CN100436303C - Mobile crane and method of operation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile type crane (1), preferably a self-propelled mobile type crane. The present invention is provided with a mobile base structure (2) which allows the crane to move on the surface, and further, the crane is provided with a rotary upper structure (3), a boom (4) and a supporting rod (4) installed on the base structure, wherein the boom (4) and the supporting rod (5) respectively wind relevant horizontal rotary shafts to be hinged with the upper structure (3). The crane is also provided with main load hoisting mechanisms (11 and 13a) which are relevant to the boom (4) and are used for hoisting loads and a ballast (15) of the upper structure, and the upper structure (3) is suitable for supporting the ballast (15) of the upper structure on the upper structure. The crane is also provided with super-hoisting ballasts (20, 20a and 20b) and a relevant connecting mechanism (30), and when the super-hoisting ballasts (20, 20a and 20b) are static on the surface and /or the supporting rod is suspended on the surface, the super-hoisting ballasts (20, 20a and 20b) are connected to the supporting rod (5) by the connecting mechanism. The mobile base structure is provided with super-hoisting ballast supporting mechanisms (50 and 55) which allow the super-hoisting ballasts (20, 20a and 20b) to be supported on the base structure (2) for the convenience that when supported by the base structure (2), the super-hoisting ballasts (20, 20a and 20b) can move along the mobile type crane.

Description

Mobile crane and method of operation thereof

technical field

The present invention relates to a mobile crane, preferably a mobile crane having a mobile base structure allowing said crane to move over a surface and further having a mobile base structure mounted on said base structure and rotating about a vertical axis of rotation about the base structure Self-propelled mobile cranes of the rotating superstructure type. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a mobile crane.

Background technique

The crane further has a boom and a support bar each articulated to the superstructure about an associated horizontal axis of rotation. A main load lifting mechanism for lifting the load is connected to the boom for lifting the load.

The crane also has a superstructure ballast and the superstructure is adapted to support the superstructure ballast thereon.

To accomplish a so-called "superlift", the crane has a superlift ballast. An associated linkage, typically a number of descending cables, is used when the superweight-lifting ballast is at rest on the surface and/or is suspended from the support rod at a substantial distance from the base structure. A ballast that lifts the superweight when above the surface is attached to the support rod. Therefore, the crane can withstand the large overturning moment generated by the load.

In practice the ballast for super heavy lifting can weigh hundreds or even hundreds of metric tons. Ballasts usually consist of stacks of heavy steel plates.

This type of mobile crane is often used for several lifting jobs at a single work site (eg, a chemical plant). This means that for each job the crane has to be moved (for example tens or hundreds of meters) to a new position and ready for the new job.

The disadvantages of prior art mobile cranes of the type described above are related to the above-mentioned practical situation in which the crane is moved from one location to the next. With most prior art cranes, it is necessary to provide additional cranes and transport vehicles to move the ballast lifted by the overweight to a new location. This would waste time and cause additional safety hazards for personnel.

In DE-U-29724688 it is proposed to mount the super-heavy lifting ballast on a separate wheeled ballast trolley attached to the superstructure, the wheeled ballast trolley having guide wheels driven by an associated drive mechanism. This requires a very strong and expensive ballast truck which undesirably increases the cost of the crane.

In US6283315 a mobile crane is disclosed with a ballast trolley attached to the superstructure by telescoping beams. This ballast cart also has guide wheels, resulting in an undesirably complicated and expensive ballast arrangement.

The Demag CC 8800 crane has a ballast trolley (up to 600 tons) for superheavy lifting attached to the base structure via telescoping beams. This crane further has a superstructure ballast mounted on the rear of the superstructure. To further stabilize this prior art crane, a "central ballast" (maximum 100 tons) is provided on the chassis of the base structure. This structure is completed by providing front and rear beams with a centrally configured base structure on which steel ballast plates can be stacked.

A further mobile crane of the prior art is disclosed in US6568547, wherein the crane is not provided with superstructure ballasts. This crane has horizontal beams attached to the superstructure supporting the ballast for superheavy lifting.

Contents of the invention

The present invention aims to provide an improved mobile crane with a configuration for handling ballasts for overweight lifting allowing a more efficient use of the crane within affordable costs.

The present invention provides a mobile crane comprising a mobile base structure allowing said crane to move over a surface, a revolving superstructure mounted on said base structure, a boom and a support rod, said boom and support bars each hinged to said superstructure about an associated horizontal axis of rotation, a main load hoisting mechanism connected to said boom for lifting a load, a superstructure ballast, said superstructure being adapted to place said upper Structural ballasts are supported thereon, ballasts lifted by superweights and when said superweights lift ballasts rest on said surface and/or are intended to be suspended from said support rods on said surface The ballast for lifting the superweight is connected to the associated connection mechanism on the support rod. The mobile base structure is provided with a superheavy lifting ballast support mechanism allowing the superheavy lifting ballast to be supported on the base structure so that when the superheavy lifting ballast is supported by The base structure can move along the mobile crane when supported.

The present invention therefore proposes to use the preferably self-propelled mobile base of the crane itself as a means of supporting and transporting the ballast lifted by the overweight when moving the crane from one working point to the next. This can result in a lower cost crane and/or a crane that operates more efficiently compared to complex prior art techniques.

The invention also relates to a method for operating such a mobile crane.

Description of drawings

Further preferred embodiments of the crane according to the invention and the method for operating the crane are disclosed in the claims and the description with reference to the drawings.

In the picture:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an example of a crawler crane according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a front view of the crane of Figure 1 in a different assembly,

Figures 3a to 3c are sequential side views of a ballast assembly for superheavy lifting placed on the base structure of the crane of Figure 1,

Figures 4a to 4f are successive plan views of the placement of two super-heavy-lifting ballast components on the base structure of the crane of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the central chassis and the ballast components for superweight lifting supported by said chassis of the crane of Figure 1 ,

Figures 6a, b are front cross-sectional views of the two discs of the ballast part for superheavy lifting of Figure 5 in assembled and unassembled states, respectively,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ballast assembly shown in Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the ballast plate from the front showing the lifting of the ballast pan and the superweight stacked on the pan.

Detailed ways

Figures 1 and 2 show different assemblies of a crawler crane 1 designed for lifting loads of several hundred metric tons, in preferred embodiments up to 1200 metric tons or even more, for different lifting tasks.

The crane 1 is a self-propelled crane and has a mobile base structure 2 which allows the crane to move over a surface. In many instances the surface will likely be ground reinforced by suitable foundations, but it is also contemplated that the crane is used on a large crane ship or similar.

A rotating superstructure 3 is mounted on said base structure 2 such that the superstructure 3 can rotate about a vertical rotation axis with respect to the base structure 2 .

The crane 1 further has a boom 4 and a support rod 5 . The boom is hinged to the superstructure 3 so that the boom 4 pivots about a horizontal axis of rotation 6 . The support rod 5 is also hinged to the superstructure 3 , which rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation 7 .

In Figures 1 and 2 the embodiment shows booms 4 and support bars 5 each having a lattice structure, preferably in modules to allow easy transfer of the entire crane from one worksite to the next.

Also shown in FIG. 2 are two booms 4 with an A-frame design, two elongated boom sections 4a, 4b respectively connected to the superstructure and abutting each other near the top of the booms 4 .

The support bar 5 has an inverted Y-frame design, the two lower support bar parts 5a, 5b are pivotally connected to the superstructure 3 and joined to a single part 5c.

In the assembly of FIG. 1 , the luffing jib arrangement 8 comprises a jib 8a connected to the top of the boom 4 and strut beams 8b, 8c.

A main load lifting mechanism is associated with the boom 4 for lifting loads. In Fig. 1 there is shown a hoisting cable 11 guided on a cable pulley mounted on top of the support bar 5, the strut beams 8b, 8c and the top of the jib 8a. The crane hook 13 starts to hang from the hoist wire 11. The main load-hoisting winch 13 a is mounted on the rotating superstructure 3 .

A superstructure ballast 15 consisting of a stack of steel ballast plates is provided. The rear part of the superstructure 3 is adapted to support said superstructure ballast 15 thereon.

The crane 1 further has a ballast 20 for superheavy lifting and for when the superheavy lifting ballast 20 is stationary on a surface (as in FIG. 1 ) and/or is suspended from said support bar 5 on said surface The ballast 20 that lifts said superweight when on is connected to an associated connection mechanism 30 on the support rod 5 .

Here the superheavy-lifting ballast cable 31 guides a cable pulley 32 on top of the support bar 5 and is connected to a superheavy-lifting ballast winch 33 mounted on the superstructure 3 to form a connection mechanism 30 .

As will be explained in further detail below, the mobile base structure 2 is provided with a superheavy lifting ballast support mechanism which allows the superheavy lifting ballast 20 to be supported on said base structure 2 so that when the The ballast 20 lifted by the super heavy object can move along the crane when supported by the base structure 2 .

The mobile base structure 2 includes a central chassis 40 (shown in detail in FIG. 5 ) and first and second stand assemblies 41 , 42 on opposite sides of the chassis 40 . In this crane 1 the bearing assemblies are designed as crawler assemblies each having a crawler track. Other designs are also envisioned such as wheeled stand assemblies (for smaller cranes) or sliding arrangements and similar assemblies.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 4a to 4f , both the first and second stand assemblies 41 , 42 project forwards and rearwards from the central chassis 40 .

The mobile base structure 2, in this example the chassis 40, is provided with first and second superweight-lifting ballast support mechanisms 50, 55 positioned on opposite sides thereof, in this example in front of and behind the chassis 40. later.

Here the superheavy lifting ballast 20 comprises first and second superheavy lifting ballast members 20a bearable on said first and second superheavy lifting ballast support mechanisms 50, 55, respectively. , 20b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second superweight lifting ballast support mechanisms 50, 55 may be adapted such that the first superweight lifting ballast member 20a is supported substantially to a forwardly protruding abutment. The front of the chassis 40 between the assemblies, and the second superweight lifting ballast member 20b is supported substantially to the rear of the chassis 40 between the rearwardly projecting standoff assembly mechanisms.

It should be noted that the extra-heavy lifting ballast mechanisms 20a, 20b are supported on said mobile base structure 2 so that unimpeded rotational movement of the superstructure 3 is possible when the ballast mechanisms are supported on the chassis.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , here the first and second superweight-lifting ballast mechanisms 20a, 20b each comprise two interconnected ballast pans 16 and a stack of ballast pans 16 on top of each other. Composite ballast plate 17 on. Each tray 16 has a bottom 16a and side walls 16b. The side walls 16b have connection elements 16c at one edge allowing a kind of tongue-and-groove connection with the associated disc 16 and also with corresponding vertical connection elements 43 on the chassis 40 .

As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the chassis 40 has two transverse beams 44 , 45 extending between the track assemblies, and longitudinal beams 46 , 47 interconnecting the two transverse beams 44 , 45 . On top of the beam structure a slewing ring 47a is mounted to support a number of bogies 48 with rollers thereon. These bogies 48 support the superstructure 3 on the slewing ring 47a in a rotating manner (see eg FIG. 2 ).

Visible on the chassis 40 in Figures 2 and 7 are hydraulic jacks 49 close to the bearing assemblies, which are used to stabilize the crane 1 when it is at rest on a surface.

A preferred method of placing the superheavy-lifting ballast mechanisms 20a, 20b on the base structure 2 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 .

In FIGS. 3 a and 4 a the ballast mechanism 20 a , 20 b for superheavy lifting rests on a surface at a distance from the base structure 2 .

First, as shown in FIGS. 3 b and 4 b , the entire super-ballast 20 is brought close to the base structure 2 by lifting the ballast 20 from the surface and raising the support rod 5 . The ballast 20 is then lowered to the ground and the ballast mechanisms 20a, 20b are separated from each other. The ballast hoisting cable 31 is then only connected to the ballast part 20a which is then to be lifted.

By swiveling the superstructure 3, the ballast part 20a is brought between the forward parts of the crawler assembly and then lowered so that this ballast part 20a rests on the associated support mechanism 50 of the chassis 40 (see Figures 3c and 4c) superior. The ballast hoisting cable is then separated from the ballast member 20a.

The superstructure 3 is then swiveled back so that the cables can be attached to the other superheavy hoisting ballast part 20b. This ballast section 20b is then lifted and run between the rear of the track assembly by turning the superstructure and raising the support rods 5 . The ballast member 20b is then lowered onto the associated support mechanism 55 of the chassis 40 .

Obviously, alternative sequences of placing the ballast mechanisms 20a, 20b on the structure 2 are also possible.

The mobile crane 1 can now be moved to another working position and the superheavy-lifting ballast 20 is carried with the (self-propelled) crane 1 .

Clearly, this method of handling the ballast 20 for superheavy lifting is efficient and does not require additional cranes and drive vehicles when moving the crane from one work point to the next.

Of course, the superheavy lifting ballast 20 may consist of only one part which is then supported in place on the mobile base structure. However, a ballast mechanism with composite superweight lifts supported on opposite sides of the chassis is preferred.

Claims (10)

1. a movable crane (1) comprising:

The mobile foundation structure (2) that allows described crane to move from the teeth outwards,

Be installed in the revolving superstructure (3) on the described base construction,

Suspension rod (4) and steady arm (5), described suspension rod respectively is hinged on the described topside around related feathering axis with steady arm,

Be connected with described suspension rod the main load hoist mechanism that is used to promote load (11,13a),

Superstructure ballast (15), described topside (3) are suitable for described superstructure ballast is supported thereon,

The ballast (20 that overweight thing promotes, 20a, 20b) and the ballast that promotes when described overweight thing is still on the described surface and/or ballast that will described overweight thing lifting when being used for being suspended on the described surface from described steady arm is connected to the bindiny mechanism (30) of the association on the described steady arm (5)

It is characterized in that:

Described mobile foundation structure (2) is provided with the ballast supporting mechanism (50 that permission is supported on the ballast (20a, 20b) of described overweight thing lifting the overweight thing lifting on the described base construction, can move along movable crane when 55), the ballast that promotes with the described overweight thing of box lunch is supported by described base construction (2).

2. movable crane according to claim 1 is characterized in that: the ballast (20a, 20b) that described overweight thing promotes is supported on the described mobile foundation structure (2), so that without hindrance the rotatablely moving of described topside (3) is feasible.

3. movable crane according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described mobile foundation structure (2) comprises central chassis (40) and at first and second mounting assemblies (41,42) of described chassis relative side.

4. movable crane according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: described mobile foundation structure (2) is provided with the ballast supporting mechanism (50 of the relative edge's who is positioned at described base construction (2) the first and second overweight things liftings, 55), and the ballast that promotes of wherein said overweight thing comprise at least and can be supported on the ballast part (20a, 20b) that the first and second overweight things on the ballast supporting mechanism that the described first and second overweight things promote promote separately.

5. movable crane according to claim 3, it is characterized in that: described first and second mounting assemblies (41,42) give prominence to forward and backward from described central chassis (40), and wherein adjust the ballast supporting mechanism (50 that the described first and second overweight things promote, 55), the ballast part (20a) that makes the described first overweight thing promote is supported on the front on the described chassis between the described mounting assembly of giving prominence to forward basically, and the ballast part (20b) of the second overweight thing lifting is supported on the back on the described chassis between the described rearwardly projecting mounting assembly.

6. movable crane according to claim 4 is characterized in that: the ballast part (20a, 20b) that the described first and second overweight things promote respectively comprises ballast dish (16) and is stacked on compound ballast plate (17) on the described ballast dish.

7. movable crane according to claim 6, it is characterized in that: described ballast dish (16) is provided with the interconnection mechanism (16c) that allows to interconnect described dish, so that described interconnective dish can use during promoting load by described movable crane.

8. movable crane according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: the ballast mechanism for lifting (31 that overweight thing promotes, 33) be associated with described steady arm (5), so that the ballast (20 that described overweight thing promotes, 20a, 20b) can hang from described steady arm, described steady arm (5) can be located such that ballast that described overweight thing promotes can be supported on the ballast supporting mechanism (50,55) that the described overweight thing of described movable crane promotes.

9. movable crane according to claim 3 is characterized in that: described mounting assembly is crawler assemblies (41,42).

10. method that is used for operating according to each described movable crane of aforesaid right requirement 1-9, wherein: the ballast (20a, 20b) that described overweight thing promotes is still in the ballast supporting mechanism (50 of the described overweight thing lifting of described mobile foundation structure (2), 55) on, the ballast that promotes with the described overweight thing of box lunch can move along described movable crane when being supported by described base construction.

Images