LIGHTWEIGHT FLEXIBLE TENSIONING SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

• US 20160221805A1
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manitowoc Cranes LLC (The Manitowoc Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Manitowoc Cranes LLC (The Manitowoc Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: MUNUSWAMY, Arumugam, KEUNDA, Marius Fangnang
• Granted Patent: US 10,414,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/06 with jibs mounted for jibbing or luffing movements
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/62 Constructional features or details of dredgers E02F
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/821 Bracing equipment for booms
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/18 Grommets slings B66C1/12
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2501/2015 Construction industries

Abstract

Components and systems for a flexible tensioning member for construction equipment. A tensioning member is comprised of a fiber having a specific tensile strength greater than 1,000 kilonewton meters per kilogram. The tensioning member connects two components and has an attachment allowing the tensioning member to flex relative to a component. The attachment may provide a system for connecting multiple tensioning members.

Claims

1. A flexible tensioning member comprising:

a) a middle portion comprising a bundle of fibers having a specific tensile strength greater than 1,000 kilonewton meter per kilogram;

b) a first end connected to the middle portion, the first end having a first connector;

c) a second end connected to the middle portion, the second end comprising a first member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and a second member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and laterally from the first member, the first member having a second connector and the second member having a third connector.

2. The flexible tensioning member of claim 1 further comprising a spacer disposed between the second connector and the third connector.

3. The flexible tensioning member of claim 1 further comprising a cut resistant protective jacket covering a portion of the second end.

4. The flexible tensioning member of claim 3 wherein the cut resistant protective jacket biases the second connector towards the third connector.

5. The flexible tensioning member of claim 1 wherein the first end comprises a third member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and a fourth member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and laterally from the third member, the third member having the first connector and the fourth member having a fourth connector.

6. A combination of the flexible tensioning member of claim 1 and a cross pin disposed between first member and the second member, the cross pin having a first pin end and a second pin end, wherein the second connector is sized and shaped to receive the first pin end and the second connector is sized and shaped to receive the third pin end.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the cross pin has a bore disposed between the first pin end and the second pin end, the bore sized and shaped to receive a pivot spindle.

8. The flexible tensioning member of claim 1 wherein the fibers comprise poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole).

9. The flexible tensioning member of claim 3 wherein the jacket comprises a layer of aramid fibers and a layer of polyurethane.

10. A crane static tensioning assembly comprising:

a) a flexible tensioning member comprising fibers having a specific tensile strength greater than 1,000 kilonewton meter per kilogram;

b) a shank having a bore shaped and sized to receive a pivot spindle; and

c) a pivot joint having a first connector coupled to the flexible tensioning member and a second connector coupled to the shank.

11. The crane static tensioning assembly of claim 10 wherein the first connector enables rotation of the flexible tensioning member relative to the pivot joint about a first axis and the second connector enables rotation of the flexible tensioning member about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

12. The crane static tensioning assembly of claim 11 wherein the flexible tensioning member comprises a middle portion and an end connected to the middle portion, the end comprising a first member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and a second member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and laterally from the first member, the first member and second member fastened to the pivot joint.

13. The crane static tensioning assembly of claim 10 wherein the flexible tensioning member comprises a rope comprised of the fibers.

14. The crane static tensioning assembly of claim 10 wherein the first connector enables rotation of the flexible tensioning member relative to the pivot joint about a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

15. The crane static tensioning assembly of claim 14 wherein the first connector comprises a ball and socket joint.

16. The crane static tensioning assembly of claim 14 wherein the flexible tensioning member further comprises a connection block having a plurality of longitudinal bores with the rope disposed in at least two of said bores.

17. A flexible tension member attachment assembly comprising:

a) a base having a base end and a top end;

b) a connector disposed at the top end;

c) a plurality of bores extending from the base end towards the top end;

d) a flexible tensioning member having a first portion disposed in a first bore from among the plurality of bores and a second portion disposed in a second bore from among the plurality of bores.

18. The flexible tension member attachment assembly of claim 17 wherein the top end has a tapered cap, wherein the plurality of bores extend from the base end to the surface of the tapered cap.

19. The flexible tension member attachment assembly of claim 18 wherein the base is cylindrical and the tapered cap is conical.

20. The flexible tension member attachment assembly of claim 17 wherein the connector further comprises a cross bore, and the first portion of the flexible tensioning member is connected to the second portion of the flexible tensioning member by a connecting portion of the flexible tensioning member, with the connecting portion being disposed in said cross bore.

21. The flexible tension member attachment assembly of claim 17 wherein the connector is selected from the group consisting of a ball and an eyehole.

22. The flexible tension member attachment assembly of claim 17 further comprising a second flexible tensioning member having a third portion disposed in a third bore from among the plurality of bores and a fourth portion disposed in a fourth bore from among the plurality of bores.

23. A combination of the flexible tension member attachment assembly of claim 20, a socket sized and shaped to receive the ball, and a retainer configured to retain the ball within the socket.

24. The combination of claim 23 wherein the retainer comprises a calotte, a first half calotte, a second half calotte, and two retaining plates, wherein the retainer allows rotation of the ball within a recess formed by the calotte and the two half calottes.

25. A crane tensioning assembly comprising:

a) a connection block having a plurality of cavities each sized and shaped to receive an end of a flexible tensioning member, the connection block having a first bore extending through a first cavity from among the plurality of cavities;

b) a flexible tensioning member having an eye at a first end of the flexible tensioning member, the first end of the flexible tensioning member being positioned in a cavity from among the plurality of cavities with the eye having a centerline coaxial with a centerline of the first bore; and

c) a pin disposed in the first bore and extending through the eye.

26. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 25 wherein the first bore extends through a second cavity from among the plurality of cavities.

27. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 25 wherein the connection block has a second bore that does not pass through a cavity from among the plurality of cavities.

28. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 27 wherein the second bore is sized and shaped to receive a pivot spindle.

29. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 25 wherein the connection block has a ball extending from the connection block opposite the plurality of cavities.

30. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 27 wherein the connection block further comprises a second plurality of cavities sized and shaped to receive an end of a flexible tensioning member, the connection block having a second bore parallel to the first bore and extending through at least two of the cavities from the second plurality of cavities.

31. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 25 further comprising a second flexible tensioning member having a second eye disposed an end of the second flexible tensioning member, the end of the second flexible tensioning member being disposed in a second cavity from among the plurality of cavities and the second eye being coaxial with the first bore, wherein the pin extends through the second eye.

32. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 25 wherein the flexible tensioning member comprises a fiber having a specific tensile strength greater than 1,000 kilonewton meter per kilogram.

33. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 32 wherein the flexible tensioning member is a synthetic fiber rope.

34. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 32 wherein the flexible tensioning member comprises a fiber would around at least three bushings.

35. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 25 further comprising a second flexible tensioning member having a second eye at an end of the second flexible tensioning member, the end of the second flexible tensioning member being disposed in a cavity from among the plurality of cavities and the second eye being coaxial with a second bore;

and a second pin disposed in the second bore and extending through the second eye.

36. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 25 wherein the pin is a clevis pin.

37. The crane tensioning assembly of claim 25 wherein the first bore has a threaded portion, wherein the pin has a complementary outer thread.

38. A crane comprising:

a) a boom;

b) a mast coupled to the boom at a first end of the mast; and

c) a flexible tensioning member comprising;

i) a middle portion comprising a bundle of fibers having a specific tensile strength greater than 1,000 kilonewton meter per kilogram;

ii) a first end connected to the middle portion, the first end having a first connector; and

iii) a second end connected to the middle portion, the second end comprising a first member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and a second member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and laterally from the first member, the first member having a second connector and the second member having a third connector.

39. A crane comprising:

a) a boom;

b) a mast coupled to the boom at a first end of the mast; and

c) a flexible tensioning member comprising;

i) a middle portion comprising a bundle of fibers having a specific tensile strength greater than 1,000 kilonewton meter per kilogram;

ii) a first end connected to the middle portion, the first end having a first connector; and

iii) a second end connected to the middle portion, the second end comprising a first member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and a second member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and laterally from the first member, the first member having a second connector and the second member having a third connector.

40. A crane comprising:

a) a boom;

b) a mast coupled to the boom at a first end of the mast; and

c) a flexible tensioning member comprising;

i) a middle portion comprising a bundle of fibers having a specific tensile strength greater than 1,000 kilonewton meter per kilogram;

ii) a first end connected to the middle portion, the first end having a first connector; and

iii) a second end connected to the middle portion, the second end comprising a first member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and a second member extending axially and laterally from the middle portion and laterally from the first member, the first member having a second connector and the second member having a third connector.