placed on a skid beam  40  having recesses or slots  32   a ,  32   b , and are moved in a step-by-step manner along the beam  40  by reciprocal movements of the duel ratchet jack  10  effectuated by movements within the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit  2 . Objects to be moved by the device  10  are attached to lugs  38 , such as a clevis mount, via an attachment device  28 , such as a bolt or pin, that connects the object to be moved to the dual ratchet jack  10  through an aperture  36  in the lug  38 . 
         [0028]    The hydraulic cylinder and piston unit  2  comprises a hydraulic cylinder and piston (piston not shown, as it is within the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit  2 ). The piston moves within the cylinder when fluids are injected and ejected into fluid entry and exit holes  4  that move the piston back and forth within the cylinder and piston unit  2 . U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,167 to Roussel; U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,095 to Chambers; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,915 to Chambers describe in more particular detail the mechanics of hydraulic jacking apparati, and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The mechanics of other hydraulic jacking apparatuses are commonly known in the art and a further description of the same is deemed to be unnecessary. 
         [0029]    The hydraulic cylinder and piston unit  2  is connected on one end to an elongated jack member  6  via a second pair of lugs  30  at one end of the cylinder and piston unit  2 . The jack is attached to the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit  2  via an attachment member  28 , such as a pin, bolt, or screw. Attached to the jack  6  is a plurality of dogs  24   a ,  24   b  (a dog being defined as a member that prevents movement or imparts movement by offering physical obstruction or engagement of some kind). The pairs of dogs  24   a ,  24   b  are rotatably mounted to the jack  6  and adapted to be received within the spaced recesses of the beam  32   a ,  32   b.    
         [0030]    As illustrated, the dogs  24   a ,  24   b  are two pairs of opposing semicircular ratchet claws  24   a ,  24   b  in tandem with each other. The dogs  24   a ,  24   b  of each pair are connected via a dog pin  22   a ,  22   b  that traverses the width of the jack  6 . By having multiple pairs of ratchet claws  24   a ,  24   b , the force imparted by the skid or other objects being pushed along the beam  40  is spread over contact points instead of being focused on only one or two contact points. In the embodiment described and illustrated, there are four contact points, one point for each of the two pairs of dogs  24   a ,  24   b , but any number of pairs of dogs can be placed on the device, with each additional pair spreading the load force over additional locations. This tandem paired orientation of dogs  24   a ,  24   b  allows the dual ratchet jack  10  to remain relatively short to effect movement of a heavy load, minimizing possible damage to underlying structures since the load forces are spread to multiple locations. 
         [0031]    The jack  6  is integrated with, or connected to, a sliding member (or slide)  16  capable of slidably engaging with the longitudinal beam  40 . The slide may be any type of object on the underside of the ratcheting device  10  that allows the device  10  to slide across the beam  40  in a relatively smooth manner. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the slide  16  has a top plate  48 , and parallel opposing bottom flanges  54  that sandwich the beam  40 . The top plate  48  and bottom flanges  54  are detailed in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which also show a middle slide region  52  that connects the top plate  48  to the bottom flanges  54 . For structural support, the slide attachment members  44  hold the top plate  48 , bottom flanges  54  and middle slide region  52  together. The slide  16  allows the dual ratchet jack  10  to slide longitudinally along the slotted beam  40  and push or pull objects attached to the device  10  along the beam  40  as well. 
         [0032]    The top plate  48  has slide slots  18  for receiving the dogs  24   a ,  24   b  adjacent to the jack  6 . The device  10  moves along the beam  40  via reciprocal movement of the piston within the cylinder and piston unit  2 . As the device  10  moves forward, the beam recesses  32   a ,  32   b  receive the dogs  24   a ,  24   b . More specifically, the dogs  24   a ,  24   b  drop down into the beam recesses  32   a ,  32   b  when the beam recesses  32   a ,  32   b , slide slots  18 , and dogs  24   a ,  24   b  are all aligned. The dogs  24   a ,  24   b  can move in a forward direction (for example, from right to left, in the embodiment in  FIG. 1 ) out of the beam slots  32   a ,  32   b  due to the dogs  24   a ,  24   b  having a curved semi-circular side  26   a ,  26   b  that allows the dogs  24   a ,  24   b  to rise and easily pass over the edge of each beam recesses  32   a ,  32   b  as the device moves forward. When the device  10  moves forward, the dogs  24   a ,  24   b  settle into the next beam recesses  32   a ,  32   b , thus effectuating forward movement. 
         [0033]    The device  10  is prevented from moving backwards along the beam  40  due to one side of the dogs having a flat side  42   a ,  42   b  that each brace against a flat edge of a recess  32   a ,  32   b . Unlike the curved sides  26   a ,  26   b , that have the capability of sliding over the flat edge of a recess  32   a ,  32   b , the flat side  42   a ,  42   b  of the dogs  24   a ,  24   b  do not have the capability of sliding over the flat edge of the recess  32   a ,  32   b . Thus, the reciprocal motion of the cylinder and piston unit  2  effectuates only forward motion, and not reverse motion of the device  10 , and ratchets forward as the cylinder and piston unit  2  operates. 
         [0034]    The cylinder and piston unit  2  may be attached to either end of the jack  6  since holes  46  for attaching the cylinder and piston unit  2 , via an attachment member such as a pin  28 , may be secured through the holes  46  on either the front or rear end of the jack  6 . Thus, objects on the beam  40  may either be pushed or pulled by the ratcheting device  10  depending on which end the cylinder and piston unit  2  the jack  6  is attached to. 
         [0035]    One problem that may occur during the movement of heavy objects (such as oil rigs, that may weigh thousands of tons), is that excess force on metal, especially during extremely cold temperatures may cause the metal of the beam or device itself to crack, known as brittle fracture. The areas most sensitive to brittle fracture in the illustrated embodiments are the regions of the slide  16  or beam  40  exposed to the greatest load stress, such as the region where the dogs  24   a ,  24   b  contact the beam  40  when in the recesses  32   a ,  32   b.    
         [0036]    To prevent the device  10  from dropping below a temperature that would the incidence brittle fracture, one or more regions of the device  10  has a chamber  8  for placement of a heatable member  12 . The chamber  8  may be disposed in any number of convenient regions of the device, and is illustrated as being disposed within the top plate  48  of the slide  16 , yet other locations, such as on the jack  6  could serve the same purpose. Any number of convenient sizes or shapes of a chamber  8  may be used. In the embodiments illustrated, the chamber  8  is a cylindrical shaft disposed longitudinally within the top plate  48  of the slide  16 . Any convenient number or types of heatable members  12  may be used, but in a preferred embodiment two 2,000 watt cartridge heaters disposed within the top plate  48  has been found to be satisfactory. The heatable member  12  may be heated via electric leads  56 , and in a preferred embodiment, the leads may be 240 volt AC electrical leads. The heat emanating from the heatable members  12  is initially transmitted to the top plate  48 , and it is readily understandable that heat will conduct through the entirety of the slide  16 , device  10 , and beam  40 . To prevent intrusion of unwanted material into the heating chambers  8 , the chamber can be capped off by a chamber-sealing member, such as a pipe plug  14 . 
         [0037]    Along with the reduction of brittle fracture, another advantage of using heatable members  12  in the device  10  is the reduction of ice buildup along the beam  40  or device itself. Ice buildup along the beam  40  hampers smooth movement of objects placed on the beam. The use of heatable members  12  in the device  10  conducts heat along the beam  40 , thereby melting ice, and advantageously providing a smoother surface on the beam  40  for objects to slide on compared to a beam that has ice buildup. 
         [0038]    In another embodiment of the invention, the cylinder and piston unit  2  is attached to a first side weldment  50  and a second side weldment  70 . The two side weldments  50 ,  70  are separately illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  respectively, and assembled together in  FIG. 1 . The first side weldment  50  has the jack  6 , pairs of dogs  24   a ,  24   b , and one side portion of the slide  16 . The second side weldment  70  has an opposing portion of the slide  16 . The first and second side weldments  50 ,  70  are attached together via one or more weldment attachment members  58  through one or more weldment holes  60 . The detachable and removable side weldments  50 ,  70  allow the jack  6  and dogs  24   a ,  24   b  to be removed without having to move the ratchet device  10  along the entirety of the beam  40 ; instead, the side weldments  50 ,  70  may be pulled out away from the beam  40  horizontally and repositioned to effectuate movement of objects on the beam  40  in a different direction. 
         [0039]    While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the words that have been used are words of description and not of limitation. As is understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, a variety of modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims, which should be given their fullest, fair scope.