This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 103 15 989.4 filed in GERMANY on Apr. 8, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a tensioning system for a mobile telescopic crane, in which the telescopic mast is outwardly braced via a tensioning means. In particular, the present invention relates generally to optimally integrating a tensioning system and the components connected to it with a jib design on the superstructure of a mobile telescopic crane.
The aim of any jib design is to keep the ratio of its tare weight to its working load small. The overall system must also exhibit sufficient rigidity to meet the performance capability demanded by the standards.
Jib construction mainly employs fine-grained constructional steel with increasingly higher strengths up to a yield point of 1100 N/mm2. The modulus of elasticity and the available design space remain almost unchanged, hence the deformations border on the limits of performance capability. Deformations such as in a fishing rod are, however, not desirable in lifting platforms and in the field of cranes.
The hollow sections used for a jib are mainly subjected to bending stresses. In terms of tension, only the peripheral fibres are utilised, the material being inactive in the centre. The stability of other panel-like areas is endangered; using superior material has no effect.
It is important to develop light-gauge designs which optimally utilise the material strengths; this applies in particular to vehicle cranes. Filigrees and meticulous designs with little deformation are efficient and save weight. The bearing loads in the range of strength and in the range of steadiness of the existing crane classes would have to be significantly increased still.
A jib section for a braced system with high-tensile materials is described in DE 201 20 121 U1. This teaches how an increase in bearing load can be achieved by shell-segment designs curved outwards. Bracing designs are known from DE 200 02 179 U1 and DE 100 22 658 A1 which are limited to an overhead line of the main jib, arranged in the level luffing plane or inclined with respect to the level luffing plane, wherein a rigid or linearly adjustable mast is fastened to the jib base portion.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a tensioning system for a mobile crane telescopic jib, said system improving the bearing capacity of the telescopic mast, wherein mast deformations in particular are to be reduced.
This object is solved, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, by a tensioning system in which the tensioning means is guided along or over the telescopic mast and fastened to the telescopic mast in such a way that a pressure bias of the mast is created in the area of the tensioning means guide.
The advantage resulting from the invention is based in particular on the fact of omitting the bending beam such that the material properties of high-tensile mast materials having very high yield points can be used. Masts which are pressure-biased by tensioning means can directly absorb the pressure bias in the material and, when loaded, can use the favourable resultant tensile force. In accordance with the invention, when a system is biased in this way, the effect then arises that the bending rigidity of the jib is combined with a defined bracing force and the jib section together with the bracing and biasing forms a unit with a favourable bearing load, in all states of the crane. This creates the possibility of using masts made of high-tensile material with a low tare weight, wherein as opposed to the situation in accordance with the prior art, the high strength of the materials can also be utilised. Maximum admissible stresses in the peripheral fibres, both in the jib and in the turntable support for the counterweight and caused by bending, are compensated for by biasing and bracing.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tensioning means is guided on both sides of the bracing and biasing mast portion, so as to be able to effectively apply the pressure bias. It is then possible to guide the tensioning means from an outer bearing point to a joining point in the upper mast area and then along the jib to an inner or outer bearing point in the lower portion of the mast. The tensioning means can be turned and deflected at the upper joining point by means of a roller.
In one embodiment of the tensioning means in accordance with the invention, in which the upper run of the mast is braced and biased, the tensioning means is guided to the upper portion of the mast by a tensile unit or winch provided on the crane superstructure, via at least one pylon and/or at least one bracing support. The pylon or pylons can be fastened, swiveling, in the area of the crane superstructure and in particular can be arranged protruding obliquely from the luffing plane, in order to also be able to absorb forces arising obliquely with respect to the luffing plane.
Advantageously, when the lower run of the mast is braced and biased, the tensioning means is guided to the upper portion of the mast by a tensile unit or winch provided on the crane superstructure.
Two tensioning means can be provided for the upper run of the mast, and additionally or alternatively for the lower run of the mast, one on each side respectively (at a distance from the luffing plane).
If, as mentioned above, an inner or outer bearing point is provided is the upper portion of the mast for the tensioning means, it is advantageous to arrange said bearing point on the lowermost extending telescopic portion. This ensures that substantially the entire length of the jib can be biased.
If an auxiliary crane tip, for example a fixed tip or a level luffing tip, is provided, it is advantageous in accordance with the invention to also guide the tensioning means, at least in sections, along or over the tip.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a tensioning system is provided, in which the tensile units or winches on the crane superstructure are at a distance from the luffing plane of the telescopic mast of the crane, such that the tensioning means can absorb a substantial proportion of the loads having components perpendicular to the luffing plane. This ensures that lateral loads, for example loads from wind pressure, which act in any direction transverse to the luffing plane can also be absorbed and compensated for within the tensioning system in accordance with the invention. In such designs, it is favourable to arrange the tensioning means tensile units or winches for bracing the upper run of the mast behind the mast joint of the crane superstructure, since they can then simultaneously act as a counterweight.
Another aspect of the present invention is realised by arranging the tensioning means tensile units or winches on the crane superstructure, in a tensioning system for a mobile telescopic crane comprising tensioning means winches and tensioning means for bracing the telescopic mast, such that they can shift. In principle, horizontal and vertical shifting is conceivable, applications comprising vertical shifting in particular being permitted, such as for example—in accordance with a preferred embodiment—assigning the tensioning means tensile units or winches to counterweights of the crane, wherein the tensile units or winches can be connected to individual or all corresponding counterweights. Using such a design, it is possible to apply the bias in the tensioning means using the weight force of the counterweights and so save on those units which otherwise provide such tensile forces, for example using motors.
In accordance with another embodiment variant, it is also proposed to attach the tensioning means tensile units or winches to the crane superstructure via damping units, in order to avoid dynamic impairment.
Overall, the present invention can also be defined as one in which the major components of the superstructure, for example the jib, bracing, pylons, biasing, expelling unit, turntable, counterweight and tensioning means tensile units, are designed and combined in such a way that, depending on the operational state, the individual sub-assemblies automatically perform a number of functions and mutually assist each other in a way which enables a lighter and more stable bearing design overall. The features cited in this description can be employed in this way, individually or in any combination. In particular the reduction in weight and the re-arrangement of the major components of the superstructure made possible within the framework of the invention, as well as combining them operationally, provide advantages which it has not so far been possible to achieve in the prior art.
With straight or oblique bracings comprising bracing gantries on the mast, for example, it was not possible to carry the rear and the front bracing and the cable winch while travelling on roads, because this exceeded the vehicle height and/or total admissible weight. The high assembly costs were a further disadvantage. An additional assembly crane for placing the bracing gantry was necessary and assembly work had to be performed at a height of three or four meters, at points relatively far apart, which significantly increased the risk of accidents. Cranes braced in this way contained additional weld-on structures on the jib base portion, in order to connect the bracing gantry (pylon), the erecting cylinder and the rear bracing. All these auxiliary weights increased the axle loads while travelling on roads. During operation, all the weights with respect to the bracing were situated in front of the turning centre. The weights of the bracing unit negatively effect all the bearing loads limited by the ball turning connection, the level luffing cylinder, the support presses, the chassis and the steadiness. In order to equalise the auxiliary moment from the bracing weights, a larger counterweight was necessary, resulting in extra costs for the counterweight and the turntable and chassis design, as well as additional transport costs.
The above problems can be solved by the bias in accordance with the invention and the associated savings in weight made possible by it, by arranging the tensioning means tensile units in accordance with the invention and integrating them with other units situated on the superstructure, and by redesigning the superstructure as enabled in accordance with the invention.
In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of example embodiments and by referring to the enclosed drawings, which show:
In the figures, identical reference numerals indicate identical or functionally identical structural unit.
The telescopic mast is tensioned towards both sides of the luffing plane, the components in
Starting from the cable winch 3, the tensioning cable 1 runs as its outer portion 1b firstly over a roller 8 on the pylon 9 which is fastened, swiveling, to the crane superstructure as shown by the arrows. From the roller 8, the cable 1b passes through the gantry 10 and at the roller 4 at the tip of the mast is turned and deflected into the telescopic jib, where it runs as its inner portion 1a along the inner side of the jib to the lower portion of the first telescopic portion 5, where it is secured on the fastening 6. The bias of the cable via the counterweights 2 is explained in more detail by way of
The telescopic mast is pressure-biased or compressed axially in its upper cross-sectional part 7a due to the effect of the force in the cable sections 1a and 1b. The upper run 7a, consisting of high-tensile steel, can directly absorb this pressure bias. If the telescopic mast is then loaded with weight, the resultant tensile forces in the upper cross-section act against the pressure forces from the bias. The bias or compression is relieved at these points, such that large, undesirable deformations can be avoided. The bending beam is omitted.
In cranes with a limited counterweight, biasing can also be achieved via a tensile unit (for example, a cylinder, screw, wind, spring, etc.).
It may be generally stated that maximum admissible stresses in the peripheral fibers, both in the jib (telescopic mast) and in the turntable support for the counterweight, caused by bending, are compensated for by the biasing and bracing in accordance with the invention. The material and deformations can be further optimized, if the appropriate bias can also be created in the lower cross sectional part of the jib. This is achieved, for example, in an embodiment in accordance with
The level luffing tip 26 shown in
In the crane in accordance with
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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103 15 989 | Apr 2003 | DE | national |
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4360111 | Weiskopf | Nov 1982 | A |
6550624 | Irsh et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
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1 751 383 | Aug 1957 | DE |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040245201 A1 | Dec 2004 | US |