US2271428A - Hoist crane construction - Google Patents

Description

R. J. HARRY HoIsT CRANE CONSTRUCTION Fled Jan. `12, 1959 Hq fr@ rw INVEYNTOR `lan. 27, 1942.

Patented Jan. 27, 1.942

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,271,428 HoIsT CRANE CONSTRUCTION Robert J. Harry, Alliance, Ohio Application January 12, 1939, Serial No. 250,578 Claims. (Cl. 2544-184) This invention pertains to raising and lowering apparatus, and more particularly, to cranes having van improved drum and gear arrangement.

As pointed out in the patent to Kendall 1,727,206, where a pair of motors are employed for driving suitable hoist drums, it is important i tection in this connection, see the above-mentioned patent. However, worm gears have certain disadvantageous features and it has been found that they limit the operation and location of the hoist drums which, in turn, will limit the capacity ofthe crane and the head room. To increase the capacity of a crane and/or to increase the span of an auxiliary crane, it is necessary to increase the size or diameter of the hoist drums, and if they are mounted asV heretofore contemplated and/or required, such increase in size will automatically increase the head room requirements. By head room the applicant has particular reference to the distance from the top of the ladle beam to the top plane of the main hoist.

In view of such considerations, it has been an object of my invention to provide a new and improved crane structure.

Another object has been to devisev a layout of the drums and associated operating -partsrsuch that an increase of capacity have little or no effect upon the head room required.

each pair` of drums and each motor is interconnected (synchronized) through spur gears in such a' manner that 'one cannot get out of step with respect to the other during their operation and/or when they are being stopped and started.

A pair of hoisting dr-ums I 0 is journaled in suitable bearings -II within a substantially recvtangula'r box I2 at opposite sides of the main frame 9 of the crane. The drums are preferably of the same construction on both sides of the crane. As shown, the drums are rotated by motors I3 and I4, each of. which has brake shoes I5 on opposite ends of its armature shaft foruse with a magnetic or other suitable form of brake. One end of each motor isy provided with an extending shaft portion I8 having a spur gear featheredthereto' journaled within a gear box II. Intermediate shafts I9 also extendthrough the gear box II at'one end thereof and have a spur gear 20 feathered thereto intermeshing with respect to a motor armature shaft pinion gear I8. Each spur gear 20 also interlmeshes. with the similar spur gear of the other motor in such a mannerthatboth motors are connected and synchronized throughv suitable gears With the hoist drums I0 and are also interlgeared with respect to each other ahead of their connectionv to the hoist drums I'II.

Another object has been to devise a new and improved operative arrangement between hoist drums and driving mechanisms therefor.v

In one aspect, my invention deals with the provision of interlocked drum pairs and synchronized drive motors and/or with the utilization of spur gearstherewith.

These and many other objects of my invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the description thereof, the drawing, and the appended claims.

In the drawing, the figure is a top plan of a crane construction built and arranged in accordance with the principles of my invention.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably provide a pair of directly interlocked hoist drums adjacent opposite sides of the main frame top construction. A motor is provided for driving Each of the two intermediateshafts Ill is also journaled within bearings of a larger gear case 2| and is provided with a pinion 22 for positively driving a spur gear 23 and a pinion gear 24 of a tertiaryshaft 25. The tertiary shaft 25 is also journaled at opposite ends by suitable bearings within the casing 2| and a spur gear 24 meshes with and drives a drum drive shaft pinion 26 mounted on a quartiary shaft 2'I. The shaft 2l has a suitablev coupling 28 and is journaled within the housing' 2| as well as within the oppositely positioned drum housings I2. Each drum of each pair has a spur` gear 30 extending about the periphery thereof adjacent its outer end and intermeshing directly with a similar spur gear of the other drum of the particular pair in question. The quartiary or drum drive nized in such a manner that one Icannot be stopped before the other, for example, by a premature action of the magnetic brakes of one. Also, the characteristics of a pair of motors will frequently vary for different loads and speeds due to slight variations in the windings and characteristics of the metal parts, etc. The spur gear mechanism enclosed within the box Il positively prevents an overrunning of one motor and also an overrunning of one drum or one pair of drums with respect to another drum of the same pair or of the other pair. The spur gear box 2| reduces the speed of rotation and drives the drum drive shafts 2'1. The shafts 21, in turn, are connected and driven in such a manner that one shaft simultaneously drives the spur gear of one oppositely positioned drum of each pair. It will thus appear that the drums are positively interconnected and that each drum of each pair is directly tied in orV interlocked with respect to the other drum of the same pair. Thus, in case of failure of one drive gear or drive shaft or drum pinion, the other gears, pinions and shafts Will prevent damage to the apparatus and a release of the hoisting cable.

Themain lioist frame 9 may be driven in any suitable manner by a trolley drive motor 1H mounted within horizontal planes defining upper andlowerlimits of a transverse girder beam vand having an armature shaft 18,2 extending from opposite ends thereof. Each. shaft end 42 is suitably connected to and drives anged track wheels 43; However, any suitable form of trolley construction may be employed in this connection and an auxiliary trolley such as shown in my copending application Serial No. 250,575, filed January 12, 1939 and entitled Crane construction can. bev mounted beneath the main trolley Q. The main frame 9, see the above-mentionedcopending application, preferably has a substantially U-shapedoutline when viewed from an end of the structure, which is madepossible by the side or opposite location of the hoist drums I0.

It will thus. appearv that the present invention cany interleaving such asI shown in my-copending ap-Y plicationSerial No. 250,576, filed January 1-2, 1939, andv entitled Hoist crane construction, is preferably employed, although it will be understoodfthatthe present invention is not limited to sucha construction. The rotative planes of the motors I3 and I4 extend in the same direction as rotative planes of the drums l; and, the motors are located substantially within bounding planes of the drums and in the space between the drum pairs.

When I speak of the axis of the individual drums or the .axes ofthe drum pairs or portions of the-same, I have reference to the axis or axes about which the drum or drum pairs turn or rotate. The same is true asI to shafting and other operating and drive connections and members as dened in the claims. When I speak of interlocked drums inthe specification, I have reference to intermeshed or intermeshing drums which are provided with suitable means such as drum gears for, in effect, locking them in such a manner thattheir operation is intergeared, although they are also separately driven.

Although for the purpose of illustration, I have Fill shown a preferred form of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modications, alterations, and additions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a crane, a pair of hoisting drums, each drum having a gear secured thereto, said drums operably intermeshing through' said gears and having a portion of their axes in a side-by-side relationship, ano-ther hoisting drum having a spaced-apart relationship with respect to said pair of hoisting drums and having a portion of its axis extending in the same direction as the above-defined portion of the axes of said drum pair, a pair of motors operably positioned substantially endwise of end portions of said drums and in the spacing therebetween, said motors having rotating axes extending substantially in the same direction as the above-.defined portions of,l the. axes. of said drums, and means operably connecting said motors to each of said drums.

2. In combination With a traveling` hoist crane adapted. to move longitudinally from one location toanother and. having a` frame lextending transversely of its direction of movement, spaced apart pairs of hoist drums operably positioned at opposite sides of said frame thedrums of each pair having a portionoi their axesin a side-byside relationship, each drum, of each. pair having a gear. intermeshing with a gear of the other drum ofy said pair, al pair of, motors on said frame inthe spacing between said drum pairs, saidl motors being positionedv adjacent end portions of. said drumsand having rotating axes extending substantially in the same direction as the above-mentioned portion of the axes of said drums, the axes of. said drums extending substantially transversely of the direction of. travel of said crane, andmeans operably connecting said motors to each of said drums.

3. In, a crane, pairs of operablyK intermeshed drums having aportion ofth'eir axesin a side-byside relationship,` a pair of motorsbetween said pairsfor actuating said drums, each ofsaid motors having a rotating axis` ina side-by-si'de relationshpwith respectto the rotating. axis of the other motor of said pair, saidmotors beingpositioned` substantially endwise of end portions oi said drums and` having. their rotating axes` extending in substantially the same direction as the above-dened portion of the axes of said drums,

-' f and means operably, connecting said' motors to 4. In. a crane, pairs of operably intermeshed drums having, aportionof theiry axes in a side-byside relationship, apair. of actuatingmotors for said drums, saidmotors .being `positioned substantially endwise of end portionsofsaiddrums and having rotating.. axes extending in. substantially the same direction asthe above,-rnentionedpore tion of the axes of said drums, means operably connecting said motors together for synchronousV tially in the samedirection as the above-defined portion of the drum axes, members operably connecting the'gear of each drum'of a pair to the gear of a drum of another pair, and means operably connecting said motors to' said members for actuating said drums. y

6. In a' crane,.pairs of hoisting drums, each drum having a gear'secured thereto, the drums of each .pairA being operably intermeshed through said gears and having a portion of their axes in a side-by-side relationship, a pair of actuating motors for said drums, said motors being positioned substantially endwise of end portions of said drums, each motor having a drive member extending substantially in the same direction as the above-defined portion of the drum axes, gear means operably intermeshing with the drive member of one of said motors and with the drive member of the other of said motors, so that theyv will operate in synchronism, and means operably connecting said gear means to the drums of said drum pairs for actuating them.

7. In a crane, spaced-apart pairs of hoisting drums, each drum having a gear secured thereto, the drums of each drum pair being operably intermeshed through said gears and having a portion of their aXes in a side-by-side relationship, a pair of actuating motors for said drums, said motors being positioned substantially endwise of end portions of said drums in the spacing between drum pairs and having rotating axes extending substantially in the same direction as above-defined portion of axes of said drums, intermeshing gear means operably synchronizing and connecting one motor to the other motor and operably connecting both of said motors to each drum of each of said pairs.

8. In a crane, pairs of hoisting drums, each drum having a gear secured thereto, the drums of each pair being operably intermeshed through said gears and having a portion of their axes in a side-by-side relationship, a pair of actuating motors for said drums, said motors being positioned adjacent end portions of said drums, each motor having a rotating axis extending substantially in the same direction as the above-defined portion of the drum axes, a member operably connecting the gear of a drum of one pair with the gear of an opposite drum of another pair, a second member operably connecting the gears of the other drums of said pairs, and gear means operably connecting one motor with the other motor and operably connecting said motors to both of said members for driving them- 9. In a crane, spaced-apart pairs of hoisting drums, each drum having a drum gear, the drum gears of each drum pair operably intermeshing with each other and having a portion of their axes in a side-by-side relationship, members operably connecting each drum of one pair to an opposite drum of the other pair, a pair of motors positioned substantially endwise of end portions of said drums in the spacing between drum pairs and having drive connections, and spur gear means operably connecting each of said motors to one of said members and intermeshing with the drive connections of said motors, so that said motors will drive said drum pairs in synchronism.

10. In a crane, spaced-apart pairs of hoisting drums, each drum having a gear secured thereto, the drums of each pair being operably intermeshed through said gears and having a portion of their axes in a side-by-side relationship, a

pair of actuating motors for said drums positioned adjacent end portions of said drums, each of said motors having an operating member eX- tending in substantially the same direction as the above-deiinedportion of the axes of said drums, intermeshing spur vgearing operably connecting the operating member of one'motor with the operating member of the othermotor for driving them 'in synchronism, operating members extending across the'spacing betweendrum pairs and operably connecting opposite .drums ofthe drum pairs together, and additional spur gearing operably connecting said intermeshing spur gearing :to .each of said last-mentioned. operating members; Y v

1l. In a crane,` spaced-apart pairs of hoisting drums, each drum having a gear secured thereto, the drums of each drum pair being operably intermeshed through said gears and having a portion of their axes in a side-by-side relationship, a pair of actuating motors for said drumsv positioned substantially endwise of end portions of said drums and between drum pairs, each of said motors having a rotating shaft, a pairl of'secondary shafts, gears on said secondary shafts operably connecting said shafts to each of said motor shafts, additional gearing on one of said secondary shafts operably connecting it to a pair of opposite drumsg-of said drum pairs, and additional gearing on the other of said secondary shafts operably connecting it to the other pair of opposite drums of said drum pairs, so that said drum pairs will be driven by said motors in synchronism.

, 1,2. In a crane, a pair ofv rotatable hoisting drums having a portion of their axes in a sideby-side relationship, each drum having a gear, said gears being operably intermeshed, a pair of actuating motors for said drums, said motors being positioned substantially endwise with respect to end portions of said drum pair and between planes representing said drums in the direction of their axes of rotation, said motors having rotating axes extending in substantially the same direction as the axes of rotation of said drums, connecting members, and gears exclusively of a spur gear type operably connecting said members together adjacent such end of said drum pair, said spur gears operably connecting said -motors to said members, each of said members being operably connected to each gear of each of said drums independently of the intermeshed relationship between said drum gears.

13. In a crane, a pair of rotatable hoisting drums having a portion of their axes in a sideby-side relationship, each drum having .a gear, said gears being operably intermeshed, actuating motors forzsaid drums having rotating axes extending in substantially the same direction as the axes of rotation of said drums, s'aid motors having a portion of their axes in a side-by-side relationship, a pair of spaced members, means operably connecting one of said members to one of said drums,.means operably connecting the other of said members to the other of said drums, and spur gears independent of said drum gears operably extending across the spacing between said members and operably connecting. said members together, said gears having rotating axes extending in substantially the same direction as the axes of rotation of said drums, said gears also operably connecting said motors to said members for actuating each of said drums independently of the intermeshed relationship between said drum gears.

14. In a crane having a drum supporting frame adapted to move longitudinally from one location to another, pairs of hoisting drums on said frame, each drum having a gear, the drums of each drum pair being operably intermeshed through said gears and having a portion of their axes in a side-by-side relationship, said drum axes being positioned in such a manner that their above-mentioned axes portions extend sub stantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of movement of said frame, actuating motors for said drums, each motor having a rotating axis extending in substantially the same direction as the above-mentioned portion of the axes of said drums, said motors being positioned between said drum pairs, and means operably connecting said motors to the drums of said drum pairs.

15. In a crane, pairs of hoisting drums, each drum having a gear, the drums of each pair being operably intermeshed through said gears and having a portion of their axes in a side-byside re1ation actuating motors for said drums, each of said motors having a drive member, said 'motor drive members having rotating axes extending in ysubstantially the same direction as the above-mentioned portion of the drum axes, and means operably connecting said motors together and to each drum of said drum pairs, said means being independent of the intermeshed relationship between said drum pairs.

ROBERT J. HARRY.

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