Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to cranes, and particularly relates to a trailer-mounted crane which is useful in supporting a vibratory sheet piling driver.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In landscaping architecture, there sometimes exists a need, particularly around water, for the protection of banks and other land formations from erosion, or a need to maintain a bank at an angle steeper than its natural soil angle of repose. This is sometimes accomplished by the use of sheet piling.  
         [0003]     In a typical sheet piling installation, individual, elongated steel sheets having channeled edges are driven into the soil, one after another, in interlocking fashion, to create a sheet piling wall. In this regard, a vibratory driver is sometimes used to drive the sheets into the ground. A typical vibratory driver includes a clamping jaw and a vibratory motor, both hydraulically driven by a separate, engine-driven hydraulic power unit. The driver is suspended from a line or cable from a lifting apparatus, such as from the bucket of an excavator on a back hoe, and positioned for the jaw to clamp the sheet piling sheet at its upper edge. Vibration from the driver causes the sheet to be driven into the ground.  
         [0004]     One difficulty in driving sheet piling is related to a type of terrain that may be located adjacent to the area that is to receive the sheet piling. Where sheet piling is to be driven adjacent to a pond, for example, the local area can be soft, or uneven. On a golf course, for example, the area adjacent to the sheet piling, or access ways to that area, may be delicate and can be damaged by heavy equipment.  
         [0005]     The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable that an apparatus used for supporting a vibratory driver for sheet piling is able to operate on surfaces which can include soft, delicate or uneven soil. The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable that such an apparatus is operable in use on a golf course to install sheet piling around ponds and other areas susceptible to having soft, delicate, and/or uneven ground surfaces. The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable if a single operator could operate both the supporting apparatus and the vibratory driver from a single operator station.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The invention provides a mobile crane in the form of a trailer-mounted crane apparatus which includes a trailer supported on wheels from the ground. A crane is mounted onto the trailer and includes a crane arm that is extendable outwardly of the trailer. A crane hydraulic power unit for operating the crane arm is also mounted on the trailer. The crane hydraulic power unit is controlled from an operator station carried by the trailer. The operator station includes a control panel and an operator&#39;s seat facing the control panel.  
         [0007]     The trailer includes a trailer hitch connection at a front end thereof adapted for towing the trailer by a vehicle. The trailer rear wheels can mount wide tires to reduce the contact pressure of the tires on the ground. Adjacent each of the rear wheels, a hydraulic outrigger can be utilized for stabilizing the vehicle during use. The trailer can also include two front outriggers, also useful for stabilizing the trailer.  
         [0008]     In an exemplary form of the invention, a vibratory sheet piling driver is suspended from the crane arm. The vibratory sheet piling driver can be extended outwardly from the trailer by the crane arm and operated to grasp, position and sink a sheet into the ground. The vibratory driver vibrates to drive the piling sheet into the ground. A vibratory driver hydraulic power unit can be mounted onto the platform and controlled from the control panel.  
         [0009]     Using the inventive apparatus, a sheet piling wall can be installed adjacent to soft, loose or uneven ground without difficulty. A trailer-mounted crane apparatus can be configured of a sufficiently light weight to be usable upon delicate ground surfaces, such as are present on a golf course, without damaging the surfaces, such as might occur using a heavier truck-mounted crane or a back hoe. The preferred embodiment crane apparatus of the present invention is compact and usable in close quarters compared to the aforementioned larger truck-mounted cranes or back hoes. The preferred embodiment crane apparatus of the present invention includes wide tires for reducing the surface pressure under the trailer. This allows the trailer to be transported across, and staged on, delicate surfaces such as golf course greens.  
         [0010]     The preferred embodiment crane apparatus of the present invention comprises a trailer-mounted crane apparatus having a component layout on the trailer that maximizes lifting capacity and reach. The layout includes the hydraulic crane having a vertical center post located centrally of the trailer and having its elongated hydraulic fluid cylinder mounted longitudinally; the crane hydraulic power unit mounted to the front and laterally of the crane center post; the control panel and the associated operator&#39;s seat mounted to the front of the crane hydraulic power unit; and the vibratory driver hydraulic power unit mounted in front of the crane. The trailer includes outriggers at the rear corners adjacent respectively to the oversized tires. The trailer includes a vibratory driver cradle for securely holding the vibratory driver on the trailer during road transportation of the trailer. The cradle is located on the trailer laterally of, and behind, the crane on a side opposite to the operator&#39;s seat.  
         [0011]     Numerous other advantages and features of the present 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  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trailer-mounted crane apparatus of the present invention in use in installing a piling sheet;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary elevational view of the trailer-mounted crane apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in a latter stage of driving a piling sheet;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged plan view of the trailer-mounted crane apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the crane apparatus taken along line  4 - 4  shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatical, plan view of an undercarriage of the trailer and the crane supported thereby;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken generally along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken generally along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, fragmentary front perspective view of the trailer-mounted crane apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate embodiment trailer-mounted crane apparatus.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrates a trailer-mounted crane apparatus  20  in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus  20  includes a trailer  22  supporting a crane  26 . The trailer  22  includes a platform  24  which surrounds the crane  26 . The trailer  22  is supported on wheels  32 ,  34  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The trailer  22  can be further supported or stabilized by two or more outriggers  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) extending from the platform  24 , which can be used to increase the overturning capacity of the crane, or to level the crane as needed. Attached to the platform  24  is an operator&#39;s seat  46  which is disposed adjacent to, and laterally of, a control panel  50 . The control panel includes control actuators  51 .  
         [0023]     In a prototype trailer-mounted crane apparatus, a salvaged, solid body trailer (non-tilt) was utilized. The trailer is a standard trailer used in the cable industry for hauling 4000-5000 pound spools of cable and having a capacity of 12,000 pounds.  
         [0024]     The crane  26  is of a known configuration such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,712. It is of a hydraulically operated boom configuration having an arm or boom  52  which can telescopically extend outwardly, pivot upwardly and pivot about a vertical centerline  62  of a central post  64  of the crane  26 . The crane arm  52  preferably has a  16  foot reach.  
         [0025]     A hydraulic power unit  65  (shown schematically as a box) drives the crane and is in control communication with the panel  50 . The power unit typically includes a gasoline or diesel powered engine which drives a hydraulic pump for generating pressurized hydraulic fluid.  
         [0026]     The crane center post  64  is welded or otherwise connected to an elongated, cylindrical actuator  68  which is located above, and welded or otherwise connected to, an outrigger cylinder  69 , which is mounted and fastened to the trailer  22  as described below. The actuator  68  contains a two-way piston (not shown) which is operatively connected to the center post  64 , such as by a rack and pinion arrangement, to cause corresponding rotation of the center post upon linear actuation of the two-way piston. The outrigger cylinder  69  has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile. A hydraulic fluid reservoir  70  is fastened or otherwise connected to the outrigger cylinder  69 . The center post  64  and reservoir  70  are substantially aligned on a longitudinal centerline  71  of the platform  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0027]     The outrigger cylinder  69  is not used for outrigging in the apparatus  20 . In the prototype trailer-mounted crane apparatus, the crane  26  was salvaged from a lifting vehicle which utilized the outrigger cylinder in a laterally extending orientation such that side outriggers could be deployed laterally to either side of the vehicle and then adjusted vertically to contact the ground. Although the outrigger cylinder was not utilized for deploying outriggers in the prototype, the weight of the outrigger cylinder, arranged longitudinally, assists in stabilizing the trailer and resisting overturning forces. Additionally, the salvaged crane  26  with its outrigger cylinder  69  arranged longitudinally, conveniently bolts to the cross bracing of the trailer  2 , as described hereinafter.  
         [0028]     At a distal end of the crane arm  52 , a support chain, cable or line  74  holds a vibratory device  78  which is used for driving piling sheets  79 . The vibratory device  78  includes a hydraulically actuated jaw  82  for gripping a top edge of the piling sheet  79 . The vibratory device  78  includes an internal vibrational drive motor (not shown) which, combined with the weight of the vibrational device  78  pressed down on the sheet, causes vibration to drive the sheet  79  into the ground as shown in  FIG. 2 . Such vibratory drivers are known in the industry, such as available from American Pile Driving Equipment Corporation and weighing about 900 lbs.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the layout of the trailer-mounted crane apparatus  20 . The platform  24  is supported on an undercarriage  102  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The platform includes a surrounding rectangular steel frame  103  and two longitudinal spaced apart deck  105 ,  107 , separated by an open central space  109 . The crane  26 , including the control panel  50 , the actuator  68 , the outrigger cylinder  69 , the center post  64 , and the reservoir  70 , as an integral unit, is mounted within the central space  109  onto the undercarriage  102 . The undercarriage  102  includes an A-shaped frame  104  having a hitch attachment  106  at an apex thereof. Additionally, two lifting jacks  110 ,  112  are located adjacent the hitch attachment  106  for lifting the frame  104  in order to engage the hitch attachment  106  to a vehicle hitch.  
         [0030]     Between the lifting jacks  110 ,  112  and the platform  24 , a vibrational driver hydraulic power unit or power pack  116  (shown schematically as a box) is mounted on the undercarriage and is dedicated to driving the vibrational driver  78 . The power unit  116  typically includes a gasoline or diesel powered engine driving a hydraulic pump to produce pressurized hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic lines  120  schematically indicated in  FIG. 3  by a single line, and shown in  FIG. 8 , communicate hydraulic fluid control and power from the power unit  116  to the vibrational driver  78 . Hydraulic and/or electrical control lines  126  communicate between the control panel  50  and the power unit  116 . Thus, an operator siting in the seat  46  can control both the movement and operation of the crane arm  52  and the operation of the vibrational driver  78 .  
         [0031]     A vibrational driver cradle  130  is located at a rear of the platform  24  and is used for receiving and fixedly holding the vibrational driven  78  during road transportation of the apparatus  20 . The cradle has a surrounding wall  131  and an interior plate  132  for clamping by the jaw  82  of the driver  78 . An alternate driver retainer in the form of a rod  134  extends rearwardly from the platform  24  and is supported by a support bar  135  within the space  109 , and a rear bar  103   a  of the frame  103 . During movement in the field, the vibrational driver can be temporarily held securely onto the rod  134  by the jaw  82 . Thus, the more secure, but more time consuming, placement of the driver  78  into the cradle  130  is avoided for short trips in the field. The driver  78  can be quickly and easily clamped to the rod  134  and held thereby. For transportation on the roadway, the driver  78  can be installed into the cradle  130  and the rod  134  can be recessed behind the rear bar  103   a  of the frame  103  as shown in phantom.  
         [0032]     In front of the cradle  130 , and laterally of the crane center post  64 , is a hydraulic tubing accumulator box  136 . Especially when the driver  78  is stored in the cradle  130 , the box  136  can hold hydraulic lines otherwise extending between the power unit  116  and the driver  78  as shown in  FIG. 8 . An onboard tool storage box  140  can be provided in the space between the control panel  50  and the power unit  116 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates the undercarriage  102  and lower crane components supported thereon. The undercarriage comprises longitudinal beams  140 ,  142  which are laterally spaced apart and connected together by lateral beams  146 ,  148 . The beams  140 ,  142  support the platform  24  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The beams  140 ,  142 ,  146 ,  148  can be rectangular tubular members. The connection between the beams can be welded connections. The crane components supported include: the outrigger reservoir  69  arranged longitudinally, the fluid reservoir  70 , a support bracket  152 , and a base  64   a  for the rotatable center post  64  all integrally fastened or welded together as a unit. The crane components described are set onto the lateral beams  146 ,  148  and fastened thereto.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIG. 6  the lateral outrigger reservoir  69  includes longitudinally arranged bolt channels  158 ,  160  having open top and bottom faces. A rectangular washer plate  162  is place against opposite faces of each channel  158 ,  160 , the washer plate  162  having a width wider than the open top and bottom faces of the channels. A bottom surface  166  of the lateral outrigger reservoir  69  is supported on the lateral beams  146 ,  148 . A pair of through bolts  172  and associated nuts  173  clamp the bottom surface  166  to the lateral beam  146 ,  148  using the two plate washers  162  respectively.  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the support bracket  152  is mounted to the lateral beams  146 ,  148  in the same fashion. Thus, the crane  26  is bolted in a four point grid on the undercarriage  102 .  
         [0036]     The lateral beams  146 ,  148  are spaced approximately equidistant to, and on opposite sides of, an axle  149  which supports the undercarriage  102  from the wheels  32 ,  34 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  illustrates an alternate embodiment trailer-mounted crane apparatus  200  which is substantially identical to the apparatus  20  except that the outriggers  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  are replaced with outwardly extending, pivotable outriggers  238  at all four corners which pivot downwardly to press rectangular pads  240  onto the ground. These outriggers  238  allow a wider support, extending out about 5 feet from the platform  24 . These outriggers  238  each utilize an arm  244  pivotally connected to the pad  240 . The arm is pivotally connected at a point  246  to the platform  24  and to a channel-shaped riser  248 . The riser is braced by a column  252  fixedly connected to the platform  24 . A hydraulic cylinder  258  is pivotally connected at a connection  262  to the riser  248  and at a connection  266  to lugs  267  welded to the arm  244 . Thus, expansion or contraction of the hydraulic cylinder  258  will cause pivotal lowering or raising of the arm. The arm  244  can be raised to a substantial vertical position for road travel. The outriggers  238  can be controlled from the control panel  50 .  
         [0038]     It is also encompassed by the invention that outriggers  238  are only provided at the rear corners, which has been demonstrated to work satisfactorily. It is also encompassed by the invention to provide the vertically movable outriggers  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  along with the outriggers  238 , at the rear corners only or at all four corners. Depending on the surface encountered, the outriggers  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  and/or the outriggers  238  can then be deployed.  
         [0039]     The major components for the crane apparatus  20 ,  200  are commercially available. For example, the crane  26  can be a HIAB-FOGO (Sweden) model 650 (year 1971) or similar. The vibratory driver  78  and the driver hydraulic power unit  116  can be a Model 6 vibratory hammer and Model 14 power pack from American Piledriving Equipment, Inc. of Kent, Washington. The trailer platform  24  can be a Vermeer single axle (6 foot by 9 foot platform) trailer having a 16′ overall length, such as salvaged from a trailer used to transport large electrical coils.  
         [0040]     The preferred dimensions for the apparatus  20  are as follows (referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The wheel base dimension a is about 108 inches. The longitudinal dimension b between the rear outriggers  36 ,  38  and the wheel centerline is about 55 inches. The longitudinal distance c between the wheel centerline and the front outriggers  40 ,  42  is about 53 inches. The longitudinal distance d between the front outriggers  40 ,  42  and the hitch  106  is about 7 feet. The wheels  32 ,  34  use tires  32   a ,  34   a  which are oversized and are particularly useful in travel throughout a golf course where damage to delicate or pristine areas of the course must be avoided. For example, the tires  32   a ,  34   a  will not damage the surface of a putting green. The width of the tires of the preferred embodiment are effective to dissipate the trailer load over a wide ground surface area. The tires are nearly twice the width of the street tires (using 8.75 inch rims for road use) which are used to transport the trailer on roadways. In this regard, the tires have a tread width f of 16 inches. The ground height g to the support point of the crane  26  is about 19 2  inches.  
         [0041]     The prototype crane apparatus  20  has a total weight of approximately: 5600 pounds. The crane assembly, including the components  26 ,  50 ,  65 , weighs about 2700 pounds. The vibratory driver  78  weighs about 900 pounds. The vibratory driver power unit  116  weighs about 700 pounds. The trailer weighs about 600 pounds. The outriggers shown in  FIG. 9  (rear only) together weigh about 650 pounds.  
         [0042]     The present invention provides a compact, lightweight yet effective trailer-mounted crane apparatus especially suited for soft or delicate terrains. The compact trailer-mounted crane apparatus has a lifting capacity of at least 1200 pounds at a reach of 16 feet which is well suited for driving sheet piling using a 900 pound vibratory driver.  
         [0043]     The present invention is particularly useful in driving sheet piling on golf courses. Using a vibratory driver, sheets can be driven at night without generating an excessive amount of noise.  
         [0044]     The present invention apparatus  20 ,  200  effectively combines a lifting apparatus with a vibratory driver device into a single, compact and effective piece of equipment. A single operator seated on the trailer can control both the crane and the vibratory driver. Heretofore, the vibratory driver was lifted by an operating piece of equipment such as a back hoe, and the vibratory drive was controlled by a second operator with the vibratory hydraulic power unit located separate from the back hoe. This unnecessarily used staging area which could be better suited in storing materials or staging other equipment participating in the sheet piling installation.  
         [0045]     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Technology Category: 7