The invention relates to a crane with the features of the preamble of claim 1.
In a generic crane the crane arm, as well as an implement arranged on the crane tip or a part of an implement arranged on the crane tip, can be moved in relation to the crane arm by the issue of corresponding control commands by a user by means of the crane controller. A coordination of certain movements of the crane arm and certain movements of the implement or parts of the implement can place high demands on the user of the crane and be associated with increased operating costs and a slower working speed. Incorrect operation, for example by an insufficiently trained user or inattention, during a coordination of certain movements of the crane arm and certain movements of the implement or parts of the implement—but also in the case of inappropriate movement of the implement or parts of the implement—can also give rise to damage to the crane, to the implement, to any load to be lifted or to the base which serves as supporting surface for the crane or as depositing surface for any load to be lifted.
The object of the invention is to specify a crane which has an easier operability as well as increased safety with respect to incorrect operation.
This object is achieved by a crane with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
As with a generic crane, the crane according to the invention also has firstly at least one crane arm with a crane tip, wherein an implement is arrangeable on the crane tip. For example, a free end of the crane arm can be understood as the crane tip. The implement itself and/or at least one part of the implement is movable in relation to the crane tip. In principle an attachment part arrangeable on the crane tip for manipulation of objects or items, for example a load to be lifted, can be understood as the implement. The at least one crane arm and the implement and/or the at least one part of the implement can be controlled by a crane controller, wherein in a first operating mode the crane controller is formed for the issue of control commands by a user for movement of the at least one crane arm and for movement of the implement and/or for movement of the at least one part of the implement. In other words, in the first operating mode of the crane controller, by means of the latter, a user can issue control commands to the crane arm and the implement (or the at least one movable part of the implement). The crane arm and the implement (or the at least one movable part of the implement) can be controlled separately from each other or also together by the issue of corresponding control commands by the user. The crane arm of the crane or the crane tip of the crane arm can be substantially freely movable in the first operating mode of the crane controller—within the possible, structurally limited range of movement and optionally taking into account the stability of the crane.
In contrast to cranes known in the state of the art, the crane controller of the crane according to the invention has an activatable further operating mode, in which the crane controller is configured so that, with an implement arranged on the crane tip, when predetermined control commands are issued by a user for movement of the implement arranged on the crane tip and/or for movement of the at least one part of the implement arranged on the crane tip, additional control commands for movement of the at least one crane arm can be given off by the crane controller to at least partially compensate for at least one component of the movement of the implement and/or the movement of the at least one part of the implement.
The further operating mode can be activated by the user for example before or during implementation of particular work processes with the implement, i.e. the crane controller can be switched into the further operating mode by the user.
The activation of the further operating mode can, however, also be effected automatically, for example when it is recognized that particular work processes are being carried out with the implement. The crane arm of the crane or the crane tip of the crane arm can in principle also be substantially freely movable in the second operating mode of the crane controller—within the possible, structurally limited range of movement and optionally taking into account the stability of the crane.
By predetermined control commands for movement of the implement arranged on the crane tip and/or for movement of the at least one part of the implement arranged on the crane tip can be meant possible working movements of the implement. The predetermined control commands in an exemplary embodiment of the implement as a grab with two or more grab jaws or grab shells that are movable in relation to each other can thus comprise control commands for the opening and/or closing movement of the grab jaws or grab shells. In the case of a further exemplary embodiment of the implement as a bucket (also called excavation bucket or scoop) the predetermined control commands can comprise control commands issued by the user for movement of the bucket in relation to the crane arm or the crane tip.
The crane controller is now configured so that, when such predetermined control commands named by way of example are issued by the user, additional control commands for movement of the at least one crane arm can be given off by the crane controller. In addition to the control commands issued by the user to the implement, control commands for movement of the crane arm or at least one part of the crane arm can thus be given off by the crane controller. These additional control commands for movement of the at least one crane arm serve to at least partially compensate for at least one component of the movement of the implement and/or the movement of the at least one part of the implement. Parts of the movement of the implement can thus be at least proportionately compensated for by a movement of the crane arm due to the additional control commands.
It can be advantageous that the additional control commands can be given off as a function of at least one parameter of the movement of the implement arranged on the crane tip and/or the movement of the at least one part of the implement arranged on the crane tip. Corresponding sensors can be provided to detect the parameter of the movement of the implement or the at least one movable part of the implement. The additional control commands can be given off in proportion to the at least one parameter of the movement of the implement arranged on the crane tip and/or the movement of the at least one part of the implement arranged on the crane tip.
In principle it can be advantageous that the additional control commands can be given off by the crane controller substantially simultaneously with the issue of the predetermined control commands for movement of the implement and/or of the at least one part of the implement. The at least proportionate balancing-out of a part of the movement of the implement can thus be effected simultaneously with the movement of the implement.
It can further be advantageous that the crane tip is displaceable in a plane of the crane arm during the movement of the crane arm due to the additional control commands of the crane controller. The position of the crane arm or the position of parts of the crane arm in relation to each other can be alterable due to the additional control commands.
It can further be advantageous that the crane tip is displaceable—preferably along a straight line—in a direction of the at least one component during the movement of the crane arm due to the additional control commands of the crane controller. The control of the crane arm due to the additional control commands can be effected such that the crane tip moves in a direction of the part of the movement to be balanced out, wherein this is preferably effected along a straight line. The direction of movement of the crane tip can run substantially counter to the direction of the part of the movement of the implement to be balanced out and/or of the part of the movement of the at least one movable part of the implement to be balanced out.
It can be provided that the movement of the implement and/or of the at least one part of the implement is a pivoting movement in relation to the crane tip.
The implement itself can perform a pivoting movement in relation to the crane tip and/or a movable part of the implement can perform a pivoting movement in relation to the crane tip.
It can be provided that the crane arm has at least one crane pillar—preferably rotatable about a perpendicular axis of rotation—and at least one lifting arm pivotally mounted on the crane pillar—preferably about a first horizontal pivot axis—wherein the lifting arm preferably has at least one extension arm.
It can be advantageous that the crane arm further has at least one articulated arm, a so-called jib, pivotally mounted on the lifting arm—preferably about a second horizontal pivot axis—wherein the articulated arm preferably has at least one extension arm.
It can further be advantageous that the crane arm further has at least one articulated attachment arm pivotally mounted on the articulated arm preferably about a third horizontal pivot axis, a so-called jib-in-jib configuration, wherein the articulated attachment arm preferably has at least one extension arm.
In principle it can be provided that the crane controller has at least one memory for storing data specific to the crane and/or data specific to implements arrangeable on the crane. The data specific to the crane can comprise information for designing the crane such as for example arm lengths, number and length of extension arms and the like. Specific data for implements arrangeable on the crane can comprise information for designing the implement such as for example number and length or size of grab jaws or grab shells in an exemplary embodiment of the implement as a grab. The crane controller can also comprise signal inputs for supplying sensor signals from sensors arrangeable on the crane and/or from sensors arrangeable on an implement arranged on the crane. A position or geometry detection of the crane or crane arm can be made possible by the sensors arrangeable on the crane. The position of the implement in relation to the crane tip or the position of the at least one movable part of the implement can be detectable by sensors arrangeable on the implement. The crane controller can further comprise signal outputs for outputting control signals for the at least one crane arm and/or for the implement and/or for the at least one part of the implement. The control signals output via the signal outputs can be output for example to control devices such as for instance control valves of the crane for the implementation of the movement. The crane controller can additionally have operating elements able to be operated by a user for the generation or issue of control commands for movement of the at least one crane arm and/or of the implement and/or of the at least one part of the implement. The crane controller can also have a computing unit for processing data from the memory and sensor signals and for generating control commands.
It can be advantageous that the crane controller is configured so that an implement arranged on the crane tip is able to be predefined to the crane controller by a user and/or an implement arranged on the crane tip is automatically recognizable by the crane controller. Information specific to an implement arranged on the crane tip can thus be predefined to the crane controller or this information can be automatically recognized by the crane controller. The output of the additional control commands can thus be effected as a function of the predefined and/or recognized implement on the basis of the information specific to the implement.
In the case of an implement arranged on the crane tip of the crane arm it can be advantageous that the implement is formed as a grab with at least two grab jaws, each pivotally movable about a bearing point on the implement, with grab tips, or with at least two grab shells, each pivotally movable about a bearing point on the implement, with grab blades. A pivoting movement (opening and/or closing movement) of the grab jaws or the grab shells can correspond to a movement of the implement. During such a movement of the implement the grab tips or the grab blades can move on a path that is curved substantially circularly at least in sections about the bearing points on the implement.
It can be advantageous that the grab tips or grab blades move substantially along a straight line or in a plane during an opening and/or closing movement of the grab jaws or grab shells through the movement of the crane arm due to the additional control commands. The movement of the crane arm resulting from the additional control commands can move the crane tip such that an at least partial compensation for at least one component of the opening and/or closing movement of the grab jaws or grab shells results. A component of the pivoting movement of the implement taking place during the opening and/or closing movement and/or of the pivoting movement of the at least one movable part of the implement can thus be compensated for, with the result that the grab tips or grab blades essentially no longer move on a circular path, but are effectively moved substantially in a straight line. During an opening and/or closing movement of the grab jaws or grab shells, the grab tips or grab blades can, for example, thus effectively move away from each other or towards each other substantially in a straight line. In the case of a grab suspended freely from the crane tip of a crane, a movement of the grab tips or grab shells running substantially horizontally and at a constant height (measured from the ground on which the crane is positioned or else measured from a bottom edge of the crane pillar) for example can thus be achieved.
It can be advantageous that the component of the movement at least partially compensated for is the normal distance, which changes during an opening and/or closing movement, from the straight line or plane to the respective bearing point. The normal distance relates to the distance from the straight line or plane, measured on the shortest route along or in which the grab tips or grab blades effectively move, to the respective bearing point. The normal distance from the straight line or plane can increase during a closing movement of the grab jaws or grab shells, and it can decrease during an opening movement. The crane arm can be moved due to the additional control commands such that the increase or decrease in the normal distance is compensated for by the movement of the crane tip.
It can further be advantageous that the predetermined control commands by a user for movement of the implement and/or for movement of the at least one part of the implement comprise control commands for opening and/or closing the grab jaws or grab shells of the grab. Thus, when control commands are issued by a user by means of the crane controller for the opening and/or closing of the grab jaws or grab shells of an implement designed as a grab with two or more grab jaws or grab shells that are movable in relation to each other, additional control commands can be given off by the crane controller to at least partially compensate for at least one component of the movements implemented during the opening and/or closing movement of the grab jaws or grab shells.
It can also be advantageous that the at least one parameter of the movement is the opening and/or closing angle of the grab jaws or grab shells. Corresponding sensors for detecting the opening and/or closing angle of the grab jaws or grab shells can be provided on the grab. The additional control commands can be given off in proportion to the detected opening and/or closing angle of the grab jaws or grab shells.
Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the description of the figures with reference to the embodiment examples represented in the drawings. There are shown in:
In the adjacent detail views, in each case, a lower section of the articulated arm 7 with implement 3 arranged thereon in the form of a grab is shown, wherein the grab in the embodiment shown is rotated by 90° compared with the overall view of the crane 1 shown on the left, whereby two grab jaws 13, 14 with grab tips 15, 16 are visible. The grab jaws 13, 14 are pivotally mounted about bearing points 24. The opening angle of the grab or the grab jaws 13, 14 is given the reference a. In the first detail view the grab is shown in a closed position of the grab jaws 13, 14 and in the second detail view the grab is shown in an open position of the grab jaws 13, 14. Unless the crane arm of the crane 1 itself is moved, different heights (vertical distances) with respect, for example, to the lower edge of the crane pillar 5, the position of which is represented by the line running horizontally in the drawing, result for the grab tips 15, 16 due to the pivoting of the grab jaws 13, 14 during the opening and/or closing. For example, in the closed position of the grab a first distance L1 from the grab tips 15, 16 to the lower edge of the crane pillar 5 thus essentially results. In the open position of the grab a second distance L2 from the grab tips 15, 16 to the lower edge of the crane pillar 5 essentially results. The difference between the distances L1,
L2 is given the reference z, and corresponds, as represented, to the vertical component of the pivoting movement of the grab jaws 15, 16. The represented opening or closing position of the implement 3 designed as a grab results, for example, when the implement 3 is controlled in a first operating mode of the crane controller (not represented in
In the position of the crane 1 or the implement 3 shown in
If, in the second operating mode of the crane controller 4, a control command is now issued by a user, for example by actuation of one of the operating elements 11, to close the implement 3 formed as a grab arranged on the crane tip 2, then additional control commands for movement of the crane arm are given off by the crane controller 4 automatically and without further intervention by the user, to at least partially compensate for the vertical component of the movement of the grab jaws 13, 14 or the grab tips 15, 16 of the implement 3 formed as a grab.
Due to the additional control commands the crane 1 is now in the position shown in
The positions of the crane 1 or the implement 3 shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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17162557.7 | Mar 2017 | EP | regional |