US3923407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for connecting and disconnecting crane sections
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-06
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-02-06
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a crane having a base section, and an upper section separable from the base section. An anti-friction bearing on which the upper section swings relative to the base section has an outer race member connected to the base section. The inner race member of the bearing receives therein a ring on the upper section when the upper section is mounted on the base section. Opposing circumferential grooves in the ring and inner race member receive a locking ring which is expanded and contracted by a power actuator. When the ring bridges the grooves, the upper crane section is locked to the crane base section, and when the ring is contained entirely in one of the grooves, the crane upper section is released from the crane base section for separation of the sections.
Inventors
- 👤 Lyle B Jensen
- 👤 Robert E Thune
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:43
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C19/00; F16C19/02; F16C19/14; F16C19/16; F16C19/163; B; B66; B66C; B66C23/00; B66C23/62; B66C23/84; F16C35/00; F16C35/04; F16C35/06; F16C35/07; F16C35/073; F16C2300/00; F16C2300/10; F16C2300/14; F16C2326/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32975; Y10T403/32983; Y10T403/59; Y10T403/591; Y10T403/593
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer portions interposed between said sections, one of said bearing portions connected to one of said sections, the improvement comprising a locking member mounted in the other of said sections and shiftable relative thereto, and a power operated actuator connected to said locking member to shift said member into and out of locking engagement with the other of said bearing portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer portions interposed between said sections, one of said bearing portions connected to one of said sections, the improvement comprising a locking member mounted in the other of said sections and shiftable relative thereto, and a power operated actuator connected to said locking member to shift said member into and out of locking engagement with the other of said bearing portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer portions interposed between said sections, said outer bearing portion connected to said base section, the improvement comprising a locking member mounted in the upper section and shiftable relative thereto, and a power actuator connected to said locking member to shift said member into and out of locking engagement with the inner bearing portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer portions interposed between said sections, said outer bearing portion connected to said base section, the improvement comprising a locking member mounted in the upper section and shiftable relative thereto, and a power actuator connected to said locking member to shift said member into and out of locking engagement with the inner bearing portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said crane having an antifriction bearing with inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections, said outer race ring connected to said base section, the improvement comprising a locking member mounted in the upper section and shiftable relative thereto, and a power actuator connected to said locking member to shift said member into and out of locking engagement with the inner race ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said crane having an antifriction bearing with inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections, said outer race ring connected to said base section, the improvement comprising a locking member mounted in the upper section and shiftable relative thereto, and a power actuator connected to said locking member to shift said member into and out of locking engagement with the inner race ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section with a depending ring, said crane having an antifriction bearing with inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections, said inner race ring receivable over said depending ring and said outer race ring connected to said base section, the improvement comprising, means defining opposing grooves in said depending ring and said inner race ring, a locking ring received in said grooves, and a power actuator to expand and contract said locking ring from a position bridging both grooves to a position within one of said opposing grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section with a depending ring, said crane having an antifriction bearing with inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections, said inner race ring receivable over said depending ring and said outer race ring connected to said base section, the improvement comprising, means defining opposing grooves in said depending ring and said inner race ring, a locking ring received in said grooves, and a power actuator to expand and contract said locking ring from a position bridging both grooves to a position within one of said opposing grooves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section with a depending ring, said crane having an antifriction bearing surrounding said depending ring, said antifriction bearing having an inner ring surrounding said upper section depending ring and having an outer race connected to said base section, a groove in said upper section depending ring and a groove in said antifriction bearing inner race, said grooves in registration when the upper section of the crane is mounted on the base section, a locking ring mounted in the groove of the upper section depending ring, and a power actuator connected to said locking ring to expand said ring to bridge both grooves and to contract said ring into the groove of the upper section depending ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section with a depending ring, said crane having an antifriction bearing surrounding said depending ring, said antifriction bearing having an inner ring surrounding said upper section depending ring and having an outer race connected to said base section, a groove in said upper section depending ring and a groove in said antifriction bearing inner race, said grooves in registration when the upper section of the crane is mounted on the base section, a locking ring mounted in the groove of the upper section depending ring, and a power actuator connected to said locking ring to expand said ring to bridge both grooves and to contract said ring into the groove of the upper section depending ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections, one of said race rings connected to one of said sections, the improvement comprising a locking ring mounted in the other of said sections for expansion and contraction relative thereto, and a power operated actuator connected between the ends of said locking ring to change the diameter thereof for locking engagement with the other of said race rings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections, one of said race rings connected to one of said sections, the improvement comprising a locking ring mounted in the other of said sections for expansion and contraction relative thereto, and a power operated actuator connected between the ends of said locking ring to change the diameter thereof for locking engagement with the other of said race rings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a crane having a base section and hAving an upper section removably mounted on the base section, said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections, one of said race rings connected to one of said sections, the improvement comprising a peripheral groove in the other of said sections and in the other of said race rings, said peripheral grooves being in alignment when the upper section of the crane is mounted on the base section of the crane, a locking ring mounted in one of said peripheral grooves, and a power actuator connected between the ends of said locking ring to alter the diameter of the locking ring to bring the locking ring into bridging relationship with both of the grooves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a crane having a base section and hAving an upper section removably mounted on the base section, said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer race rings interposed between said sections, one of said race rings connected to one of said sections, the improvement comprising a peripheral groove in the other of said sections and in the other of said race rings, said peripheral grooves being in alignment when the upper section of the crane is mounted on the base section of the crane, a locking ring mounted in one of said peripheral grooves, and a power actuator connected between the ends of said locking ring to alter the diameter of the locking ring to bring the locking ring into bridging relationship with both of the grooves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said upper section having a depending portion and said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer portions interposed between the base section and the depending portion of said upper section, said outer bearing portion connected to said base section, the improvement comprising a peripheral groove encircling the inner bearing portion and a peripheral groove encircling the depending portion of said upper section, said peripheral grooves being in alignment when the upper section of the crane is mounted on the base section of the crane, a locking ring mounted in one of said peripheral grooves, and a power actuator connected between the ends of said locking ring to alter the diameter of the locking ring to bring the ring into bridging relationship with both of the grooves and exert a locking action between, and completely around, the inner bearing portion and the depending portion of said upper section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a crane having a base section and having an upper section, said upper section having a depending portion and said crane having a bearing with relatively rotatable inner and outer portions interposed between the base section and the depending portion of said upper section, said outer bearing portion connected to said base section, the improvement comprising a peripheral groove encircling the inner bearing portion and a peripheral groove encircling the depending portion of said upper section, said peripheral grooves being in alignment when the upper section of the crane is mounted on the base section of the crane, a locking ring mounted in one of said peripheral grooves, and a power actuator connected between the ends of said locking ring to alter the diameter of the locking ring to bring the ring into bridging relationship with both of the grooves and exert a locking action between, and completely around, the inner bearing portion and the depending portion of said upper section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |