Systems and methods for removal of trunnion pin sleeve and for supporting tainter gate during said removal

{
  "publication_number": "US9255373B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Systems and methods for removal of trunnion pin sleeve and for supporting tainter gate during said removal",
  "abstract": "Methods and systems for use in the removal of trunnion pin sleeves and the supporting of lock and/or dam gate structures (e.g., tainter or roller gates) are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, a method of trunnion pin sleeve removal includes causing either a constriction of at least one part of the sleeve or an application of a torque with respect to the at least one part of the sleeve, and subsequently applying a force to the at least one part of the sleeve so as to pull out the sleeve. Also, in another example embodiment, a system for supporting a lock and/or dam gate assembly includes a support assembly having a at least one pedestal assembly. The support assembly further includes a trunnion arm support structure, configured to be supported at least in part by the at least one pedestal assembly and to at least partially support a trunnion arm.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of removing a trunnion pin sleeve from one or more support structures associated with a tainter gate subsequent to a performing of a core drilling operation upon a trunnion pin, the trunnion pin sleeve being a remainder of the trunnion pin following the performing of the core drilling operation, the method comprising: causing either a constriction of at least one part of the trunnion pin sleeve in an inward manner relative to a central axis of the trunnion pin sleeve, or an application of a torque with respect to the at least one part of the trunnion pin sleeve about the central axis; and following the causing, applying a force to the at least one part of the trunnion pin sleeve so that the at least one part of the trunnion pin sleeve is pulled out from the one or more support structures.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method at least comprises the causing of the constriction.",
    "3. The method of claim 2, wherein the causing of the constriction further includes removing a section of the trunnion pin sleeve proximate a first end of the trunnion pin sleeve, attaching a first end surface of a cross bar to a first region of an interior surface within the trunnion pin sleeve along or proximate to the first end of the trunnion pin sleeve, and attaching a second end surface of the cross bar to a second region of the interior surface.",
    "4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second region of the interior surface is substantially diametrically opposed to the first region.",
    "5. The method of claim 3, wherein the attaching of the second end surface is accomplished by way of a welding operation, and wherein the constriction occurs due to the welding operation.",
    "6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first end of the trunnion pin sleeve is proximate a location where a first of the support structures is positioned in relation to the trunnion pin sleeve, the first support structure being a trunnion bushing, and wherein the section extends inward from the first end toward a second end of the trunnion pin sleeve, up to or proximate a side of a second of the support structures that is fixedly positioned in relation to a pier.",
    "7. The method of claim 3, wherein the causing of the constriction includes rotating a turnbuckle associated with the cross bar.",
    "8. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further includes the application of the torque, by application of an additional force to the cross bar.",
    "9. The method of claim 2, wherein the causing of the constriction includes cutting a groove along trunnion pin sleeve and then welding together side surfaces along the groove, the welding resulting in the constriction.",
    "10. The method of claim 2, wherein the causing of the constriction includes affixing a first barrier at a first end of the trunnion pin sleeve, affixing a second barrier at a second end of the trunnion pin sleeve, and adding a coolant material into the trunnion pin sleeve, the adding of the coolant material causing the constriction.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, further comprising adding a rod attached to one or both of the barriers, and one or both of causing the application of the torque by way of the rod and applying the force to the rod.",
    "12. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing of the application of the torque further includes attaching two or more lever arm supports to an interior surface of the trunnion pin sleeve, providing a lever arm in relation to the lever arm supports, and applying a torquing force to the lever arm.",
    "13. The method of claim 12, wherein additionally the causing of the constriction is performed.",
    "14. The method of claim 1, further comprising one or both of (i) cutting the trunnion pin sleeve into two or more sections and (ii) core drilling a trunnion bushing associated with one of the support structures.",
    "15. The method of claim 1, further comprising a setting up of a core drill assembly in relation to the tainter gate, the setting up including: i) arranging two core drill support mounts respectively on two sides of a trunnion arm assembly of the tainter gate; ii) tightening the two core drill support mounts with respect to one another so that a combination of the two core drill support mounts is arranged around, in contact with, and secured in relation to, the trunnion arm assembly; and iii) attaching a core drill support platform to at least one of the core drill support mounts and a core drill to the core drill support platform.",
    "16. The method of claim 15, further comprising one or both of: (iv) attaching a laser to the core drill and employing the laser to achieve laser-based alignment; and (v) attaching a water plug at an orifice at a far end of the trunnion pin.",
    "17. The method of claim 15, wherein (i) additionally includes providing at least two braces at a far end of the support platform away from the support mounts.",
    "18. A method of removing a trunnion pin sleeve from one or more support structures associated with a tainter gate subsequent to a performing of a core drilling operation upon a trunnion pin, the trunnion pin sleeve being a remainder of the trunnion pin following the performing of the core drilling operation, the method comprising: (a) either (i) causing a constriction of the trunnion pin sleeve in an inward manner toward a central region of the trunnion pin sleeve by way of one or both of a welding operation and an introduction of a cooling material within the trunnion pin sleeve, or (ii) core drilling a trunnion bushing within which the trunnion pin sleeve extends; and (b) applying a force generally along a central axis of at least a remainder portion of the trunnion pin sleeve so that the remainder portion is pulled out from the one or more support structures.",
    "19. The method of claim 18, further comprising applying a further force in relation to the at least one part of the trunnion pin sleeve so as to apply a torque thereto, whereby the trunnion pin sleeve is thereby loosened in relation to the one or more support structures.",
    "20. The method of claim 18, wherein (a) is preceded by an assembling of a core drill assembly to a trunnion arm.",
    "21. The method of claim 20, further comprising wherein the core drill assembly includes a core drill that is employed to perform the core drilling of the trunnion bushing.",
    "22. The method of claim 18, further comprising cutting the at least one part of the trunnion pin sleeve into multiple sections."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to tainter gate assemblies as are commonly employed in dams and/or locks and the maintenance and refurbishment of same and, more particularly, to one or more of methods of removing a trunnion pin sleeve during a trunnion pin removal/replacement process, related methods pertaining to core drill assembly, a gate support structure for use with lock and/or dam gates, and methods of assembling, installing and/or using the same.\n\nTainter gates are commonly employed in dams and canal locks, along the Mississippi River and elsewhere, to control water flow. Typically, tainter gates are floodgates having convex surfaces on the upstream sides of the gates, such that the flow of water toward and by the gates can assist in the opening and closing of the gates. A conventional tainter gate includes a pair of arms that are rotatably supported by way of shafts or “trunnion pins” that extend out of the tainter gate supports or “trunnion boxes” attached to the downstream sides of the dam piers on opposite sides of the tainter gate. The trunnion pins particularly pass through, and are supported on, two (or possibly more) anchor plates of the trunnion boxes. Rotation of the tainter gate relative to the trunnion boxes (and thus relative to the river or other body of water and relative to the environment generally) particularly is accomplished at least in part by virtue of the rotation of trunnion pin bushings formed inside the casting of the arms through which pass the trunnion pins, relative to the trunnion pins themselves.",
  "cpc": [
    "E02B 7/42",
    "B25B 27/00",
    "B25B 27/02",
    "D06B 23/047",
    "E02B 7/40",
    "Y10T 29/49815",
    "Y10T 29/49817",
    "Y10T 29/49821",
    "Y10T 29/49822"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 27/00",
    "B25B 27/02",
    "D06B 23/04",
    "E02B 7/40",
    "E02B 7/42"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "STEIBER JEFFREY D",
    "BECKER STEVEN D",
    "BEAN RODGER W",
    "WIBRALSKI DANIEL C",
    "MCCULLICK MICHAEL A",
    "J F BRENNAN COMPANY INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "STEIBER JEFFREY D",
    "BECKER STEVEN D",
    "BEAN RODGER W",
    "WIBRALSKI DANIEL C",
    "MCCULLICK MICHAEL A"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-05-24",
  "publication_date": "2016-02-09",
  "grant_date": "2016-02-09",
  "priority_date": "2011-05-26",
  "application_number": "US-201213480004-A",
  "family_id": "55235523",
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}