EP0733583A1 - Self-erecting crane with laterally foldable jib - Google Patents

Abstract

The crane comprises a foldable mast (6) at the top of which a foldable jib (10) is pivoted in a centred position. The jib is made from three elements (11-13) which are pivoted to each other. The pivoting axis (26) of the jib foot (11), at the top of the mast, is perpendicularly inclined to the vertical median plane of the crane in its deployed working position. The pivoting axis (37) of the intermediate jib (12) on the jib foot is inclined at an angle equal to half that of the jib foot. The jib point (13) is pivoted to the intermediate element, at the level of the upper members, about an axis (50) perpendicular to the jib median plane. The jib is thus foldable on the side of the mast for crane transportation.

Description

The present invention relates to an automated assembly crane, in particular a foldable mast crane, provided with a jib articulated at the top of the mast and produced in three successive elements articulated to each other, namely, a jib foot, an intermediate element arrow and an arrowhead.

The invention relates to a crane whose folding of the boom takes place laterally along the mast and more precisely to a device which allows the folding of the boom tip simultaneously with the folding of the crane, for its transport .

Document EP-A-0473518 discloses an embodiment of such a crane equipped with a jib, composed only of two elements articulated to each other at their lower members. The boom of this crane is articulated in a centered position, at the top of the mast, around an articulation axis inclined at an acute angle (A) relative to a direction perpendicular to the vertical median plane defined by the mast and the boom in the deployed working position, while the articulation axis of the two boom elements is inclined at an angle (B), substantially equal to half (A / 2) of the acute angle of inclination (A) from the axis of articulation of the boom to the top of the mast, with respect to a direction perpendicular to the vertical median plane of the boom. This embodiment of the boom, with two elements, limits the length of the boom which, once folded, must meet the requirements of the various transport jigs, in particular as regards the length of the package.

The present invention provides a substantial improvement to the previous embodiment by providing a device making it possible to extend the folding of the boom laterally along the mast to a boom produced in three elements articulated to each other, so as to allow the transport of the crane folded under a smaller footprint, even with a longer boom.

To this end, a crane according to the invention comprises a mast, in particular a foldable mast, at the top of which is articulated, in a centered position, a boom whose articulation axis is inclined at an acute angle (A) relative to a direction perpendicular to the vertical median plane defined by the mast and the boom in the deployed working position, produced in three successive elements articulated to each other, designated respectively as jib foot, intermediate jib element and arrowhead, the jib foot and the intermediate boom element being articulated at their lower members around an articulation axis inclined at an angle (B), substantially equal to half (A / 2) of the acute angle of inclination (A) of the articulation axis of the boom at the top of the mast, with respect to a direction perpendicular to the vertical median plane of the boom, so that in the folded position, the intermediate boom element and the po boom boom are positioned laterally with respect to the mast, the crane further comprising a motorized device for unfolding / folding the mast and boom assembly and means for unfolding / folding the boom elements, and this crane is characterized in that l intermediate jib element and the jib tip are articulated at their upper chord around an articulation axis whose direction is perpendicular to the vertical median plane of the jib and in that an additional unfolding / folding device arrowhead relative to the intermediate arrow member is disposed between the arrowhead and the arrowhead.

According to a preferred embodiment, the complementary device for unfolding / folding the arrow tip, relative to the intermediate arrow element, consists of a connecting rod articulated to the part front of the boom foot and a punch articulated to the rear part of the intermediate arrow element, the connecting rod and the punch being articulated together at the top of the punch, of a lever articulated to the rear part of the arrowhead and capable of bearing on the structure of said arrowhead, and of a tie connecting the top of the connecting rod / punch assembly to the free end of the lever, to form a deformable quadrilateral.

According to a particular embodiment, the tie rod comprises several successive elements, a first simple element articulated at the top of the rod / punch assembly and on which a light is provided longitudinally, a second element comprising a simple part connected to the first element by a axis passing through the light and a double part providing space for the passage of a tie supporting the intermediate element, and a third element consisting of two binoculars connecting by hinges the ends of the double part of the second tie element and the free ends two identical connecting rods forming the lever articulated at the rear of the arrowhead.

According to another particularity, the lower part of the foldable mast is fitted laterally, on the side where the boom is folded / unfolded, with one or more rollers capable of making contact with the underside of the arrowhead to finish the complete folding of the crane.

An automated assembly crane is thus produced which, in the folded state therefore in the transport position, occupies an optimal size with the jib foot being presented obliquely and applied to the mast, while the intermediate jib element and the arrowheads are positioned one above the other laterally with respect to the mast.

This arrangement does not entail any oversizing because, in the working position, the unfolded boom and the mast are arranged in the same vertical plane as in a conventional crane. The application of the invention to a crane with jib made of three elements hinged to each other makes it possible to increase the performance of the crane, in particular in terms of reach.

• Figure 1 montre, en vue de côté, une grue selon l'invention en position repliée, permettant son transport ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en bout de la grue repliée, suivant la direction II de figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 est une vue en plan par dessus, partielle, de cette grue repliée ;
• Figure 4 est une vue en plan par dessus de la flèche alignée, montrant l'orientation des axes d'articulation de ses éléments ;
• Figure 5 montre, en vue de côté, la grue avec son mât dressé et la flèche déployée en position horizontale ;
• Figures 6 à 10 illustrent plusieurs phases de dépliage/repliage de cette grue ;
• Figure 11 est une vue schématique en perspective du mouflage du câble de dépliage/repliage de la flèche ;
• Figure 12 est une vue en perspective montrant le détail du dispositif permettant le dépliage/repliage de la pointe de flèche.

In any case, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of example, an embodiment of this self-erecting crane, with jib in three articulated elements, foldable laterally

• Figure 1 shows, in side view, a crane according to the invention in the folded position, allowing its transport;
• Figure 2 is an end view of the folded crane, in the direction II of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a partial plan view from above of this folded crane;
• Figure 4 is a plan view from above of the aligned arrow, showing the orientation of the hinge axes of its elements;
• Figure 5 shows, in side view, the crane with its mast raised and the boom deployed in a horizontal position;
• Figures 6 to 10 illustrate several stages of unfolding / folding this crane;
• Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of the hauling of the boom unfolding / folding cable;
• Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the detail of the device for unfolding / folding the arrowhead.

The crane shown schematically in the drawing comprises a fixed or rolling base frame 1, retractable, supporting by means of an orientation device 2 a rotating frame 3 which carries at the rear a counterweight 4 and at the front of which is articulated, around a horizontal axis 5, a foldable mast 6 composed of a lower mast or base mast 7 and an upper mast 8 connected one to the other by articulation on their rear face about a horizontal axis 9; the base mast 7 and the upper mast 8 have, in the example considered, an octagonal section. This crane is provided with a foldable / collapsible distributing jib 10, produced in three successive elements designated respectively as jib foot 11, intermediate jib element 12 and jib tip 13.

The foldable mast 6 is motorized for its unfolding / folding by means of a jack 14, 15 whose body 14 is connected to the base mast 7 by articulation around a horizontal axis 16 disposed on the rear face of this base mast 7 and the rod 15 of which is connected by articulation around a horizontal axis 17 at the top of a set of two double connecting rods 18, 19 articulated respectively around a horizontal axis 20 disposed at the upper part of the base mast 7 and a horizontal axis 21 disposed at the lower part of the upper mast 8.

The upper mast 8 is connected to the rotating frame 3, by means of two straightening shrouds 22, arranged symmetrically on either side of the mast 6 and articulated respectively around a horizontal axis 23 at the base of the upper mast 8 and around a horizontal axis 24 on a support 25 fixed to the rear of the rotating chassis 3.

The jib foot 11 is articulated at the top of the mast 6 about a horizontal axis 26 in the working position of the crane (FIG. 5), the axis 26 being disposed on an easel 27 projecting under the jib foot 11. Thus , the boom foot 11 can be folded forward against the upper mast 8, in the folded transport position shown in Figures 1 to 3. The bridge 27 carries at its upper rear part a rear arrow punch 28 articulated around a horizontal axis 29 and foldable forwards on the jib foot 11.

A tie rod 30, in two successive rigid parts 31, 32 hinged together at 33, connects the apex 34 of the rear jib punch 28 to a joint 35 disposed on the upper frame 36 of the front part of the jib foot 11.

The intermediate jib element 12 is articulated at the jib foot 11 about an axis 37, horizontal in the working position of the crane, disposed at the junction of the respective lower members 38, 39 of the jib elements 12, 11.

The intermediate arrow element 12 carries at its rear part a punch 40 whose base is articulated around the aforementioned axis 37, and which is foldable forward on said intermediate arrow element 12. A flexible tie rod of constant length 41, produced in the form of a cable for example, connects the top 42 of the punch 40 to a joint 43 arranged on the upper frame 44 of the front part of the intermediate jib element 12.

The respective vertices 34, 42 of the punches 28, 40 are connected to each other by a flexible tie rod 45, produced in the form of a cable for example, while the vertex 34 of the rear arrow punch 28 is connected to the rotating chassis 3, by a flexible rear retaining rod 46 also achievable in cable, an intermediate point 47 of which is fixed to one end of a connecting rod 48 having its other end hinged at 49 on the rear face of the base mast 7.

The arrowhead 13 is articulated to the intermediate arrow element 12 about an axis 50, the direction of which is perpendicular to the vertical median plane of the arrow 10, disposed at the junction of the respective upper members 51, 44 of the elements of arrow 13, 12. In the deployed working position (Figure 5), the posterior ends of the lower members 52 of the arrowhead 13 come into contact at 53 with the front ends of the lower members 38 of the intermediate arrow member 12 to form an assembly aligned with the arrowhead 11 and constituting the horizontal distributing arrow 10 of the crane.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, a cable 54 for unfolding / folding the boom 10 connects a point 55 of the lower rear part of the intermediate boom element 12 to a tensioning device 56 fixed to the rear lower part base mast 7; the cable 54, of constant length, passes successively over a first pulley 57 disposed inside the front part of the jib foot 11, on a second pulley 58 disposed inside the rear part of the jib foot 11, then it forms, as shown in particular in FIG. 11, a hauling 59 on a plurality of pulleys 60, 61, disposed respectively along two parallel horizontal axes 62, 63, the first axis 62 being carried by the rear part of the bridge 27 and the second axis 63 being carried by the top of the upper mast 8.

Furthermore, an additional device is provided for unfolding / folding the arrowhead 13 relative to the intermediate arrow element 12, shown in detail in FIG. 12. This device consists of: a connecting rod 64 articulated at the front part of the jib foot 11 around a horizontal axis 65 disposed on a support 66 fixed to the end of the upper member 36 and a punch 67 articulated to the rear part of the intermediate jib element 12 around a horizontal axis 68 disposed on a support 69 fixed to the bracing of the lower members 38, the connecting rod 64 and the punch 67 being articulated together at the top of said punch 67 about a horizontal axis 70; a lever 71, formed of two identical connecting rods 72 mounted in parallel, articulated at the rear of the arrowhead 13 around horizontal axes 73 arranged on supports 74 fixed to the bracing of the lower members 52, capable of bearing on a symmetrical double support 75 fixed to the end of the upper member 51 in the vicinity of the hinge pin 50 of the arrowhead 13 on the intermediate arrow member 12; and a tie 76 connecting the top 70 of the rod 64 / punch 67 assembly to the double end 77 of the lever 71 formed by the respective free ends 78 of the two identical rods 72, these ends defining a last axis of articulation. . A deformable quadrilateral is thus formed, the four vertices of which are constituted, respectively, by the axes of articulation 68, 70, 73 and 78.

The tie rod 76 comprises several successive rigid elements, a first simple element 79 of relatively short length, the first end of which is articulated around the horizontal axis 70 constituting the top of the rod 64 / punch 67 assembly and the other end of which forms a longitudinal light 80, a second element 81 comprising a single part 82 connected to the first element 79 by a horizontal axis 83 passing perpendicularly through the light 80 and a double part 84 providing a space 85 for the passage of the tie rod 41 supporting the intermediate element of arrow 12 and a third element 86 consisting of two identical binoculars 87 mounted in parallel, connecting around horizontal articulation axes 88 the free ends of the second tie member 81 to the free ends 78 of the two identical connecting rods 72 forming the lever 71.

As described in the aforementioned European patent No. 0473518, the articulation axis 26 of the jib foot 11 at the top of the mast 6 is inclined at an angle A relative to the direction of the usual articulation axis 89, perpendicular in the vertical vertical plane P of the crane in deployed working position, the angle A being defined in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mast 6. As for the articulation axis 37, between the jib foot 11 and the intermediate jib element 12, that -It is inclined at an acute angle B relative to the direction of the usual hinge axis 90, perpendicular to the vertical median plane P of the crane in the deployed working position. The angle B has a value substantially equal to A / 2, and it is the same direction as the angle A in the horizontal plane of the arrow 10 when the latter is aligned. In any case, the angles of inclination A and B are relatively small; advantageously, the value of the angle A (expressed in radians and comparable to its tangent) is substantially equal to the ratio between the width of the upper mast 8 and the length of this upper mast 8.

In the transport position, the crane is shown as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The mast 6 is folded back on itself and lowered substantially horizontally. The jib foot 11 is folded over the mast 6 and, seen from above (Figure 3), it is oblique, that is to say with its longitudinal axis making an angle A with the longitudinal axis of the upper mast 8. The intermediate jib element 12 is folded up under the jib foot 11 and it is applied laterally against the upper mast 8, while the jib tip 13 is folded back under the intermediate jib element 12 along its axis longitudinal, the respective upper members 51, 44 of said jib elements 13, 12 appearing face to face.

In the working position, shown in FIG. 5, the mast 6 is straightened and deployed in a vertical position, while the boom 10 is aligned in a substantially horizontal position to ensure its function of distributing boom with a carriage. The assembly formed by the mast 6 and the arrow 10 is arranged symmetrically by relative to the vertical median plane P (see also Figure 4), as in a conventional crane. In this position, the complementary device for unfolding / folding the arrow tip 13 relative to the intermediate arrow element 12 is folded down on said element 12 by shortening the length of the tie rod 76 by displacement of the horizontal axis 83 of the tie member 81 in the longitudinal lumen 80 of the tie member 79.

As illustrated in Figures 6 to 10, the folding of the crane is carried out as follows:

From the working position, the shortening of the actuator 14, 15 is controlled by retracting its rod 15 into its body 14, in order to pivot the base mast 7 forwards around its articulation axis 5 on the rotating frame 3, while the upper mast 8 pivots rearwards, about its articulation axis 9 on the base mast 7, under the action of the dressing shrouds 22 which hold it.

While this movement is taking place, the rear retaining rod 46 relaxes and, under the action of the dead weight of the arrow 10, the rear arrow punch 28 pivots forward around its axis of articulation 29 on the bridge 27 of the jib foot 11. At the same time, the punch 40 pivots forward around its articulation axis 37 under the action of the dead weight of the intermediate jib element 12 and the tip of jib 13, while all of said jib elements 12, 13 progressively fold down, the punch 40 causing the mast elements 12 and 13, while still aligned, to pivot about the hinge axis 37 - see FIG. 6 The movement continuing, the assembly formed by the punch 67, the connecting rods 72 and the tie rod 76 straightens until the lever 71 abuts on the support 75 fixed to the end of the upper member 51 of the arrowhead 13 in the vicinity of the hinge axis 50 of said arrowhead 13 on the intermediate arrow element 12. The lever 71 gradually causes the arrowhead 13 to fold down, against the intermediate arrow element 12, the respective upper members 51, 44 finally facing each other - see figure 7.

When the intermediate jib element 12 and the jib tip 13 arrive in the position shown in FIG. 8, the dead weight of said elements 12, 13 ceases to be driving, the jib folding cable 54, the initial tension of which has been adjusted by the device 56, is kept in tension thanks to the predetermined characteristics of its path from point 55 to the device 56 via the intermediate pulleys 57, 58, 60, 61 and thanks to its elasticity. The boom folding cable 54 then ensures continuity of movement until complete folding of the boom foot 11 and of the intermediate boom element 12. During this time, and progressively, the boom foot 11, the element intermediate arrow 12 and the arrowhead 13 are offset with respect to the mast 6 due to the inclination of the hinge pins 26, 37, so that the intermediate arrow element 12 and the arrowhead 13 can cross the mast 6 without meeting it, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 where said jib elements 12, 13 appear as passing "in front" of the mast 6.

To finish the complete folding of the jib 10, the jib tip 13 is supported under the lower members 52 on a set of rollers 91 fixed on one side of the lower part 7 of the foldable mast 6 and while the jib tip 13 is folded under the intermediate arrow element 12, the tie 76, connecting the punch 67 to the lever 71, is erased by shortening thanks to the displacement of the axis 83 in the slot 80 formed on the tie member 79 .

At the end of the folding operation, the crane is in the transport position described above, with its boom 10 folded laterally relative to the mast 6.

It goes without saying that the crane is unfolded under the same conditions, the movements being opposite to those previously indicated, by controlling the extension of the jack 14, 15.

It can be seen that the inclined arrangement of the respective articulation axes 26, 37 of the boom 10 on the mast 6 and of the intermediate boom element 12 on the boom foot 11, as well as the additional device 64 to 88 for folding the arrowhead 13 under the intermediate arrow member 12, allow continuous folding / unfolding, without manual intervention and requiring no oversizing. An automatic self-erecting crane is thus obtained provided with a jib in three elements hinged to each other which, in the folded state, therefore in the transport position, offers optimal bulk, both in height and in width and in length.

• par des modifications de détail, concernant notamment les dispositifs de dépliage/repliage ;
• par une application du même principe à des grues à mât télescopique, et non à mât pliable ;
• par une application du même principe à des grues avec flèche inclinée ou relevable, l'angle d'inclinaison désiré de la flèche étant obtenu en raccourcissant simplement le tirant ou câble arrière de retenue 46.

We would not stray from the spirit of the invention:

• by modifications of detail, in particular concerning the unfolding / folding devices;
• by applying the same principle to cranes with telescopic mast, and not with foldable mast;
• by applying the same principle to cranes with inclined or lifting jib, the desired angle of inclination of the jib being obtained by simply shortening the tie rod or rear retaining cable 46.

Claims (5)

Self-erecting crane with laterally folding boom, comprising a mast (6), in particular foldable, at the top of which is articulated, in centered position, a boom (10) whose articulation axis (26) is inclined at an angle acute (A) with respect to a direction (89) perpendicular to the vertical median plane (P) defined by the mast (6) and the boom (10) in the deployed working position, produced in three successive elements articulated to each other, designated respectively as jib foot (11), intermediate jib element (12) and arrowhead (13), the jib foot (11) and the intermediate jib element (12) being articulated at their lower members (39,38) about an articulation axis (37) inclined by an angle (B), substantially equal to half (A / 2) of the acute angle of inclination (A) of the axis articulation (26) of the boom (10) at the top of the mast (6), relative to a direction (90) perpendicular to the plane m vertical dian of the boom (10), so that in the folded position, the intermediate boom element (12) and the arrowhead (13) are positioned laterally with respect to the mast (6), the crane also comprising a motorized device (14 to 25, 28,30,40,41,45,46) for unfolding / folding the mast (6) and boom (10) assembly and means (54 to 63) for unfolding / folding the boom elements (11,12,13) characterized in that the intermediate boom element (12) and the arrowhead (13) are articulated at their upper chord (44,51) about an axis d articulation (50) whose direction is perpendicular to the vertical median plane of the arrow (10) and in that a complementary device (64 to 88) for unfolding / folding the arrow point (13) relative to the intermediate jib element (12) is disposed between the jib foot (11) and the jib tip (13). Crane with automatic assembly with laterally folding jib, according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional device for unfolding / folding the jib tip (13), relative to the intermediate jib element (12), consists of a connecting rod (64) articulated (at 65) at the front part of the boom foot (11) and a punch (67) articulated (at 68) at the rear part of the intermediate boom element (12), the connecting rod (64) and the punch (67) being articulated together (at 70) at the top of the punch (67), with a lever (71) articulated (at 73) at the rear part of the arrowhead (13) and capable of bearing (at 75) on the structure of said arrowhead (13), and of a tie rod (76) connecting the top (70) of the connecting rod (64) / punch (67) assembly to the 'free end (77) of the lever (71), to form a deformable quadrilateral. Crane with automatic assembly with laterally folding boom according to claim 2, characterized in that the tie rod (76) comprises several successive elements, a first simple element (79) articulated (at 70) at the top of the connecting rod assembly (64) / punch (67) and on which a light (80) is formed longitudinally, a second element (81) comprising a single part (82) connected to the first element by an axis (83) passing through the light (80) and a double part ( 84) providing a space (85) for the passage of a tie rod (41) supporting the intermediate arrow element (12), and a third element (86) consisting of two binoculars (87) connecting by articulations (88) the ends of the double part (84) of the second drawing element (81) and the free ends (78) of two identical connecting rods (72) forming the lever (71) articulated (at 73) at the rear part of the arrowhead (13). Self-erecting crane with laterally folding boom according to any one of claims 1 to 3, with a foldable mast (6) composed of a lower mast (7) and an upper mast (8), characterized in that the lower mast (7) is equipped laterally, on the side where the boom / unfolding of the boom (10), with one or more rollers (91 ) likely to contact the underside of the jib tip (13) to finish the complete folding of the crane. Self-erecting crane with laterally folding boom according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, with a foldable mast (6) composed of a lower mast (7) and an upper mast (8), characterized in that the value of the angle of inclination (A) of the articulation axis (26) of the boom foot (11) at the top of the mast (6), expressed in radians, is substantially equal to the ratio between the width of the mast upper (8) and the length of this upper mast (8).

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