This application is a National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/IB2018/059817, filed Dec. 10, 2018, which claims benefit of Ser. No. 10/201,7000142033, filed Dec. 11, 2017 in Italy and which applications are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above-disclosed applications.
The invention relates to a crane on wheels for lifting and moving loads.
In the industrial field, as well as in the craft industry, the need to pick up, move and position loads at substantial distances from the pick-up point is well known.
Generally speaking, the crane has a plurality of wheels in order to move on the support surface, which can be a smooth floor, such as in a factory, or a bulky or uneven surface, such as in an outdoor environment. Some of these wheels are drive wheels. The wheels are capable of rotating so as to allow the crane to move, but they are mounted in a rigid manner relative to the frame of the crane.
A drawback of known cranes lies in the fact that they are not capable of ensuring a good drive on irregular support surfaces, i.e. bulky or uneven surfaces. Indeed, when the wheels rest on an uneven surface, they barely generate a friction with the surface; this situation makes it difficult or even impossible for the crane to move on the surface.
An object of the invention is to provide a crane for lifting and moving loads, which is able to solve this and other drawbacks of the prior art and which, at the same time, can be produced in a simple and economic fashion.
In particular, one of the technical problems solved by the invention is that of providing a crane for lifting and moving loads, which is capable of ensuring a good friction with the different support surfaces.
According to the invention, this and other objects are reached by a crane.
The appended claims are an integral part of the technical teaches will be provided in the following detailed description concerning the invention.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description, which is provided by way of example and is not limiting, with reference, in particular, to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference to the accompanying figures, number 10 indicates, as a whole, a crane for lifting and moving loads comprising: a base frame 12, adapted to transfer the loads of crane 10 onto a support surface by means of a plurality of wheels 34, 35, 36. In particular, at least one wheel 34, 35, 36 is capable of rotating relative to said base frame 12 so as to change camber angle A of said wheel.
Therefore, at least one wheel 34, 35, 36 (which can be a drive wheel or a driven wheel) is capable of rotating relative to base frame 12 so as to change camber angle A. Hence, with particular reference to
A return means, such as an elastic means (for example, a spring), preferably tends to move wheel 34, 35, 36 to a position in which camber angle A is equal to zero. For instance, when the crane is on a horizontal support surface, the return means tends to move wheel 34, 35, 36 to a vertical position (in which camber angle A is equal to zero). This solution allows wheels 34, 35, 36 to have a better drive, as they adjust to the irregularities of the ground. A further advantage lies in the fact that wheel 34, 35, 36 with a variable camber angle A damages the floor on which it is going to rest to a smaller extent.
For example, some wheels 34, 36 are drive wheel and the other wheels 35 are driven wheels. In the example (
Preferably, a plurality of wheels 34, 35, 36 is capable of rotating relative to said base frame 12 so as to change camber angle A of said wheels. Optionally, all wheels 34, 35, 36 are capable of changing camber angle A. Preferably, the wheel can assume a negative and/or positive camber angle A. In the example shown herein, there are four wheels 34, 35 and two wheels 34 can change their camber angle A.
Preferably, at least one wheel 34, which is capable of changing its camber angle A, is a drive wheel. Preferably, at least one wheels 34 are drive wheels. According to a particular variant, wheels 34, which are capable of changing their camber angle A, are drive wheels. With reference to the variant shown herein, the two wheels 34 are also drive wheels. Optionally, all wheels are drive wheels; therefore, the crane is provided with a four-wheel drive or six-wheel drive system.
According to a variant of the invention, drive wheels 34, 35, 36 are provided with respective motors 37, preferably electric or hydraulic motors. Motor 37 of each drive wheel preferably acts independently of the other ones. Hence, the crane comprises at least one motor 37 associated with a respective drive wheel and configured to operate it causing the rolling thereof (i.e. rotation around axis x-x, with reference to
According to the variant of
Preferably, at least one pair of twin wheels 36 is designed to be operated by a respective motor 37 associated with said pair. In particular, there are different pairs of twin wheels 36 and each pair is designed to be operated by a respective motor 37. Motors 37 can act in an independent manner, conveniently coordinated by a control unit.
Preferably, the two wheels 36 belonging to said pair of twin wheels 36 are constrained by means of a differential device or differential 41. The differential 41 can be of a known type and is conveniently similar to the one used in the automotive industry. The differential 41, which is conveniently connected to a drive shaft of motor 37, transmits a torque from motor 37 to the respective twin wheels 36. For instance, the differential 41 is interposed between the two wheels 36. Advantageously, the differential 41 allows motor 37 to transmit a torque to the two wheels 36, allowing at the same time said wheels 36 to rotate with different angular speeds. Hence, the rotation speed of the two twin wheels 36 around of rolling axis x-x is adjusted through the differential 41. Therefore, the angular speed of the wheels 36 can be equal or different relative to one another. This allows the crane to steer, decreasing the friction between wheels 36 and the ground, and to reduce the wear of wheels 36. This aspect is particularly advantageous in case wheels 36 are configured to steer, but it is anyway advantageous also in case wheels 36 are not configured to steer.
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, there are different pairs of twin wheels 36 capable of changing their camber angle A. In particular, said pairs of twin wheels 36 are drive wheels and each pair of drive twin wheels 36 is associated with a respective motor 37 and a respective differential 41. In this case, therefore, each motor 37 is associated with a respective differential device.
Preferably, with particular reference to
Alternatively, steering wheels 34 are also drive wheels. According to a further possible variant, steering wheels 34 are drive wheels and they are also capable of rotating relative to base frame 12 so as to change their camber angle A.
Hence, according to possible variants of the invention, the wheel (single wheel 34, 35 or twin wheel 36) with a variable camber angle can be a non-steering wheel, a steering wheel, a drive wheel or a driven wheel.
With reference to the details of
With special reference to the example of
Even in case of a single wheel 34, 35, a mechanism can be used to change camber angle A, as described for the case of twin wheels 36. According to possible variants, the middle plane of single wheel 34, 35 can include camber axis y-y or be spaced apart from it.
According to a particular variant, in case only some wheels 34, 35, 36 are drive wheels, the drive wheels are those wheels 34, 35, 36 that transfer the greatest force onto the support surface, when the crane carries the load. For example, the crane has four wheel assemblies, each one consisting of one single wheel 34, 36 or of twin wheels 36, and the two front wheel assemblies comprise the drive wheels. By so doing, the friction between the drive wheels and the support surface can be maximized.
Conveniently, said at least one drive wheel, having the variable camber angle, is self-braking; for example, motor 37 is self-braking. When the user interrupts the “moving” command of crane 1, said motor 37 generates a braking action in order to stop the movement of crane 10 relative to the ground as soon as possible. Motor 37 can be of a known type, namely a hydraulic or electric motor. If necessary, self-braking wheel 34, 35, 36 can also be a steering wheel.
In particular, the distance between the hinging axes P1, P2 of bar 48 is smaller than the distance between rotation axes R1, R2 of rotary elements 50, 52. Rotation axes R1, R2 are parallel to steering axes S1, S2 (which conveniently are vertical) of wheels 34. Bar 48 is adapted to translate in a plane, for example a horizontal plane. Preferably, the distance between rotation axes R1, R2 of rotary elements 50, 52 is smaller than the distance between steering axes S1, S2 of wheels 34.
In particular, in
On the contrary, in the particular variant of
With reference to the variant shown, by way of non-limiting example, in
Preferably, there are stabilizers 32, which are constrained to base frame 12 and, preferably, are extractable in a known manner. In the example there are four stabilizers 32, in particular located at the vertexes of a rectangle in plan view.
For greater clarity, a non-limiting description of a crane 10 having a particular structure and a preferred lifting mechanism is provided below. With particular reference to the variant shown, crane 10 comprises:
In particular, the crane includes a pair of connecting rod elements 22, each connecting rod element 22 being hinged to turret 14 and to arm 18, so as to create an articulated quadrilateral. There is a first linear actuator 24 fitted on turret 14 and hinged to arm 18, which is capable of causing the lifting movement of arm 18. In a non-limiting manner,
In particular, turret 14 has a pair of brackets 15, in particular arranged vertically. A respective pair of connecting rod elements 22 pivots on each bracket 15. Therefore, there are two pairs of connecting rod elements 22, substantially arranged on the sides of the arm 18.
Conveniently, arm 18 is telescopic and comprises sliding segments controlled by a second linear actuator 26. A first segment 18a is constrained to turret 14 in a movable manner and at least one further segment can slide relative to the first segment 18a. The second linear actuator 26 is adapted to perform the extraction/retraction of the segments, so as to increase/decrease the reach of arm 18. The top end of the first linear actuator 24 is hinged to the first segment 18a. Conveniently, linear actuators 24, 26, or at least one of them, are hydraulic jacks. Conveniently, at least one of linear actuators 24, 26 is a hydraulic jack with two simultaneous stages. Connecting rod elements 22 are hinged to the first segment 18a.
Preferably, arm 18 is provided with means for attaching and transporting the loads, such as, for example, a clamp, tongs, a hook 30, or a platform, etc. For example, arm 18 is associated with a winch system or a hoist, in order to move the loads. Said winch is conveniently activated by a motor means, such as an electric motor. The winch (or hoist) is associated with a hook 30, or the like, which can be extracted or retracted by operating the winch.
The control tools can comprise, for example, push-buttons, levers, screens, warning lights, sirens, indicators of different types, thus allowing the user to receive signals of various kinds regarding the operation of crane 10.
Crane 10 preferably comprises at least one electric battery, which can be of the rechargeable type or not. Conveniently, the battery is rechargeable and can be recharged without being removed from the crane through suitable battery recharging means, for example by connecting the battery recharging means to an industrial or domestic socket outlet. The battery is adapted to supply the power required to carry out one or more of the following operations: activating the linear actuators; activating the signaling devices, among which there are the acoustic and visual ones; supplying power to the control system; activating the drive wheel; etc.
According to further variants, arm 18 of crane 10 can be moved by means of a rope system, alternatively or in addition to linear actuator 24, 26.
With reference to the further variant shown, by way of non-limiting example, in
The crane preferably has movable platform 48, adapted to accommodate a user and is capable of assuming a retracted position, in which the space taken up by the crane is very small. In particular, movable platform 48 can rotate, conveniently around a horizontal axis; therefore, movable crane 48, when in the retracted position, is in a lifted position, in particular in a substantially vertical position shown in
Movable platform 48 preferably comprises sensors to detect the presence of or the contact with objects close to movable platform 48. This allows users to avoid undesired hits during the movement of the crane, when movable platform 48 is extracted. In particular, movable platform 48 comprises contact sensors placed on its edge, when it 48 is in the extracted position.
Preferably, when movable platform 48 is in the retracted position, users cannot manually act upon the controls of the crane, in particular upon control board 52, and they can control the crane only in remote mode. Hence, in order to use the controls to control the crane, users have to move the board to the extracted position (in the example, in a horizontal position). This feature is particularly safe because it prevents users from being hit by the crane when they act upon control board 52. On the other hand, when a user is standing on movable platform 48, e cannot be hit by the crane.
Naturally, the principle of the invention being set forth, embodiments and implementation details can be widely changed relative to what described above and shown in the drawings as a mere way of non-limiting example, without in this way going beyond the scope of protection provided by the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102017000142033 | Dec 2017 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2018/059817 | 12/10/2018 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2019/116193 | 6/20/2019 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2569861 | Moore | Oct 1951 | A |
2727582 | Lisenby | Dec 1955 | A |
2773723 | Randall | Dec 1956 | A |
2988400 | Ash | Jun 1961 | A |
3154315 | Ash | Oct 1964 | A |
6264221 | Bowden | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6267188 | Bowman | Jul 2001 | B1 |
10131195 | Bowden | Nov 2018 | B2 |
20120247843 | Oriet | Oct 2012 | A1 |
20150239318 | Bowden | Aug 2015 | A1 |
20210362784 | Tranchero | Nov 2021 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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107487129 | Dec 2017 | CN |
1162092 | Dec 2001 | EP |
202034 | Aug 1923 | GB |
2334015 | Aug 1999 | GB |
2506944 | Apr 2014 | GB |
2506944 | Apr 2014 | GB |
88.2329 | Apr 1988 | WO |
Entry |
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International Search Report and Written Opinion from International Application No. PCT/IN2018/059817, dated Mar. 25, 2019. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210362784 A1 | Nov 2021 | US |