System and method for removable installation of swing circle for large crane

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein the lower surface of each tang slot is tapered upwardly in the direction of insertion of an associated wedge, thereby to cause greater frictional engagement with an inserted wedge.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 further comprising means for locking each of said wedges to an associated tang in which it is inserted.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein each of said locking means comprises a transverse bar adapted to engage a wedge, said bar extending beyond the width of said wedge and including side holes; and bolt means adapted to pass through the side holes of said cross bar and be threadably received in an associated tang for holding a wedge in engagement with a tang.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein each wedge is provided at its rear surface with a threaded aperture adapted to receive a tool to facilitate the removal of a wedge.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein each of said tangs defines end surfaces, said system further comprising frame means beneath said bed, and side locking means for interconnecting said frame means to associated tangs to prevent rotational movement between said other race of said bearing and said bed frame.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 characterized in that said plurality of tangs is an even number of tangs and said tangs are arranged in an associated pair located at diametrically opposite locations relative to the center of said bearing.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 wherein said inner race of said bearing is provided with said tangs and said outer race is secured to said superstructure.

Claim 10

In a mobile crane including a superstructure and a vehicle providing a bed for said superstructure, a system for rotatably and removably mounting said superstructure to said bed comprising: means associated with said bed for providing a plurality of slots elongated in a generally circular pattern; a swing circle including an annular bearing having an inner race and an outer race, one of said inner and said outer races being fixedly secured to said superstructure and the other of said inner and outer races defining a plurality of depending tangs adapted to be received in associated ones of said slot in said bed, each tang extending beneath said bed when said superstructure is in assembled relation therewith and including a slot; a wedge for each of said slots in said taNgs and adapted to be wedged between the lower surface of a slot and the vehicle bed to rigidly secure said tangs beneath said bed; and means connected to a frame supporting said bed for engaging at least some of said tangs to prevent relative rotational movement between said other bearing race and said vehicle bed.

Claim 11

In a mobile crane including a superstructure and a vehicle providing a bed for said superstructure, a system for rotatably and removably mounting said superstructure to said bed comprising: means associated with said bed for providing a plurality of slots elongated in a generally circular pattern; a swing circle including an annular bearing having an inner race and an outer race, one of said inner and said outer races being fixedly secured to said superstructure and the other of said inner and outer races defining a plurality of depending tangs adapted to be received in associated ones of said slot in said bed, each tang extending beneath said bed when said superstructure is in assembled relation therewith and including a slot; a wedge for each of said slots in said taNgs and adapted to be wedged between the lower surface of a slot and the vehicle bed to rigidly secure said tangs beneath said bed; and means connected to a frame supporting said bed for engaging at least some of said tangs to prevent relative rotational movement between said other bearing race and said vehicle bed.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 further comprising means for locking said wedges to an associated tang after said wedges have been forced between a tang and said vehicle bed.

Claim 13

The system of claim 9 wherein said inner race is provided with said tangs, said inner race further comprising a laterally extending thrust flange, said outer race defining an annular channel for receiving said thrust flange, said swing circle further comprising roller bearing means in said channel for receiving said thrust flange in rolling engagement.

Claim 16

The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of bracing the ends of at least some of said tangs against a frame beneath said bed to resist rotational movement between said other bearing race and said vehicle bed.