Harnischfeger Corporation

Indulis E Raugulis

Craig D Dewey

Richard H Gundrum

An overhead travelling crane for a structure subject to oscillations resulting from earthquake shocks, comprises a bridge having flanged main wheels at opposite ends which are supported on a circular runway rail attached to the structure. Restraint means are provided between each end of the crane bridge and the structure to damp or control horizontal shifting of the crane relative to the structure resulting from horizontal oscillations of the structure to thereby prevent damage to the flanged main wheels and runway rail and crane derailment. The restraint means comprise a pair of shock absorber assemblies, one mounted at each end of the crane bridge, which are in constant resilient engagement with the sides of the structure and prevent a gap or space from occurring which would allow for excessive accelerated movement of the crane bridge. Each shock absorber assembly comprises a support bracket connected to the bridge, a pair of snubber wheel support plates pivotally mounted on the support bracket, a pair of rotatable snubber wheels, one mounted on each wheel support plate, and rotatably engaged with the structure (or a guide rail) thereon, biasing means connected between the snubber wheel support plates for urging the snubber wheels toward the structure, and a shock absorber connected between the snubber wheel support plates for controlling or damping movement of the snubber wheels away from the structure.

Growing community of inventors

Shorewood, WI, United States of America

Indulis E Raugulis