Patent Application
20220009749
The invention relates to a crane and a vehicle having such a crane.
Generic cranes having a crane controller which is configured, in an operating mode, to carry out a coordinate control of the arm system are known in the state of the art.
During a conventional operation of a crane, in which the individual actuators of the arm system are individually actuated directly by a user or operator through control commands issued by him or her, the movement of the crane tip of the arm system results from the individual actuation movements controlled by the user. A movement of the crane tip of the arm system along approximately an ideal vertical path thus requires a complex issuing of individual control commands by the user.
During a coordinate control of the arm system, on the other hand, the individual actuators of the arm system are actuated by the crane controller such that the user actuates the behaviour of the crane tip of the arm system instead of the individual actuators themselves. Embodiments of coordinate controls are known in which the crane is controlled by the user essentially with only two operating elements (e.g. joysticks), one for pivoting the crane column and one for carrying out a horizontal movement and a vertical movement of the crane tip.
Because of the high complexity of some arm systems, which can comprise for example a crane column, a main arm (also called lifting arm) arranged pivotable on the crane column and an articulated arm, arranged pivotable on the main arm, with a extension arm mounted displaceable therein, the arm system can have more degrees of freedom than are necessary at the least for the positioning and orientation of the crane tip in space. Thus, the crane column of a generic crane is mounted pivotable over a structurally predefined crane column pivoting range and has one degree of freedom due to its pivotable mounting. The main arm is mounted on the crane column pivotable over a structurally predefined main arm pivoting range and has one degree of freedom due to its pivotable mounting. The articulated arm is mounted on the main arm pivotable over a structurally predefined articulated arm pivoting range and has one degree of freedom due to its pivotable mounting. The at least one extension arm is mounted in the articulated arm displaceable over a structurally predefined pushing range and has one degree of freedom due to its displaceable mounting. The arm system of a generic crane therefore has four degrees of freedom. In the state of the art, such arm systems are known for example as redundant or overdetermined manipulators.
With each specification of a path which the crane tip is to follow during a coordinate control, an infinite number of joint trajectories—thus in turn paths which the joints of the arm system are to follow—can thereby be possible. The excess movability due to the overdetermination is often used to optimize, for example, the movement sequence of the arm system or to avoid obstacles.
During such a named control, after the specification of a desired path of the crane tip, thus after issue of a corresponding control command by the user (for example movement of the crane tip in Cartesian coordinates), a so-called reverse transformation or kinematic inversion is usually carried out by a processor or a processing unit of the crane controller, from which the control commands, suitable for the desired path, for actuating the actuators of the arm system result (for example movement of the arm system along the degrees of freedom of the joints). In order to achieve an unambiguous solution for such a reverse transformation for an overdetermined arm system, the reverse transformation for generating control commands for the arm system must be effected taking into account optimization criteria (such as for example so-called cost functions with weighting matrices) and optionally using approximations, and is associated with a large computing effort. During an actuation of the arm system effected in such a way, movements of the arm system of the crane that are not directly foreseeable for the operator can occur.
The object of the invention is to specify a crane with a crane controller which is configured, in an operating mode, to carry out a coordinate control of the arm system, as well as a vehicle with such a crane, in which the operator can influence the movement of the arm system in order to prevent unforeseen movements and in which the complexity of calculating the reverse transformation is reduced.
In a crane according to the invention, the crane controller has a user interface, and the user interface has at least one function that can be chosen by a user and through which at least one of the degrees of freedom is limitable or limited in the coordinate control operating mode.
Through the limitation of at least one of the degrees of freedom of the arm system, in the coordinate control operating mode unforeseeable movements of the arm system can be prevented and the complexity of calculating the reverse transformation can be greatly reduced.
The movements of the arm system can be more foreseeable for the user through the limitation of at least one of the degrees of freedom by the at least one function that can be chosen by a user. A user can thus, for example by selecting a corresponding function, limit and/or disable, in a targeted manner, degrees of freedom of the movement of the arm system which the user does not wish to be involved in the movement of the arm system in the coordinate control operating mode.
Because a user can select at least one function for limiting at least one of the degrees of freedom of the arm system, the movements of the arm system can be adapted in a targeted manner to the planned lifting process. The user can thus be given the possibility of interacting with the crane, whereby the user can influence the functioning of the crane.
In an embodiment of the invention, the user can thereby be given the possibility of selecting the arms of the arm system involved in the coordinate control. In a further development of this embodiment of the invention, a user can additionally be given the possibility of preferring or prioritizing different combinations of arms of the arm system that are involved in the coordinate control.
Because a user interface is provided, the selection of the at least one function can be easily made possible for the user.
According to a preferred embodiment, the arm system additionally has a second articulated arm, which is mounted on the extension arm pivotable over a structurally predefined second articulated arm pivoting range and has one degree of freedom due to its pivotable mounting, and which preferably comprises at least one second extension arm, which is mounted in the second articulated arm displaceable over a structurally predefined second extension arm pushing range and has one degree of freedom due to its displaceable mounting. The second articulated arm expands the space of the possible positioning of the crane tip and is often also referred to as a so-called “fly jib”.
Preferably, the arm system additionally has at least one main arm extension arm, which is mounted in the main arm displaceable over a structurally predefined extension range and has one degree of freedom due to its displaceable mounting. Due to the at least one main arm extension arm, the main arm can be formed telescopic.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one additional device in the form of an implement and/or an arm extension, preferably an arm extension that is static and optionally can be arranged at a predefinable angle, is arranged on the arm system.
In principle, taking the geometric data of additional devices or attachments into account in the calculation is not a problem for the coordinate control. For this, the coordinate control need only be supplied with information about an additional device attached to the arm system (e.g. information about the function range, dimension data, angular positions), with the result that this information can be incorporated in the calculation.
Therefore, information, preferably information about the function range and/or dimension data and/or angular positions, for the at least one additional device can be transferred to the crane controller via the user interface, and the information can be selected from a database stored in a memory of the crane controller and/or can be input via the user interface, preferably via a setup screen. Thus, for example, information already stored in the crane controller about an additional device can be selected via a menu or information can be input by the user via a setup screen. The setup state of the crane can thereby be configured correctly and it can be made possible for a coordinate control of the tip of the additional device to be carried out in the coordinate control operating mode. In order to ensure the setup state of the crane, a safety query can be provided. Thus, it can be provided that the user has to confirm the setup state of the crane via the user interface by selecting a corresponding function of the user interface.
Preferably, the crane controller is configured to carry out a coordinate control of the crane tip or of a predefined or predefinable point of the arm system or a predefined or predefinable point supported by the arm system. In the coordinate control operating mode, a coordinate control of the crane tip is carried out in most cases. Instead of the crane tip, however, any other point of the arm system or a point supported by the arm system can also be used, for which a coordinate control is carried out. Thus, a cable winch could be arranged on the arm system and a coordinate control could be carried out in relation to the attachment point of the cable winch on the arm system or in relation to the load hook on the cable end of the cable winch. It can thereby be provided, during a cable winch operation, that the coordinate control is no longer based on the crane tip itself, but directly controls the position of the load at the cable end. The switch from a coordinate control of the crane tip to a coordinate control of a predefined or predefinable point of the arm system or a predefined or predefinable point supported by the arm system can be detected by the crane controller and proposed to the operator, who can or must confirm this switch. This switch can be activated by the operator by selecting a corresponding function of the user interface.
As the kinematics of a generic crane, which can be a loading crane, are overdetermined for the coordinate control owing to the degrees of freedom of the arm system that are present, restrictions and/or specifications must be made for an unambiguous solution of the reverse transformation, in order to resolve or reduce this overdetermination. The limitation of the degrees of freedom of the arm system represents a suitable restriction.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one degree of freedom of the arm system is limitable or limited by the at least one function that can be chosen by the user, in order to nullify or reduce an overdetermination of the arm system. Through a nullification of the overdetermination or redundancy of the arm system, the complexity of calculating the reverse transformation, from which the control commands, suitable for the desired path, for actuating the actuators of the arm system result, can be greatly reduced.
The degree of freedom of the rotatable crane column is excluded from the quantity of limitable or limited degrees of freedom to retain the pivotability of the crane column. This makes sense in particular in embodiments of coordinate controls in which the crane is controlled by the user with two operating elements (e.g. joysticks), wherein one of the two operating elements is used to pivot the crane column and the other operating element is used to carry out a horizontal movement and a vertical movement of the crane tip.
Retaining the pivotability of the crane column can be desirable, for example, if this degree of freedom of the movement of the arm system is present in a non-redundant manner.
The fact that the degree of freedom of the rotatable crane column is excluded from the quantity of limitable or limited degrees of freedom to retain the pivotability of the crane column can be advantageous in particular in the case of supporting situations of the crane in which the axis of rotation of the pivotable crane column deviates from the vertical.
Preferably, through the at least one function that can be chosen by the user, one degree of freedom of the arm system is limitable or limited or all degrees of freedom of the arm system except for two degrees of freedom are limitable or limited. During a coordinate control of the arm system in which the coordinate control can be carried out by actuation of main arm, articulated arm and extension arm, the limitation of one degree of freedom is sufficient to nullify or reduce an overdetermination of the arm system, as precisely two degrees of freedom are left over after the limitation of one degree of freedom, in order to carry out a horizontal movement and a vertical movement of the arm system. If the arm system comprises additional arms (e.g. a second articulated arm), the limitation of all degrees of freedom of the arm system except for two degrees of freedom is sufficient to nullify or reduce an overdetermination of the arm system, as precisely two degrees of freedom are left over after such a limitation of the degrees of freedom, in order to carry out a horizontal movement and a vertical movement of the arm system. In other words, the coordinate-controlled movements of the arm system are thereby implemented with only two arms or crane sections or degrees of freedom, whereby these movements are unambiguously determined and easier for the user to understand. Moreover, unforeseeable movements of the arm system can be prevented by limiting one degree of freedom or the degrees of freedom of an undesired arm.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the crane controller is configured, in the coordinate control operating mode, to use an arm selection in the form of a subset of the arms of the arm system to carry out the coordinate control of the arm system. The crane controller has at least one operating profile, in which at least two arm selections are stored in a predefined or predefinable ranking from a higher prioritization to a lower prioritization or are determined continuously, and the crane controller is configured to use and actuate the arm selections stored in the at least one operating profile according to their prioritization for carrying out the coordinate control of the arm system. The at least one operating profile can be selected through the at least one function that can be chosen by the user. A continuous determination can be effected during operation depending on the current position of the arm system or the suitability of an arm selection for the lifting movement carried out or to be carried out.
Preferably, each of the at least two arm selections consists of two arms of the arm system.
One of the operating profiles can be, for example, a so-called default prioritization, which is always used when no other operating profile is selected specifically or in a targeted manner. The following Table 1 shows an example of such a default prioritization for a crane with an arm system which, in addition to main arm, articulated arm and extension arm, comprises a second articulated arm and a second extension arm. The operating profile represented in the table comprises 10 arm selections with different prioritizations. In the table, the prioritization with the number 1 represents the highest prioritization and the prioritization with the number 10 represents the lowest prioritization.
In the following tables, the arms of the arm system are abbreviated as follows: HA corresponds to the main arm, KA corresponds to the articulated arm, SA corresponds to the extension arm (of the articulated arm), JKA corresponds to the second articulated arm, JSA corresponds to the second extension arm (of the second articulated arm).
According to a preferred embodiment, the crane controller is configured to use an arm selection for the coordinate control depending on a predefinable and/or a predefined and/or a prevailing position of the arm system.
Preferably, the crane controller is configured in order that the use and actuation of an arm selection from the at least two arm selections is additionally effected depending on the ability of the coordinate control to be carried out with the respective arm selection.
Thus, for example, if the default prioritization represented by way of example in Table 1 is used, the arm selection with the prioritization 1 (articulated arm and extension arm) could be used for the coordinate control first depending on the position of the arm system and on the ability of the coordinate control to be carried out. If the movement desired by the user is not possible with this arm selection, the arm selection with the next prioritization down, thus prioritization 2 (main arm and extension arm), would be used for the coordinate control. This would continue along the prioritizations until an arm selection with which the movement desired by the user can be carried out is found.
Depending on the arms or crane sections present, different operating profiles can be stored. Thus, in the case of a crane with an arm system comprising main arm, articulated arm, extension arm, second articulated arm and second extension arm, for example, a first operating profile can be stored, the arm selections of which comprise only main arm and/or articulated arm and/or extension arm, and a second operating profile can be stored, the arm selections of which are subsets of all arms present.
Table 2 represented below shows by way of example a first operating profile and Table 3 represented below shows by way of example a second operating profile.
The first operating profile, represented in Table 2, comprises 3 arm selections with different prioritizations. In the table, the prioritization with the number 1 represents the highest prioritization and the prioritization with the number 3 represents the lowest prioritization. The second operating profile, represented in Table 3, comprises 10 arm selections with different prioritizations. In the table, the prioritization with the number 1 represents the highest prioritization and the prioritization with the number 10 represents the lowest prioritization.
With reference to the first operating profile according to Table 2, a possible use of this operating profile is explained below by way of example. If the movement of the arm system desired by the user is possible with the highest-priority arm selection, thus prioritization 1 (main arm and articulated arm), this arm selection is always used to carry out the coordinate control of the arm system. If one of the arms of the arm selection reaches the limit of travel or is otherwise blocked, the arm selection with the next prioritization down is used. Should the arm selection with the prioritization 1 become available again in the course of the movement of the arm system (i.e. the movement desired by the user were to be possible again with this arm selection), the process will still continue with the currently used arm selection, in order to avoid a constant changing of the arm selections used for carrying out the coordinate control. Not until a re-start of the movement (after a neutral position of the lever) or a switch of the arm selection again owing to a limit of travel or blocking is the arm selection with the prioritization 1 taken into consideration again. Thus, in the case of this use of the first operating profile according to Table 2, for example, the following sequence can result:
The ranking of the at least two arm selections of an operating profile is alterable. In particular, the ranking can be determined continuously.
Table 4 represented below shows by way of example a further operating profile. This comprises 3 arm selections with different prioritizations. In the table, the prioritization with the number 1 represents the highest prioritization and the prioritization with the number 3 represents the lowest prioritization.
Supplementing the use of the operating profile shown in Table 4, in the example explained below for the degree of freedom of the pivoting movement of the main arm a target angle of 20° was set, for example by a corresponding function of the user interface for setting the target angle of the main arm having been selected.
The crane is moved in a coordinate-controlled manner using the arm selections of the operating profile according to Table 4 and, in the course of the movement of the arm system, the main arm departs from its target angle and is at an angular position of 50°. Subsequently, owing to a limit of travel or a re-start of the movement, a switch of the arm selection occurs. After that, the two arm selections which comprise the main arm (thus the arm selection with the prioritization 2 and the arm selection with the prioritization 3) are evaluated by the crane controller as to whether the target angle of the main arm can be arrived at again with the current user specification. Thereafter, the arm selection which moves the main arm back into its target angular position the quickest is temporarily put in first place (or obtains the prioritization with the number 1). When the target angle of the main arm is reached, the arm selection temporarily put in first place is put back to its original position according to Table 4 (or obtains its original prioritization again).
In a preferred embodiment, the limitation of the at least one degree of freedom is effected in that it is settable or set to a predefined or predefinable value and/or is restrictable or restricted to a predefinable or predefined partial range and/or restrictable or restricted in relation to its rate of change.
Therefore, at least one arm of the arm system can be blocked through the at least one function that can be chosen by the user. In other words, at least one arm of the arm system can thus be temporarily blocked, with the result that this at least one blocked arm no longer participates in the coordinate-controlled movement of the arm system, and instead remains in its blocked position. However, the fact that the at least one blocked arm no longer participates in the coordinate-controlled movement of the arm system is not intended to mean that it remains, for example, stationary in space, but rather that the degree or degrees of freedom of the at least one blocked arm are no longer used for moving the arm system.
For the crane, the user interface comprises at least one operating element (for example, a knob, a linear lever or an axis of a multi-axis joystick) of the crane controller and a selection of the function that can be chosen is effected through an actuation of the at least one operating element by a user.
In principle, the crane controller is configured, in a further operating mode, to carry out a free control of the arm system. This can correspond to a conventional operation of a crane in which the individual actuators of the arm system are individually actuated directly by a user through control commands issued by him or her.
In such a further operating mode, a free actuation of the arm system can be effected by at least one operating element of the crane controller. In each case, one operating element is provided for the input of control commands for moving in each case one arm of the arm system along one degree of freedom. Thus, in each case, one operating element (for example, a linear lever assigned to the movement or one axis of a multi-axis joystick) can be provided for the free actuation of the arm system for the respective movement of one arm of the arm system along its respective degree of freedom.
Through an actuation (for example by movement in a particular direction) of the at least one operating element by a user, while the crane controller is in the coordinate control operating mode, the degree of freedom of the arm system assigned to the operating element in the above-described further operating mode is limitable or limited. The assignment of the function of the at least one operating element in the further operating mode for the free actuation of the arm system can be used in the coordinate control operating mode for a selection of a limitation of the corresponding degree of freedom of the movement of the arm system.
Analogously thereto, a limitation can be nullified again by a corresponding actuation (for example, by a movement in the opposite direction) of the operating element.
Thus, for example, the main arm (or any other arm of the arm system) can be blocked, in order to simplify the movement sequence for the user. For the blocking as well as for the nullification of the blocking of an arm, an input device of the user interface can be used, such as for example a button of a menu-driven user interface or operating elements such as for instance a lever of a lever-operable user interface. In addition to the input devices for the coordinate control operating mode, a user interface of a crane controller for a crane often also has individual operating levers (for instance a joystick with for example two orthogonal axes or single-axis linear levers) for a free control of the arm system in a further operating mode. These operating levers, which are not used to control the arm system in the coordinate control operating mode, can be used for the blocking as well as for the nullification of the blocking of an arm. Thus, for example, the main arm can be blocked via the operating element not used in the coordinate control for the main arm movement (for example the main arm lever).
The user can position the main arm in a desired position and then fix the main arm angle. For this purpose, the user only has to deflect the operating element assigned to the main arm movement (for instance a joystick with, for example, two orthogonal axes or a single-axis linear lever) in one direction and can thus activate the movement block. All further coordinate-controlled movements of a crane with main arm, articulated arm and extension arm are then carried out only with articulated arm and extension arm. In addition, a visualization on a display of the crane controller can be effected, in which blocked arms or crane sections are correspondingly marked. If the operator actuates the operating element assigned to the main arm movement again (e.g. in the opposite direction), he or she can very conveniently nullify the blocking or fixing of the main arm again. Such a blocking or fixing can be effected in an analogous manner for every other arm or every degree of freedom of the movement of the arm system.
As an example, the main arm can be positioned high (e.g. 70°-80°) and then blocked. The coordinate-controlled crane movements are thus carried out only with an articulated arm and an extension arm, and a very large range of movement can thus be covered. In addition, the main arm can thus be prevented from colliding with structures on a carrier vehicle or a truck on which the crane is installed due to unforeseen movements.
Preferably, through a limitation of the at least one degree of freedom, the degree of freedom of the articulated arm is restrictable or restricted to a predefinable or predefined partial range, preferably to a predefinable or predefined quadrant, with the result that, in the coordinate control operating mode, the articulated arm is positionable or positioned in an overextended pivot position above an imaginary extension of the main arm.
An imaginary extension of the main arm (main arm line) and an imaginary line running perpendicularly thereto through the pivot bearing of the articulated arm on the main arm (pivot bearing line) form four regions or quadrants. Quadrant 1 denotes the region between the main arm line and the pivot bearing line above the main arm line and in the direction of the imaginary extension of the main arm. Quadrant 2 denotes the region between the main arm line and the pivot bearing line above the main arm line and in the direction of the main arm. Quadrant 3 denotes the region between the main arm line and the pivot bearing line underneath the main arm line and in the direction of the main arm. Quadrant 4 denotes the region between the main arm line and the pivot bearing line underneath the main arm line and in the direction of the imaginary extension of the main arm.
An absence of conventional coordinate controls is the lack of an unambiguous solution for the so-called overextension of the articulated arm, in which the articulated arm is to move from a pivot position underneath an imaginary extension of the main arm (quadrant 4) to a pivot position above the imaginary extension of the main arm (quadrant 1). In particular, there is a discontinuity in the calculation at the dead centre (the articulated arm angle is 0°, i.e. the articulated arm is arranged in an exactly straight extension relative to the main arm).
One possibility would be to overextend the articulated arm with the aid of a manual override, by selecting a corresponding function of the user interface.
However, the crane controller, in the coordinate control operating mode, can provide an assistance function, through which, when approaching the dead center, the articulated arm is moved starting from quadrant 4 into quadrant 1 and the degree of freedom of the articulated arm is restricted to quadrant 1. As soon as the articulated arm is located in quadrant 1, it will move only in this quadrant, in order to keep the calculation unambiguous. The transition from an overextended pivot position of the articulated arm (pivot position above the imaginary extension of the main arm) to a pivot position underneath the imaginary extension of the main arm can be effected correspondingly in reverse. It can be provided that the assistance function can be selected through the at least one function that can be chosen by the user.
In an embodiment of the invention, the predefinable or predefined partial range is smaller than or equal to 2°, preferably smaller than or equal to 0.5°, or is smaller than or equal to 10 cm, preferably smaller than or equal to 2.5 cm, and/or the rate of change is smaller than or equal to 0.2° per second, preferably smaller than or equal to 0.05° per second, or is smaller than or equal to 2 cm per second, preferably smaller than or equal to 0.5 cm per second. A limitation of one of the degrees of freedom of the arm system can thus correspond to a greatly decelerated movement of a respective arm along a respective degree of freedom. During an actuation of the arm system in the coordinate control operating mode, an arm correspondingly limited in its movement or a correspondingly limited degree of freedom can be regarded by a user as substantially uninvolved in the movement of the arm system. From the user's point of view, substantially no unforeseeable movements thus result.
According to a preferred embodiment, the crane controller has a, preferably portable, control panel and the user interface is formed on the control panel. The control panel can have a display and operating elements in the form for instance of a knob, a linear lever and a push button. The operating elements can be used to navigate the menu-supported user interface, to select the function that can be chosen by a user or to issue control commands by a user.
By a portable control panel can be meant a standalone operating unit with which a user can move substantially freely in a certain periphery around a crane or a hydraulic lifting device. Of course, data and information can be exchanged between such a control panel and the crane or the hydraulic lifting device, for example via radio and/or cable-supported connections.
Preferably, the user interface is menu-driven and/or comprises at least one operating element of the crane controller. The menu-driven user interface can follow a hierarchical structure. It is conceivable that the menu items of the user interface can be graphically modelled and represented. A menu-driven user interface can make it possible for a user to select different functions, for example from a list of predefined or predefinable functions.
According to a preferred embodiment, the crane controller comprises a display. If the display of the crane controller is implemented as a touch display, then the user interface can be implemented directly via the touch display. For example, by touching a crane arm, represented on the display, of an arm system represented once, the corresponding degree of freedom can be limited. On the display, to visualize the limitation of the degree of freedom, for example the color of the crane arm represented can change from white to black. If the crane arm is touched a further time, this limitation can be nullified again and the display of the crane arm can for example change back from black to white. If the display is not implemented as a touch display or the like, the optionally menu-driven user interface can be navigated via an operating element of the crane controller. The display can take on the function of a status display for the operator, on which it is recognizable at a glance which crane arms or degrees of freedom are limited.
In a preferred embodiment, the crane controller is configured, in a further operating mode, to carry out a free control of the arm system on the basis of control commands input by a user. Starting from the coordinate control operating mode, a switch to the further operating mode is effected for as long as a predefinable or predefined operating element of the crane controller, preferably a dead man's switch of the crane controller, remains actuated by a user. It can thus be possible for a user to switch from the coordinate control operating mode to the further operating mode for freely controlling the arm system temporarily by actuating an operating element of the crane controller provided for this. For example, individual arms of the arm system can thereby be brought into a desired position in a targeted manner and freely or obstacles can be driven manually.
In the further operating mode for freely controlling the arm system, the crane geometry, i.e. the position of the crane arms relative to each other in a plane or relative to the crane column and the pivot position of the crane arms together with the crane column relative to a crane base, can be freely altered by a user. The user can, for example by actuating corresponding operating elements, change the relative position of the crane arms and pivot the crane arms together with the crane column relative to the crane base. In the background, the crane operation is usually monitored by safety devices which engage when operating elements which lead to a safety-critical situation are actuated by the user. For example, the stability of the crane can be monitored.
Generally, the crane controller has several operating modes. Thus, in addition to the coordinate control operating mode and a further operating mode for freely controlling the arm system, for example, there can also be a working position operating mode, in which the crane geometry is alterable in a predetermined sequence of movements by the crane controller, in order to bring the crane into a predetermined working position and/or into a predetermined parking position in a simple manner. The crane controller can also be configured in order that it memorizes the last-used operating mode before the crane is folded into its parking position. Thus, after the crane has been unfolded into its working position by means of the working position operating mode, the coordinate control operating mode is automatically switched to, if the coordinate control operating mode was active last before the crane was folded into its parking position.
Protection is also sought for a vehicle with a crane of the above-described type. The vehicle can be a truck and the crane can be a loading crane.
Embodiment examples of the invention are discussed with reference to the figures. There are shown in:
Side views of different embodiments of a crane 1 installed on a vehicle 19 are shown in
A first embodiment of a proposed crane 1 is shown in
The arm system of the crane 1 shown therefore has a crane column 2, a main arm 3, an articulated arm 4 and at least one extension arm 5.
The crane 1 has a schematically represented crane controller 6 which is configured, in a coordinate control operating mode, to carry out a coordinate control of the arm system. The crane controller 6 has a user interface, not represented in more detail here, wherein the user interface has at least one function that can be chosen by a user, through which at least one of the degrees of freedom α, β, φ, L (see
A second embodiment of a proposed crane 1 is shown in
The arm system of the crane 1 shown in
Analogously to the embodiment of
A third embodiment of a proposed crane 1 is shown in
The arm system of the crane 1 shown in
Analogously to the embodiments of
All embodiments shown can of course have a slewing gear 20.
A detail view of a crane 1 formed according to
The degrees of freedom α, β, φ, γ, L, J of the movement of different arms of different arm systems are illustrated in side views in
The crane 1 shown in
With reference to
The arm system of the crane 1 shown in
Analogously to the previously discussed embodiments, for the crane 1 shown in
As represented in
Two embodiments of additional devices that can be arranged on the arm system are shown in
An embodiment of an implement 9 which can be arranged on a extension arm of a crane is shown in
The static arm extension 10 represented in
An embodiment of the crane 1 according to
The crane controller 6 represented schematically here has several signal inputs to which signals of the sensor system built into the crane 1 can be fed. Furthermore, the crane controller 6 has a memory 11, in which for example program data for operating modes and calculation models of the crane controller 6 as well as incoming signals can be stored, and a processing unit 12, with which, among other things, incoming signals and data stored in the memory 11 can be processed. The crane controller 6 can also comprise a display 16. A communication of the crane controller 6 with the display 16 can be wired and/or wireless. In the embodiment shown in
Analogously to
An analogous embodiment of the arrangement shown in
The function 27a, 27d and 27h respectively selected in
The menus shown in
With the functions 27a, 27b and 27c shown in
A selection of the function 27b can for example correspond to a configuration of the crane 1 in which the arm system is held in an arm position which is ideally suitable for transporting bulky loads. Details regarding this are to be found in
A selection of the function 27c can for example correspond to a configuration of the crane 1 in which specifically the main arm 3 of the arm system is held in a preferred position. Details regarding this are to be found in
A selection of the functions 27d to 27g in
Analogously thereto, for a selection of the functions 27h to 27k in
In the example of
Thus, the crane 1 substantially achieves the maximum lifting force and the maximum range. If possible, an arm selection which comprises articulated arm 4 and extension arm 5 is always proceeded with in this application example.
In the example of
In the example of
If the display 16 of the crane controller 6 is implemented as a touch display, then the user interface can be implemented directly via the touch display. For example, by touching a crane arm 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, represented on the display 16 once, the corresponding degree of freedom can be limited. To visualize the limitation the colour of the correspondingly limited crane arm 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 can change from white to black. If the crane arm 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 is touched a further time, the limitation can be nullified again and the representation of the crane arm 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 changes from black to white. An embodiment of the user interface as represented in
If this display 16 is not implemented as a touch display or the like, the menu-driven user interface can be navigated via an operating element. In such an embodiment of the user interface, an embodiment as shown in
The represented functions 27l, 27m, 27n, 27o, 27p, 27q of the crane controller 6 that can be chosen by a user, in the coordinate control operating mode, serve in each case for selecting an arm of the arm system of the crane 1 the degree of freedom of which is to be limited by being set to a predefined or predefinable value (or partial range). In other words, through the functions 27l, 27m, 27n, 27o, 27p, 27q that can be chosen by a user, it is possible to select which arms of the arm system are to be blocked, wherein the blocked arms no longer participate in the coordinate-controlled movement of the arm system and, instead, remain in their blocked position. Regarding this, an arm system of a crane 1, which comprises a crane column 2, a main arm 3, an articulated arm 4 and a extension arm 5, similarly to the embodiment of
An imaginary extension of the main arm 3 (main arm line) and an imaginary line running perpendicularly thereto through the pivot bearing of the articulated arm 4 on the main arm 3 (pivot bearing line) form four regions or quadrants. Quadrant 1 denotes the region between the main arm line and the pivot bearing line above the main arm line and in the direction of the imaginary extension of the main arm 3. Quadrant 2 denotes the region between the main arm line and the pivot bearing line above the main arm line and in the direction of the main arm 3. Quadrant 3 denotes the region between the main arm line and the pivot bearing line underneath the main arm line and in the direction of the main arm 3. Quadrant 4 denotes the region between the main arm line and the pivot bearing line underneath the main arm line and in the direction of the imaginary extension of the main arm 3.
In the left-hand image, the articulated arm 4 is located in quadrant 4. When the articulated arm 4 approaches the dead centre (the articulated arm angle is 180°, i.e. the articulated arm 4 is arranged in an exactly straight extension relative to the main arm 3) starting from quadrant 4, the articulated arm 4 is moved into the quadrant 1 and the degree of freedom β of the articulated arm 4 is restricted to quadrant 1 (see the right-hand image).
As soon as the articulated arm 4 is located in quadrant 1, it will move only in this quadrant, in order to keep the calculation in the coordinate control operating mode unambiguous.
In an embodiment of the control panel 15 according to the embodiment of the crane controller 6 according to
The display 16 represented in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM 50057/2019 | Mar 2019 | AT | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/AT2020/060127 | Mar 2020 | US |
| Child | 17486246 | US |
