Patent Application
20200407201
This invention relates to a crane comprising a main boom and a rearwardly directed derrick boom for bracing the main boom, wherein a suspended ballast is directly or indirectly attached to the derrick head via connecting means.
In today's conventional cranes, in particular crawler cranes, which have a counter-boom, hereinafter also referred to as derrick boom, physical limits are reached when aligning the main boom. These limits are grounded in the lever arms and moment ratios of the crane geometry. A steep angular position of the derrick boom improves the lever geometry in order to erect the main boom, but has the disadvantage that due to the steep position the suspended ballast radius is comparatively small and only a small counter-torque is generated by the suspended ballast.
Preferably, the main boom is a lattice boom which is constructed of a plurality of lattice pieces.
Due to a flatter angular position of the derrick boom, the suspended ballast radius and the generated counter-torque are increased, but at the expense of the resulting lever arm to the main boom. This is illustrated in
To be able to erect boom systems as long as possible, however, a lever arm as large as possible and counter-torque as high as possible are necessary. Therefore, the prior art already has dealt with adjusting mechanisms for the suspended ballast. What is known is a rigid guide which constantly urges the suspended ballast to the outside for an increase in radius. In operation of the crane, when the main boom is steeply positioned and generates only little forward moment, a large suspended ballast radius, however, is disturbing. As only a small forward moment and a large rearward moment is present, the suspended ballast cannot be kept in the air and therefore must be put down on the ground. In this case, however, it no longer is possible to traverse or rotate the crane. Alternatively, the suspended ballast can be deballasted, which however is very time-consuming.
As a development, a variable-length guide comprising a telescoping or folding mechanism therefore is proposed in the prior art, the length of which determines the ballast radius. Such a construction, however, is comparatively complex and expensive.
It therefore is the object of the present invention to indicate a simpler and less expensive construction for the ideally stepless adjustment of the suspended ballast radius.
This object is achieved by a crane according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the crane are subject-matter of the dependent claims.
According to the invention, it is proposed for the generic crane to expand the same by at least one rearwardly directed ballast adjusting boom, which is luffably mounted on the crane, in particular on the crane uppercarriage or on the turntable. The rearwardly aligned ballast adjusting boom acts on the connecting means between derrick head and suspended ballast in such a way that by changing the luffing angle of the ballast adjusting boom the suspended ballast radius can be varied at the same time. Due to the luffing movement, the radius of the suspended ballast can be changed from very small to very large, in particular steplessly.
The central idea of the invention hence consists in that the suspended ballast attached to the derrick head is urged away from the crane to the outside in a radial direction by means of the ballast adjusting boom, in that the ballast adjusting boom, in particular the head of the ballast adjusting boom, suitably acts on the connecting means inserted between derrick head and suspended ballast. It plays no role whether the suspended ballast is hooked in directly at the derrick head or is indirectly connected to the same via the head of the ballast adjusting boom. The outreach of the ballast adjusting boom accordingly determines the existing suspended ballast radius.
Such a construction is comparatively easy to realize, in particular in a substantially simpler and less expensive way as compared to the above-mentioned folding or telescoping mechanisms of the prior art. Another advantage is obtained by the very simple and time-saving assembly of such a ballast adjusting boom on set-up of the crane. Moreover, another advantage of the invention consists in that the luffing angle of the derrick boom need not be changed for changing the radius of the suspended ballast. As a result, an otherwise necessary actuator for the derrick boom can be omitted.
When necessary, such a ballast adjusting boom can easily be configured very long, which provides for very large suspended ballast radii with a horizontal boom position. This results in a very large, flexibly usable range of radii of the suspended ballast, and ballasting requires distinctly less weight as compared to conventional cranes.
The ballast adjusting boom preferably can be configured straight, i.e. for example rod-shaped. The construction can be lattice-like in the desired boom width and boom length. As the ballast adjusting boom primarily has to absorb compressive forces, an inexpensive and simple construction is possible. Occurring transverse forces can be absorbed more easily due to the straight design of the ballast adjusting boom. The straight design also facilitates its assembly on the crane.
Ideally, the luffing angle of the derrick boom remains constant at least during the adjustment of the suspended ballast radius or at least changes only to a smaller extent as compared with the change of the luffing angle of the ballast adjusting boom. This results in a change in distance between derrick head and ballast adjusting boom, i.e. in this case the distance determines the suspended ballast radius set.
For realizing the central idea of the invention, as already indicated above, the suspended ballast can be attached to the derrick boom either directly via expediently a single connecting means, in particular to the derrick head. However, there can also be used a plurality of connecting means in series or in parallel for a direct connection.
Alternatively, the suspended ballast can also be indirectly attached to the derrick boom, in particular to the derrick head. Indirectly here means by interposition of the ballast adjusting boom.
In the case of an alternative indirect connection, the connecting means can be composed of a plurality of individual connecting means separated from each other. According to a preferred embodiment, there can be provided a first connecting means connecting the derrick head to the ballast adjusting boom, which for example is formed by a suitable stranding. It here also applies that the first connecting means can be formed by a plurality of connecting elements extending in parallel or in series.
Furthermore, according to this advantageous embodiment a second connecting means can be provided, which connects the ballast adjusting boom head to the suspended ballast. The same can likewise be formed by a suitable stranding and/or be composed of a plurality of connecting elements extending in parallel or in series.
At least the first and ideally the second connecting means are configured to be variable in length, wherein the length preferably is adjustable or controllable by at least one actuator. When using a stranding, the length adjustment preferably is realized by one or more cable pulleys or a pulley block. By a length adjustment of the first connecting means, the distance between derrick head and ballast adjusting boom thus can be varied in order to thereby influence the resulting suspended ballast radius. The change in length of the second connecting means permits a separate adaptation of the hoisting height of the suspended ballast.
As an actuator for the length adjustment and thus for changing the luffing angle, at least one cable winch can be used. By retracting the cable at the first connecting means, the distance between derrick head and ballast adjusting boom can be reduced, whereas by lowering, the distance is increased by gravity.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the second connecting means is configured as broad as possible, whereby twisting of the suspended ballast can largely be prevented. For example, there are used two pulley blocks extending in parallel, which each connect the ballast adjusting boom head to the suspended ballast. The at least two pulley blocks extending in parallel can be formed by one common cable or alternatively by separate cables. Each pulley block includes a multiple reeving between ballast adjusting boom and suspended ballast with the corresponding deflection pulleys. The actuation of the pulley blocks can be achieved via a common actuator, in particular a dual cable winch. Alternatively, there can be used separate, physically separated cable winches, which however must be actuated in a synchronized way in order to avoid a diagonal pull.
Separate cables for the construction of the pulley blocks can be directly or indirectly connected to each other at their ends in a common cable anchorage at the ballast adjusting boom. A rocker attached to the ballast adjusting boom can be used for the indirect connection of the cable ends of the pulley blocks.
However, it is not absolutely necessary to connect the cable ends of the separate cables of the pulley blocks to each other. Instead, the same can also be fixed to the ballast adjusting boom via separate cable anchorages.
For a more flexible length adjustment, at least one of the cable ends can also be fixed to the ballast adjusting boom via a variable-length actuator. By actuating the actuator, the cable length and accordingly the alignment and hoisting height of the suspended ballast can be varied in order to obliquely/horizontally align the ballast or to lift the same from the ground and possibly put the same down, when necessary.
The advantageous embodiment comprising an indirect connection of the suspended ballast by a first and a second connecting means involves the possibility to operate the crane without a guided, i.e. adjustable suspended ballast, when necessary. The ballast adjusting boom according to the invention then can be used as an erection trestle for the derrick boom. What is optimal here is a variable-length construction of the ballast adjusting boom, as the same should be reduced in length for the function as an erection trestle. This can be effected by means of an actuator or also manually, for example by mounting the boom head directly to the articulation piece of the ballast adjusting boom without any intermediate piece.
As an alternative to the embodiment discussed above, the suspended ballast can also be attached directly to the derrick boom, for example by using a continuous connecting means. The same can of course also be composed of a plurality of connecting elements aligned in series or in parallel.
In the variant with a direct attachment at least one run-off element is arranged on the ballast adjusting boom head, which contacts the continuous connecting means, in particular runs off on the same or is guided through the same. By means of the run-off element the ballast adjusting boom can urge the connecting means and thus the suspended ballast away from the crane in a radial direction.
A chain, in particular a steel or plastic chain is found to be a suitable, continuous connecting means. An appropriate plastic strap also is imaginable. When using a chain, a chain sprocket or a gear wheel preferably is used as a run-off element, which is rotatably mounted on the head of the ballast adjusting boom. A corresponding actuator is used to enforce a rotation of the chain sprocket or the gear wheel, whereby a change of the luffing angle of the ballast adjusting boom is effected upwards or downwards depending on the direction of rotation.
Instead of a chain, a cable can also be used as a connecting means, which is stretched between derrick boom and suspended ballast. As a run-off element a cable pulley is used here, which is rotatably arranged on the head of the ballast adjusting boom and rolls off on the stretched cable and at the same time urges the same away from the crane radially to the outside.
As an actuator for the cable pulley a separate adjusting cable can be provided, which forms a pulley block between the run-off element/cable pulley of the ballast adjusting boom and at least one deflection pulley at the suspended ballast in order to be able to adjust the distance between ballast adjusting boom and suspended ballast. A corresponding pulley block might of course also be mounted together with the derrick boom. Moreover, at least one cable winch is provided for the adjusting cable.
Concretely, the adjusting cable can be actuatable for example by a winch arranged on the crane, in particular on the ballast adjusting boom. Proceeding from the cable winch, the adjusting cable is guided over the aforementioned cable pulley of the ballast adjusting boom to the suspended ballast and is deflected there by a further deflection pulley and guided back to the ballast adjusting boom, where the cable end is firmly attached. By retracting the adjusting cable, the ballast adjusting boom accordingly is pressend downwards. Expediently, the articulation of the ballast adjusting boom to the crane, in particular to the turntable, is designed such that the same always is pressed upwards due to the geometrical conditions.
A mixed form of the aforementioned advantageous embodiments can be realized by means of a capstan winch. The suspended ballast here is suspended directly at the derrick head via a continuous connecting means, in particular a cable, but between derrick head and ballast adjusting boom head on the one hand and between ballast adjusting boom head and suspended ballast on the other hand separate cable adjusters are formed by deflection pulleys provided there. The common cable is actuated via a capstan winch preferably accommodated at the ballast adjusting boom in order to synchronously change the distances between derrick head and ballast adjusting boom head or between ballast adjusting boom head and suspended ballast. When the cable is retracted from the first cable adjuster for example by means of the capstan winch, it is lowered at the same time to the second cable adjuster, and vice versa.
To provide for a height adjustment of the suspended ballast for the aforementioned solutions with a direct suspension and a continuous connecting means, the adjusting means can be connected to the derrick head or to the suspended ballast via at least one suitable actuator. Such an actuator, preferably a cylinder, permits a change of the total length of the tensioned connecting means in order to lift or lower the suspended ballast.
For the indicated advantageous embodiments it may also be expedient to provide at least one additional actuator for the luffing actuation of the ballast adjusting boom. Such an actuator serves less for the adjustment of the luffing angle to effect the change in radius, but rather serves for set-up purposes in order to bring the ballast adjusting boom into the desired luffing position during erection of the crane in order to connect the connecting means or to erect the derrick boom. The same applies for the derrick boom, when necessary. Possible actuators include corresponding luffing cylinders which are articulated to the crane or to the crane uppercarriage and are connected to the respective boom system.
To obtain a lifting capacity as high as possible, the articulation point of the ballast adjusting boom preferably is chosen as close as possible to the slewing ring of the crane uppercarriage. When a spatial offset between slewing ring and articulation point of the ballast adjusting boom is inevitable, the turntable should be designed as torsionally rigid as possible in this region, whereby a dissipation of transverse forces, which occur by a rotation of the upper carriage (mass inertia of the suspended ballast) or by inclinations at the head of the ballast adjusting boom and act as a torsion in the turntable. Theoretically, the articulation point of the ballast adjusting boom can be positioned on the crane uppercarriage as desired, i.e. also at the rear of the crane.
In general, the bracing force acting in the bracing between derrick head and turntable is monitored for crane control purposes and is employed for the assessment of the crane stability. In the present application, this force preferably is utilized for the controlled adaptation of the suspended ballast radius. This means that the crane advantageously comprises a crane controller which determines the force in the bracing between derrick head and crane uppercarriage and in dependence on the detected force automatically adapts the suspended ballast radius by changing the luffing angle of the ballast adjusting boom.
It is preferred when the controller is programmed such that due to the controlled adaptation of the suspended ballast radius the force acting in the bracing between derrick boom and crane uppercarriage remains within a particular force window.
According to another optional embodiment, the installed crane controller additionally can monitor the hoisting height of the suspended ballast and can keep the hoisting height almost constant or within a defined tolerance range by actuating the corresponding actuators.
Further advantages and properties of the invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the Figures, in which:
It is the objective of the invention to provide a rather simple constructional solution for the stepless adjustment of the suspended ballast. The fundamental idea of the invention is identical for all exemplary embodiments of
A first exemplary embodiment of this idea will be explained with reference to
The distance between the derrick boom 3 and the ballast adjusting boom 10 thus can be varied via the cable adjuster 11. The distance between ballast adjusting boom 10 and suspended ballast 7 likewise is variable by means of the cable adjuster 12, whereby the hoisting height of the suspended ballast 7 is adjustable. Due to the angular adjustment of the ballast adjusting boom 10 it therefore is possible to change the suspended ballast radius r. The adjustment of the ballast adjusting boom 10 is effected by increasing or reducing the distance between the head piece 3a of the derrick boom 3 and the head piece 10a of the ballast adjusting boom 10.
In the exemplary embodiment of
For the assembly of the crane shown in
In such an embodiment comprising at least two separate winches as shown in
Alternatively, the suspended ballast 7 can also be directly attached to the derrick boom 3 via a continuous connecting means. An example of this is shown in
For the height adjustment of the suspended ballast 7 an actuator in the form of the pulling cylinder 20 then can additionally be installed in the chain strand 13. By means of the same, the suspended ballast 7 can be kept at a low height above the ground. The resulting chain drive can be configured by means of a steel chain or also a plastic chain or plastic strap. In addition, a toothed belt drive also is conceivable. Then, the actuator 14 must be adapted corresponding to the plastic chain, the plastic strap or the toothed belt.
The exemplary embodiment of
In this embodiment, too, an additional actuator in the form of a pulling cylinder 20 can be installed in the cable strand for the separate height adjustment of the suspended ballast 7.
A modification of the exemplary embodiment of
Further modifications of the construction as shown in
The suspended ballast 7 here can be lifted or lowered by an adjuster by means of two synchronously actuatable winches for the Bowden cables 12a, 12b with an alignment as horizontal as possible. Alternatively, a dual winch 23 can be used instead, which winds up the cable ends of the pulley blocks 12a, 12b. The parallel pulley blocks 12a, 12b can share a common cable, as is shown in
The solution according to
According to the further solution of
The control of the suspended ballast radius can be executed by the crane controller and ideally is identical for all exemplary embodiments. The force present in the bracing 4 between the head piece 3a of the derrick boom 3 and the turntable 5 is used for monitoring the crane stability. This force can furthermore be used to automatically adapt the suspended ballast radius by means of the crane controller, in that the force is kept within a particular force window by adjusting the suspended ballast radius. The controller also can optionally monitor the hoisting height of the suspended ballast 7 and when necessary keep the same at a constant height independent of the radius. For this purpose, the cable paths of the respective adjusters can be detected and be processed by the controller.
For all of the exemplary embodiments set forth here some essential advantages can be summarized. The ballast adjusting boom 10 can be designed very long, which provides for a large suspended ballast radius with the ballast adjusting boom 10 in a horizontal position. The usable range of radii of the ballast 7 is greater than in previous systems. The derrick boom 3 can remain fixed without being moved, and the necessary actuator thereby can be saved. The ballast adjusting boom 10 can be designed straight (not bent like in other systems), so that the same primarily has to absorb compressive forces, which provides for a simpler (less expensive) and lighter construction. The occurring transverse forces FQ, as shown by way of example in
To obtain a lifting capacity as high as possible, the articulation point of the ballast adjusting boom 10 preferably is to be arranged as close as possible to the slewing ring 26 (see
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102019117178.4 | Jun 2019 | DE | national |
