Crane with saw attachment mechanism
A crawler type crane having a base carrier unit having a control unit associated therewith and an upper portion assembly having a boom portion coupled at end to the base carrier unit and to a jib portion at an opposed end. The boom portion includes one or more selected boom sections that are articulatable relative to each other. The crane also includes a multi-function attachment unit that is coupled to the jib portion and has a grappling unit for grasping a work piece and a saw attachment unit for cutting the workpiece. The crane can also include a first fluid regulating device coupled to the jib portion for regulating a fluid to the jib portion and to the multi-function attachment unit and a second fluid regulating device coupled to the boom portion for regulating a fluid to the winch element and to the multi-function attachment unit.
1 . A crane system, comprising a crawler type crane having
a base carrier unit having a control unit associated therewith,
an upper portion assembly having a boom portion coupled at one end to the base carrier unit and to a jib portion at an opposed end, the upper portion assembly being rotatably coupled to the base carrier unit so as to move in any selected rotary direction and to be positioned in any selected rotational position, wherein the boom portion includes one or more selected boom sections that are articulatable relative to each other, and
a multi-function attachment unit coupled to the jib portion and having a grappling unit for grasping a work piece and a saw attachment unit for cutting the workpiece,
wherein the jib portion includes an angled extension component that is coupled to a distal end of the jib portion and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and wherein the angled extension component has an internal chamber that mounts a support element for adding support thereto, wherein the angled extension component includes a first integrated end component that is configured to be coupled to the jib portion and a second integrated end component that is angled relative to the first integrated end component to form an angled section having an angle, wherein the support element is disposed in the first integrated end component, the second integrated end component, and the angled section, and wherein the control unit includes a relay box having a movable dial component selectable among a plurality of operational modes, wherein each mode of the plurality of operational modes is configured to transmit a control signal along a separate electrical pathway to a corresponding valve of the crawler type crane.
2 . The crane system of claim 1 , wherein the base carrier portion comprises a pair of treads coupled to a main body thereof for moving the crawler type crane.
3 . The crane system of claim 2 , further comprising a single first fluid regulating device coupled to the jib portion for regulating a fluid to the jib portion and to the multi-function attachment unit.
4 . The crane system of claim 3 , further comprising
a winch element coupled to the boom portion, and
a second fluid regulating device coupled to the boom portion for regulating a fluid to the winch element and to the multi-function attachment unit.
5 . The crane system of claim 4 , wherein the control unit is programmed such that the first and second fluid regulating devices regulate fluid to the saw attachment of the multi-function attachment unit.
6 . The crane system of claim 1 , wherein the second integrated end component has an interface bracket associated therewith for coupling to the multi-function attachment unit, and wherein the crane system further includes a first fluid regulating device coupled to the jib portion, the first fluid regulating device being a low-flow valve configured to pass hydraulic fluid at a flow rate of less than about 40 liters per minute.
7 . The crane system of claim 1 , wherein the angle is between 40 degrees and 50 degrees.
8 . The crane system of claim 7 , wherein the angle is 45 degrees.
9 . The crane system of claim 1 , wherein the boom portion of the upper portion assembly has a single boom diverter valve and the jib portion of the upper portion assembly has a single jib diverter valve to form a split diverter valve configuration, wherein the boom diverter valve is coupled to the control unit via a first hydraulic pathway and the jib diverter valve is coupled to the control unit via a second hydraulic pathway different than the first hydraulic pathway.
10 . The crane system of claim 9 , wherein the jib diverter valve is a low-flow diverter valve.
11 . The crane system of claim 1 , wherein the jib portion includes a plurality of jib extension components, further comprising
a jib hydraulic pathway for coupling hydraulic fluid to the plurality of jib extension components, and
a limiter valve disposed in the jib hydraulic pathway for limiting the amount of the hydraulic fluid passing to one or more of the plurality of jib extension components.
12 . The crane system of claim 1 , wherein the jib portion includes a plurality of jib extension components and wherein the plurality of operational modes includes a winch mode, a first jib mode and a second jib mode, wherein:
in the winch mode, the control unit generates a winch control signal to a first diverter valve to divert a flow of hydraulic fluid to a winch element,
in the first jib mode, the control unit does not generate a first jib control signal that actuates a limiter valve and the plurality of jib extension components are operable, and
in the second jib mode, the control unit generates the first jib control signal that actuates the limiter valve and the plurality of jib extension components are inoperable.