EP0870725A1 - Tower crane with a telescopic ladder and a mobile element guided on this ladder - Google Patents

Abstract

The telescopic ladder with a mobile unit, e.g. a tower crane cab, has both the tower crane mast and ladder made in three sections. The ladder section (16) associated with the bottom outer section of the mast is fixed to that section of the mast by its upper and lower ends, and is made from two rectangular-section uprights (22) joined by rungs (14). The ladder section associated with the top inner section of the mast is fixed at its upper end to the mast. It is of the same width as the lower section, while the ladder section (15) associated with the middle section of the mast, is fixed at the top to the mast and has uprights (26) with a channelled cross-section to engage with the uprights of the top and bottom ladder sections so they can slide relative to one another.

Description

The present invention relates, in general, the area of tower cranes and it relates plus in particular, to a device combining scales telescopic and a mobile element guided on these ladders, for a tower crane with telescopic mast in three elements fitted with telescopic ladders also three elements, one scale element being associated with each tower element of the tower crane.

By "mobile element" is meant here any element transport can be moved and guided vertically, on the height of the mast totally or partially deployed crane, for example: crane cabin, freight elevator, personal lift, protective carrycot for crane operator.

We already know tower cranes, whose mast has ladders for guiding an element mobile. In particular, Swiss patent 665825 and the European patent application 0175052 describe cranes to tower, in which the ladders provide guidance an elevator cabin. We can also cite the French patent application 2747380 in the name of the Applicant, in which the ladders are used to guide a protective nacelle, constituting an access device secured in the cabin, for the crane operator climbing along the scales.

Considering more particularly the Swiss patent 665825, this document describes a crane with mast telescopic in two parts, fitted with a ladder also telescopic and made in two parts principal, associated respectively with the two elements of mast; the upper ladder element has uprights rectangular profile, and the lower ladder element has U-shaped profile uprights that surround the amounts of the top element on three of their four faces. On this ladder is mounted rolling a chassis mobile, with four rollers and four guide rollers, the latter having a groove "V" profile, said movable chassis being secured to the cabin. The telescopic ladder includes, in addition to its two main elements, a weak "slide" element length, which has a profile corresponding to that of the lower ladder element, but which is mounted sliding on the upper ladder element. So when when the cabin is raised, the mobile chassis rolls first directly on the lower scale element, then, reaching the top of the lower scale element, it engages on the slide element in the standby position, and brings with it this slide element, by through which he is then guided along the upper scale element. So a slide element special is necessary here to make the connection of profile between the two main scale elements.

The sliding element of the scale may stuck when moving, due to friction important, this element having no pebble rolling. A simple device of stops ensures the drive link between the mobile chassis and said slide element, while a locking system would at the very least be necessary, for security reasons, especially to avoid that during the descent of the cabin the movable frame is no longer guided if the element slide gets stuck, which could even cause falling from the cabin.

Thus, the solution of Swiss patent 665825 is complex, unreliable and insecure, even very dangerous, while being limited, in its application, to a crane with two-part telescopic mast. In particular, the document considered does not provide any solution applicable to a telescopic mast in three elements.

The aforementioned European patent application 0175052 is also limit to the description of a scale in two telescopic elements, and this document does not provide any detail of the means for guiding the movable element, especially with regard to the passage without discontinuity from one scale element to another.

In general, the previous documents show solutions that also appear insufficient to ensure proper guidance of the movable element in all directions, ensuring also the recovery of efforts due to a load which, must be deported from the path of bearing formed by the scales.

Under the state of the art, one can still cite the German patent application 3721673, which relates a device associated with a tower crane cabin, and allowing the cabin to be moved vertically along the crane mast. The device rolls directly on the mast structure, and therefore requires a section constant horizontal of the mast, over its entire height; thus, such a device is not directly applicable to a telescopic mast crane, the elements of which have different horizontal sections from each other. In addition, this device is provided with means of rotation of the cabin, and it therefore preferably applies to "turning from the top" type cranes.

The present invention aims to remedy the whole of these disadvantages, by providing a device telescopic ladder and mobile element guided on these ladders, specially designed for telescopic masts in three elements, the sections of which can be different, the proposed device ensuring permanently suitable guidance in the front, rear directions, right and left, as well as the resumption of the efforts due to the remote load, also ensuring a passage without discontinuity from one scale element to the next, in order to create a reliable and suitable device overall, ensuring perfectly safe guidance, while retaining a relatively simple and compact structure.

• l'élément d'échelle, associé à l'élément de mât inférieur et extérieur, est fixé à sa partie supérieure et à sa partie inférieure sur cet élément de mât, et possède deux montants de section carrée ou rectangulaire, reliés par des barreaux,
• l'élément d'échelle, associé à l'élément de mât supérieur et intérieur, est fixé à sa partie supérieure sur cet élément de mât, et possède deux montants de section carrée ou rectangulaire, reliés par des barreaux, la largueur de cet élément d'échelle étant égale à celle du précédent,
• l'élément d'échelle, associé à l'élément de mât intermédiaire, est fixé par sa partie supérieure sur cet élément de mât, et possède deux montants de profil crénelé, présentant en leur milieu une partie concave et, de part et d'autre de la partie médiane concave, deux parties convexes aptes à envelopper les montants correspondants des deux autres éléments d'échelle, les barreaux de cet élément d'échelle reliant les parties médianes concaves de ses deux montants, et la largeur de cet élément d'échelle étant égale à celle des deux autres éléments d'échelle,
• l'élément mobile, à guider sur l'échelle, comprend un cadre de guidage composé lui-même :

• d'une charpente de section horizontale en forme de "U", entourant l'échelle sur sa face avant et sur ses faces latérales,
• de premiers rouleaux de guidage, d'axes horizontaux, situés en regard des faces latérales droite et gauche de l'échelle, et aptes à rouler le long des faces latérales droite et gauche des montants des éléments d'échelle associés aux éléments de mât extérieur et intérieur, et aussi le long des parties convexes enveloppantes de l'élément d'échelle associé à l'élément de mât intermédiaire,
• d'autres rouleaux de guidage, d'axes horizontaux orthogonaux aux axes des rouleaux précédents et répartis sur les côtés droit et gauche de l'échelle, et comprenant des rouleaux prenant place de part et d'autre des montants respectifs des trois éléments d'échelle, avec des rouleaux centraux trouvant passage dans la partie concave des montants de profil crénelé de l'élément d'échelle associé à l'élément de mât intermédiaire.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for telescopic ladders and a movable element guided on these scales, for a tower crane with telescopic mast in three elements fitted with telescopic ladders also in three elements, an element of ladder being associated with each mast element of the tower crane, the device being characterized in that:

• the ladder element, associated with the lower and outer mast element, is fixed at its upper part and at its lower part on this mast element, and has two uprights of square or rectangular section, connected by bars,
• the ladder element, associated with the upper and inner mast element, is fixed at its upper part to this mast element, and has two uprights of square or rectangular section, connected by bars, the width of this element of scale being equal to that of the previous one,
• the ladder element, associated with the intermediate mast element, is fixed by its upper part to this mast element, and has two uprights of crenellated profile, having in their middle a concave part and, on both sides other of the concave middle part, two convex parts capable of enveloping the corresponding uprights of the other two ladder elements, the bars of this ladder element connecting the concave middle parts of its two uprights, and the width of this element scale being equal to that of the other two scale elements,
• the movable element, to be guided on the ladder, comprises a guide frame itself composed:

• a frame of horizontal section in the shape of a "U", surrounding the ladder on its front face and on its lateral faces,
• first guide rollers, with horizontal axes, located opposite the right and left lateral faces of the ladder, and capable of rolling along the right and left lateral faces of the uprights of the ladder elements associated with the external mast elements and inside, and also along the enveloping convex parts of the ladder element associated with the intermediate mast element,
• other guide rollers, with horizontal axes orthogonal to the axes of the preceding rollers and distributed on the right and left sides of the scale, and comprising rollers taking place on either side of the respective uprights of the three elements of ladder, with central rollers finding passage in the concave part of the crenellated profile uprights of the ladder element associated with the intermediate mast element.

The telescopic ladder thus consists of two classic elements, and a more specific element, including the uprights have a particular profile ensuring, by its enveloping convex parts, a connection sliding with the two previous elements and, by its concave middle part, the passage of at least one roller guide belonging to the movable element to be guided along of the scale. The fasteners of the three ladder elements on the corresponding mast elements allow deploy and retract the ladder without encountering obstacle. The profile chosen for the three elements of ladders makes it possible to obtain a minimum bulk of the scales when retracted, therefore to satisfy the road gauge requirements for the transportation of crane, and this profile also achieves a "natural" structure guide, in four directions forming between them 90 ° angles, for the guide frame which supports a means of transport such as a crane cabin.

Thanks to its roller sets, this frame guidance of the movable element ensures guidance in perfect security, due to the fact that during its passage on each of the three scale elements there is always rollers which enclose the uprights of the element of scale concerned. Arranged in two directions perpendicular, these rollers provide lateral guidance and forward-backward guidance, as well as resumption of lateral and / or front-rear efforts due to load supported by said guide frame. The configuration proposed by the invention also ensures, in the vertical direction, a guiding continuity in the passage from one scale element to the next.

• deux grands rouleaux de guidage situés respectivement en regard des faces latérales droite et gauche de l'échelle, et
• six plus petits rouleaux de guidage, répartis en deux groupes de trois rouleaux situés respectivement sur les côtés droit et gauche de l'échelle, ces rouleaux enserrant deux à deux les montants des éléments d'échelle associés aux éléments de mât extérieur, intérieur et intermédiaire, le rouleau central de chaque groupe de trois rouleaux trouvant passage dans la partie concave du montant de profil crénelé de l'élément d'échelle associé à l'élément de mât intermédiaire.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide rollers belonging to the guide frame of the movable element comprise two sets of eight guide rollers, located respectively at the base and at the top of said frame and each comprising:

• two large guide rollers located respectively opposite the right and left lateral faces of the scale, and
• six smaller guide rollers, divided into two groups of three rollers located respectively on the right and left sides of the ladder, these rollers enclosing in pairs the amounts of the ladder elements associated with the outer, inner and intermediate mast elements , the central roller of each group of three rollers finding passage in the concave part of the crenellated profile upright of the ladder element associated with the intermediate mast element.

Figure 1 est une vue de côté d'une grue à tour équipée du dispositif objet de l'invention, l'élément mobile étant la cabine de la grue ;

Figure 2 représente, en vue de côté, les échelles de cette grue avec leurs points de fixation à la mâture ;

Figure 3 est une vue en coupe horizontale, montrant les profils des échelles ;

Figure 4 représente, de façon isolée, le profil particulier de l'élément d'échelle associé à l'élément de mât intermédiaire ;

Figure 5 est une vue en perspective de l'élément mobile, à savoir la cabine, avec indication d'un tronçon de l'échelle sur lequel est guidé cet élément mobile.

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 device of telescopic ladders and element mobile guided on these scales, for tower crane:

Figure 1 is a side view of a tower crane equipped with the device of the invention, the movable member being the cabin of the crane;

Figure 2 shows, in side view, the scales of this crane with their attachment points to the mast;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the profiles of the scales;

Figure 4 shows, in isolation, the particular profile of the ladder element associated with the intermediate mast element;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the movable element, namely the cabin, with indication of a section of the ladder on which this movable element is guided.

In Figure 1 is shown a tower crane, which includes a fixed base frame 1 on which is mounted rotating, around a vertical axis 2, another chassis 3 which carries a counterweight 4 at the rear and the front of which is mounted, along a horizontal axis 5, a telescopic mast 6. The crane has a boom dispenser 7 (shown only partially), climb to the top of the mast 6. Guy lines 8 connect the rotating frame 3 and mast 6, while a device rear retainer 9 connects the boom 7 to the rotating chassis 3.

The telescopic mast 6 consists of an element outer and lower 10, of an intermediate element 11 and an inner and upper element 12. Each element mast 10, 11 or 12 for example has a square section or polygonal.

The telescopic mast 6 is equipped with a ladder 13, also telescopic, which consists of three elements of scale 14, 15 and 16, respectively associated with the three mast elements 10, 11 and 12. The telescopic ladder 13 is shown, in the partially deployed position, on the figure 2.

The first scale element 14, associated with the external mast element 10, is fixed to this element of external mast 10 at a lower fixing point 17 and at an upper fixing point 18. To allow the retraction of the scale, the second scale element 15, associated with the intermediate mast element 11, is fixed to this intermediate mast element 11 only at one point upper attachment 19. Similarly, the third element of scale 16, associated with the inner mast element 12, is attached to this inner mast member 12 only in one upper attachment point 20.

The telescopic ladder 13 is used to guide a element movable vertically along the mast 6, this element mobile being the crane cabin 21 in the example illustrated to the drawing. For this purpose, the scale elements 14, 15 and 16 have relative configurations and positions shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The first ladder element 14 has two uprights 22 of square profile, connected by bars 23. The third ladder element 16 also has two uprights 24 of square profile, connected by bars 25. These two scale elements 14 and 16 are the same width, so their respective amounts 22 and 24 come opposite, in the retracted position of the ladder 13.

The second ladder element 15 has a more specific configuration, clearly visible on the Figure 4. This ladder element 15 has two uprights 26 of crenellated profile, which can be described as comprising a concave middle part 27, located between two parts convex 28 and 29. The bars 30 of this element of scale 15 connect the concave middle parts 27 of its two uprights 26. The width of this second element of scale 15 is equal to that of the first and third scale elements 14 and 16.

In the retracted position of the telescopic ladder 13, the second ladder element 15 takes place between the first element of scale 14 and the third element scale 16. The convex portions 28 of the uprights 26 of the second ladder element 15 surround the corresponding 22 uprights of the first ladder element 14. The other convex parts 29 of the uprights 26 of the second ladder element 15 surround the corresponding 24 uprights of the third scale element 16.

Referring to Figure 5, the crane cabin 21 is supported by a guide frame 31, located behind this cabin 21 and on one side thereof. The framework of guide 31 includes a frame 32 made of tubes, which extends vertically over the height of the cabin 21 and which has a horizontal section in the shape of a "U", surrounding the ladder 13 on its front face and on its two side faces.

The frame 32 of the guide frame 31 supports two identical sets of guide rollers, located respectively at the base and at the top of this frame 31, and each comprising eight guide rollers. Figure 3 clearly represents the arrangement of these eight rolls, for one of the two sets of guide rollers.

• le long des faces latérales droite et gauche des montants 22 du premier élément d'échelle 14, et/ou
• le long des parties convexes 28 et 29 des montants 26 du deuxième élément d'échelle 15, et/ou
• le long des faces latérales droite et gauche des montants 24 du troisième élément d'échelle 16.

Two large guide rollers 33 and 34, with respective horizontal axes 35 and 36, are located one facing the right side face, and the other facing the left side face of the scale 13. According to the degree of deployment of the ladder 13 and the position of the crane cabin 21, the large guide rollers 33 and 34 are capable of rolling:

• along the right and left lateral faces of the uprights 22 of the first ladder element 14, and / or
• along the convex portions 28 and 29 of the uprights 26 of the second ladder element 15, and / or
• along the right and left lateral faces of the uprights 24 of the third ladder element 16.

• Les montants 22 du premier élément d'échelle 14 sont enserrés, à droite, par la paire de rouleaux 37 et 38 et, à gauche, par la paire de rouleaux 40 et 41, chaque paire comprenant un rouleau extérieur et un rouleau central.
• Les montants 24 du troisième élément d'échelle 16 sont enserrés, à droite, par la paire de rouleaux 38 et 39 et, à gauche, par la paire de rouleaux 41 et 42, chaque paire comprenant un rouleau extérieur et un rouleau central.
• Les montants 26 du deuxième élément d'échelle 15 sont enserrés, à droite, par la paire de rouleaux 37 et 39 et, à gauche, par la paire de rouleaux 40 et 42, chaque paire comprenant les deux rouleaux extérieurs.

Six smaller guide rollers 37 to 42 are provided, the axes of which are horizontal and orthogonal to the axes 35 and 36 of the large rollers 33 and 34. A first group of three equidistant small rollers 37, 38 and 39 is provided on the right side of the ladder 13, and a second group of three small equidistant rollers 40, 41 and 42 is provided on the left side of the ladder 13. These small rollers enclose in pairs the amounts of the ladder elements 14, 15 and 16. In other words:

• The uprights 22 of the first ladder element 14 are enclosed, on the right, by the pair of rollers 37 and 38 and, on the left, by the pair of rollers 40 and 41, each pair comprising an outer roller and a central roller.
• The uprights 24 of the third ladder element 16 are enclosed, on the right, by the pair of rollers 38 and 39 and, on the left, by the pair of rollers 41 and 42, each pair comprising an outer roller and a central roller.
• The uprights 26 of the second ladder element 15 are enclosed, on the right, by the pair of rollers 37 and 39 and, on the left, by the pair of rollers 40 and 42, each pair comprising the two outer rollers.

In addition, the two central rollers 38 and 41 find passage in the concave middle portions 27 of two uprights 26 of the second ladder element 15.

As shown in Figure 5, the movable element guided on the ladder 13 still includes a platform 43 access to the cabin 21, the platform 43 comprising a hatch and lying next to scale 13, as well that opposite door 44 of cabin 21.

The frame 31, support of the cabin 21, can be hoisted or descended along ladder 13 by any means suitable elevation, such as rope, rope or cable, generally driven by a winch itself operated by a engine or manually. These lifting means include in themselves the securities intended to prevent the fall of the frame 31, therefore of the movable element 21 such as a cabin crane, in the event of a breakdown of the driving energy. Figure 1 shows several positions, namely a position lower, an intermediate position and a position in which the cabin 21 can be brought. The two sets of eight rollers 33, 34, 37 to 42 of the guide frame 31 allow guiding in perfect security, when moving cabin 21, fact that for each scale element 14, 15 or 16, these rollers enclose the uprights 22, 24 or 26, the operation possible with telescopic mast 6 fully or partially deployed. In addition, the device ensures the recovery of efforts due to a load offset from scale 13, which is the case here for cabin 21, offset both laterally and to the front with respect to scale 13.

One would not stray from the invention by giving the mobile element any configuration, other than that of a cabin, and assigning it all function: transport of people, transport of material, protection of personnel. In the same vein, the telescopic ladders can be mounted, indifferently, outside or inside the mature.

Claims (3)

Device for telescopic ladders and mobile element guided on these ladders, for tower crane with telescopic mast in three elements equipped with telescopic ladders also in three elements, a ladder element being associated with each mast element of the tower crane, characterized in that: the ladder element (14), associated with the lower and outer mast element (10), is fixed at its upper part (at 18) and at its lower part (at 17) on this mast element (10 ), and has two uprights (22) of square or rectangular section, connected by bars (23), the ladder element (16), associated with the upper and inner mast element (12), is fixed at its upper part (at 20) to this mast element (12), and has two uprights (24) of square or rectangular section, connected by bars (25), the width of this ladder element (16) being equal to that of the previous one (14), the ladder element (15), associated with the intermediate mast element (11), is fixed by its upper part (in 19) to this mast element (11), and has two uprights (26) in profile crenellated, having in the middle a concave part (27) and, on either side of the concave middle part (27), two convex parts (28,29) capable of enveloping the corresponding uprights (22,24) of the two other scale elements (14,16), the bars (30) of this scale element (15) connecting the concave middle parts (27) of its two uprights (26), and the width of this scale element (15) being equal to that of the other two scale elements (14,16), the movable element (21), to be guided on the ladder (13), comprises a guide frame (31) itself composed: a frame (32) of horizontal section in the shape of a "U", surrounding the ladder (13) on its front face and on its lateral faces, first guide rollers (33,34), of horizontal axes (35,36), located opposite the right and left side faces of the scale (13), and able to roll along the right and left side faces uprights (22,24) of the ladder elements (14,16) associated with the exterior (10) and interior (12) mast elements, and also along the enveloping convex parts (28,29) of the element d 'ladder (15) associated with the intermediate mast element (11), other guide rollers (37 to 42), of horizontal axes orthogonal to the axes (35,36) of the preceding rollers (33,34) and distributed on the right and left sides of the scale (13), and comprising rollers (37 to 42) taking place on either side of the respective uprights (22,24,26) of the three ladder elements (14,16,15), with central rollers (38,41) finding passage in the concave parts (27) of the uprights (26) of crenellated profile of the ladder element (15) associated with the intermediate mast element (11). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide rollers belonging to the guide frame (31) of the movable element (21) comprise two sets of eight guide rollers (33,34,37 to 42), located respectively at the base and at the top of said frame (31) and each comprising: two large guide rollers (33, 34) located respectively opposite the right and left lateral faces of the scale (13), and six smaller guide rollers (37 to 42), divided into two groups of three rollers (37,38,39; 40,41,42) located respectively on the right and left sides of the scale (13), these rollers (37 to 42) enclosing two by two the uprights (22,24,26) of the ladder elements (14,16,15) associated with the exterior (10), interior (12) and intermediate (11) mast elements, the central roller (38,41) of each group of three rollers finding passage in the concave part (27) of the upright (26) corresponding to the intermediate mast element (11). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable element (21), guided on the ladder (13) is a crane cabin.

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