Patent Application
20240430992
Embodiments of the present inventive technology may include methods and apparatus to remove snow and ice from all or various parts of cranes. While cranes of all kinds and the totality of their inclusive structures and parts are within the scope of the disclosure of the inventive technology, the inventive technology may have applicability to removing snow and ice from rails or other structural members on the booms of tower cranes.
It may be known that snow, sleet, ice, and the like may complicate crane operations. Snow and ice in particular may accumulate on crane structures and parts and create problems. The problems they pose may include interference with lifted objects being placed as desired, interference with one or more trolleys moving along a crane boom, capacity issues by adding weight to the crane boom and to lifted objects, compromised visibility to the crane operator or operators, and the like.
Conventional techniques for removing snow and ice may involve spray chemicals that remove snow, ice, and the like, manually scraping away or using a trolley to break up snow, ice, and the like, or simply waiting for sunlight, warming temperatures, and natural elements to melt snow, ice, and the like. These may entail significant disadvantages.
For example, spray methods may involve the use of mobile units to spray deicing chemicals, and it may be the case that such mobile units typically may not be able to reach one or more parts of a crane, such as the crane's boom area. Spray chemicals also may pose health and environmental hazards, perhaps requiring special handling and disposal. Moreover, when using solution-based systems, the deicing solution typically may be sprayed over an entire piece of equipment, for example in the manner of deicing an airplane, which may create a mess. Further, these spraying systems typically may be found on mobile units and may not reach all areas of a crane, including for example the boom area of a crane. The term deicing as used herein may be understood as by those having skill in the relevant art, but regardless should be understood to involve removing snow and/or ice from a surface.
Manual scraping methods frequently may involve a crane operator walking the length of the boom to carry out the technique, such as by going from side to side with a scraper and scraping and then dusting away all snow and ice for many feet while being hundreds of feet in the air with very minimal working platform or bracing to work off of. This may pose risks even in good weather and may certainly increase the risk in bad weather, where surfaces may be slick and visibility may be poor, creating conditions that may be very slippery and dangerous.
Waiting for sunlight and warming temperatures naturally may create down-time where the crane may not be able to be operated. Depending on the weather and sun, this may take many hours to complete. This may cause inefficiencies on busy job sites, such as where many people on a site may need the crane for job site tasks.
Using the trolley of a crane to break up snow and ice, such as by action of the trolley's wheels, may pose drawbacks such as damage to one or more components of the crane and/or wearing or ruining the trolley wheels. Such damage, wear and ruination may cause the crane to shut down until the issue can be fixed, again creating downtime for the crane and possibly adding the expense of potentially costly repairs. Moreover, breaking ice and snow in this manner may send chunks of ice falling to the ground below, which may be hazardous to employees, structures, and equipment on the ground when this task is being performed.
It may be known to use silicone pads that are bonded to objects that need to be heated. However, these pad systems may not be capable of being made to the lengths or widths that may be required for use on cranes due to the size of the heating wire that is used inside these pads. Moreover, these kinds of silicone pads may be self-regulated and may not have protections to prevent their overheating. The pads also may be bulky, may require a relatively large surface area, or may be difficult or involved to install.
The form and structure of cranes and elements thereon, such as crane booms, also may pose problems for the removal of snow and ice. For example, crane booms may be long and narrow and may have compact, irregular, or otherwise difficult areas to access that may hinder conventional snow and ice removal techniques or make them non-effective.
Tower cranes may pose particular issues when it comes to the removal of accumulated snow and ice. Tower cranes generally may include a vertical mast, tower, or the like to support a working boom in an elevated position off the ground. Loads may be suspended from the working boom. These considerations may require that the weight of the boom and any loads suspended from the boom may need to be supported entirely by the single mast, and not, for example, by multiple masts or other multiple supports (as may be the case, for example, for gantry cranes or the like) or, obviously, by the ground (as may be the case, for example, by the rails of railroad tracks or the like). These design considerations for tower cranes may mean that tower crane booms may have features that perhaps distinguish them from other kinds of cranes, such as lightweight or perhaps even hollow structural members, structural members that may be compact and may have a high strength to weight ratio, structural members that may be streamlined in form and configuration and that may be designed to minimize or even eliminate unnecessary surface area or extraneous features such as irregular surfaces, structural members that must allocate or reserve space or surface area for critical support elements (such as where the laces of a boom may be joined to rails or other components of the boom that the laces support), structural members arranged in configurations critical to supporting the weight of the boom and loads thereon (such as the manner in which laces may be arranged for connection to one another and to rails and/or other structural members of the boom), structural members the integrity of which may be prohibited or otherwise not be capable of alteration, modification, or other like compromise such as by welding, drilling, or the like in as much as these may affect the strength and/or load bearing capacity of the boom, structural members that may not have openings or other irregular forms or cutouts thereon, structural members that may require unblocked or otherwise readily accessible spaces to permit safety, regulatory, or other kinds of inspections, structural members that may have tight tolerances and clearances for moving parts thereon such as for cables, hoists, trolleys, and the like, and even perhaps such other issues and aspects specific to tower cranes that may be known by those having skill in such art.
In sum, conventional techniques for removing snow and ice from cranes may present significant risk factors, entail significant impracticalities, and may generate significant down time that may interfere with personnel on a job site needing the crane for job site tasks.
The foregoing problems related to conventional removal of snow and ice from cranes may represent a long-felt need for an effective solution to the same. While some of the implementing elements may have been available, actual attempts to meet this need may have been lacking to some degree. This may have been due to a failure of those having ordinary skill in the art to fully appreciate or understand the nature of the problems and challenges involved. As a result of this potential lack of understanding, attempts to meet these long-felt needs may have failed to effectively solve one or more of the problems or challenges here identified. These attempts may even have led away from the technical directions taken by the present inventive technology and may even result in the achievements of the present inventive technology being considered to some degree an unexpected result of the approach taken by some in the field.
The present inventive technology includes a variety of aspects, which may be selected in different combinations based upon the particular application or needs to be addressed. In various embodiments, the inventive technology may include the removal of snow and ice from cranes, crane structures, crane booms, and rails on crane booms, including all of the foregoing with applicability to tower cranes.
One goal of the present inventive technology may include removing snow and ice from cranes.
Another goal of the present inventive technology may include removing snow and ice from cranes with applicability to tower cranes.
Another goal of the present inventive technology may include removing snow and ice with applicability to the booms of tower cranes.
Another goal of the present inventive technology may include removing snow and ice with applicability to rails of booms of tower cranes.
Naturally, other goals and objects of the present inventive technology are disclosed throughout the text, clauses, and claims.
It should be understood that embodiments include a variety of aspects, which may be combined in different ways. The following descriptions are provided to list elements and describe some of the embodiments of the application. These elements are listed with initial embodiments; however, it should be understood that they may be combined in any manner and in any number to create additional embodiments. The variously described examples and preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the embodiments of the application to only the explicitly described systems, techniques, and applications. The specific embodiment or embodiments shown are examples only. The specification should be understood and is intended as supporting broad claims as well as each embodiment, and even claims where other embodiments may be excluded. Importantly, disclosure of merely exemplary embodiments is not meant to limit the breadth of other more encompassing claims that may be made where such may be only one of several methods or embodiments which could be employed in a broader claim or the like. Further, this description should be understood to support and encompass descriptions and claims of all the various embodiments, systems, techniques, methods, devices, and applications with any number of the disclosed elements, with each element alone, and also with any and all various permutations and combinations of all elements in this or any subsequent application.
Embodiments of the present inventive technology may include a tower crane boom rail (4) heat application apparatus (5). Embodiments of the present inventive technology also may include methods for melting snow or ice on a rail of a boom (3) of a tower crane (1).
As shown for example in
The tower crane boom rail (4) may be of any kind suitable for use or application to or on a tower crane (1) and may be of any kind generally known in the art of tower cranes. In some embodiments, a tower crane boom rail (4) may be a rectangular tube. Examples may be shown in
A tower crane boom (3) may have a length (7) and a trolley (6) configured for movement along at least a portion of the length (7). Such configuration may involve any form, structure, or attribute of the trolley (6) allowing it to move along the boom (3), including but not limited to as may be known generally in the art for tower cranes and as may be described herein with respect to the disclosure of tower crane boom rails (4) and movement elements (8) of trolleys (6). Examples may be shown in
Various embodiments may involve a tower crane boom rail (4) disposed along the portion of the length (7) of the tower crane boom (3) with which the trolley (6) moves in its movement along the portion of such length (7). Examples may be shown in
Various embodiments may involve at least one movement element (8) of the trolley (6) configured to use a surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) for its movement along the portion of the length (7). Examples may be shown in
Various embodiments may involve an unobstructed movement element travel space (10) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) through which a movement element (8) of the trolley (6) is configured to move. This may simply be the space at and, to the degree required, in the vicinity of, the surface (9) necessary for the movement element (8) to travel through as the movement element (8) moves along the rail (4) using the surface (9), and such configuration of the movement element (8) simply may be such as to permit the movement element (8) to move through such space. The term unobstructed may be understood to involve such space being free of any obstructions that would block, impede, interfere, or otherwise prevent such travel of the movement element (8). Notably, a space available mount (12) of a heat source (13) may be seen not to constitute such an obstruction, as may be discussed more fully elsewhere herein. By way of non-limiting example of the foregoing, where the movement element (8) is a roller that rolls along a top surface (9) of a rail (4), the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) simply may be the space at and above the surface (9) of the rail (4) through which the roller is required to move through as the roller rolls upon the rail (4). Examples may be shown in
Various embodiments may involve an available remainder space (11) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) exclusive of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10). This may be the remaining space available at and, to the degree required, in the vicinity of, the surface (9) of the rail (4) that a space available mount (12) of heat source (13) may occupy, such that the space available mount (12) does not occupy any space of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10). In this sense, it may be seen that the available remainder space (11) is exclusive of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) because the space of the available remainder space (11) cannot occupy, and therefore excludes, any and all of the space of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) (otherwise the space available mount (12) would or would potentially obstruct movement of the movement element (8) through the unobstructed movement element travel space (10)). Examples may be shown in
An available remainder space (11) in various embodiments may have a substantially smooth surface. This may be a surface free of or substantially free of irregularities disrupting or tending to disrupt the smoothness of a surface, such a lips, flanges, ledges, protuberances, pits, depressions, grooves, ridges, and the like. For example, the surfaces of tower crane booms (3) and tower crane boom rails (4) generally may have smooth or substantially smooth surfaces due to the design and use considerations specific to tower cranes as discussed elsewhere herein.
An available remainder space (11) in various embodiments may lack clamp sites. This may be understood to be the absence or substantial absence of structures on, in, or of the available remainder space (11) to which something may be clamped, such as to prevent attachment by clamping of a space available mount (12). For example, the surfaces of tower crane booms (3) and tower crane boom rails (4) generally may lack clamp sites due to the design and use considerations specific to tower cranes as discussed elsewhere herein.
An available remainder space (11) in various embodiments may be an available remainder space (11) without any openings. This may be understood to be the absence or substantial absence of openings on, in, or of the available remainder space (11) to which something may be attached, connected, or otherwise joined, such as might otherwise prevent attachment, connection, or joining of a space available mount (12). For example, the surfaces of tower crane booms (3) and tower crane boom rails (4) generally may not have such openings due to the design and use considerations specific to tower cranes as discussed elsewhere herein.
An available remainder space (11) in various embodiments may have an uncompromisable structure. This may involve the available remainder space (11) having a structure that cannot be modified, impacted, impaired, added to, removed from, interfered with, or otherwise affected in a manner that would diminish safety, functionality, or other characteristic attributes of a tower crane (1). For example, tower crane booms (3) and tower crane boom rails (4) generally may be engineered with precise tolerances, capacities, and other design and engineering considerations specific to tower cranes as discussed elsewhere herein that cannot be comprised without risking such safety or functionality considerations or for which compromise may be prohibited by regulatory or other legal prohibitions.
In some embodiments, an such an uncompromisable structure may be a weld prohibited structure, which may be understood to involve structures that cannot be compromised by welding or the like, such as for example otherwise might be useful or beneficial for attaching, connecting, or otherwise joining a space available mount (12) in or to an available remainder space (11) by such a weld.
In some embodiments, an such an uncompromisable structure may be a drill prohibited structure, which may be understood to involve structures that cannot be compromised by drilling or the like, such as for example otherwise might be useful or beneficial for attaching, connecting, or otherwise joining a space available mount (12) in or to an available remainder space (11) by such drilling.
In various embodiments, the size, shape, or other attributes of the available remainder space (11) may be dictated by the size, shape, or other attributes of the tower crane boom (3), such as the surface (9) of a rail (4), the movement element (8) of a trolley (6), an unobstructed movement element travel space (10), and the like. For example, in some embodiments the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) may be a flat surface portion of the tower crane boom rail (4), the movement element (8) of the trolley (6) may be a roller, the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) may be a roller path of the flat surface portion, and the available remainder space (11) may be an available remainder space (11) of the flat surface portion. The dimensions of the available remainder space (11) similarly may follow from the dimensions of the elements by which the available remainder space (11) is formed. For example, in some embodiments the flat surface portion may have a width of or approximately 5 inches, the roller may have a width of or approximately 2 inches, the roller path may have a width of or approximately 2 inches, and the available remainder space (11) of the flat surface portion may have a width of or approximately 3 inches.
In such embodiments, a flat surface portion of a tower crane boom rail (4) may simply be a surface (9) or portion of a surface (9) the rail (4) that is flat or substantially flat. A roller may be understood to be a piece, part, or component of something that rolls or enables movement through the action of rolling, and a roller path may be understood to include the path through which one or more rollers may travel to enable such movement. One example of an available remainder space (11) on flat surface portion may be shown in
In various embodiments, an available remainder space (11) may be part or all of any or any combination of sides of a tower crane boom rail (4), including for example any side of a rectangular or square rail (4), an upward facing side of a rail (4), a vertical side of a rail (4), a downward facing side of a rail (4), a sloping side of a rail (4), and the like.
Some embodiments may further involve a lace footprint space (14). The lace footprint space (14) may be understood to include the space occupied on a tower crane boom rail (4) where a lace (15) of a tower crane boom (3) meets, attaches to, or otherwise is joined to the rail (4). Examples may be seen in
In some embodiments, an available remainder space (11) may be a lace footprint restricted available remainder space (11). This may be understood to involve an available remainder space (11) that, in addition to being exclusive of an unobstructed movement element travel space (10), may have all or part of a lace footprint space (14) occupying some of the space that otherwise would be part of the available remainder space (11). In this sense, it may be understood that the lace footprint space (11) may further restrict the space of the available remainder space (11). Embodiments accordingly may involve restricting an available remainder space (11) with a lace footprint.
Various embodiments may involve a heat source (13) configured to apply heat to the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4). The heat source (13) may be of any kind suitable to apply such heat that is otherwise consistent with the disclosure herein. Configuration to apply heat also may be of any suitable kind otherwise consistent with the disclosure herein, and may for example include application though direct contact, radiation, conduction, heat transfer, and the like. Embodiments accordingly may involve applying heat with a heat source (13) to an unobstructed movement element travel space (10) of a surface (9) of a tower crane boom rail (4). Examples may be seen in
While a heat source (13) indeed may apply heat to the unobstructed movement element travel space (10), it may be understood that the heat source (13) may be capable of, and in various embodiments may be made to, apply heat to additional parts, pieces, or components of the tower crane (1), or even to such parts, pieces, or components of the tower crane (1) separately from or even in lieu of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10). Such parts, pieces, or components of the tower crane (1) may include, for example, some or all of a tower crane boom rail (4), any other kind of rail, a trolley (6), a movement element (8) of a trolley (6), a lace (15), a part, piece or component of mast (2), a part, piece or component of a boom (3), and the like. Moreover, a heat source (13) in various embodiments may be used with a thermostat to achieve desired levels or ranges of temperature output or to maintain a surface at a desired level or range of temperatures. Some embodiments may involve a thermostat in contact with or that otherwise measures a temperature of surface (9), a rail (4), or another part, piece, or component of a tower crane boom (3) or a tower crane (1).
A heat source (13) in various embodiments may be an elongate uniform distribution heat source, which may be understood to involve a heat source (13) capable of applying heat uniformly or substantially uniformly along a length, such as for example to apply heat uniformly or substantially uniformly to a tower crane boom rail (4). Embodiments accordingly may involve uniformly elongately distributing heat applied with a heat source (13).
A heat source (13) in various embodiments may be a rail symmetric heat source, which may be understood to involve a heat source (13) capable of applying heat from a position or positions that follow or substantially follow the length, shape, or other configuration of a rail (4). Embodiments accordingly may involve symmetrically applying heat with a heat source (13) to a tower crane boom rail (4).
A heat source (13) in various embodiments may be a heat source (13) sufficient to melt snow from an unobstructed movement element travel space (10) and/or a heat source (13) sufficient to melt ice from an unobstructed movement element travel space (10). In this manner, it may be seen that the heat source (13) may remove snow and ice in a manner that may allow one or more movement elements (8) to move through the unobstructed movement element travel space (10), perhaps for example to allow removal of snow and/or ice from a tower crane boom rail (4) to allow a trolley (6) to move there along. Embodiments accordingly may involve melting snow or ice in an unobstructed movement element travel space (10) of a surface (9) of a tower crane boom rail (4) as a result of applying heat, permitting movement of at least one movement element (8) of a trolley (6) through the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) as a result of such melting, and moving the trolley (6) on the tower crane boom rail (4) disposed along at least a portion of a length (7) of a tower crane boom (3) by using the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) to move at least one movement element (8) of the trolley (6) through the unobstructed movement element travel space (10).
In some embodiments, a heat source (13) may be a heating wire (19). The heating wire (19) may be of any kind suitable to apply heat consistent with the disclosure herein, and may be understood to include wires, wire pairs, cables, cords, lines, and the like, including having layers, jackets, insulation, and other constituent parts, pieces, components and the like. Examples may be seen in
In various embodiments, a heating wire (19) may include a construction having a solid alloy/copper conductor(s) with a 0.240 inches diameter, may have insolation, may have compacted magnesium oxide insolation, may have an outer covering, may have an outer covering that is stainless steel sheathing, may have an outer covering that is seamless alloy 825 sheathing, may have a suitable operating voltage consistent with the disclosure herein, may have a 600 volt or approximately 600 volt operating voltage, may reach a maximum temperature of 1125 degrees Fahrenheit or up to 1125 degrees Fahrenheit, may reach a temperature of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit in no less than 2 minutes, may reach a temperature of up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit in no less than 2 minutes, may reach a temperature of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit in no less than 2 minutes, may reach a temperature of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit in no less than 2 minutes, and may reach a temperature of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit in no less than 2 minutes. In various embodiments, a heating wire (19) may heat to an absolute temperature value independent of the temperature of the ambient air. In various embodiments, a heating wire (19) may not require a heat sink, may not require a heat sink to mitigate or eliminate the risk of burnout, may not require a part, piece, or component of a tower crane (1) to act as a heat sink, and the like.
In some embodiments, a heating wire (19) may be a wire having a diameter not exceeding 0.24 inches or approximately 0.24 inches. Embodiments accordingly may involve applying heat with a heating wire (19) having a diameter not exceeding 0.24 inches or approximately 0.24 inches.
It should be understood that the heat source (13) described herein naturally need not be limited to applying heat to an unobstructed movement element travel space (10), but naturally may be capable of applying heat to any or all of a tower crane boom rail (4), any part, piece or component of a tower crane boom (3), any part, piece, or component of a tower crane mast (2), or any part, piece, or component of a crane.
Various embodiments may involve a space available mount (12) of a heat source (13) configured to occupy only said available remainder space (11) of said surface (9) of said rail (4), and may involve utilizing a space available mount (12) of a heat source (13) to secure the heat source (13) in the available remainder space (11) of a surface (9) of a tower crane boom rail (4) exclusive of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4). The mount may be anything suitable to position the heat source (13) exclusive of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) but capable of applying heat to the unobstructed movement element travel space (10). A space available mount (12) may be understood to be a mount occupying only the available remainder space (11), and such configuration of the mount may be of any kind suitable to effect the same. Examples may be seen in
In some embodiments a space available mount (12) may be a space available mount (12) configured not to impede the movement of a trolley (6) along a portion of the length (7) of the tower crane boom (3). Such configuration may involve any form, structure, or attribute of the space available mount (12) sufficient to prevent such impediment of the trolley (6) by the mount. Embodiments accordingly may involve not impeding the movement of the trolley (6) on a tower crane boom rail (4) with a space available mount (12).
In some embodiments a space available mount (12) may be a space available mount (12) configured not to impede an unobstructed movement element travel space (10). Such configuration may involve any form, structure, or attribute of the space available mount (12) sufficient to prevent such impediment of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) by the mount. Embodiments accordingly may involve not impeding the movement of at least one movement element (8) of a trolley (6) through an unobstructed movement element travel space (10) with a space available mount (12).
In some embodiments, a space available mount (12) may be such a mount joined to a substantially smooth surface of an available remainder space (11). Embodiments accordingly may involve utilizing a space available mount (12) of a heat source (13) to secure the heat source (13) to a substantially smooth surface of an available remainder space (11).
In some embodiments, a space available mount (12) may be a space available mount (12) joined to a surface of an available remainder space (11) in direct contact, such as where some or all of the mount may directly contact some or all of a surface of the available remainder space (11). Embodiments accordingly may involve directly contacting a space available mount (12) to a surface (9) of an available remainder space (11).
In some embodiments, a space available mount (12) joined to a surface of an available remainder space (11) in direct contact may be a space available mount (12) joined to a surface of an available remainder space (11) with adhesive. An adhesive may be such as may be generally known and understood in the art, and may be understood to include one or more substances or techniques causing the mount to stick, bind, or otherwise hold fast to the surface involved. An adhesive may have particular utility and benefit in connection with the disclosure herein, such as to join the mount to a smooth surface, join the mount to a surface that otherwise may lack a clamp site, join the mount to a surface that otherwise may lack an opening, join the mount to a surface without drilling, join the mount to a surface without welding, join the mount to a surface without compromising a structure of the surface, and the like. In some embodiments, an exemplary adhesive that may be suitable for the applications disclosed herein in some embodiments may be J-B Weld®. Embodiments accordingly may involve adhering a space available mount (12) to a surface (9) of an available remainder space (11).
In some embodiments a space available mount (12) may be a space available mount (12) configured not to use a clamp. Such configuration may involve any form, structure, or attribute of the space available mount (12) by which the mount may be joined to a surface without using a clamp. Embodiments accordingly may involve not clamping a heat source (13) to an available remainder space (11).
In some embodiments a space available mount (12) may be a space available mount (12) configured not to use an opening of an available remainder space (11). Such configuration may involve any form, structure, or attribute of the space available mount (12) by which the mount may be joined to a surface without using such an opening. Embodiments accordingly may involve not using an opening of an available remainder space (11).
In some embodiments, a space available mount (12) may be a space available mount (12) configured not to compromise a structure of an available remainder space (11). Such configuration may involve any form, structure, or attribute of the space available mount (12) by which the mount may be joined to a surface without compromising a structure of the surface, as such compromise may be discussed elsewhere herein. Embodiments accordingly may involve not compromising a structure of an available remainder space (11).
In various embodiments such a space available mount (12) may be a space available mount (12) configured not to use a drilled structure or a space available mount (12) configured not to use a weld, as such drilling and such welding may be discussed elsewhere herein. Embodiments accordingly may involve not drilling an available remainder space (11), and embodiments may involve not welding an available remainder space (11).
In some embodiments, a space available mount (12) may be a space available mount (12) configured not to impede the inspection of a lace (15). The laces (15) of tower cranes (1) may be required to be inspected, such as by regulation, law, or other safety protocol, for example at the point where the laces (15) of a boom (3) may be joined to rails (4) or other components of the boom (3) that the laces (15) support, to ensure the connection (often, a weld) is sound. Such configuration not to impede an inspection may involve any form, structure, or attribute of the space available mount (12) sufficient to prevent such an impediment, for example by not blocking the relevant part of a lace (15) requiring inspection, or by being able to be moved out of the way of such relevant part of a lace (15) during an inspection. Embodiments accordingly may involve not impeding an inspection of a lace with a space available mount (12).
In some embodiments, a space available mount (12) may be a wire assembly (18) having a heating wire (19) disposed within a channel (20). The wire assembly (18) may be understood to include simply all of or one or more parts, pieces, or components of the space available mount (12) of the heat source (13) in which the heat source (13) is a heating wire (19). The channel (20) may be of any kind suitable to receive a length of the heating wire (19) therein, such as sized and shaped in the form of a gutter, groove, furrow, or the like, or such as having a cross section in the shape of a U, a V, three sides of a rectangle or a square, or the like. In various embodiments, applying heat with a heat source (13) may involve applying heat with a heating wire (19) disposed within a channel (20) of a wire assembly (18). Examples may be seen in
In some embodiments the channel (20) may have a width at its cross-sectional opening not exceeding 0.625 inches or approximately 0.625 inches, and a heating wire (19) may have a cross-sectional width or diameter not exceeding 0.24 inches or approximately 0.24 inches.
The wire assembly (18) in various embodiments may have a fill material (21) between the channel (20) and the heating wire (19). In this manner, the fill material (21) may fill some or all of the open space within the channel (20) not occupied by heating wire (19). Embodiments accordingly may involve applying heat with a heating wire (19) disposed within a channel (20) of a wire assembly (18) having a fill material (21) between the channel (20) and the heating wire (19). Examples may be seen in
In some embodiments, the fill material (21) may be a heat conduction fill material (21). This may serve to conduct heat radiated or otherwise provided by heating wire (19) through the fill material (21), and in some embodiments, to another surface at which the fill material (21) may be in contact. For example, where a wire assembly (18) may be in direct contact with a surface (9) of a rail (4), the fill material (21) may increase the area through which heat is conducted from the wire assembly (18) compared to the area through which heat is conducted by the heating wire (19) alone. Embodiments accordingly may involve conducting heat with a fill material (21).
In some embodiments, the fill material (21) may be an insulation fill material (21). For example, where the ambient air outside of the channel (20) may be colder than the temperature of the heat radiated or otherwise provided by the heating wire (19), the fill material (21) may serve to insulate the heating wire (19) (and perhaps even a surface against which the heating wire (19) and/or the wire assembly (18) is in contact) from cold contamination by the cold ambient air. Embodiments accordingly may involve insulating a heating wire (19) with a fill material (21).
In some embodiments, the fill material (21) may be a heating wire stabilization fill material (21). For example, the fill material (21) may provide bulk or support for the heating wire (19) within the channel (20) that may limit or eliminate the ability of the heating wire (19) to migrate its position or otherwise move within the channel (20). Embodiments accordingly may involve stabilizing a heating wire (19) with a fill material (21).
In some embodiments, the fill material (21) may be a fixed fill material (21), as in for example hard, solid, not plastic, or otherwise not capable of moving or allowing movement. Embodiments accordingly may involve applying heat with a heating wire (19) disposed within a channel (20) of a wire assembly (18) having a fixed fill material (21) between the channel (20) and the heating wire (19).
In some embodiments, the fill material (21) may be a fluid fill material (21), as wherein the fill material may have plasticity or may be capable of flowing, such as to fill a confined space or to flow around and among structures in a confined space. Embodiments accordingly may involve applying heat with a heating wire (19) disposed within a channel (20) of a wire assembly (18) having a fluid fill material (21) between the channel (20) and the heating wire (19).
In some embodiments, the fill material (21) may be a sealant, such as a silicone sealant, a high strength silicone sealant, and the like. Embodiments accordingly may involve applying heat with a heating wire (19) disposed within a channel (20) of a wire assembly (18) having a sealant, silicone sealant, or high strength silicone sealant between the channel (20) and the heating wire (19).
In some embodiments, the wire assembly (18) may have at least one wire strap (22) having at least a portion disposed against the heating wire (19), at least one channel strap (23) having at least a portion disposed against the channel (20), and a fluid fill material (21) that fills the remaining space within the channel (20). In this manner, the wire strap (22) may serve to hold, stabilize, or otherwise secure the heating wire (19) by contact against the wire strap (22), and the channel strap (23) may serve to hold, stabilize, or otherwise secure the channel (20) by contact against the channel strap (23). In embodiments where the wire assembly (18) has a base (24), the straps further may serve to hold, stabilize, or otherwise secure the heating wire (19) and the channel (20) by contact against a surface to which the base (24) may be adhered or otherwise joined. Embodiments accordingly may involve applying heat with a heating wire (19) disposed within a channel (20) of a wire assembly (18) having a fluid fill material (21) between the channel (20) and the heating wire (19), at least one wire strap (22) having at least a portion disposed against the heating wire (19), at least one channel strap (23) having a portion disposed against the channel (20), and wherein the fluid fill material (21) fills the remaining space within the channel (20). Examples may be seen in
Wire straps (22) and channel straps (23) may be any kind suitable consistent with the disclosure herein. In some embodiments, such straps may be one-hole straps. Examples may be seen in
In some embodiments, at least a portion of at least one channel strap (23) may be welded to the channel (20), for example to an inside surface of the channel (20).
In various embodiments, at least one wire strap (22) and at least one channel strap (23) may be an adjacent strap pair. This may involve the straps positioned within the channel (20) so as to be in side-by-side contact or near side-by-side contact with one another, including perhaps, in embodiments where the straps have tabs, the tabs may form a common or near continuous footprint on a surface that the tabs may be adhered to or otherwise in contact with.
In some embodiments, the channel (20) may be a rectangular or square channel (20), and some or all of the straps may be rounded straps. In such embodiments, a fluid fill material (21) naturally may fill the space between the rounded straps and the inside of the rectangular or square channel (20) within which the straps may be disposed. Examples may be seen in
In some embodiments, one or more wire straps (22) and/or channel straps (23) may have a tab (25). The tab (25) may form a generally lateral extension of the strap suitable, for example, for adhering or making other contact with a surface that the strap may be disposed against. In various embodiments, the tab or tabs (25) of straps disposed within a channel (20) may extend beyond the channel (20), such as in various embodiments extending up to 0.5 inches beyond the channel (20). In this manner, a wire assembly (18) may have one or more tabs (25) extending generally laterally beyond the edge of a channel (20). Where straps are arranged within the channel (20) as adjacent strap pairs, the tabs (25) may be seen to form a common or near continuous footprint extending generally laterally from the wire assembly (18) on a surface to which the wire assembly (18) may be adhered or otherwise in contact with. Examples may be seen in
In various embodiments, one or more tabs (25) may be joined to a surface (9) of an available remainder space (11) with adhesive. In this manner, the tabs (25) may secure or assist in securing a wire assembly (18) to the surface (9) of the available remainder space (11). Where adjacent strap pairs are used, the resulting common or near continuous footprint of the tabs (25) may provide a larger area for the placement and utilization of adhesive compared to non-adjacent strap pairs, which may confer increased efficacy in adhesion and securement of the wire assembly (18) against the surface (9). Examples may be seen in
In various embodiments, a channel (20), heating wire (19), and fill material (21) may form the base (24) of a wire assembly (18). For example, the fill material (21) may fill the space within the channel (20) so as to stabilize and position the heating wire (19) and provide a generally smooth and flat surface that closes off the open portion of the channel (20), for example such that the base (24) may be formed from the opposed edges of the channel (20), the smooth and flat surface of the fill material (21), and a surface of the heating wire (19). Examples may be seen in
In various embodiments, a plurality of wire assemblies (18) may be disposed within the available remainder space (11) between a plurality of lace footprint spaces (14) of a tower crane boom rail (4). Examples may be seen in
In some embodiments, at least one wire assembly (18) may have a length of 68 inches, of approximately 68 inches, or of up to 68 inches.
In some embodiments, at least one wire assembly (18) may have a length of 53 inches, of approximately 53 inches, or of up to 53 inches.
Naturally, such foregoing lengths are merely exemplary, and a wire assembly (18) may have any suitable length to occupy a desired or required space between a pair of lace footprint spaces (14).
In some embodiments, a plurality of wire assemblies (18) may form a wire assembly section having a length. The length of a wire assembly section may be any as may be suitable consistent with the disclosure herein. In some embodiments, the length of a wire assembly section may 30 feet, may be approximately 30 feet, or may be up to 30 feet. Embodiments may involve the ability to connect multiple wire assembly sections together, for example to cover varying sizes, shapes, and configurations of rails (4) and/or other parts, pieces, or components of tower crane booms (3) or tower cranes (1).
Various embodiments may further involve at least one exposed heating wire section (17) within the available remainder space (11) connecting at least two wire assemblies (18) and clearing at least one lace footprint space (14). Examples may be seen in
In some embodiments, the tower crane boom rail heat application apparatus (5) may be an apparatus having a heat source (13) configured to apply heat to the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) and a space available mount (12) of a heat source (13) configured to occupy only the available remainder space (11) of the surface (9) of the rail (4), and may be an apparatus configured for use on a tower crane (1) having one or more of the attributes, characteristics, or functionality described herein. Such configuration may involve providing the apparatus separately from the tower crane (1), but having the capability to be installed or otherwise used on or with the tower crane (1) as or substantially as provided.
In some embodiments, the apparatus may be provided directly on or with or otherwise may form a piece, part, or component of the tower crane (1) itself, for example by being installed on or integrated into the tower crane (1) at a point of manufacture.
In some embodiments, a tower crane boom rail heat application apparatus (5) may include a tower crane boom (3) having a length (7), a trolley (6) configured for movement along at least a portion of the length (7) of the tower crane boom (3), a tower crane boom rail (4) disposed along the portion of the length of the tower crane boom (3) upon which or with which the trolley (6) moves for movement along the portion of the length (7) of the tower crane boom (3), at least one movement element (8) of the trolley (6) configured to use a surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) for movement along the portion of the length (7) of the tower crane boom (3), an unobstructed movement element travel space (10) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) through which the movement element (8) of the trolley (6) is configured to move, an available remainder space (11) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4) exclusive of the unobstructed movement element travel space (10), a heat source (13) configured to apply heat to the unobstructed movement element travel space (10) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4), and a space available mount (12) of the heat source (13) configured to occupy only the available remainder space (11) of the surface (9) of the tower crane boom rail (4).
Various embodiments may involve a tower crane structural member heating apparatus comprising a structural member (26) of a tower crane (1) and a heating wire (19) configured to apply heat to the structural member (26). A structural member (26) may be any part, piece, or component of a tower crane (1), and in various embodiments may be subject to the specialized or particularized needs of tower cranes (1) as may be described elsewhere herein. Embodiments accordingly may involve a method for melting snow or ice from a structural member of a tower crane comprising the steps of utilizing a heating wire (19) secured to a structural member (26) of a tower crane (1), applying heat from the heating wire (19) to the structural member (26) of the tower crane (1), and melting snow or ice on the structural member (26) of the tower crane (1) with the applied heat.
While the disclosure herein has described certain manners of use for heating wires (19) and wire assemblies (18), it should be understood that the use for such heating wires (19) may be any as consistent with the disclosure herein, analogous to the disclosure herein, and that does not otherwise contradict the disclosure herein, and in various embodiments may include use of heating wires (19) and/or wire assemblies (18) on any part, piece, or component of a tower crane (1) including on the outside thereof, on the inside thereof (such as disposed within a hollow tube, hollow member, or the like), in direct contact thereof, spaced therefrom, coiled thereof, wrapped thereof, and the like.
The disclosure herein may include descriptions of embodiments of the inventive technology applicable to tower cranes (1). While the inventive technology may have particular applicability to tower cranes (1), it should be understood that the scope of the inventive technology applies to and encompasses use of the inventive technology on or in connection with any kind of crane. Examples may be seen in
The term join as used herein should be interpreted to be non-limiting, as for example where it may be used to describe two things that are connected without limitation as to the manner of connection.
With reference to
With reference to
While the present inventive technology has been described in connection with some preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the inventive technology to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as may be included within the spirit and scope of the inventive technology as defined by the statements of inventions. Examples of alternative claims may include:
56. A method for melting snow or ice on a rail of a boom of a tower crane as described in clause 55 or any other clause wherein said rectangular tube comprises an approximately 5 inch by approximately 5 inch rectangular tube.
As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the various embodiments of the present inventive technology(ies) may be embodied in a variety of ways. It involves both deicing techniques as well as devices to accomplish the appropriate deicing. In this application, the deicing techniques are disclosed as part of the results shown to be achieved by the various devices described and as steps which are inherent to utilization. They are simply the natural result of utilizing the devices as intended and described. In addition, while some devices are disclosed, it should be understood that these not only accomplish certain methods but also can be varied in a number of ways. Importantly, as to all of the foregoing, all of these facets should be understood to be encompassed by this disclosure.
The discussion included in this patent application is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible; many alternatives are implicit. It also may not fully explain the generic nature of the various embodiments of the inventive technology(ies) and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. As one example, terms of degree, terms of approximation, and/or relative terms may be used. These may include terms such as the words: approximately, substantially, about, only, and the like. These words and types of words are to be understood in a dictionary sense as terms that encompass an ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc. as well as terms that encompass largely but not wholly that which is specified. Further, for this application if or when used, terms of degree, terms of approximation, and/or relative terms should be understood as also encompassing more precise and even quantitative values that include various levels of precision and the possibility of claims that address a number of quantitative options and alternatives. For example, to the extent ultimately used, the existence or non-existence of a substance or condition in a particular input, output, or at a particular stage can be specified as substantially only x or substantially free of x, as a value of about x, or such other similar language. Using percentage values as one example, these types of terms should be understood as encompassing the options of percentage values that include 99.5%, 99%, 97%, 95%, 92% or even 90% of the specified value or relative condition; correspondingly for values at the other end of the spectrum (e.g., substantially free of x, these should be understood as encompassing the options of percentage values that include not more than 0.5%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 8% or even 10% of the specified value or relative condition, all whether by volume or by weight as either may be specified). In context, these should be understood by a person of ordinary skill as being disclosed and included whether in an absolute value sense or in valuing one set of or substance as compared to the value of a second set of or substance. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure and should (and, it is believed, would) be understood to a person of ordinary skill in this field. Where the application is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. Apparatus claims may not only be included for the device described, but also method or process claims may be included to address the functions of the embodiments and that each element performs. Neither the description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope of the claims that will be included in any subsequent patent application.
It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the various embodiments of the inventive technology(ies). Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of the various embodiments of the inventive technology(ies). A broad disclosure encompassing the explicit embodiment(s) shown, the great variety of implicit alternative embodiments, and the broad methods or processes and the like are encompassed by this disclosure and may be relied upon when drafting the claims for any subsequent patent application. It should be understood that such language changes and broader or more detailed claiming may be accomplished at a later date (such as by any required deadline) or in the event the applicant subsequently seeks a patent filing based on this filing. With this understanding, the reader should be aware that this disclosure is to be understood to support any subsequently filed patent application that may seek examination of as broad a base of claims as deemed within the applicant's right and may be designed to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of embodiments of the inventive technology(ies) both independently and as an overall system.
Further, each of the various elements of the embodiments of the inventive technology(ies) and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. Additionally, when used or implied, an element is to be understood as encompassing individual as well as plural structures that may or may not be physically connected. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the various embodiments of the inventive technology(ies), the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which embodiments of the inventive technology(ies) is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, as but one example, the disclosure of a “heat source” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “heating”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “heating”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “heat source” and even a “means for heating.” Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description. Further, each such means (whether explicitly so described or not) should be understood as encompassing all elements that can perform the given function, and all descriptions of elements that perform a described function should be understood as a non-limiting example of means for performing that function. As other non-limiting examples, it should be understood that claim elements can also be expressed as any of: components, programming, subroutines, logic, or elements that are configured to, or configured and arranged to, provide or even achieve a particular result, use, purpose, situation, function, or operation, or as components that are capable of achieving a particular activity, result, use, purpose, situation, function, or operation. All should be understood as within the scope of this disclosure and written description.
Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. Any priority case(s) claimed by this application is hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with a broadly supporting interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition are hereby incorporated by reference. Finally, all references listed in the List of References below or other information statement filed with the application are hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference, however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of the various embodiments of inventive technology(ies) such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s).
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to have support to claim and make claims to embodiments including at least: i) each of the deicing devices as herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative designs which accomplish each of the functions shown as are disclosed and described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such processes, methods, systems or components, ix) each system, method, and element shown or described as now applied to any specific field or devices mentioned, x) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, xi) an apparatus for performing the methods described herein comprising means for performing the steps, xii) the various combinations and permutations of each of the elements disclosed, xiii) each potentially dependent claim or concept as a dependency on each and every one of the independent claims or concepts presented, and xiv) all inventions described herein.
With regard to claims whether now or later presented for examination, it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid great expansion of the examination burden, the applicant may at any time present only initial claims or perhaps only initial claims with only initial dependencies. The office and any third persons interested in potential scope of this or subsequent applications should understand that broader claims may be presented at a later date in this case, in a case claiming the benefit of this case, or in any continuation in spite of any preliminary amendments, other amendments, claim language, or arguments presented, thus throughout the pendency of any case there is no intention to disclaim or surrender any potential subject matter. It should be understood that if or when broader claims are presented, such may require that any relevant prior art that may have been considered at any prior time may need to be re-visited since it is possible that to the extent any amendments, claim language, or arguments presented in this or any subsequent application are considered as made to avoid such prior art, such reasons may be eliminated by later presented claims or the like. Both the examiner and any person otherwise interested in existing or later potential coverage, or considering if there has at any time been any possibility of an indication of disclaimer or surrender of potential coverage, should be aware that no such surrender or disclaimer is ever intended or ever exists in this or any subsequent application. Limitations such as arose in Hakim v. Cannon Avent Group, PLC, 479 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir 2007), or the like are expressly not intended in this or any subsequent related matter. In addition, support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws—including but not limited to European Patent Convention Article 123 (2) and United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept. In drafting any claims at any time whether in this application or in any subsequent application, it should also be understood that the applicant has intended to capture as full and broad a scope of coverage as legally available. To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular embodiment, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative embodiments.
Further, if or when used, the use of the transitional phrases “comprising”, “including”, “containing”, “characterized by” and “having” are used to maintain the “open-end” claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation including that discussed in MPEP § 2111.03. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the terms “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, “include” or variations such as “includes” or “including”, “contain” or variations such as “contains” and “containing”, “characterized by” or variations such as “characterizing by”, “have” or variations such as “has” or “having”, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive form so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible. The use of the phrase, “or any other claim” is used to provide support for any claim to be dependent on any other claim, such as another dependent claim, another independent claim, a previously listed claim, a subsequently listed claim, and the like. As one clarifying example, if a claim were dependent “on claim 9 or any other claim” or the like, it could be re-drafted as dependent on claim 1, claim 8, or even claim 11 (if such were to exist) if desired and still fall with the disclosure. It should be understood that this phrase also provides support for any combination of elements in the claims and even incorporates any desired proper antecedent basis for certain claim combinations such as with combinations of method, apparatus, process, and the like claims.
Finally, any claims set forth at any time are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the various embodiments of the application, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
This application is a PCT International Patent Application claiming priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/285,409, filed Dec. 2, 2021, such patent application and any priority case hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2022/051556 | 12/1/2022 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63285409 | Dec 2021 | US |
