Claims
- 1. An apparatus for removing a heat exchanger bundle and transporting the bundle along a surface, the apparatus comprising:
a first frame; a first propelling mechanism supported on the first frame; at least four wheel assemblies coupled to said first frame and being powered by said first propelling mechanism; a second frame above the first frame; a second propelling mechanism on the second frame; a vertically shiftable portion associated with the first frame for vertically elevating the first and second frame relative to the surface thereby lifting the wheel assemblies off the surface, and for elevating the second frame relative to the first frame; a horizontally shiftable portion associated with the second frame for horizontally shifting a portion of the second frame; and a sled associated with the second propelling mechanism wherein the sled is attached to the second frame.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a pulling member associated with the second frame wherein the pulling member attaches to the heat exchanger bundle.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a connection between the second frame and the vertically shiftable portion such that the second frame is detachable from the vertically shiftable portion such that the heat exchanger bundle and the second frame portion is capable of being lifted from the vertically shiftable portion of the first frame.
- 4. A method for supporting a load to be removed from an in-use location, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an apparatus for removing the load; providing a propelling mechanism associated with the apparatus; providing at least four wheel assemblies associated with the propelling mechanism; 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; lengthening the frame portion to accommodate the load; 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.
- 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:
integrating the propelling mechanism with the apparatus.
- 6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:
maneuvering the apparatus onto the support surface.
- 7. The method of claim 4 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.
- 8. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:
connecting a lifting device to the connections on the first frame portion.
- 9. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:
disconnecting the first frame portion from the second frame portion.
- 10. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:
lifting the first frame portion and the load.
- 11. 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 main frame and the carriage frame relative to the main frame to the height of the heat exchanger bundle wherein the main frame remains above but generally near the transport surface; pulling the heat exchanger bundle onto the carriage frame; lengthening the carriage frame to accommodate the heat exchanger bundle as the heat exchanger bundle is pulled 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.
- 12. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:
actuating hydraulic cylinders of the mobile extractor apparatus to raise the main frame and the carriage frame.
- 13. A method for supporting and moving a heat exchanger bundle along a surface, 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 surface with the propelling mechanism; raising the main frame and 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 above but generally near the 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 heat exchanger bundle supported by the carriage frame while the main frame and propelling mechanism remain in contact with the engaging surface.
- 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:
actuating hydraulic cylinders of the mobile extractor apparatus to lift the main frame and the carriage frame.
- 15. An apparatus for removing a heat exchanger bundle and transporting the bundle across the surface, the apparatus comprising:
a first frame; at least four wheel assemblies connected to said first frame; at least one power source for propelling and controlling steering to at least two of said wheel assemblies; a second frame and spaced relationship to said first frame; at least two vertical shiftable columns attachable to said first frame for vertically elevating the first and second frames relative to the surface thereby lifting the wheel assemblies off the surface, and for elevating the second frame relative to the first frame; said second frame includes a horizontally shiftable frame portion for supporting the heat exchanger; horizontally shiftable mechanism to move the horizontally shiftable portion relative to the second frame; and a sled supported by said horizontally shiftable frame and displaced relative to said horizontally shiftable frame, wherein said sled engages said heat exchanger, said horizontally shiftable frame supports said heat exchanger, and said horizontally shiftable mechanism moves the horizontally shiftable portion relative to the second frame as said heat exchanger moves relative to said first frame.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/866,276, filed May 25, 2001, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/851,354, filed on May 8, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/235,131, filed on Sep. 25, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60235131 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09866276 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
10201334 |
Jul 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09851354 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
09866276 |
May 2001 |
US |