US3389755A - Demolition tool cradle - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1968 A. GRANT DEMOLITION TOOL CRADLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1966 INVENTOR Louis A. Grant 5 fi yfi L. A. GRANT June 25, 1968 DEMOLITION TOOL CRADLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

Louis A. Grant I ,6

United States Patent 0 3,389,755 DEMOLITION TGQL CRADLE Louis A. Grant, 7836 Saltsburg Road, Allegheny County, Pa. 15239 Filed Jan. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 51?,211 11 Claims. (Ci. 173-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A cradle is disclosed for supporting a demolition tool upon a conventional demolition or excavating machine. The cradle is constructed for securance to the demolition machine boom structure in a variety of modes in order to allow a full range of angular adjustment of the cradle relative to the boom structure. The cradle, according to the invention, is provided with a number of pivot structures and a number of actuating rod connection means. By connecting the boom pivot and actuating rod to selected ones of the cradle pivots and rod connection means the cradle is capable of differing ranges of angular adjustments relative to the boom structure but can be manipulated in the usual manner from conventional boom structure in each range of adjustment. Accordingly, a full range of angular adjustment can be attained without the provision of specialized and complicated boom structure for supporting and manipulating the tool cradle.

The present invention relates to a cradle for a demolition tool or the like and more particularly to a cradle of the character described for mounting, in pivoted fashion, on the free end of various types of boom structures, especially of the extensible variety, such as are used in connection with certain types of excavating, gradmg or similar crawler-mounted apparatus.

The cradle disclosed hereinis also adapted for use with stationary or vehicular-mounted equipment used, for example, in steel mills for chipping the hardened residues from the floor structure of soaking pits or for removing furnace linings from blast furnaces and the like. When so mounted the tool cradle of the character described is arranged for pivotal movement at the end of the aforementioned boom structure within a range of angular adjustment related to the longitudinal axis of the boom structure.

In known for-ms of tool cradles, however, the cons-tructure thereof prevented movement of the cradle within the full range of pivotal movement otherwise available about the pivotal axis at the end of the boom structure. This resulted from the fact that a rectilinearly moveable actuating rod, .or similar actuating means forming part of the boom structure for pivoting the cradle, must be connected to the tool cradle at a point radially displaced from the cradle pivot in order to effect angular movement thereof. Thus, the range of angular movement was limited not by the presence of the boom structure itself, which otherwise would determine the full range of angular or pivotal cradle displacement as the term will be used therein, but rather by the necessary presence of the actuating rod and of cradle structure to displace the rod connection with the cradle from the pivotal axis of the cradle, which forms in effect the actuating arm of the cradle. With conventional tool cradles, the maximum angular adjustment, or pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of the boom, was limited to about 120, whereas the full range of angular adjustment, as limited only by the contour of the boom structure (without regard to its actuating rod) is in the neighborhood of 270-300.

The conventional arrangements of the tool cradles with their limited angular movement relative to the aforementioned boom structure necessitated frequent repositioning of the boom structure and, more importantly and difficult-1y, of the grading or excavating equipment, on which the boom structure is mounted. Moreover, the limited angular or pivotal movement of the conventional tool cradle frequently prevented manipulating of the tool carried thereby for drilling or other demolition work in or to relatively inaccessible locations, for example, over or under an overhanging ledge, through wall openings, or the like.

The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing :a demolition tool cardle so constructed that it can be mounted in a number of pivoted positions relative to the boom structure in a manner so as to obtain the aforesaid full range of angular or pivoted movement of the cradle relative to the longitudinal axis of the boom structure. This is accomplished by the disclosed tool cradle which is provided with a unique arrangement of pivotal mounting and activating arm means whereby the cradle can be variously mounted to obtain a complete full range of pivotal movement in the manner described. In furtherance of this purpose the cradle comprises a pair of spaced generally parallel supporting ribs, a tool supporting and guiding super-structure mounted on the supporting ribs, a plurality of pivot means associated with the supporting ribs for pivotally joining the cradle to the foresaid boom structure or the like and a plurality .of activating arm means also associated with the supporting ribs, with each of operating arm means being associatable with one or more of the pivot means, whereby the actuating rod or the like of the aforementioned boom structure can be joined to a selected one of the actuating arm means to obtain a selected range of angular adjustment of the tool cradle and the total or full range of angular adjustment available with the novel tool cradle is attained through use of the various combinations of pivot and actuating arm means, thus made available. In certain arrangements of the invention the aforementioned pivotal means are employed additionally for joining and strengthening the su porting rib structure of the cradle.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be elaborated upon during the forthcoming detailed description of certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention, together with certain presently preferred methods of practicing the same wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front top and right side isometric view of one form of tool cradle arranged in accordance with the teaching of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the tool cradle illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the cradle as shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a right side elevational view of the tool cradle as shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinally sectional view of the cradle shown in FIGURE 2 and taken along reference line 5'5 thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cradle shown in FIGURE 2 and taken along reference line 6-6 thereof;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view, partially sectioned, of another form of cradle for a demolition tool or the like and taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 8 and arranged in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a right side elevational view of the tool cradle illustrated in FIGURE 7; and

FIGURES 911 are a left side elevational view of the tool cradle as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, and operatively connected to boom structure for actuation thereby, said figures respectively showing various ranges of angular adjustment within the full range of angular displacement of the cradle relative to the boom structure for differing modes of connection of the cradle to the boom structure, as in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 6 of the drawings the exemplary form of the invention illustrated therein includes a pair of spaced generally parallel supporting ribs 10 and a tool supporting and guided super-structure designated generally by reference character 12 and secured to the upper edges of the supporting ribs as better shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 4 of the drawings. The tool sup porting super-structure 12 includes a bed plate 14 having an elongated, axially extending opening 16 therein for the purpose of accommodating the under-belly portion of the demolition tool 22, as better shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings.

At the ends respectively of the bed plate opening 16 hearing plates 18 and 20 are secured, as by welding, on which a demolition tool or the like, such as a pneumatic hammer or chipper 22 is supported as better shown in FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURES and 6, the demolition tool 22 is secured in place by pairs of lock plates 24 and 26 mounted respectively adjacent the long sides of the opening 16 and extending generally parallel thereto. The bottom lock plates 24 are arranged to abut the free or outer lateral edges of mounting flanges 28 of the demolition tool. On the other hand, the top lock plates 26 are arranged to overlie the first-mentioned lock plates and the adjacent lateral edge portions of the mounting flanges 28 to secure the demolition tool 22 to the bed plate 14. When thus positioned the lock plates 24 and 26 together with the mounting flanges 28 of the demolition tool are secured in place by a number of mounting bolts 30.

Adjacent the forward end of the bed plate 14 is a stabilizing bracket or saddle 32 mounted in order to lend additional support to the demolition tool at a point adjacent the forward end of its body portion, where the chipper or other bit 34 is secured. The saddle 32 includes a base plate 36 whereby the saddle 32 is joined to the bed plate 14 and an inverted U-shaped strap 38 the bight portion of which engages the adjacent top surface of the demolition tool for the purpose just described.

Forwardly of the stabilizing saddle 32, a bit guide 40 is secured to the front edge of the bed plate 14, in this example. The guide 40 includes an upstanding supporting plate 42 having a tubular bearing member 44 extending therethrough, through which the bit 34 protrudes for reciprocating movement. In this arrangement, the lower edge of the upright plate 42 is notched as designated by reference character 46 in order particularly to receive the front ends respectively of the supporting ribs 10, as better shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing.

As shown in FIGURE 4 the securance of the tool supporting and stabilizing super-structure 12 to the supporting ribs is rigidized by a number of gussets 48 secured to the under surface of the bed plate 14 and to the supporting ribs 10. Although FIGURE 4 illustrates four such gussets secured to each supporting rib 10 and to the adjacent undersurface of the bed plate 14, it will be understood that a greater or lesser number of gussets can be employed depending on the given application of the invention. The gussets 48 can be secured in the manner described, as by welding, as are a number of connecting and stiffening plates 50, 52 and 54 which extend normally between the supporting ribs 10 and are rigidly joined along their lateral edges to the adjacent surfaces respectively thereof. The size and disposition of the plates 50- 54 can be varied depending upon the application of the invention, but generally speaking are disposed for optimum absorption of the forces transmitted to the cradle by operation of the demolition tool 22, and equipment on which the tool 22 and cradle are mounted, and by ,movements of the cradle about its pivot means 56 or 58 induced by a suitable activating rod (FIGURES 9-11) associated with the aforementioned boom structure and secured to the rod connection means 69 or 62.

In one arrangement of the invention, the aforementioned cradle pivot means 56, 58 take the form of a pair of tubular members extending transversely through the supporting ribs 10 and each having a pair of bearing sur' faces 64 formed respectively at the ends thereof, the inner extremities of which are defined by spacing collars 66. In one arrangement of the invention the bearing surfaces 64 project outwardly and laterally of the supporting and stabilizing structure 12 to permit clamp members (not shown) associated with the aforementioned boom structure to clear the cradle in certain positions thereof.

The aforementioned actuating rod connections take the form of reinforced apertures means, with a pair of such means 60, 62 being formed in each supporting rib 10. The aperture means 60 and 62 encircled at the inner surfaces of the supporting ribs by annular reenforcing members 68. The aperture means 60 are aligned transversely of the ribs 10, as are the aperture means 62. In this example the pivot means 56, 58 and the rod connection means 60, 62 are arranged in an alternating array, and at least one of each are mounted in the rearwardly projecting portions of the rib plates 10 to facilitate connection of the boom structure thereto.

As better shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 of the drawings, each of tubular pivot members 56, 58 are reinforced by gussets 70 secured, as by welding, to the outwardly projecting but non-bearing surfaces of the pivot members 56, 58 and to the adjacent outer surfaces of the supporting ribs 10.

With the arrangement, as described more fully below in connection with FIGURES 9 to 11, the aperture means 62 define an operating arm for connection as aforesaid to the actuating rod 90 of the boom structure, for use with the tubular pivot means 58, while the aperture means 60 in this example define a longer or shorter actuating arm of the cradle when used with the tubular pivots 56 or 58, respectively. The particular combination of pivot means 56 or 58 with a selected one of the aforementioned actuating arms determines the selected mode of connection of the cradle to the boom structure and that portion of the full range of angular adjustment relative thereto of which the cradle by its several modes of connection is capable.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, where similar reference characters with primed accents refer to similar components of FIGURES 1-6, another exemplary form of the invention is illustrated therein. The tool cradle of FIGURES 7 and 8 is generally similar in construction to that described heretofore in connection with FIGURES 1-6, with the exception that the tubular pivot members 58 and 56 are replaced in the arrangement of FIGURES 7 and 8 by reinforced pivot aperture means 72 and 74 respectively. Each of the pivot apertures 72 or 74 respectively is reinforced by an annular reinforcing member 76, having the same inner diameter as that of the pivot apertures. In this arrangement the reinforcing annuli 76 are welded to the respective outer surfaces of the supporting ribs 10' as better shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

In the arrangement of FIGURES 7 and 8 the demolition tool cradle is adapted for use with a boom structure terminating in a removable pivot pin, while the tool cradle arrangement of FIGURES 1-6 is adapted for use with a boom structure terminating in a pair of clamp members for releasably engaging respectively the terminal bearing surfaces 64 of the tubular pivot member 56 or 58.

With reference to FIGURES 9-11 of the drawings, the operation of the invention will be described now. FIGURES 9-11 illustrate alternative, selectable modes of joining a tool cradle, such as that shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, to a boom structure 78, which in turn can be pivotally mounted on a suitable stationary or vehicular supported base (not shown) by means of its clevis or eyebracket 80. In the illustrative application as shown the boom structure 78 includes a base member 82 and an extensible member 84 mounted for reciprocating movement within the base member and terminating in an apertured pivot connection including spaced brackets, through which pivot pin 88 can be inserted.

FIGURE 9 of the drawings illustrates an intermediate range of angular adjustment of the tool cradle about the pivot pin 88, when the tool cradle is mounted in a disposition such that the pin 88 is inserted through pivot apertures 72 thereof, and the conventional actuating rod 90 of the boom structure in pinned or otherwise connected to the rod apertures 62. In FIGURE 9 the solid outline of the demolition tool cradle illustrates the upper limit of angular displacement of the cradle, while the dashed outline thereof indicates the lower limit of cradle displacement, for this mode of connection.

FIGURE 10 of the drawings illustrates another mode of connecting the tool cradle to the boom structure 78. In the latter arrangement the extensible boom extremity 84 is pivotally connected to the pivot aperture 74 of the tool cradle while the actuating rod 90 is joined to the rod apertures 60 thereof. In the latter arrangement the cooperative association of the pivot apertures 74 and the rodtconnection apertures 60' yields the lower range of angular adjustment of the tool cradle with the lower reentrant or innermost limit thereof illustrated by the solid outlines of the cradle while the lower outer limit is indicated by the dashed outlines thereof.

In the arrangement as shown in FIGURE 11 the tool cradle is turned over or reversed relative to its position as shown in FIGURE 9 and the extensible boom member 84 is again connected to the pivot apertures 72. Owing to the reversed relationship of the cradle, however, the actuating rod 90 is connected to the rod apertures 60' rather than to apertures 62', thereby providing a different efiective'operating arm for the cradle, extending between the rod connecting apertures 60 and the pivot apertures 72 rather than between the rod connection apertures 62 and the pivot apertures 72 as is the case in FIGURE 9 of the drawings. The latter mode of connection provides an upper reentrant or innermost limit of cradle movement illustrated by the solid outlines thereof and an upper outward limit of cradle movement denoted by the dashed outline thereof.

A comparison of FIGURES 9 to 11 indicate some overlappage near the extremities of the intermediate range of angular adjustment (FIGURE 9) with the lower range of adjustment (FIGURE 10) and the upper range of adjustment (FIGURE 11) respectively. Such overlappage ensures complete coverage of the work area throughout the full range of pivotal movement, afforded by the several modes of connection of the demolition tool cradle, at a given position of the boom structure 78, as for example where the boom structure and the demolition tool cradle are inserted through an opening or aperture of a size which would limit or prevent altogether any movement of the boom structure itself.

With the tool cradle arrangements disclosed herein the full range of angular adjustment of the tool cradle is limited, as pointed out in the preliminary paragraphs hereto, substantially only by the boom structure itself. With the tool cradle of the invention, moreover, other modes of connection to the boom structure are possible depending upon the application of the invention and the structural contour of the terminal joining or crandle pivot means of the boom structure. For example, by further laterally displacing the pivot brackets 86 of the boom structure, in order to provide the necessary clearance for the actuating rod 90, the latter rod can be joined to the rod connection apertures 62, and the pivot aperture 74 of the tool cradle can be joined as illustrated in FIGURE 10 in order to provide a longer moment arm for pivoting the crandle about the terminus of the boom structure, where additional pivoting force is required either from the character of work being done or the type of tool carried on the cradle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that novel and efiicient forms of cradles for demolition tools and the like have been disclosed herein. While there have been shown and described certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention together with preferred methods of practicing the same, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tool supporting cradle comprising elongated supporting rib means, a tool supporting and stabilizing structure secured to said rib means and extending along the length thereof, a plurality of pivot connection means and a plurality of actuating rod connecting means coupled in spaced array to said supporting rib means, whereby said cradle can be coupled in a variety of modes to external boom structure for a full range of angular adjustment relative thereto.

2. The combination according to claim 1 characterized in that said supporting rib means protrudes longitudinally outwardly beyond the end of said stabilizing structure, and at least one of said pivot connections means and at least one of said rod connection means are coupled in said protruding supporting rib means portions.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pivot means and said rod connection means are disposed in an alternated and staggered array in said supporting rib means.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pivot means and said rod connection means are apertures respectively extending transversely through said supporting rib means.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprise a pair of spaced tubular bearing members secured to said rib means and extending transversely therethrough.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said supporting rib means are a pair of spaced generally parallel supporting rib plates extending generally longitudinally of said stabilizing structure and each having a lateral edge secured thereto, and said pivot means and said rod connection means are each a pair of apertures formed respectively in said rib plates and transversely aligned therein.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said rib means are a pair of spaced generally parallel rib plates extending longitudinally of said supporting structure and each having a lateral edge joined thereto, and said pivot means are a pair of spaced tubular bearing members extending transversely through said rib plates, each of said bearing members being rigidly joined to each of said rib plates to aid in maintaining the spaced relationship therebetween.

8. The combination according to claim 6 characterized further in that each of said apertures is reinforced by an annular reinforcing member secured thereabout in alignment therewith.

9. The combination according to claim 7 wherein a pair of bearing surfaces are formed at the ends respectively of each of said tubular members, a pair of collar members are secured to each of said tubular members at the inward extremities respectively of the bearing surfaces thereof, the bearing surfaces of each of said tubular members being spaced outwardly of said rib plates respectively, and gusset plates are secured to the outwardly protruding but non-bearing portions of each of said tubular members and to the adjacent outer surfaces of each of said rib plates respectively.

10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said stabilizing structure includes an upstanding apertured bit-guiding bracket affixed to the forward end thereof, a clamping saddle for engaging a body portion of a demolition tool holding said bit and mounted on said stabilizing structure, said saddle being disposed adjacent said bracket in longitudinal alignment therewith, and clamping means secured to said stabilizing structure rearwardly of said saddle for clamping a mounting flange of said tool.

11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pivot connection means and said actuating rod connection means are so arranged with respect to one another that said cradle can be selectively disposed relative to said external boom structure in tool upright and tool inverted positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Osgood 308-39 Lovell 74-522 Grant 173-43 Hallberg 308-3 Buehler 173-43 Thompson 248-16 Grant 17343 X ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

MILTON KAUFMAN, Examiner.

15 L. P. KESSLER, Assistant Examiner.

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