The present invention relates to a device for locking a slewable arm of a crane or mowing machine which is mountable or mounted on a vehicle. The tap may be slewable about a vertical shaft.
Slewable arms of cranes or mowing machines on vehicles are used for countless applications and in many devices, e.g. for loading and unloading goods, for handling long timber such as tree trunks, for clearing ditches, mowing grass verges, etc.
The patent NL 1025137 discloses a loading system for heavy goods vehicles with a loading platform that is ideal for trucks, as well as a crane for use in such a loading system.
BE1017636 describes a device for clearing ditches.
One problem with slewable arms on vehicles is that very large forces are often exerted on the slewing ring of the machine. This gives rise to relatively rapid wear, thus considerably reducing the life of the slewing ring.
Embodiments according to the invention solve one or more problems on slewable arms of prior art on vehicles; these problems relate, but are not limited, to service life and safety.
According to a first aspect of the invention the invention relates to a device for locking a slewable arm of a crane or mowing machine which is mountable or is mounted on a vehicle, the device comprising: a foot, mountable or mounted on the vehicle in such a manner that the foot is firmly secured to the vehicle; a slewing system for the arm, slewable relative to the foot and adapted to be driven by a drive causing the arm to slew; wherein the device comprises locking means for locking the rotation of the slewing system relative to the foot, wherein the locking means are independent of the drive of the slewing system, the locking means being independent of the drive of the slewing system.
The slewing system may comprise a slewing ring.
The invention also comprises a crane or mowing machine which comprises such a device, and a vehicle which comprises such a crane or mowing machine.
According to a second aspect of the invention the invention comprises a method for locking a slewable arm which is mounted on a vehicle, the method comprising: driving of a slewing system of the arm, causing the slewing system and the machine to rotate relative to a food which is firmly secured to the vehicle; wherein the method comprises locking of the rotation of the slewing system relative to the foot, wherein the locking is independent of the driving of the slewing system.
The slewing system may comprise a slewing ring.
Instead of a slewing ring the slewing system may also comprise, for example, a toothed wheel on a vertical shaft which rotates in bearings; such a system is used for small truck cranes, for instance.
The invention may be used, among other things, in machines for the loading and unloading of goods, for the handling of long timber such as tree trunks, for the clearing of ditches and for the mowing of grass verges. The invention may also be used on standard excavation machines, on tracks or tyres.
a is a diagrammatic side view of an embodiment according to the invention of a device which comprises means for locking a slewable crane.
b is a diagrammatic side view of another embodiment according to the invention of such a device.
c is a diagrammatic representation of a cross-section of a disc brake.
In the figures the same reference numbers refer to the same or similar elements.
Arm 70 is an arm of a crane, which might also be called ‘crane’ but it could also be an arm of a mowing machine.
A detailed illustration of a slewable crane 70 can be found in
Instead of two gear racks 21, as in the embodiment shown in
A type of drive 20 other than a toothed wheel or gear rack may also be used for slewing ring 12 or, generally, for slewing system 12. For example, one or more toothed belts can be used, particularly for smaller devices with smaller forces. A chain wheel and one or more chains may also be used as drive 20, possibly driven by a hydraulic motor. Even if a toothed wheel is used, the drive may comprise a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor may then also act as a brake.
One problem with a drive 20 as illustrated in
This applies not only to the toothed wheel and the gear rack drive in the embodiment of
However, it is very expense to replace slewing system 12, and particularly a slewing ring 12.
In embodiments of a device according to the invention the rotation of the slewing system is therefore locked for a good deal of the time. In embodiments device 10 comprises locking means 30 for this purpose. Locking means 30 are adapted to lock the rotation of slewing system 12, e.g. relative to a foot 11 of device 10 which is firmly secured, during the operation of the device, to vehicle 80 on which slewable crane 70 is located. The rotation of slewing system 12 is preferably locked independently of drive 20 of the slewing system, as illustrated in greater detail below. As a result of this hardly any force is transferred via the drive of the slewing ring; in the embodiment in
In the embodiment whose side view is diagrammatically represented in
In order to reduce the residual force via drive 20 still further the drive may also be placed in a so-called “swimming position”. In the embodiment in
In an embodiment slewing system 12 is locked by locking means 30 when crane 70 is not being operated. A prior art method of operating a crane 70 involves the use of a joystick. In a particular embodiment slewing system 12 is locked when the joystick is not operated by the operator of the crane (i.e. when the joystick is in its neutral position, for example). A device 10 according to the invention may comprise actuating means for actuating locking means 30, the actuating means being adapted to actuate the locking means when the joystick is in the non-operation position, or generally when operating means for operating crane 70 are not operated by the operator.
In the ditch clearing application, described by means of
An important advantage of a device with such a locking system is therefore a much longer service life.
It is not only during operation (e.g. clearing of ditches, handling of long timber, etc.) the locking mans can be activated; this is also possible when vehicle 80 is travelling, e.g. on the way to the next task. In this case the drive can also be placed in the “swimming position”.
An additional advantage of embodiments according to the invention is an increase in safety: when the crane is locked it will remain in the same position, even in the case of unexpected shocks and the like (e.g. during travel).
The locking means may be designed as a “negative brake” or as a “negatively locked brake”: in the position of rest they lock the slewing system, and when the device or the crane is operated, the locking means are unlocked (in the embodiment with a disc brake the brake blocks then become detached from the brake disc so that brake disc is able to rotate). The advantage of this is increased safety. For example, if the drive of the slewing system comprises a hydraulic system, the slewing system, and hence the crane, is also locked even in the event of a defect on this hydraulic system—such as a leak in a pipe. In a classical system the crane is able to move from all sides in the case of certain defects, which can be extremely dangerous; in embodiments of the invention the crane is locked in such a case.
A further advantage is that in certain applications, e.g. clearing ditches (for this see also
If one or more disc brakes 35 are used for locking means 30, another advantage is that standard components are available for this. Components of disc brakes of trucks may be used, for example. The number of callipers per brake disc may be selected according to the torque to be transmitted (which may amount to tens of kNm, for example): two, but also one, or more than two callipers may be used to position the callipers. Moreover, even two or even more brake discs may also be used.
For certain applications, such as clearing ditches, the brake disc (or brake discs) may be made from a stainless metal.
b illustrates a different embodiment in which callipers 38 are coupled to pivot column 71 of crane 70 and brake disc 36 is coupled to foot 11. In the embodiment illustrated the brake disc has a non-flat form.
The brake blocks may be hydraulically and/or pneumatically and/or electrically and/or electromagnetically pressed against the brake disc.
Instead of a disc brake, other locking means may also be used, e.g. a second hydraulic system, which is preferably independent of the system for driving slewing system 12, or another mechanical locking system known to the person skilled in the art.
The above description relates to a crane, but it should be understood that the invention relates to mowing machines as well.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011/0693 | Nov 2011 | BE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2012/073735 | 11/27/2012 | WO | 00 | 5/27/2014 |