The present invention relates to crane assemblies, and more particularly, to jib crane assemblies utilized for the construction and demolition of coke ovens.
Lifting devices, also known as lifting gear, is a general term for any equipment that can be used to lift and lower loads. In one example of a lifting device, a jib or a jib arm is the horizontal or near-horizontal beam used in many types of cranes to support the load clear of the main support. Usually, jib arms are attached to a vertical mast or tower or sometimes to an inclined boom. In other jib-less designs such as derricks, the load is hung directly from a boom which is often anomalously called a jib. Lifting devices are utilized to construct and demolish a coke oven battery, which is used to produce coke by heating coal. This battery may have anywhere from 40 to 100 side-by-side coking chambers or ovens separated from each other by heating walls.
However, current lifting devices do not have the capacity to span the entirety of the coke oven battery, given its enormous size. Thus, lifting devices must be deconstructed and moved and reconstructed to construct/demolish a different portion of the coke oven battery. This is time consuming and costly. Additionally, lifting devices that are transportable extend from the ground level and must be maneuvered around the perimeter of the coke oven battery, which is very often difficult given the close proximity of the coke oven battery to other structures on a campus.
In many coke oven battery designs, there are preinstalled rails in which vehicles, called Larry carts, travel along in order to transport coal from a storage bunker to each individual coke oven of the coke oven battery.
Thus, there is a long felt need for a jib crane cart assembly that can be used to construct and demolish coke oven batteries and is easily maneuverable thereabout.
There is another long felt need for a jib crane cart assembly that is arranged to be used with preexisting rails on the coke oven battery.
There is also a long felt need for a jib crane art assembly that is arranged to support the weight of an individual, or multiple, component pieces (blocks and/or bricks) for coke oven battery construction.
According to aspects illustrated herein, the present invention provides for a jib crane cart assembly. The jib crane cart assembly including a platform having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the platform having a reinforcement structure between the proximal surface and the distal surface, a pair of masts extending from the proximal surface of the platform, each of the masts have a jib arm moveably secured thereto, and a set of wheels secured to said platform. Where the set of wheels are arranged for a cart track of a coke oven battery, specifically, for a Larry cart track.
In some embodiments, the reinforcement structure of the jib crane cart assembly further includes a plurality of connected outer members, and a plurality of inner members, some of the plurality of inner members are connected to some of the plurality of outer members and some of the plurality of inner members are connected to some of the plurality of inner members. The platform of the jib crane cart assembly may also include at least one counterweight secured to said proximal surface of said platform.
In some embodiments, the jib crane cart assembly of the present invention may comprise a platform having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the platform having a reinforcement structure between the proximal surface and the distal surface, the reinforcement structure includes a plurality of connected outer members, and a plurality of inner members, where some of the plurality of inner members are connected to some of the plurality of outer members and where some of the plurality of inner members are connected to some of the plurality of inner members, at least one mast extending from the proximal surface of the platform, the mast having a jib arm moveably secured thereto, and a set of wheels secured to the platform, wherein the set of wheels are arranged for a cart track of a coke oven battery.
In some embodiments, the first mast is arranged perpendicular to the first side beam. In some embodiments, the intermediate beam is arranged between and spaced apart from the front beam and the rear beam. In some embodiments, the jib crane cart assembly further comprises at least one support beam extending from the first mast to the frame. In some embodiments, the at least one support beam comprises a first support beam extending from the mast to the first side beam, and a second support beam extending from the mast to the intermediate beam. In some embodiments, the first jib arm assembly comprises a connecting beam rotatably connected to the mast, and an arm fixedly secured to the connecting beam. In some embodiments, the arm is perpendicular to the connecting beam. In some embodiments, the arm comprises a first end connected to the connecting beam, the first end including a first stop arranged proximate thereto, and a second end including a second stop arranged proximate thereto. In some embodiments, the connecting beam is connected to the mast via a plurality of hinges.
In some embodiments, the jib crane cart assembly further comprises a second mast connected to a top surface of the second side beam. In some embodiments, the jib crane cart assembly further comprises a second jib arm assembly rotatably connected to the second mast. In some embodiments, the jib crane cart assembly further comprises a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to a bottom surface of the frame. In some embodiments, the plurality of wheels comprises a first wheel including a first flange, and a second wheel including a second flange, the second flange being unaligned with the first flange. In some embodiments, the jib crane cart assembly further comprises a hoist arranged on and being axially displaceable with respect to the jib arm assembly.
It should be appreciated that the various embodiments of the jib crane cart discussed herein provides for a crane assembly that is usable on existing Larry cart rails, includes a reinforcement structure allowing the crane assembly and the respective masts and jib arm assemblies to accommodate two-ton coke oven blocks and/or bricks, and the crane assembly also includes a counterweight to prevent the assembly from displacing from the Larry cart rails when individual blocks and/or bricks are displaced from a platform of the crane assembly via the respective masts and jib arm assemblies.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent upon a review of the following detailed description of the disclosure, in view of the drawings and appended claims.
Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements. It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the example embodiments. The assembly of the present disclosure could be driven by hydraulics, electronics, pneumatics, and/or springs.
It should be appreciated that the term “substantially” is synonymous with terms such as “nearly,” “very nearly,” “about,” “approximately,” “around,” “bordering on,” “close to,” “essentially,” “in the neighborhood of,” “in the vicinity of,” etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. It should be appreciated that the term “proximate” is synonymous with terms such as “nearby,” “close,” “adjacent,” “neighboring,” “immediate,” “adjoining,” etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. The term “approximately” is intended to mean values within ten percent of the specified value.
It should be understood that use of “or” in the present application is with respect to a “non-exclusive” arrangement, unless stated otherwise. For example, when saying that “item x is A or B,” it is understood that this can mean one of the following: (1) item x is only one or the other of A and B; (2) item x is both A and B. Alternately stated, the word “or” is not used to define an “exclusive or” arrangement. For example, an “exclusive or” arrangement for the statement “item x is A or B” would require that x can be only one of A and B. Furthermore, as used herein, “and/or” is intended to mean a grammatical conjunction used to indicate that one or more of the elements or conditions recited may be included or occur. For example, a device comprising a first element, a second element and/or a third element, is intended to be construed as any one of the following structural arrangements: a device comprising a first element; a device comprising a second element; a device comprising a third element; a device comprising a first element and a second element; a device comprising a first element and a third element; a device comprising a first element, a second element and a third element; or, a device comprising a second element and a third element.
Moreover, as used herein, the phrases “comprises at least one of” and “comprising at least one of” in combination with a system or element is intended to mean that the system or element includes one or more of the elements listed after the phrase. For example, a device comprising at least one of: a first element; a second element; and, a third element, is intended to be construed as any one of the following structural arrangements: a device comprising a first element; a device comprising a second element; a device comprising a third element; a device comprising a first element and a second element; a device comprising a first element and a third element; a device comprising a first element, a second element and a third element; or, a device comprising a second element and a third element. A similar interpretation is intended when the phrase “used in at least one of:” is used herein.
By “non-rotatably connected” elements, it is meant that: the elements are connected so that whenever one of the elements rotate, all the elements rotate; and relative rotation between the elements is not possible. Radial and/or axial movement of non-rotatably connected elements with respect to each other is possible, but not required. By “rotatably connected” elements, it is meant that: the elements are rotatable with respect to each other.
Adverting now to the figures,
The following description should be taken in view of
Flooring 400 in some embodiments may comprise first panel 402, second panel 406, and third panel 410. Flooring with counterweight 450 in some embodiments may comprise fourth panel 452 and counterweight 460. First panel 402, second panel 406, and third panel 410 all include attachment surfaces 404, 408, and 412, respectively, arranged on their respective bottom surfaces. Attachment surfaces 404, 408, and 412 are arranged to be secured to proximal surface 202 of platform 200. Fourth panel 450 includes attachment surface 454 and upper surface 456. Preferably, counterweight 460 is arranged on and secured to upper surface 456. Attachment surface 454 is arranged to be secured to proximal surface 202 of platform 200. Floorings 400 and 450 collectively provide for a surface arranged to hold coke oven blocks or bricks thereon, where flooring 450 provides a counterweight (460) such that the blocks or bricks disposed on flooring 400 will not tip platform 200, disengage wheel set 300 from its respective rail track in use, and/or the same, when blocks or bricks are moved by masts 500 and/or 600 (as shown in
Wheel set 300 in some embodiments may have eight (8) individual wheels with their respective attachment means, where each wheel of wheel set 300 is arranged to be secured to distal surface 204 of platform 200, and, more preferably, to the distal surface of outer members 212 and 216. As discussed supra, wheel set 300 is operatively arranged to engage a Larry cart rail (80 and 81, as shown in
First mast 500 generally comprises main beam 502, first support beam 520, and second support beam 530. Main beam 502 includes attachment surface 504, mounting surface 506, side surface 508, and rear surface 510. First support beam 520 includes attachment surface 522 and mounting surface 524. Second support beam 530 includes attachment surface 532 and mounting surface 532. Attachment surface 522 of first support beam 520 is arranged to be connected to side surface 508 of main beam 502, via welding or attachment means, such as bolts, etc. Attachment surface 532 of second support beam 530 is arranged to be connected to rear surface 510 of main beam 502, via welding or attachment means, such as bolts, etc. When first mast 500 is assembled, mounting surfaces 506, 524, and 534 of main beam 502, first support beam 520, and second support beam 530, respectively, are arranged to be connected to proximal surface 202 of platform 200 (shown in
Jib arm 550 of first mast 500 generally comprises support arm 552, and extension arm 570. Support arm 552 includes lower end 554, rear surface 556, front surface 558, upper end 560, and connection plate 562 extending from and connected to upper end 560. Extension arm 570 is connected to support arm 552 on front surface 558. Extension arm 570 includes distal end 572, proximal end 574, upper surface 576, and a plurality of brackets, 580, 582, and 584 (it should be appreciated there is another bracket disposed on the opposite side of extension arm in relation to bracket 584). The plurality of brackets is operatively arranged to limit the movement of a hoist movably attached to extension arm 570 (shown in
In some embodiments, jib arm 550 is movably connected to first mast 500 via hinges 590 and 592, connected to rear surface 556 of support arm 552 and attachment surface 504 of main beam 502—allowing jib arm 550 to pivot thereabout, i.e., jib arm 550 and first mast 500 are rotatably connected.
The following description should be taken in view of
Hinges 590 and 592 allow support arm 552 to move in rotational range RR about rotational axis RAX, where rotational range RR is limited by limits LMT1 and LMT2 created by attachment surface 504 of main beam 502. It should be noted that this example is merely exemplary and nonlimiting on the appending claims.
When hoist 700 displaces coke oven block 800 away from platform 200 (as shown in
In some embodiments attachment surface 504 of main beam 502 may be arranged with means to allow attachment surface 504 to move in vertical directions VD1 and VD2, thereby moving hinges 590 and 592 and jib arm 550 in vertical directions VD1 and VD2, respectively.
As discussed supra, wheel set 300 allows assembly 100 to move along rail 80 in directions D1 and D2. It should also be appreciated that in some embodiments, wheel set 300 may be motorized.
It will be appreciated that various aspects of the disclosure above and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit under Articles 4 and 8 of the Stockholm Act of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/262,572, filed Oct. 15, 2021, which application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2022/078043 | 10/13/2022 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63262572 | Oct 2021 | US |