Claims
- 1. An apparatus for removing a heat exchanger bundle, the apparatus comprising:
a frame; a propelling mechanism on the frame; a vertically shiftable portion of the frame; and a track associated with the propelling mechanism, having a flat portion in engagement with the ground wherein the flat portion is in engagement with a predetermined area of the ground.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of lifting members having feet wherein the plurality of lifting members raise the frame.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
power cylinders having feet wherein the power cylinders raise the frame.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a pulling member associated with the frame wherein the pulling member attaches to the heat exchanger bundle.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the track has segmented portions.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flat portion of the track extends lengthwise.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a base frame and an upper frame wherein the base frame is larger than the upper frame and wherein the base frame remains fixed as the upper frame vertically shifts.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a base frame portion of the frame and a smaller frame portion of the frame wherein the smaller frame portion is detachable from the frame such that the heat exchanger bundle and the smaller frame portion may be lifted from the base frame portion.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:
a connection between the base frame portion and the smaller frame portion.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame has a length substantially aligned with that of the heat exchanger bundle.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a track on either side of the frame.
- 12. A method for supporting a load to be removed from an in-use location, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus for removing the heavy load; providing a propelling mechanism on the apparatus; providing a track associated with the propelling mechanism wherein the track has a flat portion in engagement with a predetermined area of the ground; aligning a vertically shiftable frame portion of the apparatus with the load; removing the load from the in-use location; shifting the load onto the frame portion; spreading the load over a predetermined area on a support surface adjacent the in-use location; and stabilizing the apparatus as the load is shifted.
- 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
spreading the load by at least one substantially flat load spreading surface portion in engagement with the support surface over the predetermined area on the support surface.
- 14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
Integrating the propelling mechanism with the apparatus such that the apparatus is self-propelled.
- 15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
maneuvering the apparatus onto the support surface.
- 16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
rolling a continuous propelling surface of the propelling mechanism of the apparatus.
- 17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
including the flat load spreading surface portion along the support surface.
- 18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
maintaining substantially the same predetermined area of engagement between the load spreading surface portion of the propelling surface and support surface to propel the apparatus to a remote location from the in-use location.
- 19. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
sizing the flat load spreading surface portion so that the predetermined area of engagement with the support surface attempts to avoid deforming the support surface with the load carried on the apparatus.
- 20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
propelling the apparatus carrying the load to a remote location from the in-use location while minimizing deformation of the support surface during transport.
- 20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
providing a first frame portion and a second frame portion of the apparatus wherein the first frame portion is aligned with the load to be removed and wherein the first frame portion has connections associated with the second frame portion.
- 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:
connecting a lifting device to the connections on the first frame portion.
- 22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:
disconnecting the first frame portion from the second frame portion.
- 23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:
lifting the first frame portion and the load.
- 24. The method of claim 12 wherein the load is one of a plurality of heat exchanger bundles that are at various levels of elevation relative to the support surface.
- 25. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
pulling the load and progressively shifting the load onto the frame portion.
- 26. A method for supporting and moving a heat exchanger bundle over a transport surface, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a mobile extractor apparatus having a carriage frame and a main frame; providing a propelling mechanism for moving the apparatus along the transport surface; raising the carriage frame relative to the main frame to the height of the heat exchanger bundle wherein the main frame remains near the transport surface; pulling the heat exchanger bundle onto the carriage frame; lowering the carriage frame and the heat exchanger bundle toward the transport surface; rotating an engaging surface of the propelling mechanism in contact with the transport surface; transporting the heat exchanger bundle; and supporting the heat exchanger bundle with the apparatus, the carriage frame, and the main frame while maintaining a surface area of engagement between the engaging surface and the transport surface.
- 27. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of:
actuating hydraulic cylinders of the mobile extractor apparatus to raise the carriage frame.
- 28. A method for supporting and moving a heat exchanger bundle, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a mobile extractor apparatus having a carriage frame, a main frame, and a propelling mechanism; moving the mobile extractor apparatus along the transport surface with the propelling mechanism; raising the carriage frame relative to the main frame; lifting the carriage frame from the main frame to the height of the heat exchanger bundle while the main frame remains near the transport surface; pulling the heat exchanger bundle onto the carriage frame; lowering the carriage frame and the heat exchanger bundle toward the transport surface; connecting a lifting device to the carriage frame; disconnecting the carriage frame from the main frame; and lifting the carriage frame and the heavy heat exchanger bundle supported by the carriage frame while the main frame and propelling mechanism remain in contact with the engaging surface.
- 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:
actuating hydraulic cylinders of the mobile extractor apparatus to life the carriage frame.
- 30. An apparatus for removing a heat exchanger bundle, the apparatus comprising:
a frame; a propelling mechanism on the frame; a vertically shiftable portion of the frame; and power cylinders wherein the power cylinders raise the vertically shiftable portion of the frame.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:
a plurality of lifting members wherein the plurality of lifting members raise the frame.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:
feet associated with the power cylinders.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:
a pulling member associated with the frame wherein the pulling member attaches to the heat exchanger bundle.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:
a base frame portion of the frame and a smaller frame portion of the frame wherein the smaller frame portion is detachable from the frame such that the heat exchanger bundle and the smaller frame portion may be lifted from the base frame portion.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising:
a connection between the base frame portion and the smaller frame portion.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the frame has a length substantially aligned with that of the heat exchanger bundle.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:
a pair of tracks on each side of the frame.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/212,810, filed Jun. 19, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60235131 |
Sep 2000 |
US |