Head assembly for jacking tower

A head assembly includes a first portion including a first member and a first motor coupled to the first component, the first member configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation. The head assembly also includes a second portion including a second member and a second motor coupled to the second component, the second member configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being different than the first axis of rotation. The head assembly also includes a third portion including a clamping assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a head assembly, and more particularly to a head assembly for a jacking tower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Head assemblies for large-scale towers are used in the construction industry. The head assemblies are located atop the towers. Booms or other structures are typically attached to the head assemblies.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one construction, a head assembly includes a first portion including a first member and a first motor coupled to the first member, the first member configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation. The head assembly also includes a second portion including a second member and a second motor coupled to the second member, the second member configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being different than the first axis of rotation. The head assembly also includes a third portion including a clamping assembly.

In accordance with another construction, a jacking tower includes a plurality of stacked modules, the stacked modules including a top module. The jacking tower also includes a head assembly coupled to the top module, the head assembly including a first member having a first degree of freedom, a second member having a second degree of freedom, and a third member having a third degree of freedom, where each of the first, second, and third degrees of freedom are different from each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a fully assembled self-erecting jacking tower10. Among other uses, the jacking tower10is used to install overhead cranes in industrial commercial, and nuclear power plants.

With reference toFIGS. 1-13the jacking tower10includes stacked module assemblies14that are raised and assembled with a scissors lift assembly18along a rail assembly22. The module assemblies14include outer frames26and inner frames30, the inner frames30being movable relative the outer frames26via strand jacks34and cables38. The jacking tower10also includes a head assembly42positioned on top of and coupled to the stacked module assemblies14. The head assembly42is coupled to an inner frame30of a top module assembly14. The head assembly42includes various degrees of freedom, and is used to grab, restrain, and/or move various components, including, but not limited, to a tower jib crane assembly, hanging platform, etc.

With reference toFIGS. 2-13, the head assembly42includes a bottom portion46, a middle portion50, and a top portion54. The bottom portion is coupled to the middle portion50, and the middle portion50is coupled to the top portion54.

With reference toFIGS. 3-6, the bottom portion46includes a housing58. The housing58has a generally rectangular configuration, although other constructions include different configurations and sizes. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the housing58includes four female mating components62. The female mating components62are in the form of tapered sockets with apertures66, although other forms are also possible. The female mating components62are positioned along bottom corners of the housing58. The female mating components62are configured to slide over corresponding male mating components on one of the inner frames30, with bolts passing through the apertures66to further couple the head assembly42to the inner frame30. While four female mating components62are illustrated, other constructions include different numbers of female mating components62. Additionally, in some constructions male mating components are used in place of the female mating components62, the male mating components configured to mate with corresponding female mating components on the inner frame30.

With continued reference toFIGS. 3-6, the housing58further includes a motor housing70. The motor housing70covers a portion of a motor74located underneath the housing58. The motor74is a hydraulically operated motor, though other constructions include other types of motors. With reference toFIG. 6, the motor74includes an output or drive gear78.

The housing58further includes a ring gear housing82. The ring gear housing82covers a portion of a ring gear86located within the ring gear housing82. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the ring gear86sits between the ring gear housing82and an inner housing90. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the ring gear86is engaged with the drive gear78of the motor. The ring gear86includes apertures94for receiving bolts98for coupling the bottom portion46to the middle portion (discussed in further detail below). As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the ring gear86is configured to rotate 360 degrees about a first axis102via rotation of the drive gear78, though in other constructions the ring gear86has different degrees of rotational freedom.

With reference toFIGS. 7-10, the middle portion50includes a first member106and two second members110. Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, the first member106includes apertures114spaced circumferentially around a flange118extending outwardly from the first member106. The bolts98of the bottom portion46are configured to pass through the apertures114in order to couple the middle portion50to the bottom portion46. Once coupled to the bottom portion46, the middle portion50is rotatable about the first axis102. The first member106also includes an arched housing120. The housing120extends between the second members110.

With reference toFIGS. 9 and 10, the middle portion50includes two motors122. The motors122are hydraulically operated drive motors, though other constructions use different types of motors. As illustrated inFIG. 10, the motors122each include a non-rotating portion126and a rotating portion130. The rotating portions130are rotatable relative to the non-rotating portions126. Each of the non-rotating portions126includes a flange134with apertures138. As illustrated inFIG. 9, bolts142are passed through the apertures138to couple the non-rotating portions126to the housing122of the first member106. Each of the rotating portions130includes a flange146with apertures150. As illustrated inFIG. 9, bolts154are passed through the apertures150to couple the rotating portions130to the second members110.

The second members110are separate from the first member106, and are not rigidly attached to the first member106. The motors122rotate the rotating portions130, causing rotation of the second members110relative to the first member106, and thereby the bottom portion46of the head assembly42. In particular, and as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 9, the motors122rotate the second members110about a second axis158, which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis102in the illustrated construction. The motors122rotate the second members110approximately 60 degrees past vertical in either direction, though other constructions permit different ranges of rotational freedom. Additionally, in other constructions the middle portion50includes only a single motor122that rotates one or more second members110relative to the first member106.

With continued reference toFIGS. 7-10, each of the second members110includes a flange portion162. The flange portions162are generally rectangular, and flat, and include apertures166for coupling the top portion54of the head assembly42to the middle portion50.

With reference toFIGS. 11-13, the top portion54includes a housing170. The housing170is generally rectangular in shape, though other constructions include different shapes and sizes for the housing170. As illustrated inFIG. 12, the housing170includes raised portions174along a bottom of the housing170. The raised portions174are generally rectangular, and flat. In the illustrated construction, the raised portions174are the same size as the flange portions162. Bolts178pass through the apertures166on the flange portions162and into the raised portions174to couple the middle portion50to the top portion54.

The top portion54also includes a clamping assembly180, which in the illustrated construction includes two motors182, with an output or drive gear186associated with each motor182. The clamping assembly180also includes a pair of clamp gears190coupled to each of the motors182via the respective drive gear186. The clamping assembly180also a jack screw192coupled to each of the clamp gears190, which thereby rotate the corresponding jack screw192. A clamp member194is coupled to each jack screw192, and moves along the corresponding jack screw192as the screw is rotated.

As illustrated inFIG. 13, the motors182turn the drive gears186, and rotation of the drive gear186causes rotation of the respective clamp gears190, thereby causing rotation of the jack screws192. Because the clamp members194are constrained from rotation, rotation of the jack screws192causes linear movement of the clamp members194along the jack screws192. The linear movement of the clamp members194causes the clamp members194on one side of the top portion54to either move closer toward the other two clamp members194on the other side of the top portion54, or to move farther away from the clamp members194on the other side of the top portion54, depending upon a direction of rotation of the drive gears186.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, the clamping assembly180also includes retaining pins198, which are coupled to the clamping members194. The retaining pins198are slidable within apertures202formed in the clamping members194. The retaining pins198are used to engage additional components, including but not limited to a tower jib crane assembly, hanging platform, etc.

For example, in operation a component is lifted and/or moved close to the head assembly42. The motors74,122are then used to adjust a position and orientation of the top portion54, until the top portion54is aligned with the component. In particular, the motor74is used to rotate the ring gear86about the first axis102, which thereby causes rotational movement of the middle portion50and coupled top portion54(including clamping assembly180) about the first axis102. The motor122is then used to rotate the second members110about the second axis158, which thereby causes rotational movement of the coupled top portion54about the second axis158. These rotational movements are made to align the top portion54and clamping assembly180with the component.

With the top portion54aligned with the component, the clamping assembly180is then used to grasp the component. In particular, the motors182are used to close the clamp members194(i.e., move the clamp members194closer together) about the component to grasp the component. The retaining pins198are then moved into engagement with the component (e.g., through apertures on the component), so as to restrain movement of the component. The motors74,122are then used to move the head assembly42if desired, so as to reorient the component.

In some constructions, and with reference toFIG. 1, a separate crane is used to deliver a component close to the head assembly42. The head assembly42is positioned, using motors74,122, to grasp the component. The component is grasped by the pins198of the head assembly42, and then redirected using the motors74,122to a different position and orientation, where the component is then attached to a separate, second component adjacent the jacking tower10.

In some constructions, with continued reference toFIG. 1, a component is grasped by the head assembly42prior to top module14being raised up with the strand jacks34. Once the head assembly42reaches the position shown inFIG. 1, the head assembly then uses motors74,122to orient the component, and when the component is ready to be released, the retaining pins198are removed, and the clamp members194are drawn apart by the motors182.