WO2012054961A1

WO2012054961A1 - Mobile lifting device with auxiliary lifting attachment

Info

Publication number: WO2012054961A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/001290
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Eugene Hough
Original assignee: John Eugene Hough
Priority date: 2010-10-26
Filing date: 2011-10-07
Publication date: 2012-05-03

Abstract

A mobile lifting machine having a body (3.004) and a boom (3.010) connected to the body, the lifting machine including a support beam (3.016) connected to the boom at a distance from the connection of the boom to the body. Attached to the boom is a lifting apparatus (3.040) which can move along the boom.

Description

MOBILE LIFTING DEVICE WITH AUXILIARY LIFTING ATTACHMENT

Field of the invention

[001] This invention relates to mobile lifting equipment. The invention provides a means for increasing the stability of lifting equipment.

Background of the invention

[002] Mobile lifting devices normally consist of a single mobile unit and a load arm. The lifting capacity of the load arm varies in inverse proportion to the horizontal distance of the load from the support point of the equipment. The nearest point of ground contact of the equipment to the load can be considered as a fulcrum so the weight of the machine multiplied by the distance of the equipment centre of gravity on one side of the fulcrum must exceed the product of the weight of the load together with the load arm on the other side of the fulcrum and distance to the centre of gravity of the load and load arm on the other side of the fulcrum to prevent toppling. As discussed below other factors, such as the load bearing capacity of the ground, can also reduce the lifting capacity. Different means are used to increase the load capacity without changing this basic configuration. One means consists of counter weights on the opposite side to the load to partly or fully balance the weight of the load. Other means include the use of moveable legs to effectively extend the base of the mobile lifting device to prevent the load from tipping over the mobile lifting device while the load is being moved. A feature of the conventional mobile lifting device is that the load capacity decreases with distance as the load is moved away from the lifting device.

[003] Another aspect of such mobile lifting devices is that they normally remain fixed in place during the load lifting and transfer operation with the initial lifting and final placement position of the load determining the crane placement within the safe load lifting radius for the specific mobile lifting device. If the crane placement location required, based on the available device lifting radius, is not accessible then higher capacity devices must be used to overcome these constraints. When in a fixed position the crane is normally supported on moveable but rigid legs and not on the flexible wheels used for general movement. Load movement is achieved with a combination of load arm movement and slewing of the load arm and any

counterweight assembly relative to the support carriage and support legs. [004] A further aspect of such mobile lifting devices is that the load is unable to be moved while the device is moved.

[005] One exception to this movement limitation is rough terrain cranes with a broad wheeled base and conventional load arm. However their ability to move with a load is restricted by the fulcrum principal detailed above and the movement of the load while mobile which requires a further reduction in load capacity relative to load capacity in a fixed position since the fulcrum points are in fact usually flexible pneumatic wheels which created dynamic instabilities in the mobile lifting device movement and load movement. Movement of the load while moving the rough terrain crane is normally carried out with the load in front of and close to the crane. Lateral carrying and slewing are not normally carried out when moving and in most cases cannot be carried out.

[006] Crawler tractor cranes are another exception and can slew and adjust the load arm while moving. They are not limited by the flexibility of resilient tyres but are limited by the load radius and load dynamics during movement. They normally have fixed counterweights attached at the end of the slewing body remote from the load arm.

[007] Another exception is the sideboom used for laying of pipe which consists of a conventional tracked vehicle with an A shaped load arm attached to one side of the vehicle and moveable counter weights attached to the opposite side. These sidebooms can move with a load suspended from the load arm but are limited in their load carrying capacity by the location of the fulcrum which is the track nearest the load and the vehicle weight and counterweight acting to balance the supported load. Dynamic load movement must be considered when moving and the load capacity suitably reduced. Sidebooms cannot slew relative, to the tracked support carriage. Sidebooms can only carry on the side relative to movement in either the forward or reverse direction.

[008] Another exception is the excavator which is also a tracked vehicle but has the advantage of having slewing capability of the load arm and upper body relative to the support tracked carriage whereas the sideboom configuration does not permit such relative movement. The excavator is normally designed to dig and remove earth materials and its lifting capacity is designed to be sufficient to support the weight of the load arm and bucket filled with material at the limit of reach. Lifting capacity reduces as the bucket is moved away from the support base. An inbuilt non-moveable counter weight is normally located on the opposite side of the moveable upper body from the load arm to prevent tipping relative to the support fulcrum nearest to the load arm when lifting and when slewing and supported on its tracked carriage base. While not designed for lifting of other types of loads, excavators are modified by users by attaching hooks to the excavator buckets and using them as lifting devices. The load is then lifted using the load arm hydraulic rams. These are not as controllable as multi sheaved blocks with wire rope and can result in jerking movement of the load as the operator moves the load arm by operating the relevant hydraulic rams. Some excavators have buckets exchanged for grabs and cutters which are used for forestry work. Any loads are limited by the fulcrum and weight balance relative to the fulcrum.

[009] Regardless of all the measures used to provide support, the lifting capability reduces as the load is moved away from the lifting device. Such devices have high lifting capacities which can be twice their weight when close to the unit. When the load is moved away this load decreases to a fraction of the vehicle weight.

[010] The normal use of the sideboom or pipelayer is to pick up long strings of heavy pipe, often in a coordinated group of such devices, and move the load away from them laterally and into a trench dug for the pipe. As the load does not change weight a difficulty arises as the load is being moved away from the sidebooms towards the trench. As the load is moved away the contact forces between the machine and the ground move towards the load. Sometimes as this occurs, the ground partially collapses or has low load bearing capacity and the sideboom tilts towards the trench. As this can happen suddenly, the load is transferred to other sidebooms which can become overloaded and can cause them to start tipping towards the trench. To avoid this, the operator will release part of the load which is then transferred to other sidebooms. This can become dangerous with many machines affected. One way this is overcome, although frowned upon for obvious safety reasons, is the use of an excavator to place the excavator bucket on the counter weights to prevent the sideboom from tipping.

[011] In low load bearing ground, the high weight of the sidebooms and counterweight needs to be reduced or the ground pressure reduced. The normal way to do this is by removing part or all of the counterweights. This in turn reduces the loads that can be lifted at a distance from the machine. In low load bearing ground the sidebooms have to be positioned further from the trench line because the trench no longer has vertical sides but gradually sloping sides and the considerable weight of the sideboom can cause collapse of the ground material into the trench. This combination of removing counterweights and operating further from the trench centreline significantly reduces the loads which can be lifted and requires more machines and makes the operation much more difficult and expensive.

[012] (Excavators are often used in low load bearing ground for lifting because of their lower ground pressure. They are not intended and designed for such lifting operations. To use them for such lifting purposes, they usually have a hook welded to the bucket which is not normally approved or recommended by manufacturers and has safety implications should the bucket rotate and drop the load. They also do not provide the same degree of control during lifting as compared with sidebooms which use multi wire sheaved blocks and cable for precision lifting together with multi wire sheaved blocks to control the position of the A frame lifting arm. They are used as conventional cranes for this operation and their load lifting capacity reduces as the load distance increases away from the support base. The lifting capacity of excavators in their conventional configuration is limited either by the hydraulic system pressures, ram sizes and geometry or by the limits for tipping towards the load.

[013] It is desirable to provide a way of achieving higher load lifting capacity than is normally achievable with mobile lifting devices and does so without decrease in capacity as the load distance moves away from the device.

[014] One problem with excavators is to provide the basis for an engineered and safe method of lifting.

[015] Sidebooms or pipelayers have the advantage that they can support a heavy load and move in a direction parallel to the pipe while supporting the load either with the load supported on rollers to facilitate the relative movement and the pipe staying in the same location or the load is carried along with sidebooms. In this moving configuration, the load has to be reduced and adjusted to allow for changes in terrain to avoid excessive transfer of load to other sidebooms. The only way of reducing this load is to bring the load closer to the sideboom. The load point moves parallel to the movement of the sideboom and its rigid support carriage.

[016] Another problem is to provide a means of movement in which the load can move in a different direction from the movement of the mobile lifting device support carriage. [017] Moving of heavy loads with mobile lifting devices either requires multiple lifting device placements or transfer onto a separate vehicle for transport followed by unloading at the destination.

[018] Another problem is to provide a means of moving heavy loads together with the lifting device.

[019] Sidebooms cannot be used for any other operation than lifting except for pulling using either a tow hitch or a winch attached to the rear. Similarly mobile cranes do not have other uses except crawler cranes can be used as draglines which is essentially a lifting operation with assistance from a second separate remote winch or similar crawler crane.

[020] Sidebooms when they are to be transported by road have to be stripped of the boom and commonly also the counterweights. Some booms now have an intermediate hinge and a hydraulic ram to operate the hinge to extend it to its normal length to avoid removing it for transport. Removal of the boom and counterweights entails the use of a crane and mechanics and also requires two transport vehicles, one for the sideboom and the other for the counterweights and boom. Such movement becomes expensive because of the additional equipment needed. Also sidebooms require some form of ramp to climb up onto the low bed trailer. If this is not provided with the trailer then additional preparation will be required by other machinery to prepare such a ramp.

[021] Excavators have an advantage in that they can load themselves onto a low bed trailer without the use of a ramp through a combination of use of the bucket as a support device and slewing and tilting of the tracked carriage relative to the bucket support location: Their loaded configuration and design minimises transport height. There is no removal of items for transport.

[022] It is desirable to provide a system which is more easily transported without dismantling.

[023] It is known to use mobile side lift cranes and excavators to place pipelines into a trench.

[024] Where long lengths of pipe are to be lifted into place, several cranes and/or excavators with cantilever beam or boom may be used to lift the load. This has been done by connecting a lifting device at the end of the excavator's articulated arm, e.g., adjacent to the bucket and lifting the load with the arm acting as a cantilever beam. However, long lengths of pipe can exhibit dynamic flexing during such operations and this can cause the load carried by individual lifting devices to fluctuate. In extreme cases, one of the lifting devices may topple, and this can initiate a chain reaction causing several lifting devices to topple.

[025] A further problem is to provide a mobile lifting machine with a greater lifting capability.

[026] A further problem is to provide means for mitigating the problem of toppling mobile cranes or lifting devices.

[027] The embodiments of the invention provide solutions to one or more of these problems mentioned above.

Summary of the invention

[028] This invention provides a stabilized device support apparatus including a body, a boom connected to the body, and device support means connected to the boom at a first distance from the body, the apparatus including a support beam connected to the boom at a second distance from the connection of the boom to the body.

[029] The first distance can be less than the second distance.

[030] Connection of the support means to the boom can be movable relative to the body, whereby the first distance is adjustable

[031] The invention also provides a mobile lifting device having a body and a boom connected to the body, the lifting machine including a support beam connected to the boom at a distance from the connection of the boom to the body.

[032] The boom can include a lifting arrangement.

[033] The beam can be connected to the boom between the body and the lifting arrangement.

[034] The beam can be connected to the boom on the remote side of the lifting device.

[035] The beam can include a contact member at its distal end.

[036] The boom and beam can be the articulated arm of an excavator.

[037] The beam can be an auxiliary beam for the boom of a mobile crane. Brief description of the drawings

[038] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[039] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an excavator modified in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[040] Figure 2 shows the excavator with a load in the lowered position.

[041] Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an excavator modified in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

[042] Figure 4 is an end illustration of a pulley slide rail arrangement.

[043] Figure 5 is an end illustration of an alternative pulley slide arrangement.

[044] Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of an excavator modified in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

[045] Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of an excavator modified in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[046] Figure 8 illustrates a pulley operating mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

[047] Figure 9 illustrates a combined ram and pulley operating mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention

[048] Figure 10 illustrates a hydraulic mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

[049] Figure 11 is a schematic illustration of multiple beams according to an embodiment of the invention.

[050] Figure 12 is an illustration of a support.

[051] Figure 13 is a schematic illustration of a separating carriage arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention.

[052] Figure 14 is a section view of Figure 13.

[053] Figure 15 is another view of Figure 13.

[054] Figure 16 is another embodiment. [055] Figure 17 illustrates alternative supports.

[056] Figure 18 illustrates a floating support.

[057] Figure 19 illustrates an alternative upper pulley arrangement.

[058] Figure 20 illustrates another alternative upper pulley arrangement

[059] Figure 21 illustrates a geared upper pulley arrangement.

[060] Figure 22 illustrates an embodiment with support beam inboard of load.

[061] The numbering convention used in the drawings is that the digits in front of the full stop indicate the drawing number, and the digits after the full stop are the element reference numbers. Where possible, the same element reference number is used in different drawings to indicate corresponding elements.

[062] It is understood that, unless indicated otherwise, the drawings are intended to be illustrative rather than exact representations, and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The orientation of the drawings is chosen to illustrate the features of the objects shown, and does not necessarily represent the orientation of the objects in use.

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments

[063] The invention will be described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

[064] Figure 1 shows an excavator 1.002 modified in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and including a cabin 1.004, a base 1.006 and caterpillar tracks .008. A boom 1.010 is pivotally connected to the base at 1.012 beam 1.016 is pivotally connected at 1.014 to the end of the boom 1.010 to form an articulated arm. A bucket 1.018 is pivotally connected to the end of the beam at 1.020.

[065] The hydraulic rams used to operate the boom and beam are not shown. The terms "boom" and "beam^* are used to readily distinguish the main boom from the articulated portion of the boom.

[066] According to an embodiment of the invention, a lifting arrangement including pulley arrangement 1.024, 1.026 is connected to the boom 1.010. The pulley is loaded with a pipe 1.028 which is to be placed in the trench 1.030. [067] An imaginary circle, shown in dashed line, is centred on the boom pivot 1.012 and its radius passes through the pulley pivot 1.024. This circle indicates how the distance of the load from the front contact point of the tracks 1.008 varies as the boom is adjusted. Typically, the boom will have an arc of about 100°.

[068] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the beam 1.016 is lowered so the bucket 1.018 rests on the ground. Thus, in this embodiment, the load is supported in a bridge arrangement rather than a cantilever manner as with the prior art method.

[069] Before the pipe is inserted into the trench, it may be laid beside the trench and sections of the pipe welded together. When the pipe is lifted, the excavator can be advanced towards the trench and the bucket can slide over the ground or remain stationary until the pipe is located above the trench.

[070] When the pipe is located over the trench, it can be lowered by the pulley system as shown in Figure 2.

[071] A counterweight 1.044 and 2.044 can also be provided opposite the boom solely for the placement and recovery of the beam 1.016 and bucket 1.018.

[072] Figure 3 shows a modified excavator according to a further embodiment of the invention. The boom 3.010 and the beam 3.016 still form a bridge when used to lift the load 3.028. The boom ram 3.048 is used to move the boom through its range of movement. The beam ram 3.046 likewise moves the beam in relation to the end of the boom. A counterweight 3.044 can also be provided opposite the boom.

[073] However, in this arrangement, the articulated arm includes a pulley slide arrangement. The upper pulley block 3.024 supporting the lower block 3.026 is mounted on a carriage 3.040 which rides on a track within the boom 3.010. An hydraulic ram 3.042 is used to move the carriage along the boom in either direction as required. Thus, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to slide the bucket 3.018 or move the excavator during positioning of the pipe in the trench. In practice, the pulley ram can be contained inside the boom, as shown in Figure 4 or outside the boom as shown in variant Figure 5.

[074] Figure 4 is an end view of the internal pulley trolley arrangement of

Figure 3. The boom 4.010 is hollow and contains the intermediate beam ram 4.042 and the wheels or rollers 4.054 which are attached to the multi-wheel pulley 4.024. The rollers are contained in a track defined by the lower wall of the boom and the inward projections 4.056. The pulley-roller attachment 4.059 passes through a slot 4.060 in the underside of the boom. Thus the pulley can be moved along a section of the boom to move the pipe into position in the trench.

[075] Figure 5 shows an end view of the internal pulley trolley arrangement of Figure 3 with the ram 5.042 positioned below the boom 5.010 as shown in figure 3.

[076] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an excavator with a double articulated boom arrangement. The boom 6.010 has an intermediate pivoted member 6.050 interposed between the boom 6.010 and the beam 6.016. The intermediate member is pivoted to the boom at 6.051 and to the arm at 6.053.

[077] An additional cylinder 6.052 is provided for operating the beam member 6.016.

[078] As shown in Figure 6, this arrangement provides additional adaptability in spanning a trench. The beam can be folded in a conventional way or in another embodiment in a reverse way as shown in Figure 7. The boom can be folded in three when not in use. The intermediate beam is adapted to fold in a "reverse" manner in relation to the fold direction of the support beam. The reverse folding arrangement is referred to in this document as a "concertina" fold because the alternate pivots can operate in opposite directions. This provides a compact arrangement for transporting the excavator.

[079] Figure 8 shows a slider drive mechanism which uses a pulley system, and which can be located inside the arm. The cable 8.062 is operated by a drive system including an hydraulic motor 8.064 to control the position of the trolley. A high torque hydraulic motor can be provided with multiple turns around its drum to ensure the load position is securely positioned even with an inclined arm. The cable extends around a pair of pulleys 8.066, 8.068.

[080] An idler to tension the cable can also be provided, operated by, for example, a spring or a hydraulic tensioner.

[081] Access is provided for removal of the slider mechanism and for work on the motor.

[082] In Figure 8, a double cable could be used to ensure that the load does not move and to allow for increased capacity with inclined arm. The motor also has to resist the load of the cable from the winch drum to prevent it from moving the sliding block.

[083] In an alternative arrangement, the hydraulic motor 8.064 can be integrated with the support pin replacing pulley 8.068 so only one additional pulley 8.066 is used.

[084] In an alternative arrangement, the hydraulic motor 8.064 can be integrated with the trolley 8.040 and the movement of the trolley achieved by means of gearing or friction between a drive gear or wheel attached to the motor and a geared or high friction track in the beam without the use of cable 8.062 and pulleys 8.066, 8.068.

[085] A system to prevent the motor from overloading the end stops at both ends can also be provided. For example a system using pressure limiting based on the force against the stops and the torque generated in the motor can be provided.

[086] A safety device can be provided to prevent the lower block from binding or touching the upper block. This can be co-mounted with the sliding block trolley 5.040, and can include means to stop the winch drum.

[087] Figure 9 illustrates a cable adapted to double the movement of an hydraulic ram. The cable 9.092 is attached to points 9.094 and 9.096 and passes over the blocks 9.066, 9.068, and 9.098. The blocks 9.066, 9.068 correspond to the blocks 8.066 and 8.068 of figure 8. The ram 9.042 drives the block 9.098. The block 9.098 has two wheels, so the cable can pass over it in opposite rotational directions as indicated by the arrows so that the movement of the cable 9.092 is double that of the ram but in the opposite direction. The cylinder of the ram is a double acting cylinder, so it can be driven in either axial direction. This provides an alternative carriage drive mechanism to those in figures 3, 4 and 5 and enables full travel of the carriage along the beam with a ram located within the beam.

[088] Figure 10 illustrates a hydraulic means for moving the upper pulley block 10.024 along the length of the intermediate member 10.050 or boom 10.010. Hydraulic ram 10.083 is attached at one end to the beam 10.050 at pivot 10.085. The other end is attached to the upper pulley block 10.024 in a pivot. Hydraulic ram 10.082 is similarly attached by means of pivot 10.084 at the other end to the beam 10.050 and to the upper pulley block 10.024 by a pivot. Pivots 10.084, 10.085 and at 10.024 permit movement only in the plane of movement of the boom 10.010 or intermediate arm 10.050. The rams can be dimensioned so that, with hydraulic ram 10.083 fully retracted and 10.082 fully extended, the upper pulley block is positioned over the pivot point 0.085. In the reverse situation of 10.082 fully retracted and 10.083 fully extended the upper pulley block is positioned over the pivot point 10.084. Movement between these two extremes is achieved by combinations of ram extensions. This mechanism provides an alternative means of movement for the upper pulley block. The mechanism may be positioned above or below the beam 10.050. Position above the beam provides more clearance between the beam 10.050 and load attached to the lower pulley block 10.026 and also operates the hydraulic rams 10.082, 10.083 in their highest load capacity configuration.

[089] Hydraulic rams 10.082, 10.083 can each be a single ram or can be replaced by two rams with the same pivot points. Design of the rams and cable positioning will accommodate the positioning of the rams used to raise and lower the beam 10.050 and boom or arm attached to each end.

[090] A further advantage of the configuration of figure 10 is that with the upper pulley block in the central position the hydraulic rams 10.082, 10.083 can be extended or retracted simultaneously to lift or lower the load attached to the lower pulley block 10.026 without requiring movement of cable 10.061. This provides additional flexibility in operation.

[091] Figure 11 shows an alternative embodiment for the beams 11.016,

11.116 attached to the support pads 11.076, 11.176. The pivot point 11.014, 11.053 joins the boom 11.010 or intermediate pivotable member 11.050 to the beams 11.016, 11.116 and allows them to move relative to the member 11.010 or 11.050. Two beams are shown with one on each side of the boom or intermediate pivotable member. These two beams can be moved independently of each other using rams 11.046, 11.146 (not shown). These beams can be further modified to incorporate a hinge 11.072, 11.172 separating the upper beam from the lower beam with ram 11.070, 11.170 used to move the beam away from the plane of movement of the boom 11.010 or intermediate pivotable member 11.050. Pivotable bases 11.076, 11.176 are attached to the lower extremity of each beam. The lifting carriage 11.040 (not shown) can move along the length of the boom or intermediate pivotable member even to locations remote from the pivot 11.014, 11.053.

[092] The beams 11.016, 11. 16 in Figure 1 can incorporate extension devices to enable the length of the beams to be changed to adjust to the ground contours. [093] The beams 11.016, 11.116 in Figure 11 can be connected to a single integrated support base 11.076, 11.176 while enabling the position and orientation of the support base to be changed to conform to the ground contours and allowing the mobile lifting device to work on slopes.

[094] The boom 11.010 or intermediate pivotable member 11.050 in Figure

11 can be supplemented by separate members attached to the beams 11.016, 11. 16 so that the boom or intermediate pivotable member with lifting carriage are no longer attached to the beams 11.016, 11.116 and can move independently of the beams and supplementary separate members with the beams and supplementary members functioning like spiders legs independent of the body.

[095] Figure 12 shows a support plate 12.076 attached to the beam 12.016 by means of the pivot 12.020. This support plate can replace the bucket 1.018, 2.018, 3.018 shown in figures 1, 2 and 3 and can be the support shown in figures 6 and 11.

[096] Figures 13 and 14 show another embodiment of the invention which includes two separate support carriages 14.006, 14.106 which can move apart in different directions. Each support carriage is connected to a tracked member 14.008, 14.108 which are the means of movement. The support carriages are able to rotate on a vertical axis relative to the tracked members. The support carriage is connected to a beam 13.010, 14.010, 14.110 by means of a pivoting connection 14.012, 14.112 as for an excavator. The two booms 14.010, 14.110 are connected at the upper end by a pivoting lifting support member 14.014. in addition to the pivots 14.012, 14. 12, there are additional pivots 14.036, 14.136 which enable the booms to pivot in any direction. Each support carriage can move in any direction relative to the two joined beams by means of tracks 14.008, 14.108 which enables them to straddle a load and lift and move with the load. Lifting means is attached to member 14.014. Booms are lifted by means of rams 13.048, 13.148 or 14.048, 14.148 (not shown) attached to the support carriages 14.006, 14.106. The booms have a base 13.034 so that with the boom in the vertical position the boom is supported on the base 13.034 which mates with a surface on the support carriage 13.006, 13.106, 14.006, 14.106 arranged in such a way that the support remains in contact during lateral rotation of the boom. A locking device 13.035, 13.135, 14.035, 14.135 can be provided to lock the boom in the vertical plane during operation and movement. [097] In Figure 13 the operator can be located on one of the two support carriages together with the power system. Motive power is transferred from this support carriage to the other by appropriate means. Motive power may be electric, mechanical, hydraulic or combination.

[098] Figure 14 shows a section through Figure 13. The pivots 14.036 and

14.136 connect the support carriage 14.006, 14.106 to the intermediate pivot members 14.037, 14.137. The intermediate pivot members 14.037, 14.137 are in turn connected to the booms 14.010, 14.110 by means of pivots 14.012, 14.112. These intermediate pivot members 14.037, 14.137 enable the booms to be moved in any direction. The rams 13.048, 13.148 shown in figure 13 cannot be seen in Figure 14 but are attached to the intermediate member 14.037, 14.137 so that the rams can rotate together with the booms 14.010, 14.110. The carriage support members 14.006, 14.106 can include an interlocking device 14.038 to lock the support carriage members together.

[099] The rams 13.048, 13.148 can be attached to the support carriage

13.006, 13.106 using a ball and socket to allow relative rotation between boom 13.010, 13.110 and support carriage 13.006. 13.106.

[0100] Figure 15 shows the embodiment of Figures 13 and 14 in the operating configuration with lifting device 15.024, 15.026 shown. The upper pulley block 15.024 can be integrated with the pivot 15.014 or can be separate and attached to pivot 15.014.

[0101] Furtherto Figures 13, 14 and 15 the booms 14.010, 14.110 can be extendable or hinged for reduced transport dimensions.

[0102] Further to Figure 15 the pivoting member 15.014 can be a beam with separate pivoting connections (not shown) at each end 15.014, 15.114 to the booms 15.010, 15.110.

[0103] Further to Figure 15 the beam mentioned above can include a moveable lifting carriage.

[0104] Figure 16 shows a further embodiment of Figures 13, 14 and 15 with the vehicle 16.006 attached to two tracked members 16.008. This enables greater manoeuvrability and increases the support base for greater stability. [0105] Figure 17 shows alternative moveable support bases for the beam

17.016 shown in figures 1 , 2, 3, 6 and 11. These moveable support bases are fitted with tracks 17.074 which can be unpowered or powered.

[0106] The support bases 17.074 in Figure 17 can have multiple tracks as shown in figure 16.

[0107] The tracks shown in Figure 17 can be wheeled units instead of tracked units.

[0108] Figure 18 shows a floating support base 18.074 for the support beam

18.016 as an alternative base. The beam 18.016 can be connected to the float via a pivot arrangement 18.076/18.020. The main support carriage can be located on a floating device such as a vessel, barge or pontoon.

[0109] Figure 19 shows an embodiment of the upper pulley block 19.024 which incorporates the winch drums 19.088. The lifting cable is attached to the non moving member 19.089 at two locations and passes progressively through the respective pulleys and terminates at the two winch drums 19.088. This configuration provides a compact lifting pulley assembly which can be attached to the various embodiments of upper lifting blocks. Having two drums provides balanced lifting compared with a single drum. Having the drum integrated with the upper pulley block reduces the lifting cable length required. The double drum reduces the lifting cable speed to one half that for a single drum. The drive motor (not shown) can be integrated into one of the drums. Both drums 19.088 rotate in the same direction and are on the same axle and driven by the same motor.

[0110] Figure 20 shows an alternative embodiment of Figure 19 with the drums 20.088 together instead of separate as in Figure 19. The drive motor (not shown) can be mounted more easily within the side by side drums. The drums can in fact be one drum with a central partition to prevent the two cables from mixing.

[0111] Figure 21 shows a further embodiment of Figures 19 and 20 in which the pulleys in the upper block 21.024 are driven rather than being free to rotate as is normally the case. The drive motor assembly 21.077 drives the shaft 21.075 attached to the drum member 21.088. External gears are located on the drum member 21.088 below the pulleys 21.078 and 21.079. Planetary gears 21.080 are located between the drum member 21.088 and the pulleys 21.078, 21.079. The planetary gears 21.080 are attached to a carriage 21.078 which provides the axle for the planetary gears and the fixing of these axles to the housing of the motor assembly 21.077. The pulleys 21.078 and 21.079 have internal gears on the inner surface to contact the planetary gears. The drum 21.088 rotates in the same direction as the motor 21.077 but in the opposite direction to the pulleys 21.078, 21.079. The inner planetary gear for the inner pulley 21.078 is designed to permit the inner pulley to rotate at a speed of 1/3 of the motor speed. The inner planetary gear of the outer pulley 21.079 is designed to permit the outer pulley to rotate at a speed of ½ of the motor speed. The advantage of the driven pulleys is greater control of the lifting cable movement.

10112] The number of pulleys 21.078, 21.079 in Figure 21 can be changed with the gear ratios changed. So that for only one pulley the gear ratio is ½ that of the drum rotation. For three pulleys the gear ratios are ¼, 1/3 and ½ of that of the drum rotation. For four pulleys the gear ratios are 1/5, ¼, 1/3 and ½ of that of the drum rotation.

[0113] The drums in Figure 21 may have their rotation reversed by including a third planetary gear to drive the drum rather than a direct drive. In this case the gear design of the other pulleys must be changed to ensure the same relative rotation speeds.

[0114] The lifting cables in Figure 21 are shown to attach to the motor assembly at 21.089. The motor assembly can include attachment to the boom or beam. The motor assembly can include attachment to the sliding or moving lifting support as shown in Figures 4, 5, 8 and 9.

[0115] Figure 22 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention in which the support beam 22.218 is inboard of the load, ie, it is between the vehicle 22.204 and the lifting pulley 22.224, 22.226. The centre of gravity of the vehicle (W1) can be shifted away from the load (W2) by the use of an optional counterweight 22.244. However, the system of Figure 22 shifts the tipping fulcrum point from the track edge 22.208 (F1) to the base 22.276 (F2). The mechanical advantage is doubly increased as the distance increases between the edge of the track (F1) and the support arm base (F2) at the same time as the distance between the load (W2) and the support (F2) decreases. Thus the stability of this arrangement is increased in relation to an arrangement without the support beam.

[0116] The support beam 22.218 can be extendable, for example, it can be telescopic. In one embodiment, the beam 22.218 can be driven by a hydraulic ram. The support beam can be pivoted to the boom as shown at 22.275, and to the base as shown at 22.276.

[0117] The boom 22.272 can include additional movable means to translate the load to its required position. For example, the boom may include a further secondary boom 22.273 which can pivot or slide in relation to the main boom.

Alternatively, or additionally, the secondary boom can include a sliding carriage 22.071 on which the pulley system is mounted.

[0118] The mobile lifting machine can be a crane or excavator or purpose built machine. It can be mounted on tracks, wheels, skids, pontoons or other suitable means of transport.

[0119] The mobile lifting machine can be self powered or remotely powered as for example a lifting device to be operated on the sea bed with power unit on a vessel on the surface and connection via hoses and cables from the vessel to the mobile lifting device. The device can be manned or unmanned with remote control.

[0120] The support arm can have a footer to distribute load forces. The footer can be an excavator bucket. The footer can be adapted to be movable with the mobile lifting machine while supporting a load. For example, the footer can have skids, tracks, or wheels. The footer can include drive means to move the footer in unison with the beam. The drive means can be powered from the mobile lifting machine. The drive means can include a motor. The motive power in the case of a self propelled footer can be provided by the excavator hydraulic system via hoses and tubes attached to the lifting arm and with hydraulic motors incorporated into the tracked base just like the track motor drives of an excavator. A typical medium size excavator is easily capable of transferring the load arm fitted with such a tracked base at a distance of some 7 to 9 metres from the pivot point of the excavator.

[0121] Excavators have advantages compared with sidebooms. The invention does not significantly alter the outline of the excavator and so the easy transportability of an excavator is not changed. Only a single low bed trailer is needed. Excavators weigh less than sidebooms and thus reduce ground pressure.

[0122] The common practice of attaching hooks to buckets of excavators for lifting purposes does not always satisfy safety requirements in that the method of attachment is not normally engineered and tested as would normally be done for certified lifting devices. In addition the load can easily become detached from the hook if the bucket is rotated. The control of the load is only via the hydraulics of the machine which depends on the dexterity of the operator and the reliability of the hydraulics system. Such a modification can be dangerous if not properly carried out. The invention avoids such issues by utilising a block and cable system to provide a much more controlled lifting device and one that is much less subject to operator dexterity. Certified lifting components are able to be used.

[0123] The term excavator is used as an example and is not intended to limit the applicability of the invention. A purpose built mobile lifting device incorporating any of the features can be substituted.

[0124] Other optional features which can be incorporated can include the following:

[0125] Replacement of the foot extension of the lifting arm with one or multiple arms on the opposite side of the load, much in the way that spiders' legs provide support for activities of the main body.

[0126] Sensors and feedback control systems for hinge locations to ensure stability, load limits and to control movement.

[0127] Sensors and feedback control systems for rams to adjust for terrain, slope, load transfer and safety limits during movement of the assembly while carrying loads.

[0128] Free moving pivots to allow for movement which does not compromise the integrity of the lifting configuration. Such may be used when the support is floating to allow for swell and wave action. Such may be used when supporting and moving a load on uneven ground.

[0129] The term pivot can be replaced by a set of pivots or a ball joint which allows movement in any direction.

[0130] Direction sensors and control systems to enable the support location to move simultaneously or independently of the main support location.

[0131] Lifting can be achieved using rams and hinged members instead of pulley blocks and cable.

[0132] Lifting can be achieved by adjusting the main arm positions in a coordinated movement. [0133] Lifting can be achieved with a winch located at any suitable location on the device. The winch can be single or double drum. The winch can be separate or integrated with the pulley block.

[0134] Sheet pile removal is a difficult activity for normal cranes due to the load limits depending on distance from the crane. Lifting using a lifting device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can enhance and make sheet pipe removal much easier provided there is sufficient height clearance to operate and remove the required sheet pile lengths. Vibrating devices can be added to assist removal.

[0135] In a water environment, the footer can be a float. The mobile lifting device can be land based where the load is to be lifted close to the edge of the water, or it can be a floating crane mounted on a barge or pontoons.

[0136] Having read this specification, it will be seen that the invention is applicable in numerous applications where a load or device needs to be supported, lifted, or positioned. Such applications include pipe laying, drilling, pulling, cutting, and other operations which require a stable base.

[0137] In this specification, reference to a document, disclosure, or other publication or use is not an admission that the document, disclosure, publication or use forms part of the common general knowledge of the skilled worker in the field of this invention at the priority date of this specification, unless otherwise stated.

[0138] In this specification, terms indicating orientation or direction, such as

"up", "down", "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" "upright", "transverse" etc. are not intended to be absolute terms unless the context requires or indicates otherwise. These terms will normally refer to orientations shown in the drawings.

[0139] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its

"open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

[0140] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. [0141] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

. A stabilized device support apparatus including a body, a boom connected to the body, and device support means connected to the boom at a first distance from the body, the apparatus including a support beam connected to the boom at a second distance from the connection of the boom to the body.

2. A device support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

3. A device support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein connection of the support means to the boom is movable relative to the body, whereby the first distance is adjustable.

4. A mobile lifting machine having a body and a boom connected to the body, and lifting means connected to the boom at a first distance from the body, the lifting machine including a support beam connected to the boom at a second distance from the body.

5. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support beam includes a footing.

6. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the footing can be a plate, a transport device, or a float.

7. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the support beam is pivotably connected to the boom.

8. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the support beam is connected to the boom on the remote side of the lifting arrangement.

9. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the boom and beam form an articulated arm of an excavator.

10. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, including an auxiliary beam for the boom of a mobile crane.

11. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the boom and the auxiliary beam are pivotally connected.

12. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the auxiliary beam and the support beam are pivotally connected.

13. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in claim 12 as appended to claim 11 , wherein the boom, the auxiliary beam and the support beam are adapted to fold in a concertina fold when not in use.

14. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in claim 5 or any one of claims 6 to 12 as appended to claim 5, including primary transport means adapted to move the lifting apparatus.

15. A mobile lifting machine as claimed in any one of claim 4 to claim 8, wherein the beam is connected to the boom between the body and the lifting arrangement.

16. A mobile lifting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the beam is a boom connected to a second body.