AU732827B2

AU732827B2 - Crane

Info

Publication number: AU732827B2
Application number: AU87221/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Albert Norman Wesson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-19
Filing date: 1998-08-19
Publication date: 2001-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-19
Also published as: WO1999008955A1; AU8722198A

Description

WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 1

CRANE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a crane and is particularly concerned with a crane which is suitable for use on a loadbed of a vehicle.

As used herein the word "vehicle" includes a vehicle such as a light delivery vehicle or truck, a trailer, or any other platform or chassis which is movable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a crane which includes a support, means for mounting the support to a chassis of a vehicle, a boom which is mounted for pivotal movement relatively to the support, guide means on the boom, an elongate flexible member which passes over the guide means, winch means which acts on the elongate flexible member, load attachment means on the elongate flexible member, and an actuator on the elongate flexible member which is brought into engagement with the boom when the load attachment means is raised to a predetermined position and the boom is at a predetermined inclination whereby, when the load attachment means is raised above the predetermined position, the boom is pivotally moved from the said predetermined inclination towards the vertical.

The support mounting means may include a framework which is fixed, directly or indirectly, to the vehicle chassis.

In one example of the invention the support mounting means is in the nature of, or may form part of, a roll bar or similar structure.

The support may include a base and an elongate column which is rotatable at least to a limited extent about its longitudinal axis relatively to the base.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 2 Means may be provided for effecting the said rotation of the column relatively to the base and, preferably, for locking the column at a chosen position relatively to the base.

The rotational movement of the column may be effected using a slewing or similar device which may include a worm gear which is mounted so that rotational movement of the worm gear is translated into slewing motion of the column, and hence the boom. The slewing device may be mechanically, electrically or manually actuated.

The winch means may be mounted at any appropriate point. Preferably though the winch means is mounted to the column, preferably towards an upper end of the column.

The crane may include flexible securing means which extends from the column and which is attached to the boom, and fastening or retaining means which is selectively engageable with the flexible securing means and which, when engaged with the flexible securing means, restrains the boom against pivotal movement away from the vertical beyond a predetermined inclination.

The flexible securing means may for example be a cable or strap or similar element. The securing means may extend into the interior of the column which then accommodates an excess length of the securing means as the boom is moved towards the vertical.

Means may be provided for taking up slack in the flexible securing means at least when the boom is moved towards the vertical. Such means may for example comprise any suitable biassing device, e.g. a spring or weight which ensures that the flexible securing means is kept taut as the inclination of the boom is varied.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 3 The aforementioned fastening or retaining means may be engaged with the flexible securing means preferably through the medium of a guide such as a pulley.

The fastening or retaining means may take on any suitable form and in one example of the invention includes a plate or anchor member with a plurality of holes and a pin which is passed through a hole in the column and a selected registering hole in the plate or anchor member.

The boom is preferably telescopically collapsible.

At its upper or outer end the boom preferably includes a gooseneck or similar device which is secured to an adjacent end of the remainder of the boom via a pin and slot arrangement which enables the gooseneck to be retracted onto the adjacent end of the remainder of the boom.

The column and the collapsed boom may be movable to a horizontal orientation.

The invention also extends to a vehicle which includes a loading area and a chassis and a crane of the aforementioned kind mounted to the chassis, and ground engageable outrigger means, fixed to the chassis and positioned at least on one side of the loading area, for stabilizing at least the loading area during operation of the crane.

The crane may be mounted at any suitable position relatively to the loading area. Preferably the crane is mounted towards or at one side of the loading area. An outrigger means is positioned at least on this side of the loading area.

Particularly for larger vehicles the support mounting means may include frame members which are fixed to, and which extend laterally from, the chassis towards one side of the loading area. The transferring of loads to and from the loading area via the crane may then be facilitated while keeping the reach of the boom relatively short.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 4 The invention also extends to a vehicle crane which includes a columnar support, a framework for fixing the support to a chassis of the vehicle, a winch which is mounted to the support, a boom which is mounted to the support for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relatively to the support, a guide on the boom, a cable which extends from the winch over the guide, a load attachment device at a free end of the cable, a stop on the cable which engages with the boom when the device is raised above a predetermined level by the winch acting on the cable and which then causes the boom to be pivotally moved towards the vertical, a flexible element fixed to the boom and the support, and a retaining mechanism on the support which is engageable with the flexible element so that the boom is restrained against pivotal movement away from the vertical beyond a predetermined position.

The guide over which the cable extends may take on any suitable form but preferably is in the nature of a pulley.

Similarly the load attachment device at the free end of the cable may take on any suitable form and preferably is in the form of a hook.

The crane of the invention may be used with generally available or customrnised attachments for particular cargo such as drums, pallets or the like.

Such aspects are referred to merely for illustrative purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a framework arrangement, in the nature of a roll bar, which may be used together with a crane according to the invention, Figure 2 is an end view of the framework of Figure 1, SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 Figure 3 is a side view of a crane according to the invention engaged with a framework of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a column used in the crane of Figure 3, Figures 5 to 9 illustrate successive stages in the operation of the crane of the invention and as it is moved from an operative to a storage position, Figure 10 and Figure 11 are respectively schematic views illustrating the use of the crane of the invention mounted on a loading area of a vehicle, Figures 12 and 13 illustrate in retracted and operative positions respectively an outrigger which is suitable for use together with the crane of the invention, Figure 14 is a schematicplan view of a slewing device for use with the crane of the invention, and Figure 15 illustrates a crane according to the invention mounted on one side of a load area of a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a framework 10 which is in the nature of a roll bar and which is secured to chassis members 12 of a vehicle, not shown, by means of U-bolts 14 which straddle the chassis members and which are held captive by means of nuts 16 engaged with the U-bolts and acting on bridging plates 18.

The framework includes pipes 20 and 22 respectively which overlie the chassis members and which are gripped by the U-bolts, two vertically extending pipes 24 and 26 which are respectively welded to the pipes 20 and SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 6 22, and lower and upper transverse pipes 28 and 30 respectively. The vertical pipes are braced by means of angle members 31.

A platform 32 is fixed, for example by means of welding, to the lower pipe 28 and to the pipes 20 and 22.

A loading area 33 overlies the chassis members 12, below the pipes 20 and 22.

Figure 3 illustrates a crane 34, according to the invention, secured to the framework 10. The crane has a base 36 which is attached by means of a pivot joint 38 to the platform 32 and a columnar support 40 which extends upwardly from the base. A clamp 42, fixed to an upper end of the column 40, is engageable with the upper pipe 30 of the framework. This engagement is effected by means of a pin 44 which passes through registering holes in the pipe 30 and opposed plates 46 and 48 of the clamp. The pin can be removed from the holes to allow the column to pivot about the pivot point 38.

A bracket 50 is fixed to a lower end of the column. A boom 52 is pivotally attached at its lower end by means of a pin 54 to the bracket. The boom includes a first section 56, a second section 58 and a third section 60 which is in the form of a gooseneck. The gooseneck is slidable or retractable onto an upper portion of the second boom section 58 in a manner which is described hereinafter. The second section 58 is kept in an extended position by means of a pin 62 which is engaged with the first section. When the pin is disengaged from the first section the second section may be telescopically retracted onto the first section.

A guide pulley 64 is rotatably fixed to an upper end of the gooseneck section A winch 66 is fixed to an upper end of the column 40. The winch may be actuated in any appropriate way, for example manually or mechanically, but SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 7 preferably is electrically operable. The winch is of a kind which is known in the art and includes a drum 68 on which is coiled a length of a cable The cable extends from the drum over a guide or pulley 72, around the guide pulley 64, and is looped through a pulley attachment 74 on a load engageable hook 76 before returning and being anchored to a fastening pin 78 on the gooseneck A bracket 80 is fixed to an upper end of the second boom section 58. A nylon strap 82 has one end fixed to the bracket and passes over a pulley 84 at an upper end of the column Figure 4 illustrates the construction of the columnar support in further detail.

The pulley 84 is at an upper end of the column which, in this example, is formed from a length of pipe. The strap 82 extends into the pipe, which in this sense acts as a storage cavity for the strap, and is looped around a pulley 86 which is fixed to an upper end of an elongate retaining plate 88. The strap 82 then extends upwardly, towards an upper end of the column 40, and the respective end of the strap is fixed to a pin 90 which extends transversely across the bore of the pipe.

The retaining plate 88 has a number of slots 92 formed in it and at its lower end 94 is engaged with a hook 96 of a coil spring 98 which extends axially in the column 40. A hook 100 at a lower end of the spring is engaged with a pin 102 of the column.

Referring again to Figure 3 the cable 70 in that portion which extends between the guide pulley 64 and the pulley 74 on the hook attachment has a stop or actuator 104 crimped or clamped to it. The cable above the actuator extends through a passage 106 on a lower end of the gooseneck which is surrounded by an abutment formation 108. The dimensions of the stop are greater, at SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 8 least in a transverse direction, than the transverse dimensions of the passage 106.

Although the boom 52 can pivot in a vertical plane relatively to the column its permitted downwards pivotal movement can be restrained, at least beyond a predetermined point, by passing a locking pin 110, see Figure 4, through diametrically opposed holes 112 and 114 in the wall of the column 40, and through a registering slot 92 in the retaining plate 88. Although the strap 82 is able to move into the column it is not possible for an additional length of the strap to be withdrawn from the column. Thus the strap provides support directly to an upper end of the boom. The length of the strap between the boom and the column also determines the inclination of the boom relatively to the vertical.

When the crane is to be used the inclination of the boom is adjusted, in the manner described. The winch 66 is operated to lower the hook 76 so that it can be engaged with a load, not shown. The winch is then operated in the reverse direction and the load is raised. Initially this takes place purely by movement of the cable 70 relatively to the boom. However once the stop 104 strikes the abutment formation 108 at the upper end of the gooseneck it is not possible for the length of cable between the guide pulley 64 and the hook 76 to be shortened. As the cable continues to be wound onto the drum 68 the length of cable between the guide pulley 72 at the upper end of the column and the guide pulley 64 on the gooseneck is shortened. At this stage the locking pin 110 should preferably be detached from the retaining plate. The effective length of the strap 82 between the pulley 84 and the bracket 80 is shortened as the boom 52 is pivoted in a vertical sense upwardly about the pivot point 54. The resulting slack in the strap 82 is automatically taken up by the spring 98 which is in a tensioned state and which contracts to draw the "excess" portion of the strap into the column SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 9 With the load at a desired height the pin 110 may again be engaged with the holes 112, 114 and a registering slot 92.

The boom 52 and the column may be pivoted about a longitudinal axis of the column, relatively to the platform 32. This pivotal action may be allowed for in any appropriate way and may be achieved by mounting a lower end of the column 40 inside a bearing 116 which is fixed via a thrust plate 118 to the platform 32. A lug 120 extends from the column 40 and a fastener 122 of any appropriate kind may be used to fix the lug to the platform 32 to restrain the column against rotation. When the fastener is released the column is rotatable.

It is to be noted that the clamp 42, although engaged with the upper pipe permits rotation of the column 40 relatively to the clamp.

Once the boom has been rotated to the desired position relatively to the base and the inclination of the boom has been adjusted in order to bring the load, suspended from the hook 76, to a desired position relatively to the loadbed of the vehicle on which the crane is mounted, the winch can be operated to lower the load.

Figures 5 to 9 illustrate successive steps in the operation of the crane and also as the crane is moved from an operative position (Figure 5) to a storage position (Figure 9).

In Figure 5 the crane 34 is shown in a position which is substantially similar to that shown in Figure 3. In Figure 6 the stop 104 is in engagement with the abutment formation 108 on the gooseneck and consequently, in the manner which has been described, the boom 52 has been caused to pivot upwardly, in a vertical plane, as is indicated by means of an arrow 123.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 In Figure 5 the strap 82 is taut while in Figure 6 the strap 82 has been slackened. The "excess" length of the strap produced as the strap tension reduces is taken up by means of the spring 98 located inside the column Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the manner in which the crane may be telescopically collapsed and then folded for storage. The gooseneck 60 has an elongate slot 124 and is engaged with the second boom section 58 by means of a pin 126 on this boom section which is slidingly located in the slot.

Once the load has been detached from the hook 76 the gooseneck can be slid onto an upper portion of the boom section 58 with this movement being accommodated by the pin moving upwardly in the slot 124. The pin 62 is withdrawn from the first boom section 56 and the section 58 and the gooseneck are then telescopically slid onto the first boom section. The winch can be operated to draw the cable 70 onto the drum 68 and the boom, in the collapsed or telescoped condition, is then drawn to a vertical position as is shown in Figure 8. At this stage the pin 44 is disengaged from the clamp 42 and the column 40 and the boom can then be pivoted about the point 38 to the horizontal position shown in Figure 9.

Figures 10 and 11 are schematic end views of a light delivery vehicle 130 to which the supporting framework 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is attached. The crane 34 is secured to the framework slightly off-centre. The drawings schematically illustrate the use of the crane for lifting a drum onto a load area 132 of the vehicle.

The crane of the invention holds a number of advantages. In the first instance the fact that the framework 10 is used to mount the crane directly to the chassis of the vehicle means that excess stresses are not generated in relatively weaker portions of the body of the vehicle. The roll bar type structure extends to a substantial extent upwardly from the loadbed of the vehicle and as the column 40 is attached to an upper end of the framework, via the clamp 42, greater stability and support of the column result.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 11 The strap 82, which extends between an upper end of the boom and an upper end of the column, offers substantial support to the boom. This enables the dimensions of the boom to be decreased whilst ensuring that the boom nonetheless has substantial reach. The two-stage lifting action of a load which is produced by firstly moving the cable only and then by moving the cable and the boom in unison, makes it easier to lift a load which is located some distance from the vehicle and then to bring the load sufficiently close to the column so that it can be accurately lowered to a desired position on the load area.

In certain instances, particularly with a substantial boom reach or when the crane is used with a relatively heavy load, the resulting stress on the vehicle can be substantial. To counter this stress use may be made of one or more outriggers 140 of the kind shown in Figures 12 and 13. In Figure 12 the outrigger 140 is shown in a retracted condition while in Figure 13 the outrigger is shown in an operative position.

The outrigger includes an arm 142 which is pivotally attached at a point 144 to a bracket 146 fixed to a chassis member 148 of a vehicle. A spring 150 extends between fixing points on the arm 142 and the chassis member 148.

The spring, in the Figure 12 position, keeps the arm securely retracted while, in the Figure 13 position, the arm is moved to an "over- centre" position and the spring then acts to keep the arm in the over-centre position.

A threaded spindle 150 extends from the arm. The spindle has a ground engaging foot 152 attached to it.

When the crane is to be used the outrigger, which is positioned on the side of the vehicle over which loading takes place, is moved to the operative position shown in Figure 13 and the spindle 150 is extended to bring the foot 152 into engagement with the ground; The transferral of heavy loads can then take place in such a way that "body roll" of the vehicle is reduced for the outrigger provides additional support, directly to the ground, which helps to stabilize the vehicle.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 12 Figure 14 illustrates a slewing device 160 which can be used with the crane of the invention to enable the column 40 to be rotated about its longitudinal axis.

In Figure 14 the column 40 is illustrated in plan. The boom has been omitted for purposes of clarity of illustration.

The slewing device 160 includes a worm gear arrangement 162 consisting of an elongate threaded shaft 164 which is engaged with a nut 166 fixed to a bracket 168 which in turn is mounted to a component 170 of the supporting framework 10. An eyelet 172 is located at one end of the shaft. An opposing end 174 of the shaft is engaged in a freely rotatable manner with a bush 176 which is fixed to an arm 178 which extends from the column 40. A suitably designed handle is engaged with the eyelet 172 in order to rotate the shaft 164 manually. When the shaft is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction the column 40 is rotated about its longitudinal axis 180 in an anti-clockwise direction. When the shaft 164 is rotated in the reverse direction the column is rotated in a clockwise direction about its longitudinal axis.

The slewing mechanism thus makes it easy to rotate the column relatively to the base. The action of the threaded shaft 164, engaged with the nut 166, is such that inadvertent rotation of the column about its axis is not possible.

Figure 15 illustrates, somewhat schematically, a crane 34A according to the invention mounted to a chassis 190 of a vehicle. The vehicle has a loadbed 192 with dropsides 194. In this instance the vehicle is relatively large and to ensure that the crane can operate on objects which are relatively far from the vehicle and still be in a position to place the objects substantially anywhere on the load area 192 the crane is positioned to one side of the load area. To achieve this use is made of a supporting framework 10 A which includes horizontal extending beams 196 and 198 respectively which project transversely from a base member 200 which is fixed to components 202 of the chassis 190. Bracing bars 204 extend between the beams 196 and 198.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 13 The columnar support 40 extends vertically from the beam and is mounted on bearings 206 and 208 which enable the columnar support to be rotated with ease relatively to the load area.

One or more outriggers 140 which may be substantially of the kind shown in Figures 12 and 13 are fixed to the beam 208 to provide additional stabilizing support when required. Figure 15 also illustrates that it is not necessary to make use of a threaded shaft 150 of the kind shown in Figures 12 and 13 for use may be made of bars 210 which extend telescopically from a housing 212 and which are locked in extended positions relatively to the housing by means of mechanical clamps 214.

The crane of the invention has a compact construction, is highly manoeuvrable and can be used in a wide variety of applications. The crane is capable of lifting substantial loads with substantial reaches particularly when the crane is mounted to one side of a load area and is used in conjunction with one or more outriggers. The crane can be folded into a compact position for storage and it is to be noted that when the crane is in the Figure 9 position it does not protrude upwardly and hence offers minimal wind resistance during movement of the vehicle.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26)

Claims

1. A crane which includes a support, means for mounting the support to a chassis of a vehicle, a boom which is mounted for pivotal movement relatively to the support, guide means on the boom, an elongate flexible member which passes over the guide means, winch means which acts on the elongate flexible member, load attachment means on the elongate flexible member, and an actuator on the elongate flexible member which is brought into engagement with the boom when the load attachment means is raised to a predetermined position and the boom is at a predetermined inclination whereby, when the load attachment means is raised above the predetermined position, the boom is pivotally moved from the said predetermined inclination towards the vertical.

2. A crane according to claim 1 wherein the support mounting means includes a framework which is fixed, directly or indirectly, to the vehicle chassis.

3. A crane according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the support includes a base, and an elongate column which is rotatable at least to a limited extent about its longitudinal axis relatively to the base.

4. A crane according to claim 3 which includes means for effecting the said rotation of the column relatively to the base and for locking the column at a chosen position relatively to the base.

A crane according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the winch means is mounted to the column.

6. A crane according to claim 3, 4 or 5 which includes flexible securing means which extends from the column and which is attached to the boom, and fastening means, which is selectively engageable with the flexible securing means and which, when engaged with the flexible securing means, restrains SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26) WO 99/08955 PCT/AU98/00660 the boom against pivotal movement away from the vertical beyond a predetermined inclination.

7. A crane according to claim 6 which includes means for taking up slack in the flexible securing means at least when the boom is moved towards the vertical.

8. A crane according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the boom is telescopically collapsible, and the column and the collapsed boom are movable to a horizontal orientation.

9. A vehicle which includes a loading area and a chassis, a crane according to any one of claims 1 to 8 mounted to the chassis, and ground engageable outrigger means, fixed to the chassis and positioned at least on one side of the loading area for stabilizing at least the loading area during operation of the crane.

A vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the support mounting means includes frame members which are fixed to, and which extend laterally from, the chassis towards one side of the loading area.

11. A vehicle crane which includes a columnar support, a framework for fixing the support to a chassis of the vehicle, a winch which is mounted to the support, a boom which is mounted to the support for pivotal movement in a vertical plane relatively to the support, a guide on the boom, a cable which extends from the winch over the guide, a load attachment device at a free end of the cable, a stop on the cable which engages with the boom when the device is raised above a predetermined level by the winch acting on the cable and which then causes the boom to be pivotally moved towards the vertical, a flexible element fixed to the boom and the support, and a retaining mechanism on the support which is engageable with a flexible element so that the boom is restrained against pivotal movement away from the vertical beyond a predetermined position. SUBSTITUTE SHEET(Rule 26)