Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02777970 2012-05-25
Docket: 42945-101PROV
EXTENSION BOOM APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to boom trucks used for large
construction, and
in particular to an attachment boom apparatus for reaching under a bridge or
support structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The aging of infrastructure is a well known problem with critical emphasis on
bridge
structures and the like due to their life threatening potential as well as
common location at
critical intersections. Inspection practices of bridge structures play a
critical role in problems
detection and the avoidance of critical failures. Unfortunately, the ease of
inspection is limited
by access to the underside of bridge structures, which can require the
construction of
scaffolding and other cumbersome procedures. Bridge structures are also a
common location
for utilities, which can further interfere with inspection access to their
respective bridge
structures and the maintenance of which could also benefit from more
convenient access.
In view of the above discussion, it would be beneficial to provide an
apparatus for
more conveniently accessing the underside of bridge structures and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention provides an extension boom apparatus
for
an excavator, comprising a first extension boom adapted for vertical
orientation, a second
extension boom adapted for horizontal orientation, a leveraged excavator
coupling affixed to a
proximal end of the first extension boom, an orthogonal attachment between a
distal end of
the first extension boom and a proximal end of the second extension boom, and
a personnel
basket coupled to a distal end of the second extension boom.
The apparatus may further comprise a rotational joint connecting the second
extension
boom to the orthogonal attachment and oriented to provide rotation of the
second extension
boom in a radial plane of rotation of the first extension boom. The apparatus
may further
comprise a mechanism for controlling rotation of the second extension boom in
a radial plane
of rotation of the first extension boom.
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CA 02777970 2012-05-25
Docket: 42945-101PROV
The apparatus may further comprise a rotational coupling between the second
extension boom and the personnel basket, oriented to enable rotation of the
personnel basket
in a vertical axial plane of the second extension. The apparatus may further
comprise an
actuator for controlling the angular orientation between the personnel basket
and the second
extensional boom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is illustratively shown and described in reference to
the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of one embodiment of an
extension
boom apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention and
attached to an excavator as it would be used for accessing under a bridge
structure;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the extension boom apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the extension boom apparatus of Figures 1
and 2;
and
Figure 4 is a top view of the extension boom apparatus of Figures 1-3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is introduced using examples and particular embodiments
for
descriptive purposes. Although a variety of examples are presented to show how
various
configurations can be employed to achieve the desired improvements, these
particular
embodiments are only illustrative and not intended in any way to restrict the
inventions
presented.
Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of an extension boom apparatus
10
attached to an excavator 12 located on bridge structure 14, as it might be
used by an operator
16 to inspect the underside 18 of bridge structure 14. Extension boom
apparatus 10 and
excavator 12 are not drawn to the same scale. Figures 2-4 show different views
of the same
extension boom apparatus 10 and all views are intended for reference by the
following
disclosure unless otherwise referenced to a particular Figure.
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CA 02777970 2012-05-25
Docket: 42945-101PROV
Extension boom apparatus 10 includes a first extension boom 20 generally
intended
for vertical orientation and a second extension boom 22 generally intended for
horizontal
orientation. First extension boom 20 is connected at a proximal end 24 to
excavator 12 via a
leveraged connector 26. Leveraged connector 26 may include any suitable quick-
connect
mechanism 27, which may also be reversible, thereby enabling upward use of
extension boom
apparatus with respect to excavator 12.
First extension boom 20 is connected at a distal end 28 to second extension
boom 22
via an orthogonal connection 30, which maintains a generally orthogonal
relationship between
first extension boom 20 and second extension boom 22. Connection 30 includes a
rotational
joint 32 oriented to enable the second extension boom 22 to rotate in a radial
plane of the first
extension boom 20. The scope of rotation 34 is intended to be approximately
180 , as shown
in Figure 4, wherein the radial plane of rotation is represented by the
surface of the drawing.
A motor 36 controls the positioning of second extension boom 22 within the
range of rotation
34.
Second extension boom 22 is affixed to connection 30 at a proximal end 38, and
a
personnel basket 40 is rotatably connected to a distal end 42 of second
extension boom 22 by
a rotational joint 44. Joint 44 has a horizontal axis allowing the relative
vertical rotation of
personnel basket 40 with respect to second extension boom 22. Distal end 42 is
further
connected to personnel basket 40 via a hydraulic actuator 46 which enables
control of the
angular orientation between basket 40 and extension boom 22 through an arc 48,
which is
approximately 60 about the horizontal orientation of personnel basket 40.
Joint 44 and
actuator 46 may alternatively be replaced by a vertical actuator (not shown)
enabling the
raising of personnel basket 44 with respect to second extension boom 22
thereby providing
greater reach of the apparatus 10 around different types of bridge structures.
First and second extension booms 20 and 22 may be constructed in any suitable
manner as used in the industry with hydraulic actuation. Booms 20 and 22 are
intended to
prevent rotation between their respective inner elements 20a, 22a and their
respective inner
elements 20b, 22b. Thus, they may have any suitable shape or cross section to
prevent such
rotation.
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CA 02777970 2012-05-25
Docket: 42945-101PROV
Any suitable personnel basket 40 may be used, such as elongated basket 40 or
other
industry available personnel buckets. Elongated basket 40 provides a degree of
the movement
to an operator 16 without requiring use of second extension boom 22. The
elongation of
basket 40 also allows operator 16 to be fully surrounded if desired and
further enhances safety
in the event that basket 40 is tilted to a vertical orientation.
In operation, excavator 12 is used for moving extension boom apparatus 10 from
the
surface of bridge structure 14 and over a side rail 15 most conveniently by
rotation of second
extension boom 22 with respect to first extension boom 20 using motor 36 to
locate second
extension boom 22 at an extreme end 50 (Figure 4) of arc 34. This enables easy
clearance of
personnel basket 40 over side rail 15 and lowering of apparatus 10 by
excavator 12. First
extension boom 20 is then extended to lower personnel basket 40 of the
underside 18 of
bridge structure 14, and motor 36 then rotates second extension boom 20 and
personnel basket
40 beneath bridge structure 14. First extension 20 may then be retracted to
suitably position
operator 16 with respect to the underside 18 of bridge structure 14. Second
extension boom 22
and motor 36 are then used to position personnel basket 40 at any desired
location within their
range of motion. It may alternatively be necessary to move personnel basket
and extension
boom apparatus 10 over the side of and underneath a bridge structure without
changing the
angular position of second extension boom 22 with respect to first extension
boom 20,
depending upon structural limitations in the bridge structure. Leveraged
connector 26 enables
such movements of extension boom apparatus 10 as well as maintaining the
general vertical
orientation of first extension boom 20 during an access or inspection
procedure. This
alternative procedure is aided by controlling the angular position of basket
40 with actuator 46
to insure the safety of operator 16.
The present invention is illustratively described above in reference to the
disclosed
embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made to the disclosed
embodiments
by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present
invention as
defined in the appended claims.
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