Boom with guard

• US 8,083,461 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Kent D., Zinoviev, Valerii V.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS, GREGORY W
• Application Number:
  US12/206,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20100061808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 114371-374, 114139-140, 114/219, 212/255, 212/258, 212260-261, 212/347, 212/175, 405/184.4, 405/212, 405/215, 414/138.2, 414/680, 414/722, 414/732, 414/739, 4147454-7456, 414/690, 414/731, 527/170.3, 527/170.5, 527/180.1, 746/08, 746/12, 267139-140, 293/114, 293/123, 409/134
• US Class Current: 414/745.6
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/26 for use on building sites; constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail with supporting couples provided by walls or buildings B66C23/20; mounted on vehicles B66C23/36; jib constructions B66C23/64
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/36 mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes with pneumatic or hydraulic motors B66C23/54; vehicle or ship aspects B60 - B63
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/06 Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors

Abstract

A boom configured to maneuver large objects, such as sections of pipe, which comprises a machine guard assembly having a support member. The support member includes an outer support surface with a protective layer disposed thereon.

Claims

1. A machine configured to maneuver large objects, the machine comprising:

a frame including a first boom arm connecting joint;

a boom assembly having a first boom arm with distal and proximal ends wherein the proximal end of the boom arm is pivotally connected to the machine at the first boom arm connecting joint; and

a guard assembly connected to the first boom arm, the guard assembly including;

a first crossmember connected to the first boom arm and having a first end, wherein the first end extends laterally past the first boom arm; and

a first support member joined proximate to the first end of the first crossmember and opposite the first crossmember from the first boom arm, the first support member including a support surface and at least one sloping region sloping away from the support surface toward the first boom arm,

wherein the first support member is separated from the first boom arm by the first crossmember, the support surface including a protective layer.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the guard assembly includes a second crossmember having a first end, and wherein the second crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm such that the total horizontal displacement of the first crossmember first end from the first boom arm is at least 10 cm.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm such that the total horizontal displacement of the first crossmember first end from the first boom arm is between about 35 cm and about 50 cm.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the first support member is between about 1 m and about 3 m long.

6. The machine of claim 1, wherein the protective layer comprises a foamed polymeric material.

7. A boom configured for maneuvering large objects, the boom comprising:

a first boom arm; and

a guard assembly connected to the first boom arm, the guard assembly including;

a rigid first crossmember connected to the first boom arm and having a first end, wherein the first end extends laterally past the first boom arm; and

a rigid first support member connected proximate to the first end of the first crossmember and opposite the first crossmember from the first boom arm, the first support member including a support surface and at least one sloping region sloping away from the support surface toward the first boom arm, wherein the first support member is laterally separated from the first boom arm by the first crossmember, the support surface having a protective layer thereon.

8. The boom of claim 7, wherein the guard assembly includes a second crossmember having a first end, and wherein the second crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm.

9. The boom of claim 7, wherein the first crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm such that the total horizontal displacement of the first crossmember first end from the first boom arm is at least 10 cm.

10. The boom of claim 7, wherein the first crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm such that the total horizontal displacement of the first crossmember first end from the first boom arm is between about 35 cm and about 50 cm.

11. The boom of claim 7, wherein the first support member is between about 1 m and about 3 m long.

12. The boom of claim 7, wherein the guard assembly includes a base plate joined to the first crossmember and the first boom arm.

13. The boom of claim 7, wherein the protective layer comprises a foamed polymeric material.

14. A pipelayer configured to transport pipe, the pipelayer comprising:

a frame including a first boom arm connecting joint;

a boom arm having distal and proximal ends, the proximal end being pivotally connected to the pipelayer at the first boom arm connecting joint; and

a pipelayer guard assembly connected to the first boom arm, the pipelayer guard assembly including;

a first crossmember connected to the first boom arm and having a first end, wherein the first end extends laterally past the first boom arm; and

a first support member joined proximate to the first end of the first crossmember, the first support member including a support surface and at least one sloping region sloping away from the support surface toward the first boom arm, wherein the first support member is separated from the first boom arm by the first crossmember, the support surface including a protective layer.

15. The pipelayer of claim 14, wherein the guard assembly includes a second crossmember having a first end, and wherein the second crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm.

16. The pipelayer of claim 14, wherein the first crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm such that the total horizontal displacement of the first crossmember first end from the first boom arm is at least 10 cm.

17. The pipelayer of claim 14, wherein the first crossmember first end extends laterally past the first boom arm such that the total horizontal displacement of the first crossmember first end from the first boom arm is between about 35 cm and about 50 cm.

18. The pipelayer of claim 14, wherein the first support member is between about 1 m and about 3 m long.

19. The pipelayer of claim 14, wherein the guard assembly includes a base plate joined to the first crossmember and the first boom arm.

20. The pipelayer of claim 14, wherein the protective layer comprises a foamed polymeric material.