Pipelayer

• US 20040190995A1
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Tsuchie, Morio, Matsushita, Shigenori
• Granted Patent: US 6,893,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/174
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/44 Jib-cranes adapted for attachment to standard vehicles, e.g. agricultural tractors
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/036 the pipes being composed of sections of short length F16L1/038 takes precedence

Abstract

A pipelayer is provided which is capable of effectively transporting pipes or the like and stably carrying out load hoisting operation on a slope. The pipelayer comprises: an undercarriage; an upper revolving superstructure mounted on the undercarriage so as to turn around freely upon the undercarriage; a boom supported by the upper revolving superstructure so as to be freely raised and lowered; a pulley block attached to the boom through a universal joint; a hoist mounted on the upper revolving superstructure; a hoist hook hung by a wire rope that is paid out from the hoist and wound around the pulley block.

Claims

1. A pipelayer comprising:

an undercarriage;

an upper revolving superstructure mounted on the undercarriage so as to turn around freely upon the undercarriage;

a boom supported by the upper revolving superstructure so as to be freely raised and lowered;

a pulley block attached to the boom through a universal joint;

a hoist mounted on the upper revolving superstructure;

a hoisting accessory hung by a wire rope that is paid out from the hoist and wound around the pulley block.

2. The pipelayer according to claim 1, wherein the fulcrum of the boom relative to the upper revolving superstructure is located in front of an operator'"'"'s seat installed in the upper revolving superstructure.

3. The pipelayer according to claim 1, wherein the boom is of a single tubular-box-type structure.

4. The pipelayer according to claim 3, wherein the fulcrum of the boom relative to the upper revolving superstructure is located in front of an operator'"'"'s seat installed in the upper revolving superstructure.

5. The pipelayer according to claim 1, wherein a derricking system for the boom raises or lowers the boom through expansion and contraction of hydraulic cylinders.

6. The pipelayer according to claim 1, wherein a path for the wire rope is disposed on a side of an operator'"'"'s seat installed in the upper revolving superstructure.

7. The pipelayer according to claim 6, wherein guide sheaves for guiding the wire rope are disposed on a side of the operator'"'"'s seat.