Claims
- 1. An apparatus for removing a heat exchanger bundle, the apparatus comprising:
a first frame; a first propelling mechanism on the first frame; 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 shifting 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; a track associated with the first 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; 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 plurality of lifting members having feet wherein the plurality of lifting members raise the second frame relative to the first frame.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
power cylinders having feet wherein the power cylinders raise the second frame relative to the first frame.
- 4. 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.
- 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 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 lifted from the vertically shiftable portion of the first frame.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second frame has a length substantially aligned with that of the heat exchanger bundle.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a track on either side of the first frame.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a screw associated with the sled wherein the screw moves the sled.
- 11. 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 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; 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.
- 12. The method of claim 11 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.
- 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
integrating the propelling mechanism with the apparatus.
- 14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
maneuvering the apparatus onto the support surface.
- 15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
rolling a continuous propelling surface of the propelling mechanism of the apparatus.
- 16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
including the flat load spreading surface portion along the support surface.
- 17. The method of claim 11 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.
- 18. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
sizing the flat load spreading surface portion on the apparatus.
- 19. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
propelling the apparatus to a remote location from the in-use location.
- 20. The method of claim 11 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 11 further comprising the step of:
connecting a lifting device to the connections on the first frame portion.
- 22. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
disconnecting the first frame portion from the second frame portion.
- 23. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:
lifting the first frame portion and the load.
- 24. The method of claim 11 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 11 further comprising the step of:
pulling the load and 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; 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.
- 27. The method of claim 26 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 lift 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; a horizontally shiftable portion of the frame; and power cylinders wherein the power cylinders raise the vertically shiftable portion of the frame and shift the horizontally shiftable portion of the frame.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:
lifting members wherein the 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.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application 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 Ser. No.: 60/235,131 filed on Sep. 25, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60235131 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09851354 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
09866276 |
May 2001 |
US |