Pipelayer and method of loading pipelayer or excavator for transportation

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a pipelayer and a method for of loading a pipelayer or excavator for transportation. One embodiment includes a method for transporting a pipelayer or excavator from a first work site to a second worksite via a public road. The method includes acts of: raising the pipelayer or excavator off of track shoes of the pipelayer or excavator; removing a first track assembly from the pipelayer or excavator using a boom of the pipelayer or a boom assembly of the excavator; loading the first track assembly onto a first trailer of a first tractor-trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; removing the second track assembly from the pipelayer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; and loading the second track assembly onto the first trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator.

1 . A method for transporting a pipelayer or excavator from a first work site to a second worksite via a public road, comprising acts of: 
 raising the pipelayer or excavator off of track shoes of the pipelayer or excavator;    removing a first track assembly from the pipelayer or excavator using a boom of the pipelayer or a boom assembly of the excavator;    loading the first track assembly onto a first trailer of a first tractor-trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator;    removing the second track assembly from the pipelayer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator; and    loading the second track assembly onto the first trailer using the boom of the remaining pipelayer or the boom assembly of the remaining excavator.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 backing a second trailer of a second tractor-trailer underneath the remaining pipelayer or excavator; and    lowering the remaining pipelayer or excavator onto the second trailer.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transporting the pipelayer or the excavator to the second worksite using only the two tractor-trailers.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 removing the boom and/or a counterweight of the pipelayer or excavator from the remaining pipelayer or excavator; and    loading the boom and/or the counterweight onto a third trailer of a third tractor-trailer.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the counterweight is removed and loaded and removing and loading the counterweight comprises operating a piston and cylinder assembly of the pipelayer or excavator.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising hitching a stinger trailer to the second trailer.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein raising the pipelayer or excavator comprises operating outriggers of the pipelayer or excavator.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pipelayer or excavator is the pipelayer.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pipelayer comprises: 
 an undercarriage, comprising: 
 a lower frame;  
 two track assemblies, each track assembly, comprising: 
 a track frame removably attached to the lower frame; and  
 a track shoe supported by the track frame so that the track shoe may move around the track frame;  
 
   a main assembly supported by the undercarriage so that the main assembly may rotate relative to the undercarriage, the main assembly comprising: 
 a main frame; and  
 the boom pivoted to the main frame.  
   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pipelayer or excavator is the excavator.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein removing each track assembly uses a boom of the boom assembly and loading each track assembly uses a stick of the boom assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein removing each track assembly uses a winch attached to the boom assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising folding a stick of the boom assembly underneath a boom of the boom assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein raising the pipelayer or excavator comprises operating a jack of a second trailer.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 removing a gooseneck from a front end of the second trailer;    driving the pipelayer or excavator over the second trailer via the front end; and    reattaching the gooseneck to the front end of the second trailer.    
   
   
       16 . A pipelayer, comprising: 
 an undercarriage, comprising: 
 a lower frame;  
 two track assemblies, each track assembly, comprising: 
 a track frame removably attached to the lower frame; and  
 a track shoe supported by the track frame so that the track shoe may move around the track frame;  
 
   a main assembly supported by the undercarriage so that the main assembly may rotate relative to the undercarriage, the main assembly comprising: 
 a main frame; and  
 a boom pivoted to the main frame.  
   
   
   
       17 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising an adaptor removably attached to the main frame, wherein the boom is pivoted to the adaptor.  
   
   
       18 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising a winch attached to the boom.  
   
   
       19 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , wherein the boom is an A-frame.  
   
   
       20 . The pipelayer of  claim 19 , wherein the boom is asymmetric.  
   
   
       21 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a winch;    a cable operatively connected to the winch; and    a pulley block operatively connected to the cable and pivoted to the boom.    
   
   
       22 . The pipelayer of  claim 21 , wherein the pivot between the pulley block and the boom is a hinge.  
   
   
       23 . The pipelayer of  claim 21 , further comprising a load block operatively connected to the cable.  
   
   
       24 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising a piston and cylinder assembly pivoted to the boom and pivoted to the main frame.  
   
   
       25 . A method of using the pipelayer of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 lifting a pipe using the pipelayer;    rotating the pipe about a radius using the pipelayer; and    lowering the pipe into a trench using the pipelayer.    
   
   
       26 . A method of using the pipelayer of  claim 17 , comprising: 
 removing the adaptor and the boom; and    attaching an excavator boom or a crane boom to the main frame.    
   
   
       27 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising a cab attached to the main frame, wherein an operator's field of vision to a front, a left, and a right side is unobstructed when an operator is seated in the cab.  
   
   
       28 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising an outrigger pivoted to the lower frame, the outrigger operable to extend into contact with the ground to support the pipelayer.  
   
   
       29 . The pipelayer of  claim 28 , wherein the outrigger comprises: 
 a first arm pivoted to the lower frame and operable between a first position along the lower frame and a second position extending from the lower frame; and    a second arm operable between a first position retracted in the first arm and a second position extended from the first arm.    
   
   
       30 . The pipelayer of  claim 29 , wherein the outrigger further comprises: 
 a third arm operable between a first position retracted in the second arm and a second position extended from the second arm; and    a pad pivoted to the third arm.    
   
   
       31 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising a track motor attached to the track frame, wherein the track shoe is operatively connected to the track motor.  
   
   
       32 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising an engine attached to the main frame.  
   
   
       33 . The pipelayer of  claim 32 , wherein the engine is a diesel-electric hybrid.  
   
   
       34 . The pipelayer of  claim 32 , wherein the engine is a hydrogen fuel-cell.  
   
   
       35 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , wherein a length of the lower frame is substantially equal to or less than a width of a standard trailer of a tractor-trailer.  
   
   
       36 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , wherein a width of the lower frame is greater than a width of a standard trailer of a tractor-trailer.  
   
   
       37 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , wherein a width of the undercarriage is not variable.  
   
   
       38 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the removable attachment between the track frame and the lower frame comprises a lug and a bracket assembly,    the lug comprises a hook and a hole,    the lug is attached to one of the track frame and the lower frame,    the bracket assembly is attached to the other of the track frame and the lower frame, and    the bracket assembly comprises a first fastener which receives the hook and a second removable fastener disposed through the hole.    
   
   
       39 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a winch attached to the main frame; and    a cable operatively connected to the winch and to the boom at an end of the boom distal from the pivot between the boom and the main frame so that operation of the winch will raise or lower the boom.    
   
   
       40 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , wherein a rectangular inner footprint is defined by inner sides of the track shoes and the pivot between the boom and the main frame is located within the inner footprint.  
   
   
       41 . The pipelayer of  claim 40 , wherein the pivot between the boom and the main frame is located within the inner footprint at any rotational orientation of the main frame relative to the undercarriage.  
   
   
       42 . The pipelayer of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the boom is pivoted to a first side of the main frame, and    the main assembly further comprises a counterweight removably attached to a second side of the main frame, the second side opposite the first side.    
   
   
       43 . The pipelayer of  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 a piston and cylinder assembly (PCA) pivoted to the main frame and pivoted to the counterweight, wherein the PCA is operable between a first position where the counterweight is removably attached to the second side of the main frame and a second position where the counterweight is seated on the ground.    
   
   
       44 . The pipelayer of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 a head pivoted to the counterweight;    a first pair of arms pivoted to the main frame and the head;    a second pair of arms pivoted to the main frame and the head, wherein the PCA is pivoted to the counterweight via the head.    
   
   
       45 . The pipelayer of  claim 42 , wherein the counterweight has a recess formed therein and the PCA is disposed in the recess when the PCA is in the first position.  
   
   
       46 . The pipelayer of  claim 42 , further comprising a proximity sensor operable to verify that the counterweight is in the first position.  
   
   
       47 . A method of using a pipelayer, comprising acts of: 
 providing a pipelayer;    removing a counterweight of the pipelayer; and    operating the pipelayer on a steep grade without the counterweight.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein removing the counterweight comprises operating a piston and cylinder assembly of the pipelayer.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein a weight of an undercarriage of the pipelayer has been increased to compensate for removal of the counterweight.