Outrigger jack assembly

Claim 2

Jack construction for use in conjunction with an outrigger beam of a crane comprising, an end plate secured in vertical position to the outer end of the beam and having a transverse flange at the bottom thereof extending downwardly below the immediately adjacent portion of the beam, housing means having a transverse slot at a first and lower portion thereof receiving said flange on the beam end plate and a second portion above the first portion fitted to the beam end plate, means detachably securing said second portion and thereby the housing means to the beam end plate, a threaded vertical shaft in the housing means vertically reciprocable through the lower end of the housing means, a float pivotally mounted on the lower end of the shaft, a drive ring surrounding said shaft and having an interior gear in mesh with the threads on the shaft, and having an exterior worm gear, a worm in mesh with the exterior worm gear on the drive ring, and motor means for driving the worm.

Claim 3

Jack construction according to claim 1 wherein the jack construction is adapted for use with a crane having a hydraulic source of energy, and the motor means for driving said worm is hydraulically operated and operably connected with the hydraulic source of energy in the crane.

Claim 4

Jack construction for use in conjunction with an outrigger beam of a crane, comprising, housing means detachably mounted on the end of said beam, the housing means including a vertical portion immediately adjacent and connected to the end of the beam and a horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion, a shaft mounted in the vErtical portion for vertical reciprocation therein, and including a lower smooth portion extendable downwardly out of the housing means, and an upper threaded portion, a float pivotally mounted on the lower end of the shaft, a drive ring in the housing means having an interior threaded portion in mesh with the threads on the shaft, and having an exterior worm gear, a horizontal shaft in the horizontal portion of the housing means and having a worm thereon in mesh with said exterior worm gear, and motor means in said horizontal portion of the housing operative for driving said horizontal shaft, said housing means being substantially and effectively closed, and enclosing said drive ring, said horizontal shaft, said motor means, and said vertical shaft except the lower end of the latter upon extension of that shaft downwardly through the lower end of the housing means.

Claim 5

Jack construction for use in conjunction with an outrigger beam of a crane, comprising, housing means detachably mounted on the end of said beam, the housing means including a vertical portion immediately adjacent and connected to the end of the beam and a horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion, a shaft mounted in the vErtical portion for vertical reciprocation therein, and including a lower smooth portion extendable downwardly out of the housing means, and an upper threaded portion, a float pivotally mounted on the lower end of the shaft, a drive ring in the housing means having an interior threaded portion in mesh with the threads on the shaft, and having an exterior worm gear, a horizontal shaft in the horizontal portion of the housing means and having a worm thereon in mesh with said exterior worm gear, and motor means in said horizontal portion of the housing operative for driving said horizontal shaft, said housing means being substantially and effectively closed, and enclosing said drive ring, said horizontal shaft, said motor means, and said vertical shaft except the lower end of the latter upon extension of that shaft downwardly through the lower end of the housing means.

Claim 6

Jack construction according to claim 3 and including sealing means in the lower end of the vertical portion of the housing means for sealingly engaging the lower smooth portion of the vertical shaft, and the housing means also being effective for enclosing the lower smooth portion of the vertical shaft except that part thereof that is extended from the housing means.

Claim 7

Jack construction for use in conjunction with an outrigger beam of a crane, comprising, housing means including a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the vertical portion of the housing means including a lower cylindrical housing detachably secured to the end of the beam and including an upper cup shaped housing integral therewith, a vertical shaft in said vertical portion of the housing means, and having a lower end extendable downwardly through the housing means, and having an upper threaded portion extending above the lower cylindrical housing, a drive ring positioned in the upper cup shaped housing and having interior thread in mesh with the threaded portion of the vertical shaft, and having an exterior worm gear, a worm shaft in the horizontal portion of the housing means in mesh with the exterior gear on the drive ring, motor means in the horizontal portion of the housing means operatively connected with the worm shaft for driving the latter, the vertical portion of the housing means also including an inverted cup shaped cap threadedly secured in the cup shape portion of the lower cylindrical housing and thereby being capable of vertical adjustment, and enclosing the upper end of the vertical shaft and forming, between itself and the lower cylindrical housing and the upper cup shaped housing, an enclosed space within the housing means, said inverted cup shaped cap having a stop element on its top wall, said cap having a plurality of angularly distributed apertures opening radially outwardly, and the cup shaped housing having detachable locking means insertable into a selected one of said radial apertures for locking the cap in vertically adjusted position.

Claim 8

Jack construction for use in conjunction with an outrigger beam of a crane, comprising, housing means including a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the vertical portion of the housing means including a lower cylindrical housing detachably secured to the end of the beam and including an upper cup shaped housing integral therewith, a vertical shaft in said vertical portion of the housing means, and having a lower end extendable downwardly through the housing means, and having an upper threaded portion extending above the lower cylindrical housing, a drive ring positioned in the upper cup shaped housing and having interior thread in mesh with the threaded portion of the vertical shaft, and having an exterior worm gear, a worm shaft in the horizontal portion of the housing means in mesh with the exterior gear on the drive ring, motor means in the horizontal portion of the housing means operatively connected with the worm shaft for driving the latter, the vertical portion of the housing means also including an inverted cup shaped cap threadedly secured in the cup shape portion of the lower cylindrical housing and thereby being capable of vertical adjustment, and enclosing the upper end of the vertical shaft and forming, between itself and the lower cylindrical housing and the upper cup shaped housing, an enclosed space within the housing means, said inverted cup shaped cap having a stop element on its top wall, said cap having a plurality of angularly distributed apertures opening radially outwardly, and the cup shaped housing having detachable locking means insertable into a selected one of said radial apertures for locking the cap in vertically adjusted position.

Claim 9

Jack construction according to claim 5 wherein the lower cylindrical housing has an annular pedestal extending upwardly into the cup shaped housing, said drive ring has an annular lower extension surrounding the vertical shaft and positioned in the pedestal, whereby the pedestal centers the drive ring, and the construction also includes annular bearing means interposed between drive ring and the inverted cup shaped cap.