EP1463681B1 - Radio-controlled self-propelled crane - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a crane for lifting and moving loads using a hook (2) which is suspended from a rope (3) that is wound and unwound from the end (4a) of a support pole (4) which is connected to a stabilisation chassis (5) on the ground. The invention is characterised in that: the aforementioned chassis (5) is supported by wheels (6, 6A), at least one of said wheels being connected to a forward and reverse drive motor (7) and at least one to a right and left steering device; the support pole (4) is connected to control means (9, 10) which are used, at least, to pivot said pole in an angular manner both horizontally and vertically in relation to the chassis (5) to which it is mounted; and separate control means (11, 20) are provided which are used to move the pole (4) and the chassis (5) but which are not connected to said assembly. In this way, the different movements of the inventive crane (1), which is supported by an automotive chassis, are remotely controlled in a simultaneous or separate manner.

Description

The present invention relates to a crane for lifting and moving a load by a hook suspended on a rope running or winding from the end of a support mast connected to a stabilization frame on the ground.

It is known, for the big projects taking place over a long period, to set up permanent cranes at a predetermined location allowing it to reach different points of the site.

These cranes are conventionally constituted by a base fixed to the ground at from which is erected a vertical pillar carrying a horizontal arrow on which is arranged a pulley on which a rope is wound, at the end of which is hanging the hook.

This type of crane can be maneuvered either from a cab part of the crane inside which an operator is installed, either from a remote control connected to the different engines of the crane manoeuvrable on the ground also by an operator.

In one case as in the other, the disadvantage of this type of crane is to be fixed on the ground, which requires on some sites, to set up several cranes to reach all areas of the construction site to achieve.

This is how mobile cranes appeared on the platform of a truck allowing to move the crane in different points of a construction site, according to the needs. Such a crane is described in the JP 2000 063078 A.

If this remedies the aforementioned problems, on the other hand, it engenders a other, that of having to pay the cost of a traditional truck responding to all traffic standards, which, of course, makes the device very expensive lifting, requiring, moreover, the presence of a driver.

• le châssis est porté par des roues dont au moins l'une d'elles est accouplée à un moteur d'entraínement vers l'avant ou vers l'arrière et au moins l'une d'elles a un dispositif de commande en direction vers la droite ou vers la gauche,
• le mât porteur est relié à des moyens de commande, pour assurer au moins son pivotement angulaire, respectivement dans un plan vertical et dans un plan horizontal, par rapport au châssis sur lequel il est monté,
• des moyens de commande en déplacement du mât et du châssis, sont détachés de celui-ci,

de manière à obtenir une grue auto-portée par un châssis automoteur dont les différentes fonctions de manoeuvre sont commandées simultanément ou distinctement à distance. It is to remedy all of these drawbacks that the invention has been made, which concerns a crane for lifting and moving a load by a hook suspended from a rope unwinding or winding from the end of a support mast connected to a ground stabilization frame, which is characterized in that:

• the chassis is carried by wheels of which at least one of them is coupled to a drive motor forwards or backwards and at least one of them has a control device in the direction towards the right or to the left,
• the carrier mast is connected to control means, to ensure at least its angular pivoting, respectively in a vertical plane and in a horizontal plane, relative to the frame on which it is mounted,
• control means in displacement of the mast and the chassis, are detached from it,

so as to obtain a crane self-supported by a self-propelled chassis whose different operating functions are controlled simultaneously or distinctly remote.

It is understandable that the major advantage of a crane thus achieved lies in that the chassis being self-propelled, it has the advantage of transport the crane to any part of a construction site and, more realization is a relatively low cost compared to a truck.

Another advantage lies in the fact that such a design is dispensed a cockpit. Moreover, it is the user who is the operator, which saves a person.

In fact, it can be said that such a crane is similar to a self-propelled robot and fully manageable at a distance.

The present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge from the description which will follow, and which will have to be considered in isolation or in all their technical combinations possible.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which will follow with reference to the attached drawings which are given only As non-limiting examples.

FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of a crane according to the invention, in the inactive position.

FIG. 2 represents a crane according to FIG. 1 in active position according to two working positions.

Figure 3 is a top view of the crane according to Figures 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a view according to a second embodiment of the invention, in idle position.

FIG. 5 is a view of a crane according to FIG. 4 in active position according to two working positions.

According to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the crane (1) designated as a whole is intended for lifting and moving a load (not shown) by a hook (2) suspended on a rope (3) taking place from the end (4a) of a support arm (4) connected to a stabilization frame (5) on the ground, thanks to a lifting winch.

According to the invention, the chassis (5) is carried by wheels (6) of which at least one of them is coupled to a motor (7) drive to the front or to the rear and at least one of them to a control device in the direction (8) to the right or to the left.

According to the present example, the wheels are four in number and example, only two of them located at the back are driving by motor (7), whereas those before (6A) are directional by via an electric or hydraulic motor (8). Of course, he could be otherwise, such as, for example, that all wheels are motor and guidelines.

Preferably, the drive means of the wheels consist of also by electric or hydraulic motors but, of course, they could be constituted by a gasoline or diesel engine.

In the same way, one could very well imagine a chassis (5) comprising two rear-wheel-drive wheels (6) and one front wheel directional (6A).

With regard to the support mast (4), it is connected to means of control (9, 10) to ensure at least its angular pivoting respectively in a vertical plane P1, P2 and in a horizontal plane P3, P4, by relative to the frame (5) on which it is mounted.

Finally, means (11) for controlling movement of the mast are provided. (4) and the chassis (5), detached from it.

In this way, it is obtained a crane self-supported by a chassis self-propelled (5) whose various maneuvering functions are controlled simultaneously or distinctly at a distance.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support mast (4) comprises, in in addition, telescopic deployment means (12) F1, F2 enabling it to reach loads located at different distances.

• la fonction de pivotement angulaire dans un plan vertical P1, P2, en montée ou en descente,
• la fonction de pivotement angulaire dans un plan horizontal P3, P4, vers la droite ou vers la gauche,
• la fonction de déploiement ou de reploiement F1, F2.

According to a first example, the control means for pivoting (9, 10) or deployment (12) of the support mast (4, 4A) consist respectively of electric or hydraulic motors, each of them providing a distinct function, either :

• the function of angular pivoting in a vertical plane P1, P2, ascent or descent,
• the angular pivoting function in a horizontal plane P3, P4, to the right or to the left,
• the deployment or folding function F1, F2.

Thus, if we consider that the means of training towards front or rear of the chassis (5) and the control means in direction (8) of the same chassis are electric or hydraulic motors, is in the presence of a self-propelled crane and radio-controlled self-range.

If we consider that the winding of the rope (3) carrying the hook of lifting (2) in one direction or another F3, F4 is also provided by a electric or hydraulic motor (13).

According to an embodiment variant, not shown, the means of angular pivoting control of the carrier mast (4) in a vertical plane P1, P2 upwards or downwards are constituted by at least one intermediate cylinder between said mast (4) and a frame member (5), while the means for control (10) in angular pivoting in a horizontal plane P3, P4 towards the right or left and the control means (12) in deployment or in replication F1, F2 are constituted by electric motors or separate from each other.

These jacks can, of course, be electrically operated or hydraulic.

According to the second embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support mast (4A) is connected to the stabilization frame (5A) by via a deformable parallelogram (14) consisting of two arms articulated (18, 19). The mast (4A) is connected to said parallelogram (14) in a manner articulated (15) for angularly pivoting in a vertical plane P1, P2 uphill or downhill, under the action of a jack (16), or an interposed motor, while said deformable parallelogram (14) is connected by its other ends (14a, 14b) to the frame (5), also articulated to pivot the same under the action of a second cylinder (17), or motor interposed, controlled by means distinct from the first (16).

To meet the concept of all-electric, the aforementioned cylinders (16 and 17) are electric but, of course, they could also be hydraulic.

With regard to the functions of angular rotation of the crane in a horizontal plane P3, P4, to the right or to the left, or the function of deployment or folding F1, F2 of the carrier mast (4A) as well as relates to the control of the chassis by driving forward or backward or directional control to the right or to the left, these are, as in the preceding embodiment, provided by motors electric or even hydraulic.

Whatever the embodiment adopted, that is to say that of FIGS. 3 or that of FIGS. 4 and 5, the control means, the means of command of all functions; (7) advancement of the chassis (5) forward or back; (8) change of direction to the right or to the left; (9 or 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) of angular pivoting of the mast (4, 4A) in a plane vertical P1, P2 up or down or (10) horizontal pivot P3, P4 to the right or to the left; (12) deploying or folding F1, F2 said mast (4, 4A); (13) up or down the rope (3), where the hook of lifting (2); are controlled remotely via a radio transmitter (11), a receiver (20) being located on a portion of the crane (1) and connected to the different jacks or motors providing said functions of said crane (1).

According to an alternative embodiment, the control means of the assembly aforementioned functions are controlled remotely via a electrical control box connected in a wired manner to the various motors or jacks providing said functions of said crane (1).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented as examples, but it also includes all equivalents techniques and their combinations, as defined in the claims.

Claims (9)

1. Crane which is designed for lifting and displacement of a load by a hook (2) which is suspended from a cable (3) which is unwound or wound up from the end (4a) of a support boom (4) connected to a stabilisation chassis (5) on the ground, such that:

   the chassis (5) is supported by wheels (6, 6A), at least one of which is connected to a motor (7) for driving forwards or backwards, and at least one of which has a device (8) to control steering towards the left or towards the right;

   the support boom (4) is connected to control means (9, 10) in order to ensure that it is pivoted at least angularly, respectively on a vertical plane (P1, P2) and on a horizontal plane (P3, P4) relative to the chassis (5) on which it is mounted, characterised in that:

   means (11, 20) for controlling the displacement of the boom (4) and of the chassis (5) are detached from the latter,

   such as to obtain a crane (1) which is self-supported by a self-propelled chassis, the different manoeuvring functions of which are controlled simultaneously or separately, remotely.
2. Crane according to claim 1, characterised in that the support boom (4) additionally comprises means (12) for telescopic extension (F1, F2).
3. Crane according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the means for controlling pivoting (9, 10) or extension (12) of the support boom (4, 4A) consist respectively of electric motors, each of them assuring a different function, i.e.:

   the function of angular pivoting on a vertical plane (P1, P2) during raising or descent;

   the function of angular pivoting on a horizontal plane (P3, P4) towards the right or towards the left;

   the function of extension or retraction (F1, F2).
4. Crane according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the means for controlling the angular pivoting of the support boom (4) on a vertical place (P1, P2) during raising or descent consist of at least one jack which is interposed between the said boom (4) and an element of the chassis (5), whereas the means for control (10) in angular pivoting on a horizontal plane (P3, P4) towards the right or towards the left, as well as the means for control (12) in extension or retraction (F1, F2) consist of electric or hydraulic motors which are distinct from one another.
5. Crane according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the support boom (4A) is connected to the stabilisation chassis (5A) by means of a deformable parallelogram (14) constituted by two articulated arms (18, 19), the boom (4A) being connected to the said parallelogram (14) in an articulated manner (15) in order to pivot angularly on a vertical plane (P1, P2) during raising or descent, under the action of a jack (16) or of an interposed motor, whereas the said deformable parallelogram (14) is connected by its other ends (14a, 14b) to the chassis (5) in a manner which is also articulated, in order to pivot in the same manner under the action of a second interposed jack (17) or motor controlled by means which are distinct from the first (16).
6. Crane according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that the jacks (16, 17) are controlled electrically or hydraulically.
7. Crane according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that winding in one direction or the other of the cable (3) which supports the lifting hook (4) is assured by an electric or hydraulic motor (13).
8. Crane according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the means for controlling all of the functions, i.e. (7) for advance of the chassis (5) forwards or backwards; (8) for changing direction towards the right or towards the left; (9) or (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) for angular pivoting of the boom (4, 4A) on a vertical plane (P1, P2) upwards or downwards or (10) for horizontal pivoting (P3, P4) towards the right or towards the left; (12) for extension or retraction (F1, F2) of the said boom (4, 4A); (13) for raising or descent of the cable (3) or of the lifting hook (2), are controlled remotely by means of a radio emitter (11), a receiver (20) being situated on a part of the crane (1) and connected to the different jacks or motors which assure the said functions of the said crane (1).
9. Crane according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the means for controlling all of the functions, i.e. (7) for advance of the chassis (5) forwards or backwards; (8) for changing direction towards the right or towards the left; (9) or (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) for angular pivoting of the boom (4, 4A) on a vertical plane (P1, P2) upwards or downwards or (10) for horizontal pivoting (P3, P4) towards the right or towards the left; (12) for extension or retraction (F1, F2) of the said boom (4, 4A); (13) for raising or descent of the cable (3) or of the lifting hook (2), are controlled remotely by means of an electrical control box (not represented) in a filar manner to the different motors or jacks which assure the said functions of the said crane.

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