Patent Publication Number: US-9850110-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for a single wall mounting system for a crane

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/043,107 filed Aug. 28, 2014. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the mounting of a crane and more particularly to an apparatus and method for a single wall mounting system used for a crane. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are various apparatus, methods, and systems utilized today to mount a crane. Various issues exist with the current methods in that the mounting systems today all require counterweights or conventional attachment methods (e.g. bolts, anchors, inserts), hereafter referred to as “conventional methods”, to resist overturning forces imposed by the crane. These conventional methods are typically time consuming and expensive, and prove to be cost-prohibitive and time-prohibitive in many environments. The embodiments disclosed herein includes a base frame which supports and secures the crane by friction and does not rely on conventional methods to resist crane forces. There is thus disclosed various embodiments herein directed to mounting systems for a crane. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a mounting system that supports and secures a crane by friction, imposed on a supporting wall by a crane-mounted lever arm, between a bearing pad and the supporting surface. 
     In another embodiment there is provided a single wall mount crane assembly configured to support an articulating boom crane against an existing upstanding wall. The assembly includes: (a) a crane base configured to support an articulating boom crane, the crane base having front and rear lower ends; (b) a pair of stub column assemblies separately secured at the front and rear lower ends of the crane base; (c) a crane mount lower frame assembly secured below the pair of stub column assemblies; (d) a plurality of pairs of downrigger columns, each pair of downrigger columns having upper ends configured to attach to opposing sides of the crane mount lower frame assembly such that lower ends, defined by each pair of downrigger columns, diametrically oppose each other; and (e) a bearing pad secured to each lower end of the downrigger columns, and wherein the bearing pads are configured to frictionally engage opposing outside surfaces of the wall, whereby the loads from an articulating boom crane that is secured to the crane base transmits to the crane mount lower frame assembly that resists the loads by having compressive forces applied to the wall by the bearing pads. 
     In another embodiment, a plurality of swivel mounts may be secured beneath the crane mount lower frame assembly. The plurality of swivel mounts are configured to engage a top surface of the wall to assist in leveling the assembly. 
     In yet another embodiment, each stub column assembly may include: (a) an upper stub plate having opposing sides, and being secured to one of the front or rear lower ends of the crane base; (b) column legs extending downwardly from the opposing sides of the upper stub plate; (c) cheek plates extending from inside and outside edges of the column legs, each cheek plate having an aperture, and (d) stub pins positioned through the apertures of the cheek plates and openings defined in the crane mount lower frame assembly to secure the stub column assembly thereto. In another aspect, each stub column assembly may further include a stiffener tube positioned between the cheek plates positioned against the inside edges of the column legs. 
     In yet another embodiment, the crane mount lower frame assembly may include a pair of lower frame subassemblies and wherein each subassembly secures to a front pair and a rear pair of downrigger columns. Each subassembly may include: (i) forward and rearward beams, with each having a beam side and each being connected to each other by side box plates; (ii) a lower frame splice flange extending from each beam side; and (iii) each side box plate having an opening to receive the stub pins. 
     In another embodiment, wherein each downrigger column may include: (a) a flange having first side configured to face the wall, a top cap and a bottom cap, the column further having an opening extending downward vertically through the top cap towards the bottom cap; (b) a column splice flange secured to the first side towards the top cap and configured to attach to a portion of the crane mount lower frame assembly; (c) wherein the bearing pad is pivotally secured against the first side for frictional engagement against the outside surface of the wall; (d) a lever arm extending through the top cap towards the bottom cap, the lever arm having a pair of lower arm openings spaced to align separately with a pair of slots defined on the flange, and the lever arm further having an upper arm opening; (e) a pair of pivot pins received through the aligned openings in the pair of lower arm openings and the pair of slots and further aligned to pivotally secure the bearing pad thereto; and (f) a tension rod attached between a pair of opposing lever arms through the upper arm openings defined in said opposing lever arms, wherein the tension rod is configured to apply a grip force at the bearing pad when the tension rod is tightened. 
     And in yet other embodiments, the first side of the flange that is defined in each downrigger column may further include at least one lug opening to receive a pair of spaced shoe lugs extending from a bearing shoe. The bearing pad being secured to a side of the bearing shoe opposite the spaced shoe lugs, and the pair of spaced shoe lugs further have apertures to receive pivot pins. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric drawing of the single wall mount crane mounting frame with an articulating boom crane installed; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric drawing of the single wall mount crane frame without the crane shown on the crane base; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view detailing the crane base connecting to the stub column assembly and the column assembly to the lower frame; 
         FIG. 4  shows an exploded isometric view detailing the lower frames connecting to the downrigger columns; 
         FIG. 4 -A shows an exploded isometric view of the downrigger column and bearing pad assembly; 
         FIG. 5  shows an elevation view of the single wall mount crane frame installed on an existing concrete wall; 
         FIG. 5 -A is a section showing the right elevation of the single wall mount crane frame installed on an existing concrete wall; and 
         FIG. 5 -B shows a zoomed in view of Section  5 -A. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated. 
     In general reference to  FIGS. 1-5B  there is illustrated a Single Wall Mount Crane (SWMC) frame assembly  16  with an articulating boom crane  10  installed in accordance to various embodiments of the invention, in reference thereto, the information provided in the drawings are made part of this specification by reference without limitation to any particular material used or dimensional notations provided therein. In addition, the quantity, type, and dimensions of components shown or labeled in the figures may be changed (either lessen or increased) without effecting the scope of the invention as long as the integrity of the mounting system is maintained. Lastly, the reference to front/rear or sides can be interchangeable and are only used for purposes of reference to illustrate proper alignment. 
     The SWMC frame assembly  16  provides a gripping force on an existing wall  300  which resists the overturning forces imposed on the crane  10 . The crane base  20  supports the crane  10  and transmits the loads from the crane  10  to the stub column assembly  30 , which then transmit the loads to the lower frames  60  through pins  110  ( FIG. 3 ). The lower frames  60  are mounted to the downrigger columns  50 , the bending of which provides the resistance to compressive forces which are applied to the wall by the bearing pads  100 . 
     Installation of the SWMC frame assembly  16  involves placing the assembly over a section of the wall  300 , which would occupy a space  105 , seating the assembly  16  securely against the wall  300  while maintaining levelness with swivel mounts  90 . Upon properly locating the SWMC frame assembly  16 , tension rods  40  are tightened causing a force to be applied to a lever arm  45  which applies force to an upper pin  72 , causing a damping force to be transmitted to the wall  300  between pairs of opposing bearing pads  100 ′ ( FIG. 2 ). The bearing pads  100  transmit forces from the crane  10  to the existing wall  300  through the SWMC frame assembly  16  without any need for additional support. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 1 through 5-8  the mounting system includes the SWMC frame assembly  16  that is mounted to a support surface, such as a wall section  300 , that may be pre-existing or constructed for purposes of mounting the SWMC frame assembly  16 . The SWMC frame assembly  16  includes an upper crane mount frame  20  that secures the crane  10  to the lower frame assembly  60  by use of a stub column assembly  30 . The upper crane mount frame assembly  20  includes a pair of first side plates  21  separately spaced and secured to a pair of second side plates  23 , both of which are secured to a top plate  27  and a base plate  28 . The top plate  27  includes a plurality of apertures on a crane slewing mount ring that receives and secures the crane  10 . As illustrated a crane rotation stop key  12  is shown and which interfaces with the crane base to prevent crane rotation and a crane hydraulics cavity  13  used to pass through the hydraulics theretrough. The upper crane mount frame assembly  20  further includes a pipe  25  that forms a portion of the wall and includes a slot  26 , which permits hydraulic lines (not shown) to be accessed. Ribs  24  are also positioned between the top plate  27  and the base plate  28  extending from the pipe  25  to provide support against the weight of the crane  10 , when the crane  10  attached to the top plate  27 . The base plate  28  further includes fastening openings  22  about first and second sides thereof that secure the upper crane mount frame assembly  20  to first and second lower frame assemblies  50  by first and second stub column assemblies  30  (as explained in greater detail below). It is important to note that the number of lower frame assemblies and sub column assemblies could change without changing the scope of the invention. 
     Each stub column assembly  30  includes an upper stub plate  38  with fastening openings  31  to correspond to the fastening openings  22  on the base plate  28 . Extending separately from each end of the upper stub plate  38  are downwardly extending column legs  32  which have on either side thereof downwardly extending cheek plates  33 . As such, as illustrated, there are two pairs of cheek plates  33  with the inside cheek plates being separated by a stiffener tube  37  to keep them aligned. Another stiffener plate  34  is secured below the upper stub plate  38  to further ensure the column legs  32  are aligned. Each cheek plate  33  includes an opening  36 . 
     The crane mount lower frame assembly  60  may include one or more lower frames subassemblies  60 ′. Typically each lower frame subassembly  60 ′ corresponds to two pair of legs. For example, in  FIG. 1  two pair of downrigger columns  50  extend downwardly from each crane lower frame subassembly  60 ′, one pair of downrigger columns  50  from a front portion of the lower frame subassembly  60 ′ and one pair from the rear portion of the lower frame subassembly  60 ′. Each pair of downrigger columns  50  secure to the lower frame assembly  60 , from which the two lower frame subassemblies  60 ′ together define the crane mount lower frame assembly  60 . 
     Each lower frame subassembly  60 ′ includes forward and rearward beams  62  with side box plates  66  and  67  positioned between the forward and rearward beams  62 . Pairs of lower frame splice flanges  63  are secured on either side of the forward and rearward beams  62 . In addition, the side box plates  66  and  67  include openings  64  to secure and align to openings  36  in the stub column assembly  30  by use of a pin  110 . 
     As noted, each lower frame subassembly  60 ′ includes lower frame splice flanges  63  on either side of the beams  62 . This allows for downrigger columns  50  to be secured on either side of the lower frame subassembly  60 ′. As each downrigger column  50  includes a downrigger column splice flange  52  that can be secured to a lower frame splice flange  63  through openings  51  and  61 . Stiffener plates  57  are positioned against the downrigger column splice flange  52  and the rear portion  50 ′ of the downrigger column  50  to prevent the flange  52  from bending. 
     Each downrigger column  50  includes a vertical flange  58  with at least one face that includes one or more openings  59  to receive a pair of spaced shoe lugs  105  extending from a bearing shoe base  106  defined on a wall bearing shoe  100 . When assembled a pair of bearing shoes  100  with bearing pads  103  face each other on opposing downriggers columns  50 . Each downrigger column  50  further includes an opening  53  extending downward vertically through the top cap towards the bottom cap. The opening  53  is sized sufficiently to receive a lever arm  45 . Each lever arm  45  includes a pair of openings  46  &amp;  47  towards the bottom end thereof and spaced to align with upper downrigger column slot  54  (orientated horizontally) and a lower downrigger column slot  56  (orientated vertically) positioned through the downrigger column  50 . The upper pivot pin  72  may be inserted through the upper downrigger column slot  54  such that it secures through the lever arm upper opening  46  and openings  104  in the bearing shoe lugs  105 . And a lower pivot pin  73  may be inserted through the lower downrigger column slot  56  and the lower lever arm opening  47  in order to secure the lower end of the lever arm  45  to the downrigger column  50 . 
     Each grip lever arm  45  further includes an opening  43  along its upper section. When assembled in the downrigger columns  50 , a pair of grip lever arms  45  are positioned and align to each other. A threaded tension rod  40  is then secured between a pair of opposing grip lever arms  45  through the upper sections  43  thereof. Tightening of the tension rod  40  applies grip force at the bearing shoe grip surface  103 . An inline threaded load sensor  41  may be secured to the threaded tension rod  40 . 
     It should be well known that the positions and number of the openings described herein and shown in the attached may be changed without changing the scope of the invention. In addition, in some instances, the sub-assembly components discussed herein and shown in the attached may be interchanged with a similar assembly in order to accommodate a different size, type or brand of crane. 
     As mentioned, a support wall  300  can be positioned for frictionally securing the mounting system thereto. The grip pads  103  from the bearing pad assembly  100  are positioned against the surface of the support wall  300  and can be tightened against the wall by adjusting the tension in the threaded tension rod  40  on the lever arms  45 . 
     The crane  10  is secured to the support wall  300  by frictional forces alone and does not rely on counterweights or conventional methods to resist crane forces. 
     All parts of the assembly may be comprised of steel members welded or bolted together utilizing conventional pin, welding, and bolting techniques common to structural steel construction. 
     From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it is observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the embodiments illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is intended to cover, by the appended drawings provided, all such modifications within the scope of the invention.