CRANE CONTROL

Abstract

A crane control for a crane includes at least one operating unit operable by an operator for controlling working functions of the crane. Control signals can be input to actuators of the crane by the operating unit, and a mounting arrangement is provided for mounting the operating unit in a driving cab of the vehicle and a support arrangement connects the operating unit to the mounting arrangement. The support arrangement for the operating unit is supported limitedly moveably between at least two positions, a first position of which is in the form of a working position in which the operating unit is between a steering arrangement of the vehicle and a driving seat, and a second position of which is in the form of a storage position in which the operating unit is moved away from the steering arrangement of the vehicle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a crane control and a crane comprising such a crane control.

Crane controls of the general kind set forth, with an operating unit which is operable by an operator and which is adapted to control working functions of the crane are known in the state of the art. Control signals can be input to actuators of the crane by means of such an operating unit, in which case a mounting arrangement is provided for mounting the operating unit in a driving cab of the vehicle and a support arrangement for the operating unit is provided for supporting the operating unit, the support arrangement connecting the operating unit to the mounting arrangement. An operating unit known in the state of the art can be supported for example at an armrest which is mounted at a passenger seat disposed in a driving cab of a vehicle.

The operator of the crane is usually also the person who steers the vehicle on which the crane is mounted and by which the crane is driven to the location of use. To operate the crane, being effected by way of the operating unit, in the case of operating units known in the state of the art and disposed in the driving cab the operator has to move within the cab to the operating unit, for example by moving from a driving seat to the passenger seat at which a stationarily mounted operating unit is disposed. As a result manoeuvring movements of the vehicle and operation of the crane, possibly including actuation of support members, presuppose corresponding changes in position on the part of the operator within the cab. That involves an increased amount of time and a low level of comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a crane control of the general kind set forth and a crane equipped with such a crane control, with which the above-discussed problems are avoided.

That object is attained by a crane control having the features of claim 1 and a crane comprising such a crane control. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the appendant claims.

According to the invention it is provided that the support arrangement for the operating unit is supported limitedly moveably between at least two positions of which one position is in the form of a working position in which the operating unit is between a steering arrangement of the vehicle and a driving seat and of which another position is in the form of a storage position in which the operating unit is moved away from the steering arrangement of the vehicle. In that way the operator of the crane can implement operation of the crane without having to leave the driving seat. In other words, in that way steering of the vehicle and operation of the crane can be effected from the driving seat. By virtue of eliminating a change in position of the operator within the driving cab the amount of time necessary for changing between steering of the vehicle and operation of the crane can be reduced. In addition operation of the crane is made more comfortable as a result.

The operating unit for stowage thereof can be moved from the working position into the storage position where it is arranged for example while the vehicle is being steered. The operating unit can be moved from the storage position into the working position for operation of the crane.

In that respect there can be provided a visualization unit for visualization of a working environment of the crane. The visualization unit can permit an operator a view into a region of the working environment of the crane, that cannot be seen directly from the driving cab.

In that respect it can be advantageous if the visualization unit is in the form of a mobile unit so that it is moveable independently of the operating unit and is preferably wearable on the body by an operator. The visualization unit can be a virtual reality display device which can be arranged in front of the eyes of the user. A user can be displayed images of cameras arranged for example on the crane by the visualization unit. A display can be implemented stereoscopically at least for portions of the working environment.

It can be advantageous if the support arrangement is arranged pivotably relative to the mounting arrangement and/or displaceably on the mounting arrangement. That can permit a guided movement between the mounting arrangement and the support arrangement. The support arrangement can be arranged limitedly pivotably relative to the mounting arrangement and/or limitedly displaceably on the mounting arrangement.

In that respect it can be advantageous if the support arrangement has at least two parts which are pivotable relative to each other and of which the one part supports the operating unit and the mounting arrangement is arranged on the other part, wherein the limited movement of the operating unit between the working position and the storage position is effected by a pivotal movement of the two parts which are pivotable relative to each other. In that way at least two parts which are pivotable relative to each other can be disposed between the operating unit and the mounting arrangement.

In that respect it can further be advantageous if the support arrangement has at least two parts which are displaceable relative to each other and of which the one part supports the operating unit and the mounting arrangement is arranged on the other part, where the limited movement of the operating unit between the working position and the storage position is effected by a preferably linear displacement of the two parts which are displaceable relative to each other. In that way at least two parts which are displaceable relative to each other can be disposed between the operating unit and the mounting arrangement.

It is possible to provide a combination of a pivotal movement and a displacement of the two parts of the support arrangement, that are moveable relative to each other.

It can be advantageous if the support arrangement has an adjustment device for adaptation of a position of the operating unit in the working position relative to an operator. The adjustment arrangement can permit further pivotal movement and/or displacement, possibly independently of the at least two parts of the support arrangement, that are moveable relative to each other.

As was mentioned in the opening part of this specification protection is also claimed for a vehicle comprising a crane and a crane control as described hereinbefore. In that respect it is provided that the mounting arrangement of the crane control is mounted in a driving cab of the vehicle.

It can preferably be provided that the operating unit in the storage position is arranged beside a driving seat of the vehicle.

It can be provided that the operating unit in the storage position is arranged above a driving seat of the vehicle. It is also conceivable for the operating unit to be arranged in the storage position beneath the driving seat.

It can be provided that the operating unit in the storage position is arranged in front of or behind a driving seat of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are discussed with reference to the Figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle with a crane,

FIG. 2 shows a known operating unit in a driving cab,

FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of a driving cab with a crane control according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view of a driving cab with a further crane control according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view of a driving cab with a further crane control according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows a driving cab with a further crane control according to the invention,

FIG. 7 shows a proposed crane control with an operating unit in the storage position of the support arrangement, and

FIG. 8 shows the operating unit of FIG. 7 in a working position of the storage arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1 having a driving cab 4 and a crane in the form of a loading crane arranged on the vehicle 1. An operating unit 2 for controlling working functions of the crane 5 is arranged in the driving cab 4.

FIG. 2 shows an operating unit 2 in the driving cab 4 of the vehicle 1 according to the state of the art. The operating unit 2 is mounted to a passenger seat 7 and includes two operating levers in the form of joysticks 6 mounted on vertically pivotable armrests of the passenger seat 7. As illustrated an operator 8 wears a visualization unit 3 for visualizing a working environment of the crane 5.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective sectional view of a driving cab 4 with a crane control according to the invention including an operating unit 2 which as illustrated is in a working position, in which case then the operating unit 2 is between a steering arrangement 10 of the vehicle 1 and a driving seat 9. The crane control includes a support arrangement 11—here in the form of a pivotal lever—for the operating unit 2, which is arranged pivotably relative to a mounting arrangement 12—here in the form of a support pin. The operator 8 shown here, otherwise than as illustrated, can wear a visualization unit 3 for visualization of a working environment of the crane 5, in which case the visualization unit 3 can be a mobile unit (for example virtual reality goggles) so that it is moveable independently of the operating unit 2 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 shows a further variant of a crane control. In this example an operating unit 2 is shown in a storage position in which the operating unit 2 is arranged above a driving seat 9 of the vehicle 1, in which the operating unit 2 is moved away from a steering arrangement 10 of the vehicle 1. By virtue of a pivotal movement of the support arrangement 11 the operating unit 2 can be moved into a working position, in which case then the operating unit 2 is between the steering arrangement 10 of the vehicle 1 and the driving seat 9.

FIG. 5 shows a further variant of a crane control. In this example an operating unit 2 is shown in a position between a storage position and a working position. By virtue of a displacement of the support arrangement 11 which here is provided with two parts 11a, 11b which are telescopic relative to each other, the operating unit 2 can be moved into the working position or the storage position. The support arrangement 11 has two parts 11a, 11b which are displaceable relative to each other and of which the one part 11b supports the operating unit 2 and the mounting arrangement 12—here in the form of a support pin—is arranged on the other part 11a, wherein the limited movement of the operating unit 2 between the working position and the storage position is effected by a preferably linear displacement of the two parts 11a, 11b which are displaceable relative to each other.

FIG. 6 shows a further variant of a crane control arranged in a driving cab 4 of a vehicle 1. A driving seat 9 and a passenger seat 7 are disposed in the driving cab 4. An operator 8 sits in the driving seat 9. For reasons of clarity of the drawing the steering arrangement 10 which would be in front of the operator 8 is not shown here. The Figure shows an operating unit 2 in a storage position in which the operating unit 2 is arranged beside the driving seat 9. The support arrangement 11 and the mounting arrangement 12 can be of the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 shows an operating unit 2 supported on a support arrangement 11, wherein the support arrangement 11 is in a storage position in which the operating unit 2 is moved away from a steering arrangement 10 of a vehicle 1 (see FIG. 6). The operating unit 2 can be mounted in a driving cab 4 of the vehicle 1—for example by screwing to the floor of the driving cab 4—by means of a mounting arrangement 12. The support arrangement 11 is arranged on the mounting arrangement 12 pivotably relative to the latter.

FIG. 8 shows the support arrangement 11 with the operating unit 2 of FIG. 7 mounted thereto, in a working position. The support arrangement 11 has an adjustment device 13 for adaptation of a position of the operating unit 2 in the working position relative to an operator 8. The adjustment device 13 has two parts 13a, 13b which are displaceable relative to each other and of which the one part 13b carries the operating unit 2 and the mounting arrangement 12 is arranged on the other part 13a.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 vehicle

2 operating unit

3 visualization unit

4 driving cab

5 crane

6 joystick

7 passenger seat

8 operator

9 driving seat

10 steering arrangement

11 support arrangement

11 a part of the support arrangement

11 b other part of the support arrangement

12 mounting arrangement

13 adjustment device

13 a part of the adjustment device

13 b other part of the adjustment device

Claims

1. A crane control for a crane arranged on a vehicle, comprising at least one operating unit operable by an operator for controlling working functions of the crane, wherein control signals can be input to actuators of the crane by means of the operating unit, wherein there is provided a mounting arrangement for mounting the operating unit in a driving cab of the vehicle and a support arrangement for the operating unit, which connects the operating unit to the mounting arrangement, wherein the support arrangement for the operating unit is supported limitedly moveably between at least two positions of which one position is in the form of a working position in which the operating unit is between a steering arrangement of the vehicle and a driving seat and of which another position is in the form of a storage position in which the operating unit is moved away from the steering arrangement of the vehicle.

2. The crane control according to claim 1, further comprising a visualization unit for visualization of a working environment of the crane.

3. The crane control according to claim 2, wherein the visualization unit is in the form of a mobile unit so that it is moveable independently of the operating unit and is preferably wearable on the body by an operator.

4. The crane control according to claim 1, wherein the support arrangement is arranged pivotably relative to the mounting arrangement and/or displaceably on the mounting arrangement.

5. The crane control according to claim 4, wherein the support arrangement has at least two parts which are pivotable relative to each other and of which the one part supports the operating unit and the mounting arrangement is arranged on the other part, where the limited movement of the operating unit between the working position and the storage position is effected by a pivotal movement of the two parts which are pivotable relative to each other.

6. The crane control according to one of the two preceding claims wherein the support arrangement has at least two parts which are displaceable relative to each other and of which the one part supports the operating unit and the mounting arrangement is arranged on the other part, wherein the limited movement of the operating unit between the working position and the storage position is effected by a preferably linear displacement of the two parts which are displaceable relative to each other.

7. The crane control according to claim 1, wherein the support arrangement has an adjustment device for adaptation of a position of the operating unit in the working position relative to an operator.

8. A vehicle comprising a crane and a crane control according to claim 1, wherein the mounting arrangement of the crane control is mounted in a driving cab of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the operating unit in the storage position is arranged beside a driving seat of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the operating unit in the storage position is arranged above a driving seat of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the operating unit in the storage position is arranged in front of or behind a driving seat of the vehicle.